Communications device, infrastructure equipment, wireless communications systems and methods

1. A communications device for use in a wireless communications network comprising infrastructure equipment, the communications device comprising

transmitter circuitry configured to transmit signals to the infrastructure equipment via a wireless access interface provided by the wireless communications network,

receiver circuitry configured to receive signals from the infrastructure equipment via the wireless access interface, and

controller circuitry configured to control the transmitter circuitry and the receiver circuitry

to monitor a first search space for a first radio signal from the infrastructure equipment, the first search space containing candidates of the first radio signal each having an associated one of a plurality of repetition levels forming part of a repetition level set, the associated repetition level indicating a number of repetitions with which the candidate may be transmitted, the first radio signal containing scheduling information for the transmission of a second radio signal by the communications device to the infrastructure equipment,

to transmit, upon detecting the first radio signal in the first search space, the second radio signal to the infrastructure equipment, the second radio signal being repeatedly transmitted a predetermined number of times during each of a plurality of consecutive time periods,

to monitor a second search space for one or more third radio signals from the infrastructure equipment, the second search space being a portion of known frequency resources and known time resources of the wireless access interface and comprising one or more candidates of the third radio signals each having an associated repetition level of the repetition level set,

to determine that at least one of the third radio signals are monitored during the transmission of the second radio signal, wherein the one or more third radio signals are repeatedly transmitted using one of the candidates of the third radio signals a number of times indicated by the repetition level associated with the selected candidate of the third radio signal,

to monitor, on the basis of at least one criterion of the first radio signal and/or the second radio signal and/or third radio signal, for an early termination indicator during a known subset of the frequency resources and the time resources of the wireless access interface in which the one or more third radio signals can be received, the early termination indicator being received from the infrastructure equipment and indicating that transmission of the second radio signal to the infrastructure equipment should be terminated, and

to terminate transmission of the second radio signal to the infrastructure equipment on the basis of the received early termination indicator.

2. A communications device according to claim 1 , wherein the criterion on which the early termination indicator is monitored for is whether a time over which the second radio signal is repeatedly transmitted is greater than a time required for a specified number of the first radio signals to be repeatedly transmitted using a highest of the repetition levels of the repetition level set.

3. A communications device according to claim 1 , wherein the criterion on which the early termination indicator is monitored for is whether a time over which the second radio signal is repeatedly transmitted is greater than a time required for a specified number of the third radio signals to be repeatedly transmitted using a highest of the repetition levels of the repetition level set.

4. A communications device according to claim 1 , wherein between two search spaces of the third radio signal, an offset period of a predetermined duration is present, and

wherein the criterion on which the early termination indicator is monitored for is whether a time over which the second radio signal is repeatedly transmitted is greater than a time required for a specified candidate of the third radio signal to be transmitted using a highest of the repetition levels of the repetition level set in addition to the duration of the specified number of offset periods.

5. A communication device according to claim 1 , wherein the known subset of the frequency resources and the time resources of the wireless access interface in which the second search space for the third radio signal is located is the same as the frequency resources and the time resources used for the first search space of the first radio signal.

6. A communications device according to claim 1 , wherein the criterion on which the early termination indicator is monitored for is whether a time over which the second radio signal is repeatedly transmitted is greater than a time required for a specified number of the first radio signals to be repeatedly transmitted using the repetition level of the repetition level set that was selected by the infrastructure equipment for repeatedly transmitting the first radio signal.

7. A communications device according to claim 1 , wherein a repetition level of the repetition level set that was selected by the infrastructure equipment for repeatedly transmitting the first radio signal is offset by a predetermined amount, and the criterion on which the early termination indicator is monitored for is whether a time over which the second radio signal is repeatedly transmitted is greater than a time required for a specified number of the first radio signals to be repeatedly transmitted using the offset repetition level.

8. A communications device according to claim 1 , wherein one or more of the first radio signal candidates of the first search space which share the same frequency resources and time resources of the wireless access interface as the candidate used for transmission of the first radio signal are blocked from use, and

wherein the known subset of the frequency resources and the time resources of the wireless access interface in which the one or more third radio signals can be monitored comprises the frequency resources and the time resources comprising the first radio signal candidates of the first search space which are not blocked from use.

9. A communications device according to claim 8 , wherein the known subset of the frequency resources and the time resources of the wireless access interface in which the one or more third radio signals can be received further comprises a part of the known frequency resources and known time resources of the wireless access interface in which at least part of one or more subsequent first signals are received during the transmission of the second radio signal.

10. A communications device according to claim 1 , wherein the known subset of the frequency resources and the time resources of the wireless access interface in which the one or more third radio signals can be received comprises frequency resources and time resources which fall between a configurable start time and a configurable end time.

11. A communications device according to claim 10 , wherein the configurable start time is defined relative to a time at which the second signal starts to be transmitted.

12. A communications device according to claim 10 , wherein the configurable end time is defined relative to a latest time until which the scheduling information indicates that the communications device should transmit the second signal.

13. A communications device according to claim 10 wherein the configurable start time is defined relative to a time at which remaining candidates of the first search space following the candidate used for transmission of the first signal starts.

14. A communications device according to claim 10 , wherein the configurable end time is defined relative to an end time of a last candidate of the first search space that overlaps with a latest time until which the scheduling information indicates that the communications device should transmit the second signal.

15. A communications device according to claim 10 , wherein the frequency resources and time resources which fall between the configurable start time and the configurable end time form a third search space in which the one or more third radio signals can be received, the third search space comprising the third radio signal candidates which are associated with a repetition level of the repetition level set that was selected by the infrastructure equipment for transmitting the first radio signal in the first search space.

16. A method of operating a communications device for use in a wireless communications network comprising infrastructure equipment, the method comprising

monitoring a first search space for a first radio signal from the infrastructure equipment, the first search space containing candidates of the first radio signal each having an associated one of a plurality of repetition levels forming part of a repetition level set, the associated repetition level indicating a number of repetitions with which the candidate may be transmitted, the first radio signal containing scheduling information for the transmission of a second radio signal by the communications device to the infrastructure equipment,

transmitting, upon detecting the first radio signal in the first search space, the second radio signal to the infrastructure equipment, the second radio signal being repeatedly transmitted a predetermined number of times during each of a plurality of consecutive time periods,

monitoring a second search space for one or more third radio signals from the infrastructure equipment, the second search space being a portion of known frequency resources and known time resources of the wireless access interface and comprising one or more candidates of the third radio signals each having an associated repetition level of the repetition level set,

determining that at least one of the third radio signals are monitored during the transmission of the second radio signal, wherein the one or more third radio signals are repeatedly transmitted using one of the candidates of the third radio signals a number of times indicated by the repetition level associated with the selected candidate of the third radio signal,

monitoring, on the basis of at least one criterion of the first radio signal and/or the second radio signal and/or third radio signal, for an early termination indicator during a known subset of the frequency resources and the time resources of the wireless access interface in which the one or more third radio signals can be received, the early termination indicator being received from the infrastructure equipment and indicating that transmission of the second radio signal to the infrastructure equipment should be terminated, and

terminating transmission of the second radio signal to the infrastructure equipment on the basis of the received early termination indicator.

17. Circuitry for a communications device for use in a wireless communications network comprising infrastructure equipment, the communications device comprising

transmitter circuitry configured to transmit signals to the infrastructure equipment via a wireless access interface provided by the wireless communications network,

receiver circuitry configured to receive signals from the infrastructure equipment via the wireless access interface, and

controller circuitry configured to control the transmitter circuitry and the receiver circuitry

to monitor a first search space for a first radio signal from the infrastructure equipment, the first search space containing candidates of the first radio signal each having an associated one of a plurality of repetition levels forming part of a repetition level set, the associated repetition level indicating a number of repetitions with which the candidate may be transmitted, the first radio signal containing scheduling information for the transmission of a second radio signal by the communications device to the infrastructure equipment,

to transmit, upon detecting the first radio signal in the first search space, the second radio signal to the infrastructure equipment, the second radio signal being repeatedly transmitted a predetermined number of times during each of a plurality of consecutive time periods,

to monitor a second search space for one or more third radio signals from the infrastructure equipment, the second search space being a portion of known frequency resources and known time resources of the wireless access interface and comprising one or more candidates of the third radio signals each having an associated repetition level of the repetition level set,

to determine that at least one of the third radio signals are monitored during the transmission of the second radio signal, wherein the one or more third radio signals are repeatedly transmitted using one of the candidates of the third radio signals a number of times indicated by the repetition level associated with the selected candidate of the third radio signal,

to monitor, on the basis of at least one criterion of the first radio signal and/or the second radio signal and/or third radio signal, for an early termination indicator during a known subset of the frequency resources and the time resources of the wireless access interface in which the one or more third radio signals can be received, the early termination indicator being received from the infrastructure equipment and indicating that transmission of the second radio signal to the infrastructure equipment should be terminated, and

to terminate transmission of the second radio signal to the infrastructure equipment on the basis of the received early termination indicator.

18. An infrastructure equipment for use in a wireless communications network comprising a communications device, the infrastructure equipment comprising

transmitter circuitry configured to transmit signals to the communications device via a wireless access interface provided by the wireless communications network,

receiver circuitry configured to receive signals from the communications device via the wireless access interface, and

controller circuitry configured to control the transmitter circuitry and the receiver circuitry

to transmit a first radio signal to the communications device in a first search space, the first search space containing candidates of the first radio signal each having an associated one of a plurality of repetition levels forming part of a repetition level set, the associated repetition level indicating a number of repetitions with which the candidate may be transmitted, the first radio signal containing scheduling information for the transmission of a second radio signal by the communications device to the infrastructure equipment,

to receive the second radio signal from the communications device, the second radio signal being repeatedly transmitted a predetermined number of times during each of a plurality of consecutive time periods,

to transmit, to the communications device in a second search space comprising a portion of known frequency resources and known time resources of the wireless access interface, one or more third radio signals, the second search space being a portion of known frequency resources and known time resources of the wireless access interface and comprising one or more candidates of the third radio signals each having an associated repetition level of the repetition level set, and

to transmit, to the communications device, an early termination indicator during a known subset of the frequency resources and the time resources of the wireless access interface in which the one or more third radio signals can be transmitted, the early termination indicator indicating that transmission of the second radio signal to the infrastructure equipment should be terminated.

19. A method of operating an infrastructure equipment for use in a wireless communications network comprising a communications device, the method comprising

receiving a first radio signal from the communications device, the first radio signal being repeatedly transmitted a predetermined number of times during each of a plurality of consecutive time periods,

transmitting a first radio signal to the communications device in a first search space, the first search space containing candidates of the first radio signal each having an associated one of a plurality of repetition levels forming part of a repetition level set, the associated repetition level indicating a number of repetitions with which the candidate may be transmitted, the first radio signal containing scheduling information for the transmission of a second radio signal by the communications device to the infrastructure equipment,

receiving the second radio signal from the communications device, the second radio signal being repeatedly transmitted a predetermined number of times during each of a plurality of consecutive time periods,

transmitting, to the communications device in a second search space comprising a portion of known frequency resources and known time resources of the wireless access interface, one or more third radio signals, the second search space being a portion of known frequency resources and known time resources of the wireless access interface and comprising one or more candidates of the third radio signals each having an associated repetition level of the repetition level set, and

transmitting, to the communications device, an early termination indicator during a known subset of the frequency resources and the time resources of the wireless access interface in which the one or more third radio signals can be transmitted, the early termination indicator indicating that transmission of the second radio signal to the infrastructure equipment should be terminated.

20. Circuitry for an infrastructure equipment for use in a wireless communications network comprising a communications device, the infrastructure equipment comprising

transmitter circuitry configured to transmit signals to the communications device via a wireless access interface provided by the wireless communications network,

receiver circuitry configured to receive signals from the communications device via the wireless access interface, and

controller circuitry configured to control the transmitter circuitry and the receiver circuitry

to transmit a first radio signal to the communications device in a first search space, the first search space containing candidates of the first radio signal each having an associated one of a plurality of repetition levels forming part of a repetition level set, the associated repetition level indicating a number of repetitions with which the candidate may be transmitted, the first radio signal containing scheduling information for the transmission of a second radio signal by the communications device to the infrastructure equipment,

to receive the second radio signal from the communications device, the second radio signal being repeatedly transmitted a predetermined number of times during each of a plurality of consecutive time periods,

to transmit, to the communications device in a second search space comprising a portion of known frequency resources and known time resources of the wireless access interface, one or more third radio signals, the second search space being a portion of known frequency resources and known time resources of the wireless access interface and comprising one or more candidates of the third radio signals each having an associated repetition level of the repetition level set, and

to transmit, to the communications device, an early termination indicator during a known subset of the frequency resources and the time resources of the wireless access interface in which the one or more third radio signals can be transmitted, the early termination indicator indicating that transmission of the second radio signal to the infrastructure equipment should be terminated.

21. A wireless communications system comprising a wireless communications network comprising infrastructure equipment and a communications device, the communications device being configured

to monitor a first search space for a first radio signal from the infrastructure equipment, the first search space containing candidates of the first radio signal each having an associated one of a plurality of repetition levels forming part of a repetition level set, the associated repetition level indicating a number of repetitions with which the candidate may be transmitted, the first radio signal containing scheduling information for the transmission of a second radio signal by the communications device to the infrastructure equipment,

to transmit, upon detecting the first radio signal in the first search space, the second radio signal to the infrastructure equipment, the second radio signal being repeatedly transmitted a predetermined number of times during each of a plurality of consecutive time periods,

to monitor a second search space for one or more third radio signals from the infrastructure equipment, the second search space being a portion of known frequency resources and known time resources of the wireless access interface and comprising one or more candidates of the third radio signals each having an associated repetition level of the repetition level set,

to determine that at least one of the third radio signals are monitored during the transmission of the second radio signal, wherein the one or more third radio signals are repeatedly transmitted using one of the candidates of the third radio signals a number of times indicated by the repetition level associated with the selected candidate of the third radio signal,

to monitor, on the basis of at least one criterion of the first radio signal and/or the second radio signal and/or third radio signal, for an early termination indicator during a known subset of the frequency resources and the time resources of the wireless access interface in which the one or more third radio signals can be received, the early termination indicator being received from the infrastructure equipment and indicating that transmission of the second radio signal to the infrastructure equipment should be terminated, and

to terminate transmission of the second radio signal to the infrastructure equipment on the basis of the received early termination indicator.

22. A method of operating a wireless communications system comprising a wireless communications network comprising infrastructure equipment and a communications device, the method comprising

monitoring a first search space for a first radio signal from the infrastructure equipment, the first search space containing candidates of the first radio signal each having an associated one of a plurality of repetition levels forming part of a repetition level set, the associated repetition level indicating a number of repetitions with which the candidate may be transmitted, the first radio signal containing scheduling information for the transmission of a second radio signal by the communications device to the infrastructure equipment,

transmitting, upon detecting the first radio signal in the first search space, the second radio signal to the infrastructure equipment, the second radio signal being repeatedly transmitted a predetermined number of times during each of a plurality of consecutive time periods,

monitoring a second search space for one or more third radio signals from the infrastructure equipment, the second search space being a portion of known frequency resources and known time resources of the wireless access interface and comprising one or more candidates of the third radio signals each having an associated repetition level of the repetition level set,

determining that at least one of the third radio signals are monitored during the transmission of the second radio signal, wherein the one or more third radio signals are repeatedly transmitted using one of the candidates of the third radio signals a number of times indicated by the repetition level associated with the selected candidate of the third radio signal,

monitoring, on the basis of at least one criterion of the first radio signal and/or the second radio signal and/or third radio signal, for an early termination indicator during a known subset of the frequency resources and the time resources of the wireless access interface in which the one or more third radio signals can be received, the early termination indicator being received from the infrastructure equipment and indicating that transmission of the second radio signal to the infrastructure equipment should be terminated, and

terminating transmission of the second radio signal to the infrastructure equipment on the basis of the received early termination indicator.

23. Circuitry for a wireless communications system comprising a wireless communications network comprising infrastructure equipment and a communications device, the communications device being configured

to monitor a first search space for a first radio signal from the infrastructure equipment, the first search space containing candidates of the first radio signal each having an associated one of a plurality of repetition levels forming part of a repetition level set, the associated repetition level indicating a number of repetitions with which the candidate may be transmitted, the first radio signal containing scheduling information for the transmission of a second radio signal by the communications device to the infrastructure equipment,

to transmit, upon detecting the first radio signal in the first search space, the second radio signal to the infrastructure equipment, the second radio signal being repeatedly transmitted a predetermined number of times during each of a plurality of consecutive time periods,

to monitor a second search space for one or more third radio signals from the infrastructure equipment, the second search space being a portion of known frequency resources and known time resources of the wireless access interface and comprising one or more candidates of the third radio signals each having an associated repetition level of the repetition level set,

to determine that at least one of the third radio signals are monitored during the transmission of the second radio signal, wherein the one or more third radio signals are repeatedly transmitted using one of the candidates of the third radio signals a number of times indicated by the repetition level associated with the selected candidate of the third radio signal,

to monitor, on the basis of at least one criterion of the first radio signal and/or the second radio signal and/or third radio signal, for an early termination indicator during a known subset of the frequency resources and the time resources of the wireless access interface in which the one or more third radio signals can be received, the early termination indicator being received from the infrastructure equipment and indicating that transmission of the second radio signal to the infrastructure equipment should be terminated, and

to terminate transmission of the second radio signal to the infrastructure equipment on the basis of the received early termination indicator.