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EP-4740674-A1 - MANAGING REDUCED-CAPABILITY USER EQUIPMENT

EP4740674A1EP 4740674 A1EP4740674 A1EP 4740674A1EP-4740674-A1

Abstract

This document describes methods, devices, systems, and means for managing a reduced-capability user equipment (UE) by a distributed base station. A Distributed Unit (DU) of the base station performs a random access procedure with the UE (504). The DU receives a Media Access Control (MAC) Protocol Data Unit (PDU) from the UE in the random access procedure (545), the MAC PDU including a logical channel identifier (LCID) and a message. The DU includes the received message in a DU-to-CU message and identifies a value of the LCID (550), the value being a first value, a second value, or a third value. If the identified value is a first value, the DU includes an indication of a first-type of UE in the DU-to-CU message and transmits the DU-to-CU message to a Central Unit (CU) (555). If the identified value is the second value, the DU includes an indication of a second-type of UE in the DU-to-CU message and transmits the DU-to-CU message to the CU (555).

Inventors

  • WU, CHIH-HSIANG

Assignees

  • Google LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240725

Claims (17)

  1. 1. A method for managing a reduced-capability user equipment (UE) by a distributed unit (DU) of a base station, the method comprising: performing a random access procedure with the UE; receiving a Media Access Control (MAC) Protocol Data Unit (PDU) from the UE in the random access procedure, the MAC PDU including a logical channel identifier (LCID) and a message; including the received message in a DU-to-CU message; identifying a value of the LCID, the value being a first value, a second value, or a third value; if the identified value is a first value, including an indication of a first-type of UE in the DU-to-CU message; if the identified value is a second value, including an indication of a first-type of UE in the DU-to-CU message; and transmitting the DU-to-CU message to a Central Unit (CU).
  2. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first value indicates that the UE is a reduced- capability (RedCap) UE; wherein the second value indicates that the UE is a further-reduced- capability (fRedCap) UE; and wherein the third value indicates that the UE is a normal-capability' UE.
  3. 3. The method of claim 1 or claim 2. wherein the message is a Radio Resource Control (RRC) request message.
  4. 4. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmitting of the DU-to-CU message to the CU directs the CU to generate RRC response message for the UE, the method further comprising: receiving, from the CU, the RRC response message for the UE; and transmitting the RRC response message to the UE.
  5. 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising: receiving, from the UE, an RRC complete message; and transmitting the RRC complete message to the CU in an other DU-to-CU message.
  6. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the RRC complete message is one of: RRCSetupComplete message; an RRCResumeComplete message; or an RRCReestablishmentComplete message.
  7. 7. The method of claim 4, wherein the RRC response message is one of: an RRCSetupRequest message; an RRCResumeRequest message; or an RRCReestablishmentRequest message.
  8. 8. A method of performing an Fl setup procedure with a first Distributed Unit (DU) by a Central Unit (CU), the method comprising: receiving first infonnation for a first cell from the first DU; based on the first information indicating that the first cell allows user equipments (UEs) of a first UE type to access the first cell, generating first configuration information for configuring UEs of the first UE t pe to measure and/or access the first cell; receiving second information for the first cell from the first DU; based on the second information indicating that the first cell allows UEs of a second UE type to access the first cell, generating second configuration information for configuring UEs of the second UE ty pe to measure and/or access the first cell; receiving third information for the first cell from the first DU; and based on the third information indicating that the first cell allows UEs of a third UE type of access the first cell, generating third configuration information for configuring UEs of the third type to measure and/or access the first cell.
  9. 9. The method of claim 8, comprising: transmitting, to the DU, an FI Setup Response message, including: the first configuration infonnation; the second configuration information; or both the first configuration infonnation and the second configuration information.
  10. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first configuration includes first System Information Block(s) (SIB(s)); wherein the first SIB(s) include one or more of SIB2, SIB3, SIB4, SIB5, SIB6, SIB7, SIB8, and/or SIB9; wherein the second configuration includes second SIB(s); and wherein the second SIB(s) include one or more of SIB2, SIB3. SIB4, SIB5, SIB6, SIB7, SIB8, and/or SIB9.
  11. 11. The method of any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the first information includes one or more of: reduced-capability (RedCap) infomiation; further-reduced-capability (fRedCap) information; one or more System Information IE(s); and/or slice supporting information; and wherein the second information includes one or more of: the RedCap information; the fRedCap information; the one or more System Information IE(s); and/or the slice supporting infonnation.
  12. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the RedCap infonnation includes a RedCap Broadcast Information IE.
  13. 13. The method of any one of claims 8 to 12, the receiving of the first information for the first cell from the first DU comprising: receiving, from the DU, an Fl Setup Request message.
  14. 14. The method of any one of claims 8 to 13, comprising: receiving, from the DU, a DU Configuration Update message to update at least a portion of the first configuration information or the second configuration information; and in response to the receiving of the DU Configuration Update message, transmitting a DU Configuration Update Acknowledge message to the DU.
  15. 15. The method of claim 14, comprising: including new CU configuration information for the first cell in the DU Configuration Update Acknowledge message to update the CU configuration information included in a Fl Setup Response message.
  16. 16. The method of any one of claims 8 to 15, wherein the first UE type is a reduced- capability (RedCap) UE; wherein the second UE type is a further-reduced-capability (fRedCap) UE; and wherein the third UE type is a normal-capability UE.
  17. 17. An apparatus comprising: a processor; and computer-readable storage media comprising instructions that, responsive to execution by the processor, direct the apparatus to perform any method as recited in any one of claims 1 to 16.

Description

MANAGING REDUCED-CAPABILITY SER EQUIPMENT BACKGROUND [0001] The evolution of wireless communication to fifth generation (5G) standards and technologies provides higher data rates and greater capacity-, with improved reliability and lower latency that enhances mobile broadband services. 5G technologies also provide new classes of sendees for vehicular networking, fixed wireless broadband, and the Internet of Things (loT). 5G distributed base station architecture refers to the network design where base stations are deployed in a distributed manner to enhance coverage, capacity, and efficiency through a combination of Central Units (CUs) that control multiple distributed units (DUs). The CU handles higher-level functions like resource allocation and management, while DUs handle low er-level tasks such as signal processing and radio transmission. [0002] A unified air interface, which utilizes licensed, unlicensed, and shared license radio spectrum in multiple frequency bands is one aspect of enabling the capabilities of 5G systems. The 5G air interface utilizes radio spectrum in bands below 1 GHz (sub-gigahertz), below 6 GHz (sub-6 GHz), and above 6 GHz. Radio spectrum above 6 GHz includes millimeter wave (mmWave) frequency bands that provide wide channel bandwidths to support higher data rates for wireless broadband. Another aspect of enabling the capabilities of 5G systems is the use of Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) antenna systems to beamform signals transmitted between base stations and user equipment to increase the capacity of 5G radio networks. [0003] Normal-capability- user equipment (UE) may coexist with reduced-capability- UEs. Compared to normal-capability UEs, reduced-capability UEs (also referred to as RedCap UEs) tend to have a lower bandwidth capability, a reduced processing capability, and/or few er antennas. RedCap UEs also, depending on the device, lack support for dual connectivity and/or carrier aggregation. RedCap UEs have been established yvith a framework for enabling reduced- capability- NR devices suitable for a range of use cases, including industrial sensors, video surveillance, and wearables, with requirements on low UE complexity and sometimes also on low UE power consumption. In addition to RedCap UEs there are UEs with further-reduced capabilities (fRedCap UEs). There are opportunities for establishing netyvork access to a UE that is a normal-capability- UE, a RedCap UE, or a fRedCap UE. SUMMARY [0004] This summary is provided to introduce simplified concepts of managing reduced- capability- user equipment. The simplified concepts are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for use in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. [0005] In aspects, methods, devices, systems, and means for managing a reduced- capability user equipment (UE) by a distributed unit (DU) of a base station describes the DU performing a random access procedure with the UE. The DU receives a Media Access Control (MAC) Protocol Data Unit (PDU) from the UE in the random access procedure, the MAC PDU including a logical channel identifier (LCID) and a message. The DU includes the received message in a DU-to-CU message and identifies a value of the LCID, the value being a first value, a second value, or a third value. If the identified value is a first value, the DU includes an indication of a first-type of UE in the DU-to-CU message and transmits the DU-to-CU message to a Central Unit (CU). If the identified value is the second value, the DU includes an indication of a second-type of UE in the DU-to-CU message and transmits the DU-to-CU message to the CU. [0006] In another aspect, methods, devices, systems, and means for managing a reduced- capability user equipment (UE) by a central unit (CU) of a base station describes the CU receiving first information for a first cell from the first Distributed Unit (DU). Based on the first cell allowing user equipments (UEs) of a first UE type to access the first cell and, based on the first information, the CU generates first configuration information for configuring UEs of the first UE type to measure and/or access the first cell. The CU receives second information for the first cell from the first DU and, based on the first cell allowing UEs of a second UE type to access the first cell and based on the second information, the CU generates second configuration information for configuring UEs of the second UE type to measure and/or access the first cell. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0007] The details of one or more aspects of managing reduced-capability user equipment are described below. The use of the same reference numbers in different instances in the description and the figures may indicate like elements: FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless network system in which various aspects of managing reduced-capability user equ