BWP HANDLING IN IDLE MODE AND INACTIVE MODE

Abstract

Described are methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for bandwidth part (BWP) handling. Apparatus can receive information on limitation(s) of BWP(s) supported in a cell of the base station and inhibit a terminal from accessing the cell based on limitation(s) of the BWP(s) supported in the cell and limitation(s) of BWP(s) supported by the terminal. Apparatus can select access parameter(s) based on limitation(s) of the BWP(s) supported in the cell and limitation(s) of the BWP(s) supported by the terminal, and instruct the terminal to reselect/camp on the cell using the access parameter(s). BWP(s) supported by the terminal can include a network BWP usable for early data transmission. Apparatus can allow/inhibit cell access by terminal based on, e.g., type of access or terminal type. Apparatus can instruct base station to provide information on limitation(s) of BWP(s) provided by the base station. Each BWP can be subcarrier spacing specific.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including program codes, wherein the at least one memory and the program codes are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to: receive, from a base station, information on a limitation of one or more bandwidth parts supported in a cell of the base station; and inhibit access to the cell based on the limitation of the one or more bandwidth parts supported in the cell and a limitation of one or more bandwidth parts supported by the apparatus, wherein each bandwidth part is subcarrier spacing specific.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the program codes are further configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to: monitor whether the information on the limitation of the one or more bandwidth parts supported in the cell is received at the apparatus via a broadcast channel or in a dedicated signaling to the apparatus.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the program codes are further configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to: inhibit the apparatus from camping on the cell if the limitation of the one or more bandwidth parts supported in the cell does not match the limitation of the one or more bandwidth parts supported by the apparatus.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the program codes are further configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to: inhibit access to the cell based on a priority for the one or more bandwidth parts supported by the apparatus.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the program codes are further configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to: select an access parameter based on the information on the limitation of the one or more bandwidth parts supported in the cell and the limitation of the one or more bandwidth parts supported by the apparatus; and instruct the apparatus to reselect the cell or to camp on the cell using the selected access parameter.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the program codes are further configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to: select one or more types of access based on the information on the limitation of the one or more bandwidth parts supported in the cell and the limitation of the one or more bandwidth parts supported by the apparatus; instruct the apparatus to access the cell according to the selected one or more types of access; and inhibit the apparatus to access the cell according to a type of access different from the selected one or more types of access.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the program codes are further configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to: inhibit access to the cell based on a type of the apparatus.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the limitation of the one or more bandwidth parts supported in the cell is related to at least one of: a network bandwidth part usable for early data transmission; a bandwidth part usable by the terminal for data transmission in an INACTIVE mode; a bandwidth part usable by the terminal for data transmission in a CONNECTED mode; a bandwidth part usable for active data transfer; a bandwidth part usable for sending data encapsulated in control plane messages; a bandwidth part usable for Ultra-Reliable Low Latency Communication transmission (URLLC); a bandwidth part reserved only for terminals of a certain Closed Subscriber Group (CSG); a bandwidth part usable for carrier aggregation purposes; a bandwidth part usable for dual connectivity purposes; or a set of supported bandwidth parts in the cell.

9. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including program codes, wherein the at least one memory and the program codes are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to: instruct a base station to provide information on a limitation of one or more bandwidth parts provided by the base station, wherein each bandwidth part is subcarrier spacing specific.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the at least one memory and the program codes are further configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to: provide, to a terminal, via broadcasting or dedicated signaling, the information on the limitation of the one or more bandwidth parts provided by the base station.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the at least one memory and the program codes are further configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to: instruct the base station to indicate a respective priority for each of one or more bandwidth parts supported by a terminal.

12. A method, comprising: receiving, from a base station, information on a limitation of one or more bandwidth parts supported in a cell of the base station; and inhibiting a terminal from accessing the cell based on the limitation of the one or more bandwidth parts supported in the cell and a limitation of one or more bandwidth parts supported by the terminal, wherein each bandwidth part is subcarrier spacing specific.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising: monitoring whether the information on the limitation of the one or more bandwidth parts supported in the cell is received on a broadcast channel or in dedicated signaling to the terminal.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising: inhibiting the terminal from camping on the cell if the limitation of the one or more bandwidth parts supported in the cell does not match the limitation of the one or more bandwidth parts supported by the terminal.

15. The method according to claim 12, further comprising: inhibiting the terminal from accessing the cell based on a priority for the one or more bandwidth parts supported by the terminal.

16. The method according to claim 12, further comprising: selecting an access parameter based on the information on the limitation of the one or more bandwidth parts supported in the cell and the limitation of the one or more bandwidth parts supported by the terminal; and instructing the terminal to reselect the cell or to camp on the cell using the selected access parameter.

17. The method according to claim 12, further comprising: choosing one or more types of access based on the information on the limitation of the one or more bandwidth parts supported in the cell and the limitation of the one or more bandwidth parts supported by the terminal; and instructing the terminal to access the cell according to the selected one or more types of access; or inhibiting the terminal to access the cell according to a type of access different from the selected one or more types of access.

18. The method according to claim 12, further comprising: inhibiting the terminal from accessing the cell based on a type of the terminal.

19. The method according to claim 12, wherein the limitation of the one or more bandwidth parts supported in the cell is related to at least one of: a network bandwidth part usable for early data transmission; a bandwidth part usable by the terminal for data transmission in an INACTIVE mode; a bandwidth part usable by the terminal for data transmission in a CONNECTED mode; a bandwidth part usable for active data transfer; a bandwidth part usable for sending data encapsulated in control plane messages; a bandwidth part usable for Ultra-Reliable Low Latency Communication transmission (URLLC); a bandwidth part reserved only for terminals of a certain Closed Subscriber Group (CSG); a bandwidth part usable for carrier aggregation purposes; a bandwidth part usable for dual connectivity purposes; or a set of supported bandwidth parts in the cell.

20. A method comprising: instructing a base station to provide information on a limitation of one or more bandwidth parts provided by the base station, wherein each bandwidth part is subcarrier spacing specific.

21. The method according to claim 20, comprising: providing, to a terminal, via broadcasting or dedicated signaling, the information on the limitation of the one or more bandwidth parts provided by the base station.

22. The method according to claim 20, further comprising: instructing the base station to indicate a respective priority for each of one or more bandwidth parts supported by a terminal.

23. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one processor, are configured to cause a computing system to perform at least: receiving, from a base station, information on a limitation of one or more bandwidth parts supported in a cell of the base station; and inhibiting a terminal from accessing the cell based on the limitation of the one or more bandwidth parts supported in the cell and a limitation of one or more bandwidth parts supported by the terminal, wherein each bandwidth part is subcarrier spacing specific.

24. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one processor, are configured to cause a computing system to perform at least: instructing a base station to provide information on a limitation of one or more bandwidth parts provided by the base station, wherein each bandwidth part is subcarrier spacing specific.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0076] Further details, features, objects, and advantages are apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention which is to be taken in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein:

[0077] FIG. 1 shows two basic use cases for BWP;

[0078] FIG. 2 shows another two basic use cases for BWP;

[0079] FIG. 3 shows an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0080] FIG. 4 shows a method according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0081] FIG. 5 shows an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0082] FIG. 6 shows a method according to an embodiment of the invention; and

[0083] FIG. 7 shows an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Abbreviations

[0084] 3GPP 3.sup.rd Generation Partnership Project

[0085] 5G 5.sup.th Generation

[0086] 5GC 5G Core Network

[0087] BWP Bandwidth Part

[0088] CN Core Network

[0089] CP Control Plane

[0090] DL Downlink

[0091] EDT Early Data Transmission

[0092] EPC Evolved Packet Core

[0093] FDM Frequency Division Multiplex

[0094] gNB 5G Node-B

[0095] IoT Internet Of Things

[0096] LTE Long Term Evolution

[0097] LTE-A LTE Advanced

[0098] MF MulteFire

[0099] MSG Message

[0100] NAS Non-Access Stratum

[0101] NR New Radio

[0102] NW Network

[0103] PCell Primary Cell

[0104] PRB Physical Resource Block

[0105] PSCell Primary SCell

[0106] RACH Random Access Channel

[0107] Rel Release

[0108] RRC Radio Resource Control

[0109] RRM Radio Resource Management

[0110] SCell Secondary Cell

[0111] SS Synchronization Signal

[0112] SSB SS Block

[0113] SUL Secondary Uplink

[0114] TDM Time Division Multiplex

[0115] UE User Equipment

[0116] UL Uplink

[0117] UP User Plane

[0118] WB Wideband

[0119] WiFi Wireless Fidelity

[0120] Herein below, certain embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the features of the embodiments can be freely combined with each other unless otherwise described. However, it is to be expressly understood that the description of certain embodiments is given by way of example only, and that it is by no way intended to be understood as limiting the invention to the disclosed details.

[0121] Moreover, it is to be understood that the apparatus is configured to perform the corresponding method, although in some cases only the apparatus or only the method are described.

[0122] This invention focuses primarily on the BWP handling in IDLE and INACTIVE mode.

[0123] While it is expected that there will be some minimum BW that both UEs and NWs support, in practice NW may support different minimum bandwidth compared to what the UE supports.

[0124] For example, the UE may support only 5 MHz and the NW may support only 20 MHz, e.g., due to scheduler not implementing lower BW option. Additionally, different BWP sizes can be used for different purposes: e.g., very low BW-capable UEs may be served in one part of gNB BW (NW BW) and “regular” UEs in a different part (or even in the whole NW BW) of the gNB BW.

[0125] Hence, it is not clear how UEs can be directed to different BWP in IDLE or INACTIVE, or even prevented from camping in a cell with minimum BW different from the one supported by the UE.

[0126] UE may use different bandwidths for data transmissions, and there may be different mechanisms for transmitting data towards the network. Typically, UE uses user plane for transmitting data, e.g., communication established between UE and network that utilizes configured resources that are scheduled implicitly or explicitly between UE and network.

[0127] However, in certain cases control plane, which is typically used for setting up the data transmission between UE and network, may also be used for transmitting data. In particular, the data transmission may utilize e.g. the signalling protocol normally used for exchanging NAS information between UE and network, or the signalling message used for establishing the RRC connection between UE and network. These options are sometimes called “Control Plane” or “Early Data Transmission” optimizations for data transfer, and are typically envisioned to be used for cases when only a small amount of data needs to be transferred between UE and network.

[0128] According to some embodiments of the invention, the network broadcasts its BWP limitations to all the UEs to aid in the IDLE or INACTIVE mode operation. This information may affect UE IDLE or INACTIVE mode cell selection/reselection criteria, so UEs not supporting the BW of the cell do not camp in a cell where they cannot obtain service because of a mismatch of the BWP. Further, the UE cell access may depend on the amount of BW supported by the NW and the UE.

[0129] Some aspects of the invention comprise the following: [0130] NW broadcasts (advertises) information on its BWP limitations (e.g. minimum and/or maximum NW BWP size) for DL and/or UL operation [0131] UE receives the information on BWP limitations. UE may take this information into account, for e.g.: [0132] Cell camping criteria: A cell is not suitable if UE supported BWP (UE BWP limitation) does not meet advertised NW BWP limitations (e.g., minimum/maximum BW). Said otherwise, preferably, the capability of the UE with respect to BWP limitation is the same as the limitation on NW BWP. In some embodiments, a cell may be selected if, in DL, the NW BWP is smaller than the UE BWP and, in UL, the NW BWP is larger than the UE BWP. Thus, it is ensured that a transmission is not lost because of BWPs of different sizes. [0133] Cell reselection criteria: the UE may prioritize cells/carriers supporting certain types of BWPs. Such prioritization may be predefined or the priorities may be provided by the network. [0134] As an example of predefined priorities, the UE may prefer cells supporting exactly the bandwidth part size the UE supports, too. Said otherwise, cells with a bandwidth part size exceeding that of the UE (in uplink) or less than that of the UE (in downlink) are not preferred although feasible. In such embodiments, UE implicitly builds the priorities based on the advertised NW BWP limitations. In these embodiments, NW need not to transmit explicitly the priorities. [0135] NW may indicate different priorities for UE with different capabilities for BWP to affect the UE's cell reselection priorities; the priority for a certain BWP supported by the UE (also named terminal bandwidth part) may be different or the same for different cells of the network. [0136] The priorities may additionally depend on the category of the UE: e.g., different CN (EPC/MF) registered UEs may use different reselection parameters to allow different UEs reselect different cells (for e.g., steering certain UEs more towards certain frequency bands that can treat such UEs more efficiently) [0137] The NW may indicate the priorities in system information or via dedicated signaling given to UE at the end of RRC connection release to be used by the UE in IDLE or INACTIVE state. The NW may indicate the priorities along with the information on BWP limitations or in a separate broadcast message or dedicated signaling to the UE. [0138] The Cell access parameters may also be grouped according to the allowed access bandwidth [0139] For example, UEs supporting limited BW may utilize different access resources than those supporting wider BW [0140] UEs supporting different network slices may also be indicated to require certain BW in the cell, so that UE's attempting a connection according to a certain network slice would do access according to different set of access parameters. [0141] NW informs the UE on the grouping via broadcast or dedicated signalling. [0142] Depending on the advertised NW BWP limitation, the UE may be allowed to camp on the cell but only certain type of access is allowed [0143] Early data transmission (EDT), e.g. data transmission within the RACH MSG3 and MSG4 can be allowed [0144] Data encapsulated in the CP messages can be allowed [0145] Signaling can be allowed e.g. by NAS signaling or RRC signaling. [0146] Predefined types of access could e.g. low/high priority data etc.

[0147] In some embodiments of the invention, only certain type of UEs may take the information on NW BWP limitation into account. For example, only “normal” UEs may take the NW BWP limitation into account but IoT devices (which may e.g. support smaller BW than “normal” UEs) do not. As another example, only UEs supporting certain network slices may utilize the slice-specific resources, including any slice-specific BWPs.

[0148] In addition or alternatively to minimum/maximum BWP, the NW may signal e.g. one of the following: [0149] EDT BWP (e.g., BWP used for EDT purposes) [0150] RRC INACTIVE BWP (e.g., BWP used by UEs in INACTIVE) [0151] RRC CONNECTED BWP (e.g., BWP used by UEs in CONNECTED) [0152] Data transfer BWP (e.g., BWP used for active data transfer) [0153] Data over Control Plane BWP (e.g., BWP used for sending data encapsulated in control plane messages) [0154] Ultra-Reliable Low Latency Communication (URLLC) BWP (e.g., BWP used for the purpose of URLLC transmission) [0155] Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) BWP (e.g., BWP reserved only for UEs utilizing a certain CSG) [0156] Carrier aggregation BWP (e.g., BWP used for CA purposes) [0157] Dual connectivity BWP (e.g., BWP used for DC purposes) [0158] Set of supported BWPs in cell (e.g., all the BWPs used in the cell).

[0159] The UE may take into account this information on BWP when deciding on camping and/or cell reselection for the respective specific cases, too.

[0160] In some embodiments of the invention, the information on NW BWP limitation may be advertised using dedicated signalling for IDLE or INACTIVE mode usage while the UE is in the CONNECTED mode for use in IDLE/INACTIVE mode (e.g. during the transition from CONNECTED mode to IDLE/INACTIVE mode).

[0161] Table 1 provides a signalling example for BWP handling in IDLE/INACTIVE mode. Note that in step 7, the UE is in IDLE mode and hence, the NW BWP limitation for data transfer is relevant because it does not make sense to camp on the cell where service cannot be provided to the UE.

[0162] On the other hand, in step 14, the UE is in INACTIVE mode (see step 12), and hence, the NW BWP limitation for INACTIVE mode is relevant. In the INACTIVE mode, INACTIVE BWP may be used for the data transmission in INACTIVE state, e.g., data transfer in the random access messages 3 and 4. Message 3 may be used for data transmission in uplink and message 4 may be used for data transmission in downlink. Data transfer BWP is used in connected mode.

[0163] On the other hand, since the BWP limitations of the UE and cell 5 for data transmission in downlink in the CONNECTED mode do not match, the UE cannot be moved into the CONNECTED mode in cell 5.

TABLE-US-00001 Message Sequence Step Procedure UE-NW Message 0 The UE supports the following BWP: — 10 MHZ BWP for both UL and DL in CONNECTED mode. 5 MHZ BWP in INACTIVE mode for both UL and DL The UE is in IDLE mode 1 gNB (cell 1) broadcast in the system <-- System information the following information: information Minimum DL BWP for data transfer in CONNECTED mode 20 MHz Minimum UL BWP for data transfer in CONNECTED mode 20 MHz 2 The UE reads the system information from cell 1 and does not camp there, because the BWP supported by the UE is not advertised by the gNB 3 gNB (cell 2) broadcast in the system <-- System information the following information: information Minimum DL BWP for data transfer in CONNECTED mode 10 MHz Minimum UL BWP for data transfer in CONNECTED mode 10 MHz Minimum DL BWP for data transfer in INACTIVE mode 5 MHZ Minimum UL BWP for data transfer in INACTIVE mode 5 MHZ 4 The UE reads the system information from cell 2 and starts to camp there, because the BWPs for CONNECTED supported by the UE are advertised by the gNB 5 The UE moves geographically 6 gNB (cell 3) broadcast in the system <-- System information the following information: information Minimum DL BWP for data transfer in CONNECTED mode 20 MHz Minimum UL BWP for data transfer in CONNECTED mode 20 MHz Minimum DL BWP for data transfer in INACTIVE mode 5 MHZ Minimum UL BWP for data transfer in INACTIVE mode 5 MHZ 7 The UE reads the system information from cell 3 and does not camp there, because the UE is in IDLE (not INACTIVE) and BWP for data transfer supported by the UE is not advertised by the gNB. 8 The UE moves geographically 9 gNB (cell 4) broadcast in the system <-- System information the following information: information Minimum DL BWP for data transfer in CONNECTED mode 10 MHz Minimum UL BWP for data transfer in CONNECTED mode 10 MHz Minimum DL BWP for data transfer in INACTIVE mode 5 MHZ Minimum UL BWP for data transfer in INACTIVE mode 5 MHZ 10 The UE reads the system information from cell 4 and starts to camp there, because the BWPs for CONNECTED supported by the UE are advertised by the gNB 11 Data transfers starts and the UE <-> Connection goes to CONNECTED establishment 12 The RRC Connection is released and <-- RRC the UE is moved to INACTIVE Connection Release 13 The UE moves geographically 14 gNB (cell 5) broadcast in the system <-- System information the following information: information Minimum DL BWP for data transfer in CONNECTED mode 20 MHz Minimum UL BWP for data transfer in CONNECTED mode 20 MHz Minimum DL BWP for data transfer in INACTIVE mode 5 MHZ Minimum UL BWP for data transfer in INACTIVE mode 5 MHZ 15 The UE reads the system information from cell 3 and starts to camp there, because the UE is INACTIVE and INACTIVE BWP supported by the UE is advertised by the gNB.
Table 1: Signalling example according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0164] FIG. 3 shows an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. The apparatus may be a terminal such as a UE, an IoT device, a MTC device, or an element thereof. FIG. 4 shows a method according to an embodiment of the invention. The apparatus according to FIG. 3 may perform the method of FIG. 4 but is not limited to this method. The method of FIG. 4 may be performed by the apparatus of FIG. 3 but is not limited to being performed by this apparatus.

[0165] The apparatus comprises monitoring means 10, deciding means 20, and instructing means 30. Each of the monitoring means 10, deciding means 20, and instructing means 30 may be a monitor, decider, and instructor, respectively. Each of the monitoring means 10, deciding means 20, and instructing means 30 may be a monitoring processor, deciding processor, and instructing processor, respectively.

[0166] The monitoring means 10 monitors if an information on a limitation of a network bandwidth part is received from a cell (S10).

[0167] If the information on the limitation is received (S10=“yes”), the deciding means 20 bases a decision on the information on the limitation and a capability of a terminal to support a terminal bandwidth part (S20). The decision is about at least one of whether or not the terminal camps on the cell and whether or not the terminal reselects the cell.

[0168] The instructing means 30 instructs the terminal on the at least one of the camping on the cell and the reselecting the cell based on the decision (S30).

[0169] FIG. 5 shows an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. The apparatus may be a base station such as a gNB, an eNB, or a NB, or an element thereof. FIG. 6 shows a method according to an embodiment of the invention. The apparatus according to FIG. 5 may perform the method of FIG. 6 but is not limited to this method. The method of FIG. 6 may be performed by the apparatus of FIG. 5 but is not limited to being performed by this apparatus.

[0170] The apparatus comprises instructing means 110. The instructing means 110 may be an instructor. The instructing means 110 may be an instructing processor.

[0171] The instructing means 110 instructs a base station to provide an information on a limitation of a network bandwidth part provided by the base station (S110).

[0172] FIG. 7 shows an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. The apparatus comprises at least one processor 410, at least one memory 420 including computer program code, and the at least one processor 410, with the at least one memory 420 and the computer program code, being arranged to cause the apparatus to at least perform at least one of the methods according to FIGS. 4 and 6.

[0173] Embodiments of the invention are described with respect to a UE. A UE is a particular kind of a terminal. Other terminals may belong to embodiments of the invention. E.g., terminals in which embodiments of the invention are implemented may be a IoT device, a MTC device, a laptop, a tablet, a smartphone, a mobile phone, etc.

[0174] Some embodiments of the invention may be employed in 3GPP devices. However, embodiments of the invention are not limited to 3GPP devices. E.g. embodiments of the invention may be employed in other wireless or wireline communication systems such as WiFi if they provide a function corresponding to bandwidth parts.

[0175] Some embodiments of the invention are embodied as a UE application. However, they may be differently embodied, e.g. hard coded on a chip which may be integrated into a UE.

[0176] One piece of information may be transmitted in one or plural messages from one entity to another entity. Each of these messages may comprise further (different) pieces of information.

[0177] Names of network elements, protocols, and methods are based on current standards. In other versions or other technologies, the names of these network elements and/or protocols and/or methods may be different, as long as they provide a corresponding functionality.

[0178] If not otherwise stated or otherwise made clear from the context, the statement that two entities are different means that they perform different functions. It does not necessarily mean that they are based on different hardware. That is, each of the entities described in the present description may be based on a different hardware, or some or all of the entities may be based on the same hardware. It does not necessarily mean that they are based on different software.

[0179] That is, each of the entities described in the present description may be based on different software, or some or all of the entities may be based on the same software. Each of the entities described in the present description may be embodied in the cloud.

[0180] According to the above description, it should thus be apparent that example embodiments of the present invention provide, for example, a terminal such as a UE, an IoT device, a MTC device etc., or a component thereof, an apparatus embodying the same, a method for controlling and/or operating the same, and computer program(s) controlling and/or operating the same as well as mediums carrying such computer program(s) and forming computer program product(s). According to the above description, it should thus be apparent that example embodiments of the present invention provide, for example, a base station such as a NodeB, an eNodeB, or a gNodeB, or a component thereof, an apparatus embodying the same, a method for controlling and/or operating the same, and computer program(s) controlling and/or operating the same as well as mediums carrying such computer program(s) and forming computer program product(s).

[0181] Implementations of any of the above described blocks, apparatuses, systems, techniques or methods include, as non-limiting examples, implementations as hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

[0182] It is to be understood that what is described above is what is presently considered the preferred embodiments of the present invention. However, it should be noted that the description of the preferred embodiments is given by way of example only and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.