WO2025118175A1

WO2025118175A1 - Assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of the ambient-iot device

Info

Publication number: WO2025118175A1
Application number: PCT/CN2023/136690
Authority: WO
Inventors: Luanxia YANG; Piyush Gupta; Jing Sun
Original assignee: Qualcomm Inc
Current assignee: Qualcomm Inc
Priority date: 2023-12-06
Filing date: 2023-12-06
Publication date: 2025-06-12
Anticipated expiration: 2026-06-06

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. For instance, a node may receive energy harvesting assistance information, where the energy harvesting assistance information may indicate a duration for energy transfer, a traffic communication profile associated with one or more communications, an energy harvesting capability of the energy harvesting device, or any combination thereof. The node may receive the energy harvesting assistance information from the energy harvesting device or another node. The node may transmit an energizing signal to the energy harvesting device in accordance with the energy harvesting assistance information. Additionally, or alternatively, the node may transmit an energizing signal based on a failure to receive one or more messages during one or more communication occasions, or based on a duration between reception of an energy status indication and a communication occasion satisfying a threshold.

Description

ASSISTANT INFORMATION FOR ENERGY HARVESTING CONSIDERING THE COMMUNICATION OF THE AMBIENT-IOT DEVICE

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The following relates to wireless communications, including assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient Internet of Things (IoT) device.

BACKGROUND

Wireless communications systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, and so on. These systems may be capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing the available system resources (e.g., time, frequency, and power) . Examples of such multiple-access systems include fourth generation (4G) systems such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems, LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) systems, or LTE-A Pro systems, and fifth generation (5G) systems which may be referred to as New Radio (NR) systems. These systems may employ technologies such as code division multiple access (CDMA) , time division multiple access (TDMA) , frequency division multiple access (FDMA) , orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA) , or discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (DFT-S-OFDM) . A wireless multiple-access communications system may include one or more base stations, each supporting wireless communication for communication devices, which may be known as user equipment (UE) .

In some examples, a first device may receive energy from a second device. For instance, the second device may provide a signal to the first device that the first device uses to harvest energy for additional communications. Techniques that enable the first device to receive the energy from the second device may reduce a likelihood that the second device has too low of a power to perform the additional communications.

SUMMARY

The described techniques relate to improved methods, systems, devices, and apparatuses that support assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient Internet of Things (IoT) device. For example, the described techniques provide for an energy harvesting device (e.g., an ambient Internet of Things (IoT) device) to receive energy when a node performing scheduling of communications for the energy harvesting device is different from a node providing energy. Additionally, or alternatively, the described techniques provide for an energy harvesting device to receive energy when the energy harvesting device has a low energy. For instance, a node may receive energy harvesting assistance information, where the energy harvesting assistance information may indicate a duration for energy transfer, a traffic communication profile associated with one or more communications, an energy harvesting capability of the energy harvesting device, or any combination thereof. The node may receive the energy harvesting assistance information from the energy harvesting device or another node. The node may transmit an energizing signal to the energy harvesting device in accordance with the energy harvesting assistance information. Additionally, or alternatively, the node may transmit an energizing signal based on a failure to receive one or more messages during one or more communication occasions, or based on a duration between reception of an energy status indication and a communication occasion satisfying a threshold.

A method for wireless communications by an energy harvesting device is described. The method may include transmitting, to an energy providing node, energy harvesting assistance information, where the energy harvesting assistance information indicates a duration for energy transfer, a traffic communication profile associated with one or more communications between a first node and the energy harvesting device, an energy harvesting capability of the energy harvesting device, or any combination thereof, performing energy harvesting on an energizing signal from the energy providing node in accordance with the energy harvesting assistance information, and communicating one or more messages using energy harvested from the energizing signal.

An energy harvesting device for wireless communications is described. The energy harvesting device may include one or more memories storing processor executable code, and one or more processors coupled with the one or more memories. The one or more processors may individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the energy harvesting device to transmit, to an energy providing node, energy harvesting assistance information, where the energy harvesting assistance information indicates a duration for energy transfer, a traffic communication profile associated with one or more communications between a first node and the energy harvesting device, an energy harvesting capability of the energy harvesting device, or any combination thereof, perform energy harvesting on an energizing signal from the energy providing node in accordance with the energy harvesting assistance information, and communicate one or more messages using energy harvested from the energizing signal.

Another energy harvesting device for wireless communications is described. The energy harvesting device may include means for transmitting, to an energy providing node, energy harvesting assistance information, where the energy harvesting assistance information indicates a duration for energy transfer, a traffic communication profile associated with one or more communications between a first node and the energy harvesting device, an energy harvesting capability of the energy harvesting device, or any combination thereof, means for performing energy harvesting on an energizing signal from the energy providing node in accordance with the energy harvesting assistance information, and means for communicating one or more messages using energy harvested from the energizing signal.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communications is described. The code may include instructions executable by one or more processors to transmit, to an energy providing node, energy harvesting assistance information, where the energy harvesting assistance information indicates a duration for energy transfer, a traffic communication profile associated with one or more communications between a first node and the energy harvesting device, an energy harvesting capability of the energy harvesting device, or any combination thereof, perform energy harvesting on an energizing signal from the energy providing node in accordance with the energy harvesting assistance information, and communicate one or more messages using energy harvested from the energizing signal.

Some examples of the method, energy harvesting devices, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein may further include operations, features, means, or instructions for transmitting, to the energy providing node, an energy scheduling request and performing energy harvesting on a second energizing signal from the energy providing node based on the energy scheduling request, where the one or more messages may be communicated using energy harvested from the second energizing signal.

In some examples of the method, energy harvesting devices, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, the energy scheduling request may be based on an amount of energy stored by the energy harvesting device being less than an amount of energy for communicating the one or more messages.

In some examples of the method, energy harvesting devices, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, the second energizing signal may be harvested prior to an initial access operation.

In some examples of the method, energy harvesting devices, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, the one or more messages may be a set of multiple messages and the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium may include further operations, features, means, or instructions for receiving a set of multiple grants, where each grant of the set of multiple grants indicates a respective resource of a set of multiple resources for a respective message of the set of multiple messages, and where each grant of the set of multiple grants may be associated with a respective energizing signal of a set of multiple energizing signals, performing energy harvesting on the set of multiple energizing signals corresponding to the set of multiple grants, and communicating the set of multiple messages over the set of multiple resources based on energy harvested corresponding to the set of multiple energizing signals.

Some examples of the method, energy harvesting devices, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein may further include operations, features, means, or instructions for performing energy harvesting on a second energizing signal from the energy providing node prior to an initial access operation.

In some examples of the method, energy harvesting devices, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, the energy harvesting assistance information further indicates one or more occasions for output of the energizing signal.

In some examples of the method, energy harvesting devices, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, the energy harvesting assistance information indicates a period corresponding to output of the one or more occasions.

In some examples of the method, energy harvesting devices, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, the energy harvesting assistance information indicates the period in accordance with a configured grant scheduling the one or more messages.

In some examples of the method, energy harvesting devices, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, the traffic communication profile indicates the period.

In some examples of the method, energy harvesting devices, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, the energy harvesting assistance information may be dedicated to the energy harvesting device or to a group of energy harvesting devices including the energy harvesting device.

In some examples of the method, energy harvesting devices, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, the energy harvesting device may be an ambient Internet of Things (IoT) device.

In some examples of the method, energy harvesting devices, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, the energy harvesting capability indicates an energy conversion efficiency of the energy harvesting device.

In some examples of the method, energy harvesting devices, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, the traffic communication profile indicates a payload size of at least one of the one or more messages.

Some examples of the method, energy harvesting devices, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein may further include operations, features, means, or instructions for communicating the one or more messages includes communicating the one or more messages with a communication scheduling node distinct from the energy providing node.

A method for wireless communications by a first node is described. The method may include transmitting, to an energy providing node, energy harvesting assistance information associated with output of an energizing signal by the energy providing node for energy harvesting by an energy harvesting device, where the energy harvesting assistance information indicates a duration for energy transfer, a traffic communication profile associated with one or more communications between the first node and the energy harvesting device, one or more occasions for outputting the energizing signal, or any combination thereof, transmitting a signal to an energy harvesting device based on the energy harvesting assistance information, and receiving a response to the signal from the energy harvesting device.

A first node for wireless communications is described. The first node may include one or more memories storing processor executable code, and one or more processors coupled with the one or more memories. The one or more processors may individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the first node to transmit, to an energy providing node, energy harvesting assistance information associated with output of an energizing signal by the energy providing node for energy harvesting by an energy harvesting device, where the energy harvesting assistance information indicates a duration for energy transfer, a traffic communication profile associated with one or more communications between the first node and the energy harvesting device, one or more occasions for outputting the energizing signal, or any combination thereof, transmit a signal to an energy harvesting device based on the energy harvesting assistance information, and receive a response to the signal from the energy harvesting device.

Another first node for wireless communications is described. The first node may include means for transmitting, to an energy providing node, energy harvesting assistance information associated with output of an energizing signal by the energy providing node for energy harvesting by an energy harvesting device, where the energy harvesting assistance information indicates a duration for energy transfer, a traffic communication profile associated with one or more communications between the first node and the energy harvesting device, one or more occasions for outputting the energizing signal, or any combination thereof, means for transmitting a signal to an energy harvesting device based on the energy harvesting assistance information, and means for receiving a response to the signal from the energy harvesting device.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communications is described. The code may include instructions executable by one or more processors to transmit, to an energy providing node, energy harvesting assistance information associated with output of an energizing signal by the energy providing node for energy harvesting by an energy harvesting device, where the energy harvesting assistance information indicates a duration for energy transfer, a traffic communication profile associated with one or more communications between the first node and the energy harvesting device, one or more occasions for outputting the energizing signal, or any combination thereof, transmit a signal to an energy harvesting device based on the energy harvesting assistance information, and receive a response to the signal from the energy harvesting device.

Some examples of the method, first nodes, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein may further include operations, features, means, or instructions for receiving, from the energy harvesting device, an energy harvesting capability, where the signal may be transmitted to the energy harvesting device based on the energy harvesting capability.

In some examples of the method, first nodes, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, the energy harvesting capability indicates an energy conversion efficiency of the energy harvesting device.

In some examples of the method, first nodes, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, the energy harvesting assistance information indicates a period corresponding to output of the one or more occasions.

In some examples of the method, first nodes, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, the energy harvesting assistance information indicates the period in accordance with a configured grant scheduling the response.

In some examples of the method, first nodes, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, the traffic communication profile indicates the period.

In some examples of the method, first nodes, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, the energy harvesting assistance information may be dedicated to the energy harvesting device or to a group of energy harvesting devices including the energy harvesting device.

In some examples of the method, first nodes, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, the traffic communication profile indicates a payload size of the response.

In some examples of the method, first nodes, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, the signal includes a grant of one or more first resources and the response to the signal includes one or more first messages over the one or more first resources and the signal includes one or more second messages over one or more second resources and the response to the signal includes feedback to the one or more second messages.

In some examples of the method, first nodes, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, the response to the signal includes a backscattered signal responsive to the signal transmitted to the energy harvesting device.

A method for wireless communications by a first node is described. The method may include transmitting one or more control messages scheduling transmission of one or more first messages by an energy harvesting device during one or more communication occasions, transmitting, to the energy harvesting device, an energizing signal based on failure to receive the one or more first messages during the one or more communication occasions, and monitoring for one or more second messages from the energy harvesting device subsequent to transmission of the energizing signal.

A first node for wireless communications is described. The first node may include one or more memories storing processor executable code, and one or more processors coupled with the one or more memories. The one or more processors may individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the first node to transmit one or more control messages scheduling transmission of one or more first messages by an energy harvesting device during one or more communication occasions, transmit, to the energy harvesting device, an energizing signal based on failure to receive the one or more first messages during the one or more communication occasions, and monitor for one or more second messages from the energy harvesting device subsequent to transmission of the energizing signal.

Another first node for wireless communications is described. The first node may include means for transmitting one or more control messages scheduling transmission of one or more first messages by an energy harvesting device during one or more communication occasions, means for transmitting, to the energy harvesting device, an energizing signal based on failure to receive the one or more first messages during the one or more communication occasions, and means for monitoring for one or more second messages from the energy harvesting device subsequent to transmission of the energizing signal.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communications is described. The code may include instructions executable by one or more processors to transmit one or more control messages scheduling transmission of one or more first messages by an energy harvesting device during one or more communication occasions, transmit, to the energy harvesting device, an energizing signal based on failure to receive the one or more first messages during the one or more communication occasions, and monitor for one or more second messages from the energy harvesting device subsequent to transmission of the energizing signal.

In some examples of the method, first nodes, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, the one or more first messages include one or more uplink data messages and the one or more first messages include one or more feedback messages in response to one or more downlink data messages.

In some examples of the method, first nodes, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, monitoring for the one or more second messages may include operations, features, means, or instructions for monitoring for a communication scheduling request or an uplink trigger.

Some examples of the method, first nodes, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein may further include operations, features, means, or instructions for performing synchronization with the energy harvesting device based on the failure to receive the one or more first messages during the one or more communication occasions, where monitoring for the one or more second messages may be based on the synchronization.

A method for wireless communications by a node is described. The method may include receiving, from an energy harvesting device, an energy status indication, transmitting a control message scheduling the energy harvesting device to transmit during a communication occasion, transmitting, to the energy harvesting device, an energizing signal based on a duration between reception of the energy status indication and the communication occasion satisfying a threshold, and monitoring the communication occasion for one or more messages of the energy harvesting device subsequent to transmission of the energizing signal.

A node for wireless communications is described. The node may include one or more memories storing processor executable code, and one or more processors coupled with the one or more memories. The one or more processors may individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the node to receive, from an energy harvesting device, an energy status indication, transmit a control message scheduling the energy harvesting device to transmit during a communication occasion, transmit, to the energy harvesting device, an energizing signal based on a duration between reception of the energy status indication and the communication occasion satisfying a threshold, and monitor the communication occasion for one or more messages of the energy harvesting device subsequent to transmission of the energizing signal.

Another node for wireless communications is described. The node may include means for receiving, from an energy harvesting device, an energy status indication, means for transmitting a control message scheduling the energy harvesting device to transmit during a communication occasion, means for transmitting, to the energy harvesting device, an energizing signal based on a duration between reception of the energy status indication and the communication occasion satisfying a threshold, and means for monitoring the communication occasion for one or more messages of the energy harvesting device subsequent to transmission of the energizing signal.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communications is described. The code may include instructions executable by one or more processors to receive, from an energy harvesting device, an energy status indication, transmit a control message scheduling the energy harvesting device to transmit during a communication occasion, transmit, to the energy harvesting device, an energizing signal based on a duration between reception of the energy status indication and the communication occasion satisfying a threshold, and monitor the communication occasion for one or more messages of the energy harvesting device subsequent to transmission of the energizing signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an example of a wireless communications system that supports assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of the ambient Internet of Things (IoT) device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

FIGs. 2A and 2B show examples of wireless communications systems that supports assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

FIGs. 3A, 3B, and 3C show examples of wireless communications systems that supports assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

FIGs. 4A, 4B, and 4C show examples of energy transfer scenarios that support assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 shows an example of an energy transfer scenario that supports assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 shows an example of an energy transfer scenario that supports assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 shows an example of an energy transfer scenario that supports assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

FIGs. 8A and 8B show examples of energy transfer scenarios that support assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a process flow that supports assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 shows an example of a process flow that supports assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 shows an example of a process flow that supports assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 shows an example of a process flow that supports assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

FIGs. 13 and 14 show block diagrams of devices that support assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 15 shows a block diagram of a communications manager that supports assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 16 shows a diagram of a system including a device that supports assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

FIGs. 17 and 18 show block diagrams of devices that support assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 19 shows a block diagram of a communications manager that supports assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 20 shows a diagram of a system including a device that supports assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

FIGs. 21 through 24 show flowcharts illustrating methods that support assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An energy harvesting device (e.g., an ambient Internet of Things (IoT) device) may be capable of harvesting energy from a radio frequency (RF) signal, a light source, or the like. In some examples, an amount of energy storage available to the energy harvesting device or an amount of energy used by the energy harvesting device to perform wireless communications may vary. If a node provides an RF signal to the energy harvesting device constantly, the node may provide more energy to the energy harvesting device than what the energy harvesting device is configured to store or more than what the energy harvesting device uses to perform wireless communications. Thus, performing energy transfer constantly may not be efficient, as it may result in increased energy consumption by the node while failing to substantially increase energy harvested by the energy harvesting device. However, if the node provides energy to the energy harvesting device for too short of a duration, the energy harvesting device may not have enough energy for performing wireless communications.

To enable the energy harvesting device to have enough energy for performing wireless communications while decreasing energy consumption of the energy providing node, the energy providing node may be provided with energy harvesting assistant information to determine when to provide energy to the energy harvesting device. The energy harvesting assistance information may be provided to the energy providing node by a scheduling node, the energy harvesting device, or both. The energy harvesting assistance information may include a duration of energy transfer, a period of energy transfer, a downlink traffic communication profile, an uplink traffic communication profile, an energy harvesting efficiency of the energy harvesting device, or a combination thereof. The energy harvesting assistance information may be dedicated to a single energy harvesting device or may be dedicated to a group of energy harvesting devices.

Additionally, in certain scenarios, the energy harvesting device may be unable to perform communication of a scheduled transmission (e.g., a data message, a feedback message) over a communication occasion due to low energy. Failure to transmit the one to transmit the scheduled transmission over the communication occasion may decrease the efficiency of wireless communications.

To enable the energy harvesting device to have sufficient energy to transmit the one or more scheduled transmissions, the energy harvesting device may transmit an energy scheduling request (ESR) to an energy providing node when the energy storage of the energy harvesting device has less energy than that needed for a configured or preconfigured grant, triggering energy transfer from the energy providing node to the energy harvesting device. Additionally, or alternatively, for configured grant resources, the energy providing node may determine if a quantity or a duration of data messages or feedback messages has failed to be received and may trigger the energy providing node to perform energy transfer to the energy harvesting device. Additionally, or alternatively, for dynamic resources, the energy providing node may provide energy to the energy harvesting device for each dynamic resource it schedules or may provide energy if a duration between a latest energy status indication and scheduling associated with the energy harvesting device satisfies a threshold amount. In some examples, the energy providing node may perform energy transfer to the energy harvesting device prior to an initial access occasion. The energy transfer may for a fixed duration or may be dependent on an ESR received from the energy harvesting device.

Aspects of the disclosure are initially described in the context of wireless communications systems. Additional aspects of the disclosure are described in the context of energy transfer scenarios and process flows. Aspects of the disclosure are further illustrated by and described with reference to apparatus diagrams, system diagrams, and flowcharts that relate to assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a wireless communications system 100 that supports assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The wireless communications system 100 may include one or more network entities 105, one or more UEs 115, and a core network 130. In some examples, the wireless communications system 100 may be a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, an LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) network, an LTE-A Pro network, a New Radio (NR) network, or a network operating in accordance with other systems and radio technologies, including future systems and radio technologies not explicitly mentioned herein.

The network entities 105 may be dispersed throughout a geographic area to form the wireless communications system 100 and may include devices in different forms or having different capabilities. In various examples, a network entity 105 may be referred to as a network element, a mobility element, a radio access network (RAN) node, or network equipment, among other nomenclature. In some examples, network entities 105 and UEs 115 may wirelessly communicate via one or more communication links 125 (e.g., a radio frequency (RF) access link) . For example, a network entity 105 may support a coverage area 110 (e.g., a geographic coverage area) over which the UEs 115 and the network entity 105 may establish one or more communication links 125. The coverage area 110 may be an example of a geographic area over which a network entity 105 and a UE 115 may support the communication of signals according to one or more radio access technologies (RATs) .

The UEs 115 may be dispersed throughout a coverage area 110 of the wireless communications system 100, and each UE 115 may be stationary, or mobile, or both at different times. The UEs 115 may be devices in different forms or having different capabilities. Some example UEs 115 are illustrated in FIG. 1. The UEs 115 described herein may be capable of supporting communications with various types of devices, such as other UEs 115 or network entities 105, as shown in FIG. 1.

As described herein, a node of the wireless communications system 100, which may be referred to as a network node, or a wireless node, may be a network entity 105 (e.g., any network entity described herein) , a UE 115 (e.g., any UE described herein) , a network controller, an apparatus, a device, a computing system, one or more components, or another suitable processing entity configured to perform any of the techniques described herein. For example, a node may be a UE 115. As another example, a node may be a network entity 105. As another example, a first node may be configured to communicate with a second node or a third node. In one aspect of this example, the first node may be a UE 115, the second node may be a network entity 105, and the third node may be a UE 115. In another aspect of this example, the first node may be a UE 115, the second node may be a network entity 105, and the third node may be a network entity 105. In yet other aspects of this example, the first, second, and third nodes may be different relative to these examples. Similarly, reference to a UE 115, network entity 105, apparatus, device, computing system, or the like may include disclosure of the UE 115, network entity 105, apparatus, device, computing system, or the like being a node. For example, disclosure that a UE 115 is configured to receive information from a network entity 105 also discloses that a first node is configured to receive information from a second node.

In some examples, network entities 105 may communicate with the core network 130, or with one another, or both. For example, network entities 105 may communicate with the core network 130 via one or more backhaul communication links 120 (e.g., in accordance with an S1, N2, N3, or other interface protocol) . In some examples, network entities 105 may communicate with one another via a backhaul communication link 120 (e.g., in accordance with an X2, Xn, or other interface protocol) either directly (e.g., directly between network entities 105) or indirectly (e.g., via a core network 130) . In some examples, network entities 105 may communicate with one another via a midhaul communication link 162 (e.g., in accordance with a midhaul interface protocol) or a fronthaul communication link 168 (e.g., in accordance with a fronthaul interface protocol) , or any combination thereof. The backhaul communication links 120, midhaul communication links 162, or fronthaul communication links 168 may be or include one or more wired links (e.g., an electrical link, an optical fiber link) , one or more wireless links (e.g., a radio link, a wireless optical link) , among other examples or various combinations thereof. A UE 115 may communicate with the core network 130 via a communication link 155.

One or more of the network entities 105 described herein may include or may be referred to as a base station 140 (e.g., a base transceiver station, a radio base station, an NR base station, an access point, a radio transceiver, a NodeB, an eNodeB (eNB) , a next-generation NodeB or a giga-NodeB (either of which may be referred to as a gNB) , a 5G NB, a next-generation eNB (ng-eNB) , a Home NodeB, a Home eNodeB, or other suitable terminology) . In some examples, a network entity 105 (e.g., a base station 140) may be implemented in an aggregated (e.g., monolithic, standalone) base station architecture, which may be configured to utilize a protocol stack that is physically or logically integrated within a single network entity 105 (e.g., a single RAN node, such as a base station 140) .

In some examples, a network entity 105 may be implemented in a disaggregated architecture (e.g., a disaggregated base station architecture, a disaggregated RAN architecture) , which may be configured to utilize a protocol stack that is physically or logically distributed among two or more network entities 105, such as an integrated access backhaul (IAB) network, an open RAN (O-RAN) (e.g., a network configuration sponsored by the O-RAN Alliance) , or a virtualized RAN (vRAN) (e.g., a cloud RAN (C-RAN) ) . For example, a network entity 105 may include one or more of a central unit (CU) 160, a distributed unit (DU) 165, a radio unit (RU) 170, a RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) 175 (e.g., a Near-Real Time RIC (Near-RT RIC) , a Non-Real Time RIC (Non-RT RIC) ) , a Service Management and Orchestration (SMO) 180 system, or any combination thereof. An RU 170 may also be referred to as a radio head, a smart radio head, a remote radio head (RRH) , a remote radio unit (RRU) , or a transmission reception point (TRP) . One or more components of the network entities 105 in a disaggregated RAN architecture may be co-located, or one or more components of the network entities 105 may be located in distributed locations (e.g., separate physical locations) . In some examples, one or more network entities 105 of a disaggregated RAN architecture may be implemented as virtual units (e.g., a virtual CU (VCU) , a virtual DU (VDU) , a virtual RU (VRU) ) .

The split of functionality between a CU 160, a DU 165, and an RU 170 is flexible and may support different functionalities depending on which functions (e.g., network layer functions, protocol layer functions, baseband functions, RF functions, and any combinations thereof) are performed at a CU 160, a DU 165, or an RU 170. For example, a functional split of a protocol stack may be employed between a CU 160 and a DU 165 such that the CU 160 may support one or more layers of the protocol stack and the DU 165 may support one or more different layers of the protocol stack. In some examples, the CU 160 may host upper protocol layer (e.g., layer 3 (L3) , layer 2 (L2) ) functionality and signaling (e.g., Radio Resource Control (RRC) , service data adaption protocol (SDAP) , Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) ) . The CU 160 may be connected to one or more DUs 165 or RUs 170, and the one or more DUs 165 or RUs 170 may host lower protocol layers, such as layer 1 (L1) (e.g., physical (PHY) layer) or L2 (e.g., radio link control (RLC) layer, medium access control (MAC) layer) functionality and signaling, and may each be at least partially controlled by the CU 160. Additionally, or alternatively, a functional split of the protocol stack may be employed between a DU 165 and an RU 170 such that the DU 165 may support one or more layers of the protocol stack and the RU 170 may support one or more different layers of the protocol stack. The DU 165 may support one or multiple different cells (e.g., via one or more RUs 170) . In some cases, a functional split between a CU 160 and a DU 165, or between a DU 165 and an RU 170 may be within a protocol layer (e.g., some functions for a protocol layer may be performed by one of a CU 160, a DU 165, or an RU 170, while other functions of the protocol layer are performed by a different one of the CU 160, the DU 165, or the RU 170) . A CU 160 may be functionally split further into CU control plane (CU-CP) and CU user plane (CU-UP) functions. A CU 160 may be connected to one or more DUs 165 via a midhaul communication link 162 (e.g., F1, F1-c, F1-u) , and a DU 165 may be connected to one or more RUs 170 via a fronthaul communication link 168 (e.g., open fronthaul (FH) interface) . In some examples, a midhaul communication link 162 or a fronthaul communication link 168 may be implemented in accordance with an interface (e.g., a channel) between layers of a protocol stack supported by respective network entities 105 that are in communication via such communication links.

In wireless communications systems (e.g., wireless communications system 100) , infrastructure and spectral resources for radio access may support wireless backhaul link capabilities to supplement wired backhaul connections, providing an IAB network architecture (e.g., to a core network 130) . In some cases, in an IAB network, one or more network entities 105 (e.g., IAB nodes 104) may be partially controlled by each other. One or more IAB nodes 104 may be referred to as a donor entity or an IAB donor. One or more DUs 165 or one or more RUs 170 may be partially controlled by one or more CUs 160 associated with a donor network entity 105 (e.g., a donor base station 140) . The one or more donor network entities 105 (e.g., IAB donors) may be in communication with one or more additional network entities 105 (e.g., IAB nodes 104) via supported access and backhaul links (e.g., backhaul communication links 120) . IAB nodes 104 may include an IAB mobile termination (IAB-MT) controlled (e.g., scheduled) by DUs 165 of a coupled IAB donor. An IAB-MT may include an independent set of antennas for relay of communications with UEs 115, or may share the same antennas (e.g., of an RU 170) of an IAB node 104 used for access via the DU 165 of the IAB node 104 (e.g., referred to as virtual IAB-MT (vIAB-MT) ) . In some examples, the IAB nodes 104 may include DUs 165 that support communication links with additional entities (e.g., IAB nodes 104, UEs 115) within the relay chain or configuration of the access network (e.g., downstream) . In such cases, one or more components of the disaggregated RAN architecture (e.g., one or more IAB nodes 104 or components of IAB nodes 104) may be configured to operate according to the techniques described herein.

For instance, an access network (AN) or RAN may include communications between access nodes (e.g., an IAB donor) , IAB nodes 104, and one or more UEs 115. The IAB donor may facilitate connection between the core network 130 and the AN (e.g., via a wired or wireless connection to the core network 130) . That is, an IAB donor may refer to a RAN node with a wired or wireless connection to core network 130. The IAB donor may include a CU 160 and at least one DU 165 (e.g., and RU 170) , in which case the CU 160 may communicate with the core network 130 via an interface (e.g., a backhaul link) . IAB donor and IAB nodes 104 may communicate via an F1 interface according to a protocol that defines signaling messages (e.g., an F1 AP protocol) . Additionally, or alternatively, the CU 160 may communicate with the core network via an interface, which may be an example of a portion of backhaul link, and may communicate with other CUs 160 (e.g., a CU 160 associated with an alternative IAB donor) via an Xn-C interface, which may be an example of a portion of a backhaul link.

An IAB node 104 may refer to a RAN node that provides IAB functionality (e.g., access for UEs 115, wireless self-backhauling capabilities) . A DU 165 may act as a distributed scheduling node towards child nodes associated with the IAB node 104, and the IAB-MT may act as a scheduled node towards parent nodes associated with the IAB node 104. That is, an IAB donor may be referred to as a parent node in communication with one or more child nodes (e.g., an IAB donor may relay transmissions for UEs through one or more other IAB nodes 104) . Additionally, or alternatively, an IAB node 104 may also be referred to as a parent node or a child node to other IAB nodes 104, depending on the relay chain or configuration of the AN. Therefore, the IAB-MT entity of IAB nodes 104 may provide a Uu interface for a child IAB node 104 to receive signaling from a parent IAB node 104, and the DU interface (e.g., DUs 165) may provide a Uu interface for a parent IAB node 104 to signal to a child IAB node 104 or UE 115.

For example, IAB node 104 may be referred to as a parent node that supports communications for a child IAB node, or referred to as a child IAB node associated with an IAB donor, or both. The IAB donor may include a CU 160 with a wired or wireless connection (e.g., a backhaul communication link 120) to the core network 130 and may act as parent node to IAB nodes 104. For example, the DU 165 of IAB donor may relay transmissions to UEs 115 through IAB nodes 104, or may directly signal transmissions to a UE 115, or both. The CU 160 of IAB donor may signal communication link establishment via an F1 interface to IAB nodes 104, and the IAB nodes 104 may schedule transmissions (e.g., transmissions to the UEs 115 relayed from the IAB donor) through the DUs 165. That is, data may be relayed to and from IAB nodes 104 via signaling via an NR Uu interface to MT of the IAB node 104. Communications with IAB node 104 may be scheduled by a DU 165 of IAB donor and communications with IAB node 104 may be scheduled by DU 165 of IAB node 104.

In the case of the techniques described herein applied in the context of a disaggregated RAN architecture, one or more components of the disaggregated RAN architecture may be configured to support assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device as described herein. For example, some operations described as being performed by a UE 115 or a network entity 105 (e.g., a base station 140) may additionally, or alternatively, be performed by one or more components of the disaggregated RAN architecture (e.g., IAB nodes 104, DUs 165, CUs 160, RUs 170, RIC 175, SMO 180) .

A UE 115 may include or may be referred to as a mobile device, a wireless device, a remote device, a handheld device, or a subscriber device, or some other suitable terminology, where the “device” may also be referred to as a unit, a station, a terminal, or a client, among other examples. A UE 115 may also include or may be referred to as a personal electronic device such as a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA) , a tablet computer, a laptop computer, or a personal computer. In some examples, a UE 115 may include or be referred to as a wireless local loop (WLL) station, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, an Internet of Everything (IoE) device, or a machine type communications (MTC) device, among other examples, which may be implemented in various objects such as appliances, or vehicles, meters, among other examples.

The UEs 115 described herein may be able to communicate with various types of devices, such as other UEs 115 that may sometimes act as relays as well as the network entities 105 and the network equipment including macro eNBs or gNBs, small cell eNBs or gNBs, or relay base stations, among other examples, as shown in FIG. 1.

The UEs 115 and the network entities 105 may wirelessly communicate with one another via one or more communication links 125 (e.g., an access link) using resources associated with one or more carriers. The term “carrier” may refer to a set of RF spectrum resources having a defined physical layer structure for supporting the communication links 125. For example, a carrier used for a communication link 125 may include a portion of a RF spectrum band (e.g., a bandwidth part (BWP) ) that is operated according to one or more physical layer channels for a given radio access technology (e.g., LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, NR) . Each physical layer channel may carry acquisition signaling (e.g., synchronization signals, system information) , control signaling that coordinates operation for the carrier, user data, or other signaling. The wireless communications system 100 may support communication with a UE 115 using carrier aggregation or multi-carrier operation. A UE 115 may be configured with multiple downlink component carriers and one or more uplink component carriers according to a carrier aggregation configuration. Carrier aggregation may be used with both frequency division duplexing (FDD) and time division duplexing (TDD) component carriers. Communication between a network entity 105 and other devices may refer to communication between the devices and any portion (e.g., entity, sub-entity) of a network entity 105. For example, the terms “transmitting, ” “receiving, ” or “communicating, ” when referring to a network entity 105, may refer to any portion of a network entity 105 (e.g., a base station 140, a CU 160, a DU 165, a RU 170) of a RAN communicating with another device (e.g., directly or via one or more other network entities 105) .

In some examples, such as in a carrier aggregation configuration, a carrier may also have acquisition signaling or control signaling that coordinates operations for other carriers. A carrier may be associated with a frequency channel (e.g., an evolved universal mobile telecommunication system terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) absolute RF channel number (EARFCN) ) and may be identified according to a channel raster for discovery by the UEs 115. A carrier may be operated in a standalone mode, in which case initial acquisition and connection may be conducted by the UEs 115 via the carrier, or the carrier may be operated in a non-standalone mode, in which case a connection is anchored using a different carrier (e.g., of the same or a different radio access technology) .

The communication links 125 shown in the wireless communications system 100 may include downlink transmissions (e.g., forward link transmissions) from a network entity 105 to a UE 115, uplink transmissions (e.g., return link transmissions) from a UE 115 to a network entity 105, or both, among other configurations of transmissions. Carriers may carry downlink or uplink communications (e.g., in an FDD mode) or may be configured to carry downlink and uplink communications (e.g., in a TDD mode) .

A carrier may be associated with a particular bandwidth of the RF spectrum and, in some examples, the carrier bandwidth may be referred to as a “system bandwidth” of the carrier or the wireless communications system 100. For example, the carrier bandwidth may be one of a set of bandwidths for carriers of a particular radio access technology (e.g., 1.4, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 40, or 80 megahertz (MHz) ) . Devices of the wireless communications system 100 (e.g., the network entities 105, the UEs 115, or both) may have hardware configurations that support communications using a particular carrier bandwidth or may be configurable to support communications using one of a set of carrier bandwidths. In some examples, the wireless communications system 100 may include network entities 105 or UEs 115 that support concurrent communications using carriers associated with multiple carrier bandwidths. In some examples, each served UE 115 may be configured for operating using portions (e.g., a sub-band, a BWP) or all of a carrier bandwidth.

Signal waveforms transmitted via a carrier may be made up of multiple subcarriers (e.g., using multi-carrier modulation (MCM) techniques such as orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) or discrete Fourier transform spread OFDM (DFT-S-OFDM) ) . In a system employing MCM techniques, a resource element may refer to resources of one symbol period (e.g., a duration of one modulation symbol) and one subcarrier, in which case the symbol period and subcarrier spacing may be inversely related. The quantity of bits carried by each resource element may depend on the modulation scheme (e.g., the order of the modulation scheme, the coding rate of the modulation scheme, or both) , such that a relatively higher quantity of resource elements (e.g., in a transmission duration) and a relatively higher order of a modulation scheme may correspond to a relatively higher rate of communication. A wireless communications resource may refer to a combination of an RF spectrum resource, a time resource, and a spatial resource (e.g., a spatial layer, a beam) , and the use of multiple spatial resources may increase the data rate or data integrity for communications with a UE 115.

One or more numerologies for a carrier may be supported, and a numerology may include a subcarrier spacing (Δf) and a cyclic prefix. A carrier may be divided into one or more BWPs having the same or different numerologies. In some examples, a UE 115 may be configured with multiple BWPs. In some examples, a single BWP for a carrier may be active at a given time and communications for the UE 115 may be restricted to one or more active BWPs.

The time intervals for the network entities 105 or the UEs 115 may be expressed in multiples of a basic time unit which may, for example, refer to a sampling period of T_s=1/ (Δf_max·N_f) seconds, for which Δf_max may represent a supported subcarrier spacing, and N_f may represent a supported discrete Fourier transform (DFT) size. Time intervals of a communications resource may be organized according to radio frames each having a specified duration (e.g., 10 milliseconds (ms) ) . Each radio frame may be identified by a system frame number (SFN) (e.g., ranging from 0 to 1023) .

Each frame may include multiple consecutively-numbered subframes or slots, and each subframe or slot may have the same duration. In some examples, a frame may be divided (e.g., in the time domain) into subframes, and each subframe may be further divided into a quantity of slots. Alternatively, each frame may include a variable quantity of slots, and the quantity of slots may depend on subcarrier spacing. Each slot may include a quantity of symbol periods (e.g., depending on the length of the cyclic prefix prepended to each symbol period) . In some wireless communications systems 100, a slot may further be divided into multiple mini-slots associated with one or more symbols. Excluding the cyclic prefix, each symbol period may be associated with one or more (e.g., N_f) sampling periods. The duration of a symbol period may depend on the subcarrier spacing or frequency band of operation.

A subframe, a slot, a mini-slot, or a symbol may be the smallest scheduling unit (e.g., in the time domain) of the wireless communications system 100 and may be referred to as a transmission time interval (TTI) . In some examples, the TTI duration (e.g., a quantity of symbol periods in a TTI) may be variable. Additionally, or alternatively, the smallest scheduling unit of the wireless communications system 100 may be dynamically selected (e.g., in bursts of shortened TTIs (sTTIs) ) .

Physical channels may be multiplexed for communication using a carrier according to various techniques. A physical control channel and a physical data channel may be multiplexed for signaling via a downlink carrier, for example, using one or more of time division multiplexing (TDM) techniques, frequency division multiplexing (FDM) techniques, or hybrid TDM-FDM techniques. A control region (e.g., a control resource set (CORESET) ) for a physical control channel may be defined by a set of symbol periods and may extend across the system bandwidth or a subset of the system bandwidth of the carrier. One or more control regions (e.g., CORESETs) may be configured for a set of the UEs 115. For example, one or more of the UEs 115 may monitor or search control regions for control information according to one or more search space sets, and each search space set may include one or multiple control channel candidates in one or more aggregation levels arranged in a cascaded manner. An aggregation level for a control channel candidate may refer to an amount of control channel resources (e.g., control channel elements (CCEs) ) associated with encoded information for a control information format having a given payload size. Search space sets may include common search space sets configured for sending control information to multiple UEs 115 and UE-specific search space sets for sending control information to a specific UE 115.

A network entity 105 may provide communication coverage via one or more cells, for example a macro cell, a small cell, a hot spot, or other types of cells, or any combination thereof. The term “cell” may refer to a logical communication entity used for communication with a network entity 105 (e.g., using a carrier) and may be associated with an identifier for distinguishing neighboring cells (e.g., a physical cell identifier (PCID) , a virtual cell identifier (VCID) , or others) . In some examples, a cell also may refer to a coverage area 110 or a portion of a coverage area 110 (e.g., a sector) over which the logical communication entity operates. Such cells may range from smaller areas (e.g., a structure, a subset of structure) to larger areas depending on various factors such as the capabilities of the network entity 105. For example, a cell may be or include a building, a subset of a building, or exterior spaces between or overlapping with coverage areas 110, among other examples.

A macro cell generally covers a relatively large geographic area (e.g., several kilometers in radius) and may allow unrestricted access by the UEs 115 with service subscriptions with the network provider supporting the macro cell. A small cell may be associated with a lower-powered network entity 105 (e.g., a lower-powered base station 140) , as compared with a macro cell, and a small cell may operate using the same or different (e.g., licensed, unlicensed) frequency bands as macro cells. Small cells may provide unrestricted access to the UEs 115 with service subscriptions with the network provider or may provide restricted access to the UEs 115 having an association with the small cell (e.g., the UEs 115 in a closed subscriber group (CSG) , the UEs 115 associated with users in a home or office) . A network entity 105 may support one or multiple cells and may also support communications via the one or more cells using one or multiple component carriers.

In some examples, a carrier may support multiple cells, and different cells may be configured according to different protocol types (e.g., MTC, narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) , enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) ) that may provide access for different types of devices.

In some examples, a network entity 105 (e.g., a base station 140, an RU 170) may be movable and therefore provide communication coverage for a moving coverage area 110. In some examples, different coverage areas 110 associated with different technologies may overlap, but the different coverage areas 110 may be supported by the same network entity 105. In some other examples, the overlapping coverage areas 110 associated with different technologies may be supported by different network entities 105. The wireless communications system 100 may include, for example, a heterogeneous network in which different types of the network entities 105 provide coverage for various coverage areas 110 using the same or different radio access technologies.

The wireless communications system 100 may support synchronous or asynchronous operation. For synchronous operation, network entities 105 (e.g., base stations 140) may have similar frame timings, and transmissions from different network entities 105 may be approximately aligned in time. For asynchronous operation, network entities 105 may have different frame timings, and transmissions from different network entities 105 may, in some examples, not be aligned in time. The techniques described herein may be used for either synchronous or asynchronous operations.

Some UEs 115, such as MTC or IoT devices, may be low cost or low complexity devices and may provide for automated communication between machines (e.g., via Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication) . M2M communication or MTC may refer to data communication technologies that allow devices to communicate with one another or a network entity 105 (e.g., a base station 140) without human intervention. In some examples, M2M communication or MTC may include communications from devices that integrate sensors or meters to measure or capture information and relay such information to a central server or application program that uses the information or presents the information to humans interacting with the application program. Some UEs 115 may be designed to collect information or enable automated behavior of machines or other devices. Examples of applications for MTC devices include smart metering, inventory monitoring, water level monitoring, equipment monitoring, healthcare monitoring, wildlife monitoring, weather and geological event monitoring, fleet management and tracking, remote security sensing, physical access control, and transaction-based business charging.

Some UEs 115 may be configured to employ operating modes that reduce power consumption, such as half-duplex communications (e.g., a mode that supports one-way communication via transmission or reception, but not transmission and reception concurrently) . In some examples, half-duplex communications may be performed at a reduced peak rate. Other power conservation techniques for the UEs 115 include entering a power saving deep sleep mode when not engaging in active communications, operating using a limited bandwidth (e.g., according to narrowband communications) , or a combination of these techniques. For example, some UEs 115 may be configured for operation using a narrowband protocol type that is associated with a defined portion or range (e.g., set of subcarriers or resource blocks (RBs) ) within a carrier, within a guard-band of a carrier, or outside of a carrier.

The wireless communications system 100 may be configured to support ultra-reliable communications or low-latency communications, or various combinations thereof. For example, the wireless communications system 100 may be configured to support ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC) . The UEs 115 may be designed to support ultra-reliable, low-latency, or critical functions. Ultra-reliable communications may include private communication or group communication and may be supported by one or more services such as push-to-talk, video, or data. Support for ultra-reliable, low-latency functions may include prioritization of services, and such services may be used for public safety or general commercial applications. The terms ultra-reliable, low-latency, and ultra-reliable low-latency may be used interchangeably herein.

In some examples, a UE 115 may be configured to support communicating directly with other UEs 115 via a device-to-device (D2D) communication link 135 (e.g., in accordance with a peer-to-peer (P2P) , D2D, or sidelink protocol) . In some examples, one or more UEs 115 of a group that are performing D2D communications may be within the coverage area 110 of a network entity 105 (e.g., a base station 140, an RU 170) , which may support aspects of such D2D communications being configured by (e.g., scheduled by) the network entity 105. In some examples, one or more UEs 115 of such a group may be outside the coverage area 110 of a network entity 105 or may be otherwise unable to or not configured to receive transmissions from a network entity 105. In some examples, groups of the UEs 115 communicating via D2D communications may support a one-to-many (1: M) system in which each UE 115 transmits to each of the other UEs 115 in the group. In some examples, a network entity 105 may facilitate the scheduling of resources for D2D communications. In some other examples, D2D communications may be carried out between the UEs 115 without an involvement of a network entity 105.

In some systems, a D2D communication link 135 may be an example of a communication channel, such as a sidelink communication channel, between vehicles (e.g., UEs 115) . In some examples, vehicles may communicate using vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications, or some combination of these. A vehicle may signal information related to traffic conditions, signal scheduling, weather, safety, emergencies, or any other information relevant to a V2X system. In some examples, vehicles in a V2X system may communicate with roadside infrastructure, such as roadside units, or with the network via one or more network nodes (e.g., network entities 105, base stations 140, RUs 170) using vehicle-to-network (V2N) communications, or with both.

The core network 130 may provide user authentication, access authorization, tracking, Internet Protocol (IP) connectivity, and other access, routing, or mobility functions. The core network 130 may be an evolved packet core (EPC) or 5G core (5GC) , which may include at least one control plane entity that manages access and mobility (e.g., a mobility management entity (MME) , an access and mobility management function (AMF) ) and at least one user plane entity that routes packets or interconnects to external networks (e.g., a serving gateway (S-GW) , a Packet Data Network (PDN) gateway (P-GW) , or a user plane function (UPF) ) . The control plane entity may manage non-access stratum (NAS) functions such as mobility, authentication, and bearer management for the UEs 115 served by the network entities 105 (e.g., base stations 140) associated with the core network 130. User IP packets may be transferred through the user plane entity, which may provide IP address allocation as well as other functions. The user plane entity may be connected to IP services 150 for one or more network operators. The IP services 150 may include access to the Internet, Intranet (s) , an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) , or a Packet-Switched Streaming Service.

The wireless communications system 100 may operate using one or more frequency bands, which may be in the range of 300 megahertz (MHz) to 300 gigahertz (GHz) . Generally, the region from 300 MHz to 3 GHz is known as the ultra-high frequency (UHF) region or decimeter band because the wavelengths range from approximately one decimeter to one meter in length. UHF waves may be blocked or redirected by buildings and environmental features, which may be referred to as clusters, but the waves may penetrate structures sufficiently for a macro cell to provide service to the UEs 115 located indoors. Communications using UHF waves may be associated with smaller antennas and shorter ranges (e.g., less than 100 kilometers) compared to communications using the smaller frequencies and longer waves of the high frequency (HF) or very high frequency (VHF) portion of the spectrum below 300 MHz.

The wireless communications system 100 may also operate using a super high frequency (SHF) region, which may be in the range of 3 GHz to 30 GHz, also known as the centimeter band, or using an extremely high frequency (EHF) region of the spectrum (e.g., from 30 GHz to 300 GHz) , also known as the millimeter band. In some examples, the wireless communications system 100 may support millimeter wave (mmW) communications between the UEs 115 and the network entities 105 (e.g., base stations 140, RUs 170) , and EHF antennas of the respective devices may be smaller and more closely spaced than UHF antennas. In some examples, such techniques may facilitate using antenna arrays within a device. The propagation of EHF transmissions, however, may be subject to even greater attenuation and shorter range than SHF or UHF transmissions. The techniques disclosed herein may be employed across transmissions that use one or more different frequency regions, and designated use of bands across these frequency regions may differ by country or regulating body.

The wireless communications system 100 may utilize both licensed and unlicensed RF spectrum bands. For example, the wireless communications system 100 may employ License Assisted Access (LAA) , LTE-Unlicensed (LTE-U) radio access technology, or NR technology using an unlicensed band such as the 5 GHz industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) band. While operating using unlicensed RF spectrum bands, devices such as the network entities 105 and the UEs 115 may employ carrier sensing for collision detection and avoidance. In some examples, operations using unlicensed bands may be based on a carrier aggregation configuration in conjunction with component carriers operating using a licensed band (e.g., LAA) . Operations using unlicensed spectrum may include downlink transmissions, uplink transmissions, P2P transmissions, or D2D transmissions, among other examples.

A network entity 105 (e.g., a base station 140, an RU 170) or a UE 115 may be equipped with multiple antennas, which may be used to employ techniques such as transmit diversity, receive diversity, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communications, or beamforming. The antennas of a network entity 105 or a UE 115 may be located within one or more antenna arrays or antenna panels, which may support MIMO operations or transmit or receive beamforming. For example, one or more base station antennas or antenna arrays may be co-located at an antenna assembly, such as an antenna tower. In some examples, antennas or antenna arrays associated with a network entity 105 may be located at diverse geographic locations. A network entity 105 may include an antenna array with a set of rows and columns of antenna ports that the network entity 105 may use to support beamforming of communications with a UE 115. Likewise, a UE 115 may include one or more antenna arrays that may support various MIMO or beamforming operations. Additionally, or alternatively, an antenna panel may support RF beamforming for a signal transmitted via an antenna port.

The network entities 105 or the UEs 115 may use MIMO communications to exploit multipath signal propagation and increase spectral efficiency by transmitting or receiving multiple signals via different spatial layers. Such techniques may be referred to as spatial multiplexing. The multiple signals may, for example, be transmitted by the transmitting device via different antennas or different combinations of antennas. Likewise, the multiple signals may be received by the receiving device via different antennas or different combinations of antennas. Each of the multiple signals may be referred to as a separate spatial stream and may carry information associated with the same data stream (e.g., the same codeword) or different data streams (e.g., different codewords) . Different spatial layers may be associated with different antenna ports used for channel measurement and reporting. MIMO techniques include single-user MIMO (SU-MIMO) , for which multiple spatial layers are transmitted to the same receiving device, and multiple-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) , for which multiple spatial layers are transmitted to multiple devices.

Beamforming, which may also be referred to as spatial filtering, directional transmission, or directional reception, is a signal processing technique that may be used at a transmitting device or a receiving device (e.g., a network entity 105, a UE 115) to shape or steer an antenna beam (e.g., a transmit beam, a receive beam) along a spatial path between the transmitting device and the receiving device. Beamforming may be achieved by combining the signals communicated via antenna elements of an antenna array such that some signals propagating along particular orientations with respect to an antenna array experience constructive interference while others experience destructive interference. The adjustment of signals communicated via the antenna elements may include a transmitting device or a receiving device applying amplitude offsets, phase offsets, or both to signals carried via the antenna elements associated with the device. The adjustments associated with each of the antenna elements may be defined by a beamforming weight set associated with a particular orientation (e.g., with respect to the antenna array of the transmitting device or receiving device, or with respect to some other orientation) .

A network entity 105 or a UE 115 may use beam sweeping techniques as part of beamforming operations. For example, a network entity 105 (e.g., a base station 140, an RU 170) may use multiple antennas or antenna arrays (e.g., antenna panels) to conduct beamforming operations for directional communications with a UE 115. Some signals (e.g., synchronization signals, reference signals, beam selection signals, or other control signals) may be transmitted by a network entity 105 multiple times along different directions. For example, the network entity 105 may transmit a signal according to different beamforming weight sets associated with different directions of transmission. Transmissions along different beam directions may be used to identify (e.g., by a transmitting device, such as a network entity 105, or by a receiving device, such as a UE 115) a beam direction for later transmission or reception by the network entity 105.

Some signals, such as data signals associated with a particular receiving device, may be transmitted by transmitting device (e.g., a transmitting network entity 105, a transmitting UE 115) along a single beam direction (e.g., a direction associated with the receiving device, such as a receiving network entity 105 or a receiving UE 115) . In some examples, the beam direction associated with transmissions along a single beam direction may be determined based on a signal that was transmitted along one or more beam directions. For example, a UE 115 may receive one or more of the signals transmitted by the network entity 105 along different directions and may report to the network entity 105 an indication of the signal that the UE 115 received with a highest signal quality or an otherwise acceptable signal quality.

In some examples, transmissions by a device (e.g., by a network entity 105 or a UE 115) may be performed using multiple beam directions, and the device may use a combination of digital precoding or beamforming to generate a combined beam for transmission (e.g., from a network entity 105 to a UE 115) . The UE 115 may report feedback that indicates precoding weights for one or more beam directions, and the feedback may correspond to a configured set of beams across a system bandwidth or one or more sub-bands. The network entity 105 may transmit a reference signal (e.g., a cell-specific reference signal (CRS) , a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) ) , which may be precoded or unprecoded. The UE 115 may provide feedback for beam selection, which may be a precoding matrix indicator (PMI) or codebook-based feedback (e.g., a multi-panel type codebook, a linear combination type codebook, a port selection type codebook) . Although these techniques are described with reference to signals transmitted along one or more directions by a network entity 105 (e.g., a base station 140, an RU 170) , a UE 115 may employ similar techniques for transmitting signals multiple times along different directions (e.g., for identifying a beam direction for subsequent transmission or reception by the UE 115) or for transmitting a signal along a single direction (e.g., for transmitting data to a receiving device) .

A receiving device (e.g., a UE 115) may perform reception operations in accordance with multiple receive configurations (e.g., directional listening) when receiving various signals from a transmitting device (e.g., a network entity 105) , such as synchronization signals, reference signals, beam selection signals, or other control signals. For example, a receiving device may perform reception in accordance with multiple receive directions by receiving via different antenna subarrays, by processing received signals according to different antenna subarrays, by receiving according to different receive beamforming weight sets (e.g., different directional listening weight sets) applied to signals received at multiple antenna elements of an antenna array, or by processing received signals according to different receive beamforming weight sets applied to signals received at multiple antenna elements of an antenna array, any of which may be referred to as “listening” according to different receive configurations or receive directions. In some examples, a receiving device may use a single receive configuration to receive along a single beam direction (e.g., when receiving a data signal) . The single receive configuration may be aligned along a beam direction determined based on listening according to different receive configuration directions (e.g., a beam direction determined to have a highest signal strength, highest signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) , or otherwise acceptable signal quality based on listening according to multiple beam directions) .

The wireless communications system 100 may be a packet-based network that operates according to a layered protocol stack. In the user plane, communications at the bearer or PDCP layer may be IP-based. An RLC layer may perform packet segmentation and reassembly to communicate via logical channels. A MAC layer may perform priority handling and multiplexing of logical channels into transport channels. The MAC layer also may implement error detection techniques, error correction techniques, or both to support retransmissions to improve link efficiency. In the control plane, an RRC layer may provide establishment, configuration, and maintenance of an RRC connection between a UE 115 and a network entity 105 or a core network 130 supporting radio bearers for user plane data. A PHY layer may map transport channels to physical channels.

The UEs 115 and the network entities 105 may support retransmissions of data to increase the likelihood that data is received successfully. Hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback is one technique for increasing the likelihood that data is received correctly via a communication link (e.g., a communication link 125, a D2D communication link 135) . HARQ may include a combination of error detection (e.g., using a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) ) , forward error correction (FEC) , and retransmission (e.g., automatic repeat request (ARQ) ) . HARQ may improve throughput at the MAC layer in poor radio conditions (e.g., low signal-to-noise conditions) . In some examples, a device may support same-slot HARQ feedback, in which case the device may provide HARQ feedback in a specific slot for data received via a previous symbol in the slot. In some other examples, the device may provide HARQ feedback in a subsequent slot, or according to some other time interval.

An energy harvesting device (e.g., an ambient Internet of Things (IoT) device, a UE 115) may be capable of harvesting energy from a radio frequency (RF) signal. In some examples, an amount of energy storage available to the energy harvesting device or an amount of energy used by the energy harvesting device to perform wireless communications may vary. If a node (e.g., a network entity 105, a CU 160, a DU 165, an RU 170, a combination thereof) provides an RF signal to the energy harvesting device constantly, the node may provide more energy to the energy harvesting device than what the energy harvesting device is configured to store or more than what the energy harvesting device uses to perform wireless communications. Thus, performing energy transfer constantly may not be efficient, as it may result in increased energy consumption by the node while failing to substantially increase energy harvested by the energy harvesting device. However, if the node provides energy to the energy harvesting device for too short of a duration, the energy harvesting device may not have enough energy for performing wireless communications.

To enable the energy harvesting device to have enough energy for performing wireless communications while decreasing energy consumption of the energy providing node, the energy providing node may be provided with energy harvesting assistance information to determine when to provide energy to the energy harvesting device. The energy harvesting assistance information may be provided to the energy providing node by a scheduling node, the energy harvesting device, or both. The energy harvesting assistance information may include a duration of energy transfer, a period of energy transfer, a downlink traffic communication profile, an uplink traffic communication profile, an energy harvesting efficiency of the energy harvesting device, or a combination thereof. The energy harvesting assistance information may be dedicated to a single energy harvesting device or may be dedicated to a group of energy harvesting devices.

Additionally, in certain scenarios, the energy harvesting device may be unable to perform communication of a scheduled transmission (e.g., a data message, a feedback message) over a communication occasion due to low energy. Failure to transmit the one to transmit the scheduled transmission over the communication occasion may decrease the efficiency of wireless communications, as a device may fail to receive message.

To enable the energy harvesting device to have sufficient energy to transmit the one or more scheduled transmissions, the energy harvesting device may transmit an energy scheduling request (ESR) to an energy providing node when the energy storage of the energy harvesting device has a storage less than that needed for a configured or preconfigured grant, then triggering energy transfer from the energy providing node to the energy harvesting device. Additionally, or alternatively, for configured grant resources, the energy providing node may determine if a quantity or a duration of data messages or feedback messages has failed to be received and may trigger the energy transfer energy providing node to the energy harvesting device. Additionally, or alternatively, for dynamic resources, the energy providing node may provide energy to the energy harvesting device associated with each dynamic resource it schedules or may provide energy if a duration between a latest energy status indication and scheduling associated with the energy harvesting device satisfies a threshold amount. In some examples, the energy providing node may provide energy transfer to the energy harvesting device prior to an initial access occasion. The energy transfer may for a fixed duration or may be dependent on an ESR received from the energy harvesting device.

FIGs. 2A and 2B show examples of wireless communications systems 200-a and 200-b that support assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, wireless communications systems 200-a and/or 200-b may implement one or more aspects of wireless communications system 100. For instance, one or more of energy harvesting devices 210-a and 210-b may be an example of a UE 115 as described with reference to FIG. 1 and/or one or more of node 205, scheduling node 230, and energy providing node 235 may be an example of a network entity 105, a CU 160, a DU 165, an RU 170, or a combination thereof as described with reference to FIG. 1.

In some examples, an energy harvesting device (e.g., energy harvesting device 210-a, energy harvesting device 210-b) may support energy harvesting, such as harvesting energy from an RF signal (e.g., from an energizing signal 220-a or 220-b) . However, an energy harvesting device may have a limited energy storage.

Additionally, the energy harvesting device may be in one or more of multiple groups of energy harvesting devices. For instance, a grouping of energy harvesting devices may include a first group of energy harvesting devices associated with indoor use, a second group of energy harvesting devices associated with outdoor use, and a third grouping of energy harvesting devices associated with indoor and outdoor use. Additionally, or alternatively, a grouping of energy harvesting devices may include a first group of energy harvesting devices associated with inventory functions, a second group of energy harvesting devices associated with sensor functions, a third group of energy harvesting devices associated with positioning functions, and a fourth group of energy devices associated with command functions. Additionally or alternatively, a grouping of energy harvesting devices may include a first group of energy harvesting devices with no energy storage or independent signal generation (e.g., devices capable of backscattering transmissions) , a second group of energy harvesting devices with energy storage but no independent signal generation (e.g., devices capable of backscattering transmissions and using stored energy for amplification of reflected signals) , and a third group of energy harvesting devices with energy storage and independent signal generation (e.g., devices with an active RF component for transmission) . Additionally, or alternatively, a grouping of energy harvesting devices may include a first group of energy harvesting devices with no storage at all, a second group of energy harvesting devices with E1 joules of energy storage, and a third group of energy harvesting devices with E2 joules of energy storage (e.g., if E1=E2, the second group and the third group may be one group) .

Different groups of energy harvesting devices may be associated with different amounts of energy for performing their functions. For instance, if a first energy harvesting device supports inventory and command functions and a second energy harvesting device supports sensing functions, the traffic payload and duty cycle associated with each of the first and second energy harvesting devices may be different and thus may be associated with different amounts of energy. Techniques that enable a greater degree of control over the amount of energy transferred to each energy harvesting device (e.g., based on what group the energy harvesting device is in) may enable more efficient energy consumption for the node providing energy to the energy harvesting device.

In order to provide sufficient energy to an energy harvesting device, a node providing energy to an energy harvesting device may use assistance information (e.g., energy harvesting assistance information) . If the node providing the energy is the same as the node scheduling communications for an energy harvesting device, the energy harvesting device may provide the assistance information to the node. For instance, as depicted in FIG. 2A, energy harvesting device 210-a may transmit, to node 205, assistance information 215-a (e.g., via wireless transmission of a message) . In response to the assistance information 215-a, node 205 may transmit energizing signal 220-a to energy harvesting device 210-a and energy harvesting device 210-a may harvest energy from the energizing signal 220-a. Energy harvesting device 210-a may transmit one or more messages 225-a using energy from the energizing signal 220-a. In some examples, assistance information 215-a may indicate an energy harvesting status (e.g., an energy harvesting efficiency) to node 205 and node 205 may provide energy transfer accordingly.

If the node providing the energy to the energy harvesting device is separate from the node scheduling the energy harvesting device (e.g., are different devices) , the energy node may provide energy transfer to the energy harvesting device constantly (e.g., all of the time) . However, transferring energy constantly may increase the energy consumption of the energy node and may be less efficient than transferring energy consumption some of the time, as the energy harvesting device may have a limited energy storage and the amount of energy being transferred may exceed the limited energy storage. An alternative way to perform energy transfer may be for the energy providing node to provide the energy based on assistance information, which may also be referred to as assistant information or assisted information. In such cases, the node scheduling communications with the energy harvesting device or the energy harvesting device may provide the assistance information. In some examples, the node providing the energy may provide energy more frequently if the energy harvesting device (or a group of energy harvesting devices to which the energy harvesting device belongs) has more frequent communication. Additionally, or alternatively, the node providing the energy may provide energy with a longer duration if the energy harvesting device (or a group of energy harvesting devices to which the energy harvesting device belongs) has larger traffic to transmit or receive. Examples of energy transfer based on the profile of communication may be described herein further, for instance, with reference to FIGs. 4A through 4C.

FIG. 2B depicts an example in which separate nodes schedule communications and provide energy for an energy harvesting device. For instance, scheduling node 230 may schedule communications for energy harvesting device 210-b and energy providing node 235 may provide energy to energy harvesting device 210-b. In such examples, energy providing node 235 may use assistance information to determine when and for how long to transfer energy to energy harvesting device 210-b. In some examples, scheduling node 230 may provide the assistance information (e.g., as assistance information 240) . Alternatively, energy harvesting device 210-b may provide the assistance information (e.g., as assistance information 215-b) . Alternatively, both scheduling node 230 and energy harvesting device 210-b may provide the assistance information (e.g., as assistance information 240 and assistance information 215-b) . After receiving the assistance information, energy providing node 235 may transmit an energizing signal 220-b to energy harvesting device 210-b and energy harvesting device 210-b may harvest energy from the energizing signal 220-b. Energy harvesting device 210-b may transmit one or more messages 225-b using energy from the energizing signal.

In examples in which scheduling node 230 provides assistance information 240 (e.g., and energy harvesting device 210-b does not provide assistance information 215-b) , the assistance information 240 may indicate a duration of energy transfer and/or a period of energy transfer. For dynamic scheduling, the period of energy transfer may not be indicated in the assistance information 240. Additionally, energy harvesting device 210-b may provide, to scheduling node 230, an energy harvesting status (e.g., an energy conversion efficiency of the energy harvesting device 210-b) to scheduling node 230. Scheduling node 230 may use the energy harvesting status to determine the duration and/or the period for providing a wireless energizing signal. An example in which a scheduling node provides assistance information and an energy harvesting device does not may be illustrated herein, for instance, with reference to FIG. 3A.

In examples in which energy harvesting device 210-b provides assistance information 215-b (e.g., and scheduling node 230 does not provide assistance information 240) , the assistance information 215-b may indicate a duration of energy transfer and/or a period of energy transfer. For dynamic scheduling, the period of energy transfer may not be indicated. An example in which an energy harvesting device provides assistance information and an scheduling node does not may be illustrated herein, for instance, with reference to FIG. 3B.

In examples in which scheduling node 230 provides assistance information 240 and energy harvesting device 210-b provides assistance information 215-b, the assistance information 240 may indicate a downlink traffic communication profile and the assistance information 215-b may indicate an uplink traffic communication profile and/or an energy harvesting efficiency. The downlink traffic communication profile may include an indication of a downlink data payload (e.g., a payload size) , how often downlink transmissions typically occur, or any combination thereof. The uplink traffic communication profile may include an indication of an uplink data payload (e.g., a payload size) , how often uplink transmissions typically occur, or any combination thereof. The assistance information 240 may include a single traffic communication provide that includes the downlink traffic communication profile, the uplink traffic communication profile, or both. Additionally, for configured grant and/or periodic traffic, the downlink traffic communication profile and/or the uplink traffic communication profile may indicate a period of resources (e.g., transmission occasions) allocated for downlink traffic, uplink traffic, or both. For dynamic traffic, the downlink traffic communication profile and/or the uplink traffic communication profile may not indicate the period. An example in which both an energy harvesting device and a scheduling node provides assistance information may be illustrated herein, for instance, with reference to FIG. 3C.

In some examples, the assistance information 240 provided by the scheduling node 230 may be indicated per energy harvesting device (e.g., per ambient-IoT device) . Alternatively, the assistance information 240 provided by the scheduling node 230 may be indicated per group of energy harvesting devices (e.g., per group of ambient-IoT devices) , such as in examples in which energy providing node 235 serves multiple energy harvesting devices at a same time. The assistance information 240 may be based on the largest traffic payload and/or the most frequency communication among the group of energy harvesting devices.

In some examples, the assistance information 215-b provided by the energy harvesting device 210-b may be dedicated to energy harvesting device 210-b (e.g., each energy harvesting deice may indicate the assistance information independently) . Alternatively, each group of energy harvesting devices may have an anchor to indicate the assistance information for the group. The anchor may, for instance, be one of the energy harvesting devices within the group or may be a node configured to communicate the assistance information for the group to energy providing node 235.

In some examples, an energy providing node (e.g., node 205, energy providing node 235) may provide energy transfer based on an energy harvesting capability of an energy harvesting device (e.g., energy harvesting device 210-a, energy harvesting device 210-b) . In some cases, the assistance information, or other control message, may indicate the energy harvesting capability of an energy harvesting device. For instance, in examples in which the energy harvesting device only supports RF-based energy harvesting, the energy providing node may provide enough energy to ensure the energy harvesting device has enough energy to provide communications. Alternatively, if the energy harvesting device supports solar based energy harvesting and RF-based energy harvesting, the energy node may provide energy transfer based on certain conditions (e.g., providing energy transfer at night if it sunny enough during the day and otherwise providing energy transfer for the whole day) . Additionally, or alternatively, the energy providing node may provide the energy transfer based on the energy storage of the energy harvesting device. In such examples, as an energy storage of the energy harvesting device increases, the energy providing node may perform energy transfer with a longer duration but less frequently.

In some examples, an energy harvesting device (e.g., energy harvesting device 210-a, energy harvesting device 210-b) may fail to perform a transmission at a scheduled resource due to low energy. To handle this scenario, the energy harvesting device may transmit, to the energy providing node (e.g., node 205, energy providing node 235) , an ESR when the energy storage of the energy harvesting device is less than a threshold associated with a configured or preconfigured grant (e.g., less than an energy used in communicating a message associated with the grant, such as a data message or a feedback message) . The energy providing node, upon receiving the ESR, may transfer energy to the energy harvesting device. An example of this scenario may be described herein, for instance, with reference to FIG. 5.

For resources configured via a configured grant, a node (e.g., a node including the functions of both the scheduling node and the energy providing node) may determine a number of consecutive configured resources for which the energy harvesting device has failed to transmit a message (e.g., a data message, a feedback message) . If the number of consecutive configured resources is greater than a configured or preconfigured threshold or duration, the energy providing node may power the energy harvesting device first and/or may trigger the energy node to transfer energy. Examples of this scenario may be described herein, for instance, with reference to FIGs. 6 and 7. After providing the energy and in cases in which the energy harvesting device is to provide uplink messages, the energy providing node may monitor for a communication scheduling request (CSR) or an uplink trigger (ULT) . Alternatively, or additionally, the energy harvesting device may first perform synchronization and may then perform a transmission at the configured resource, such as when the energy harvesting device lacks sufficient energy to maintain a clock.

For resources configured via a dynamic grant, a node (e.g., a node including the functions of both the scheduling node and the energy providing node) may power the energy harvesting device or trigger the energy providing node to transfer energy first. For instance, the energy harvesting device may provide energy for each grant or for each resource indicated by the grant. The energy harvesting device may provide the energy prior to the energy harvesting device transmitting a message on the resource indicated in the grant. Alternatively, or additionally, the node may determine whether energy transfer is needed based on a duration between the latest energy status indicated and scheduling for an energy harvesting device. For instance, if the duration satisfies a threshold amount of time, the node may trigger providing of energy to the energy harvesting device.

The techniques described herein may be associated with one or more advantages. For instance, using assistance information to aid a node in determining when to provide energy may enable the node to limit energy consumption more efficiently as compared to providing energy constantly. Additionally, enabling the node to provide energy when an energy harvesting device has low energy may reduce a likelihood that the energy harvesting device fails to transmit messages over scheduled resources due to low energy, and may thus increase the efficiency of wireless communications.

FIG. 3A, 3B, and 3C show examples of wireless communications systems 300-a, 300-b, and 300-c that support assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, wireless communications systems 300-a, 300-b, and/or 300-c may implement one or more aspects of wireless communications systems 100, 200-a, and/or 200-b. For instance, one or more of energy harvesting devices 315-a, 315-b, and 315-c may be an example of a UE 115 as described with reference to FIG. 1 and/or energy harvesting device 210-b as described with reference to FIG. 2B. Additionally, or alternatively, one or more of energy providing nodes 310-a, 310-b, and 310-c may be an example of an energy providing node 235 as described with reference to FIG. 2B and/or a network entity 105, a CU 160, a DU 165, an RU 170, or a combination thereof as described with reference to FIG. 1. Additionally, or alternatively, one or more of scheduling nodes 305-a and 305-b may be an example of a scheduling node 230 as described with reference to FIG. 2B and/or a network entity 105, a CU 160, a DU 165, an RU 170, or a combination thereof as described with reference to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A depicts a scenario in which only a scheduling node provides assistance information to an energy providing node. For instance, scheduling node 305-a may provide assistance information 320-a to energy providing node 310-a. Energy providing node 310-a may use the assistance information 320-a to determine when to transmit energizing signal 325-a to energy harvesting device 315-a. Energy harvesting device 315-a, upon receiving the energizing signal 325-a, may transmit one or more messages 330-a using energy harvested from the energizing signal 325-a. In some examples, assistance information 320-a may include an indication of a duration for energy transfer, a period of energy transfer, or both.

FIG. 3B depicts a scenario in which only an energy harvesting device provides assistance information to an energy providing node. For instance, energy harvesting device 315-b may provide assistance information 335-a to energy providing node 310-b. Energy providing node 310-b may use the assistance information 335-a to determine when to transmit energizing signal 325-b to energy harvesting device 315-b. Energy harvesting device 315-b, upon receiving the energizing signal 325-b, may transmit one or more messages 330-b using energy harvested from the energizing signal 325-b. In some examples, assistance information 335-a may include an indication of a duration for energy transfer, a period of energy transfer, or both.

FIG. 3C depicts a scenario in which both a scheduling node and an energy harvesting device provides information to an energy providing node. For instance, energy harvesting device 315-c may provide assistance information 335-b to energy providing node 310-c and scheduling node 305-b may provide assistance information 320-b to energy providing node 310-c. Energy providing node 310-c may use the assistance information 335-b and the assistance information 320-b to determine when to transmit energizing signal 325-c to energy harvesting device 315-c. Energy harvesting device 315-c, upon receiving the energizing signal 325-c, may transmit one or more messages 330-c using energy harvested from the energizing signal 325-c. In some examples, assistance information 320-b may include an uplink communication profile and assistance information 335-b may include a downlink communication profile.

FIGs. 4A, 4B, and 4C show examples of energy transfer scenarios 400-a, 400-b, and 400-c that supports assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, energy transfer scenarios 400-a, 400-b, and 400-c may be implemented by one or more aspects of wireless communications systems 200-a, 200-b, 300-a, 300-b, 300-c, or a combination thereof. For instance, energy transfer scenarios 400-a, 400-b, and 400-c may represent techniques performed by the correspondingly named devices in wireless communications systems 200-a, 200-b, 300-a, 300-b, 300-c, or a combination thereof. It should be noted that, in at least some examples, the energy providing node may refer to the node 205 of FIG. 2A or the energy providing node 235 of FIG. 2B.

As depicted in FIG. 4A, an energy providing node may perform energy transfer over energy transfer occasion 405-a and energy transfer occasion 405-b. Additionally, an energy harvesting device may perform communications (e.g., transmitting messages) over communication occasions 410-a, 410-b, 410-c, and 410-d.

If a frequency at which the energy harvesting device performs communications decreases, the energy providing node may correspondingly adjust one or more parameters associated with performing energy transfer. For instance, if the amount of communications over a time period decreases, the energy harvesting device may use less energy for performing the communications over the time period. Thus, the energy providing node may adjust the total amount of energy provided to the energy harvesting device over the time period.

FIG. 4B may depict half as many communication occasions (e.g., communication occasions 410-e and 410-f) over a time period as compared to FIG. 4A. In order to accommodate the reduced number of communication occasions, the energy providing node may provide energy transfer occasions that have a same duration as compared to the energy transfer occasions of FIG. 4A but may provide them less frequently (e.g., half as frequently, twice the period) . For instance, energy transfer occasion 405-c may have a same energy transfer occasion 405-a, but the next energy transfer occasion may occur with half the frequently as compared to FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4C may depict half as many communication occasions (e.g., communication occasions 410-g and 410-h) over a time period as compared to FIG. 4A. In order to accommodate the reduced number of communication occasions, the energy providing node may provide energy transfer occasions with a same frequency (e.g., according to a same period) , but each energy transfer occasion may have a reduced duration as compared to the energy transfer occasions of FIG. 4A (e.g., half the duration) . For instance, energy transfer occasions 405-d and 405-e may occur as frequently as the energy transfer occasions of FIG. 4A but may each have half the duration as the energy transfer occasions of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5 shows an example of an energy transfer scenario 500 that supports assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, energy transfer scenario 500 may be implemented by one or more aspects of wireless communications systems 200-a, 200-b, 300-a, 300-b, 300-c, or a combination thereof. For instance, energy transfer scenario 500 may represent techniques performed by the correspondingly named devices in wireless communications systems 200-a, 200-b, 300-a, 300-b, 300-c, or a combination thereof. It should be noted that, in at least some examples, the energy providing node may refer to the node 205 of FIG. 2A or the energy providing node 235 of FIG. 2B.

At 505, an energy harvesting device may determine that its energy is lower than a threshold amount. For instance, the energy harvesting device may determine that an amount of energy it stores is less than a threshold amount. Thus, at 510, energy harvesting device may transmit an ESR to an energy providing node. The energy providing node, upon receiving ESR may perform energy transfer at 515 with the energy harvesting device. For instance, the energy providing node may transmit an energizing signal to the energy harvesting device, which the energy harvesting device may harvest.

FIG. 6 shows an example of an energy transfer scenario 600 that supports assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, energy transfer scenario 600 may be implemented by one or more aspects of wireless communications systems 200-a, 200-b, 300-a, 300-b, 300-c, or a combination thereof. For instance, energy transfer scenario 600 may represent techniques performed by the correspondingly named devices in wireless communications systems 200-a, 200-b, 300-a, 300-b, 300-c, or a combination thereof. It should be noted that, in at least some examples, the energy providing node may refer to the node 205 of FIG. 2A or the energy providing node 235 of FIG. 2B.

At 605-a, an energy harvesting device may fail to transmit a message (e.g., an uplink data message) over a configured grant resource. Additionally, at 605-b, the energy harvesting device may fail to transmit a message (e.g., an uplink data message) over another configured grant resource. A scheduling node may determine, due to failing to receive the messages over the configured grant resources at 605-a and 605-b, to trigger energy transfer at 610. For instance, the scheduling node may determine that messages have not been received over a threshold number of configured grant resources and may trigger energy transfer as a result. After triggering energy transfer, an energy providing node (e.g., which may be the same as the scheduling node in at least some cases) may perform energy transfer with the energy harvesting device at 615. For instance, the energy providing node may transmit an energizing signal to the energy harvesting device, which the energy harvesting device may harvest.

FIG. 7 shows an example of an energy transfer scenario 700 that supports assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, energy transfer scenario 700 may be implemented by one or more aspects of wireless communications systems 200-a, 200-b, 300-a, 300-b, 300-c, or a combination thereof. For instance, energy transfer scenario 700 may represent techniques performed by the correspondingly named devices in wireless communications systems 200-a, 200-b, 300-a, 300-b, 300-c, or a combination thereof. It should be noted that, in at least some examples, the energy providing node may refer to the node 205 of FIG. 2A or the energy providing node 235 of FIG. 2B.

At 705-a, a scheduling node may transmit a downlink message (e.g., a downlink data message) over a configured grant resource. At 710-a, an energy harvesting device may fail to transmit a feedback message (e.g., an acknowledgement (ACK) ) to the scheduling node. At 705-b, the scheduling node may transmit another downlink message (e.g., another downlink data message) over another configured grant resource. At 710-b, the energy harvesting device may fail to transmit another feedback message (e.g., another ACK) to the scheduling node. The scheduling node may determine, due to failing to receive the feedback messages over the configured grant resources at 705-a and 705-b, to trigger energy transfer at 715. For instance, the scheduling node may determine that feedback messages have not been received over a threshold number of configured grant resources and may trigger energy transfer as a result. After triggering energy transfer, an energy providing node (e.g., which may be the same as the scheduling node in at least some cases) may perform energy transfer with the energy harvesting device at 720. For instance, the energy providing node may transmit an energizing signal to the energy harvesting device, which the energy harvesting device may harvest. It should be noted that the techniques of FIGs. 6 and 7 may be combined (e.g., a threshold number of feedback messages and uplink data messages that have not been received may be used to determine whether energy transfer is triggered) .

FIGs. 8A and 8B show examples of energy transfer scenarios 800-a and 800-b that support assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, energy transfer scenarios 800-a and/or 800-b may be implemented by one or more aspects of wireless communications systems 200-a, 200-b, 300-a, 300-b, 300-c, or a combination thereof. For instance, energy transfer scenarios 800-a and/or 800-b may represent techniques performed by the correspondingly named devices in wireless communications systems 200-a, 200-b, 300-a, 300-b, 300-c, or a combination thereof. It should be noted that, in at least some examples, the energy providing node may refer to the node 205 of FIG. 2A or the energy providing node 235 of FIG. 2B.

In some examples, an energy providing node may provide energy to an energy harvesting device prior to an initial access occasion in order to enable the energy harvesting device to perform initial access (e.g., with a scheduling node) . The techniques of FIG. 8A may be performed if an energy harvesting device is able to indicate an energy conversion efficiency to an energy providing node. For instance, as depicted in FIG. 8A, initially no link may be present between an energy harvesting device and a scheduling node at 802-a. At 805, the energy harvesting device may transmit an ESR to the energy providing node. In response to the ESR, the energy providing node may determine whether energy transfer is to be performed at 810-a. For instance, the energy providing node may determine not to transfer energy if the energy harvesting device is capable of performing an initial access at 815-a with the amount of energy that it has. Alternatively, or additionally, the energy providing node may determine a duration for energy transfer based on the ESR from the energy harvesting device. For instance, the energy providing node may determine the energy transfer duration at 810-a based on an actual energy conversion efficiency of the energy harvesting device and a communication payload and duration associated with performing the initial access at 815-a. At 815-a, the energy harvesting device may perform the initial access operation (e.g., with the harvested energy if it received an energizing signal at 810-a) to gain access to the scheduling node.

Alternatively, or additionally, if the energy harvesting device is not able to indicate the energy conversion efficiency to the energy providing node, the techniques of FIG. 8B may be performed. For instance, as depicted in FIG. 8B, initially no link may be present between the energy harvesting device and the scheduling node at 802-b. At 810-b, the energy providing node may transfer energy with the energy harvesting device over a fixed energy transfer occasion before the initial access occasion at 815-b. The fixed energy transfer duration may be based on a lowest energy conversion efficiency of the energy harvesting device and a communication payload and duration associated with the initial access occasion at 815-b. At 815-b, the energy harvesting device may perform initial access to gain access to the scheduling node.

In some cases, the techniques of both FIGs. 8A and 8B may be performed. For instance, the techniques of FIG. 8A may be performed when an energy harvesting device is able to indicate the energy conversion efficiency to the energy providing node and the techniques of FIG. 8B when the energy harvesting device is not able to indicate the energy conversion efficiency to the energy providing node. Additionally, or alternatively, the techniques of FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B may be used interchangeably as determined by the energy providing node.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a process flow 900 that supports assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, process flow 900 may implement one or more aspects of wireless communications systems 100, 200-a, and/or 200-b. For instance, energy harvesting device 910 may be an example of a UE 115 as described with reference to FIG. 1, energy harvesting device 210-a as described with reference to FIG. 2A, energy harvesting device 210-b as described with reference to FIG. 2B, energy harvesting device 315-a as described with reference to FIG. 3A, energy harvesting device 315-b as described with reference to FIG. 3B, energy harvesting device 315-c as described with reference to FIG. 3C, or a combination thereof. Additionally, or alternatively, energy providing node 905 may be an example of an energy providing node 310-c as described with reference to FIG. 3C, an energy providing node 310-b as described with reference to FIG. 3B, an energy providing node 310-a as described with reference to FIG. 3A, an energy providing node 235 as described with reference to FIG. 2B, a node 205 as described with reference to FIG. 2A, and/or a network entity 105, a CU 160, a DU 165, an RU 170, or a combination thereof as described with reference to FIG. 1. In some examples, energy harvesting device 910 may be an ambient-IoT device.

At 915, energy harvesting device 910 may transmit energy harvesting assistance information. Energy providing node 905 may receive the energy harvesting assistance information. The energy harvesting assistance information may indicate a duration for energy transfer, a traffic communication profile associated with one or more communications between a first node (e.g., a scheduling node) and energy harvesting device 910, an energy harvesting capability of energy harvesting device 910, or a combination thereof. In some examples, the energy harvesting assistance information further indicates one or more occasions for output of an energizing signal (e.g., the energizing signal at 920) . In such examples, the energy harvesting assistance information may indicate a period corresponding to output of the one or more occasions. Additionally, the energy harvesting assistance information may indicate the period in accordance with a configured grant scheduling one or more messages (e.g., the one or more messages communicated at 930) . In some examples, the period may be indicated by the traffic communication profile. In some examples, the energy harvesting assistance information is dedicated to energy harvesting device 910 or a group of energy harvesting devices including energy harvesting device 910. In some examples, the traffic communication profile indicates a payload size of at least one of one or more messages (e.g., the one or more messages communicated at 930) .

At 920, energy providing node 905 may transmit an energizing signal based on receiving the energy harvesting assistance information. Energy harvesting device 910 may receive the energizing signal.

At 925, energy harvesting device 910 may perform energy harvesting on the energizing signal in accordance with the energy harvesting assistance information.

At 930, energy harvesting device 910 may communicate (e.g., transmit) one or more messages using energy harvested from the energizing signal. Energy harvesting device 910 may communicate the one or more messages with the energy providing node 905 or another device (e.g., a node, a communication scheduling node distinct from the energy providing node, a UE, a network entity) .

In some examples, energy harvesting device 910 may transmit, to energy providing node 905, an energy scheduling request. Energy harvesting device 910 may perform energy harvesting on a second energizing signal from energy providing node 905 based on the energy scheduling request. In some examples, the one or more messages communicated at 930 may be communicated using energy harvested from the second energizing signal. In some examples, the energy scheduling request is based on an amount of energy stored by energy harvesting device 910 being less than an amount of energy for communicating the one or more messages. In some examples, the second energized signal may be harvested by energy harvesting device 910 prior to an initial access operation.

In examples in which the one or more messages include multiple messages, energy harvesting device 910 may receive one or more grants, where each grant of the one or more grants indicates resources for the one or more messages (e.g., a respective resource of a set of resources for a respective message of the one or more messages) . Each grant may be associated with one or more energizing signals. The energy harvesting device 910 may perform energy harvesting on each of the one or more energizing signals corresponding to the one or more grants and may communicate multiple message over the resources based on an energy harvested corresponding to the one or more energizing signals.

In some examples, energy harvesting device 910 may perform energy harvesting on a second energizing signal from energy providing node 905 prior to an initial access operation.

FIG. 10 shows an example of a process flow 1000 that supports assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, process flow 1000 may implement one or more aspects of wireless communications systems 100, 200-a, and/or 200-b. For instance, energy harvesting device 1015 may be an example of a UE 115 as described with reference to FIG. 1, energy harvesting device 210-b as described with reference to FIG. 2B, energy harvesting device 315-a as described with reference to FIG. 3A, energy harvesting device 315-b as described with reference to FIG. 3B, energy harvesting device 315-c as described with reference to FIG. 3C, or a combination thereof. Additionally, or alternatively, energy providing node 1005 may be an example of an energy providing node 310-c as described with reference to FIG. 3C, an energy providing node 310-b as described with reference to FIG. 3B, an energy providing node 310-a as described with reference to FIG. 3A, an energy providing node 235 as described with reference to FIG. 2B and/or a network entity 105, a CU 160, a DU 165, an RU 170, or a combination thereof as described with reference to FIG. 1. Additionally, or alternatively, scheduling node 1010 may be an example of a scheduling node 305-b as described with reference to FIG. 3C, a scheduling node 305-a as described with reference to FIG. 3A, a scheduling node 230 as described with reference to FIG. 2B and/or a network entity 105, a CU 160, a DU 165, an RU 170, or a combination thereof as described with reference to FIG. 1. Energy harvesting device 1015 may be an ambient-IoT device.

At 1020, energy harvesting device 1015 may transmit an energy harvesting capability to scheduling node 1010.

At 1025, scheduling node 1010 may transmit energy harvesting assistance information to energy providing node 1005, where the energy harvesting assistance information is associated with output of an energizing signal by energy providing node 1005 for energy harvesting by energy harvesting device 1015. The energy harvesting assistance information may indicate a duration for energy transfer, a traffic communication profile associated with one or more communications between scheduling node 1010 and energy harvesting device 1015, one or more occasions for outputting the energizing signal, or any combination thereof. In some examples, the energy harvesting assistance information may indicate a period corresponding to output of the one or more occasions. The energy harvesting assistance information may indicate the period in accordance with a configured grant scheduling a response (e.g., the response at 1035) . The traffic communication profile may indicate the period and/or may indicate a payload size of a response (e.g., the response at 1035) . In some examples, the energy harvesting assistance information may be dedicated to energy harvesting device 1015 or a group of energy harvesting devices including the energy harvesting device.

At 1030, scheduling node 1010 may transmit a signal to energy harvesting device 1015 based on the energy harvesting assistance information. In some examples, scheduling node 1010 may transmit the signal based on the energy harvesting capability (e.g., the energy harvesting capability received at 1020) . The energy harvesting capability may indicate an energy conversion efficiency of energy harvesting device 1015.

At 1035, energy harvesting device 1015 may transmit a response to scheduling node 1010. Energy harvesting device 1015 may transmit the response using energy received via the energizing signal output by energy providing node 1005 after energy providing node 1005 receives the energy harvesting assistance information. In some examples, the signal may include a grant of one or more first resources and the response to the signal may include one or more first messages over the one or more first resources. In other examples, the signal may include one or more second messages over one or more second resources and the response may include feedback to the one or more second messages. In some examples, the response to the signal may include a backscattered signal responsive to the signal transmitted to energy harvesting device 1015.

FIG. 11 shows an example of a process flow 1100 that supports assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, process flow 1100 may implement one or more aspects of wireless communications systems 100, 200-a, and/or 200-b. For instance, energy harvesting device 1110 may be an example of a UE 115 as described with reference to FIG. 1, energy harvesting device 210-a as described with reference to FIG. 2A, energy harvesting device 210-b as described with reference to FIG. 2B, energy harvesting device 315-a as described with reference to FIG. 3A, energy harvesting device 315-b as described with reference to FIG. 3B, energy harvesting device 315-c as described with reference to FIG. 3C, or a combination thereof. Additionally, or alternatively, energy providing node 1105 may be an example of an energy providing node 310-c or a scheduling node 305-b as described with reference to FIG. 3C, an energy providing node 310-b as described with reference to FIG. 3B, an energy providing node 310-a or a scheduling node 305-a as described with reference to FIG. 3A, an energy providing node 235 or a scheduling node 230 as described with reference to FIG. 2B, a node 205 as described with reference to FIG. 2A, and/or a network entity 105, a CU 160, a DU 165, an RU 170, or a combination thereof as described with reference to FIG. 1.

At 1115, node 1105 may transmit one or more control messages to energy harvesting device 1110. The one or more control messages may schedule transmission of one or more first messages by energy harvesting device 1110 during one or more communication occasions. In some examples, the one or more first messages may include one or more uplink data messages. In other examples, the one or more first messages may include one or more feedback messages in response to one or more downlink data messages.

At 1120, energy harvesting device 1110 may fail to transmit the one or more first messages. Alternatively, energy harvesting device 1110 may transmit the one or more first messages, but node 1105 may not receive the one or more first messages. Node 1105 may perform synchronization with energy harvesting device 1110 based on the failure to receive the one or more first messages during the one or more communication occasions.

At 1125, node 1105 may transmit an energizing signal to energy harvesting device 1110 based on failure to receive the one or more first messages during the one or more communication occasions.

At 1130, node 1105 may monitor for one or more second messages from energy harvesting device 1110 subsequent to transmission of the energizing signal. In some examples, monitoring for the one or more second messages may include monitoring for a communication scheduling request or an uplink trigger. In such examples, the one or more second messages may include the communication scheduling request or the uplink trigger. Additionally, or alternatively, the one or more messages may include a retransmission of the one or more first messages. In some examples, the monitoring for the one or more second messages is based on the synchronization.

At 1135, energy harvesting device may transmit one or more second messages to node 1105.

FIG. 12 shows an example of a process flow 1200 that supports assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, process flow 1200 may implement one or more aspects of wireless communications systems 100, 200-a, and/or 200-b. For instance, energy harvesting device 1210 may be an example of a UE 115 as described with reference to FIG. 1, energy harvesting device 210-a as described with reference to FIG. 2A, energy harvesting device 210-b as described with reference to FIG. 2B, energy harvesting device 315-a as described with reference to FIG. 3A, energy harvesting device 315-b as described with reference to FIG. 3B, energy harvesting device 315-c as described with reference to FIG. 3C, or a combination thereof. Additionally, or alternatively, energy providing node 1205 may be an example of an energy providing node 310-c or a scheduling node 305-b as described with reference to FIG. 3C, an energy providing node 310-b as described with reference to FIG. 3B, an energy providing node 310-a or a scheduling node 305-a as described with reference to FIG. 3A, an energy providing node 235 or a scheduling node 230 as described with reference to FIG. 2B, a node 205 as described with reference to FIG. 2A, and/or a network entity 105, a CU 160, a DU 165, an RU 170, or a combination thereof as described with reference to FIG. 1.

At 1215, energy harvesting device 1210 may transmit an energy status indication to node 1205.

At 1220, node 1205 may transmit one or more control messages to energy harvesting device 1210. The one or more control messages may schedule the energy harvesting device 1210 to transmit during a communication occasion.

At 1225, node 1205 may transmit an energizing signal to energy harvesting device 1210. In some examples, node 1205 may transmit the energizing signal based on a duration between reception of the energy status indication and the communication occasion satisfying a threshold.

At 1230, node 1205 may monitor the communication occasion for one or more messages of energy harvesting device 1210 subsequent to transmission of the energizing signal.

At 1235, energy harvesting device 1210 may transmit one or more messages to node 1205.

FIG. 13 shows a block diagram 1300 of a device 1305 that supports assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The device 1305 may be an example of aspects of an energy harvesting device as described herein. The device 1305 may include a receiver 1310, a transmitter 1315, and a communications manager 1320. The device 1305, or one or more components of the device 1305 (e.g., the receiver 1310, the transmitter 1315, and the communications manager 1320) , may include at least one processor, which may be coupled with at least one memory, to, individually or collectively, support or enable the described techniques. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses) .

The receiver 1310 may provide a means for receiving information such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device) . Information may be passed on to other components of the device 1305. The receiver 1310 may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The transmitter 1315 may provide a means for transmitting signals generated by other components of the device 1305. For example, the transmitter 1315 may transmit information such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device) . In some examples, the transmitter 1315 may be co-located with a receiver 1310 in a transceiver module. The transmitter 1315 may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The communications manager 1320, the receiver 1310, the transmitter 1315, or various combinations thereof or various components thereof may be examples of means for performing various aspects of assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device as described herein. For example, the communications manager 1320, the receiver 1310, the transmitter 1315, or various combinations or components thereof may be capable of performing one or more of the functions described herein.

In some examples, the communications manager 1320, the receiver 1310, the transmitter 1315, or various combinations or components thereof may be implemented in hardware (e.g., in communications management circuitry) . The hardware may include at least one of a processor, a DSP, a CPU, an ASIC, an FPGA or other programmable logic device, a microcontroller, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof configured as or otherwise supporting, individually or collectively, a means for performing the functions described in the present disclosure. In some examples, at least one processor and at least one memory coupled with the at least one processor may be configured to perform one or more of the functions described herein (e.g., by one or more processors, individually or collectively, executing instructions stored in the at least one memory) .

Additionally, or alternatively, the communications manager 1320, the receiver 1310, the transmitter 1315, or various combinations or components thereof may be implemented in code (e.g., as communications management software or firmware) executed by at least one processor. If implemented in code executed by at least one processor, the functions of the communications manager 1320, the receiver 1310, the transmitter 1315, or various combinations or components thereof may be performed by a general-purpose processor, a DSP, a CPU, an ASIC, an FPGA, a microcontroller, or any combination of these or other programmable logic devices (e.g., configured as or otherwise supporting, individually or collectively, a means for performing the functions described in the present disclosure) .

In some examples, the communications manager 1320 may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, obtaining, monitoring, outputting, transmitting) using or otherwise in cooperation with the receiver 1310, the transmitter 1315, or both. For example, the communications manager 1320 may receive information from the receiver 1310, send information to the transmitter 1315, or be integrated in combination with the receiver 1310, the transmitter 1315, or both to obtain information, output information, or perform various other operations as described herein.

The communications manager 1320 may support wireless communications in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. For example, the communications manager 1320 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for transmitting, to an energy providing node, energy harvesting assistance information, where the energy harvesting assistance information indicates a duration for energy transfer, a traffic communication profile associated with one or more communications between a first node and the energy harvesting device, an energy harvesting capability of the energy harvesting device, or any combination thereof. The communications manager 1320 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for performing energy harvesting on an energizing signal from the energy providing node in accordance with the energy harvesting assistance information. The communications manager 1320 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for communicating one or more messages using energy harvested from the energizing signal.

By including or configuring the communications manager 1320 in accordance with examples as described herein, the device 1305 (e.g., at least one processor controlling or otherwise coupled with the receiver 1310, the transmitter 1315, the communications manager 1320, or a combination thereof) may support techniques that enable device 1305 to receive energy when separate devices are involved with performing scheduling and providing energy. Additionally, or alternatively, the device 1305 may support techniques that enable device 1305 to receive energy when device 1305 has low energy and may thus mitigate scenarios in which device 1305 is unable to perform at least some operations due to low energy.

FIG. 14 shows a block diagram 1400 of a device 1405 that supports assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The device 1405 may be an example of aspects of a device 1305 or an energy harvesting device as described herein. The device 1405 may include a receiver 1410, a transmitter 1415, and a communications manager 1420. The device 1405, or one of more components of the device 1405 (e.g., the receiver 1410, the transmitter 1415, and the communications manager 1420) , may include at least one processor, which may be coupled with at least one memory, to support the described techniques. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses) .

The receiver 1410 may provide a means for receiving information such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device) . Information may be passed on to other components of the device 1405. The receiver 1410 may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The transmitter 1415 may provide a means for transmitting signals generated by other components of the device 1405. For example, the transmitter 1415 may transmit information such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device) . In some examples, the transmitter 1415 may be co-located with a receiver 1410 in a transceiver module. The transmitter 1415 may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The device 1405, or various components thereof, may be an example of means for performing various aspects of assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device as described herein. For example, the communications manager 1420 may include an assistance information transmitter 1425, an energy harvesting performer 1430, a message communicator 1435, or any combination thereof. The communications manager 1420 may be an example of aspects of a communications manager 1320 as described herein. In some examples, the communications manager 1420, or various components thereof, may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, obtaining, monitoring, outputting, transmitting) using or otherwise in cooperation with the receiver 1410, the transmitter 1415, or both. For example, the communications manager 1420 may receive information from the receiver 1410, send information to the transmitter 1415, or be integrated in combination with the receiver 1410, the transmitter 1415, or both to obtain information, output information, or perform various other operations as described herein.

The communications manager 1420 may support wireless communications in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The assistance information transmitter 1425 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for transmitting, to an energy providing node, energy harvesting assistance information, where the energy harvesting assistance information indicates a duration for energy transfer, a traffic communication profile associated with one or more communications between a first node and the energy harvesting device, an energy harvesting capability of the energy harvesting device, or any combination thereof. The energy harvesting performer 1430 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for performing energy harvesting on an energizing signal from the energy providing node in accordance with the energy harvesting assistance information. The message communicator 1435 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for communicating one or more messages using energy harvested from the energizing signal.

FIG. 15 shows a block diagram 1500 of a communications manager 1520 that supports assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The communications manager 1520 may be an example of aspects of a communications manager 1320, a communications manager 1420, or both, as described herein. The communications manager 1520, or various components thereof, may be an example of means for performing various aspects of assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device as described herein. For example, the communications manager 1520 may include an assistance information transmitter 1525, an energy harvesting performer 1530, a message communicator 1535, an ESR transmitter 1540, a grant receiver 1545, or any combination thereof. Each of these components, or components or subcomponents thereof (e.g., one or more processors, one or more memories) , may communicate, directly or indirectly, with one another (e.g., via one or more buses) .

The communications manager 1520 may support wireless communications in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The assistance information transmitter 1525 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for transmitting, to an energy providing node, energy harvesting assistance information, where the energy harvesting assistance information indicates a duration for energy transfer, a traffic communication profile associated with one or more communications between a first node and the energy harvesting device, an energy harvesting capability of the energy harvesting device, or any combination thereof. The energy harvesting performer 1530 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for performing energy harvesting on an energizing signal from the energy providing node in accordance with the energy harvesting assistance information. The message communicator 1535 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for communicating one or more messages using energy harvested from the energizing signal.

In some examples, the ESR transmitter 1540 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for transmitting, to the energy providing node, an energy scheduling request. In some examples, the energy harvesting performer 1530 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for performing energy harvesting on a second energizing signal from the energy providing node based on the energy scheduling request, where the one or more messages are communicated using energy harvested from the second energizing signal.

In some examples, the energy scheduling request is based on an amount of energy stored by the energy harvesting device being less than an amount of energy for communicating the one or more messages.

In some examples, the second energizing signal is harvested prior to an initial access operation.

In some examples, the one or more messages is a set of multiple messages, and the grant receiver 1545 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for receiving a set of multiple grants, where each grant of the set of multiple grants indicates a respective resource of a set of multiple resources for a respective message of the set of multiple messages, and where each grant of the set of multiple grants is associated with a respective energizing signal of a set of multiple energizing signals. In some examples, the one or more messages is a set of multiple messages, and the energy harvesting performer 1530 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for performing energy harvesting on the set of multiple energizing signals corresponding to the set of multiple grants. In some examples, the one or more messages is a set of multiple messages, and the message communicator 1535 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for communicating the set of multiple messages over the set of multiple resources based on energy harvested corresponding to the set of multiple energizing signals.

In some examples, the 1550 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for performing energy harvesting on a second energizing signal from the energy providing node prior to an initial access operation.

In some examples, the energy harvesting assistance information further indicates one or more occasions for output of the energizing signal.

In some examples, the energy harvesting assistance information indicates a period corresponding to output of the one or more occasions.

In some examples, the energy harvesting assistance information indicates the period in accordance with a configured grant scheduling the one or more messages.

In some examples, the traffic communication profile indicates the period.

In some examples, the energy harvesting assistance information is dedicated to the energy harvesting device or to a group of energy harvesting devices including the energy harvesting device.

In some examples, the energy harvesting device is an ambient Internet of Things (IoT) device.

In some examples, the energy harvesting capability indicates an energy conversion efficiency of the energy harvesting device.

In some examples, the traffic communication profile indicates a payload size of at least one of the one or more messages.

In some examples, communicating the one or more messages includes communicating the one or more messages with a communication scheduling node distinct from the energy providing node.

FIG. 16 shows a diagram of a system 1600 including a device 1605 that supports assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The device 1605 may be an example of or include the components of a device 1305, a device 1405, or an energy harvesting device as described herein. The device 1605 may include components for bi-directional voice and data communications including components for transmitting and receiving communications, such as a communications manager 1620, an I/O controller 1610, a transceiver 1615, an antenna 1625, at least one memory 1630, code 1635, and at least one processor 1640. These components may be in electronic communication or otherwise coupled (e.g., operatively, communicatively, functionally, electronically, electrically) via one or more buses (e.g., a bus 1645) .

The I/O controller 1610 may manage input and output signals for the device 1605. The I/O controller 1610 may also manage peripherals not integrated into the device 1605. In some cases, the I/O controller 1610 may represent a physical connection or port to an external peripheral. In some cases, the I/O controller 1610 may utilize an operating system such as or another known operating system. Additionally or alternatively, the I/O controller 1610 may represent or interact with a modem, a keyboard, a mouse, a touchscreen, or a similar device. In some cases, the I/O controller 1610 may be implemented as part of one or more processors, such as the at least one processor 1640. In some cases, a user may interact with the device 1605 via the I/O controller 1610 or via hardware components controlled by the I/O controller 1610.

In some cases, the device 1605 may include a single antenna 1625. However, in some other cases, the device 1605 may have more than one antenna 1625, which may be capable of concurrently transmitting or receiving multiple wireless transmissions. The transceiver 1615 may communicate bi-directionally, via the one or more antennas 1625, wired, or wireless links as described herein. For example, the transceiver 1615 may represent a wireless transceiver and may communicate bi-directionally with another wireless transceiver. The transceiver 1615 may also include a modem to modulate the packets, to provide the modulated packets to one or more antennas 1625 for transmission, and to demodulate packets received from the one or more antennas 1625. The transceiver 1615, or the transceiver 1615 and one or more antennas 1625, may be an example of a transmitter 1315, a transmitter 1415, a receiver 1310, a receiver 1410, or any combination thereof or component thereof, as described herein.

The at least one memory 1630 may include RAM and ROM. The at least one memory 1630 may store computer-readable, computer-executable code 1635 including instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor 1640, cause the device 1605 to perform various functions described herein. The code 1635 may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium such as system memory or another type of memory. In some cases, the code 1635 may not be directly executable by the at least one processor 1640 but may cause a computer (e.g., when compiled and executed) to perform functions described herein. In some cases, the at least one memory 1630 may contain, among other things, a BIOS which may control basic hardware or software operation such as the interaction with peripheral components or devices.

The at least one processor 1640 may include an intelligent hardware device (e.g., a general-purpose processor, a DSP, a CPU, a microcontroller, an ASIC, an FPGA, a programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic component, a discrete hardware component, or any combination thereof) . In some cases, the at least one processor 1640 may be configured to operate a memory array using a memory controller. In some other cases, a memory controller may be integrated into the at least one processor 1640. The at least one processor 1640 may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory (e.g., the at least one memory 1630) to cause the device 1605 to perform various functions (e.g., functions or tasks supporting assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device) . For example, the device 1605 or a component of the device 1605 may include at least one processor 1640 and at least one memory 1630 coupled with or to the at least one processor 1640, the at least one processor 1640 and at least one memory 1630 configured to perform various functions described herein. In some examples, the at least one processor 1640 may include multiple processors and the at least one memory 1630 may include multiple memories. One or more of the multiple processors may be coupled with one or more of the multiple memories, which may, individually or collectively, be configured to perform various functions herein. In some examples, the at least one processor 1640 may be a component of a processing system, which may refer to a system (such as a series) of machines, circuitry (including, for example, one or both of processor circuitry (which may include the at least one processor 1640) and memory circuitry (which may include the at least one memory 1630) ) , or components, that receives or obtains inputs and processes the inputs to produce, generate, or obtain a set of outputs. The processing system may be configured to perform one or more of the functions described herein. For example, the at least one processor 1640 or a processing system including the at least one processor 1640 may be configured to, configurable to, or operable to cause the device 1605 to perform one or more of the functions described herein. Further, as described herein, being “configured to, ” being “configurable to, ” and being “operable to” may be used interchangeably and may be associated with a capability, when executing code stored in the at least one memory 1630 or otherwise, to perform one or more of the functions described herein.

The communications manager 1620 may support wireless communications in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. For example, the communications manager 1620 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for transmitting, to an energy providing node, energy harvesting assistance information, where the energy harvesting assistance information indicates a duration for energy transfer, a traffic communication profile associated with one or more communications between a first node and the energy harvesting device, an energy harvesting capability of the energy harvesting device, or any combination thereof. The communications manager 1620 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for performing energy harvesting on an energizing signal from the energy providing node in accordance with the energy harvesting assistance information. The communications manager 1620 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for communicating one or more messages using energy harvested from the energizing signal.

By including or configuring the communications manager 1620 in accordance with examples as described herein, the device 1605 may support techniques that enable device 1605 to receive energy when separate devices are involved with performing scheduling and providing energy. Additionally, or alternatively, the device 1605 may support techniques that enable device 1605 to receive energy when device 1605 has low energy and may thus mitigate scenarios in which device 1605 is unable to perform at least some operations due to low energy.

In some examples, the communications manager 1620 may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, monitoring, transmitting) using or otherwise in cooperation with the transceiver 1615, the one or more antennas 1625, or any combination thereof. Although the communications manager 1620 is illustrated as a separate component, in some examples, one or more functions described with reference to the communications manager 1620 may be supported by or performed by the at least one processor 1640, the at least one memory 1630, the code 1635, or any combination thereof. For example, the code 1635 may include instructions executable by the at least one processor 1640 to cause the device 1605 to perform various aspects of assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device as described herein, or the at least one processor 1640 and the at least one memory 1630 may be otherwise configured to, individually or collectively, perform or support such operations.

FIG. 17 shows a block diagram 1700 of a device 1705 that supports assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The device 1705 may be an example of aspects of a node as described herein. The device 1705 may include a receiver 1710, a transmitter 1715, and a communications manager 1720. The device 1705, or one or more components of the device 1705 (e.g., the receiver 1710, the transmitter 1715, and the communications manager 1720) , may include at least one processor, which may be coupled with at least one memory, to, individually or collectively, support or enable the described techniques. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses) .

The receiver 1710 may provide a means for obtaining (e.g., receiving, determining, identifying) information such as user data, control information, or any combination thereof (e.g., I/Q samples, symbols, packets, protocol data units, service data units) associated with various channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels, channels associated with a protocol stack) . Information may be passed on to other components of the device 1705. In some examples, the receiver 1710 may support obtaining information by receiving signals via one or more antennas. Additionally, or alternatively, the receiver 1710 may support obtaining information by receiving signals via one or more wired (e.g., electrical, fiber optic) interfaces, wireless interfaces, or any combination thereof.

The transmitter 1715 may provide a means for outputting (e.g., transmitting, providing, conveying, sending) information generated by other components of the device 1705. For example, the transmitter 1715 may output information such as user data, control information, or any combination thereof (e.g., I/Q samples, symbols, packets, protocol data units, service data units) associated with various channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels, channels associated with a protocol stack) . In some examples, the transmitter 1715 may support outputting information by transmitting signals via one or more antennas. Additionally, or alternatively, the transmitter 1715 may support outputting information by transmitting signals via one or more wired (e.g., electrical, fiber optic) interfaces, wireless interfaces, or any combination thereof. In some examples, the transmitter 1715 and the receiver 1710 may be co-located in a transceiver, which may include or be coupled with a modem.

The communications manager 1720, the receiver 1710, the transmitter 1715, or various combinations thereof or various components thereof may be examples of means for performing various aspects of assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device as described herein. For example, the communications manager 1720, the receiver 1710, the transmitter 1715, or various combinations or components thereof may be capable of performing one or more of the functions described herein.

In some examples, the communications manager 1720, the receiver 1710, the transmitter 1715, or various combinations or components thereof may be implemented in hardware (e.g., in communications management circuitry) . The hardware may include at least one of a processor, a DSP, a CPU, an ASIC, an FPGA or other programmable logic device, a microcontroller, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof configured as or otherwise supporting, individually or collectively, a means for performing the functions described in the present disclosure. In some examples, at least one processor and at least one memory coupled with the at least one processor may be configured to perform one or more of the functions described herein (e.g., by one or more processors, individually or collectively, executing instructions stored in the at least one memory) .

Additionally, or alternatively, the communications manager 1720, the receiver 1710, the transmitter 1715, or various combinations or components thereof may be implemented in code (e.g., as communications management software or firmware) executed by at least one processor. If implemented in code executed by at least one processor, the functions of the communications manager 1720, the receiver 1710, the transmitter 1715, or various combinations or components thereof may be performed by a general-purpose processor, a DSP, a CPU, an ASIC, an FPGA, a microcontroller, or any combination of these or other programmable logic devices (e.g., configured as or otherwise supporting, individually or collectively, a means for performing the functions described in the present disclosure) .

In some examples, the communications manager 1720 may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, obtaining, monitoring, outputting, transmitting) using or otherwise in cooperation with the receiver 1710, the transmitter 1715, or both. For example, the communications manager 1720 may receive information from the receiver 1710, send information to the transmitter 1715, or be integrated in combination with the receiver 1710, the transmitter 1715, or both to obtain information, output information, or perform various other operations as described herein.

The communications manager 1720 may support wireless communications in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. For example, the communications manager 1720 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for transmitting, to an energy providing node, energy harvesting assistance information associated with output of an energizing signal by the energy providing node for energy harvesting by an energy harvesting device, where the energy harvesting assistance information indicates a duration for energy transfer, a traffic communication profile associated with one or more communications between the first node and the energy harvesting device, one or more occasions for outputting the energizing signal, or any combination thereof. The communications manager 1720 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for transmitting a signal to an energy harvesting device based on the energy harvesting assistance information. The communications manager 1720 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for receiving a response to the signal from the energy harvesting device.

Additionally, or alternatively, the communications manager 1720 may support wireless communications in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. For example, the communications manager 1720 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for transmitting one or more control messages scheduling transmission of one or more first messages by an energy harvesting device during one or more communication occasions. The communications manager 1720 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for transmitting, to the energy harvesting device, an energizing signal based on failure to receive the one or more first messages during the one or more communication occasions. The communications manager 1720 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for monitoring for one or more second messages from the energy harvesting device subsequent to transmission of the energizing signal.

Additionally, or alternatively, the communications manager 1720 may support wireless communications in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. For example, the communications manager 1720 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for receiving, from an energy harvesting device, an energy status indication. The communications manager 1720 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for transmitting a control message scheduling the energy harvesting device to transmit during a communication occasion. The communications manager 1720 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for transmitting, to the energy harvesting device, an energizing signal based on a duration between reception of the energy status indication and the communication occasion satisfying a threshold. The communications manager 1720 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for monitoring the communication occasion for one or more messages of the energy harvesting device subsequent to transmission of the energizing signal.

By including or configuring the communications manager 1720 in accordance with examples as described herein, the device 1705 (e.g., at least one processor controlling or otherwise coupled with the receiver 1710, the transmitter 1715, the communications manager 1720, or a combination thereof) may support techniques for device 1705 that enable energy to be provided to an energy harvesting device when separate devices are involved with performing scheduling and providing energy. Additionally, or alternatively, the device 1705 may support techniques that enable energy to be provided to an energy harvesting device when the energy harvesting device has low energy and may thus mitigate scenarios in which the energy harvesting device is unable to perform at least some operations due to low energy.

FIG. 18 shows a block diagram 1800 of a device 1805 that supports assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The device 1805 may be an example of aspects of a device 1705 or a node as described herein. The device 1805 may include a receiver 1810, a transmitter 1815, and a communications manager 1820. The device 1805, or one of more components of the device 1805 (e.g., the receiver 1810, the transmitter 1815, and the communications manager 1820) , may include at least one processor, which may be coupled with at least one memory, to support the described techniques. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses) .

The receiver 1810 may provide a means for obtaining (e.g., receiving, determining, identifying) information such as user data, control information, or any combination thereof (e.g., I/Q samples, symbols, packets, protocol data units, service data units) associated with various channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels, channels associated with a protocol stack) . Information may be passed on to other components of the device 1805. In some examples, the receiver 1810 may support obtaining information by receiving signals via one or more antennas. Additionally, or alternatively, the receiver 1810 may support obtaining information by receiving signals via one or more wired (e.g., electrical, fiber optic) interfaces, wireless interfaces, or any combination thereof.

The transmitter 1815 may provide a means for outputting (e.g., transmitting, providing, conveying, sending) information generated by other components of the device 1805. For example, the transmitter 1815 may output information such as user data, control information, or any combination thereof (e.g., I/Q samples, symbols, packets, protocol data units, service data units) associated with various channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels, channels associated with a protocol stack) . In some examples, the transmitter 1815 may support outputting information by transmitting signals via one or more antennas. Additionally, or alternatively, the transmitter 1815 may support outputting information by transmitting signals via one or more wired (e.g., electrical, fiber optic) interfaces, wireless interfaces, or any combination thereof. In some examples, the transmitter 1815 and the receiver 1810 may be co-located in a transceiver, which may include or be coupled with a modem.

The device 1805, or various components thereof, may be an example of means for performing various aspects of assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device as described herein. For example, the communications manager 1820 may include an assistance information transmitter 1825, a signal transmitter 1830, a response receiver 1835, a control message transmitter 1840, an energizing signal transmitter 1845, a message monitoring component 1850, an energy status indication receiver 1855, or any combination thereof. The communications manager 1820 may be an example of aspects of a communications manager 1720 as described herein. In some examples, the communications manager 1820, or various components thereof, may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, obtaining, monitoring, outputting, transmitting) using or otherwise in cooperation with the receiver 1810, the transmitter 1815, or both. For example, the communications manager 1820 may receive information from the receiver 1810, send information to the transmitter 1815, or be integrated in combination with the receiver 1810, the transmitter 1815, or both to obtain information, output information, or perform various other operations as described herein.

The communications manager 1820 may support wireless communications in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The assistance information transmitter 1825 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for transmitting, to an energy providing node, energy harvesting assistance information associated with output of an energizing signal by the energy providing node for energy harvesting by an energy harvesting device, where the energy harvesting assistance information indicates a duration for energy transfer, a traffic communication profile associated with one or more communications between the first node and the energy harvesting device, one or more occasions for outputting the energizing signal, or any combination thereof. The signal transmitter 1830 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for transmitting a signal to an energy harvesting device based on the energy harvesting assistance information. The response receiver 1835 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for receiving a response to the signal from the energy harvesting device.

Additionally, or alternatively, the communications manager 1820 may support wireless communications in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The control message transmitter 1840 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for transmitting one or more control messages scheduling transmission of one or more first messages by an energy harvesting device during one or more communication occasions. The energizing signal transmitter 1845 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for transmitting, to the energy harvesting device, an energizing signal based on failure to receive the one or more first messages during the one or more communication occasions. The message monitoring component 1850 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for monitoring for one or more second messages from the energy harvesting device subsequent to transmission of the energizing signal.

Additionally, or alternatively, the communications manager 1820 may support wireless communications in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The energy status indication receiver 1855 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for receiving, from an energy harvesting device, an energy status indication. The control message transmitter 1840 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for transmitting a control message scheduling the energy harvesting device to transmit during a communication occasion. The energizing signal transmitter 1845 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for transmitting, to the energy harvesting device, an energizing signal based on a duration between reception of the energy status indication and the communication occasion satisfying a threshold. The message monitoring component 1850 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for monitoring the communication occasion for one or more messages of the energy harvesting device subsequent to transmission of the energizing signal.

FIG. 19 shows a block diagram 1900 of a communications manager 1920 that supports assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The communications manager 1920 may be an example of aspects of a communications manager 1720, a communications manager 1820, or both, as described herein. The communications manager 1920, or various components thereof, may be an example of means for performing various aspects of assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device as described herein. For example, the communications manager 1920 may include an assistance information transmitter 1925, a signal transmitter 1930, a response receiver 1935, a control message transmitter 1940, an energizing signal transmitter 1945, a message monitoring component 1950, an energy status indication receiver 1955, an energy harvesting capability receiver 1960, a synchronization performing component 1965, or any combination thereof. Each of these components, or components or subcomponents thereof (e.g., one or more processors, one or more memories) , may communicate, directly or indirectly, with one another (e.g., via one or more buses) .

The communications manager 1920 may support wireless communications in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The assistance information transmitter 1925 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for transmitting, to an energy providing node, energy harvesting assistance information associated with output of an energizing signal by the energy providing node for energy harvesting by an energy harvesting device, where the energy harvesting assistance information indicates a duration for energy transfer, a traffic communication profile associated with one or more communications between the first node and the energy harvesting device, one or more occasions for outputting the energizing signal, or any combination thereof. The signal transmitter 1930 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for transmitting a signal to an energy harvesting device based on the energy harvesting assistance information. The response receiver 1935 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for receiving a response to the signal from the energy harvesting device.

In some examples, the energy harvesting capability receiver 1960 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for receiving, from the energy harvesting device, an energy harvesting capability, where the signal is transmitted to the energy harvesting device based on the energy harvesting capability.

In some examples, the energy harvesting assistance information indicates the period in accordance with a configured grant scheduling the response.

In some examples, the traffic communication profile indicates the period.

In some examples, the traffic communication profile indicates a payload size of the response.

In some examples, the signal includes a grant of one or more first resources and the response to the signal includes one or more first messages over the one or more first resources. In some examples, the signal includes one or more second messages over one or more second resources and the response to the signal includes feedback to the one or more second messages.

In some examples, the response to the signal includes a backscattered signal responsive to the signal transmitted to the energy harvesting device.

Additionally, or alternatively, the communications manager 1920 may support wireless communications in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The control message transmitter 1940 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for transmitting one or more control messages scheduling transmission of one or more first messages by an energy harvesting device during one or more communication occasions. The energizing signal transmitter 1945 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for transmitting, to the energy harvesting device, an energizing signal based on failure to receive the one or more first messages during the one or more communication occasions. The message monitoring component 1950 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for monitoring for one or more second messages from the energy harvesting device subsequent to transmission of the energizing signal.

In some examples, the one or more first messages include one or more uplink data messages. In some examples, the one or more first messages include one or more feedback messages in response to one or more downlink data messages.

In some examples, to support monitoring for the one or more second messages, the message monitoring component 1950 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for monitoring for a communication scheduling request or an uplink trigger.

In some examples, the synchronization performing component 1965 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for performing synchronization with the energy harvesting device based on the failure to receive the one or more first messages during the one or more communication occasions, where monitoring for the one or more second messages is based on the synchronization.

Additionally, or alternatively, the communications manager 1920 may support wireless communications in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The energy status indication receiver 1955 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for receiving, from an energy harvesting device, an energy status indication. In some examples, the control message transmitter 1940 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for transmitting a control message scheduling the energy harvesting device to transmit during a communication occasion. In some examples, the energizing signal transmitter 1945 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for transmitting, to the energy harvesting device, an energizing signal based on a duration between reception of the energy status indication and the communication occasion satisfying a threshold. In some examples, the message monitoring component 1950 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for monitoring the communication occasion for one or more messages of the energy harvesting device subsequent to transmission of the energizing signal.

FIG. 20 shows a diagram of a system 2000 including a device 2005 that supports assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The device 2005 may be an example of or include the components of a device 1705, a device 1805, or a node as described herein. The device 2005 may include components for bi-directional voice and data communications including components for transmitting and receiving communications, such as a communications manager 2020, a transceiver 2010, an antenna 2015, at least one memory 2025, code 2030, and at least one processor 2035. These components may be in electronic communication or otherwise coupled (e.g., operatively, communicatively, functionally, electronically, electrically) via one or more buses (e.g., a bus 2040) .

The transceiver 2010 may support bi-directional communications via wired links, wireless links, or both as described herein. In some examples, the transceiver 2010 may include a wired transceiver and may communicate bi-directionally with another wired transceiver. Additionally, or alternatively, in some examples, the transceiver 2010 may include a wireless transceiver and may communicate bi-directionally with another wireless transceiver. In some examples, the device 2005 may include one or more antennas 2015, which may be capable of transmitting or receiving wireless transmissions (e.g., concurrently) . The transceiver 2010 may also include a modem to modulate signals, to provide the modulated signals for transmission (e.g., by one or more antennas 2015, by a wired transmitter) , to receive modulated signals (e.g., from one or more antennas 2015, from a wired receiver) , and to demodulate signals. In some implementations, the transceiver 2010 may include one or more interfaces, such as one or more interfaces coupled with the one or more antennas 2015 that are configured to support various receiving or obtaining operations, or one or more interfaces coupled with the one or more antennas 2015 that are configured to support various transmitting or outputting operations, or a combination thereof. In some implementations, the transceiver 2010 may include or be configured for coupling with one or more processors or one or more memory components that are operable to perform or support operations based on received or obtained information or signals, or to generate information or other signals for transmission or other outputting, or any combination thereof. In some implementations, the transceiver 2010, or the transceiver 2010 and the one or more antennas 2015, or the transceiver 2010 and the one or more antennas 2015 and one or more processors or one or more memory components (e.g., the at least one processor 2035, the at least one memory 2025, or both) , may be included in a chip or chip assembly that is installed in the device 2005. In some examples, the transceiver 2010 may be operable to support communications via one or more communications links (e.g., a communication link 125, a backhaul communication link 120, a midhaul communication link 162, a fronthaul communication link 168) .

The at least one memory 2025 may include RAM, ROM, or any combination thereof. The at least one memory 2025 may store computer-readable, computer-executable code 2030 including instructions that, when executed by one or more of the at least one processor 2035, cause the device 2005 to perform various functions described herein. The code 2030 may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium such as system memory or another type of memory. In some cases, the code 2030 may not be directly executable by a processor of the at least one processor 2035 but may cause a computer (e.g., when compiled and executed) to perform functions described herein. In some cases, the at least one memory 2025 may contain, among other things, a BIOS which may control basic hardware or software operation such as the interaction with peripheral components or devices. In some examples, the at least one processor 2035 may include multiple processors and the at least one memory 2025 may include multiple memories. One or more of the multiple processors may be coupled with one or more of the multiple memories which may, individually or collectively, be configured to perform various functions herein (for example, as part of a processing system) .

The at least one processor 2035 may include an intelligent hardware device (e.g., a general-purpose processor, a DSP, an ASIC, a CPU, an FPGA, a microcontroller, a programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, a discrete hardware component, or any combination thereof) . In some cases, the at least one processor 2035 may be configured to operate a memory array using a memory controller. In some other cases, a memory controller may be integrated into one or more of the at least one processor 2035. The at least one processor 2035 may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory (e.g., one or more of the at least one memory 2025) to cause the device 2005 to perform various functions (e.g., functions or tasks supporting assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device) . For example, the device 2005 or a component of the device 2005 may include at least one processor 2035 and at least one memory 2025 coupled with one or more of the at least one processor 2035, the at least one processor 2035 and the at least one memory 2025 configured to perform various functions described herein. The at least one processor 2035 may be an example of a cloud-computing platform (e.g., one or more physical nodes and supporting software such as operating systems, virtual machines, or container instances) that may host the functions (e.g., by executing code 2030) to perform the functions of the device 2005. The at least one processor 2035 may be any one or more suitable processors capable of executing scripts or instructions of one or more software programs stored in the device 2005 (such as within one or more of the at least one memory 2025) . In some examples, the at least one processor 2035 may include multiple processors and the at least one memory 2025 may include multiple memories. One or more of the multiple processors may be coupled with one or more of the multiple memories, which may, individually or collectively, be configured to perform various functions herein. In some examples, the at least one processor 2035 may be a component of a processing system, which may refer to a system (such as a series) of machines, circuitry (including, for example, one or both of processor circuitry (which may include the at least one processor 2035) and memory circuitry (which may include the at least one memory 2025) ) , or components, that receives or obtains inputs and processes the inputs to produce, generate, or obtain a set of outputs. The processing system may be configured to perform one or more of the functions described herein. For example, the at least one processor 2035 or a processing system including the at least one processor 2035 may be configured to, configurable to, or operable to cause the device 2005 to perform one or more of the functions described herein. Further, as described herein, being “configured to, ” being “configurable to, ” and being “operable to” may be used interchangeably and may be associated with a capability, when executing code stored in the at least one memory 2025 or otherwise, to perform one or more of the functions described herein.

In some examples, a bus 2040 may support communications of (e.g., within) a protocol layer of a protocol stack. In some examples, a bus 2040 may support communications associated with a logical channel of a protocol stack (e.g., between protocol layers of a protocol stack) , which may include communications performed within a component of the device 2005, or between different components of the device 2005 that may be co-located or located in different locations (e.g., where the device 2005 may refer to a system in which one or more of the communications manager 2020, the transceiver 2010, the at least one memory 2025, the code 2030, and the at least one processor 2035 may be located in one of the different components or divided between different components) .

In some examples, the communications manager 2020 may manage aspects of communications with a core network 130 (e.g., via one or more wired or wireless backhaul links) . For example, the communications manager 2020 may manage the transfer of data communications for client devices, such as one or more UEs 115. In some examples, the communications manager 2020 may manage communications with other network entities 105, and may include a controller or scheduler for controlling communications with UEs 115 in cooperation with other network entities 105. In some examples, the communications manager 2020 may support an X2 interface within an LTE/LTE-A wireless communications network technology to provide communication between network entities 105.

The communications manager 2020 may support wireless communications in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. For example, the communications manager 2020 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for transmitting, to an energy providing node, energy harvesting assistance information associated with output of an energizing signal by the energy providing node for energy harvesting by an energy harvesting device, where the energy harvesting assistance information indicates a duration for energy transfer, a traffic communication profile associated with one or more communications between the first node and the energy harvesting device, one or more occasions for outputting the energizing signal, or any combination thereof. The communications manager 2020 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for transmitting a signal to an energy harvesting device based on the energy harvesting assistance information. The communications manager 2020 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for receiving a response to the signal from the energy harvesting device.

Additionally, or alternatively, the communications manager 2020 may support wireless communications in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. For example, the communications manager 2020 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for transmitting one or more control messages scheduling transmission of one or more first messages by an energy harvesting device during one or more communication occasions. The communications manager 2020 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for transmitting, to the energy harvesting device, an energizing signal based on failure to receive the one or more first messages during the one or more communication occasions. The communications manager 2020 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for monitoring for one or more second messages from the energy harvesting device subsequent to transmission of the energizing signal.

Additionally, or alternatively, the communications manager 2020 may support wireless communications in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. For example, the communications manager 2020 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for receiving, from an energy harvesting device, an energy status indication. The communications manager 2020 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for transmitting a control message scheduling the energy harvesting device to transmit during a communication occasion. The communications manager 2020 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for transmitting, to the energy harvesting device, an energizing signal based on a duration between reception of the energy status indication and the communication occasion satisfying a threshold. The communications manager 2020 is capable of, configured to, or operable to support a means for monitoring the communication occasion for one or more messages of the energy harvesting device subsequent to transmission of the energizing signal.

By including or configuring the communications manager 2020 in accordance with examples as described herein, the device 2005 may support techniques for device 2005 that enable energy to be provided to an energy harvesting device when separate devices are involved with performing scheduling and providing energy. Additionally, or alternatively, the device 2005 may support techniques that enable energy to be provided to an energy harvesting device when the energy harvesting device has low energy and may thus mitigate scenarios in which the energy harvesting device is unable to perform at least some operations due to low energy.

In some examples, the communications manager 2020 may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, obtaining, monitoring, outputting, transmitting) using or otherwise in cooperation with the transceiver 2010, the one or more antennas 2015 (e.g., where applicable) , or any combination thereof. Although the communications manager 2020 is illustrated as a separate component, in some examples, one or more functions described with reference to the communications manager 2020 may be supported by or performed by the transceiver 2010, one or more of the at least one processor 2035, one or more of the at least one memory 2025, the code 2030, or any combination thereof (for example, by a processing system including at least a portion of the at least one processor 2035, the at least one memory 2025, the code 2030, or any combination thereof) . For example, the code 2030 may include instructions executable by one or more of the at least one processor 2035 to cause the device 2005 to perform various aspects of assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device as described herein, or the at least one processor 2035 and the at least one memory 2025 may be otherwise configured to, individually or collectively, perform or support such operations.

FIG. 21 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 2100 that supports assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method 2100 may be implemented by an energy harvesting device or its components as described herein. For example, the operations of the method 2100 may be performed by an energy harvesting device as described with reference to FIGs. 1 through 16. In some examples, an energy harvesting device may execute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of the energy harvesting device to perform the described functions. Additionally, or alternatively, the energy harvesting device may perform aspects of the described functions using special-purpose hardware.

At 2105, the method may include transmitting, to an energy providing node, energy harvesting assistance information, where the energy harvesting assistance information indicates a duration for energy transfer, a traffic communication profile associated with one or more communications between a first node and the energy harvesting device, an energy harvesting capability of the energy harvesting device, or any combination thereof. The operations of block 2105 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 2105 may be performed by an assistance information transmitter 1525 as described with reference to FIG. 15.

At 2110, the method may include performing energy harvesting on an energizing signal from the energy providing node in accordance with the energy harvesting assistance information. The operations of block 2110 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 2110 may be performed by an energy harvesting performer 1530 as described with reference to FIG. 15.

At 2115, the method may include communicating one or more messages using energy harvested from the energizing signal. The operations of block 2115 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 2115 may be performed by a message communicator 1535 as described with reference to FIG. 15.

FIG. 22 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 2200 that supports assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method 2200 may be implemented by a node or its components as described herein. For example, the operations of the method 2200 may be performed by a node as described with reference to FIGs. 1 through 12 and 17 through 20. In some examples, a node may execute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of the node to perform the described functions. Additionally, or alternatively, the node may perform aspects of the described functions using special-purpose hardware.

At 2205, the method may include transmitting, to an energy providing node, energy harvesting assistance information associated with output of an energizing signal by the energy providing node for energy harvesting by an energy harvesting device, where the energy harvesting assistance information indicates a duration for energy transfer, a traffic communication profile associated with one or more communications between the first node and the energy harvesting device, one or more occasions for outputting the energizing signal, or any combination thereof. The operations of block 2205 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 2205 may be performed by an assistance information transmitter 1925 as described with reference to FIG. 19.

At 2210, the method may include transmitting a signal to an energy harvesting device based on the energy harvesting assistance information. The operations of block 2210 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 2210 may be performed by a signal transmitter 1930 as described with reference to FIG. 19.

At 2215, the method may include receiving a response to the signal from the energy harvesting device. The operations of block 2215 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 2215 may be performed by a response receiver 1935 as described with reference to FIG. 19.

FIG. 23 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 2300 that supports assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method 2300 may be implemented by a node or its components as described herein. For example, the operations of the method 2300 may be performed by a node as described with reference to FIGs. 1 through 12 and 17 through 20. In some examples, a node may execute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of the node to perform the described functions. Additionally, or alternatively, the node may perform aspects of the described functions using special-purpose hardware.

At 2305, the method may include transmitting one or more control messages scheduling transmission of one or more first messages by an energy harvesting device during one or more communication occasions. The operations of block 2305 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 2305 may be performed by a control message transmitter 1940 as described with reference to FIG. 19.

At 2310, the method may include transmitting, to the energy harvesting device, an energizing signal based on failure to receive the one or more first messages during the one or more communication occasions. The operations of block 2310 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 2310 may be performed by an energizing signal transmitter 1945 as described with reference to FIG. 19.

At 2315, the method may include monitoring for one or more second messages from the energy harvesting device subsequent to transmission of the energizing signal. The operations of block 2315 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 2315 may be performed by a message monitoring component 1950 as described with reference to FIG. 19.

FIG. 24 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 2400 that supports assistant information for energy harvesting considering the communication of an ambient-IoT device in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method 2400 may be implemented by a node or its components as described herein. For example, the operations of the method 2400 may be performed by a node as described with reference to FIGs. 1 through 12 and 17 through 20. In some examples, a node may execute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of the node to perform the described functions. Additionally, or alternatively, the node may perform aspects of the described functions using special-purpose hardware.

At 2405, the method may include receiving, from an energy harvesting device, an energy status indication. The operations of block 2405 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 2405 may be performed by an energy status indication receiver 1955 as described with reference to FIG. 19.

At 2410, the method may include transmitting a control message scheduling the energy harvesting device to transmit during a communication occasion. The operations of block 2410 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 2410 may be performed by a control message transmitter 1940 as described with reference to FIG. 19.

At 2415, the method may include transmitting, to the energy harvesting device, an energizing signal based on a duration between reception of the energy status indication and the communication occasion satisfying a threshold. The operations of block 2415 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 2415 may be performed by an energizing signal transmitter 1945 as described with reference to FIG. 19.

At 2420, the method may include monitoring the communication occasion for one or more messages of the energy harvesting device subsequent to transmission of the energizing signal. The operations of block 2420 may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 2420 may be performed by a message monitoring component 1950 as described with reference to FIG. 19.

The following provides an overview of aspects of the present disclosure:

Aspect 1: A method for wireless communications at an energy harvesting device, comprising: transmitting, to an energy providing node, energy harvesting assistance information, wherein the energy harvesting assistance information indicates a duration for energy transfer, a traffic communication profile associated with one or more communications between a first node and the energy harvesting device, an energy harvesting capability of the energy harvesting device, or any combination thereof; performing energy harvesting on an energizing signal from the energy providing node in accordance with the energy harvesting assistance information; and communicating one or more messages using energy harvested from the energizing signal.

Aspect 2: The method of aspect 1, further comprising: transmitting, to the energy providing node, an energy scheduling request; and performing energy harvesting on a second energizing signal from the energy providing node based at least in part on the energy scheduling request, wherein the one or more messages are communicated using energy harvested from the second energizing signal.

Aspect 3: The method of aspect 2, wherein the energy scheduling request is based at least in part on an amount of energy stored by the energy harvesting device being less than an amount of energy for communicating the one or more messages.

Aspect 4: The method of any of aspects 2 through 3, wherein the second energizing signal is harvested prior to an initial access operation.

Aspect 5: The method of any of aspects 1 through 4, wherein the one or more messages is a plurality of messages, the method further comprising: receiving a plurality of grants, wherein each grant of the plurality of grants indicates a respective resource of a plurality of resources for a respective message of the plurality of messages, and wherein each grant of the plurality of grants is associated with a respective energizing signal of a plurality of energizing signals; performing energy harvesting on the plurality of energizing signals corresponding to the plurality of grants; and communicating the plurality of messages over the plurality of resources based at least in part on energy harvested corresponding to the plurality of energizing signals.

Aspect 6: The method of any of aspects 1 through 5, further comprising: performing energy harvesting on a second energizing signal from the energy providing node prior to an initial access operation.

Aspect 7: The method of any of aspects 1 through 6, wherein the energy harvesting assistance information further indicates one or more occasions for output of the energizing signal.

Aspect 8: The method of aspect 7, wherein the energy harvesting assistance information indicates a period corresponding to output of the one or more occasions.

Aspect 9: The method of aspect 8, wherein the energy harvesting assistance information indicates the period in accordance with a configured grant scheduling the one or more messages.

Aspect 10: The method of any of aspects 8 through 9, wherein the traffic communication profile indicates the period.

Aspect 11: The method of any of aspects 1 through 10, wherein the energy harvesting assistance information is dedicated to the energy harvesting device or to a group of energy harvesting devices comprising the energy harvesting device.

Aspect 12: The method of any of aspects 1 through 11, wherein the energy harvesting device is an ambient Internet of Things (IoT) device.

Aspect 13: The method of any of aspects 1 through 12, wherein the energy harvesting capability indicates an energy conversion efficiency of the energy harvesting device.

Aspect 14: The method of any of aspects 1 through 13, wherein the traffic communication profile indicates a payload size of at least one of the one or more messages.

Aspect 15: The method of any of aspects 1 through 14, wherein communicating the one or more messages comprises communicating the one or more messages with a communication scheduling node distinct from the energy providing node.

Aspect 16: A method for wireless communications at a first node, comprising: transmitting, to an energy providing node, energy harvesting assistance information associated with output of an energizing signal by the energy providing node for energy harvesting by an energy harvesting device, wherein the energy harvesting assistance information indicates a duration for energy transfer, a traffic communication profile associated with one or more communications between the first node and the energy harvesting device, one or more occasions for outputting the energizing signal, or any combination thereof; transmitting a signal to an energy harvesting device based at least in part on the energy harvesting assistance information; and receiving a response to the signal from the energy harvesting device.

Aspect 17: The method of aspect 16, further comprising: receiving, from the energy harvesting device, an energy harvesting capability, wherein the signal is transmitted to the energy harvesting device based at least in part on the energy harvesting capability.

Aspect 18: The method of aspect 17, wherein the energy harvesting capability indicates an energy conversion efficiency of the energy harvesting device.

Aspect 19: The method of any of aspects 16 through 18, wherein the energy harvesting assistance information indicates a period corresponding to output of the one or more occasions.

Aspect 20: The method of aspect 19, wherein the energy harvesting assistance information indicates the period in accordance with a configured grant scheduling the response.

Aspect 21: The method of any of aspects 19 through 20, wherein the traffic communication profile indicates the period.

Aspect 22: The method of any of aspects 16 through 21, wherein the energy harvesting assistance information is dedicated to the energy harvesting device or to a group of energy harvesting devices comprising the energy harvesting device.

Aspect 23: The method of any of aspects 16 through 22, wherein the traffic communication profile indicates a payload size of the response.

Aspect 24: The method of any of aspects 16 through 23, wherein the signal comprises a grant of one or more first resources and the response to the signal comprises one or more first messages over the one or more first resources, or the signal comprises one or more second messages over one or more second resources and the response to the signal comprises feedback to the one or more second messages.

Aspect 25: The method of any of aspects 16 through 24, wherein the response to the signal comprises a backscattered signal responsive to the signal transmitted to the energy harvesting device.

Aspect 26: A method for wireless communications at a first node, comprising: transmitting one or more control messages scheduling transmission of one or more first messages by an energy harvesting device during one or more communication occasions; transmitting, to the energy harvesting device, an energizing signal based at least in part on failure to receive the one or more first messages during the one or more communication occasions; and monitoring for one or more second messages from the energy harvesting device subsequent to transmission of the energizing signal.

Aspect 27: The method of aspect 26, wherein the one or more first messages comprise one or more uplink data messages, or the one or more first messages comprise one or more feedback messages in response to one or more downlink data messages.

Aspect 28: The method of any of aspects 26 through 27, wherein monitoring for the one or more second messages comprises: monitoring for a communication scheduling request or an uplink trigger.

Aspect 29: The method of any of aspects 26 through 28, further comprising: performing synchronization with the energy harvesting device based at least in part on the failure to receive the one or more first messages during the one or more communication occasions, wherein monitoring for the one or more second messages is based at least in part on the synchronization.

Aspect 30: A method for wireless communications at a node, comprising: receiving, from an energy harvesting device, an energy status indication; transmitting a control message scheduling the energy harvesting device to transmit during a communication occasion; transmitting, to the energy harvesting device, an energizing signal based at least in part on a duration between reception of the energy status indication and the communication occasion satisfying a threshold; and monitoring the communication occasion for one or more messages of the energy harvesting device subsequent to transmission of the energizing signal.

Aspect 31: An energy harvesting device for wireless communications, comprising one or more memories storing processor-executable code, and one or more processors coupled with the one or more memories and individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the energy harvesting device to perform a method of any of aspects 1 through 15.

Aspect 32: An energy harvesting device for wireless communications, comprising at least one means for performing a method of any of aspects 1 through 15.

Aspect 33: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communications, the code comprising instructions executable by one or more processors to perform a method of any of aspects 1 through 15.

Aspect 34: A first node for wireless communications, comprising one or more memories storing processor-executable code, and one or more processors coupled with the one or more memories and individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the first node to perform a method of any of aspects 16 through 25.

Aspect 35: A first node for wireless communications, comprising at least one means for performing a method of any of aspects 16 through 25.

Aspect 36: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communications, the code comprising instructions executable by one or more processors to perform a method of any of aspects 16 through 25.

Aspect 37: A first node for wireless communications, comprising one or more memories storing processor-executable code, and one or more processors coupled with the one or more memories and individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the first node to perform a method of any of aspects 26 through 29.

Aspect 38: A first node for wireless communications, comprising at least one means for performing a method of any of aspects 26 through 29.

Aspect 39: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communications, the code comprising instructions executable by one or more processors to perform a method of any of aspects 26 through 29.

Aspect 40: A node for wireless communications, comprising one or more memories storing processor-executable code, and one or more processors coupled with the one or more memories and individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the node to perform a method of aspect 30.

Aspect 41: A node for wireless communications, comprising at least one means for performing a method of aspect 30.

Aspect 42: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communications, the code comprising instructions executable by one or more processors to perform a method of aspect 30.

It should be noted that the methods described herein describe possible implementations, and that the operations and the steps may be rearranged or otherwise modified and that other implementations are possible. Further, aspects from two or more of the methods may be combined.

Although aspects of an LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, or NR system may be described for purposes of example, and LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, or NR terminology may be used in much of the description, the techniques described herein are applicable beyond LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, or NR networks. For example, the described techniques may be applicable to various other wireless communications systems such as Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) , Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (Wi-Fi) , IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX) , IEEE 802.20, Flash-OFDM, as well as other systems and radio technologies not explicitly mentioned herein.

Information and signals described herein may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referenced throughout the description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof.

The various illustrative blocks and components described in connection with the disclosure herein may be implemented or performed using a general-purpose processor, a DSP, an ASIC, a CPU, an FPGA or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor but, in the alternative, the processor may be any processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices (e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration) . Any functions or operations described herein as being capable of being performed by a processor may be performed by multiple processors that, individually or collectively, are capable of performing the described functions or operations.

The functions described herein may be implemented using hardware, software executed by a processor, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented using software executed by a processor, the functions may be stored as or transmitted using one or more instructions or code of a computer-readable medium. Other examples and implementations are within the scope of the disclosure and appended claims. For example, due to the nature of software, functions described herein may be implemented using software executed by a processor, hardware, firmware, hardwiring, or combinations of any of these. Features implementing functions may also be physically located at various positions, including being distributed such that portions of functions are implemented at different physical locations.

Computer-readable media includes both non-transitory computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one location to another. A non-transitory storage medium may be any available medium that may be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer. By way of example, and not limitation, non-transitory computer-readable media may include RAM, ROM, electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM) , flash memory, compact disk (CD) ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other non-transitory medium that may be used to carry or store desired program code means in the form of instructions or data structures and that may be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer, or a general-purpose or special-purpose processor. Also, any connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL) , or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of computer-readable medium. Disk and disc, as used herein, include CD, laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD) , floppy disk and Blu-ray disc. Disks may reproduce data magnetically, and discs may reproduce data optically using lasers. Combinations of the above are also included within the scope of computer-readable media. Any functions or operations described herein as being capable of being performed by a memory may be performed by multiple memories that, individually or collectively, are capable of performing the described functions or operations.

As used herein, including in the claims, “or” as used in a list of items (e.g., a list of items prefaced by a phrase such as “at least one of” or “one or more of” ) indicates an inclusive list such that, for example, a list of at least one of A, B, or C means A or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (i.e., A and B and C) . Also, as used herein, the phrase “based on” shall not be construed as a reference to a closed set of conditions. For example, an example step that is described as “based on condition A” may be based on both a condition A and a condition B without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In other words, as used herein, the phrase “based on” shall be construed in the same manner as the phrase “based at least in part on. ”

As used herein, including in the claims, the article “a” before a noun is open-ended and understood to refer to “at least one” of those nouns or “one or more” of those nouns. Thus, the terms “a, ” “at least one, ” “one or more, ” “at least one of one or more” may be interchangeable. For example, if a claim recites “a component” that performs one or more functions, each of the individual functions may be performed by a single component or by any combination of multiple components. Thus, the term “acomponent” having characteristics or performing functions may refer to “at least one of one or more components” having a particular characteristic or performing a particular function. Subsequent reference to a component introduced with the article “a” using the terms “the” or “said” may refer to any or all of the one or more components. For example, a component introduced with the article “a” may be understood to mean “one or more components, ” and referring to “the component” subsequently in the claims may be understood to be equivalent to referring to “at least one of the one or more components. ” Similarly, subsequent reference to a component introduced as “one or more components” using the terms “the” or “said” may refer to any or all of the one or more components. For example, referring to “the one or more components” subsequently in the claims may be understood to be equivalent to referring to “at least one of the one or more components. ”

The term “determine” or “determining” encompasses a variety of actions and, therefore, “determining” can include calculating, computing, processing, deriving, investigating, looking up (such as via looking up in a table, a database or another data structure) , ascertaining and the like. Also, “determining” can include receiving (e.g., receiving information) , accessing (e.g., accessing data stored in memory) and the like. Also, “determining” can include resolving, obtaining, selecting, choosing, establishing, and other such similar actions.

In the appended figures, similar components or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label by a dash and a second label that distinguishes among the similar components. If just the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label, or other subsequent reference label.

The description set forth herein, in connection with the appended drawings, describes example configurations and does not represent all the examples that may be implemented or that are within the scope of the claims. The term “example” used herein means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration, ” and not “preferred” or “advantageous over other examples. ” The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing an understanding of the described techniques. These techniques, however, may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of the described examples.

The description herein is provided to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make or use the disclosure. Various modifications to the disclosure will be apparent to a person having ordinary skill in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other variations without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Thus, the disclosure is not limited to the examples and designs described herein but is to be accorded the broadest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

An energy harvesting device, comprising:

one or more memories storing processor-executable code; and

one or more processors coupled with the one or more memories and individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the energy harvesting device to:

transmit, to an energy providing node, energy harvesting assistance information, wherein the energy harvesting assistance information indicates a duration for energy transfer, a traffic communication profile associated with one or more communications between a first node and the energy harvesting device, an energy harvesting capability of the energy harvesting device, or any combination thereof;

perform energy harvesting on an energizing signal from the energy providing node in accordance with the energy harvesting assistance information; and

communicate one or more messages using energy harvested from the energizing signal.
The energy harvesting device of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are individually or collectively further operable to execute the code to cause the energy harvesting device to:

transmit, to the energy providing node, an energy scheduling request; and

perform energy harvesting on a second energizing signal from the energy providing node based at least in part on the energy scheduling request, wherein the one or more messages are communicated using energy harvested from the second energizing signal.
The energy harvesting device of claim 2, wherein the energy scheduling request is based at least in part on an amount of energy stored by the energy harvesting device being less than an amount of energy for communicating the one or more messages.
The energy harvesting device of claim 2, wherein the second energizing signal is harvested prior to an initial access operation.
The energy harvesting device of claim 1, wherein the one or more messages is a plurality of messages, and the one or more processors are individually or collectively further operable to execute the code to cause the energy harvesting device to:

receive a plurality of grants, wherein each grant of the plurality of grants indicates a respective resource of a plurality of resources for a respective message of the plurality of messages, and wherein each grant of the plurality of grants is associated with a respective energizing signal of a plurality of energizing signals;

perform energy harvesting on the plurality of energizing signals corresponding to the plurality of grants; and

communicate the plurality of messages over the plurality of resources based at least in part on energy harvested corresponding to the plurality of energizing signals.
The energy harvesting device of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are individually or collectively further operable to execute the code to cause the energy harvesting device to:

perform energy harvesting on a second energizing signal from the energy providing node prior to an initial access operation.
The energy harvesting device of claim 1, wherein the energy harvesting assistance information further indicates one or more occasions for output of the energizing signal.
The energy harvesting device of claim 7, wherein the energy harvesting assistance information indicates a period corresponding to output of the one or more occasions.
The energy harvesting device of claim 8, wherein the energy harvesting assistance information indicates the period in accordance with a configured grant scheduling the one or more messages.
The energy harvesting device of claim 8, wherein the traffic communication profile indicates the period.
The energy harvesting device of claim 1, wherein the energy harvesting assistance information is dedicated to the energy harvesting device or to a group of energy harvesting devices comprising the energy harvesting device.
The energy harvesting device of claim 1, wherein the energy harvesting device is an ambient Internet of Things (IoT) device.
The energy harvesting device of claim 1, wherein the energy harvesting capability indicates an energy conversion efficiency of the energy harvesting device.
The energy harvesting device of claim 1, wherein the traffic communication profile indicates a payload size of at least one of the one or more messages.
The energy harvesting device of claim 1, wherein communicating the one or more messages comprises communicating the one or more messages with a communication scheduling node distinct from the energy providing node.
A first node, comprising:

one or more memories storing processor-executable code; and

one or more processors coupled with the one or more memories and individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the first node to:

transmit, to an energy providing node, energy harvesting assistance information associated with output of an energizing signal by the energy providing node for energy harvesting by an energy harvesting device, wherein the energy harvesting assistance information indicates a duration for energy transfer, a traffic communication profile associated with one or more communications between the first node and the energy harvesting device, one or more occasions for outputting the energizing signal, or any combination thereof;

transmit a signal to an energy harvesting device based at least in part on the energy harvesting assistance information; and

receive a response to the signal from the energy harvesting device.
The first node of claim 16, wherein the one or more processors are individually or collectively further operable to execute the code to cause the first node to:

receive, from the energy harvesting device, an energy harvesting capability, wherein the signal is transmitted to the energy harvesting device based at least in part on the energy harvesting capability.
The first node of claim 17, wherein the energy harvesting capability indicates an energy conversion efficiency of the energy harvesting device.
The first node of claim 16, wherein the energy harvesting assistance information indicates a period corresponding to output of the one or more occasions.
The first node of claim 19, wherein the energy harvesting assistance information indicates the period in accordance with a configured grant scheduling the response.
The first node of claim 19, wherein the traffic communication profile indicates the period.
The first node of claim 16, wherein the energy harvesting assistance information is dedicated to the energy harvesting device or to a group of energy harvesting devices comprising the energy harvesting device.
The first node of claim 16, wherein the traffic communication profile indicates a payload size of the response.
The first node of claim 16, wherein:

the signal comprises a grant of one or more first resources and the response to the signal comprises one or more first messages over the one or more first resources, or

the signal comprises one or more second messages over one or more second resources and the response to the signal comprises feedback to the one or more second messages.
The first node of claim 16, wherein the response to the signal comprises a backscattered signal responsive to the signal transmitted to the energy harvesting device.
A first node, comprising:

one or more memories storing processor-executable code; and

one or more processors coupled with the one or more memories and individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the first node to:

transmit one or more control messages scheduling transmission of one or more first messages by an energy harvesting device during one or more communication occasions;

transmit, to the energy harvesting device, an energizing signal based at least in part on failure to receive the one or more first messages during the one or more communication occasions; and

monitor for one or more second messages from the energy harvesting device subsequent to transmission of the energizing signal.
The first node of claim 26, wherein:

the one or more first messages comprise one or more uplink data messages, or

the one or more first messages comprise one or more feedback messages in response to one or more downlink data messages.
The first node of claim 26, wherein, to monitor for the one or more second messages, the one or more processors are individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the first node to:

monitor for a communication scheduling request or an uplink trigger.
The first node of claim 26, wherein the one or more processors are individually or collectively further operable to execute the code to cause the first node to:

perform synchronization with the energy harvesting device based at least in part on the failure to receive the one or more first messages during the one or more communication occasions, wherein monitoring for the one or more second messages is based at least in part on the synchronization.
A node, comprising:

one or more memories storing processor-executable code; and

one or more processors coupled with the one or more memories and individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the node to:

receive, from an energy harvesting device, an energy status indication;

transmit a control message scheduling the energy harvesting device to transmit during a communication occasion;

transmit, to the energy harvesting device, an energizing signal based at least in part on a duration between reception of the energy status indication and the communication occasion satisfying a threshold; and

monitor the communication occasion for one or more messages of the energy harvesting device subsequent to transmission of the energizing signal.

.