Enabling modulation mode selection

1. A method, performed in a network node, for enabling selection of modulation mode for a user equipment, UE, the method comprising:

receiving a recommendation whether to support higher order modulation, HOM, from the UE;

determining whether to provide HOM mode support for the UE, the determining comprises considering the recommendation whether to support HOM from the UE;

when HOM mode support is to be provided, selecting at least one HOM table for the UE; and

when HOM mode support is not to be provided, selecting at least one non-HOM table for the UE.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one HOM table comprises at least one entry for 256 QAM, Quadrature Amplitude Modulation.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein each HOM table comprises at least one entry with a modulation of a higher order compared to all entries of any non-HOM table of the same type.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

when HOM mode support is to be provided, signalling a reference to the selected at least one HOM table to the UE; and

when HOM mode support is not to be provided, signalling a reference to the selected at least one non-HOM table to the UE.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of determining whether to provide HOM mode support comprises determining to provide HOM support when HOM is expected to provide a relative spectral efficiency increase greater than a relative UE power consumption increase.

6. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one HOM table includes an MCS index table and the at least one non-HOM table includes an MCS index table.

7. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one HOM table includes a CQI index table and the at least one non-HOM table includes a CQI index table.

8. The method according to claim 3 , further comprising:

when HOM mode support is to be provided, signalling the selected at least one HOM table to the UE; and

when HOM mode support is not to be provided, signalling the selected at least one non-HOM table to the UE.

9. A network node arranged to enable selection of modulation mode for a user equipment, UE, the network node comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the network node to:

receive a recommendation whether to support higher order modulation, HOM, from the UE;

determine whether to provide HOM mode support for the UE, the determination comprises consideration of the recommendation whether to support HOM from the UE;

when HOM mode support is to be provided, select at least one HOM table for the UE; and

when HOM mode support is not to be provided, select at least one non-HOM table for the UE.

10. The network node according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one HOM table comprises at least one entry for 256 QAM, Quadrature Amplitude Modulation.

11. The network node according to claim 9 , wherein each HOM table comprises at least one entry with a modulation of a higher order compared to all entries of any non-HOM table of the same type.

12. The network node according to claim 9 further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the network node to: when HOM mode support is to be provided, signal a reference to the selected at least one HOM table to the UE; and when HOM mode support is not to be provided, signal a reference to the selected at least one non-HOM table to the UE.

13. The network node according to claim 9 , wherein the instructions to determine whether to provide HOM mode support comprise instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the network node to: determine to provide HOM support when HOM is expected to provide a relative spectral efficiency increase greater than a relative UE power consumption increase.

14. The network node according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one HOM table includes an MCS index table and the at least one non-HOM table includes an MCS index table.

15. The network node according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one HOM table includes a CQI index table and the at least one non-HOM table includes a CQI index table.

16. The network node according to claim 11 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the network node to: when HOM mode support is to be provided, signal the selected at least one HOM table to the UE; and when HOM mode support is not to be provided, signal the selected at least one non-HOM table to the UE.

17. A network node comprising:

means for receiving a recommendation whether to support higher order modulation, HOM, from a user equipment, UE;

means for determining whether to provide HOM mode support for the UE, the determining comprises considering the recommendation whether to support HOM from the UE;

means for, when HOM mode support is to be provided, selecting at least one HOM table for the UE; and

means for, when HOM mode support is not to be provided, selecting at least one non-HOM table for the UE.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium on which a computer program for enabling selection of modulation mode for a user equipment, UE, is stored, comprising computer program code which, when run on a network node, causes the network node to:

receive a recommendation whether to support higher order modulation, HOM, from the UE;

determine whether to provide HOM mode support for the UE, the determination comprises consideration of the recommendation whether to support HOM from the UE;

when HOM mode support is to be provided, select at least one HOM table for the UE; and

when HOM mode support is not to be provided, select at least one non-HOM table for the UE.

19. A method, performed in a user equipment, UE, for enabling selection of modulation mode for the UE, the method comprising:

transmitting, by the UE, a recommendation whether to support higher order modulation, HOM;

receiving signalling indicating whether a HOM table is to be applied or a non-HOM table is to be applied;

applying a HOM table when a HOM table is to be applied; and

applying a non-HOM table when a non-HOM table is to be applied.

20. A user equipment, UE, arranged to enable selection of modulation mode for the UE, the UE comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the UE to:

transmit a recommendation whether to support higher order modulation, HOM;

receive signalling indicating whether a HOM table is to be applied or a non-HOM table is to be applied;

apply a HOM table when a HOM table is to be applied; and

apply a non-HOM table when a non-HOM table is to be applied.

21. A user equipment, UE, comprising:

means for transmitting, by the UE, a recommendation whether to support higher order modulation, HOM;

means for receiving signalling indicating whether a HOM table is to be applied or a non-HOM table is to be applied;

means for applying a HOM table when a HOM table is to be applied; and

means for applying a non-HOM table when a non-HOM table is to be applied.

22. A non-transitory computer readable medium on which a computer program for enabling selection of modulation mode for a user equipment, UE, is stored, comprising computer program code which, when run on the UE, causes the UE to:

transmit, by the UE, a recommendation whether to support higher order modulation, HOM;

receive signalling indicating whether a HOM table is to be applied or a non-HOM table is to be applied;

apply a HOM table when a HOM table is to be applied; and

apply a non-HOM table when a non-HOM table is to be applied.