Systems and methods for grant-free uplink transmissions

• US 10,595,336 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2017
• Issued: 03/17/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ma, Jianglei, Zhang, Liqing, Cao, Yu
• Primary Examiner(s): Soe, Kyaw Z
• Application Number:
  US15/588,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20180139774A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1812 Hybrid protocols; Hybrid automatic repeat request [HARQ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1822 involving configuration of automatic repeat request [ARQ] with parallel processes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/189 Transmission or retransmission of more than one copy of a message
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1893 Physical mapping arrangements physical resource mapping in general H04L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1896 ARQ related signaling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1268 of uplink data flows
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for performing combined grant-free and grant-based UL resource allocation. In a particular embodiment, a network entity sends a first type of UL transmission resource assignment selected from two types of UL transmission resource assignment mechanisms to a UE for grant-free transmission and a second type of UL transmission resource assignment from two types of UL transmission resource assignment mechanism to a UE for grant based transmission. The network entity then receives a first data transmission from the UE for grant free transmission using an assigned transmission resource and a second data transmission from the UE for grant based transmission using an assigned transmission resources. Other embodiments pertain to changing the resource allocation scheme from grant free to grant based for a UE, or vice versa. Examples reasons for doing so may include HARQ re-transmisisons.

Claims

1. A method for data transmission, comprising:

selecting, by a network entity, a first type of uplink (UL) transmission resource assignment mechanism for a first user equipment (UE) for grant free transmission;

sending, by the network entity, a first type of UL transmission resource assignment to the first UE, wherein the first type of UL transmission resource assignment supports two types of signalling comprising radio resource control (RRC) signaling or a combination of a RRC signaling and dynamic signaling;

selecting, by the network entity, a second type of UL transmission resource assignment mechanism for a second UE for grant based transmission;

sending, by the network entity, a second type of UL transmission resource assignment for the second UE, the second type of UL transmission resource assignment supports dynamic signaling;

receiving, by the network entity, a first data using grant free transmission;

receiving, by the network entity, a second data using grant based transmission;

wherein the grant free transmission is a transmission mode without the network entity sending scheduling grant for the first type of UL transmission resource to the first UE; and

wherein the grant based transmission is a transmission mode with the network entity sending scheduling grant for the second type of UL transmission resource to the second UE.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting, by the network entity, an UL transmission resource assignment of the second type of UL transmission resource assignment to the first UE, wherein the UL transmission resource assignment indicates that the first UE is to be switched to a grant based mode and includes an allocated grant based transmission resource;

or

transmitting, by the network entity, a signal to the first UE to switch to a grant based mode, and transmitting an UL transmission resource assignment of the second type of UL transmission resource assignment to the first UE based on a scheduling request, wherein the UL transmission resource assignment indicates an allocated grant based transmission resource.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting, by the network entity, a signal to the second UE to switch to a grant free mode, and transmitting an UL transmission resource assignment of the first type of UL transmission resource assignment to the second UE, wherein the UL transmission resource assignment indicates an allocated grant free transmission resource.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving, by the network entity, the first data from the first UE as a grant free retransmission using the grant free transmission resource;

or

sending, by the network entity, a downlink control information (DCI) grant for retransmission to the first UE, and receiving the first data from the first UE based on an assigned retransmission resource in the DCI grant.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sending, by the network entity, a DCI grant or negative acknowledgement (NACK) for retransmission to the second UE, and receiving the second data from the second UE based on an assigned retransmission resource;

or

sending, by the network entity, a NACK or an indicator to switch to grant free retransmission mode and grant free retransmission resource, and receiving the second data from the second UE for grant free transmission using the grant free transmission resource.

6. The method of claim 1, before receiving, by the network entity, the first data from the first UE, further comprising:

receiving, by the network entity, a preamble from the first UE, wherein the preamble has a predefined relationship with a UE identifier (ID), and the UE ID has a predefined relationship with the grant free transmission resource;

or

receiving, by the network entity, a UE ID from the first UE, wherein the UE ID has a predefined relationship with the grant free transmission resource.

7. A network device comprising:

a processor; and

a computer readable storage medium storing programing for execution by the processor, the programming including instructions to;

select a first type of uplink (UL) transmission resource assignment mechanism for a first user equipment (UE) for grant free transmission;

send a first type of UL transmission resource assignment to the first UE, wherein the first type of UL transmission resource assignment supports two types of signalling comprising radio resource control (RRC) signaling or a combination of a RRC signaling and dynamic signaling;

select a second type of UL transmission resource assignment mechanism for a second UE for grant based transmission;

send a second type of UL transmission resource assignment for the second UE, the second type of UL transmission resource assignment supports a dynamic signaling;

receive a first data using grant free transmission;

receive a second data using grant based transmission

wherein the grant free transmission is a transmission mode without the network device sending scheduling grant for the first type of UL transmission resource to the first UE; and

wherein the grant based transmission is a transmission mode with the network device sending scheduling grant for the second type of UL transmission resource to the second UE.

8. The network device of claim 7, wherein the programming includes further instructions to:

transmit an UL transmission resource assignment of the second type of UL transmission resource assignment to the first UE, wherein the UL transmission resource assignment indicates that the first UE is to be switched to a grant based mode and includes an allocated grant based transmission resource;

or

transmit a signal to the first UE to switch to a grant based mode, and transmit an UL transmission resource assignment of the second type of UL transmission resource assignment to the first UE based on a scheduling request, wherein the UL transmission resource assignment indicates an allocated grant based transmission resource.

9. The network device of claim 7, wherein the programming includes further instructions to:

transmit a signal to the second UE to switch to a grant free mode, and transmit an UL transmission resource assignment of the first type of UL transmission resource assignment to the second UE, wherein the UL transmission resource assignment indicates an allocated grant free transmission resource.

10. The network device of claim 7, wherein the programming includes further instructions to:

receive the first data from the first UE as a grant free retransmission using the grant free transmission resource;

or

send a downlink control information (DCI) grant for retransmission to the first UE, and receive the first data from the first UE based on an assigned retransmission resource in the DCI grant.

11. The network device of claim 7, wherein the programming includes further instructions to:

send a DCI grant or negative acknowledgement (NACK) for retransmission to the second UE, and receive the second data from the second UE based on an assigned retransmission resource;

or

send a NACK or an indicator to switch to grant free retransmission mode and grant free retransmission resource, and receive the second data from the second UE for grant free transmission using the grant free transmission resource.

12. The network device of claim 7, wherein before receiving at the network device the first data from the first UE, the programming includes further instructions to:

receive a preamble from the first UE, wherein the preamble has a predefined relationship with a UE identifier (ID), and the UE ID has a predefined relationship with the grant free transmission resource;

or

receive a UE ID from the first UE, wherein the UE ID has a predefined relationship with the grant free transmission resource.

13. A method for data transmission, comprising:

receiving, by an user equipment (UE) from a network device, a first type of uplink (UL) transmission resource assignment, wherein the first type of UL transmission resource assignment supports two types of signalling comprising radio resource control (RRC) signaling or a combination of a RRC signaling and dynamic signaling; and

sending, by the UE to the network device, a first data using grant free transmission, wherein the grant free transmission is a transmission mode without the UE receiving scheduling grant for the first type of UL transmission resource from the network device;

receiving, by the UE from the network device, a second type of UL transmission resource assignment, wherein the second type of UL transmission resource assignment supports dynamic signaling; and

sending, by the UE to the network device, a second data using grant based transmission,

wherein the grant based transmission is a transmission mode with the UE receiving scheduling grant for the second type of UL transmission resource from the network device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving, by the UE, an UL transmission resource assignment of the second type of UL transmission resource assignment, wherein the UL transmission resource assignment indicates that the UE is to be switched to a grant based mode and includes an allocated grant based transmission resource;

or

receiving, by the UE, a signal to switch to a grant based mode, and transmitting an UL transmission resource assignment of the second type of UL transmission resource assignment to the UE based on a scheduling request, wherein the UL transmission resource assignment indicates an allocated grant based transmission resource.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving, by the UE, a signal to switch to a grant free mode, and receiving an UL transmission resource assignment of the first type of UL transmission resource assignment, wherein the UL transmission resource assignment indicates an allocated grant free transmission resource.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

transmitting, by the UE, the first data from the UE as a grant free retransmission using the grant free transmission resource;

or

receiving, by the UE, a downlink control information (DCI) grant for retransmission to the UE, and transmitting the first data from the UE based on an assigned retransmission resource in the DCI grant.

17. The method of claim 13, before sending, by the UE, a first data from the UE, further comprising:

sending, by the UE, a preamble, wherein the preamble has a predefined relationship with a UE identifier (ID), and the UE ID has a predefined relationship with the grant free transmission resource;

or

sending, by the UE, a UE ID, wherein the UE ID has a predefined relationship with the grant free transmission resource.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving, by the UE, a DCI grant or negative acknowledgement (NACK) for retransmission, and transmitting the second data from the UE based on an assigned retransmission resource;

or

receiving, by the UE, a NACK or an indicator to switch to grant free retransmission mode and grant free retransmission resource, and transmitting the second data as a grant free transmission using the grant free transmission resource.

19. A User Equipment (UE) comprising:

a processor; and

a computer readable storage medium storing programing for execution by the processor, the programming including instructions to;

receive from a network device a first type of uplink (UL) transmission resource assignment, wherein the first type of UL transmission resource assignment supports two types of signalling comprising radio resource control (RRC) signaling or a combination of a RRC signaling and dynamic signaling; and

send to the network device, a first data using grant free transmission, wherein the grant free transmission is a transmission mode without the UE receiving scheduling grant for the first type of UL transmission resource from the network device;

receive from the network device, a second type of UL transmission resource assignment, wherein the second type of UL transmission resource assignment supports dynamic signaling; and

send to the network device, a second data using grant based transmission,

wherein the grant based transmission is a transmission mode with the UE receiving scheduling grant for the second type of UL transmission resource from the network device.

20. The UE of claim 19, wherein the programming includes further instructions to:

receive an UL transmission resource assignment of the second type of UL transmission resource assignment, wherein the UL transmission resource assignment indicates that the UE is to be switched to a grant based mode and includes an allocated grant based transmission resource;

or

receive a signal to switch to a grant based mode, and transmit an UL transmission resource assignment of the second type of UL transmission resource assignment to the UE based on a scheduling request, wherein the UL transmission resource assignment indicates an allocated grant based transmission resource.

21. The UE of claim 19, wherein the programming includes further instructions to:

receive a signal to switch to a grant free mode, and receive an UL transmission resource assignment of the first type of UL transmission resource assignment, wherein the UL transmission resource assignment indicates an allocated grant free transmission resource.

22. The UE of claim 19, wherein the programming includes further instructions to:

transmit the first data from the UE as a grant free retransmission using the grant free transmission resource;

or

receive a downlink control information (DCI) grant for retransmission to the UE, and transmit the first data from the UE based on an assigned retransmission resource in the DCI grant.

23. The UE of claim 19, wherein the programming includes further instructions to, before sending the first data from the UE:

send a preamble, wherein the preamble has a predefined relationship with a UE identifier (ID), and the UE ID has a predefined relationship with the grant free transmission resource;

or

send a UE ID, wherein the UE ID has a predefined relationship with the grant free transmission resource.

24. The UE of claim 19, wherein the programming includes further instructions to:

receive a DCI grant or negative acknowledgement (NACK) for retransmission, and transmit the second data transmission from the UE based on an assigned retransmission resource;

or

receive a NACK or an indicator to switch to grant free retransmission mode and grant free retransmission resource, and transmit the second data transmission as a grant free transmission using the grant free transmission resource.