WO2024033690A1

WO2024033690A1 - Non-monotonic control channel monitoring

Info

Publication number: WO2024033690A1
Application number: PCT/IB2022/057546
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stefano PARIS; Margarita GAPEYENKO; Andrea MARCANO; Vitaly PETROV
Original assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
Priority date: 2022-08-12
Filing date: 2022-08-12
Publication date: 2024-02-15

Abstract

Inter-alia, a method is disclosed comprising: obtaining one or more monitoring patterns; and monitoring the control channel based on a respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns, wherein the control channel is monitored such that the control channel is monitored after skipping the monitoring of the control channel for a first duration of the at least two different durations and the control channel is monitored subsequently after skipping the monitoring of the control channel for a second duration of the at least two different durations. It is further disclosed an according apparatus, computer program and system.

Description

Non-Monotonic Control Channel Monitoring

FIELD

The following disclosure relates to the field of mobile communication networks, or more particularly relates to systems, apparatuses, and methods for monitoring a control channel in a non-monotonic manner.

BACKGROUND

Extended reality (XR) refers to all real-and-virtual combined environments and associated humanmachine interactions generated by computer technology and wearables. It includes representative forms such as augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), and virtual reality (VR) and the areas interpolated among them.

For standardization regarding XR data transmissions for NR, a thorough evaluation took place summarized e.g. in 3GPP TR 38.838. Parti culary, the following main items were delivered:

New traffic model tailored to account for XR main traffic characteristics.

Power saving, capacity, coverage, and mobility methodologies.

Possible areas to be enhanced.

The main XR related traffic characteristics can be summarized as follows:

Non-integer periodicity (e.g., 16.6 ms for 60 fps);

Non-negligible jitter;

Stringent Packet Delay Budget (PDB) requirement (only 10-15 ms).

Batch arrival comprising of time periods where arrival of Downlink (DL) video data is likely and time periods, where arrival of DL video data is unlikely.

Power savings for respective user equipments (UEs) and capacity improvements are areas of interest that benefit from further enhancements.

SUMMARY OF SOME EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

XR video traffic is characterized by non-negligible jitter and periodic inter-arrival time. The exact time arrival of a respective video frame will vary in a certain range (e.g. [12.67, 20.67] ms as per standardization agreements and may vary in real operation). Strict PDB requirement (10 ms for AR/VR) may require receiving a respective scheduling DCI as soon as possible to be able to receive the video frame before the PDB expires. The inventors realized it might be useful to enable a solution that advances one or more of the following aspects: the level of granularity when adjusting PDCCH monitoring intervals is low (e.g. only three to four pre-configured options). This does not perfectly fit the complex distribution of DL data arrivals e.g. with non-integer periodicity like XR traffic. gNB has to frequently send commands to adjust a respective periodic PCCCH monitoring behavior that the UE must follow. This introduces unnecessary complexity and overheads (signaling and power), as well as has issues related to UE processing delays (especially when switching from X>1 slots down to 1 slot).

Finally, the frame rate of XR traffic is not fixed and can change dynamically during a XR session (i.e., from 60 fps down to 30 fps or up to 120 fps) adjusting to the channel/network conditions and/or based on the running application/service. When the frame rate changes, the intervals for PDCCH monitoring (i.e., "small", "medium”, and "large”) may be needed to be updated accordingly, which currently requires an RRC reconfiguration. A bit mapping, which indicates which PDCCH occasions needs to be monitored by the UE, can be optimized for 60 fps, but, may not fit well frame rates of 30, 90 or 120 fps once the XR frame generation has changed.

According to a first exemplary aspect, a method is disclosed, the method comprising: obtaining one or more monitoring patterns, wherein a respective monitoring pattern is indicative of at least two different durations for which a monitoring of a control channel is to be skipped; and monitoring the control channel based on a respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns, wherein the control channel is monitored such that the control channel is monitored after skipping the monitoring of the control channel for a first duration of the at least two different durations and the control channel is monitored subsequently after skipping the monitoring of the control channel for a second duration of the at least two different durations.

This method may for instance be performed and/or controlled by an apparatus, for instance a user equipment or user device of a mobile communication network. For instance, the method may be performed and/or controlled by using at least one processor of the user equipment or user device.

According to a further exemplary aspect, a computer program is disclosed, the computer program when executed by a processor causing an apparatus, for instance a server, to perform and/or control the actions of the method according to the first, second and/or third exemplary aspect. According to a second exemplary aspect, a method is disclosed, the method comprising: providing one or more monitoring patterns, wherein a respective monitoring pattern is indicative of at least two different durations for which a monitoring of a control channel is to be skipped, and wherein a respective monitoring pattern indicates that the control channel is to be monitored such that a monitoring of the control channel takes place after skipping the monitoring of the control channel for a first duration of the at least two different durations, and the monitoring of the control channel takes places subsequently after skipping the monitoring of the control channel for a second duration of the at least two different durations.

This method may for instance be performed and/or controlled by an apparatus, for instance a base station, such as a gNB or eNB of a mobile communication network. For instance, the method may be performed and/or controlled by using at least one processor of the base station.

According to a further exemplary aspect, a computer program is disclosed, the computer program when executed by a processor causing an apparatus, for instance a server, to perform and/or control the actions of the method according to the first and/or second exemplary aspect.

The computer program may be stored on computer-readable storage medium, in particular a tangible and/or non-transitory medium. The computer readable storage medium could for example be a disk or a memory or the like. The computer program could be stored in the computer readable storage medium in the form of instructions encoding the computer-readable storage medium. The computer readable storage medium may be intended for taking part in the operation of a device, like an internal or external memory, for instance a Read-Only Memory (ROM) or hard disk of a computer, or be intended for distribution of the program, like an optical disc.

According to a further exemplary aspect, an apparatus is disclosed, configured to perform and/or control or comprising respective means for performing and/or controlling the method according to the first and/or second exemplary aspect.

The means of the apparatus can be implemented in hardware and/or software. They may comprise for instance at least one processor for executing computer program code for performing the required functions, at least one memory storing the program code, or both. Alternatively, they could comprise for instance circuitry that is designed to implement the required functions, for instance implemented in a chipset or a chip, like an integrated circuit. In general, the means may comprise for instance one or more processing means or processors. According to a further exemplary aspect, an apparatus is disclosed, comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause an apparatus, for instance the apparatus, at least to perform and/or to control the method according to the first and/or second exemplary aspect.

The above-disclosed apparatus according to any aspect may be a module or a component for a device, for example a chip. Alternatively, the disclosed apparatus according to any aspect may be a device, for instance a server or server cloud. The disclosed apparatus according to any aspect may comprise only the disclosed components, for instance means, processor, memory, or may further comprise one or more additional components.

According to a further exemplary aspect, a system is disclosed, comprising: at least one user device according to the first exemplary aspect as disclosed above, and at least one base station according to the first exemplary aspect as disclosed above.

Any disclosure herein relating to any exemplary aspect is to be understood to be equally disclosed with respect to any subject-matter according to the respective exemplary aspect, e.g. relating to an apparatus, a method, a computer program, and a computer-readable medium. Thus, for instance, the disclosure of a method step shall also be considered as a disclosure of means for performing and/or configured to perform the respective method step. Likewise, the disclosure of means for performing and/or configured to perform a method step shall also be considered as a disclosure of the method step itself. The same holds for any passage describing at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code; the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause an apparatus at least to perform a step.

For convenience, a list of abbreviations used in the following is already given at this point:

AR Augmented reality

CG Configured grant

CSS Common search space

DCI Downlink control information

DL Downlink fps Frames per second gNB 5G Node B, base station

MR Mixed reality

NR New Radio PDB Packet delay budget

PDCCH Physical downlink control channel

RRC Radio Resource Control

SF Subframe

SSSG Search space set group

UE User Equipment

USS UE specific Search Space

VR Virtual reality

XR Extended reality

In the following, exemplary features and exemplary embodiments of all aspects will be described in further detail.

The UE or user device according to the first exemplary aspect as described above will also be referred to as the apparatus according to the first exemplary aspect in the following. It may be a user device of a mobile communication network (also referred to as cellular network), for instance a 3G, LTE/4G, 5G NR, 5G or 6G network. Further, it may be a mobile or transportable device, e.g. a handset, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop, or any other mobile device. The user device may be or be part of a vehicle for travelling in air, water, or on land, e.g. a plane or a drone, a ship or a car or a truck. It may also be or be a part of a robot, a sensor device, a wearable device, an Internet of Things (loT device, a Machine Type Communication (TC) device, or the likes.

The apparatus of the first exemplary aspect obtains the one or more monitoring patterns, e.g. by receiving the one or more monitoring patterns from a mobile communication network, e.g. a base station (e.g. apparatus of the second exemplary aspect) of such a mobile communication network. The one or more monitoring patterns may be obtained e.g. by retrieving the one or more monitoring patterns by the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect. For instance, the one or more monitoring patterns may be retrieved from a memory that may be comprised by or connectable to the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect.

A respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns is indicative of at least two different durations for which a monitoring of a control channel (e.g. a PDCCH) is to be skipped, e.g. when the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect monitors the control channel. For instance, the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect may checkif e.g. in a certain slot at which the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect e.g. turns on its receiver/transceiver and receives allocation information with which the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect may be informed if one or more transmission resources are allocated for the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect. A respective duration of the at least two different durations may enable the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect to monitor the control channel (e.g. check for allocation information] such that the control channel is monitored after skipping the monitoring of the control channel for a first duration of the at least two different durations and the control channel is monitored subsequently after skipping the monitoring of the control channel for a second duration of the at least two different durations.

Subsequently monitoring the control channel, as used herein, may be understood that a first monitoring of the control channel occurs (by the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect) after the first duration has been lapsed takes places, and then the very next monitoring of the control channel occurs or takes place (by the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect) after the second duration has lapsed. Thus, directly following the previous monitoring of the control channel. The respective duration for which the control channel is not monitored by the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect may change between two consecutive occurrences at which the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect monitors the control channel.

Such a respective monitoring pattern obtained by the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect may allow to pre-configure the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect e.g. with a certain non-monotonic (e.g. PDCCH) monitoring pattern. For instance, a respective monitoring pattern may specify that a monitoring of the control channel takes place after 8 slots have been skipped, then that the next monitoring of the control channel takes place after 6 slots have been skipped, then 4 slots, 2 slots, 1 slot, 1 slot, 1 slot, 2 slots, 4 slots, 8 slots, etc. may have to be skipped between a next occasion at which the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect monitors the control channel. Such a respective monitoring pattern may be represented by a string of integer values: 8, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1, 1, 1, 2, 4, 8, to name but one non-limiting example. A respective monitoring pattern may thus comprise at least two indications of durations (e.g. number of slots) that the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect may skip between two subsequent or consecutive occasions at which the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect monitors the control channel.

According to an exemplary embodiment of all exemplary aspects, a respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns is represented by a string comprising at least two values that represent the at least two durations.

The apparatus of the first exemplary aspect may obtain (e.g. receive) at least one monitoring pattern as a single string rather than a single periodicity (e.g. pattern) of monitoring of the control channel (e.g. PDCCH). Such a single periodicity monitoring may e.g. also be referred to as PDCCH skipping or SSSG switching. Such a single periodicity means that the control channel is monitored such that a respective user device skips the monitoring of the control channel for exactly the same duration [e.g. number of slots) between subsequent or consecutive occasions at which such a respective user device monitors the control channel.

A respective duration of the at least two different durations may be represented by a value, e.g. an integer value. Further, a respective duration may be indicated so that the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect is enabled to determine [e.g. derive) such a value, e.g. based on a look-up table, to name but one non-limiting example.

A respective monitoring pattern may comprise a plurality [e.g. at least two) of such values e.g. a plurality integer values, wherein a respective [e.g. integer) value may indicate a certain slot/SF number that the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect may skip before an upcoming [e.g. next) monitoring of the control channel takes place. In addition or in the alternative, a respective value may indicate a certain slot or SFN number or specify the respective slot or SFN number at which the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect may monitor the control channel. Thus, the [e.g. integer) value may not indicate monitoring occasions from a general perspective [e.g. which would basically be present each and every slot), but when the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect actually performs and/or controls such a monitoring of the control channel.

A respective monitoring pattern comprises the at least two durations. The two durations may be set [e.g. determined by the apparatus of the second exemplary aspect) in such way that e.g. the at least two durations are configured to be a best match for a corresponding frame rate for video data transmission, i.e. mimic DL traffic arrival. For instance, the at least two durations may be optimized based on a certain frame rate [e.g. 120 fps, 90 fps, 60 fps, 30 fps) for video data transmission that the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect may receive.

The monitoring of the control channel may be for at least one indication of [e.g. new) DL data, e.g. as a respective allocation, wherein the method may further comprise obtaining [e.g. receiving) an allocation for DL data transmission, and obtaining [e.g. then) the (actual) DL data.

For instance, a DCI command may be used to scrape up one or more [e.g. all) values in a respective monitoring pattern [e.g. string) except if the value is 1. For example:

DCI “01” may indicate that (e.g. all) durations [e.g. values) in the respective monitoring pattern [e.g. string) "wn, Wt2, Wts, ..." must be divided by 2 except if the value is equal to 1: Vi =

DCI “10” may indicate that (e.g. all) durations (e.g. values) in the respective monitoring pattern (e.g. string) "wn, Wtz, Wts, ...” must be multiplied by 2 except if the value is equal to 1: Vi = 1,2,3, - ■■ w_ti = 2 x w_tij ifw_ti 1.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the first exemplary aspect, the method further comprises: being configured with a monitoring pattern configuration comprising the one or more monitoring patterns.

For instance, a respective apparatus of the second exemplary aspect (e.g. a base station, such as a gNB) may (e.g. pre-) configure the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect with one or more (e.g. PDCCH) monitoring patterns. A respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns may mimic a pattern of DL traffic arrival, i.e., following the traffic arrival pattern intended for data transmission, e.g. XR video (may in addition comprise audio data) transmission. For instance, and as briefly disclosed above, the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect may be configured with a respective monitoring pattern e.g. for DL traffic arrival for video data of a certain frame rate (e.g. 120 fps), and with another respective monitoring pattern e.g. for DL traffic arrival for video data of another frame rate (e.g. 90 fps), to name but one non-limiting example.

Further, the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect may be configured with a pre-defined periodic monitoring pattern in addition to the one or more monitoring patterns. This may allow that the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect can e.g. switch to periodic monitoring of the control channel in case e.g. DL traffic arrival is not expected to requiring the one or more monitoring patterns, as disclosed above.

The apparatus of the first exemplary aspect may be configured, e.g. by receiving a configuration information (e.g. a monitoring pattern configuration) comprising at least the respective monitoring pattern. Further, the method of the first exemplary aspect may comprise: applying the monitoring pattern configuration.

The apparatus of the first exemplary aspect may apply (e.g. activate) the configuration. Thus, the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect may receive such a configuration, and when the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect applies the configuration, the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect starts to monitor the control channel as defined/specified by a respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns.

According to an exemplary embodiment of all exemplary aspects, a respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns is associated with an index. A respective index may be an identifier allowing to identify the respective monitoring pattern. Further every monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns may be associated with (e.g. exactly) one index. Further, a respective index for the one or more monitoring patterns may be obtained (e.g. together or separately) with or may be comprised by the monitoring pattern configuration.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the first exemplary aspect, the obtaining further comprises: obtaining (e.g. from a base station) an indication of a respective index, wherein the control channel is monitored based on the respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns that is associated with the obtained index.

This may allow that the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect may obtain (e.g. receive) the respective index or an indication of the respective index so that in response the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect uses the respective monitoring pattern that is associated with the index. In this way, the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect can be controlled such that e.g. a base station (e.g. apparatus of the second exemplary aspect) can trigger the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect to monitor the control channel according to a certain monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the first exemplary aspect, the one or more (e.g. at least two respective monitoring patterns of the) monitoring patterns are obtained simultaneously. According to an exemplary embodiment of the second exemplary aspect, the one or more monitoring patterns are provided (e.g. sent or transmitted) simultaneously.

For instance, the one or more monitoring patterns may be comprised by or represented by a single message transmitted between the apparatuses of all exemplary aspects, or as one allocated data transmission (e.g. comprising one or more data packets), to name but a few non-limiting examples.

For instance, (e.g. all of) the one or more monitoring patterns are signaled (e.g. by DCI) to the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect (e.g. by the apparatus of the second exemplary aspect) respectively are obtained by the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect at once. For instance, the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect may be configured with a single (e.g. monitoring pattern) configuration comprising or representing (e.g. all of) the one or more monitoring patterns.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the first exemplary aspect, the control channel is monitored in a sequence as represented (e.g. specified/given) by the string. A respective monitoring pattern represented by such a string may form a sequence. This may allow that the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect monitors the control channel, then skips the monitoring of the control channel corresponding to a respective first value of the string, and the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect monitors the control channel again. The apparatus of the first exemplary aspect may skip the monitoring of the control channel corresponding to a second value of the string before the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect monitors the control channel subsequently, and so on for a number of values as comprised by the string. Thus, the order of the respective values (e.g. at least two for the at least two different durations) may be considered by the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect.

According to an exemplary embodiment of all exemplary aspects, the string comprises the at least two values in a non-monotonous (i.e. arbitrary or random) order. Thus, there may be no periodicity in the sequence.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the first exemplary aspect, in case the control channel has been monitored based on a last value of the respective string, the monitoring of the control channel is repeated from a beginning of the respective monitoring pattern based on the respective monitoring pattern, or the respective monitoring pattern is inverted and the control channel is monitored based on the inverted monitoring pattern.

The apparatus of the first exemplary aspect may monitor the control channel in a certain order, e.g. as represented by a respective string. The respective string may comprise a finite number of values. In case a last value as comprised by the string when the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect performs and/or controls the monitoring of the control channel in a respective order of the respective string was applied or reached by the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect so that the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect has skipped the monitoring of the control channel e.g. for a certain number of slots corresponding to such a last value of the string, the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect may have different options how to proceed. The apparatus of the first exemplary aspect may monitor the control channel starting again from the beginning of the respective string. Thus, the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect may repeat the respective monitoring pattern (e.g. as represented by the respective string). Further, the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect may monitor the control channel based on an inverted monitoring pattern. For instance, the order as represented by the respective string is inverted and then the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect may monitor the control channel may start from the beginning of the inverted monitoring pattern represented by the respective string. In another alternative, the apparatus may monitor the control channel according to a periodic monitoring pattern. Such a periodic monitoring pattern may be a default monitoring pattern to which the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect may revert, e.g. when the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect has reached a last value of the respective monitoring pattern, and/or is triggered to switch to such a periodic monitoring pattern, to name but a few non-limiting examples.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the first exemplary aspect, wherein the method further comprises: providing [e.g. sending) an acknowledgement, ACK, for restarting the respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns.

In case the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect has received DL data successfully, the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect may provide (e.g. send) a respective ACK. Based on such an ACK, the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect may restart the monitoring of the control channel according e.g. to a last applied monitoring pattern. For instance, the respective monitoring pattern may be repeated, or inverted, to name but two non-limiting examples.

In addition or in the alternative, e.g. when a first packet of DL data has been received by the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect, the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect may stop the respective monitoring sequence (e.g. as represented by a respective string) and may start/begin with a monitoring of the control channel (e.g. PDCCH) according to a current periodicity e.g. as indicated in configured SSSG. In addition or in the alternative, a respective restart of a respective (e.g. non-monotonous) monitoring sequence of the respective monitoring pattern may be applied (e.g. by the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect) e.g. when the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect may sent a respective ACK. Otherwise, the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect may monitor the control channel with a (e.g. current) periodicity as indicated in configured SSSG (e.g. which may be a default way of monitoring the control channel to which the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect can revert back).

For instance, a respective base station (e.g. gNB, apparatus of the second exemplary aspect) may send a respective indication with a currently active PDCCH monitoring pattern to restart the respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns at the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect. In other words, a respective gNB may send a "restart” command (to the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect) e.g. when delivering a last packet of DL data (e.g. a respective video frame), so that the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect may stop the monitoring of the control channel PDCCH frequently even if the respective DL video frame interval has not ended yet. For example, if currently a monitoring pattern with a respective DCI index (e.g. "01") is active, sending another DCI (e.g. message) comprising the respective index "01” may restart the monitoring pattern from the beginning on part of the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect. According to an exemplary embodiment of the first exemplary aspect, the one or more monitoring patterns are obtained (e.g. received] via radio resource control, RRC, signaling (e.g. or as a part of a DCI], or as a part of a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the second exemplary aspect, the one or more monitoring patterns are provided via radio resource control, RRC, signaling (e.g. or as a part of a DCI], or as a part of a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE.

Another possibility may be to employ e.g. a respective MAC-CE command. In this way, the apparatus of the second exemplary aspect may send a (e.g. string of e.g. PDCCH] monitoring pattern. This may allow that the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect may e.g. repeat the above disclosed procedure.

For instance, a two-bit DCI indication for changing the respective monitoring pattern may not well be suited for different frame rates for video data transmission, since video data transmission may have frequent periodicity changes in particular in the case of XR traffic. To solve this, e.g. the one or more monitoring patterns may be obtained by the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect based on a (e.g. completely new defined] RRC message. This may allow to reduce power consumption and resources consumption and may further reduce latency for video data transmission in case the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect obtains the one or more monitoring patterns so that the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect can apply a respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns to respectively monitor the control channel.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the first exemplary aspect, the obtaining further comprises: obtaining an indication of downlink, DL, data; and the method further comprises: switching to a pre-defined periodic monitoring pattern in case the indication is obtained, wherein the control channel is monitored based on the pre-defined periodic monitoring pattern.

A respective base station (e.g. gNB, apparatus of the second exemplary aspect] may provide (e.g. send] a respective indication of another pre-configured monitoring pattern (e.g. PDCCH monitoring pattern] in response to a change in a respective frame rate (e.g. from 60 fps to 120 fps] of a video data transmission (e.g. ongoing video data transmission]. Hence, such a switch from one pre-configured (e.g. complex and/or non-monotonous] monitoring pattern (e.g. that may be a best fit/match for a frame rate of 60 fps] to another monitoring pattern (e.g. that may be a best fit/match for a frame rate of 120 fps] of the one or more monitoring patterns may be allowed easily and fast, e.g. with a single DCI command comprising at least an indication of a respective index associated with the respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns. According to an exemplary embodiment of the second exemplary aspect, the providing further comprises: providing an indication of downlink, DL, data.

As disclosed above, the apparatus of the second exemplary aspect may provide (e.g. send) a respective indication (or a respective index) associated with the respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns, e.g. together with a respective indication of DL data (e.g. allocation of a respective video data transmission to name but one non-limiting example).

According to an exemplary embodiment of the first exemplary aspect, the method further comprises: stopping a respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns in case a (e.g. first) packet of DL data has been received (e.g. by the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect); and starting a monitoring of the control channel based on a periodic monitoring pattern indicated in a configured grant (e.g. SSSG)

For instance, when a first packet has been received (e.g. successfully), the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect may stop a respective monitoring sequence of the respective monitoring pattern. The apparatus of the first exemplary aspect may start the monitoring of the control channel (e.g. PDCCH) according to a current periodicity e.g. indicated in configured SSSG. Such a respective SSSG may represent a switching indication by means of DCI, e.g. comprising one PDCCH (e.g. periodic) skipping duration with which the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect may monitor the control channel. A respective SSSG switching delay may be in a range of [10-25] symbols, so that the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect may start to monitor the control channel based on such a periodic monitoring pattern in case the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect can expect that e.g. DL data transmission is allocated to it such that a respective periodic monitoring pattern is sufficient. This may however not be determined on part of the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect, but on part of the mobile communication network, e.g. by a respective apparatus of the second exemplary aspect that provides (e.g. sends) the first packet to the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect.

The apparatus of the second exemplary aspect (e.g. a base station) provides (e.g. transmits) the one or more monitoring patterns, e.g. to the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect. As disclosed above, a respective monitoring pattern indicates (e.g. to the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect) that the control channel is to be monitored such that a monitoring of the control channel takes place after skipping the monitoring of the control channel for a first duration of the at least two different durations, and the monitoring of the control channel takes places subsequently after skipping the monitoring of the control channel for a second duration of the at least two different durations.

For instance, the interworking of the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect (e.g. a user device or UE) with the apparatus of the second exemplary aspect [e.g. a base station) may be as follows:

The base station provides [e.g. send) the one or more monitoring patterns, and the UE receives them. The one or more monitoring pattern may be provided from the base station to the user device via RRC signaling configuring. A respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring pattern may be a non-monotonic PDCCH monitoring pattern. Further, a respective monitoring pattern may comprise a duration sequence.

The user device monitors the control channel or may perform PDCCH monitoring following a respective [e.g. pre-configured) monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns. For this, the user device may monitor the control channel by applying a respective [e.g. each) value of the duration sequence.

The user device may continue with a next value in the monitoring pattern or may repeat the monitoring pattern from the beginning when the sequence of the respective monitoring patterns ends, unless the user device may be instructed otherwise by the base station or unless the user device may receive a respective indication of the new DL traffic, e.g. from the base station.

The user device may switch between one or more of the [e.g. pre-configured) monitoring patterns, e.g. following respective one or more indications by base station. Such a respective indication may be provided [e.g. sent) by the base station to the user device via DCI, to name but one non-limiting example.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the second exemplary aspect, wherein the method further comprises: determining a monitoring pattern configuration comprising the one or more monitoring patterns. configuring a user device with the monitoring pattern configuration.

A respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns may be determined by the apparatus of the second exemplary aspect, and then be provided to the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect. In addition or in the alternative, a respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns may be determined by another entity [e.g. a central unit) of the mobile communication network, and then be provided to the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect via the apparatus of the second exemplary aspect. Such a respective monitoring pattern may, in this way, be pre-configured for the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect. Such a respective monitoring pattern may be part of the monitoring pattern configuration. For instance, the apparatus of the second exemplary aspect may determine or be provided with the one or more monitoring patterns. Further, the apparatus of the second exemplary aspect may determine the monitoring pattern configuration based on these one or more monitoring patterns for the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect. The apparatus of the second exemplary aspect may configure the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect with the monitoring pattern enabling the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect to apply the monitoring pattern configuration so that the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect is enabled to monitor a/the control channel based on a respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns, as disclosed above. The apparatus of the first exemplary aspect may be configured via RRC signaling with the monitoring pattern configuration. The apparatus of the first exemplary aspect may be configured with the monitoring pattern e.g. as a part of a random access procedure, to name but one non-limiting possibility.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the second exemplary aspect, the providing further comprises: providing [e.g. to the user device) an indication of a respective index, wherein the respective index enables that the control channel is to be monitored based on the respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns that is associated with the respective index.

For instance, the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect may monitor the control channel based on a certain monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns that the apparatus of the second exemplary aspect has provided. In case e.g. the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect should monitor the control channel based on another monitoring pattern of the one or more [e.g. provided monitoring patterns), the apparatus of the second exemplary aspect may provide [e.g. send) an indication of a respective index that may be associated with a certain monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns to the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect. Based on such an indication of a respective index, the apparatus may change/apply the respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring pattern that is associated with the respective index, and the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect monitors or continues to monitor the control channel based on the respective monitoring pattern is associated with the [provided) respective index.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the second exemplary aspect, the indication of a respective index is associated with a currently active monitoring pattern for restarting the respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns. The apparatus of the second exemplary aspect may provide (e.g. send) the indication with a currently active (e.g. PDCCH) monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns. This may cause or trigger the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect to restart the respective monitoring pattern. In addition or in the alternative, the apparatus of the second exemplary aspect may provide (e.g. send) a "restart” command (e.g. via DCI, RRC signalling, or as a MAC-CE, to name but a few non-limiting examples). For instance, the indication with a currently active (e.g. PDCCH) monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns may be provided (e.g. delivered) to the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect together with or accompanying a last packet of the video data (e.g. representing a video frame), so that the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect may stop the monitoring of the control channel (e.g. PDCCH). The monitoring of the control channel maybe stopped by the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect frequently even if the DL video frame interval (as specified by a currently active monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns) may have not yet ended. For example, if a currently active monitoring pattern associated with a (e.g. DCI) index "01” is active on part of the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect, sending a respective indication of the (e.g. DCI) index “01” thus restarts the monitoring pattern from the beginning, meaning that the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect monitors the control channel after the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect has skipped a number of slots corresponding to a first value (e.g. of a sequence) as comprised by the respective monitoring pattern. This sending of the index "01” may be considered to be above disclosed "restart” command, to name but one non-limiting example.

The features and example embodiments described above may equally pertain to the different aspects.

It is to be understood that the presentation in this section is merely by way of examples and nonlimiting.

Other features will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. It should be further understood that the drawings are not drawn to scale and that they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the figures show:

Fig. 1 a schematic block diagram of a system according to an exemplary aspect;

Fig. 2 a flowchart showing an example embodiment of a method according to the first exemplary aspect; Fig. 3 a flowchart showing an example embodiment of a method according to the second exemplary aspect;

Fig. 4 a signaling chart showing an example embodiment of all exemplary aspects;

Fig. 5 a typical XR video traffic arrival pattern;

Fig. 6 a comparison of typical XR video traffic arrival patterns for different frame rates;

Fig. 7a an overview of capacity for AR/VR in FR1;

Fig. 7b an overview of power saving for CG and AR/VR in FR1;

Fig. 7c an overview of capacity for AR/VR in FR1 with dynamic adaptation;

Fig. 7d an overview of power saving for CG and AR/VR in FR1 with dynamic adaptation;

Fig. 8 examples of monitoring patterns for different frame rates, as used by example embodiments of all exemplary aspects;

Fig. 9a, b a comparison of monitoring patterns in terms of power saving and number of delayed frames, as provided by example embodiments of all exemplary aspects; and

Fig. 10 a schematic block diagram of an apparatus configured to perform the method according to the first or second exemplary aspect.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The following description serves to deepen the understanding and shall be understood to complement and be read together with the description as provided in the above summary section of this specification.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a system 100 according to an exemplary aspect. System 100 comprises a user device 130 (e.g. apparatus of the first exemplary aspect] and a base station 120 (e.g. apparatus of the second exemplary aspect]. Further, system 100 comprises an optional central unit 110 of a mobile communication network 140 [exemplary illustrated by the cloud surrounding the entities 110 to 130], The mobile communication network 140 may provide infrastructure so that e.g. the user device 130 and the base station (e.g. gNB] 120 can communicate with each other, and/or with the central entity 110 of the mobile communication network.

Example embodiments of all exemplary aspects may enable to accommodate XR servicefs] or XR video transmission e.g. in terms of power saving and not to violate PDB requirements caused by delayed PDCCH reception. Therefore, a respective monitoring pattern of PDCCH monitoring (e.g. the one or more monitoring patterns] may be employed e.g. that can be indicated by DCI commands. For instance, a set PDCCH monitoring patterns {wi, W2, ... , w_n] is communicated to the user device 130 by the base station 120 e.g. during RRC connection setup of reconfiguration procedurefs]. Then, one or more DCI commands can be used to indicate to the user device 130 e.g. to change the PDCCH monitoring patterns (e.g. a respective monitoring pattern], which may have been set using RRC. For instance, such a DCI command may include/comprise indicating an index of a respective monitoring pattern e.g. among a pre-configured set of monitoring patterns, inverting a respective bitmap used for the monitoring pattern, and/or scale up/down a monitoring frequency by a certain factor (e.g., doubling/halving the monitoring frequency], as indicated by a respective monitoring pattern (e.g. value comprised by such a respective monitoring pattern).

Fig. 2 is a flowchart 200 showing an example embodiment of a method according to the first exemplary aspect. This flowchart 200 may for instance be performed by a user device 130 of Fig. 1, e.g. representing an apparatus of the first exemplary aspect.

In an optional first step 201, the user device performing and/or controlling the flowchart 200 is configured with a monitoring pattern configuration. Such a monitoring pattern configuration may be obtained (e.g. received) from a mobile communication network respectively an entity of the mobile communication network, e.g. a base station 120 of Fig. 1.

In second step 202, one or more monitoring patterns are obtained, e.g. by receiving the one or more monitoring patterns, e.g. from a mobile communication network respectively an entity of the mobile communication network, e.g. a base station 120 of Fig. 1. The one or more monitoring patterns may be a part of or be comprised by the monitoring pattern configuration. Alternatively, the one or more monitoring patterns may be obtained (e.g. received) independent of the monitoring pattern configuration. For this case and step 201 being performed and/or controlled, the monitoring pattern configuration may trigger the user device performing and/or controlling the flowchart200 to obtain the one or more monitoring patterns, e.g. from a memory that is comprised by, connectable to, and/or accessible by the user device, to name but a few non-limiting examples.

In a third step 203, a respective control channel is monitored based, at least in part, on a respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns obtained in step 202. The control channel maybe a PDCCH.

In an optional fourth step 204a, an indication of an index is obtained (e.g. received). Such an index can be associated with a respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns obtained in step 202. If such an index or indication of an index is obtained, the user device then monitors the control channel according to a respective monitoring pattern that is associated with the obtained index or indication of the index. In addition or in the alternative, in an optional step 204b, the user device performing and/or controlling the flowchart 200 may obtain (e.g. receive) an indication of DL data, which may yield in a monitoring of the control channel based on a respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns, or based on another (e.g. default) and periodic monitoring pattern. In an optional fifth step 205, the user device switches to a pre-defined monitoring pattern. Accordingly, the user device may monitor the control channel then based on the pre-defined monitoring pattern.

In an optional sixth step 206, the user device stops the respective monitoring pattern. This may yield in the user device not monitoring the control channel at all, or in the user device returning to the monitoring (e.g. PDCCH monitoring] in SSSG.

Fig. 3 is a flowchart 300 showing an example embodiment of a method according to the first exemplary aspect. This flowchart 300 may for instance be performed by a base station 120 of Fig. 1, e.g. representing an apparatus of the second exemplary aspect.

In an optional first step 301, a monitoring pattern configuration is determined. This step may optionally be performed and/or control by another entity of the mobile communication network [e.g. by a central unit 110 of Fig. 1],

In an optional second step 302, a user device (e.g. user device 130 of Fig. 1) maybe configured with the monitoring pattern configuration, see also step 201 of flowchart 200 of Fig. 2.

In a third step, one or more monitoring patterns are provided, e.g. by transmitting the one or more monitoring patterns, e.g. to the user device. This step 303 may be part of step 302, in case this optional step 302 is performed and/or controlled by the apparatus performing and/or controlling the flowchart 300.

In an optional fourth step 304a, an indication of a respective index, or the index is provided, e.g. by transmitting the indication of the index or the index, e.g. to a user device (see step 204a of Fig. 2). In addition or in the alternative, an indication of downlink data is provided, e.g. by transmitting the indication e.g. to the user device (see step 204b of Fig. 2).

Fig. 4 shows a signaling chart showing an example embodiment of all exemplary aspects. Fig. 4 shows a user device 430 (‘UE’, e.g. apparatus of the first exemplary aspect) and a base station, such as agNB 420 (e.g. apparatus of the second exemplary aspect). Fig. 4 illustrates the inter- working and communication between the user device 430 and the base station 420.

Fig. 4 illustrates a high-level signalling diagram of a respective behavior of both apparatuses, the apparatus of the first exemplary aspect and the apparatus of the second exemplary aspect. In a first step 100, the gNB configures the UE behavior by providing PDCCH non-monotonic monitoring pattern configurations associated with indices wo, wi, ... , w_n, see step 201 of Fig. 2 and steps 301/302 of Fig. 3.

In a next step 101, the UE uses a default (e.g. periodic) monitoring frequency ko to monitor the control channel (e.g. PDCCH).

Then, (e.g. XR) video data/ transmission with a certain frame rate may be scheduled to the UE. In a step 102, thus, a frame is transmitted by the gNB 420 to the UE 430. In a step 103, the gNB determines (e.g. decides) a respective monitoring pattern for this UE to be used for the data (video) transmission. To trigger the UE 430 to use a respective monitoring pattern (e.g. of the non-monotonic monitoring configurations), the gNB provides (e.g. sends) an indication of a PDCCH monitoring pattern to use (e.g. wt). The UE 420 obtains (e.g. receives) this indication of the index wt, and uses the indication of the index Wt to determine a respective monitoring pattern that is associated with the index Wtin a step 105. The UE 420 monitors the control channel PDCCH based on the respective monitoring pattern.

Thus, in the step 105, the UE 430 uses the PDCCH skipping pattern, w_t provided by the gNB 420 and starts from the first value in said pattern, e.g. w_{t l}. After skipping the PDCCH monitoring for a duration indicated by w_{t l}, the UE 430 monitors again the PDCCH to knowif there is a new DCI allocation. If no DCI allocation is found, the UE 430 applies the next PDCCH skipping value in the pattern, e.g., w_ti2, and once again stops monitoring the PDCCH for the duration indicated by w_{t 2}.

In a step 106, new downlink frame arrives at the gNB 420 for a respective transmission to the UE 430. The UE 430 monitors the control channel based on the respective monitoring pattern so that the UE 430 can receive the DL frame from the gNB since the gNB provides (e.g. sends) an indication of new DL data (e.g. via DCI) to the user device 130.

This process may be repeated until the end of the pattern or until a DCI allocation is detected (see step 107) even if the full set of skipping values in w_t has notbeen applied.

In a step 108, the gNB 420 can update a state (e.g. of the UE 430) and outcome of a decision policy. The steps 102, 103, 106 and 108 of the gNB 420 may be repeated.

In a step 109, the UE 430 stops applying PDCCH skipping of the respective monitoring pattern and goes back to monitor the PDCCH on every (or a periodic) occasion until the gNB 420 indicates otherwise.

Fig. 5 shows a typical XR video traffic arrival pattern. XR video traffic can be characterized by non-negligible jitter and periodic inter-arrival time. The exact time arrival of the video frame will vary in a certain range (e.g., [12.67, 20.67] ms as per 3GPP agreements but may vary in real deployments) as depicted in Fig. 5. The strict PDB requirement [e.g., 10 ms for AR/VR as per 3GPP agreements but may vary in real deployments) may make it important to receive a respective scheduling DCI as soon as possible to be able to receive the video frame before PDB (with which the frame is then transmitted) expires. This is indicated by the "Delay" shown e.g. between arrival of Frame 2 and when Frame 2 is actually transmitted.

Fig. 6 shows a comparison of typical XR video traffic arrival patterns for different frame rates.

The frame rate of e.g. XR traffic is not fixed and can change dynamically during a respective XR session (i.e., from 60 fps down to 30 fps or up to 120 fps, to name but a few non-limiting examples) e.g. adjusting to the channel /network conditions and/or the running application/service. When the respective frame rate changes, the (e.g. periodic) intervals for PDCCH monitoring (i.e., "small”, "medium”, and "large”) may be needed to be updated accordingly, which may require an RRC reconfiguration in case of such periodic monitoring patterns used for the monitoring of a respective control channel. Thus, the PDCCH occasions at which the UE monitors the control channel can be changed by RRC reconfiguration e.g. in case a frame rate changes. This provides some flexibility. However, this flexibility is insufficient to efficiently serve e.g. XR traffic and e.g. XR UEs, as one can define no more than three SSSG indexes I PDCCH skipping durations with the provided bit mapping of two-bits in DCI. Moreover, a once configured bit mapping via RRC, i.e., how many slots to skip, periodicity of first SSSG, periodicity of second SSSG, will not be possible to be changed autonomously by the UE, since as repeatedly mentioned, triggering a RRC reconfiguration procedure is required. However RRC reconfiguration takes time and can result in the full reconfiguration of the connection.

An approach using a periodic monitoring pattern may thus include (see also Figure 5):

A single "large” PDCCH skipping duration (i.e., 8 slots) to be used in between the DL frame arrival intervals.

A single "medium” PDCCH monitoring periodicity (i.e., 2 slots or 4 slots) to be used within the DL frame arrival intervals, where DL can arrive but the chances/importance (urgency) to receive the data is relatively low.

A single "small” PDCCH monitoring periodicity (i.e., 1 slots) to be used within the DL frame arrival intervals, where DL can arrive and the chances/importance (urgency) to receive the data is high. Such a periodic monitoring pattern may be a suitable candidate for a (e.g. constant) framerate of 60 fps video frame, but if the framerate increases (e.g., 90, 120 fps) or decreases (30 fps) as shown in Fig. 6, parameters like the skipping duration and PDCCH monitoring periodicity may no longer be optimal or even fit the new interarrival time of the e.g. XR (video) frames. This will require a new RRC reconfiguration message to adapt the PDCCH monitoring adaptation procedure to the new traffic period respectively frame rate, hence resulting in increased delay (about 5-6 frames will be lost) and increased power consumption.

Moreover, a respective SSSG switching delay may be in a range of [10-25] symbols making it not practical to use when periodicity need to be changed from >1 to 1 and in a frequent manner.

In order to maximize the chances to receive the video frame (e.g. due to the performed and/or controlled monitoring by a respective user device or UE, e.g. apparatus of the first exemplary aspect) on time and minimize the power consumption associated to monitoring PDCCH occasions, PDCCH monitoring adaptation schemes consisting in switching between high periodicity (when the video frame is expected) and low periodicity (when the video frame is not expected) have certain trade-off in terms of power saving gain and capacity loss, as shown in Figs. 7a-d for the case of AR/VR services in FR1 at 30Mbps. In these results, k_s refers to the PDCCH monitoring periodicity in number of slots; a value of k_s = 1 may mean that the UE monitors the PDCCH in every slot, whereas a value of k_s = 2 may mean that the UE monitors the PDCCH in e.g., slot 0, slot 2, slot 4, etc. When switching between two k_s values, e.g., k_s = {k_s , k_S2 }, k_s may be used during the data activity period until the last packet has been received, and k_S2 may then be used during the inactivity period for a set time window (which should e.g. be chosen according to the XR traffic behaviour).

Fig. 7a illustrates an overview of capacity for AR/VR in FR1. From Fig. 7a, it can be seen than when using a single value with k_s > 1 the capacity is heavily affected decreasing up to 75%, making this approach unfeasible for XR applications even when the power consumption gain can be more than 50%, as shown in Fig. 7b, which shows an overview of power saving for CG and AR/VR in FR1

Fig. 7c illustrates an overview of capacity for AR/VR in FR1 with dynamic adaptation, and Fig. 7d an overview of power saving for CG and AR/VR in FR1 with dynamic adaptation. However, when using a dynamic approach, as shown in Fig. 7c and d, the results show a much lower reduction in capacity with only 5% loss in some cases while still obtaining a power gain of at least 10%. These results then confirm that dynamic approaches for PDCCH monitoring offer the best trade-off between capacity and power consumption for XR services. Fig. 8 shows examples of monitoring patterns for different frame rates, as used by example embodiments of all exemplary aspects. It may be assumed that a best pattern for XR frame rate of 60 fps, 90 fps, and 120 fps are those indicated in Fig. 8 for numerology 1 [SCS=30 kHz), where '0' indicates to skip the slot and ‘1’ indicates to monitor the slot. Note that the three patterns have different lengths: 33, 23, 19 slots for 60 fps, 90 fps, and 120 fps, respectively. However, the whole pattern repeats itself after the last '1', but Fig. 8 illustrates the respective monitoring pattern for the sake of simplicity. Therefore, symbols shall be replaced with '0' or '1' according to the corresponding monitoring pattern by simply copying the pattern starting from the successive slot of the last ‘1’. These patterns are communicated a respective user device [e.g. UE) during the RRC connection setup or reconfiguration together with indices to identify the configuration. The following DCI commands consisting for example of two bits can be defined to indicate which configuration to use:

DCI 1 [bits: “00”) indicates to use the first configuration, which is optimized for 60 fps;

DCI 2 [bits: “01”) indicates to use the second configuration, which is optimized for 90 fps;

DCI 3 [bits: “10”) indicates to use the third configuration, which is optimized for 120 fps; and DCI 4 [bits: "11”) indicates that the pattern shall be inverted or mirrored [e.g., the string of bits shall be read from right to left).

The [e.g. arbitrary) monitoring patterns indicated in Fig. 8 can be represented in many formats in addition to the bitmaps indicated in the Fig. 8. For example, the number of slots before the next monitoring occasion since the last PDCCH monitoring slot can be used as follows:

60 fps: wl = 16, 8, 4, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1;

90 fps: w2 = 12, 6, 3, 1, 1, 1, 1;

120 fps; w3 = 8, 4, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1.

For instance, a string “wti, Wt2, Wta, ..." for t = {1, 2, 3} may indicate that the first monitoring occasion of a respective monitoring pattern wt is wti slots after the previous monitoring occasion [or since the beginning of the radio frame in case of the first radio frame), the second monitoring occasion is we slots after the first monitoring occasion [i.e., at Wti + we slots), the third monitoring occasion is WB slots after the second monitoring occasion [i.e., at wu + we + WB slots), and so on. For example, the monitoring pattern for 60 fps wi = "16, 8, 4, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1” may indicate that the first monitoring occasion is 16 slots after the previous monitoring occasion [or beginning of the radio frame in case of the first radio frame), the second monitoring occasion is 8 slots after the first monitoring occasion [i.e., 24 slots since the beginning of the pattern), the third monitoring occasion is 4 [i.e., after 28 slots since the beginning of the pattern) slots after the second monitoring occasion, and so on. This means that the user device skips 15 slots before monitoring the first slot, then the user device skips other 7 slots before monitoring again another slot, then the UE it skips other 3 slots and monitors the 4^th slots after the second monitoring occasion, and so on. Fig.9a, b respectively show a comparison of monitoring patterns in terms of power saving and number of delayed frames, as provided by example embodiments of all exemplary aspects; and

Different monitoring patterns, as used by example embodiments of all exemplary aspects are compared. Such different PDCCH monitoring patterns include non-monotonic patterns (see scheme 3 of the five schemes described in the following) of all exemplary aspects to show beneficial aspects. The comparison result have the following five schemes that are compared. Further, in the following, one or more conditions and parameters of the used model are disclosed.

Scheme 1:

A respective monitoring of a respective control channel (PDCCH) by a sparse monitoring with a frequency % (e.g. every other slot):

10101010

Scheme 2:

Two PDCCH SSSGs with an overall monitoring pattern (1, 1, ... , 1, 0, ... , 0):

1: "always ON” inside jitter range

0: "always OFF” outside jitter range

1111111100000000

Scheme 3:

PDCCH non-monotonic monitoring with Bell shaped distribution (l/i, %, 1, %, %, 0, ... , 0):

1000101111010001

Frequency proportional to arrival probability inside jitter range

"Always OFF" outside jitter range

Scheme 4:

A respective search space set switching with first half = 1 (inside jitter range), second half = % (outside jitter range).

Scheme 5: Search space set switching with first half (e.g. slots 1 to 8 below) = % (inside jitter range), second half (e.g. slots 9 to 16 below) = 1 (outside jitter range):

0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

The following parameters were used:

Numerology pi=l (SCS=30kHz, slot=0.5ms)

The following traffic model was used:

Frame arrival process: Truncated Gaussian Distribution (as agreed in RANI)

Framerate: 60fps (1 every 16.67ms) with random jitter in [-4; 4] ms

Frame transmission latency: 2ms (as seen in FREAC simulations)

Time: 8 s (480 XR frames)

The following scheduling assumption was used:

XR frame available in next slot after frame arrival time

The following UE power model was used:

PDCCH monitoring: 100 power units

PDSCH decoding: 280 power units

PDCCH monitoring and PDSCH decoding: 300 power units

As can be seen from Fig. 9a, scheme 3 provides the most benefits regarding the provided power saving gain of roughly 75 %. Further, as can be seen from Fig. 9b, scheme 3 keeps up with scheme 1 (of monitoring every other slot regarding a delay of frame arrival e.g. of video (e.g. XR) data.

Example embodiment of all exemplary aspect may allow one or more of the following:

Flexible design to support multiple patterns that can help to accommodate e.g., different fps. Increase PDCCH detection probability (reduce probability of missing scheduling information); Decrease unnecessary PDCCH monitoring to increase power saving;

Avoid DCI overhead from repeated DCI indicating the updated PDCCH skipping periodicity during data inactivity periods

Jitter handling - by covering a potential frame arrival window with certain PDCCH monitoring pattern

Reduced switching delay as compared to SSSG switching.

Example embodiments of all exemplary aspect may include or comprise one or more of the following: gNB (e.g. apparatus of the second exemplary aspect) pre-configuring the UE (e.g. apparatus of the first exemplary aspect) with one or more PDCCH monitoring patterns that mimic the pattern of DL traffic arrival, i.e., following a traffic arrival pattern as shown in Fig. 5. gNB sending the indication with a currently active PDCCH monitoring pattern to restart the pattern at the UE 8i.e., gNB may send the "restart” command when delivering the last packet of the video frame, so that the UE stops monitoring PDCCH frequently even if the DL video frame interval has not ended yet). For example, if currently pattern with the DCI index "01” is active, sending another DCI "01” restarts the pattern from the beginning. gNB sending the indication of another pre-configured PDCCH monitoring pattern in response to the change in the frame rate [e.g. from 60 fps to 120 fps). Hence, the switch from one preconfigured complex non-monotonic PDCCH monitoring pattern (that fits the best 60 fps) to another pattern (that fits the best 120 fps) can be done easy and fast with a single DCI command, another possibility is to employ MAC-CE command to send a string of PDCCH monitoring pattern and repeat the procedure above.

As can be derived from Fig. 9a and 9b, a respective monitoring pattern as used by such example embodiments of all exemplary aspect, e.g. scheme 3 with non-monotonic monitoring pattern shows better results in terms of power saving as well as does not compromise the number of delayed frames. This at least motivates to employ a respective non-monotonic monitoring pattern as well as an ability to signal those respective monitoring patterns and which monitoring pattern is to be used for a monitoring of a respective control channel in a more efficient way.

Fig. 10 is a schematic block diagram of an apparatus 1000 according to the first or second exemplary aspect. Apparatus 1000 may for instance represent a respective user device, such as a user equipment 130 of Fig. 1, or 430 of Fig. 4. Apparatus 1000 may for instance represent a respective a respective base station (see gNB 120 of Fig. 1, or 420 of Fig. 4), to name but a few non-limiting examples. Equal entities as disclosed in conjunction e.g. with Fig. 1 to 9 may also be represented by the apparatus 1000.

Apparatus 1000 comprises a processor 1001, a program memory 1002, a main memory 1003, communication interface(s) 1004, and a user interface 1005. In various embodiments, the apparatus 1000 comprises further units, parts or structural and/or functional elements. In various embodiments, apparatus 1000 is a user equipment, e.g., for a cellular network like 5G NR.

Apparatus 1000 may for instance be configured to perform and/or control or comprise respective means (at least one of 1001 to 1005) for performing and/or controlling and/or configured to perform the method according to the first or second exemplary aspect. Apparatus 1000 may as well constitute an apparatus comprising at least one processor 1001 and at least one memory 1002 including computer program code, the at least one memory 1002 and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor 1001, cause an apparatus, e.g. apparatus 1000 at least to perform and/or control the method according to the first or second exemplary aspect.

Processor 1001 may for instance further control the memories 1002 to 1003, and/or the communication interface (s) 904.

Processor 1001 may for instance execute computer program code stored in program memory 1002, which may for instance represent a computer readable storage medium comprising program code that, when executed by processor 1001, causes the processor 1001 to perform the method according to the first or second exemplary aspect.

Processor 1001 (and also any other processor mentioned in this specification) may be a processor of any suitable type. Processor 1001 may comprise but is not limited to one or more microprocessor(s), one or more processor(s) with accompanying one or more digital signal processor(s), one or more processor(s) without accompanying digital signal processor(s), one or more special-purpose computer chips, one or more field-programmable gate array(s) (FPGA(s)), one or more controller(s), one or more application-specific integrated circuit(s) (ASlC(s)), or one or more computer(s). The relevant structure /hardware has been programmed in such a way to carry out the described function. Processor

1001 may for instance be an application processor that runs an operating system.

Program memory 1002 may also be included into processor 1001. This memory may for instance be fixedly connected to processor 1001, or be at least partially removable from processor 1001, for instance in the form of a memory card or stick. Program memory 1002 may for instance be non-volatile memory. Itmay for instance be a FLASH memory (or a part thereof), any of a ROM, PROM, EPROM and EEPROM memory (or a part thereof) or a hard disc (or a part thereof), to name but a few examples.

Program memory 1002 may also comprise an operating system for processor 1001. Program memory

1002 may also comprise a firmware for apparatus 1000.

Apparatus 1000 may comprise a working or main memory 1003, for instance in the form of a volatile memory. Itmay for instance be a Random Access Memory (RAM) or Dynamic RAM (DRAM), to give but a few non-limiting examples. Itmay for instance be used by processor 1001 when executing an operating system and/or computer program.

Data memory (not shown) may for instance be a non-volatile memory. It may for instance be a FLASH memory (or a part thereof), any of a ROM, PROM, EPROM and EEPROM memory (or a part thereof) or a hard disc (or a part thereof), to name but a few examples. Communication interface(s) 1004 enable apparatus 1000 to communicate with other entities, e.g. with one or more of the apparatusesl20, and/or 130 and/or 110 of Fig. 1 and/or one or more of the apparatus 430, 420, 560 of Fig. 4 and/or further network devices, e.g. of the same network, e.g. mobile communication network. The communication interface(s) 1004 may for instance comprise a wireless interface, e.g. a cellular radio communication interface and/or a WLAN interface) and/or wire-bound interface, e.g. an IP-based interface, for instance to communicate with entities via the Internet or a network backbone, e.g. a 5G NR, or 6G backbone, to name but a few non-limiting example.

Sensor(s) (not shown) are optional and may for instance comprise a gyroscope, global positioning system sensor or a received signal strength sensor.

User interface 1005 is optional and may comprise a display for displaying information to a user and/or an input device (e.g. a keyboard, keypad, touchpad, mouse, etc.) for receiving information from a user.

Some or all of the components of the apparatus 1000 may for instance be connected via a bus. Some or all of the components of the apparatus 1000 may for instance be combined into one or more modules.

Furthermore, at least the following embodiments should be considered to be specifically disclosed:

Embodiment 1:

A method comprising: obtaining one or more monitoring patterns, wherein a respective monitoring pattern is indicative of at least two different durations for which a monitoring of a control channel is to be skipped; and monitoring the control channel based on a respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns, wherein the control channel is monitored such that the control channel is monitored after skipping the monitoring of the control channel for a first duration of the at least two different durations and the control channel is monitored subsequently after skipping the monitoring of the control channel for a second duration of the at least two different durations.

Embodiment 2:

The method of embodiment 1, further comprising: being configured with a monitoring pattern configuration comprising the one or more monitoring patterns. Embodiment 3:

The method of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein a respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns is associated with an index.

Embodiment 4:

The method of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the obtaining are further configured for: obtaining an indication of a respective index, wherein the control channel is monitored based on the respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns that is associated with the obtained index.

Embodiment 5:

The method of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the one or more monitoring patterns are obtained simultaneously.

Embodiment 6:

The method of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein a respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns is represented by a string comprising at least two values that represent the at least two durations.

Embodiment 7:

The method of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the control channel is monitored in a sequence as represented by the string.

Embodiment 8:

The method of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the string comprises the at least two values in a non-monotonous order.

Embodiment 9:

The method of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein, in case the control channel has been monitored based on a last value of the respective string, the monitoring of the control channel is repeated from a beginning of the respective monitoring pattern based on the respective monitoring pattern, or the respective monitoring pattern is inverted and the control channel is monitored based on the inverted monitoring pattern.

Embodiment 10: The method of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the one or more monitoring patterns are obtained via radio resource control, RRC, signaling, or as a part of a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE.

Embodiment 11:

The method of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the obtaining are further configured for: obtaining an indication of downlink, DL, data; and the method further comprises: switching to a pre-defined periodic monitoring pattern in case the indication is obtained, wherein the control channel is monitored based on the pre-defined periodic monitoring pattern.

Embodiment 12:

The method of any of the preceding embodiments, further comprising: stopping a respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns in case a packet of DL data has been received; and starting a monitoring of the control channel based on a periodic monitoring pattern indicated in a configured grant.

Embodiment 13:

The method of any of the preceding embodiments, further comprising: providing an acknowledgement, ACK, for restarting the respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns.

Embodiment 14:

A method comprising: providing one or more monitoring patterns, wherein a respective monitoring pattern is indicative of at least two different durations for which a monitoring of a control channel is to be skipped, and wherein a respective monitoring pattern indicates that the control channel is to be monitored such that a monitoring of the control channel takes place after skipping the monitoring of the control channel for a first duration of the at least two different durations, and the monitoring of the control channel takes places subsequently after skipping the monitoring of the control channel for a second duration of the at least two different durations.

Embodiment 15:

The method of embodiment 14, further comprising: determining a monitoring pattern configuration comprising the one or more monitoring patterns. configuring a user device with the monitoring pattern configuration.

Embodiment 16:

The method of any of the embodiments 14 to 15, wherein a respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns is associated with an index.

Embodiment 17:

The method of any of the embodiments 14 to 16, wherein the providing are further configured for: providing an indication of a respective index, wherein the respective index enables that the control channel is to be monitored based on the respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns that is associated with the respective index.

Embodiment 18:

The method of any of the embodiments 14 to 17, wherein the one or more monitoring patterns are provided simultaneously.

Embodiment 19:

The method of any of the embodiments 14 to 18, wherein a respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns is represented by a string comprising at least two values that represent the at least two durations.

Embodiment 20:

The method of any of the embodiments 14 to 19, wherein the string comprises the at least two values in a non-monotonous order.

Embodiment 21:

The method of any of the embodiments 14 to 20, wherein the one or more monitoring patterns are provided via radio resource control, RRC, signaling, or as a part of a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE.

Embodiment 22:

The method of any of the embodiments 14 to 21, wherein the providing are further configured for: providing an indication of downlink, DL, data. Embodiment 23:

The method of any of the embodiments 14 to 22, wherein the one or more monitoring patterns are provided with a currently active monitoring pattern for restarting the respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns.

Embodiment 24:

A first apparatus comprising respective means for performing the method of any of embodiments 1 to 13.

Embodiment 25:

A first apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause an apparatus at least to perform and/or control the method according any of embodiments 1 to 13.

Embodiment 26:

A second apparatus comprising respective means for performing the method of any of embodiments 14 to 23.

Embodiment 27:

A second apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause an apparatus at least to perform and/or control the method according any of embodiments 14 to 23.

Embodiment 28:

A computer program, the computer program when executed by a processor causing an apparatus, e.g. the apparatus according to any of embodiments 24 to 27, to perform and/or control the actions and/or steps of the method of any of embodiments 1 to 23.

Embodiment 29:

A computer program product comprising a computer program according to embodiment 28.

Embodiment 30:

A system comprising: at least a first apparatus according to any of embodiments 24 or 25; and at least a second apparatus according to any of embodiments 26 or 27. In the present specification, any presented connection in the described embodiments is to be understood in a way that the involved components are operationally coupled. Thus, the connections can be direct or indirect with any number or combination of intervening elements, and there may be merely a functional relationship between the components.

Moreover, any of the methods, processes and actions described or illustrated herein may be implemented using executable instructions in a general-purpose or special-purpose processor and stored on a computer-readable storage medium (e.g., disk, memory, or the like) to be executed by such a processor. References to a ‘computer-readable storage medium’ should be understood to encompass specialized circuits such as FPGAs, ASICs, signal processing devices, and other devices.

The expression “A and/or B" is considered to comprise any one of the following three scenarios: p) A, pi) B, pii) A and B. Having the same meaning as the expression "A and/or B”, the expression "at least one of A or B” maybe used herein. Furthermore, the article "a” is not to be understood as "one”, i.e. use of the expression "an element” does not preclude that also further elements are present. The term "comprising” is to be understood in an open sense, i.e. in a way that an object that "comprises an element A” may also comprise further elements in addition to element A.

It will be understood that all presented embodiments are only exemplary, and that any feature presented for a particular example embodiment may be used with any aspect on its own or in combination with any feature presented for the same or another particular example embodiment and/or in combination with any other feature not mentioned. In particular, the example embodiments presented in this specification shall also be understood to be disclosed in all possible combinations with each other, as far as it is technically reasonable and the example embodiments are not alternatives with respect to each other. It will further be understood that any feature presented for an example embodiment in a particular category (method/apparatus/computer program/ system) may also be used in a corresponding manner in an example embodiment of any other category. It should also be understood that presence of a feature in the presented example embodiments shall not necessarily mean that this feature forms an essential feature and cannot be omitted or substituted.

The statement of a feature comprises at least one of the subsequently enumerated features is not mandatory in the way that the feature comprises all subsequently enumerated features, or at least one feature of the plurality of the subsequently enumerated features. Also, a selection of the enumerated features in any combination or a selection of only one of the enumerated features is possible. The specific combination of all subsequently enumerated features may as well be considered. Also, a plurality of only one of the enumerated features may be possible. The sequence of all method steps presented above is not mandatory, also alternative sequences may be possible. Nevertheless, the specific sequence of method steps exemplarily shown in the figures shall be considered as one possible sequence of method steps for the respective embodiment described by the respective figure.

The subject-matter has been described above by means of example embodiments. It should be noted that there are alternative ways and variations which are obvious to a skilled person in the art and can be implemented without deviating from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

C l a i m s

1. A user device, comprising: means for obtaining one or more monitoring patterns, wherein a respective monitoring pattern is indicative of at least two different durations for which a monitoring of a control channel is to be skipped; and means for monitoring the control channel based on a respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns, wherein the control channel is monitored such that the control channel is monitored after skipping the monitoring of the control channel for a first duration of the at least two different durations and the control channel is monitored subsequently after skipping the monitoring of the control channel for a second duration of the at least two different durations.

2. The user device of claim 1, further comprising: means for being configured with a monitoring pattern configuration comprising the one or more monitoring patterns.

3. The user device of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns is associated with an index.

4. The user device of claim 3, wherein the means for obtaining are further configured for: obtaining an indication of a respective index, wherein the control channel is monitored based on the respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns that is associated with the obtained index.

5. The user device of any of the claims 1 to 4, wherein the one or more monitoring patterns are obtained simultaneously.

6. The user device of any of the claims 1 to 5, wherein a respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns is represented by a string comprising at least two values that represent the at least two durations.

7. The user device of claim 6, wherein the control channel is monitored in a sequence as represented by the string.

8. The user device of claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the string comprises the at least two values in a non-monotonous order.

9. The user device of any of the claims 6 to 8, wherein, in case the control channel has been monitored based on a last value of the respective string, the monitoring of the control channel is repeated from a beginning of the respective monitoring pattern based on the respective monitoring pattern, or the respective monitoring pattern is inverted and the control channel is monitored based on the inverted monitoring pattern.

10. The user device of any of the claims 1 to 9, wherein the one or more monitoring patterns are obtained via radio resource control, RRC, signaling, or as a part of a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE.

11. The user device of any of the claims 1 to 10, wherein the means for obtaining are further configured for: obtaining an indication of downlink, DL, data; and the user device further comprises: means for switching to a pre-defined periodic monitoring pattern in case the indication is obtained, wherein the control channel is monitored based on the pre-defined periodic monitoring pattern.

12. The user device of claim 11, further comprising: means for stopping a respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns in case a packet of DL data has been received; and means for starting a monitoring of the control channel based on a periodic monitoring pattern indicated in a configured grant.

13. The user device of any of the claims 1 to 12, further comprising: means for providing an acknowledgement, ACK, for restarting the respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns.

14. A base station, comprising: means for providing one or more monitoring patterns, wherein a respective monitoring pattern is indicative of at least two different durations for which a monitoring of a control channel is to be skipped, and wherein a respective monitoring pattern indicates that the control channel is to be monitored such that a monitoring of the control channel takes place after skipping the monitoring of the control channel for a first duration of the at least two different durations, and the monitoring of the control channel takes places subsequently after skipping the monitoring of the control channel for a second duration of the at least two different durations.

15. The base station of claim 14, further comprising: means for determining a monitoring pattern configuration comprising the one or more monitoring patterns. means for configuring a user device with the monitoring pattern configuration.

16. The base station of claim 14 or claim 15, wherein a respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns is associated with an index.

17. The base station of claim 16, wherein the means for providing are further configured for: providing an indication of a respective index, wherein the respective index enables that the control channel is to be monitored based on the respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns that is associated with the respective index.

18. The base station of any of the claims 14 to 17, wherein the one or more monitoring patterns are provided simultaneously.

19. The base station of any of the claims 14 to 18, wherein a respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns is represented by a string comprising at least two values that represent the at least two durations.

20. The base station of claim 19, wherein the string comprises the at least two values in anon- monotonous order.

21. The base station of any of the claims 14 to 20, wherein the one or more monitoring patterns are provided via radio resource control, RRC, signaling, or as a part of a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE.

22. The base station of any of the claims 14 to 21, wherein the means for providing are further configured for: providing an indication of downlink, DL, data. The base station of any of the claims 14 to 22, wherein the one or more monitoring patterns are provided with a currently active monitoring pattern for restarting the respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns. A method, comprising: obtaining one or more monitoring patterns, wherein a respective monitoring pattern is indicative of at least two different durations for which a monitoring of a control channel is to be skipped; and monitoring the control channel based on a respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns, wherein the control channel is monitored such that the control channel is monitored after skipping the monitoring of the control channel for a first duration of the at least two different durations and the control channel is monitored subsequently after skipping the monitoring of the control channel for a second duration of the at least two different durations. A method, comprising: providing one or more monitoring patterns, wherein a respective monitoring pattern is indicative of at least two different durations for which a monitoring of a control channel is to be skipped, and wherein a respective monitoring pattern indicates that the control channel is to be monitored such that a monitoring of the control channel takes place after skipping the monitoring of the control channel for a first duration of the at least two different durations, and the monitoring of the control channel takes places subsequently after skipping the monitoring of the control channel for a second duration of the at least two different durations. A system, comprising: at least one user device comprising means for: obtaining one or more monitoring patterns, wherein a respective monitoring pattern is indicative of at least two different durations for which a monitoring of a control channel is to be skipped; and monitoring the control channel based on a respective monitoring pattern of the one or more monitoring patterns, wherein the control channel is monitored such that the control channel is monitored after skipping the monitoring of the control channel for a first duration of the at least two different durations and the control channel is monitored subsequently after skipping the monitoring of the control channel for a second duration of the at least two different durations; and at least one base station comprising means for: providing one or more monitoring patterns, wherein a respective monitoring pattern is indicative of at least two different durations for which a monitoring of a control channel is to be skipped, and wherein a respective monitoring pattern indicates that the control channel is to be monitored such that a monitoring of the control channel takes place after skipping the monitoring of the control channel for a first duration of the at least two different durations, and the monitoring of the control channel takes places subsequently after skipping the monitoring of the control channel for a second duration of the at least two different durations.