Configuration and signaling for ul noma operations

Abstract

Switching between Orthogonal Multiple Access (OMA) and Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA) modes of a user equipment (UE) can be determined and indicated by a gNB to a UE at an RRC connected state using one or more of the following schemes: at an RRC (Radio Resource Control) layer with an RRC configuration message, at a MAC (Medium Access Control) layer with MAC CE (MAC control element) signaling, at a PHY (Physical) layer with DCI (Downlink Control Information) signaling, jointly with RRC configuration and DCI signaling, and/or jointly with RRC configuration and MAC CE signaling. The OMA or NOMA mode that the UE operates after the transition may be requested by the UE, indicated by the gNB, and/or may be based on one or more rules for OMA-NOMA switching.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 determining that switching between an orthogonal multiple access (OMA) mode of a device and a non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) mode of the device is indicated by one of a Radio Resource Control (RRC) parameter, a Medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE) MAC CE, or Downlink Control Information (DCI);   determining, based on the determined one of the RRC parameter, the MAC CE or the DCI, to operate the device in the OMA mode or the NOMA mode; and   operating the device in the OMA mode or the NOMA mode.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining, prior to determining that the switching between the OMA mode of the device and a NOMA mode of the device is indicated by one of the RRC parameter, the MAC CE or the DCI, whether the RRC parameter indicates that switching between the OMA mode of the device and the NOMA mode of the device is permitted. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 determining, based on the RRC parameter indicating that the switching between the OMA mode of the device and the NOMA mode of the device is not permitted, and based on information associated with the RRC parameter, whether the device is configured to operate in the OMA mode or the NOMA mode; and   operating, based on the information associated with the RRC parameter, the device in the OMA mode or the NOMA mode.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising switching, at the device, from an RRC inactive state to an RRC connected state. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein switching from the RRC inactive state to the RRC connected state comprises:
 sending an RRC connection resume request message;   receiving an RRC connection resume response message comprising an indication of whether the device is permitted to operate in the OMA mode or the NOMA mode; and   operating the device in accordance with the connection resume response message.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the RRC connection resume request message comprises an indication of whether the device requests to operate in the OMA mode or the NOMA mode. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein switching from the RRC inactive state to the RRC connected state comprises:
 sending an RRC connection resume request message;   receiving an RRC connection resume response message;   determining that the RRC connection resume response message does not comprise an indication of whether the device is permitted to operate in the OMA mode or the NOMA mode; and   operating the device in one of the OMA mode or the NOMA mode in accordance with at least one of a default state of the device or a previous state of the device.   
     
     
         8 . A device comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing computer-executable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the device to perform operations comprising:
 determining that switching between an orthogonal multiple access (OMA) mode of a device and a non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) mode of the device is indicated by one of a Radio Resource Control (RRC) parameter, a Medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE) MAC CE, or Downlink Control Information (DCI);   determining, based on the determined one of the RRC parameter, the MAC CE or the DCI, to operate the device in the OMA mode or the NOMA mode; and   operating the device in the OMA mode or the NOMA mode.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the device to perform operations comprising determining, prior to determining that the switching between the OMA mode of the device and a NOMA mode of the device is indicated by one of the RRC parameter, the MAC CE or the DCI, whether the RRC parameter indicates that switching between the OMA mode of the device and the NOMA mode of the device is permitted. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the device to perform operations comprising:
 determining, based on the RRC parameter indicating that the switching between the OMA mode of the device and the NOMA mode of the device is not permitted, and based on information associated with the RRC parameter, whether the device is configured to operate in the OMA mode or the NOMA mode; and   operating, based on the information associated with the RRC parameter, the device in the OMA mode or the NOMA mode.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the device to perform operations comprising switching, at the device, from an RRC inactive state to an RRC connected state. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein switching from the RRC inactive state to the RRC connected state comprises:
 sending an RRC connection resume request message;   receiving an RRC connection resume response message comprising an indication of whether the device is permitted to operate in the OMA mode or the NOMA mode; and   operating the device in accordance with the connection resume response message.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the RRC connection resume request message comprises an indication of whether the device requests to operate in the OMA mode or the NOMA mode. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein switching from the RRC inactive state to the RRC connected state comprises:
 sending an RRC connection resume request message;   receiving an RRC connection resume response message;   determining that the RRC connection resume response message does not comprise an indication of whether the device is permitted to operate in the OMA mode or the NOMA mode; and   operating the device in one of the OMA mode or the NOMA mode in accordance with at least one of a default state of the device or a previous state of the device.   
     
     
         15 . A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processor of a device, cause the device to perform operations comprising:
 determining that switching between an orthogonal multiple access (OMA) mode of a device and a non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) mode of the device is indicated by one of a Radio Resource Control (RRC) parameter, a Medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE) MAC CE, or Downlink Control Information (DCI);   determining, based on the determined one of the RRC parameter, the MAC CE or the DCI, to operate the device in the OMA mode or the NOMA mode; and   operating the device in the OMA mode or the NOMA mode.   
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the device to perform operations comprising determining, prior to determining that the switching between the OMA mode of the device and a NOMA mode of the device is indicated by one of the RRC parameter, the MAC CE or the DCI, whether the RRC parameter indicates that switching between the OMA mode of the device and the NOMA mode of the device is permitted. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the device to perform operations comprising:
 determining, based on the RRC parameter indicating that the switching between the OMA mode of the device and the NOMA mode of the device is not permitted, and based on information associated with the RRC parameter, whether the device is configured to operate in the OMA mode or the NOMA mode; and   operating, based on the information associated with the RRC parameter, the device in the OMA mode or the NOMA mode.   
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the device to perform operations comprising switching, at the device, from an RRC inactive state to an RRC connected state. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 18 , wherein switching from the RRC inactive state to the RRC connected state comprises:
 sending an RRC connection resume request message;   receiving an RRC connection resume response message comprising an indication of whether the device is permitted to operate in the OMA mode or the NOMA mode; and   operating the device in accordance with the connection resume response message.   
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 18 , wherein switching from the RRC inactive state to the RRC connected state comprises:
 sending an RRC connection resume request message;   receiving an RRC connection resume response message;   determining that the RRC connection resume response message does not comprise an indication of whether the device is permitted to operate in the OMA mode or the NOMA mode; and   operating the device in one of the OMA mode or the NOMA mode in accordance with at least one of a default state of the device or a previous state of the device.