Wireless communication device, network node and methods for handling data transmissions

1. A method, implemented by a wireless communication device, comprising:

transmitting data over an asynchronous protocol on an uplink carrier to a single radio node of a wireless communication network;

monitoring a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) for Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) information conveyed by a New Data Indicator (NDI) flag of a transmission from the single radio node, the NDI flag supporting two states, wherein a first of the two states indicates, by the NDI flag not being toggled, that the transmission comprises an uplink grant for retransmission of the data, and a second of the two states indicates, by the NDI flag being toggled, that the transmission comprises an uplink grant for new data;

receiving the transmission on the PDCCH in response to the monitoring; and

transmitting the new data or retransmitting the data based on whether or not the NDI flag is toggled, respectively, wherein the transmitting or retransmitting is to the single radio node.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting the data to the single radio node over unlicensed spectrum.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring of the PDCCH is performed responsive to the data being transmitted over unlicensed spectrum.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring of the PDCCH is performed responsive to the data being transmitted over a particular type of radio access out of a plurality of different types of radio access supported by the wireless communication device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring of the PDCCH is performed responsive to the data being of a first type and not of a second type different than the first type, wherein the first type of data has a lower quality of service classification and/or is less delay sensitive than the second type of data.

6. The method of claim 1 :

further comprising receiving signaling from a network node indicating that the wireless communication device is to refrain from retransmitting in absence of feedback for the data to be retransmitted from the single radio node; and

wherein the monitoring of the PDCCH is performed in accordance with the received signaling.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the transmission on the PDCCH comprises receiving the transmission on a carrier:

that is required to be occupied by the single radio node before the single radio node is permitted to use the carrier for the transmission; and

after the single radio node has used a Listen Before Talk procedure to occupy the carrier.

8. A wireless communication device, comprising:

a processor;

memory comprising instructions executable by the processor whereby the wireless communications device is configured to:

transmit data over an asynchronous protocol on an uplink carrier to a single radio node of a wireless communication network;

monitor a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) for Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) information conveyed by a New Data Indicator (NDI) flag of a transmission from the single radio node, the NDI flag supporting two states, wherein a first of the two states indicates, by the NDI flag not being toggled, that the transmission comprises an uplink grant for retransmission of the data, and a second of the two states indicates, by the NDI flag being toggled, that the transmission comprises an uplink grant for new data;

receive the transmission on the PDCCH in response to the monitoring; and

transmit the new data or retransmit the data based on whether or not the NDI flag is toggled, respectively, wherein the transmitting or retransmitting is to the single radio node.

9. The wireless communication device of claim 8 , wherein the instructions are such that the wireless communication device is further configured to transmit the data to the single radio node over unlicensed spectrum.

10. The wireless communication device of claim 8 , wherein the instructions are such that the wireless communication device is configured to monitor the PDCCH responsive to the data being transmitted over unlicensed spectrum.

11. The wireless communication device of claim 8 , wherein the instructions are such that the wireless communication device is configured to monitor the PDCCH responsive to the data being transmitted over a particular type of radio access out of a plurality of different types of radio access supported by the wireless communication device.

12. The wireless communication device of claim 8 , wherein the instructions are such that the wireless communication device is configured to monitor the PDCCH responsive to the data being of a first type and not of a second type different than the first type, wherein the first type of data has a lower quality of service classification and/or is less delay sensitive than the second type of data.

13. The wireless communication device of claim 8 , wherein the instructions are such that the wireless communication device:

is further configured to receive signaling from a network node indicating that the wireless communication device is to refrain from retransmitting in absence of feedback for the data to be retransmitted from the single radio node; and

is configured to monitor the PDCCH in accordance with the received signaling.

14. The wireless communication device of claim 8 , wherein the instructions are such that the wireless communication device is configured to receive the transmission on a carrier:

that is required to be occupied by the single radio node before the single radio node is permitted to use the carrier for the transmission; and

after the single radio node has used a Listen Before Talk procedure to occupy the carrier.