METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR ENHANCED CONFIGURED GRANT FOR LOW-LATENCY APPLICATIONS

Smart overview of the Invention

The document outlines methods and devices for efficient resource allocation in low-latency, high-rate applications, particularly relevant in the 5G era. It focuses on user equipment (UE) processes for uplink transmission using configured grants. These grants are adaptable, allowing dynamic resource allocation based on actual data needs, which can vary significantly in applications such as eXtended Reality (XR) and cloud gaming.

Technical Field

The techniques discussed pertain to radio resource allocation for low-latency, high-rate applications, a critical aspect of 5G technology. 5G aims to support various use cases, including enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) and ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC). The need for efficient resource allocation is driven by the demands of XR and cloud gaming, which require high data rates and low latency.

Challenges and Solutions

Challenges in resource allocation arise from the variability in application requirements, leading to inefficient configurations. Resources may be wasted if not needed, or insufficient if more is required, potentially increasing signaling overhead. The described methods address these issues by allowing UEs to receive a configured grant and dynamically adapt resource allocation based on actual data needs, minimizing waste and ensuring efficiency.

Methodologies

The methods include configuring UEs for initial uplink grants, signaling unused slots, and dynamically adjusting allocations. A UE may start a transmission timer when no data remains for transmission. Nodes can initiate resource reuse for unused slots, and dynamic grants can allocate additional, non-consecutive uplink slots when needed. These strategies help optimize resource use without increasing overhead.

Applications and Benefits

The methods enable fast, adaptive resource allocation for periodic XR traffic with varying sizes, minimizing signaling overhead and latency. This is crucial for low-latency applications like XR and cloud gaming, which require latency budgets distributed across various components. By addressing latency spikes and inefficient allocations, these techniques enhance 5G support for demanding applications.