Apple Inc.
DOWNLINK HYBRID AUTOMATIC REPEAT REQUEST FEEDBACK FOR NARROWBAND INTERNET OF THINGS DEVICES

Abstract:

Techniques for transmitting hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback by narrowband Internet-of-Things (NB-IoT) devices are provided. NB-IoT user equipment (UE) can transmit HARQ feedback in response to a narrowband physical downlink shared channel (NPDSCH) received over a downlink (DL). NB-IoT UEs can transmit the responsive HARQ feedback over a narrowband physical uplink shared channel (NPUSCH) or a narrowband physical uplink control channel (NPUCCH). Options for defining the physical structures of the NPUCCH and NPUSCH and user multiplexing on the uplink (UL) are provided. Determination of an UL resource allocation by determining resources in time, frequency, and the code domain for the HARQ feedback transmissions are also provided. Higher level signaling and/or indications provided in downlink control information (DCI) can be used to determine the time, frequency, or code domain resources.