WO2023219605A1

WO2023219605A1 - Counting user equipment for transmission mode selection

Info

Publication number: WO2023219605A1
Application number: PCT/US2022/028537
Authority: WO
Inventors: Volker PAULI; Ugur Baran ELMALI; David NAVRÁTIL; David Bhatoolaul
Original assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy; Nokia Of America Corporation
Priority date: 2022-05-10
Filing date: 2022-05-10
Publication date: 2023-11-16

Abstract

Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for counting user equipment (UE) for transmission mode selection. A method may include indicating an interest in a given multicast broadcast service. The indication may be performed by receiving a configuration for indicating an interest in the given multicast broadcast service, by selecting an uplink channel resource out of a set of uplink channel resources associated with the multicast broadcast service, and by transmitting a signal on the selected uplink channel resource.

Description

TITLE:

COUNTING USER EQUIPMENT FOR TRANSMISSION MODE SELECTION

FIELD:

[0001] Some example embodiments may generally relate to mobile or wireless telecommunication systems, such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) or fifth generation (5G) new radio (NR) access technology, or 5G beyond, or other communications systems. For example, certain example embodiments may relate to apparatuses, systems, and/or methods for counting user equipment (UE) for transmission mode selection.

BACKGROUND:

[0002] Examples of mobile or wireless telecommunication systems may include the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE- Advanced (LTE- A), LTE-A Pro, and/or fifth generation (5G) or New Radio (NR) telecommunications systems, and future generation of telecommunications systems. Fifth generation (5G) telecommunications systems refer to the next generation (NG) of radio access networks and network architectures for core networks. A 5G telecommunication system is mostly based on new radio (NR) radio access technology (5G NR), but a 5G (or NG) network can also build on E-UTRAN. It is estimated that 5G NR will provide bitrates on the order of 10-20 Gbit/s or higher, and will support at least enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) and ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC) as well as massive machine-type communication (mMTC). 5G NR is expected to deliver extreme broadband and ultra-robust, low-latency connectivity and massive networking to support the Internet of Things (IoT).

SUMMARY: [0003] Some example embodiments may be directed to a method. The method may include indicating an interest in a given multicast broadcast service. The indication may be performed by receiving a configuration for indicating an interest in the given multicast broadcast service, by selecting an uplink channel resource out of a set of uplink channel resources associated with the multicast broadcast service, and by transmitting a signal on the selected uplink channel resource.

[0004] Other example embodiments may be directed to an apparatus. The apparatus may include at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code. The at least one memory and computer program code may also be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to indicate an interest in a given multicast broadcast service. The indication may be performed by receiving a configuration for indicating an interest in the given multicast broadcast service, by selecting an uplink channel resource out of a set of uplink channel resources associated with the multicast broadcast service, and by transmitting a signal on the selected uplink channel resource.

[0005] Other example embodiments may be directed to an apparatus. The apparatus may include means for indicating an interest in a given multicast broadcast service. The indication may be made by performed a configuration for indicating an interest in the given multicast broadcast service, by selecting an uplink channel resource out of a set of uplink channel resources associated with the multicast broadcast service, and by transmitting a signal on the selected uplink channel resource.

[0006] In accordance with other example embodiments, a non-transitory computer readable medium may be encoded with instructions that may, when executed in hardware, perform a method. The method may include indicating an interest in a given multicast broadcast service. The indication may be performed by receiving a configuration for indicating an interest in the given multicast broadcast service, by selecting an uplink channel resource out of a set of uplink channel resources associated with the multicast broadcast service, and by transmitting a signal on the selected uplink channel resource. [0007] Other example embodiments may be directed to a computer program product that performs a method. The method may include indicating an interest in a given multicast broadcast service. The indication may be performed by receiving a configuration for indicating an interest in the given multicast broadcast service, by selecting an uplink channel resource out of a set of uplink channel resources associated with the multicast broadcast service, and by transmitting a signal on the selected uplink channel resource.

[0008] Other example embodiments may be directed to an apparatus that may include circuitry configured to indicate an interest in a given multicast broadcast service. The indication may be performed by receiving a configuration for indicating an interest in the given multicast broadcast service, by selecting an uplink channel resource out of a set of uplink channel resources associated with the multicast broadcast service, and by transmitting a signal on the selected uplink channel resource.

[0009] Certain example embodiments may be directed to a method. The method may include configuring a set of uplink channel resources for one or more user equipment to randomly select. The method may also include configuring the one or more user equipment to transmit on one uplink channel resource that was randomly selected from the set of uplink channel resources. The method may further include performing energy detection on the set of uplink channel resources for transmissions from the one or more user equipment to indicate their interest in a multicast broadcast service. In addition, the method may include generating, from a result of the energy detection, an estimate of a number of user equipment interested in the multicast broadcast service.

[0010] Other example embodiments may be directed to an apparatus. The apparatus may include at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code. The at least one memory and computer program code may be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to configure a set of uplink channel resources for one or more user equipment to randomly select. The apparatus may also be caused to configure the one or more user equipment to transmit on one uplink channel resource that was randomly selected from the set of uplink channel resources. The apparatus may further be caused to perform energy detection on the set of uplink channel resources for transmissions from the one or more user equipment to indicate their interest in a multicast broadcast service. In addition, the apparatus may be caused to generate, from a result of the energy detection, an estimate of a number of user equipment interested in the multicast broadcast service.

[0011] Other example embodiments may be directed to an apparatus. The apparatus may include means for configuring a set of uplink channel resources for one or more user equipment to randomly select. The apparatus may also include means for configuring the one or more user equipment to transmit on one uplink channel resource that was randomly selected from the set of uplink channel resources. The apparatus may further include means for performing energy detection on the set of uplink channel resources for transmissions from the one or more user equipment to indicate their interest in a multicast broadcast service. In addition, the apparatus may include means for generating, from a result of the energy detection, an estimate of a number of user equipment interested in the multicast broadcast service.

[0012] In accordance with other example embodiments, a non-transitory computer readable medium may be encoded with instructions that may, when executed in hardware, perform a method. The method may include configuring a set of uplink channel resources for one or more user equipment to randomly select. The method may also include configuring the one or more user equipment to transmit on one uplink channel resource that was randomly selected from the set of uplink channel resources. The method may further include performing energy detection on the set of uplink channel resources for transmissions from the one or more user equipment to indicate their interest in a multicast broadcast service. In addition, the method may include generating, from a result of the energy detection, an estimate of a number of user equipment interested in the multicast broadcast service.

[0013] Other example embodiments may be directed to a computer program product that performs a method. The method may include configuring a set of uplink channel resources for one or more user equipment to randomly select. The method may also include configuring the one or more user equipment to transmit on one uplink channel resource that was randomly selected from the set of uplink channel resources. The method may further include performing energy detection on the set of uplink channel resources for transmissions from the one or more user equipment to indicate their interest in a multicast broadcast service. In addition, the method may include generating, from a result of the energy detection, an estimate of a number of user equipment interested in the multicast broadcast service.

[0014] Other example embodiments may be directed to an apparatus that may include circuitry configured to configure a set of uplink channel resources for one or more user equipment to randomly select. The apparatus may also include circuitry configured to configure the one or more user equipment to transmit on one uplink channel resource that was randomly selected from the set of uplink channel resources. The apparatus may further include circuitry configured to perform energy detection on the set of uplink channel resources for transmissions from the one or more user equipment to indicate their interest in a multicast broadcast service. In addition, the apparatus may include circuitry configured to generate, from a result of the energy detection, an estimate of a number of user equipment interested in the multicast broadcast service.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

[0015] For proper understanding of example embodiments, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates an example distribution of spectral efficiency for point-to-point (PTP) and point-to-multipoint (PTM) modes.

[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates an example distribution of an estimated number of user equipment (UEs) interested in using a number of random access channel (RACH) resources, according to certain example embodiments.

[0018] FIG. 3 illustrates an example of another distribution of an estimated number of UEs interested in using a number of RACH resources, according to certain example embodiments.

[0019] FIG 4 illustrates an example of a further distribution of an estimated number of UEs interested in using a number of RACH resources, according to certain example embodiments.

[0020] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of another distribution of an estimated number of UEs interested in using a number of RACH resources, according to certain example embodiments.

[0021] FIG. 6 illustrates an example flow diagram of a method, according to certain example embodiments.

[0022] FIG. 7 illustrates an example flow diagram of another method, according to certain example embodiments.

[0023] FIG. 8 illustrates a set of apparatuses, according to certain example embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION:

[0024] It will be readily understood that the components of certain example embodiments, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. The following is a detailed description of some example embodiments of systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for counting user equipment (UE) for transmission mode selection. In certain example embodiments, the transmission mode selection may be related to point-to- point (PTP) and/or point-to-multipoint (PTM) transmissions.

[0025] The features, structures, or characteristics of example embodiments described throughout this specification may be combined in any suitable maimer in one or more example embodiments. For example, the usage of the phrases “certain embodiments,” “an example embodiment,” “some embodiments,” or other similar language, throughout this specification refers to the fact that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in certain embodiments,” “an example embodiment,” “in some embodiments,” “in other embodiments,” or other similar language, throughout this specification do not necessarily refer to the same group of embodiments, and the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more example embodiments. Further, the terms “cell”, “node”, “gNB”, “BS”, “network”, or other similar language throughout this specification may be used interchangeably.

[0026] The technical specifications of the 3^rd Generation Partnership Project (3 GPP) NR supports various transmission modes for delivering the same data to multiple UEs. These modes may include multiple independent PTP transmissions (one to each receiver), and multicast PTM. In multicast PTM, a transmitting base station (BS) may be aware of receiving devices and may operate with link adaptation based on UE feedback and possibly even hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ). This mode of operation may also be referred to as delivery mode 1 (DM-1). [0027] In 3GPP, for broadcast PTM (i.e., delivery mode 2 (DM-2)), the transmitting BS may not need to be aware of the receiving devices. Thus, the transmitting BS may use fixed transmission parameters, and might not receive frequent feedback for link adaptation or adaptive HARQ.

[0028] FIG. 1 illustrates an example distribution of spectral efficiency for PTP and PTM modes. In some cases, determining the most resource efficient mode may depend on the particular scenario and density of the receiving UEs. For example, FIG. 1 illustrates a comparison of the achievable spectral efficiency with PTP and DM-1. In this illustrative example, it may be observed that the break-even point in terms of the overall spectral efficiency achieved in the downlink (DL), i.e., where PTP and DM-1 achieve comparable spectral efficiency, is at around 10 UEs per cell, while at 15 UEs per cell, PTM DM-1 already has a clear advantage over PTP delivery. It may also be observed how spectral efficiency distribution for PTM DM-1 moves towards lower values, and especially becomes steeper as the UE density increases, while the spectral efficiency achievable with PTP decreases more rapidly and continuously as the UE density increases. Thus, for an arbitrarily high UE density, the spectral efficiency of DM-1 may eventually approach a step function equal or similar to what one would obtain with DM-2. At the same time, DM-2 may have the advantage over DM- 1 in that it may not put any feedback load on the uplink (UL), and contrary to DM-1, may be used with arbitrarily high UE density.

[0029] In view the various transmission modes and spectral efficiency differences based on UE density, it may be beneficial for the network (i.e., gNB) to have knowledge of the density of the UEs in a BS’s cell in order to select the most adequate transmission mode (e.g., PTP, DM-1, or DM-2). However, the challenge of this may stem from how the network can determine the number of UEs interested in receiving a service in, for example, DM-2. It may be even more challenging if some of the UEs operate in radio resource control (RRC) IDLE state or RRC INACTIVE state. Thus, certain example embodiments may provide a mechanism to efficiently determine the number of UEs interested in receiving a specific multicast broadcast service (MBS) flow, and with adequate accuracy.

[0030] As described herein, certain example embodiments may enable UEs to indicate their interest in a given MBS by randomly selecting one random access channel (RACH) resource out of a number of RACH resources associated with the MBS. In other example embodiments, UL resources other than RACH may be used/defined that may have similar properties but are not the same used for cell access. For instance, in certain example embodiments, the UL resources may also include physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format 0 of NR that may also be a signal that may be used instead of RACH. Additionally, the BS may derive, from energy detection (e.g., binary energy detection) on the RACH resources, an estimate of the number of UEs interested in the MBS. For instance, in certain example embodiments, the BS may measure the energy on a RACH resource and compare it against a certain threshold. If the measured energy lies above the threshold, the energy detection result may be deemed positive. In some example embodiments, the measurement may also include a normalization step, which may involve performing a correlation of the received signal with the (hypothetical) transmit signal of the RACH signal, and subsequently normalizing (i.e., dividing) that with the measured raw energy. In certain example embodiments, the network may configure the UEs (e.g., via physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) signaling or radio resource control (RRC) signaling) to perform such transmissions on one of the RACH resources only randomly with a certain configured probability (i.e., BS may adjust R and/or the probability with which UEs use a RACH resource), and the BS may take this probability into account in deriving the estimate of the number of UEs interested in the MBS. According to other example embodiments, the BS may determine whether to deliver the MBS in PTP mode (when N is very small), DM-1 (medium N), or DM-2 (when N is very large). With regard to the distribution illustrated in FIG. 1, according to some example embodiments, the size of N may be very small when N is less than 10. According to other example embodiments, the DM1 -DM2 switching point may be an order of magnitude larger and may depend on the desired reliability since DM-2 may not allow for HARQ retransmissions.

[0031] In certain example embodiments, there may be a certain number R RACH resources that are available for UEs to use to declare interest in receiving a MBS. Each N interested UEs may randomly select one of the R RACH resources to transmit on. Based on binary energy detection, the BS may measure the share p of RACH resources associated with the MBS that have been used by any UE for MBS interest indication. Further, in certain example embodiments, the following relation (1) between p (the share of RACH resources used by any UE, for example, where binary energy detection was positive), the number N of interested UEs, and the number R of RACH resources may be used by the BS:

[0032] From equation (1), the number N of interested UEs may be estimated from the measured Pr(re source used) = p. According to certain example embodiments, an exact number of interested UEs may not be needed. Instead, an estimate of the number of interested UEs may be sufficient. For instance, the estimated number N of interested UEs may be, based on equation (1), determined by the following expression (2):

[0033] From expression (2), if p = 1, i.e., all the RACH resources are used, , ^and the risk of this occurring may increase with ratio Thus, in

certain example embodiments, the BS may select R in relation to the maximum value of A that the BS desires to estimate. In some example embodiments, the selection of R by the BS may be dependent on a break-even point between DM-1 and DM-2.

[0034] In addition to determining the number of interested UEs, certain example embodiments may facilitate measurements for a larger ratio of To

accomplish this, the UEs may be configured by the network to randomly transmit on 1 out of M RACH resource occurrences to reduce the probability that each of the R resources is used. That is, each UE may on average transmit on only one out ofM*R RACH resources. Thus, it may be possible to have R = 1 RACH resource occurring periodically, and the UEs may transmit there, for example, on average, every Mth time. According to certain example embodiments, configuring the UE in this manner may also result in a longer period of time for the measurement to converge. In this example, an estimate N_est for the number of UEs may be derived similarly to what was presented above via equation (3):

In certain example embodiments, to obtain a more reliable estimate, the BS may take multiple estimates in time.

[0035] FIG. 2 illustrates an example distribution of an estimated number of UEs interested in using a number of RACH resources, according to certain example embodiments. In particular, FIG. 2 illustrates results where R= 20 RACH resources are used, and the estimate is taken as a mean over N_meas = 50 measurements. Additionally, the UEs may select one of the R RACH resources including, for example, M = 1. That is, the network may perform energy detection for 50 occurrences of the 20 RACH resources, may for each of the 50 groups of 20 RACH resources determine the share of RACH resources used by any UE (indicated by a positive outcome of the energy detection), and determine p as an average of the 50 measured shares and derive the estimated number of UEs interested in the MBS based on equation (2). It may be observed from FIG. 2 that the distribution of estimated number of interested UEs is, with respect to a required accuracy, a very narrow window o~ +/- 10% around the true value.

[0036] FIG. 3 illustrates an example of another distribution of an estimated number of UEs interested in using a number of RACH resources, according to certain example embodiments. In particular, FIG. 3 illustrates an example where the BS takes two samples, i.e., over two groups of R RACH resources, to estimate the UE density with otherwise identical configuration. It may be observed from FIG. 3 that 80% of estimates still lie within +/- 20% (~0.8 dB) of the true value, and worst-case outliers are no more than 40% (~1.5 dB) away from the true value.

[0037] FIGs. 4 and 5 illustrate examples of further distributions of an estimated number of UEs indicating MBS interest using only R= 1 RACH resources, according to certain example embodiments, where estimation is performed using Ameas = 10 and Ameas = 20, respectively. While UEs in certain example embodiments may be configured to transmit on the RACH resource at larger intervals such as, for example, on average on every M = 40th occurrence of the RACH resource, it may still be possible to obtain the results as illustrated in FIGs. 4 and 5 for = 10 and N_meas = 20, respectively. For

20, probabilities of the estimate being too low by 2 dB or more is

-2.5%, while estimates being too high by 2 dB occur with a probability of ~5%. However, for N_meas = 10, probabilities of the estimate being too low or too high by 3 dB or more is ~3% each. This indicates that in terms of RACH resources consumption, this constitutes a cheap configuration having some UE impact. This configuration may also provide good accuracy of the UE density estimates.

[0038] FIG. 6 illustrates an example flow diagram of a method, according to certain example embodiments. In an example embodiment, the method of FIG. 6 may be performed by a network entity, or a group of multiple network elements in a 3GPP system, such as LTE or 5G-NR. For instance, in an example embodiment, the method of FIG. 6 may be performed by a UE or device similar to one of apparatuses 10 or 20 illustrated in FIG. 8.

[0039] According to certain example embodiments, the method of FIG. 6 may include, at 600, indicating an interest in a given multicast broadcast service. The indication may be performed by receiving a configuration for indicating an interest in the given multicast broadcast service, by selecting an uplink channel resource out of a set of uplink channel resources associated with the multicast broadcast service, and by transmitting a signal on the selected uplink channel resource.

[0040] According to certain example embodiments, the uplink channel resource may be selected randomly. According to some example embodiments, the set of uplink channel resource may repeat at an interval. According to other example embodiments, the receiving of the configuration for indicating an interest in the given multicast broadcast service may further include receiving configuration from a network element to randomly select an uplink channel resource out of the set of uplink channel resources, and to transmit the signal on the randomly selected uplink channel resource. According to further example embodiments, the method may also include receiving configuration from a network element to transmit the signal with a configured probability. [0041] FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a flow diagram of another method, according to certain example embodiments. In an example embodiment, the method of FIG. 7 may be performed by a network entity, or a group of multiple network elements in a 3 GPP system, such as LTE or 5G-NR. For instance, in an example embodiment, the method of FIG. 7 may be performed by a network or gNB similar to one of apparatuses 10 or 20 illustrated in FIG. 8. [0042] According to certain example embodiments, the method of FIG. 7 may include, at 700, configuring a set of uplink channel resources for one or more user equipment to randomly select. The method may also include, at 705, configuring the one or more user equipment to transmit on one uplink channel resource that was randomly selected from the set of uplink channel resources. The method may further include, at 710, performing energy detection on the set of uplink channel resources for transmissions from the one or more user equipment to indicate their interest in a multicast broadcast service. In addition, the method may include, at 715, generating, from a result of the energy detection, an estimate of a number of user equipment interested in the multicast broadcast service.

[0043] According to certain example embodiments, the method may also include determining a number of uplink channel resources in relation to at least one of a predetermined value of the number of user equipment that are interested in the multicast broadcast service, and a threshold for switching between two different modes of delivering the multicast broadcast service. According to some example embodiments, the threshold may be a break-even point between two modes of delivering the multicast broadcast service. According to other example embodiments, the method may also include configuring the one or more user equipment to randomly select for transmission one out of the set of uplink channel resources.

[0044] FIG. 8 illustrates a set of apparatus 10 and 20 according to certain example embodiments. In certain example embodiments, the apparatus 10 may be a node or element in a communications network or associated with such a network, such as a UE, mobile equipment (ME), mobile station, mobile device, stationary device, loT device, or other device. It should be noted that one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that apparatus 10 may include components or features not shown in FIG. 8.

[0045] In some example embodiments, apparatus 10 may include one or more processors, one or more computer-readable storage medium (for example, memory, storage, or the like), one or more radio access components (for example, a modem, a transceiver, or the like), and/or a user interface. In some example embodiments, apparatus 10 may be configured to operate using one or more radio access technologies, such as GSM, LTE, LTE-A, NR, 5G, WLAN, WiFi, NB-IoT, Bluetooth, NFC, MulteFire, and/or any other radio access technologies. It should be noted that one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that apparatus 10 may include components or features not shown in FIG. 8.

[0046] As illustrated in the example of FIG. 8, apparatus 10 may include or be coupled to a processor 12 for processing information and executing instructions or operations. Processor 12 may be any type of general or specific purpose processor. In fact, processor 12 may include one or more of general- purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), and processors based on a multi-core processor architecture, as examples. While a single processor 12 is shown in FIG. 8, multiple processors may be utilized according to other example embodiments. For example, it should be understood that, in certain example embodiments, apparatus 10 may include two or more processors that may form a multiprocessor system (e.g., in this case processor 12 may represent a multiprocessor) that may support multiprocessing. According to certain example embodiments, the multiprocessor system may be tightly coupled or loosely coupled (e.g., to form a computer cluster).

[0047] Processor 12 may perform functions associated with the operation of apparatus 10 including, as some examples, precoding of antenna gain/phase parameters, encoding and decoding of individual bits forming a communication message, formatting of information, and overall control of the apparatus 10, including processes illustrated in FIGs. 1-6.

[0048] Apparatus 10 may further include or be coupled to a memory 14 (internal or external), which may be coupled to processor 12, for storing information and instructions that may be executed by processor 12. Memory 14 may be one or more memories and of any type suitable to the local application environment, and may be implemented using any suitable volatile or nonvolatile data storage technology such as a semiconductor-based memory device, a magnetic memory device and system, an optical memory device and system, fixed memory, and/or removable memory. For example, memory 14 can be comprised of any combination of random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), static storage such as a magnetic or optical disk, hard disk drive (HDD), or any other type of non-transitory machine or computer readable media. The instructions stored in memory 14 may include program instructions or computer program code that, when executed by processor 12, enable the apparatus 10 to perform tasks as described herein.

[0049] In certain example embodiments, apparatus 10 may further include or be coupled to (internal or external) a drive or port that is configured to accept and read an external computer readable storage medium, such as an optical disc, USB drive, flash drive, or any other storage medium. For example, the external computer readable storage medium may store a computer program or software for execution by processor 12 and/or apparatus 10 to perform any of the methods illustrated in FIGs. 1-6.

[0050] In some example embodiments, apparatus 10 may also include or be coupled to one or more antennas 15 for receiving a downlink signal and for transmitting via an uplink from apparatus 10. Apparatus 10 may further include a transceiver 18 configured to transmit and receive information. The transceiver 18 may also include a radio interface (e.g., a modem) coupled to the antenna 15. The radio interface may correspond to a plurality of radio access technologies including one or more of GSM, LTE, LTE-A, 5G, NR, WLAN, NB-IoT, Bluetooth, BT-LE, NFC, RFID, UWB, and the like. The radio interface may include other components, such as filters, converters (for example, digital-to-analog converters and the like), symbol demappers, signal shaping components, an Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT) module, and the like, to process symbols, such as OFDMA symbols, carried by a downlink or an uplink.

[0051] For instance, transceiver 18 may be configured to modulate information on to a carrier waveform for transmission by the antenna(s) 15 and demodulate information received via the anteima(s) 15 for further processing by other elements of apparatus 10. In other example embodiments, transceiver 18 may be capable of transmitting and receiving signals or data directly. Additionally or alternatively, in some example embodiments, apparatus 10 may include an input and/or output device (I/O device). In certain example embodiments, apparatus 10 may further include a user interface, such as a graphical user interface or touchscreen.

[0052] In certain example embodiments, memory 14 stores software modules that provide functionality when executed by processor 12. The modules may include, for example, an operating system that provides operating system functionality for apparatus 10. The memory may also store one or more functional modules, such as an application or program, to provide additional functionality for apparatus 10. The components of apparatus 10 may be implemented in hardware, or as any suitable combination of hardware and software. According to certain example embodiments, apparatus 10 may optionally be configured to communicate with apparatus 20 via a wireless or wired communications link 70 according to any radio access technology, such as NR.

[0053] According to certain example embodiments, processor 12 and memory 14 may be included in or may form a part of processing circuitry or control circuitry. In addition, in some example embodiments, transceiver 18 may be included in or may form a part of transceiving circuitry.

[0054] For instance, in certain example embodiments, apparatus 10 may be controlled by memory 14 and processor 12 to indicate an interest in a given multicast broadcast service. The indication may be performed by receiving a configuration for indicating an interest in the given multicast broadcast service, by selecting an uplink channel resource out of a set of uplink channel resources associated with the multicast broadcast service, and by transmitting a signal on the selected uplink channel resource.

[0055] As illustrated in the example of FIG. 8, apparatus 20 may be a network, core network element, or element in a communications network or associated with such a network, such as gNB. It should be noted that one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that apparatus 20 may include components or features not shown in FIG. 8.

[0056] As illustrated in the example of FIG. 8, apparatus 20 may include a processor 22 for processing information and executing instructions or operations. Processor 22 may be any type of general or specific purpose processor. For example, processor 22 may include one or more of general- purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), and processors based on a multi-core processor architecture, as examples. While a single processor 22 is shown in FIG. 8, multiple processors may be utilized according to other example embodiments. For example, it should be understood that, in certain example embodiments, apparatus 20 may include two or more processors that may form a multiprocessor system (e.g., in this case processor 22 may represent a multiprocessor) that may support multiprocessing. In certain example embodiments, the multiprocessor system may be tightly coupled or loosely coupled (e.g., to form a computer cluster).

[0057] According to certain example embodiments, processor 22 may perform functions associated with the operation of apparatus 20, which may include, for example, precoding of antenna gain/phase parameters, encoding and decoding of individual bits forming a communication message, formatting of information, and overall control of the apparatus 20, including processes illustrated in FIGs. 1-5 and 7.

[0058] Apparatus 20 may further include or be coupled to a memory 24 (internal or external), which may be coupled to processor 22, for storing information and instructions that may be executed by processor 22. Memory 24 may be one or more memories and of any type suitable to the local application environment, and may be implemented using any suitable volatile or nonvolatile data storage technology such as a semiconductor-based memory device, a magnetic memory device and system, an optical memory device and system, fixed memory, and/or removable memory. For example, memory 24 can be comprised of any combination of random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), static storage such as a magnetic or optical disk, hard disk drive (HDD), or any other type of non-transitory machine or computer readable media. The instructions stored in memory 24 may include program instructions or computer program code that, when executed by processor 22, enable the apparatus 20 to perform tasks as described herein.

[0059] In certain example embodiments, apparatus 20 may further include or be coupled to (internal or external) a drive or port that is configured to accept and read an external computer readable storage medium, such as an optical disc, USB drive, flash drive, or any other storage medium. For example, the external computer readable storage medium may store a computer program or software for execution by processor 22 and/or apparatus 20 to perform the methods illustrated in FIGs. 1-5 and 7.

[0060] In certain example embodiments, apparatus 20 may also include or be coupled to one or more antennas 25 for transmitting and receiving signals and/or data to and from apparatus 20. Apparatus 20 may further include or be coupled to a transceiver 28 configured to transmit and receive information. The transceiver 28 may include, for example, a plurality of radio interfaces that may be coupled to the anteima(s) 25. The radio interfaces may correspond to a plurality of radio access technologies including one or more of GSM, NB- loT, LTE, 5G, WLAN, Bluetooth, BT-LE, NFC, radio frequency identifier (RFID), ultrawideband (UWB), MulteFire, and the like. The radio interface may include components, such as filters, converters (for example, digital-to- analog converters and the like), mappers, a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) module, and the like, to generate symbols for a transmission via one or more downlinks and to receive symbols (for example, via an uplink).

[0061] As such, transceiver 28 may be configured to modulate information on to a carrier waveform for transmission by the anteima(s) 25 and demodulate information received via the anteima(s) 25 for further processing by other elements of apparatus 20. In other example embodiments, transceiver 18 may be capable of transmitting and receiving signals or data directly. Additionally or alternatively, in some example embodiments, apparatus 20 may include an input and/or output device (I/O device).

[0062] In certain example embodiment, memory 24 may store software modules that provide functionality when executed by processor 22. The modules may include, for example, an operating system that provides operating system functionality for apparatus 20. The memory may also store one or more functional modules, such as an application or program, to provide additional functionality for apparatus 20. The components of apparatus 20 may be implemented in hardware, or as any suitable combination of hardware and software.

[0063] According to some example embodiments, processor 22 and memory 24 may be included in or may form a part of processing circuitry or control circuitry. In addition, in some example embodiments, transceiver 28 may be included in or may form a part of transceiving circuitry.

[0064] As used herein, the term “circuitry” may refer to hardware-only circuitry implementations (e.g., analog and/or digital circuitry), combinations of hardware circuits and software, combinations of analog and/or digital hardware circuits with software/firmware, any portions of hardware processor(s) with software (including digital signal processors) that work together to cause an apparatus (e.g., apparatus 10 and 20) to perform various functions, and/or hardware circuit(s) and/or processor(s), or portions thereof, that use software for operation but where the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation. As a further example, as used herein, the term “circuitry” may also cover an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors), or portion of a hardware circuit or processor, and its accompanying software and/or firmware. The term circuitry may also cover, for example, a baseband integrated circuit in a server, cellular network node or device, or other computing or network device.

[0065] For instance, in certain example embodiments, apparatus 20 may be controlled by memory 24 and processor 22 to configure a set of uplink channel resources for one or more user equipment to randomly select. Apparatus 20 may also be controlled by memory 24 and processor 22 to configure the one or more user equipment to transmit on one uplink channel resource that was randomly selected from the set of uplink channel resources. Apparatus 20 may further be controlled by memory 24 and processor 22 to perform energy detection on the set of uplink channel resources for transmissions from the one or more user equipment to indicate their interest in a multicast broadcast service. In addition, apparatus 20 may be controlled by memory 24 and processor 22 to generate, from a result of the energy detection, an estimate of a number of user equipment interested in the multicast broadcast service.

[0066] In some example embodiments, an apparatus (e.g., apparatus 10 and/or apparatus 20) may include means for performing a method, a process, or any of the variants discussed herein. Examples of the means may include one or more processors, memory, controllers, transmitters, receivers, and/or computer program code for causing the performance of the operations.

[0067] Certain example embodiments may be directed to an apparatus that includes means for performing any of the methods described herein including, for example, means for indicating an interest in a given multicast broadcast service. The indication may be performed by receiving a configuration for indicating an interest in the given multicast broadcast service, by selecting an uplink channel resource out of a set of uplink channel resources associated with the multicast broadcast service, and by transmitting a signal on the selected uplink channel resource.

[0068] Certain example embodiments may also be directed to an apparatus that includes means for configuring a set of uplink channel resources for one or more user equipment to randomly select. The apparatus may also include means for configuring the one or more user equipment to transmit on one uplink channel resource that was randomly selected from the set of uplink channel resources. The apparatus may further include means for performing energy detection on the set of uplink channel resources for transmissions from the one or more user equipment to indicate their interest in a multicast broadcast service. In addition, the apparatus may include means for generating, from a result of the energy detection, an estimate of a number of user equipment interested in the multicast broadcast service.

[0069] Certain example embodiments described herein provide several technical improvements, enhancements, and /or advantages. For instance, in some example embodiments, it may be possible to adjust RACH resource allocation via SI signaling to obtain the best match for the current UE density in terms of obtaining a sufficiently accurate estimate with minimal RACH resource consumption, and affordable delay. In other example embodiments, it may be possible to allow the network to define different configurations of RACH for UEs to choose from based on certain criteria. Such criteria may include, for example, low mobility and not-at-cell edge criteria based on evaluation of, for example, RSRP measurements with respect to variation over time and / or comparison against measurements for other cells or frequencies. The parameters for evaluation of these criteria are broadcast in system information block type 2 (SIB2), based on which UEs can determine when to relax certain radio resource management (RRM) measurements. For instance, UEs that determine that they are in a low mobility state can apply a more optimized RACH configuration with less resources used compared to those at cell-edge and / or in a high mobility state, which are more likely to leave the BS’s coverage area soon. In this case, there may be an additional nonoverlapping set of RACH resources for the low mobility group based on which the BS estimates the number of UEs in the low mobility group independently from the estimation for the high mobility group, each time using the methods described above.

[0070] A computer program product may include one or more computerexecutable components which, when the program is run, are configured to carry out some example embodiments. The one or more computer-executable components may be at least one software code or portions of it. Modifications and configurations required for implementing functionality of certain example embodiments may be performed as routine(s), which may be implemented as added or updated software routine(s). Software routine(s) may be downloaded into the apparatus.

[0071] As an example, software or a computer program code or portions of it may be in a source code form, object code form, or in some intermediate form, and it may be stored in some sort of carrier, distribution medium, or computer readable medium, which may be any entity or device capable of carrying the program. Such carriers may include a record medium, computer memory, read-only memory, photoelectrical and/or electrical carrier signal, telecommunications signal, and software distribution package, for example. Depending on the processing power needed, the computer program may be executed in a single electronic digital computer or it may be distributed amongst a number of computers. The computer readable medium or computer readable storage medium may be a non-transitory medium.

[0072] In other example embodiments, the functionality may be performed by hardware or circuitry included in an apparatus (e.g., apparatus 10 or apparatus 20), for example through the use of an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable gate array (PGA), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or any other combination of hardware and software. In yet another example embodiment, the functionality may be implemented as a signal, a non-tangible means that can be carried by an electromagnetic signal downloaded from the Internet or other network.

[0073] According to certain example embodiments, an apparatus, such as a node, device, or a corresponding component, may be configured as circuitry, a computer or a microprocessor, such as single-chip computer element, or as a chipset, including at least a memory for providing storage capacity used for arithmetic operation and an operation processor for executing the arithmetic operation.

[0074] One having ordinary skill in the art will readily understand that the disclosure as discussed above may be practiced with procedures in a different order, and/or with hardware elements in configurations which are different than those which are disclosed. Therefore, although the disclosure has been described based upon these example embodiments, it would be apparent to those of skill in the art that certain modifications, variations, and alternative constructions would be apparent, while remaining within the spirit and scope of example embodiments. Although the above embodiments refer to 5G NR and LTE technology, the above embodiments may also apply to any other present or future 3 GPP technology, such as LTE-advanced, and/or fourth generation (4G) technology.

[0075] Partial Glossary:

[0076] 3 GPP 3rd Generation Partnership Project

[0077] 5G 5th Generation

[0078] 5GCN 5G Core Network

[0079] 5G NR Fifth Generation New Radio

[0080] 5GS 5G System

[0081] BBRx Baseband Receiver

[0082] BS Base Station

[0083] DCP DCI with CRC Scrambled by PS-RNTI

[0084] DL Downlink

[0085] eNB Enhanced Node B

[0086] E-UTRAN Evolved UTRAN

[0087] gNB 5G or Next Generation NodeB

[0088] G-RNTI Group-RNTI

[0089] HARQ Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request

[0090] LTE Long Term Evolution

[0091] MBS Multicast Broadcast Service

[0092] NR New Radio

[0093] PDCCH Physical Downlink Control Channel

[0094] PDSCH Physical Downlink Shared Channel

[0095] PTM Point-to-Multipoint

[0096] PUCCH Physical Uplink Control Channel

[0097] SI System Information

[0098] UE User Equipment [0100] UL Uplink

Claims

WE CLAIM:

1. A method comprising : indicating an interest in a given multicast broadcast service by receiving a configuration for indicating an interest in the given multicast broadcast service; by selecting an uplink channel resource out of a set of uplink channel resources associated with the multicast broadcast service; and by transmitting a signal on the selected uplink channel resource.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the uplink channel resource is selected randomly.

3. The method according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the set of uplink channel resource repeats at an interval.

4. The method according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the receiving of the configuration for indicating an interest in the given multicast broadcast service further comprises: receiving configuration from a network element to randomly select an uplink channel resource out of the set of uplink channel resources, and to transmit the signal on the randomly selected uplink channel resource.

5. The method according to any of claims 1-4, further comprising: receiving configuration from a network element to transmit the signal with a configured probability.

6. A method, comprising: configuring a set of uplink channel resources for one or more user equipment to randomly select; configuring the one or more user equipment to transmit on one uplink channel resource that was randomly selected from the set of uplink channel resources; performing energy detection on the set of uplink channel resources for transmissions from the one or more user equipment to indicate their interest in a multicast broadcast service; and generating, from a result of the energy detection, an estimate of a number of user equipment interested in the multicast broadcast service.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising: determining a number of uplink channel resources in relation to at least one of a predetermined value of the number of user equipment that are interested in the multicast broadcast service, and a threshold for switching between two different modes of delivering the multicast broadcast service.

8. The method according to claims 6 or 7, wherein the threshold is a break-even point between two modes of delivering the multicast broadcast service.

9. The method according to any of claims 6-8, further comprising: configuring the one or more user equipment to randomly select for transmission one out of the set of uplink channel resources.

10. An apparatus, comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory comprising computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor to cause the apparatus at least to indicate an interest in a given multicast broadcast service by receiving a configuration for indicating an interest in the given multicast broadcast service; by selecting an uplink channel resource out of a set of uplink channel resources associated with the multicast broadcast service; and by transmitting a signal on the selected uplink channel resource.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the uplink channel resource is selected randomly.

12. The apparatus according to claims 10 or 11, wherein the set of uplink channel resource repeats at an interval.

13. The apparatus according to any of claims 10-12, wherein the receiving of the configuration for indicating an interest in the given multicast broadcast service further comprises: receiving configuration from a network element to randomly select an uplink channel resource out of the set of uplink channel resources, and to transmit the signal on the randomly selected uplink channel resource.

14. The apparatus according to any of claims 10-13, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured, with the at least one processor to cause the apparatus at least to: receive configuration from a network element to transmit the signal with a configured probability.

15. An apparatus, comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory comprising computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor to cause the apparatus at least to configure a set of uplink channel resources for one or more user equipment to randomly select; configure the one or more user equipment to transmit on one uplink channel resource that was randomly selected from the set of uplink channel resources; perform energy detection on the set of uplink channel resources for transmissions from the one or more user equipment to indicate their interest in a multicast broadcast service; and generate, from a result of the energy detection, an estimate of a number of user equipment interested in the multicast broadcast service.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured, with the at least one processor to cause the apparatus at least to: determine a number of uplink channel resources in relation to at least one of a predetermined value of the number of user equipment that are interested in the multicast broadcast service, and a threshold for switching between two different modes of delivering the multicast broadcast service.

17. The apparatus according to claims 15 or 16, wherein the threshold is a break-even point between two modes of delivering the multicast broadcast service.

18. The apparatus according to any of claims 15-17, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured, with the at least one processor to cause the apparatus at least to: configure the one or more user equipment to randomly select for transmission one out of the set of uplink channel resources.

19. An apparatus, comprising: means for indicating an interest in a given multicast broadcast service by receiving a configuration for indicating an interest in the given multicast broadcast service; by selecting an uplink channel resource out of a set of uplink channel resources associated with the multicast broadcast service; and by transmitting a signal on the selected uplink channel resource.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the uplink channel resource is selected randomly.

21. The apparatus according to claims 19 or 20, wherein the set of uplink channel resource repeats at an interval.

22. The apparatus according to any of claims 19-21, wherein the receiving of the configuration for indicating an interest in the given multicast broadcast service further comprises: receiving configuration from a network element to randomly select an uplink channel resource out of the set of uplink channel resources, and to transmit the signal on the randomly selected uplink channel resource.

23. The apparatus according to any of claims 19-22, further comprising: means for receiving configuration from a network element to transmit the signal with a configured probability.

24. An apparatus, comprising: means for configuring a set of uplink channel resources for one or more user equipment to randomly select; means for configuring the one or more user equipment to transmit on one uplink channel resource that was randomly selected from the set of uplink channel resources; means for performing energy detection on the set of uplink channel resources for transmissions from the one or more user equipment to indicate their interest in a multicast broadcast service; and means for generating, from a result of the energy detection, an estimate of a number of user equipment interested in the multicast broadcast service.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising: means for determining the number of uplink channel resources in relation to at least one of a predetermined value of the number of user equipment that are interested in the multicast broadcast service, and a threshold for switching between two different modes of delivering the multicast broadcast service.

26. The apparatus according to claims 24 or 25, wherein the threshold is a break-even point between two modes of delivering the multicast broadcast service.

27. The apparatus according to any of claims 24-26, further comprising: means for configuring the one or more user equipment to randomly select for transmission one out of the set of uplink channel resources.

28 A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing the method according to any of claims 1-9.

29. An apparatus comprising circuitry configured to cause the apparatus to perform a process according to any of claims 1-9.