1111111111111111 IIIIII IIIII 1111111111 11111 1111111111 11111 11111 1111111111 1111111111 11111111
`US 2020011301 lAl
`
`c19) United States
`c12) Patent Application Publication
`Peisa et al.
`
`c10) Pub. No.: US 2020/0113011 Al
`Apr. 9, 2020
`(43) Pub. Date:
`
`(54) METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR
`REQUESTING SYSTEM INFORMATION IN A
`WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORK
`
`(71) Applicant: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
`(publ), Stockholm (SE)
`
`(72)
`
`Inventors: Janne Peisa, Espoo (FI); Jens
`Bergqvist, Linkiiping (SE); Johan
`Rune, Lidingii (SE); Henning
`Wiemann, Aachen (DE)
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`16/068,003
`
`(22) PCT Filed:
`
`May 2, 2018
`
`(86) PCT No.:
`
`PCT /SE2018/050448
`
`§ 371 (c)(l),
`(2) Date:
`
`Jul. 3, 2018
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(60) Provisional application No. 62/502,037, filed on May
`5, 2017.
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`H04W 76127
`H04W72/04
`H04W 74108
`H04L 5100
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`CPC ........... H04W 76127 (2018.02); H04L 510055
`(2013.01); H04W 7410833 (2013.01); H04W
`72104 (2013.01)
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`Embodiments disclosed herein provide methods and appa(cid:173)
`ratus for requesting system information in a wireless com(cid:173)
`munications network. The method comprises in a user
`equipment for a wireless network receiving, from a base
`station of the wireless network, a first portion of system
`information comprising an indication of a second portion of
`system information which is available upon request; and
`transmitting, to the base station, a first request requesting
`that the second portion of system information be transmitted
`to the user equipment. The method further comprises
`responsive to a determination that the requested second
`portion of system information has not been received suc(cid:173)
`cessfully by the user equipment, transmitting, to the base
`station, a second request for the second portion of system
`information.
`
`( 103
`
`UE
`
`r 102
`
`gNB
`
`-
`
`r-101
`Minimum Svstem information
`always present and broadcast periodically
`/'104
`f,,lt- _ _ _ _ _ Other SY§.tem Information ______
`optionally present and broadcast periodically
`~104
`f,,lt- ___ On-Demand Other S.1.stem Information ____
`broadcast or dedicated signalling
`
`Ex.1014
`APPLE INC. / Page 1 of 20
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`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Apr. 9, 2020 Sheet 1 of 7
`
`US 2020/0113011 Al
`
`f 103
`
`UE
`
`( 102
`
`gNB
`
`r-101
`Minimum Svstem information
`always present and broadcast periodically
`r-104
`f,,it- _ _ _ _ _ Other SY§.tem Information ______
`optionally present and broadcast periodically
`"104
`f,,it- _ _ _ On-Demand Other S_y_stem Information ____
`broadcast or dedicated signalling
`
`Figure 1
`
`Ex.1014
`APPLE INC. / Page 2 of 20
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Apr. 9, 2020 Sheet 2 of 7
`
`US 2020/0113011 Al
`
`1Q
`
`18
`
`20
`
`Core network
`
`Backhaul network
`
`((<
`I
`
`12
`
`>))
`
`~
`
`16
`
`Figure 2
`
`Ex.1014
`APPLE INC. / Page 3 of 20
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Apr. 9, 2020 Sheet 3 of 7
`
`US 2020/0113011 Al
`
`Receive, from a network node of the wireless
`network, a first portion of system information
`comprising an indication of a second portion of
`system information which is available upon request
`
`,,..,.,.- 301
`
`1J
`Transmit, to the network node, a first request
`requesting that the second portion of system
`information be transmitted to the terminal device
`
`,,,-- 303
`
`Responsive to a determination that the requested ,,,-- 305
`second portion of system information has not been
`received successfully by the terminal device,
`transmit, to the network node, a second request for
`the second portion of system information
`
`Figure 3
`
`Ex.1014
`APPLE INC. / Page 4 of 20
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Apr. 9, 2020 Sheet 4 of 7
`
`US 2020/0113011 Al
`
`[401
`
`,:.~····································································"" .
`
`Terminal device receives
`first portion of SI with
`indication of second
`portion of SI
`----.......-----,~ ...... ~
`
`403
`
`Terminal device transmits
`request for second
`portion of SI
`
`... ~ .................................. : ................................. >...:.
`
`409
`
`N = N +1
`
`No
`
`-····""'····-····""'·····""'····-····""'·····-····""·····""'····-····""'·····""'····-····""'·····-··' _ .. ~
`
`Cell barred, limited
`service or one or
`more unavailable
`services
`
`411
`
`. 1 No
`
`413
`
`Second portion of system
`information received
`successfully
`
`Figure 4
`
`Ex.1014
`APPLE INC. / Page 5 of 20
`
`

`

`~
`
`> ....
`....
`0 ....
`....
`0 --- 0 ....
`
`N
`0
`N
`rJJ
`c
`
`0 ....
`Ul
`.....
`rJJ =(cid:173)
`
`('D
`('D
`
`-....J
`
`0
`N
`0
`N
`~\,Ci
`
`t :-:
`.... 0 =
`""O = O" -....
`.... 0 =
`t "e -....
`
`~ .....
`
`(')
`
`('D = .....
`~ .....
`""O
`
`~ .....
`
`(')
`
`(514
`533
`Assume preamble not received
`
`S1-RNTI not received -
`
`backoff delay)
`stepwise increased
`ramping (possibly with
`preamble" with power
`Prepare to retransirnit
`
`½
`\
`
`·-
`
`539
`
`~'~~~,\.,
`
`Monitor SI window
`
`(no backoff delay}
`power ramping
`preamble* without
`Prepare to retransirnit
`
`successfully
`ended
`Procedure
`
`515
`
`537
`
`SI not received
`
`SI received
`
`\ ;
`
`I
`
`Assume preamble received
`
`SI-RNTI received _.
`
`-··
`/
`
`535
`
`531
`
`-
`
`529
`
`507
`
`. .,,,,,41.---__ _
`
`·,,,,.,,.,.,,,,,_,
`
`.,,,,,,,,
`
`Transmit preamble
`
`' l .. 1.
`
`,,,,,,,,,,,,,,),! Set initial TX power and select preamble
`
`Start
`
`Figure 5
`
`•mmm,m,mmummHmmum,mHHm
`
`mm,mm. j i!IJ
`1
`
`t ,mHHmmmm,mm,m,mmmmmm,mmmmHmmmmmmHHmmHmmmHmmmmmHmHmmHmummmm,f~ Hmum,mmm,mummmum,muHmmmmmum,m,m,NHH.
`l
`l
`l
`.I
`
`519 Prepare to retransimit
`
`backoff delay)
`power ramping (no
`preamble* without
`
`successfully
`ended
`Procedure
`
`525
`
`;
`> <,
`~\ ,,
`SI not received
`
`5231 SI recei!d"
`
`~
`
`received
`S1-RNTI received
`S1-RNTI not
`~ "
`/ .i
`Monitor Sl window
`
`521
`
`\.
`\~
`\
`
`f i."
`~·
`
`\
`
`513
`
`517
`rs11
`
`j ' ' ~ .
`
`;
`
`Assume preamble received
`
`Broadcast flag set .... ,.
`
`Broadcast flag cleared -
`I
`Check broadcast flag
`
`Assume preamble not received
`
`509
`
`! ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
`j
`'
`i
`ba~k off delay)
`steowise increased
`ramping (possibly with
`preamble* with power
`:~ ' :~ *
`I Prepare to retransmit
`
`
`.l
`
`~ :~ '
`~ ' ' :~ ' !
`• !
`l
`' l
`' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' i ' ' ' ' :~ ' i
`
`i
`~
`~
`~
`' i
`' j .,
`' ' ~ ' ' ' ' .~
`
`i
`f
`
`Ex.1014
`APPLE INC. / Page 6 of 20
`
`

`

`~
`
`> ....
`....
`0 ....
`....
`0 --- 0 ....
`
`N
`0
`N
`rJJ
`c
`
`0 ....
`O'I
`.....
`rJJ =(cid:173)
`
`('D
`('D
`
`--:i
`
`0
`N
`0
`N
`~\,Ci
`
`t :-:
`.... 0 =
`""O = O" -....
`.... 0 =
`t "e -....
`
`~ .....
`
`(')
`
`('D = .....
`~ .....
`""O
`
`~ .....
`
`(')
`
`i~m,mnm,m,mnm,mmmmnm! Figure 6
`:I
`.,
`
`!
`,
`
`'
`
`·'
`
`successfully
`ended
`Procedure
`
`:1
`
`629
`
`r-625
`
`1s1 not.re~eived
`
`general gNB error
`erroneous HARQ success, or
`Assume preamble collision,
`
`· .,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,_,,,,,,, S1-RNTI not received -+
`
`it
`\
`Assume tv1sg3 success
`S1-RNTI received
`,,,,,.,,.,..
`
`!
`/
`
`627
`
`623
`
`--------~
`h21
`
`'m,mmm,/yy/ ,mvmm, /'
`
`l.:,.,,_"',,,-,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.,,,,,,,,,,.,,
`'
`
`i
`j
`Select preamble and 'prepare to retransmit I
`609
`~ !
`~ !
`
`No RAR received
`
`607
`
`!
`
`605
`
`stepwise increased back off delay)
`with power ramping (and possibly
`
`Monitor SI window
`
`619
`
`··\,,,.,, ...
`
`J
`
`}~mumnm,mm,mJ,,j-mmnmmm,mmnm,mmm,mmm,mm,mmmmmmmnm,m,mmm,
`
`Lmm,mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmuum,mum,mum,mum,mumnm,mnm,m.
`
`I
`I
`
`I
`~
`f
`! 643
`
`successfully
`ended
`Procedure
`' ~~
`
`647
`
`639
`
`received
`S1-RNTI not
`"'~~ •.
`
`S1-RNTI received
`
`f
`
`641
`
`Monitor SI window
`
`637
`
`Assume Msg3 success
`Broadcast flag set
`
`(635
`
`~ ·I:
`~,,,,1 Trasmit Msg3 I
`
`6131 HARQ failure
`
`611
`
`step wise increased backoff de!ay?)
`without power ramping (but possibly witJ;
`Select preamble and prepare to retransmit
`
`[ HARQ success
`
`617
`
`631
`
`·:,,.❖~~~~
`Check broadcast flag
`. .I
`
`I general gNB error
`i
`erroneous HAf~Q success, or
`j Assume preamb1e coi!ision,
`! ! Broadcast flag set deared -,,
`! I 633
`
`Jmmvmmmvmvm,m,mvmvv;J:
`~
`:!:
`
`I
`~ • • • ~
`• • • • • • ~ • • ~ • ~
`
`~
`:;:
`[
`
`~
`~
`~
`
`!
`
`!
`j
`!
`!
`!
`!
`!
`!
`!
`!
`!
`!
`!
`!
`!
`!
`!
`!
`!
`!
`!
`!
`!
`!
`!
`!
`!
`r.,.,.,.,,,,,.,.,,,.,.,,,,.,.,,,,,.,.,,,.,.,,,,.,.,,,,,.,,,,
`
`Start ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,;z~1 Set initial TX power and select preamble
`
`615
`
`601
`
`Ex.1014
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`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Apr. 9, 2020 Sheet 7 of 7
`
`US 2020/0113011 Al
`
`702 - -...,
`
`704 - -...,
`
`802 - -...,
`
`804 - -...,
`
`806 - -...,
`
`~ 700
`
`Processing circuitry
`
`~ 800
`
`Memory
`
`Figure 7
`
`First module
`
`Second module
`
`Third module
`
`Figure 8
`
`Ex.1014
`APPLE INC. / Page 8 of 20
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`

`

`US 2020/0113011 Al
`
`Apr. 9, 2020
`
`1
`
`METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR
`REQUESTING SYSTEM INFORMATION IN A
`WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORK
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`[0001] The present disclosure relates to methods and appa(cid:173)
`ratus for requesting system information in a terminal device
`for a wireless network.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`[0002] Efforts are on-going to develop and standardize
`communications networks and protocols intended to meet
`the requirements set out for the fifth generation (5G) of
`wireless systems, as defined by the Next Generation Mobile
`Networks Alliance. The new system (also known as "New
`Radio" or "NR") is being designed to support lean carrier
`operation, where only absolutely necessary information is
`transmitted, preferably in a dedicated manner to the UE.
`This aim has a large impact on the design of the system
`information mechanisms for NR, as system information
`until now has always been transmitted and broadcast to all
`UEs in a cell. Furthermore, system information and initial
`access design is not as easy to modify or enhance in later
`releases as features require primarily dedicated signaling.
`[0003]
`In order to minimize the amount of system infor(cid:173)
`mation broadcast, on-demand delivery of parts of the system
`information may be introduced.
`[0004] FIG. 1 illustrates on-demand signaling for delivery
`of parts of the system information. For this on-demand
`delivery the system information (SI) may be divided into
`Minimum SI and Other SI. Minimum SI 101 is periodically
`broadcast from the Node B 102 and received by the user
`equipment (UE) 103. The Minimum SI 101 comprises basic
`information required for initial access to the network and
`information for acquiring any other SI broadcast periodi(cid:173)
`cally or provisioned on-demand, i.e. scheduling information.
`The Other SI 104 encompasses everything not broadcast in
`the Minimum SI 101 and may either be broadcast, or
`provisioned in a dedicated manner, either triggered by the
`network or upon request from the UE.
`[0005] For UEs operating in a connected state (i.e. RRC_
`CONNECTED), dedicated radio resource control (RRC)
`signaling can be used for the request and delivery of the
`Other SI. The Other SI may be broadcast at a configurable
`periodicity and for a certain duration. It is a network
`decision whether the Other SI is broadcast or delivered
`through dedicated and UE specific RRC signaling.
`[0006] Each cell on which the UE is allowed to camp
`broadcasts at least some contents of the Minimum SI, while
`there may be cells in the system on which the UE cannot
`camp and do not broadcast the Minimum SI.
`[0007] For a cell/frequency that is considered for camping
`by the UE, the UE is not required to acquire the contents of
`the Minimum SI of that cell/frequency from another cell/
`frequency layer. This does not preclude the case that the UE
`applies stored SI from previously visited cell(s).
`[0008]
`If the UE cannot determine the full contents of the
`Minimum SI of a cell (by receiving from that cell or from
`valid stored SI from previous cells), the UE may consider
`that cell as barred.
`[0009]
`In addition, for an on demand request of broadcast
`SI transmission a UE operating in an idle or inactive mode
`the network may control whether the request for Other
`
`system information is transmitted by a random access pre(cid:173)
`amble message or as part of a radio resource control con(cid:173)
`nection message.
`[0010]
`If the Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH)
`preamble and/or PRACH resource specific to each system
`information block (SIB) or set of SIBS which the UE needs
`to acquire is included in minimum SI, then the SI request
`may be indicated using the random access preamble.
`[0011]
`If the PRACH preamble and/or PRACH resource
`specific to each SIB or set of SIBS which the UE needs to
`acquire is not included in the minimum SI, then the SI
`request may be included as part of a radio resource control
`connection message.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`[0012] The current solution does not cover any error cases
`when UE requests on-demand system information. For
`example, the request from the UE may not be received
`correctly by the network, or may collide with a request from
`another UE or the UE may not be able to receive the
`on-demand SIB transmission from the network. Based on
`currently agreed procedure, the UE may not be able to fully
`function in the system even for relatively minor errors in the
`on-demand system information procedure.
`[0013] According to a first aspect of the disclosure there is
`provided a method of requesting system information in a
`terminal device for a wireless network. The method com(cid:173)
`prises receiving, from a network node of the wireless
`network, a first portion of system information comprising an
`indication of a second portion of system information which
`is available upon request. The method also comprises trans(cid:173)
`mitting, to the network node, a first request requesting that
`the second portion of system information be transmitted to
`the terminal device; and responsive to a determination that
`the requested second portion of system information has not
`been received successfully by the terminal device, transmit(cid:173)
`ting, to the network node, a second request for the second
`portion of system information.
`[0014] According to another aspect of the disclosure there
`is provided a terminal device for a wireless network, the
`terminal device configured to carry out the method as
`described above.
`[0015] According to another aspect of the disclosure there
`is provided a terminal device for requesting system infor(cid:173)
`mation. The terminal device comprises: processing circuitry
`and a machine-readable medium storing instructions which,
`when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the termi(cid:173)
`nal device to: receive, from a network node of the wireless
`network, a first portion of system information comprising an
`indication of a second portion of system information which
`is available upon request; transmit, to the network node, a
`first request requesting that the second portion of system
`information be transmitted to the terminal device; and
`responsive to a determination that the requested second
`portion of system information has not been received suc(cid:173)
`cessfully by the terminal device, transmit, to the network
`node, a second request for the second portion of system
`information.
`[0016] According to another aspect of the present disclo(cid:173)
`sure there is provided a terminal device for a wireless
`network, for requesting system information. The terminal
`device comprises: a first module configured to receive, from
`a network node of the wireless network, a first portion of
`system information comprising an indication of a second
`
`Ex.1014
`APPLE INC. / Page 9 of 20
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`

`US 2020/0113011 Al
`
`Apr. 9, 2020
`
`2
`
`portion of system information which is available upon
`request; a second module configured to transmit, to the
`network node, a first request requesting that the second
`portion of system information be transmitted to the terminal
`device; and a third module configured to, responsive to a
`determination that the requested second portion of system
`information has not been received successfully by the ter(cid:173)
`minal device, transmit, to the network node, a second
`request for the second portion of system information.
`[0017] The methods and apparatus disclosed herein allow
`efficient recovery from minor errors in the acquisition of
`system information, and avoids UE not functioning correctly
`due to incomplete system information.
`[0018] Note that the discussion below focuses on a tech(cid:173)
`nical solution for LTE and those networks intended to meet
`the requirements set out for the fifth generation (5G) of
`wireless systems, as defined by the Next Generation Mobile
`Networks Alliance. However, those skilled in the art will
`appreciate that it is also possible to apply the methods and
`apparatus described herein to other networks and access
`technologies. In other networks, nodes and interfaces may
`have different names.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0019] For a better understanding of the present disclo(cid:173)
`sure, and to show how it may be put into effect, reference
`will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying
`drawings, in which:
`[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates on-demand signaling for delivery
`of parts of the system information;
`[0021] FIG. 2 shows a network according to embodiments
`of the disclosure;
`[0022] FIGS. 3 to 6 are flowcharts of methods according
`to embodiments of the disclosure;
`[0023] FIG. 7 is a schematic drawing of a terminal device
`according to embodiments of the disclosure; and
`[0024] FIG. 8 is a schematic drawing of a terminal device
`according to further embodiments of the disclosure.
`
`DESCRIPTION
`
`[0025] The following sets forth specific details, such as
`particular embodiments for purposes of explanation and not
`limitation. But it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art
`that other embodiments may be employed apart from these
`specific details. In some instances, detailed descriptions of
`well-known methods, nodes, interfaces, circuits, and devices
`are omitted so as not obscure the description with unneces(cid:173)
`sary detail. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the
`functions described may be implemented in one or more
`nodes using hardware circuitry (e.g., analog and/or discrete
`logic gates interconnected to perform a specialized function,
`ASICs, PLAs, etc.) and/or using software programs and data
`in conjunction with one or more digital microprocessors or
`general purpose computers that are specially adapted to
`carry out the processing disclosed herein, based on the
`execution of such programs. Nodes that communicate using
`the air interface also have suitable radio communications
`circuitry.
`[0026] Thus, for example, it will be appreciated that
`"receiving" and "transmitting" steps performed by a wire(cid:173)
`less terminal or a radio base station are performed, e.g., by
`a processing circuit, using receiver circuitry and transmitter
`circuitry, respectively. Moreover, the technology can addi-
`
`tionally be considered to be embodied entirely within any
`form of computer-readable memory, such as solid-state
`memory, magnetic disk, or optical disk containing an appro(cid:173)
`priate set of computer instructions that would cause a
`processor to carry out the techniques described herein.
`[0027] Hardware implementation may include or encom(cid:173)
`pass, without limitation, digital signal processor (DSP)
`hardware, a reduced instruction set processor, hardware
`( e.g., digital or analog) circuitry including but not limited to
`application specific integrated circuit(s) (ASIC) and/or field
`programmable gate array(s) (FPGA(s)), and (where appro(cid:173)
`priate) state machines capable of performing such functions.
`[0028]
`In terms of computer implementation, a computer
`is generally understood to comprise one or more processors,
`one or more processing modules or one or more controllers,
`and the terms computer, processor, processing module and
`controller may be employed interchangeably. When pro(cid:173)
`vided by a computer, processor, or controller, the functions
`may be provided by a single dedicated computer or proces(cid:173)
`sor or controller, by a single shared computer or processor
`or controller, or by a plurality of individual computers or
`processors or controllers, some of which may be shared or
`distributed. Moreover, the term "processor" or "controller"
`also refers to other hardware capable of performing such
`functions and/or executing software, such as the example
`hardware recited above.
`[0029] Although the description is given for a wireless
`terminal device, or user equipment (UE), it should be
`understood by the skilled in the art that "UE" is a non(cid:173)
`limiting term comprising any mobile or wireless device,
`terminal or node equipped with a radio interface allowing
`for at least one of: transmitting signals in uplink (UL) and
`receiving and/or measuring signals in downlink (DL). AUE
`herein may comprise a UE (in its general sense) capable of
`operating or at least performing measurements in one or
`more frequencies, carrier frequencies, component carriers or
`frequency bands. It may be a "UE" operating in single- or
`multi-radio access technology (RAT) or multi-standard
`mode. As well as "UE", the terms "mobile station" ("MS"),
`"mobile device", "terminal device" and "wireless terminal
`device" may be used interchangeably in the following
`description, and it will be appreciated that such a device
`does not necessarily have to be 'mobile' in the sense that it
`is carried by a user. Examples ofUE are target device, device
`to device (D2D) UE, machine type UE or UE capable of
`machine to machine (M2M) communication, PDA, tablet
`computer, mobile terminals, smart phone, laptop embedded
`equipped (LEE), laptop mounted equipment (LME), USB
`dongles, ProSe UE, V2V UE, V2X UE, MTC UE, eMTC
`UE, FeMTC UE, UE Cat 0, UE Cat Ml, narrowband
`Internet of Things (NB-IoT) UE, UE Cat NB!, etc.
`[0030]
`In some embodiments a more general term "net(cid:173)
`work node" is used and it can correspond to any type of radio
`access node or any network node, which communicates with
`a UE and/or with another network node. Examples of
`network nodes are NodeB, MeNB, SeNB, a network node
`belonging to MCG or SCG, base station (BS), multi-stan(cid:173)
`dard radio (MSR) radio node such as MSR BS, eNodeB,
`gNodeB, network controller, radio network controller
`(RNC), base station controller (BSC), relay, donor node
`controlling relay, base transceiver station (BTS), access
`point (AP), transmission points, transmission nodes, RRU,
`RRH, nodes in distributed antenna system (DAS), core
`network node (e.g. MSC, MME, etc.), O&M, OSS, SON,
`
`Ex.1014
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`

`US 2020/0113011 Al
`
`Apr. 9, 2020
`
`3
`
`positioning node (e.g. E-SMLC), MDT, test equipment, etc.
`Moreover, where the following description refers to steps
`taken in or by a network node or a radio access node, this
`also includes the possibility that some or all of the process(cid:173)
`ing and/or decision making steps may be performed in a
`device that is physically separate from the radio antenna of
`the node, but is logically connected thereto. Thus, where
`processing and/or decision making is carried out "in the
`cloud", the relevant processing device is considered to be
`part of the node for these purposes.
`[0031] The embodiments are described for LTE or LTE
`based systems such as machine-type communication
`(MTC), evolved MTC (eMTC), NB-IoT etc. As an example
`MTC UE, eMTC UE and NB-IoT UE also called UE
`category 0, UE category Ml and UE category NB!. How(cid:173)
`ever, the embodiments are applicable to any RAT or multi(cid:173)
`RAT systems, where the UE receives and/or transmit signals
`(e.g. data) e.g. LTE FDD/TDD, WCDMA/HSPA, GSM/
`GERAN, WLAN, CDMA2000, 5G, NR, etc. It is recalled
`that 5G, the fifth generation of mobile telecommunications
`and wireless technology is not yet fully defined but in an
`advanced draft stage within 3GPP. It includes work on 5G
`New Radio (NR) Access Technology. LTE terminology is
`used in this disclosure in a forward looking sense, to include
`equivalent 5G entities or functionalities although a different
`term is specified in 5G.
`[0032] FIG. 2 illustrates a network 10 that may be utilized
`to explain the principles of embodiments of the present
`disclosure. The network 10 comprises a network node 12
`which is connected, via a backhaul network 20, to a core
`network 18. FIG. 1 also shows a terminal device (or UE,
`wireless terminal, etc) 16 that is in wireless communication
`with a network node 12. Messages transmitted by the
`terminal device 16 to the network node 12 are said to be
`transmitted in the "uplink", while messages transmitted by
`the network node 12 to the terminal device 16 are said to be
`transmitted in the "downlink".
`[0033] Although the terminal device 16 is illustrated as a
`mobile phone, or smartphone, it will be understood by those
`skilled in the art that the terminal device may be any device
`that is configured for communication with the wireless
`communication network 10.
`[0034] The network node 12 may be of a type referred to
`as e.g. radio access nodes, base stations, NodeBs, evolved
`NodeBs (eNB, or eNodeB), gNodeBs, base transceiver
`stations, Access Point Base Stations, base station routers,
`Radio Base Stations (RBSs), macro base stations, micro
`base stations, pica base stations, femto base stations, Home
`eNodeBs, relays and/or repeaters, beacon devices or any
`other network node configured for communication with
`wireless devices over a wireless interface, depending e.g. on
`the radio access technology and terminology used.
`[0035] The present disclosure provides methods and appa(cid:173)
`ratus for requesting system information in a terminal device
`for a wireless network. In particular, the present disclosure
`addresses issues with errors that occur when such requests
`are made, and methods for dealing with those errors when
`they occur.
`[0036] The present disclosure therefore provides a termi(cid:173)
`nal device that is able to detect a problem in the on-demand
`system information request procedure and to apply a series
`of recovery steps, such as trying to receive the on-demand
`system information one or more times and/or retransmitting
`the request one or more times. The proposed solution
`
`therefore allows efficient recovery from minor errors in the
`procedure, and avoids problems caused by a terminal device
`not functioning correctly due to incomplete system infor(cid:173)
`mation.
`[0037] FIG. 3 illustrates a method according to embodi(cid:173)
`ments of the disclosure. The method may be carried out in
`a terminal device, such as the terminal device 16, for
`example. The terminal device may be operating in an idle or
`inactive state, such as RRC_IDLE or RRC_INACTIVE. In
`other words, the terminal device may be operating in a state
`in which it is not fully connected to the network with
`dedicated radio resource control signaling.
`[0038]
`In step 301 the terminal device receives, from a
`network node of the wireless network ( such as the network
`node 12), a first portion of system information comprising an
`indication of a second portion of system information which
`is available upon request.
`[0039] The first portion of system information may be
`minimum system information (SI). The first portion of
`system information may be periodically broadcast from the
`network node and received by the terminal device. The
`minimum SI may comprise basic information required for
`initial access to the network and may also comprise infor(cid:173)
`mation for acquiring the second portion of system informa(cid:173)
`tion, i.e. scheduling information. In some embodiments, the
`first portion of system information comprises an indication
`of resources on which the second portion of system infor(cid:173)
`mation is transmitted. For example the resources on which
`the second portion of system information is transmitted may
`comprise an indication of a transmission window in which
`the second portion of system information is transmitted.
`[0040] The second portion of system information may
`comprise any system information not broadcast in the first
`portion of system information.
`[0041]
`In some embodiments the indication of a second
`portion of system information comprises a list of system
`information blocks or system information messages belong(cid:173)
`ing to the second portion of system information.
`[0042]
`In step 303 the terminal device transmits, to the
`network node, a first request requesting that the second
`portion of system information be transmitted to the terminal
`device.
`[0043] For example in embodiments where the indication
`of a second portion of system information comprises a list of
`system information blocks or system information messages
`belonging to the second portion of system information, the
`terminal device may transmit a first request requesting that
`at least one of the system information blocks or system
`information messages are transmitted to the terminal device.
`In some embodiments all of the available system informa(cid:173)
`tion blocks may be requested.
`[0044] Step 303 may be performed as part of a random
`access procedure. For example, in one embodiment the
`terminal device may send the first request as part of a
`random access preamble message to the network node ( or
`the random-access preamble message may be interpreted by
`the network node as a first request). In other embodiments,
`the terminal device may transmit the first request as part of
`a radio resource control connection message (i.e. where the
`terminal device has previously transmitted a random-access
`preamble message and received a random-access response
`message from the network node).
`[0045]
`In other embodiments the first request may be
`transmitted separately from the random access procedure.
`
`Ex.1014
`APPLE INC. / Page 11 of 20
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`US 2020/0113011 Al
`
`Apr. 9, 2020
`
`4
`
`In step 305 the terminal device, responsive to a
`[0046]
`determination that the requested second portion of system
`information has not been received successfully by the ter(cid:173)
`minal device, transmits, to the network node, a second
`request for the second portion of system information.
`[0047]
`In step 305 therefore the terminal device may have
`identified a problem with the transmitted first request, or in
`the reception of transmitted second portion of system infor(cid:173)
`mation. In either case, therefore, the terminal device deter(cid:173)
`mines that the requested second portion of the system
`information has not been received successfully by the ter(cid:173)
`minal device. This determination may be made based on for
`example, a determination that the first request was not
`received by the network node, or a determination that the
`second portion of system information was transmitted by the
`network node, but was not received by the terminal device.
`[0048] The terminal device may therefore reinitiate a
`request for the second portion of system information by
`transmitting a second request for the second portion of
`system information. In some embodiment the second
`request, like the first request, may comprise or be comprised
`within a random-access preamble message or an RRC
`connection request message. Those skilled in the art will
`appreciate that alternative messages may be used to request
`transmission of the second portion of system information.
`[0049] FIG. 4 illustrates a method according to further
`embodiments of the disclosure. The method may be carried
`out in a terminal device, such as the terminal device 16.
`Steps 401 and 403 of FIG. 4 may be substantially similar to
`steps 301 and 303 of FIG. 3.
`[0050]
`In step 401 of FIG. 4 the terminal device receives
`a first portion of system information comprising an indica(cid:173)
`tion of a second portion of system information (SI) which is
`available on request.
`[0051]
`In step 403 the terminal device transmits a request
`for the second portion of system information.
`[0052]
`In step 405 the terminal device listens for the
`transmission of the second portion of system information
`(e.g. using scheduling information contained within the first
`portion of system information), and determines if an error
`has occurred in the request for the second portion of system
`information. The determination of an error occurring may
`occur responsive to a determination that the request second
`portion of system information has not been received suc(cid:173)
`cessfully by the terminal device.
`[0053] The determination that an error has occurred may
`comprise a number of different possibilities. For example, in
`some embodiments the terminal device sets a first timer
`upon transmission of the first request, and determ