Uplink grant-free transmission enhancement for latency and reliability

An apparatus, comprising:

• at least one memory comprising computer program code;
• at least one processor;
• wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to:
• transmit a data packet to a network entity;
• start a timer with a first value associated with the transmission to the network entity;
• check for feedback from the network entity associated with the transmission to the network entity;
• determine that no feedback for the transmission has been received within the associated timer, or a negative acknowledgement has been received without the corresponding resource allocation for re-transmission;
• in response to receiving no feedback associated with the transmission within the associated timer, or receiving a negative acknowledgement without the corresponding resource allocation for re-transmission, re-transmit the data packet to the network entity;
• restart the timer with a second value upon re-transmission of the data packet when certain conditions are met, wherein the said conditions include at least one of:
• the remaining latency budget is less than a threshold;
• and
• the maximum number of re-transmissions is not reached;
• and
• upon the restart of the timer, repeat the steps of checking, determining, and re-transmitting.