Node for a radio communication network and operating method

Abstract

A node for a radio communication network is described, said node being arranged for a communication mechanism comprising the reception of a first transmission and the subsequent sending of a second transmission in response to said first transmission, wherein said node is furthermore arranged to perform a selecting process for selecting a relative timing for sending said second transmission from among a plurality of predetermined relative timing choices.

1 . A node for a radio communication network, said node being arranged for a communication mechanism, the node comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the node to:
 receive a first transmission; 
 receive, from another node, a control message indicating a selected timing; 
 select a relative timing for sending a second transmission in response to said first transmission, the relative timing being selected from among a plurality of predetermined relative timing choices taking into account the received control message; and 
 send said second transmission in response to the first transmission in accordance with the selected relative timing. 
   
     
     
         2 . The node according to  claim 1 , where the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the node to send information associated with the node's capability of supporting one or more of said plurality of predetermined relative timing choices to another node. 
     
     
         3 . A node for a radio communication network, said node being arranged for a communication mechanism, the node comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the node to:
 send a first transmission; 
 select a relative timing for sending a second transmission, the relative timing being selected from among a plurality of predetermined relative timing choices; 
 send a control message indicating the selected relative timing to another node; and 
 receive said second transmission in response to the first transmission. 
   
     
     
         4 . The node according to  claim 3 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the node to receive from another node information associated with the other node's capability of supporting one or more of said plurality of predetermined relative timing choices. 
     
     
         5 . The node according to  claim 2 , wherein said information comprises information on one or more numerologies. 
     
     
         6 . The node according to  claim 1 , wherein said relative timing is expressed in terms of a given number of time resources. 
     
     
         7 . The node according to  claim 6 , wherein said time resources comprise one or more symbols and one or more slots. 
     
     
         8 . The node according to  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the node to select the relative timing taking into account information associated with one or more communicating conditions of said node. 
     
     
         9 . The node according to  claim 8 , wherein said one or more communicating conditions comprise a set of one or more physical layer settings. 
     
     
         10 . The node according to  claim 9 , wherein said set comprises at least a numerology. 
     
     
         11 . The node according to  claim 8 , wherein said information associated with one or more communicating conditions comprises one or more of a time of arrival, a timing advance, a round-trip delay time, a reference signal time difference, a synchronization signal time difference, an Rx-Tx time difference, and a propagation delay. 
     
     
         12 . The node according to  claim 1 , wherein said control message comprises one or both of Radio Resource Control, RRC, and Downlink Control Information, DCI, control message signaling. 
     
     
         13 . The node according to  claim 12 , wherein said RRC and DCI control message signaling comprises an RRC control message for configuring a set of possible relative timing selections and a DCI control message for selecting from the configured set. 
     
     
         14 . The node according to  claim 1 , wherein said first transmission is a downlink transmission that comprises scheduling information and said second transmission is an uplink transmission that comprises data over a resource allocated with the scheduling information. 
     
     
         15 . The node according to  claim 14 , wherein said first transmission is over a Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH, and said second transmission is over a Physical Uplink Shared Data Channel, PUSCH. 
     
     
         16 . The node according to  claim 1 , wherein said first transmission is a downlink transmission that comprises data and said second transmission is an uplink transmission that comprises feedback information related to a receipt of said data. 
     
     
         17 . The node according to  claim 16 , wherein said first transmission is over a Physical Downlink Shared Channel, PDSCH, and said second transmission is over a Physical Uplink Control Channel, PUCCH. 
     
     
         18 . A method of operating a node for a radio communication network, comprising:
 receiving, from another node, a control message indicating a selected timing;   receiving a first transmission;   selecting a relative timing for sending a second transmission in response to said first transmission, the relative timing being selected from among a plurality of predetermined relative timing choices, wherein the selecting said relative timing for sending said second transmission takes into account the received control message; and   sending a second transmission in accordance with the selected relative timing.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the control message comprises a command and selecting said relative timing comprises following the command. 
     
     
         20 . A method of operating a node for a radio communication network, comprising:
 sending a first transmission to another node; and   receiving a second transmission in response to said first transmission, wherein said method also comprises:
 selecting a relative timing for sending said second transmission in response to said first transmission, the relative timing being selected from among a plurality of predetermined relative timing choices, and further comprising:
 sending a control message indicating said selected relative timing for sending said second transmission to said another node. 
 
   
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the control message comprises a command. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein said relative timing is expressed in terms of a given number of time resources. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein said time resources comprise one or more symbols and one or more slots. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein said control message comprises one or both of Radio Resource Control, RRC, and Downlink Control Information, DCI, control message signaling. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein said RRC and DCI control message signaling comprises an RRC control message for configuring a set of possible relative timing selections and a DCI control message for selecting from the configured set. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein said first transmission is a downlink transmission that comprises scheduling information and said second transmission is an uplink transmission that comprises data over a resource allocated with the scheduling information. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein said first transmission is a downlink transmission that comprises data and said second transmission is an uplink transmission that comprises feedback information related to a receipt of said data.