RESOURCES

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to wireless communications, and in particular, to uplink channel information distribution on radio resources. BACKGROUND

New radio (NR) standards in 3GPP are being designed to provide service for multiple use cases such as enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable and low latency communication (URLLC), and machine type communication (MTC).

Each of these services has different technical considerations. For example, the general requirement for eMBB is high data rate with moderate latency and moderate coverage, while URLLC service calls for a low latency and high reliability transmission, but may have moderate data rates.

One of the solutions for low latency data transmission is shorter transmission time intervals. In NR, for example, in addition to transmission in a slot, a mini-slot transmission is also allowed to reduce latency. A mini-slot may include of any number of 1 to 14 OFDM symbols. It should be noted that the concepts of slot and mini-slot may not be specific to a specific service. In other words, a mini-slot may be used for either eMBB, URLLC, or other services. A mini-slot may also be referred to as a subslot.

Resource Blocks

In Rel-l5 NR, a user equipment (UE) or wireless device (WD) can be configured with up to four carrier bandwidth parts in the downlink (DL), e.g., from the base station to the WD, with a single downlink carrier bandwidth part being active at a given time. A WD can be configured with up to four carrier bandwidth parts in the uplink (UL), e.g., from the WD to the base station, with a single uplink carrier bandwidth part being active at a given time. If a WD is configured with a

supplementary uplink, the WD can in addition be configured with up to four carrier bandwidth parts in the supplementary uplink with a single supplementary uplink carrier bandwidth part being active at a given time. For a carrier bandwidth part with a given numerology m; , a contiguous set of physical resource blocks (PRBs) are defined and numbered from 0 to , where i is the index of the carrier bandwidth part. A resource block (RB) or physical resource block (PRB) may be defined as 12 consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain.

Numerologies

Multiple OFDM numerologies, m, may be supported in NR, as given by Table 1 , for example, where the subcarrier spacing, Dί, and the cyclic prefix for a carrier bandwidth part are configured by different higher layer parameters for downlink and uplink, respectively.

Table 1: Supported transmission numerologies.

Physical Channels

A downlink physical channel corresponds to a set of resource elements carrying information originating from higher layers. The following downlink physical channels may be defined: Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH), Physical

Broadcast Channel (PBCH), Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH). PDSCH is generally the main physical channel used for unicast downlink data transmission, but also for transmission of RAR (random access response), certain system information blocks, and paging information. PBCH generally carries the basic system information for the WD to access the network. PDCCH is generally used for transmitting downlink control information (DCI), scheduling decisions for reception of PDSCH, and for uplink scheduling grants enabling transmission on PUSCH. An uplink physical channel corresponds to a set of resource elements carrying information originating from higher layers. The following uplink physical channels may be defined: Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH), Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH), and Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH). PUSCH may be considered the uplink counterpart to the PDSCH. PUCCH can be used by WDs to transmit uplink control information (UCI), including Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) acknowledgements, channel state information reports, etc. PRACH is used for random access preamble transmission.

Frequency Resource Allocation for PUSCH and PDSCH

In general, a WD can determine the RB assignment in frequency domain for PUSCH or PDSCH using the resource allocation field in the detected DCI carried in PDCCH. For PUSCH carrying msg3 in a random-access procedure, the frequency domain resource assignment may be signaled by using the UL grant contained in RAR.

In NR, two frequency resource allocation schemes, type 0 and type 1, may be supported for PUSCH and PDSCH. Which type to use for a PUSCH/PDSCH transmission is either defined by a Radio Resource Control (RRC) configured parameter or indicated directly in the corresponding DCI or UL grant in RAR (for which type 1 is used).

The RB indexing for uplink/downlink type 0 and type 1 resource allocation is determined within the WD's active carrier bandwidth part, and the WD may upon detection of PDCCH intended for the WD determine first the uplink/downlink carrier bandwidth part and then the resource allocation within the carrier bandwidth part (BWP). The UL BWP for PUSCH carrying msg3 may be configured by higher layer parameters.

Cell Search and Initial Access Related Channels and Signals

For cell search and initial access, these channels are included: Synchronization Signal (SS)/PBCH block, PDSCH carrying Remaining Minimum System Information (RMSI)/RAR/MSG4 scheduled by PDCCH channels carrying DCI, Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) channels and PUSCH channel carrying MSG3.

Synchronization signal and PBCH block (SS/PBCH block, or SSB in shorter format) may include the above signals (PSS, SSS and PBCH DMRS), and PBCH. SSB may have 15 kHz, 30 kHz, 120 kHz or 240 kHz subcarrier spacing (SCS), depending, for example, on the frequency range.

NR-Unlicensed

NR-Unlicensed (NR-U) is being considered in 3GPP to bring NR to the unlicensed wireless communication bands, i.e., unlicensed spectrum. Two considerations for operation in unlicensed spectrum include: (1) occupied channel bandwidth, and (2) maximum power spectral density (PSD). For example, one occupied bandwidth requirement states that the transmitted signal power occupies a large portion of the declared Nominal Channel Bandwidth. Also, maximum PSD requirements exist in many different regions. The implication of the PSD requirement may be that without a proper physical layer signal design, a signal with small transmission bandwidth may be limited in transmission power. This can negatively affect coverage.

This can be solved by, for example, introducing frequency domain interlaced transmissions in the UL, i.e., that multiple physical resource blocks (PRBs) spread over the available bandwidth may be used. This can allow a WD to transmit with higher power (and, to a lesser extent, to satisfy the occupied channel bandwidth requirement) even when the scheduled bandwidth need is small. A similar design philosophy may be adopted to support unlicensed operations.

SUMMARY

Some embodiments advantageously provide methods and apparatuses for increasing multiplexing capacity of an NR-U system. For example, in some embodiments, the multiplexing capacity of the NR-U system may be increased for sequence-based transmissions by distributing a transmitted payload of bits over the available physical resource blocks (PRBs), freeing up cyclic shift resources to be used for multiplexing. In some embodiments, such solution can also be used to increase the payload by transmitting different sets of bits on different PRBs. Some embodiments may provide for an increased possible payload for sequence-based transmission formats. Also, since the NR-U signal may be spread in frequency, to comply with the unlicensed requirements, typically covering more PRBs than covered for corresponding (e.g., licensed band) transmissions in NR, the overall multiplexing capacity of the system may be lowered.

According to one aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a network node configured to communicate with a wireless device (WD), the network node configured to, and/or comprising a radio interface and/or comprising processing circuitry configured to: communicate, to the WD, a control signal allocating a plurality of uplink resources for the WD to transmit a payload of information; and receive, from the WD, the payload of information distributed over the plurality of uplink resources such that a first portion of the payload is received over a first subset of the plurality of uplink resources and a second portion of the payload is received over a second subset of the plurality of uplink resources.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, there is provide a method implemented in a network node, the method comprising: communicating, to a WD, a control signal allocating a plurality of uplink resources for the WD to transmit a payload of information; and receiving, from the WD, the payload of information distributed over the plurality of uplink resources such that a first portion of the payload is received over a first subset of the plurality of uplink resources and a second portion of the payload is received over a second subset of the plurality of uplink resources.

According to yet another aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a wireless device (WD) configured to communicate with a network node, the WD configured to, and/or comprising a radio interface and/or processing circuitry configured to receive a control signal allocating a plurality of uplink resources for the WD to transmit a payload of information ; and communicate, to the network node, the payload of information distributed over the plurality of uplink resources such that a first portion of the payload is transmitted over a first subset of the plurality of uplink resources and a second portion of the payload is transmitted over a second subset of the plurality of uplink resources.

According to yet another aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a method implemented in a wireless device (WD), the method comprising receiving a control signal allocating a plurality of uplink resources for the WD to transmit a payload of information; and communicating, to a network node, the payload of information distributed over the plurality of uplink resources such that a first portion of the payload is transmitted over a first subset of the plurality of uplink resources and a second portion of the payload is transmitted over a second subset of the plurality of uplink resources.

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a wireless device, WD, configured to communicate with a network node via a sequence-based transmission is provided. The WD comprises processing circuitry and a radio interface in communication with the processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to cause the radio interface to: optionally, receive a first control signal allocating a plurality of uplink resources; and communicate a second control signal comprising a bit payload distributed over the plurality of uplink resources such that at least a first bit of the bit payload is communicated over a first subset of the plurality of uplink resources, and at least a second bit of the bit payload is communicated over a second subset of the plurality of uplink resources.

In some embodiments of this aspect, the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the radio interface to communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload as the sequence-based transmission, and each of the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit is represented by at least one cyclic shift. In some embodiments of this aspect, the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the radio interface to communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface to:

communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload as the sequence- based transmission, the sequence-based transmission representing the at least the first bit of the bit payload distributed over the first subset of the plurality of uplink resources and representing the at least the second bit of the bit payload distributed over the second subset of the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments of this aspect, the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the radio interface to communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload distributed over the plurality of uplink resources by being configured to cause the radio interface to: communicate each of the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit as distributed over a plurality of physical resource blocks. In some embodiments of this aspect, the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the radio interface to communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface to:

communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload in a Physical Uplink Control Channel, PUCCH. In some embodiments of this aspect, the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the radio interface to communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface to: communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload in a sequence-based Physical Uplink Control Channel, PUCCH, comprising at least two bits. In some embodiments of this aspect, the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the radio interface to communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface to:

communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload as a cyclically shifted Demodulation Reference Signal, DMRS. In some embodiments of this aspect, the communicated bit payload is multiplexed over the plurality of uplink resources with a bit payload of at least one other WD. In some embodiments of this aspect, the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the radio interface to communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface to: communicate each of the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit as distributed over a plurality of frequency domain interlaced physical resource blocks.

In some embodiments of this aspect, the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the radio interface to communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface to:

communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload over an unlicensed radio frequency spectrum. In some embodiments of this aspect, the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the radio interface to communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface to: communicate at least one of the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit as distributed over a non-contiguous set of physical resource blocks, PRBs. In some embodiments of this aspect, the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the radio interface to communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface to: communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload as distributed evenly in frequency over the plurality of uplink resources.

In some embodiments of this aspect, the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the radio interface to communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface to:

communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload as distributed unevenly in frequency over the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments of this aspect, the processing circuitry is further configured to map the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit of the bit payload to the plurality of uplink resources according to an alternating pattern. In some embodiments of this aspect, the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the radio interface to communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface to: communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload as distributed over the plurality of uplink resources according to a priority.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a network node configured to communicate with a wireless device, WD, according to a sequence- based transmission is provided. The network node comprises processing circuitry and a radio interface in communication with the processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to cause the radio interface to: optionally, communicate a first control signal allocating a plurality of uplink resources; and receive a second control signal comprising a bit payload distributed over the plurality of uplink resources such that at least a first bit of the bit payload is communicated over a first subset of the plurality of uplink resources and at least a second bit of the bit payload is

communicated over a second subset of the plurality of uplink resources.

In some embodiments of this aspect, the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the radio interface to receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload as the sequence-based transmission, and each of the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit is represented by at least one cyclic shift. In some embodiments of this aspect, the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the radio interface to receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface to: receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload as the sequence-based transmission, the sequence-based transmission representing the at least the first bit of the bit payload distributed over the first subset of the plurality of uplink resources, and representing the at least the second bit of the bit payload distributed over the second subset of the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments of this aspect, the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the radio interface to receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload distributed over the plurality of uplink resources by being configured to cause the radio interface to: receive each of the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit as distributed over a plurality of physical resource blocks.

In some embodiments of this aspect, the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the radio interface to receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface to: receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload in a Physical Uplink Control Channel, PUCCH. In some embodiments of this aspect, the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the radio interface to receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface to: receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload in a sequence-based Physical Uplink Control Channel, PUCCH, comprising at least two bits. In some embodiments of this aspect, the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the radio interface to receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface to: receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload as a cyclically shifted Demodulation Reference Signal, DMRS.

In some embodiments of this aspect, the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the radio interface to receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface to: receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload from the WD as multiplexed over the plurality of uplink resources with a bit payload of at least one other WD. In some embodiments of this aspect, the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the radio interface to receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface to: receive each of the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit as distributed over a plurality of frequency domain interlaced physical resource blocks. In some embodiments of this aspect, the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the radio interface to receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface to: receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload over an unlicensed radio frequency spectrum. In some embodiments of this aspect, the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the radio interface to receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface to: receive at least one of the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit as distributed over a non-contiguous set of physical resource blocks, PRBs.

In some embodiments of this aspect, the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the radio interface to receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface to: receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload distributed evenly in frequency over the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments of this aspect, the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the radio interface to receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface to: receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload distributed unevenly in frequency over the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments of this aspect, the processing circuitry is further configured to map the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit of the bit payload to the plurality of uplink resources according to an alternating pattern. In some embodiments of this aspect, the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the radio interface to receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface to: receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload distributed over the plurality of uplink resources according to a priority.

According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a method for a wireless device, WD, is provided. The method comprises optionally, receiving a first control signal allocating a plurality of uplink resources; and communicating a second control signal comprising a bit payload distributed over the plurality of uplink resources such that at least a first bit of the bit payload is communicated over a first subset of the plurality of uplink resources, and at least a second bit of the bit payload is communicated over a second subset of the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments of this aspect, the communicating the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises communicating the second control signal comprising the bit payload as a sequence-based transmission, and each of the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit is represented by at least one cyclic shift. In some embodiments of this aspect, the communicating the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises: communicating the second control signal comprising the bit payload as a sequence-based transmission, the sequence-based transmission representing the at least the first bit of the bit payload distributed over the first subset of the plurality of uplink resources and representing the at least the second bit of the bit payload distributed over the second subset of the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments of this aspect, the communicating the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises: communicating each of the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit as distributed over a plurality of physical resource blocks. In some embodiments of this aspect, the communicating the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises: communicating the second control signal comprising the bit payload in a Physical Uplink Control Channel, PUCCH.

In some embodiments of this aspect, the communicating the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises: communicating the second control signal comprising the bit payload in a sequence-based Physical Uplink Control Channel, PUCCH, comprising at least two bits. In some embodiments of this aspect, the communicating the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises: communicating the second control signal comprising the bit payload as a cyclically shifted Demodulation Reference Signal, DMRS. In some embodiments of this aspect, the communicated bit payload is multiplexed over the plurality of uplink resources with a bit payload of at least one other WD. In some embodiments of this aspect, the communicating the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises: communicating each of the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit as distributed over a plurality of frequency domain interlaced physical resource blocks. In some embodiments of this aspect, the communicating the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises: communicating the second control signal comprising the bit payload over an unlicensed radio frequency spectrum.

In some embodiments of this aspect, the communicating the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises: communicating at least one of the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit as distributed over a non contiguous set of physical resource blocks, PRBs. In some embodiments of this aspect, the communicating the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises: communicating the second control signal comprising the bit payload distributed evenly in frequency over the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments of this aspect, the communicating the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises: communicating the second control signal comprising the bit payload distributed unevenly in frequency over the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments of this aspect, the method further comprises mapping the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit of the bit payload to the plurality of uplink resources according to an alternating pattern. In some embodiments of this aspect, the communicating the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises: communicating the second control signal comprising the bit payload distributed over the plurality of uplink resources according to a priority.

According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, a method for a network node is provided. The method comprises optionally, communicating a first control signal allocating a plurality of uplink resources; and receiving a second control signal comprising a bit payload distributed over the plurality of uplink resources such that at least a first bit of the bit payload is communicated over a first subset of the plurality of uplink resources and at least a second bit of the bit payload is communicated over a second subset of the plurality of uplink resources.

In some embodiments of this aspect, the receiving the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises receiving the second control signal comprising the bit payload as a sequence-based transmission, and each of the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit is represented by at least one cyclic shift. In some embodiments of this aspect, the receiving the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises receiving the second control signal comprising the bit payload as a sequence-based transmission, the sequence-based transmission representing the at least the first bit of the bit payload distributed over the first subset of the plurality of uplink resources, and representing the at least the second bit of the bit payload distributed over the second subset of the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments of this aspect, the receiving the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises receiving each of the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit as distributed over a plurality of physical resource blocks. In some embodiments of this aspect, the receiving the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises receiving the second control signal comprising the bit payload in a Physical Uplink Control Channel, PUCCH.

In some embodiments of this aspect, the receiving the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises receiving the second control signal comprising the bit payload in a sequence-based Physical Uplink Control Channel, PUCCH, comprising at least two bits. In some embodiments of this aspect, the receiving the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises receiving the second control signal comprising the bit payload as a cyclically shifted Demodulation Reference Signal, DMRS. In some embodiments of this aspect, the receiving the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises receiving the second control signal comprising the bit payload from a wireless device, WD, the second control signal comprising the bit payload being multiplexed over the plurality of uplink resources with a bit payload of at least one other WD. In some embodiments of this aspect, the receiving the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises receiving each of the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit of the bit payload as distributed over a plurality of frequency domain interlaced physical resource blocks.

In some embodiments of this aspect, the receiving the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises receiving the second control signal comprising the bit payload over an unlicensed radio frequency spectrum. In some embodiments of this aspect, the receiving the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises receiving at least one of the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit as distributed over a non-contiguous set of physical resource blocks, PRBs. In some embodiments of this aspect, the receiving the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises receiving the second control signal comprising the bit payload distributed evenly in frequency over the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments of this aspect, the receiving the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises receiving the second control signal comprising the bit payload distributed unevenly in frequency over the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments of this aspect, the method further comprises mapping the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit of the bit payload to the plurality of uplink resources according to an alternating pattern. In some embodiments of this aspect, the receiving the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises receiving the second control signal comprising the bit payload distributed over the plurality of uplink resources according to a priority.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present embodiments, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary radio resource in a wireless network;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary network architecture illustrating a communication system connected via an intermediate network to a host computer according to the principles in the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a host computer communicating via a network node with a wireless device over an at least partially wireless connection according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node and a wireless device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node and a wireless device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node and a wireless device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node and a wireless device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an exemplary process in a network node according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an exemplary process in a wireless device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 10 illustrates an example bit mapping of bits b_0 and b_l when splitting 2 bits on 10 PRBs according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before describing in detail exemplary embodiments, it is noted that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of apparatus components and processing steps related to uplink channel information distribution on radio resources. Accordingly, components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description.

As used herein, relational terms, such as“first” and“second,”“top” and “bottom,” and the like, may be used solely to distinguish one entity or element from another entity or element without necessarily requiring or implying any physical or logical relationship or order between such entities or elements. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the concepts described herein. As used herein, the singular forms“a”,“an” and“the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,”“comprising,”“includes” and/or“including” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

In embodiments described herein, the joining term,“in communication with” and the like, may be used to indicate electrical or data communication, which may be accomplished by physical contact, induction, electromagnetic radiation, radio signaling, infrared signaling or optical signaling, for example. One having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that multiple components may interoperate and modifications and variations are possible of achieving the electrical and data communication.

In some embodiments described herein, the term“coupled,”“connected,” and the like, may be used herein to indicate a connection, although not necessarily directly, and may include wired and/or wireless connections.

The term“network node” used herein can be any kind of network node comprised in a radio network which may further comprise any of base station (BS), radio base station, base transceiver station (BTS), base station controller (BSC), radio network controller (RNC), g Node B (gNB), evolved Node B (eNB or eNodeB), Node B, multi-standard radio (MSR) radio node such as MSR BS, multi-cell/multicast coordination entity (MCE), relay node, integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node, donor node controlling relay, radio access point (AP), transmission points, transmission nodes, Remote Radio Unit (RRU) Remote Radio Head (RRH), a core network node (e.g., mobile management entity (MME), self-organizing network (SON) node, a coordinating node, positioning node, MDT node, etc.), an external node (e.g., 3rd party node, a node external to the current network), nodes in distributed antenna system (DAS), a spectrum access system (SAS) node, an element management system (EMS), etc. The network node may also comprise test equipment. The term“radio node” used herein may be used to also denote a wireless device (WD) such as a wireless device (WD) or a radio network node.

In some embodiments, the non-limiting terms wireless device (WD) or a user equipment (UE) are used interchangeably. The WD herein can be any type of wireless device capable of communicating with a network node or another WD over radio signals, such as wireless device (WD). The WD may also be a radio communication device, target device, device to device (D2D) WD, machine type WD or WD capable of machine to machine communication (M2M), low-cost and/or low-complexity WD, a sensor equipped with WD, Tablet, mobile terminals, smart phone, laptop embedded equipped (LEE), laptop mounted equipment (LME), USB dongles, Customer Premises Equipment (CPE), an Internet of Things (IoT) device, or a Narrowband IoT (NB-IOT) device etc.

Also, in some embodiments the generic term“radio network node” is used. It can be any kind of a radio network node which may comprise any of base station, radio base station, base transceiver station, base station controller, network controller, RNC, evolved Node B (eNB), Node B, gNB, Multi-cell/multicast Coordination Entity (MCE), relay node, IAB node, access point, radio access point, Remote Radio Unit (RRU) Remote Radio Head (RRH).

Note that although terminology from one particular wireless system, such as, for example, 3 GPP LTE and/or New Radio (NR), may be used in this disclosure, this should not be seen as limiting the scope of the disclosure to only the aforementioned system. Other wireless systems, including without limitation Wide Band Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) and Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), may also benefit from exploiting the ideas covered within this disclosure.

Note further, that functions described herein as being performed by a wireless device or a network node may be distributed over a plurality of wireless devices and/or network nodes. In other words, it is contemplated that the functions of the network node and wireless device described herein are not limited to performance by a single physical device and, in fact, can be distributed among several physical devices.

In some embodiments, the terms“payload of information,”“bit payload,” “payload of bits,”“information bits,” and the like may be used herein interchangeably and may be used to indicate one or more bits represented by one or more cyclic shifts or other sequence-based transmission. For example, a sequence-based transmission (i.e., a transmitted sequence) may be generated by, for example, different phase rotations of the same underlying fixed length (e.g., length-l2) base sequence. Thus, the phase rotation applied to the base sequence may be considered to carry or communicate the bit information. In other words, the information/bit(s) determines which one of several phase-rotated sequences may be used for the signal transmission.

In some embodiments, an interlace of resource blocks may be a plurality of uplink resources spread over an available bandwidth. In some embodiments, the interlace of resources may include equally spaced resource blocks within a predetermined frequency bandwidth.

In some embodiments, for a WD, different sets of resources may be configured for control information and/or transmission on a physical control channel like PUCCH or PSCCH. The sets may be configured with control signaling, in particular RRC layer signaling and/or semi-statically, e.g. by a signaling radio node or node arrangement (e.g., network node). Each set may comprise one or more resources. Different sets may comprise different numbers of resources, or the same. A resource may be an indicatable resource, and/or may be pointed to an indicator, which may be transmitted in control signaling by e.g., network node, to be received by the WD. Such an indicator may for example be an ARI or UCI pointer or other indicator. The (maximum) number of resources in a set (indicatable resources) may correspond to the number of resources indicatable with such an indicator, e.g. based in its size in bits. For example, the number may be a multiple or power of 2, e.g. 2 or 4. Each set may be associated to a control information size class and/or an associated format. The size class may for example indicate a payload size for the information, or a part thereof, e.g. acknowledgement information, and/or a range of sizes. One or more of the size classes and/or ranges may be configurable, e.g. semi-statically or with RRC signaling. In some embodiments, the payload may include, for example, PUCCH information, PUSCH information, uplink control information (UCI), a DMRS, etc. In some embodiments, the payload may include information corresponding to a sequence-based channel.

A transmission resource may be a time and/or frequency resource, e.g., a resource element or a group of resource elements. A resource may extend in time over one or more symbols, e.g. within a slot or in some cases, across one or more slot boundaries. It may be considered that a resource extends in time over one or more subcarriers, and/or one or more physical resource blocks. In some cases, a resource may be equal or shorter in time domain than a slot duration (which may be 14 symbols, or another value, e.g. a value below 20 symbols). A resource may be configured for, and/or be associated to, a channel, e.g. a control channel, which may be a physical channel, e.g. a PUCCH or PSCCH, and/or for a specific type of control information or signaling. One or more specific transmission message formats may be associated to a resource. Such a format may for example specify payload size and/or size range, and/or structure, and/or modulation and coding, and/or repetition rate and/or code rate and/or duration of transmission, e.g. of a message. A resource may be larger (in time and/or frequency) than necessary to carry associated and/or configured control information.

In some embodiments, a set of resources (e.g., the plurality of uplink resources), and/or the sets of resources, may be configured by, e.g., network node 16, with one or more messages, e.g. semi-statically and/or with RRC signaling, and/or dynamically, e.g. with physical layer signaling, like DCI or SCI signaling. It may be considered that a set of resources is configured with semi-static and/or RRC layer signaling, and one of the resources may be indicated (configured) with dynamic and/or physical layer signaling. This may particularly be performed for resource/s associated to, and/or configured for, acknowledgement information. Generally, it may be considered that the network, e.g., a signaling radio node and/or node arrangement (e.g., network node), configures a WD, in particular with the transmission resources.

A resource may in general be configured with one or more messages. Different resources may be configured with different messages, and/or with messages on different layers or layer combinations. The size of a resource maybe represented in symbols and/or subcarriers and/or resource elements and/or physical resource blocks (depending on domain), and/or in number of bits it may carry, e.g. information or payload bits, or total number of bits. The set of resources, and/or the resources of the sets, may pertain to the same carrier and/or bandwidth part, and/or may be located in the same slot, or in neighboring slots.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that terms used herein should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of this specification and the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

Some embodiments provide methods and apparatuses for increasing multiplexing for sequence-based transmission formats by distributing payload bits over the available PRBs. In some embodiments, a multiplexing capacity of the system may be increased for sequence-based transmissions by distributing the transmitted payload bits over the available physical resource blocks freeing up cyclic shift resources to be used for multiplexing. Some embodiments can also be used to increase a size of the payload by transmitting different sets of bits on different PRBs. Some embodiments of the disclosure may result in increased possible payloads for sequence-based transmission formats in an unlicensed radio frequency spectrum.

Returning to the drawing figures, in which like elements are referred to by like reference numerals, there is shown in FIG. 2 a schematic diagram of a communication system 10, according to an embodiment, such as a 3GPP-type cellular network that may support standards such as LTE and/or NR (5G), which comprises an access network 12, such as a radio access network, and a core network 14. The access network 12 comprises a plurality of network nodes l6a, l6b, l6c (referred to collectively as network nodes 16), such as NBs, eNBs, gNBs or other types of wireless access points, each defining a corresponding coverage area l8a, 18b, l8c (referred to collectively as coverage areas 18). Each network node l6a, l6b, l6c is connectable to the core network 14 over a wired or wireless connection 20. A first wireless device (WD) 22a located in coverage area l8a is configured to wirelessly connect to, or be paged by, the corresponding network node l6c. A second WD 22b in coverage area 18b is wirelessly connectable to the corresponding network node l6a. While a plurality of WDs 22a, 22b (collectively referred to as wireless devices 22) are illustrated in this example, the disclosed embodiments are equally applicable to a situation where a sole WD is in the coverage area or where a sole WD is connecting to the corresponding network node 16. Note that although only two WDs 22 and three network nodes 16 are shown for convenience, the communication system may include many more WDs 22 and network nodes 16.

Also, it is contemplated that a WD 22 can be in simultaneous communication and/or configured to separately communicate with more than one network node 16 and more than one type of network node 16. For example, a WD 22 can have dual connectivity with a network node 16 that supports LTE and the same or a different network node 16 that supports NR. As an example, WD 22 can be in communication with an eNB for LTE/E-UTRAN and a gNB for NR/NG-RAN.

The communication system 10 may itself be connected to a host computer 24, which maybe 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. The host computer 24 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. The connections 26, 28 between the communication system 10 and the host computer 24 may extend directly from the core network 14 to the host computer 24 or may extend via an optional intermediate network 30. The intermediate network 30 may be one of, or a combination of more than one of, a public, private or hosted network. The intermediate network 30, if any, may be a backbone network or the Internet. In some embodiments, the intermediate network 30 may comprise two or more sub-networks (not shown).

The communication system of FIG. 2 as a whole enables connectivity between one of the connected WDs 22a, 22b and the host computer 24. The connectivity may be described as an over-the-top (OTT) connection. The host computer 24 and the connected WDs 22a, 22b are configured to communicate data and/or signaling via the OTT connection, using the access network 12, the core network 14, any intermediate network 30 and possible further infrastructure (not shown) as intermediaries. The OTT connection may be transparent in the sense that at least some of the participating communication devices through which the OTT connection passes are unaware of routing of uplink and downlink communications. For example, a network node 16 may not or need not be informed about the past routing of an incoming downlink communication with data originating from a host computer 24 to be forwarded (e.g., handed over) to a connected WD 22a. Similarly, the network node 16 need not be aware of the future routing of an outgoing uplink communication originating from the WD 22a towards the host computer 24.

A network node 16 is configured to include an allocation unit 32 which is configured to cause the radio interface to optionally, communicate a first control signal allocating a plurality of uplink resources. The allocation unit 32 is configured to cause the radio interface to receive a second control signal comprising a bit payload distributed over the plurality of uplink resources such that at least a first bit of the bit payload is communicated over a first subset of the plurality of uplink resources and at least a second bit of the bit payload is communicated over a second subset of the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments, the allocation unit 32 maybe hardware associated with the network node 16, such as processing circuitry discussed herein below for the network node 16, which may implement methods discussed herein below for the network node 16. In some embodiments, the allocation unit 32 may be considered an allocator.

A wireless device 22 is configured to include a payload unit 34 which is configured to cause the radio interface to optionally, receive a first control signal allocating a plurality of uplink resources. The payload unit 34 is configured to cause the radio interface to communicate a second control signal comprising a bit payload distributed over the plurality of uplink resources such that at least a first bit of the bit payload is communicated over a first subset of the plurality of uplink resources, and at least a second bit of the bit payload is communicated over a second subset of the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments, the payload unit 34 may be hardware associated with the WD 22, such as processing circuitry discussed herein below for the WD 22, which may implement methods discussed herein below for the WD 22. In some embodiments, the payload unit 34 maybe considered a

communicator.

Example implementations, in accordance with an embodiment, of the WD 22, network node 16 and host computer 24 discussed in the preceding paragraphs will now be described with reference to FIG. 2. In a communication system 10, a host computer 24 comprises hardware (HW) 38 including a communication interface 40 configured to set up and maintain a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of the communication system 10. The host computer 24 further comprises processing circuitry 42, which may have storage and/or processing capabilities. The processing circuitry 42 may include a processor 44 and memory 46. In particular, in addition to or instead of a processor, such as a central processing unit, and memory, the processing circuitry 42 may comprise integrated circuitry for processing and/or control, e.g., one or more processors and/or processor cores and/or FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Array) and/or ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuitry) adapted to execute instructions. The processor 44 may be configured to access (e.g., write to and/or read from) memory 46, which may comprise any kind of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory, e.g., cache and/or buffer memory and/or RAM (Random Access Memory) and/or ROM (Read- Only Memory) and/or optical memory and/or EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory).

Processing circuitry 42 may be configured to control any of the methods and/or processes described herein and/or to cause such methods, and/or processes to be performed, e.g., by host computer 24. Processor 44 corresponds to one or more processors 44 for performing host computer 24 functions described herein. The host computer 24 includes memory 46 that is configured to store data, programmatic software code and/or other information described herein. In some embodiments, the software 48 and/or the host application 50 may include instructions that, when executed by the processor 44 and/or processing circuitry 42, causes the processor 44 and/or processing circuitry 42 to perform the processes described herein with respect to host computer 24. The instructions may be software associated with the host computer 24.

The software 48 may be executable by the processing circuitry 42. The software 48 includes a host application 50. The host application 50 may be operable to provide a service to a remote user, such as a WD 22 connecting via an OTT connection 52 terminating at the WD 22 and the host computer 24. In providing the service to the remote user, the host application 50 may provide user data which is transmitted using the OTT connection 52. The“user data” may be data and information described herein as implementing the described functionality. In one embodiment, the host computer 24 may be configured for providing control and functionality to a service provider and may be operated by the service provider or on behalf of the service provider. The processing circuitry 42 of the host computer 24 may enable the host computer 24 to observe, monitor, control, transmit to and/or receive from the network node 16 and/or the wireless device 22. The processing circuitry 42 of the host computer 24 may include a monitoring unit 54 configured to enable the service provider to observe, monitor, control, and/or transmit to/receive from the network node 16 and or/the wireless device 22.

The communication system 10 further includes a network node 16 provided in a communication system 10 and comprising hardware 58 enabling it to communicate with the host computer 24 and with the WD 22. The hardware 58 may include a communication interface 60 for setting up and maintaining a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of the

communication system 10, as well as a radio interface 62 for setting up and maintaining at least a wireless connection 64 with a WD 22 located in a coverage area 18 served by the network node 16. The radio interface 62 may be formed as or may include, for example, one or more RF transmitters, one or more RF receivers, and/or one or more RF transceivers. The communication interface 60 may be configured to facilitate a connection 66 to the host computer 24. The connection 66 may be direct or it may pass through a core network 14 of the communication system 10 and/or through one or more intermediate networks 30 outside the communication system 10.

In the embodiment shown, the hardware 58 of the network node 16 further includes processing circuitry 68. The processing circuitry 68 may include a processor 70 and a memory 72. In particular, in addition to or instead of a processor, such as a central processing unit, and memory, the processing circuitry 68 may comprise integrated circuitry for processing and/or control, e.g., one or more processors and/or processor cores and/or FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Array) and/or ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuitry) adapted to execute instructions. The processor 70 may be configured to access (e.g., write to and/or read from) the memory 72, which may comprise any kind of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory, e.g., cache and/or buffer memory and/or RAM (Random Access Memory) and/or ROM (Read-Only Memory) and/or optical memory and/or EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory).

Thus, the network node 16 iurther has software 74 stored internally in, for example, memory 72, or stored in external memory (e.g., database, storage array, network storage device, etc.) accessible by the network node 16 via an external connection. The software 74 may be executable by the processing circuitry 68. The processing circuitry 68 may be configured to control any of the methods and/or processes described herein and/or to cause such methods, and/or processes to be performed, e.g., by network node 16. Processor 70 corresponds to one or more processors 70 for performing network node 16 functions described herein. The memory 72 is configured to store data, programmatic software code and/or other information described herein. In some embodiments, the software 74 may include instructions that, when executed by the processor 70 and/or processing circuitry 68, causes the processor 70 and/or processing circuitry 68 to perform the processes described herein with respect to network node 16. For example, processing circuitry 68 of the network node 16 may include allocation unit 32 configured to cause the radio interface 62 to, optionally, communicate a first control signal allocating a plurality of uplink resources. The allocation unit 32 is configured to cause the radio interface 62 to receive a second control signal comprising a bit payload distributed over the plurality of uplink resources such that at least a first bit of the bit payload is communicated over a first subset of the plurality of uplink resources and at least a second bit of the bit payload is communicated over a second subset of the plurality of uplink resources.

In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 68 is further configured to cause the radio interface 62 to receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload as the sequence-based transmission, and each of the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit is represented by at least one cyclic shift. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 68 is further configured to cause the radio interface 62 to receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface 62 to: receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload as the sequence-based transmission, the sequence-based transmission representing the at least the first bit of the bit payload distributed over the first subset of the plurality of uplink resources, and representing the at least the second bit of the bit payload distributed over the second subset of the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 68 is further configured to cause the radio interface 62 to receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload distributed over the plurality of uplink resources by being configured to cause the radio interface 62 to: receive each of the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit as distributed over a plurality of physical resource blocks. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 68 is further configured to cause the radio interface 62 to receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface 62 to: receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload in a Physical Uplink Control Channel, PUCCH.

In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 68 is further configured to cause the radio interface 62 to receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface 62 to: receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload in a sequence-based Physical Uplink Control Channel, PUCCH, comprising at least two bits. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 68 is further configured to cause the radio interface 62 to receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface 62 to: receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload as a cyclically shifted Demodulation Reference Signal, DMRS. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 68 is further configured to cause the radio interface 62 to receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface 62 to: receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload from the WD as multiplexed over the plurality of uplink resources with a bit payload of at least one other WD. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 68 is further configured to cause the radio interface 62 to receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface 62 to: receive each of the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit as distributed over a plurality of frequency domain interlaced physical resource blocks.

In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 68 is further configured to cause the radio interface 62 to receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface 62 to: receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload over an unlicensed radio frequency spectrum. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 68 is further configured to cause the radio interface 62 to receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface 62 to: receive at least one of the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit as distributed over a non contiguous set of physical resource blocks, PRBs. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 68 is further configured to cause the radio interface 62 to receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface 62 to: receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload distributed evenly in frequency over the plurality of uplink resources.

In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 68 is further configured to cause the radio interface 62 to receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface 62 to: receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload distributed unevenly in frequency over the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 68 is further configured to map the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit of the bit payload to the plurality of uplink resources according to an alternating pattern. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 68 is further configured to cause the radio interface 62 to receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface 62 to: receive the second control signal comprising the bit payload distributed over the plurality of uplink resources according to a priority.

In another embodiment, allocation unit 32 is configured to communicate, to the WD 22, a control signal allocating a plurality of uplink resources for the WD 22 to transmit a payload of information; and receive, from the WD 22, the payload of information distributed over the plurality of uplink resources such that a first portion of the payload is received over a first subset of the plurality of uplink resources and a second portion of the payload is received over a second subset of the plurality of uplink resources.

In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 68 is configured to receive the payload of information by being iiirther configured to receive the payload of information over an unlicensed radio frequency spectrum. In some embodiments, the first portion of the payload is different from the second portion of the payload. In some embodiments, the first subset of the plurality of uplink resources is different from the second subset of the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments, the plurality of uplink resources is a plurality of physical resource blocks. In some embodiments, the plurality of uplink resources is an interlace of physical resource blocks. In some embodiments, the payload of information is one or more information bits. In some embodiments, the payload of information includes at least one information bit represented by a predetermined number of cyclic shifts. In some embodiments, the payload of information corresponds to information in a sequence- based channel. In some embodiments, the payload of information corresponds to information in a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH). In some embodiments, the payload of information includes a Demodulation Reference Signal. In some embodiments, the payload of information is represented by a cyclic shift. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 68 is further configured to allocate the plurality of uplink resources as at least ten physical resource blocks for the WD 22 to communicate each bit of the payload of information over less than all of the at least ten physical resource blocks. In some embodiments, the payload of information is multiplexed over the plurality of uplink resources with payloads of other WDs 22. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 68 is configured to receive the payload of information by being further configured to receive the payload of information as distributed evenly in frequency over the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 68 is configured to receive the payload of information by being further configured to receive a first half of the payload over the first subset of the plurality of uplink resources and a second half of the payload over the second subset of the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments, wherein the first portion and the second portion of the payload are mapped according to an alternating pattern of uplink resources of the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments, the payload of information is distributed over the plurality of uplink resources according to a priority associated with at least one of the first portion and the second portion.

The communication system 10 further includes the WD 22 already referred to. The WD 22 may have hardware 80 that may include a radio interface 82 configured to set up and maintain a wireless connection 64 with a network node 16 serving a coverage area 18 in which the WD 22 is currently located. The radio interface 82 may be formed as or may include, for example, one or more RF transmitters, one or more RF receivers, and/or one or more RF transceivers.

The hardware 80 of the WD 22 further includes processing circuitry 84. The processing circuitry 84 may include a processor 86 and memory 88. In particular, in addition to or instead of a processor, such as a central processing unit, and memory, the processing circuitry 84 may comprise integrated circuitry for processing and/or control, e.g., one or more processors and/or processor cores and/or FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Array) and/or ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuitry) adapted to execute instructions. The processor 86 may be configured to access (e.g., write to and/or read from) memory 88, which may comprise any kind of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory, e.g., cache and/or buffer memory and/or RAM (Random Access Memory) and/or ROM (Read-Only Memory) and/or optical memory and/or EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory).

Thus, the WD 22 may further comprise software 90, which is stored in, for example, memory 88 at the WD 22, or stored in external memory (e.g., database, storage array, network storage device, etc.) accessible by the WD 22. The software 90 maybe executable by the processing circuitry 84. The software 90 may include a client application 92. The client application 92 may be operable to provide a service to a human or non-human user via the WD 22, with the support of the host computer 24. In the host computer 24, an executing host application 50 may communicate with the executing client application 92 via the OTT connection 52 terminating at the WD 22 and the host computer 24. In providing the service to the user, the client application 92 may receive request data from the host application 50 and provide user data in response to the request data. The OTT connection 52 may transfer both the request data and the user data. The client application 92 may interact with the user to generate the user data that it provides.

The processing circuitry 84 may be configured to control any of the methods and/or processes described herein and/or to cause such methods, and/or processes to be performed, e.g., by WD 22. The processor 86 corresponds to one or more processors 86 for performing WD 22 functions described herein. The WD 22 includes memory 88 that is configured to store data, programmatic software code and/or other information described herein. In some embodiments, the software 90 and/or the client application 92 may include instructions that, when executed by the processor 86 and/or processing circuitry 84, causes the processor 86 and/or processing circuitry 84 to perform the processes described herein with respect to WD 22. For example, the processing circuitry 84 of the wireless device 22 may include a payload unit 34 configured to cause the radio interface 82 to optionally, receive a first control signal allocating a plurality of uplink resources. The payload unit 34 is configured to cause the radio interface 82 to communicate a second control signal comprising a bit payload distributed over the plurality of uplink resources such that at least a first bit of the bit payload is communicated over a first subset of the plurality of uplink resources, and at least a second bit of the bit payload is communicated over a second subset of the plurality of uplink resources.

In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 84 is further configured to cause the radio interface 82 to communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload as the sequence-based transmission, and each of the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit is represented by at least one cyclic shift. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 84 is further configured to cause the radio interface 82 to communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface 82 to: communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload as the sequence-based transmission, the sequence- based transmission representing the at least the first bit of the bit payload distributed over the first subset of the plurality of uplink resources and representing the at least the second bit of the bit payload distributed over the second subset of the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 84 is further configured to cause the radio interface 82 to communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload distributed over the plurality of uplink resources by being configured to cause the radio interface 82 to: communicate each of the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit as distributed over a plurality of physical resource blocks. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 84 is further configured to cause the radio interface 82 to communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface 82 to: communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload in a Physical Uplink Control Channel, PUCCH.

In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 84 is further configured to cause the radio interface 82 to communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface 82 to: communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload in a sequence-based Physical Uplink Control Channel, PUCCH, comprising at least two bits. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 84 is further configured to cause the radio interface 82 to communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface 82 to: communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload as a cyclically shifted Demodulation Reference Signal, DMRS. ln some embodiments, the communicated bit payload is multiplexed over the plurality of uplink resources with a bit payload of at least one other WD. ln some embodiments, the processing circuitry 84 is further configured to cause the radio interface 82 to communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface 82 to: communicate each of the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit as distributed over a plurality of frequency domain interlaced physical resource blocks ln some embodiments, the processing circuitry 84 is further configured to cause the radio interface 82 to communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface 82 to: communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload over an unlicensed radio frequency spectrum.

ln some embodiments, the processing circuitry 84 is further configured to cause the radio interface 82 to communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface 82 to: communicate at least one of the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit as distributed over a non-contiguous set of physical resource blocks, PRBs. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 84 is further configured to cause the radio interface 82 to communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface 82 to: communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload as distributed evenly in frequency over the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 84 is further configured to cause the radio interface 82 to communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface 82 to: communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload as distributed unevenly in frequency over the plurality of uplink resources ln some embodiments, the processing circuitry 84 is further configured to map the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit of the bit payload to the plurality of uplink resources according to an alternating pattern. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 84 is further configured to cause the radio interface 82 to communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload by being configured to cause the radio interface 82 to: communicate the second control signal comprising the bit payload as distributed over the plurality of uplink resources according to a priority.

In another embodiment, payload unit 34 is configured to receive a control signal allocating a plurality of uplink resources for the WD to transmit a payload of information ; and communicate, to the network node 16 via the radio interface 82, the payload of information distributed over the plurality of uplink resources such that a first portion of the payload is transmitted over a first subset of the plurality of uplink resources and a second portion of the payload is transmitted over a second subset of the plurality of uplink resources.

In some embodiments, the communication of the payload of information to the network node is over an unlicensed radio frequency spectrum. In some embodiments, the first portion of the payload is different from the second portion of the payload. In some embodiments, the first subset of the plurality of uplink resources is different from the second subset of the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments, the plurality of uplink resources is a plurality of physical resource blocks. In some embodiments, the plurality of uplink resources is an interlace of physical resource blocks. In some embodiments, the payload of information is one or more information bits. In some embodiments, the payload of information includes at least one information bit represented by a predetermined number of cyclic shifts. In some embodiments, the payload of information corresponds to information in a sequence- based channel. In some embodiments, the payload of information corresponds to information in a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH). In some embodiments, the payload of information includes a Demodulation Reference Signal. In some embodiments, the payload of information is represented by a cyclic shift. In some embodiments, the plurality of uplink resources includes at least ten physical resource blocks and each bit of the payload of information is communicated over less than all of the at least ten physical resource blocks. In some embodiments, the payload of information is multiplexed over the plurality of uplink resources with payloads of other WDs 22. In some embodiments, the payload of information is distributed evenly in frequency over the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments, the first portion of the payload is a first half of the payload and the second portion of the payload is a second half of the payload, the first half of the payload being transmitted over the first subset of the plurality of uplink resources and the second half of the payload being transmitted over the second subset of the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments, the first portion and the second portion of the payload are mapped according to an alternating pattern of uplink resources of the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments, the payload of information is distributed over the plurality of uplink resources according to a priority associated with at least one of the first portion and the second portion.

In some embodiments, the inner workings of the network node 16, WD 22, and host computer 24 maybe as shown in FIG. 3 and independently, the surrounding network topology may be that of FIG. 2.

In FIG. 3, the OTT connection 52 has been drawn abstractly to illustrate the communication between the host computer 24 and the wireless device 22 via the network node 16, 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 the WD 22 or from the service provider operating the host computer 24, or both. While the OTT connection 52 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).

The wireless connection 64 between the WD 22 and the network node 16 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 the WD 22 using the OTT connection 52, in which the wireless connection 64 may form the last segment. More precisely, the teachings of some 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, extended battery lifetime, etc.

In some embodiments, 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 the OTT connection 52 between the host computer 24 and WD 22, in response to variations in the measurement results. The measurement procedure and/or the network functionality for reconfiguring the OTT connection 52 may be implemented in the software 48 of the host computer 24 or in the software 90 of the WD 22, or both ln embodiments, sensors (not shown) may be deployed in or in association with communication devices through which the OTT connection 52 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 48, 90 may compute or estimate the monitored quantities. The reconfiguring of the OTT connection 52 may include message format, retransmission settings, preferred routing etc.; the reconfiguring need not affect the network node 16, and it may be unknown or imperceptible to the network node 16. Some such procedures and functionalities may be known and practiced in the art. ln certain embodiments, measurements may involve proprietary WD signaling facilitating the host computer’s 24 measurements of throughput, propagation times, latency and the like ln some embodiments, the measurements may be implemented in that the software 48, 90 causes messages to be transmitted, in particular empty or ‘dummy’ messages, using the OTT connection 52 while it monitors propagation times, errors etc.

Thus, in some embodiments, the host computer 24 includes processing circuitry 42 configured to provide user data and a communication interface 40 that is configured to forward the user data to a cellular network for transmission to the WD 22. In some embodiments, the cellular network also includes the network node 16 with a radio interface 62. In some embodiments, the network node 16 is configured to, and/or the network node’s 16 processing circuitry 68 is configured to perform the functions and/or methods described herein for

preparing/initiating/maintaining/supporting/ending a transmission to the WD 22, and/or preparing/terminating/maintaining/supporting/ending in receipt of a transmission from the WD 22.

In some embodiments, the host computer 24 includes processing circuitry 42 and a communication interface 40 that is configured to a communication interface 40 configured to receive user data originating from a transmission from a WD 22 to a network node 16. In some embodiments, the WD 22 is configured to, and/or comprises a radio interface 82 and/or processing circuitry 84 configured to perform the functions and/or methods described herein for

preparing/initiating/maintaining/supporting/ending a transmission to the network node 16, and/or preparing/terminating/maintaining/supporting/ending in receipt of a transmission from the network node 16.

Although FIGS. 2 and 3 show various“units” such as an allocation unit 32, and payload unit 34 as being within a respective processor, it is contemplated that these units may be implemented such that a portion of the unit is stored in a corresponding memory within the processing circuitry. In other words, the units may be implemented in hardware or in a combination of hardware and software within the processing circuitry.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method implemented in a communication system, such as, for example, the communication system of FIGS. 2 and 3, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer 24, a network node 16 and a WD 22, which maybe those described with reference to FIG. 3. In a first step of the method, the host computer 24 provides user data (block S100). In an optional substep of the first step, the host computer 24 provides the user data by executing a host application, such as, for example, the host application 74 (block S102). In a second step, the host computer 24 initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the WD 22 (block S104). In an optional third step, the network node 16 transmits to the WD 22 the user data which was carried in the transmission that the host computer 24 initiated, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure (block S106). In an optional fourth step, the WD 22 executes a client application, such as, for example, the client application 114, associated with the host application 74 executed by the host computer 24 (block S108).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method implemented in a communication system, such as, for example, the communication system of FIG. 2, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer 24, a network node 16 and a WD 22, which may be those described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. In a first step of the method, the host computer 24 provides user data (block Sl 10). In an optional substep (not shown) the host computer 24 provides the user data by executing a host application, such as, for example, the host application 74. In a second step, the host computer 24 initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the WD 22 (block Sl 12). The transmission may pass via the network node 16, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In an optional third step, the WD 22 receives the user data carried in the transmission (block Sl 14).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method implemented in a communication system, such as, for example, the communication system of FIG. 2, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer 24, a network node 16 and a WD 22, which may be those described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. In an optional first step of the method, the WD 22 receives input data provided by the host computer 24 (block Sl 16). In an optional substep of the first step, the WD 22 executes the client application 114, which provides the user data in reaction to the received input data provided by the host computer 24 (block Sl 18). Additionally or alternatively, in an optional second step, the WD 22 provides user data (block S120). In an optional substep of the second step, the WD provides the user data by executing a client application, such as, for example, client application 114 (block S122). In providing the user data, the executed client application 114 may further consider user input received from the user. Regardless of the specific manner in which the user data was provided, the WD 22 may initiate, in an optional third substep, transmission of the user data to the host computer 24 (block S124). In a fourth step of the method, the host computer 24 receives the user data transmitted from the WD 22, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure (block S126).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method implemented in a communication system, such as, for example, the communication system of FIG. 2, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer 24, a network node 16 and a WD 22, which may be those described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. In an optional first step of the method, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure, the network node 16 receives user data from the WD 22 (block S128). In an optional second step, the network node 16 initiates transmission of the received user data to the host computer 24 (block S130). In a third step, the host computer 24 receives the user data carried in the transmission initiated by the network node 16 (block S132).

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an exemplary process in a network node 16. One or more Blocks and/or functions and/or methods performed by the network node 16 may be performed by one or more elements of network node 16 such as by allocation unit 32 in processing circuitry 68, processor 70, radio interface 62, etc. according to the example method. The example method optionally includes, communicating (Block S134), such as via allocation unit 32, processing circuitry 68, radio interface 62, a first control signal allocating a plurality of uplink resources. The method includes receiving (Block S136), such as via allocation unit 32, processing circuitry 68, radio interface 62, a second control signal comprising a bit payload distributed over the plurality of uplink resources such that at least a first bit of the bit payload is communicated over a first subset of the plurality of uplink resources and at least a second bit of the bit payload is communicated over a second subset of the plurality of uplink resources.

In some embodiments, the receiving the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises receiving, such as via allocation unit 32, processing circuitry 68, radio interface 62, the second control signal comprising the bit payload as a sequence-based transmission, and each of the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit is represented by at least one cyclic shift. In some embodiments, the receiving the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises receiving, such as via allocation unit 32, processing circuitry 68, radio interface 62, the second control signal comprising the bit payload as a sequence-based

transmission, the sequence-based transmission representing the at least the first bit of the bit payload distributed over the first subset of the plurality of uplink resources, and representing the at least the second bit of the bit payload distributed over the second subset of the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments, the receiving the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises receiving, such as via allocation unit 32, processing circuitry 68, radio interface 62, each of the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit as distributed over a plurality of physical resource blocks. In some embodiments, the receiving the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises receiving the second control signal comprising the bit payload in a Physical Uplink Control Channel, PUCCH. In some embodiments, the receiving the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises receiving, such as via allocation unit 32, processing circuitry 68, radio interface 62, the second control signal comprising the bit payload in a sequence-based Physical Uplink Control Channel, PUCCH, comprising at least two bits.

In some embodiments, the receiving the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises receiving, such as via allocation unit 32, processing circuitry 68, radio interface 62, the second control signal comprising the bit payload as a cyclically shifted Demodulation Reference Signal, DMRS. In some

embodiments, the receiving the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises receiving, such as via allocation unit 32, processing circuitry 68, radio interface 62, the second control signal comprising the bit payload from a wireless device, WD, the second control signal comprising the bit payload being multiplexed over the plurality of uplink resources with a bit payload of at least one other WD. In some embodiments, the receiving the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises receiving, such as via allocation unit 32, processing circuitry 68, radio interface 62, each of the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit of the bit payload as distributed over a plurality of frequency domain interlaced physical resource blocks. In some embodiments, the receiving the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises receiving, such as via allocation unit 32, processing circuitry 68, radio interface 62, the second control signal comprising the bit payload over an unlicensed radio frequency spectrum. In some embodiments, the receiving the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises receiving, such as via allocation unit 32, processing circuitry 68, radio interface 62, at least one of the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit as distributed over a non-contiguous set of physical resource blocks, PRBs.

In some embodiments, the receiving the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises receiving, such as via allocation unit 32, processing circuitry 68, radio interface 62, the second control signal comprising the bit payload distributed evenly in frequency over the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments, the receiving the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises receiving, such as via allocation unit 32, processing circuitry 68, radio interface 62, the second control signal comprising the bit payload distributed unevenly in frequency over the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments, the method further comprises mapping, such as via allocation unit 32, processing circuitry 68, radio interface 62, the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit of the bit payload to the plurality of uplink resources according to an alternating pattern. In some embodiments, the receiving the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises receiving the second control signal comprising the bit payload distributed over the plurality of uplink resources according to a priority.

In another embodiment, an example method includes communicating, to a WD 22, a control signal allocating a plurality of uplink resources for the WD 22 to transmit a payload of information; and receiving, from the WD 22, the payload of information distributed over the plurality of uplink resources such that a first portion of the payload is received over a first subset of the plurality of uplink resources and a second portion of the payload is received over a second subset of the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments, receiving the payload of information further comprises receiving the payload of information over an unlicensed radio frequency spectrum. In some embodiments, the first portion of the payload is different from the second portion of the payload. In some embodiments, the first subset of the plurality of uplink resources is different from the second subset of the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments, the plurality of uplink resources is a plurality of physical resource blocks. In some embodiments, the plurality of uplink resources is an interlace of physical resource blocks. In some embodiments, the payload of information is one or more information bits. In some embodiments, the payload of information includes at least one information bit represented by a predetermined number of cyclic shifts. In some embodiments, the payload of information corresponds to information in a sequence-based channel. In some embodiments, the payload of information corresponds to information in a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH). In some embodiments, the payload of information includes a Demodulation Reference Signal. In some embodiments, the payload of information is represented by a cyclic shift. In some embodiments, the method further includes allocating the plurality of uplink resources as at least ten physical resource blocks for the WD 22 to communicate each bit of the payload of information over less than all of the at least ten physical resource blocks. In some embodiments, the payload of information is multiplexed over the plurality of uplink resources with payloads of other WDs 22. In some embodiments, receiving the payload of information further comprises receiving the payload of information as distributed evenly in frequency over the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments, receiving the payload of information further comprises receiving a first half of the payload over the first subset of the plurality of uplink resources and a second half of the payload over the second subset of the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments, the first portion and the second portion of the payload are mapped according to an alternating pattern of uplink resources of the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments, the payload of information is distributed over the plurality of uplink resources according to a priority associated with at least one of the first portion and the second portion.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an exemplary process in a WD 22. One or more Blocks and/or functions and/or methods performed by WD 22 may be performed by one or more elements of WD 22 such as by payload unit 34 in processing circuitry 84, processor 86, radio interface 82, etc. The method optionally includes receiving (Block S138), such as via payload unit 34, processing circuitry 84, radio interface 82, a first control signal allocating a plurality of uplink resources. The method includes communicating (Block S140), such as via payload unit 34, processing circuitry 84, radio interface 82, a second control signal comprising a bit payload distributed over the plurality of uplink resources such that at least a first bit of the bit payload is communicated over a first subset of the plurality of uplink resources, and at least a second bit of the bit payload is communicated over a second subset of the plurality of uplink resources.

In some embodiments, the communicating the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises communicating, such as via payload unit 34, processing circuitry 84, radio interface 82, the second control signal comprising the bit payload as a sequence-based transmission, and each of the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit is represented by at least one cyclic shift. In some embodiments, the communicating the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises communicating, such as via payload unit 34, processing circuitry 84, radio interface 82, the second control signal comprising the bit payload as a sequence-based transmission, the sequence-based transmission representing the at least the first bit of the bit payload distributed over the first subset of the plurality of uplink resources and representing the at least the second bit of the bit payload distributed over the second subset of the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments, the communicating the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises communicating, such as via payload unit 34, processing circuitry 84, radio interface 82, each of the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit as distributed over a plurality of physical resource blocks. In some embodiments, the communicating the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises communicating, such as via payload unit 34, processing circuitry 84, radio interface 82, the second control signal comprising the bit payload in a Physical Uplink Control Channel, PUCCH.

In some embodiments, the communicating the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises communicating, such as via payload unit 34, processing circuitry 84, radio interface 82, the second control signal comprising the bit payload in a sequence-based Physical Uplink Control Channel, PUCCH, comprising at least two bits. In some embodiments, the communicating the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises communicating, such as via payload unit 34, processing circuitry 84, radio interface 82, the second control signal comprising the bit payload as a cyclically shifted Demodulation Reference Signal, DMRS. In some embodiments, the communicated bit payload is multiplexed over the plurality of uplink resources with a bit payload of at least one other WD. In some embodiments, the communicating the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises communicating, such as via payload unit 34, processing circuitry 84, radio interface 82, each of the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit as distributed over a plurality of frequency domain interlaced physical resource blocks. In some embodiments, the communicating the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises communicating, such as via payload unit 34, processing circuitry 84, radio interface 82, the second control signal comprising the bit payload over an unlicensed radio frequency spectrum. In some embodiments, the communicating the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises communicating, such as via payload unit 34, processing circuitry 84, radio interface 82, at least one of the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit as distributed over a non-contiguous set of physical resource blocks, PRBs.

In some embodiments, the communicating the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises communicating, such as via payload unit 34, processing circuitry 84, radio interface 82, the second control signal comprising the bit payload distributed evenly in frequency over the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments, the communicating the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises communicating, such as via payload unit 34, processing circuitry 84, radio interface 82, the second control signal comprising the bit payload distributed unevenly in frequency over the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments, the method further comprises mapping, such as via payload unit 34, processing circuitry 84, radio interface 82, the at least the first bit and the at least the second bit of the bit payload to the plurality of uplink resources according to an alternating pattern. In some embodiments, the communicating the second control signal comprising the bit payload further comprises communicating, such as via payload unit 34, processing circuitry 84, radio interface 82, the second control signal comprising the bit payload distributed over the plurality of uplink resources according to a priority.

In another embodiment, an example method includes receiving a control signal allocating a plurality of uplink resources for the WD to transmit a payload of information; and communicating, to a network node 16, the payload of information distributed over the plurality of uplink resources such that a first portion of the payload is transmitted over a first subset of the plurality of uplink resources and a second portion of the payload is transmitted over a second subset of the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments, the communication of the payload of information to the network node 16 is over an unlicensed radio frequency spectrum.

In some embodiments, the first portion of the payload is different from the second portion of the payload. In some embodiments, the first subset of the plurality of uplink resources is different from the second subset of the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments, the plurality of uplink resources is a plurality of physical resource blocks. In some embodiments, the plurality of uplink resources is an interlace of physical resource blocks. In some embodiments, the payload of information is one or more information bits. In some embodiments, the payload of information includes at least one information bit represented by a predetermined number of cyclic shifts. In some embodiments, the payload of information corresponds to information in a sequence-based channel. In some embodiments, the payload of information corresponds to information in a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH). In some embodiments, the payload of information includes a Demodulation Reference Signal. In some embodiments, the payload of information is represented by a cyclic shift. In some embodiments, the plurality of uplink resources includes at least ten physical resource blocks and each bit of the payload of information is communicated over less than all of the at least ten physical resource blocks. In some embodiments, the payload of information is multiplexed over the plurality of uplink resources with payloads of other WDs 22. In some embodiments, the payload of information is distributed evenly in frequency over the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments, the first portion of the payload is a first half of the payload and the second portion of the payload is a second half of the payload, the first half of the payload being transmitted over the first subset of the plurality of uplink resources and the second half of the payload being transmitted over the second subset of the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments, the first portion and the second portion of the payload are mapped according to an alternating pattern of uplink resources of the plurality of uplink resources. In some embodiments, the payload of information is distributed over the plurality of uplink resources according to a priority associated with at least one of the first portion and the second portion.

Having generally described some embodiments of the present disclosure and which may be implemented by the network node 16, wireless device 22 and/or host computer 24, a more detailed description of some of the embodiments is described below.

In some embodiments, in the unlicensed spectrum (e.g., NR-UL), an UL transmission, performed by WD 22, is spread over multiple PRBs. For example, the Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) could be made to cover 10 PRBs instead of, for example, 1 PRB typically used in NR. Thus, in this example, the multiplexing capacity is reduced by 90%. Thus, some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to sequence-based channel (e.g., PUCCH) formats that utilize different sequences to convey information bits, for example NR PUCCH format 0. In some embodiments, the different sequences could be different cyclic shifts of the same signal, such as, for example, a Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS). The payload may then be conveyed by mapping the payload bits to a specific sequence such that reception of that sequence, such as via network node 16, indicates which bits were sent. For example, 1 bit could be transmitted by selecting between 2 different cyclic shifts and 2 bits could be transmitted by selecting between 4 cyclic shifts. In some

embodiments, the cyclic shifts are used to multiplex multiple users (e.g., WDs 22) on the same physical resource since different cyclic shifts of the same sequence are orthogonal. In one embodiment, if there are, for example, 12 subcarriers available for DMRS in a PRB, then there may be 12 possible cyclic shifts available. Thus, if 2 bits are conveyed which allocate 4 cyclic shifts, then 3 users (e.g., WDs 22) can be multiplexed on the same PRB (in other words, the 3 users with 4 cyclic shifts for each user can be supported by the 12 available cyclic shifts).

It should be understood that although the term“PRB” is used to describe some embodiments of the disclosure, it is contemplated that other embodiments may use other types of physical resource units. Also, it should be understood that the WD 22 may be configured to transmit or communicate bits of information in the UL according to the techniques described herein by being configured by, for example, the network node 16, via, for example, control signaling.

Embodiments of the present disclosure include apparatuses and methods to distribute information bits over the available PRBs to free up cyclic shifts within each PRB allowing for an increased multiplexing capacity. Instead of the network node 16 and/or WD 22 mapping all bits to all PRBs, the bits may be distributed over the available PRBs. By the WD 22 not transmitting all bits in all PRBs, according to some embodiments of the disclosure, the number of required cyclic shifts in each PRB may be lowered per user (e.g., WD 22). For example, a 2-bit payload can, instead of being mapped to all 10 PRBs, be split up so that 1 bit is transmitted (e.g., by the WD 22) on half the PRBs and the other bit is transmitted e.g., by the WD 22) on the other half of the PRBs. Transmitting 1 bit instead of 2 bits in a PRB doubles the multiplexing capacity within that PRB, i.e., instead of using 4 cyclic shifts for transmission, only 2 cyclic shifts can be used. By only using 2 cyclic shifts in a PRB, 6 users (e.g., WDs 22) can be multiplexed instead of only 3 users. An example of distributing 2 bits over 10 PRBs, according to one example, is shown in FIG. 10, where for diversity reasons each bit is spread over every other PRB e.g., according to an alternating pattern.

In addition to, or instead of, increasing multiplexing, some embodiments of the present disclosure can also be used to increase a size of the payload (as compared to existing techniques) by transmitting an increased amount of payload bits and distributing them over the available PRBs, potentially using up all available cyclic shifts in all PRBs.

According to one embodiment, a method and/or apparatus for sequence-based formats to distribute bits over all available PRBs is provided, thereby potentially freeing up cyclic shift resources in each PRB and allowing for an increased multiplexing capacity for cyclic shift-based multiplexing as compared with known techniques.

According to another embodiment, the bits are spread evenly in frequency (e.g., as allocated by the network node 16 and transmitted on the allocated resources by the WD 22). For example, 2 bits are split by allocating 1 bit to half the PRBs and the other bit to the other half of the PRBs. The bits may be mapped to, for example, every other PRB to maximize diversity gain. In other embodiments, the bits may be mapped, by e.g., network node 16 and/or WD 22, to the corresponding PRBs in other patterns.

As an aspect of this embodiment, if for some reason the bits cannot be spread evenly over the total number of PRBs, one bit (or a subset of bits, which are allocated to the same PRBs) can be allocated to more PRBs than the other bit (or the other subset of the bits). In some embodiments, if there is a priority assigned to one or more bits (e.g., one bit may be considered more important that the other bits), the prioritized bit (or the prioritized subset of bits) can be assigned (e.g., by network node 16 and/or WD 22) more PRBs than the other bit/subset of bits in order to increase the reliability for the prioritized bit. In some embodiments, even if the bits can be spread evenly, such bits may instead be allocated unevenly over the PRBs (or within one PRB) to, for example, give more weight to higher priority bits.

According to yet another embodiment, a method and apparatus is provided for sequence-based formats to increase the payload bits by allocating more payload bits to the same number of PRBs and distributing them over the available PRBs without exceeding the payload limits of any individual PRB.

According to yet another embodiment, the PRB may be replaced by a physical resource unit which includes more or less than 12 subcarriers. In some embodiments, this means that the embodiments described herein may be used with physical resource units other than PRBs and may, in some aspects, use a physical resource unit that has more or less than 12 subcarriers.

In other embodiments, the techniques described herein may be used for the benefit of channels other than, for example, PUCCH, such as, for example PUSCH, or a downlink channel, etc.; and/or some techniques may also be used for the benefit of signals other than DMRS (e.g., DCI, etc.). In yet other embodiments, it maybe possible to use the techniques described herein for the benefit of channels in licensed bands, as well.

In some embodiments, information on one or more resources may be considered to be transmitted in a message having a specific format. A message may comprise or represent bits representing payload information and coding bits, e.g., for error coding.

In addition, some embodiments may include one or more of the following:

Embodiment Al . A network node configured to communicate with a wireless device (WD), the network node configured to, and/or comprising a radio interface and/or comprising processing circuitry configured to:

communicate, to the WD, a control signal allocating a plurality of uplink resources for the WD to transmit a payload of information; and

receive, from the WD, the payload of information distributed over the plurality of uplink resources such that a first portion of the payload is received over a first subset of the plurality of uplink resources and a second portion of the payload is received over a second subset of the plurality of uplink resources. Embodiment A2. The network node of Embodiment A 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to receive the payload of information by being further configured to receive the payload of information over an unlicensed radio frequency spectrum.

Embodiment A3. The network node of any of Embodiments A 1 and A2, wherein the first portion of the payload is different from the second portion of the payload.

Embodiment A4. The network node any of Embodiments A1-A3, wherein the first subset of the plurality of uplink resources is different from the second subset of the plurality of uplink resources.

Embodiment A5. The network node of any of Embodiments A 1 -A4, wherein the plurality of uplink resources is a plurality of physical resource blocks.

Embodiment A6. The network node of any of Embodiments A 1 -A5, wherein the plurality of uplink resources is an interlace of physical resource blocks.

Embodiment A7. The network node of any of Embodiments Al -A6, wherein the payload of information is one or more information bits.

Embodiment A8. The network node of any of Embodiments Al -A7, wherein the payload of information includes at least one information bit represented by a predetermined number of cyclic shifts.

Embodiment A9. The network node of any of Embodiments Al -A8, wherein the payload of information corresponds to information in a sequence-based channel.

Embodiment A 10. The network node of any of Embodiments A 1 -A9, wherein the payload of information corresponds to information in a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH).

Embodiment Al l. The network node of any of Embodiments A 1 -A 10, wherein the payload of information includes a Demodulation Reference Signal.

Embodiment A 12. The network node of any of Embodiments Al -Al 1, wherein the payload of information is represented by a cyclic shift.

Embodiment A13. The network node of any of Embodiments A1-A12, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to allocate the plurality of uplink resources as at least ten physical resource blocks for the WD to communicate each bit of the payload of information over less than all of the at least ten physical resource blocks.

Embodiment A14. The network node of any of Embodiments Al -A13, wherein the payload of information is multiplexed over the plurality of uplink resources with payloads of other WDs.

Embodiment A15. The network node of any of Embodiments Al -A 14, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to receive the payload of information by being further configured to receive the payload of information as distributed evenly in frequency over the plurality of uplink resources.

Embodiment A 16. The network node of any of Embodiments A 1 -A 15, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to receive the payload of information by being further configured to receive a first half of the payload over the first subset of the plurality of uplink resources and a second half of the payload over the second subset of the plurality of uplink resources.

Embodiment A 17. The network node of any of Embodiments Al -A 16, wherein the first portion and the second portion of the payload are mapped according to an alternating pattern of uplink resources of the plurality of uplink resources.

Embodiment A 18. The network node of any of Embodiments A1-A17, wherein the payload of information is distributed over the plurality of uplink resources according to a priority associated with at least one of the first portion and the second portion.

Embodiment B 1. A method implemented in a network node, the method comprising:

communicating, to a WD, a control signal allocating a plurality of uplink resources for the WD to transmit a payload of information; and

receiving, from the WD, the payload of information distributed over the plurality of uplink resources such that a first portion of the payload is received over a first subset of the plurality of uplink resources and a second portion of the payload is received over a second subset of the plurality of uplink resources.

Embodiment B2. The method of Embodiment B 1 , wherein receiving the payload of information further comprises receiving the payload of information over an unlicensed radio frequency spectrum. Embodiment B3. The method of any of Embodiments B 1 and B2, wherein the first portion of the payload is different from the second portion of the payload.

Embodiment B4. The method any of Embodiments B 1 -B3 , wherein the first subset of the plurality of uplink resources is different from the second subset of the plurality of uplink resources.

Embodiment B5. The method of any of Embodiments B 1 -B4, wherein the plurality of uplink resources is a plurality of physical resource blocks.

Embodiment B6. The method of any of Embodiments B 1 -B5, wherein the plurality of uplink resources is an interlace of physical resource blocks.

Embodiment B7. The method of any of Embodiments B 1 -B6, wherein the payload of information is one or more information bits.

Embodiment B8. The method of any of Embodiments B 1 -B7, wherein the payload of information includes at least one information bit represented by a predetermined number of cyclic shifts.

Embodiment B9. The method of any of Embodiments B 1 -B8, wherein the payload of information corresponds to information in a sequence-based channel.

Embodiment B 10. The method of any of Embodiments B 1 -B9, wherein the payload of information corresponds to information in a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH).

Embodiment B 11. The method of any of Embodiments B 1 -B 10, wherein the payload of information includes a Demodulation Reference Signal.

Embodiment B 12. The method of any of Embodiments Bl-Bl 1, wherein the payload of information is represented by a cyclic shift.

Embodiment B 13. The method of any of Embodiments B 1 -B 12, further comprising allocating the plurality of uplink resources as at least ten physical resource blocks for the WD to communicate each bit of the payload of information over less than all of the at least ten physical resource blocks.

Embodiment B 14. The method of any of Embodiments B 1 -B 13, wherein the payload of information is multiplexed over the plurality of uplink resources with payloads of other WDs. Embodiment B 15. The method of any of Embodiments B 1 -B 14, wherein receiving the payload of information further comprises receiving the payload of information as distributed evenly in frequency over the plurality of uplink resources.

Embodiment B 16. The method of any of Embodiments B 1 -B 15, wherein receiving the payload of information further comprises receiving a first half of the payload over the first subset of the plurality of uplink resources and a second half of the payload over the second subset of the plurality of uplink resources.

Embodiment B 17. The method of any of Embodiments B1-B16, wherein the first portion and the second portion of the payload are mapped according to an alternating pattern of uplink resources of the plurality of uplink resources.

Embodiment B 18. The method of any of Embodiments B 1 -B 17, wherein the payload of information is distributed over the plurality of uplink resources according to a priority associated with at least one of the first portion and the second portion.

Embodiment Cl . A wireless device (WD) configured to communicate with a network node, the WD configured to, and/or comprising a radio interface and/or processing circuitry configured to:

receive a control signal allocating a plurality of uplink resources for the WD to transmit a payload of information; and

communicate, to the network node, the payload of information distributed over the plurality of uplink resources such that a first portion of the payload is transmitted over a first subset of the plurality of uplink resources and a second portion of the payload is transmitted over a second subset of the plurality of uplink resources.

Embodiment C2. The WD of Embodiment Cl, wherein the

communication of the payload of information to the network node is over an unlicensed radio frequency spectrum.

Embodiment C3. The WD of any of Embodiments Cl and C2, wherein the first portion of the payload is different from the second portion of the payload.

Embodiment C4. The WD of any of Embodiments C 1 -C3 , wherein the first subset of the plurality of uplink resources is different from the second subset of the plurality of uplink resources. Embodiment C5. The WD of any of Embodiments C1-C4, wherein the plurality of uplink resources is a plurality of physical resource blocks.

Embodiment C6. The WD of any of Embodiments C1-C5, wherein the plurality of uplink resources is an interlace of physical resource blocks.

Embodiment C7. The WD of any of Embodiments C 1 -C6, wherein the payload of information is one or more information bits.

Embodiment C8. The WD of any of Embodiments C 1 -Cl , wherein the payload of information includes at least one information bit represented by a predetermined number of cyclic shifts.

Embodiment C9. The WD of any of Embodiments C 1 -C8, wherein the payload of information corresponds to information in a sequence-based channel.

Embodiment C 10. The WD of any of Embodiments C 1 -C9, wherein the payload of information corresponds to information in a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH).

Embodiment C 11. The WD of any of Embodiments C 1 -C 10, wherein the payload of information includes a Demodulation Reference Signal.

Embodiment C12. The WD of any of Embodiments Cl -Cl 1, wherein the payload of information is represented by a cyclic shift.

Embodiment C 13. The WD of any of Embodiments C 1 -C 12, wherein the plurality of uplink resources includes at least ten physical resource blocks and each bit of the payload of information is communicated over less than all of the at least ten physical resource blocks.

Embodiment C14. The WD of any of Embodiments C1-C13, wherein the payload of information is multiplexed over the plurality of uplink resources with payloads of other WDs.

Embodiment C 15. The WD of any of Embodiments C 1 -C 14, wherein the payload of information is distributed evenly in frequency over the plurality of uplink resources.

Embodiment C 16. The WD of any of Embodiments C 1 -C 15, wherein the first portion of the payload is a first half of the payload and the second portion of the payload is a second half of the payload, the first half of the payload being transmitted over the first subset of the plurality of uplink resources and the second half of the payload being transmitted over the second subset of the plurality of uplink resources.

Embodiment Cl 7. The WD of any of Embodiments Cl -Cl 6, wherein the first portion and the second portion of the payload are mapped according to an alternating pattern of uplink resources of the plurality of uplink resources.

Embodiment Cl 8. The WD of any of Embodiments Cl -Cl 7, wherein the payload of information is distributed over the plurality of uplink resources according to a priority associated with at least one of the first portion and the second portion.

Embodiment Dl . A method implemented in a wireless device (WD), the method comprising:

receiving a control signal allocating a plurality of uplink resources for the WD to transmit a payload of information; and

communicating, to a network node, the payload of information distributed over the plurality of uplink resources such that a first portion of the payload is transmitted over a first subset of the plurality of uplink resources and a second portion of the payload is transmitted over a second subset of the plurality of uplink resources.

Embodiment D2. The method of Embodiment D 1 , wherein the communication of the payload of information to the network node is over an unlicensed radio frequency spectrum.

Embodiment D3. The method of any of Embodiments D 1 and D2, wherein the first portion of the payload is different from the second portion of the payload.

Embodiment D4. The method of any of Embodiments D 1 -D3, wherein the first subset of the plurality of uplink resources is different from the second subset of the plurality of uplink resources.

Embodiment D5. The method of any of Embodiments D 1 -D4, wherein the plurality of uplink resources is a plurality of physical resource blocks.

Embodiment D6. The method of any of Embodiments D 1 -D5, wherein the plurality of uplink resources is an interlace of physical resource blocks.

Embodiment D7. The method of any of Embodiments D 1 -D6, wherein the payload of information is one or more information bits. Embodiment D8. The method of any of Embodiments D 1 -D7, wherein the payload of information includes at least one information bit represented by a predetermined number of cyclic shifts.

Embodiment D9. The method of any of Embodiments D 1 -D8, wherein the payload of information corresponds to information in a sequence-based channel.

Embodiment D 10. The method of any of Embodiments D 1 -D9, wherein the payload of information corresponds to information in a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH).

Embodiment Dl l. The method of any of Embodiments D 1 -D 10, wherein the payload of information includes a Demodulation Reference Signal.

Embodiment D 12. The method of any of Embodiments D 1 -D 11 , wherein the payload of information is represented by a cyclic shift.

Embodiment D13. The method of any of Embodiments D1-D12, wherein the plurality of uplink resources includes at least ten physical resource blocks and each bit of the payload of information is communicated over less than all of the at least ten physical resource blocks.

Embodiment D14. The method of any of Embodiments D1-D13, wherein the payload of information is multiplexed over the plurality of uplink resources with payloads of other WDs.

Embodiment D15. The method of any of Embodiments D1-D14, wherein the payload of information is distributed evenly in frequency over the plurality of uplink resources.

Embodiment D16. The method of any of Embodiments D1-D15, wherein the first portion of the payload is a first half of the payload and the second portion of the payload is a second half of the payload, the first half of the payload being transmitted over the first subset of the plurality of uplink resources and the second half of the payload being transmitted over the second subset of the plurality of uplink resources.

Embodiment D17. The method of any of Embodiments D1-D16, wherein the first portion and the second portion of the payload are mapped according to an alternating pattern of uplink resources of the plurality of uplink resources. Embodiment D18. The method of any of Embodiments D1-D17, wherein the payload of information is distributed over the plurality of uplink resources according to a priority associated with at least one of the first portion and the second portion.

As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the concepts described herein may be embodied as a method, data processing system, computer program product and/or computer storage media storing an executable computer program. Accordingly, the concepts described herein may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects all generally referred to herein as a“circuit” or“module.” Any process, step, action and/or functionality described herein may be performed by, and/or associated to, a corresponding module, which may be implemented in software and/or firmware and/or hardware. Furthermore, the disclosure may take the form of a computer program product on a tangible computer usable storage medium having computer program code embodied in the medium that can be executed by a computer. Any suitable tangible computer readable medium may be utilized including hard disks, CD-ROMs, electronic storage devices, optical storage devices, or magnetic storage devices.

Some embodiments are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, systems and computer program products. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer (to thereby create a special purpose computer), special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable memory or storage medium that can direct a computer or other

programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

It is to be understood that the functions/acts noted in the blocks may occur out of the order noted in the operational illustrations. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved. Although some of the diagrams include arrows on communication paths to show a primary direction of communication, it is to be understood that

communication may occur in the opposite direction to the depicted arrows.

Computer program code for carrying out operations of the concepts described herein may be written in an object oriented programming language such as Java® or C++. However, the computer program code for carrying out operations of the disclosure may also be written in conventional procedural programming languages, such as the "C" programming language. The program code may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).

Many different embodiments have been disclosed herein, in connection with the above description and the drawings. It will be understood that it would be unduly repetitious and obfuscating to literally describe and illustrate every combination and subcombination of these embodiments. Accordingly, all embodiments can be combined in any way and/or combination, and the present specification, including the drawings, shall be construed to constitute a complete written description of all combinations and subcombinations of the embodiments described herein, and of the manner and process of making and using them, and shall support claims to any such combination or subcombination.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein are not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings, without departing from the scope of the following claims.