# US 12,604,321 B2 · Control channel repetition management > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,604,321 B2 - Document ID: US12604321B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/366,271 - Filed: 2023-08-07 - Published: 2024-04-04 - Granted: 2026-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2022-09-30 - Assignees: Nokia Technologies Oy - Applicants: Nokia Technologies Oy - Inventors: Alessio Marcone; Frank Frederiksen; Arman Ahmadzadeh - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12604321B2 ## CPC - H04B 17/327: Received signal code power [RSCP] - H04W 72/21: in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network - H04L 1/18: Automatic repetition systems, e.g. Van Duuren systems - H04W 76/11: Allocation or use of connection identifiers - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract There are provided measures for control channel repetition management. Such measures exemplarily comprise receiving, from a terminal, a connection request message, checking whether said connection request message is scrambled utilizing any of at least one temporary identifier other than a temporary identifier assigned to said terminal, and, if said connection request message is scrambled utilizing any of said at least one temporary identifier, concluding that said terminal can make use of physical uplink control channel repetitions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus, comprising: at least one processor; at least one memory including computer program code; and at least one interface configured for communication with at least another apparatus, the at least one processor, with the at least one memory and the computer program code, being configured to cause the apparatus at least to: receive, from a terminal, a connection request message, wherein the connection request message is a random access procedure message 3, check whether said connection request message is scrambled utilizing any of at least one temporary identifier other than a temporary identifier assigned to said terminal, and if said connection request message is scrambled utilizing any of said at least one temporary identifier, conclude that said terminal can make use of physical uplink control channel repetitions. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: that said terminal can make use of physical uplink control channel repetitions includes said terminal's capability for physical uplink control channel repetitions, or that said terminal can make use of physical uplink control channel repetitions includes said terminal's demand for physical uplink control channel repetitions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in relation to said concluding, the apparatus is further caused to: conclude, if said connection request message is scrambled utilizing a first temporary identifier of said at least one temporary identifier, that said terminal recommends a first number of physical uplink control channel repetitions, and conclude, if said connection request message is scrambled utilizing a second temporary identifier of said at least one temporary identifier different from said first temporary identifier, that said terminal recommends a second number of physical uplink control channel repetitions different from said first number of physical uplink control channel repetitions. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further caused to: transmit, towards said terminal, a first message, wherein said first message includes information indicative of said at least one temporary identifier. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the apparatus is further caused to: maintain a list of a plurality of temporary identifiers including said at least one temporary identifier, wherein said information indicative of said at least one temporary identifier includes at least one index of said list respectively pointing towards said at least one temporary identifier in said list. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said first message includes said temporary identifier assigned to said terminal, and wherein the apparatus is further caused to: calculate, for each of said at least one temporary identifier, a respective offset value from said temporary identifier assigned to said terminal, wherein said information indicative of said at least one temporary identifier includes said respective at least one offset value. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further caused to: calculate, for each of said at least one temporary identifier, a respective offset value from said temporary identifier assigned to said terminal, and include said respective at least one offset value into a system information block to be transmitted towards said terminal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further caused to: retrieve at least one offset value, and calculate, for each of said at least one offset value, said at least one temporary identifier based on said temporary identifier assigned to said terminal and said respective at least one offset value. ### Claim 9 An apparatus, comprising: at least one processor; at least one memory including computer program code; and at least one interface configured for communication with at least another apparatus, the at least one processor, with the at least one memory and the computer program code, being configured to cause the apparatus at least to: decide whether to indicate that the apparatus can make use of physical uplink control channel repetitions, and transmit, towards a base station, a connection request message, wherein the connection request message is a random access procedure message 3, and if it is decided to indicate that said apparatus can make use of physical uplink control channel repetitions, scramble said connection request message utilizing a temporary identifier of at least one temporary identifier other than a temporary identifier assigned to said apparatus. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused to: decide to indicate that said apparatus can make use of physical uplink control channel repetitions if, on initial access of said apparatus, said apparatus has capability for physical uplink control channel repetitions. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused to: decide to indicate that said apparatus can make use of physical uplink control channel repetitions if at least one downlink metric is below a predetermined threshold, and evaluate said at least one downlink metric. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform: decide to indicate that said apparatus can make use of physical uplink control channel repetitions based on channel conditions, and monitor said channel conditions. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein in relation to said scrambling, the apparatus is further caused to: scramble said connection request message utilizing a first temporary identifier of said at least one temporary identifier, if said apparatus recommends a first number of physical uplink control channel repetitions, or scramble said connection request message utilizing a second temporary identifier of said at least one temporary identifier different from said first temporary identifier, if said apparatus recommends a second number of physical uplink control channel repetitions different from said first number of physical uplink control channel repetitions. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused to: receive a first message, wherein said first message includes information indicative of said at least one temporary identifier. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the apparatus is further caused to: retrieve a list of a plurality of temporary identifiers including said at least one temporary identifier, or receive said list, wherein said information indicative of said at least one temporary identifier includes at least one index of said list respectively pointing towards said at least one temporary identifier in said list. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said first message includes said temporary identifier assigned to said apparatus, and said information indicative of said at least one temporary identifier includes, for each of said at least one temporary identifier, a respective offset value from said temporary identifier assigned to said apparatus, wherein the apparatus is further caused to: calculate each of said at least one temporary identifier based on said temporary identifier assigned to said apparatus and said respective at least one offset value. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused to: receive a system information block including, for each of said at least one temporary identifier, a respective offset value from said temporary identifier assigned to said apparatus, and calculate each of said at least one temporary identifier based on said temporary identifier assigned to said apparatus and said respective at least one offset value. ### Claim 18 (depends on 9) The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused to: retrieve at least one offset value, and calculate, for each of said at least one offset value, said at least one temporary identifier based on said temporary identifier assigned to said apparatus and said respective at least one offset value. ### Claim 19 A method, comprising: deciding whether to indicate that a terminal can make use of physical uplink control channel repetitions, transmitting, towards a base station, a connection request message, wherein the connection request message is a random access procedure message 3, and scrambling, if it is decided to indicate that said terminal can make use of physical uplink control channel repetitions, said connection request message utilizing a temporary identifier of at least one temporary identifier other than a temporary identifier assigned to said terminal. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein in relation to said scrambling, the method further comprises: scrambling said connection request message utilizing a first temporary identifier of said at least one temporary identifier, if said terminal recommends a first number of physical uplink control channel repetitions, or scrambling said connection request message utilizing a second temporary identifier of said at least one temporary identifier different from said first temporary identifier, if said terminal recommends a second number of physical uplink control channel repetitions different from said first number of physical uplink control channel repetitions.