Transceiver device and scheduling device

Abstract

The present application provides a transceiver device, a scheduling device, and a communication method for the transceiver device and the scheduling device. The transceiver device includes, when operating, a transceiver that receives a sub-band occupancy indicator indicating a sub-band available for transmission via a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and a resource allocation indicator included in the available sub-band and allocated to the transceiver device for transmission, and a circuit that determines the allocated resource according to the resource allocation indicator and the sub-band occupancy indicator when operating.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the transmission and reception of signals in a communication system. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for such transmission and reception. Background Technology

[0002] The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) studies the technical specifications for next-generation cellular technology, also known as 5G, including "New Radio (NR)" radio access technology (RAT) that operates in the spectrum range from sub-1 GHz to the millimeter wave band. NR follows technologies represented by Long Term Evolution (LTE) and LTE Advanced (LTE-A).

[0003] For systems such as LTE, LTE-A, and NR, additional modifications and options can facilitate the effective operation of communication systems and specific devices belonging to the systems. means of solving the problem

[0004] A non-limiting and exemplary embodiment can facilitate flexible allocation of resources on an unlicensed carrier.

[0005] In one embodiment, the technology disclosed herein includes a transceiver that, at operation, receives, via a physical download control channel (PDCCH), a sub-band occupancy indicator indicating a sub-band determined to be available for transmission, and a resource allocation indicator indicating a resource included in the available sub-band and allocated to a transceiver device for transmission. At operation, the transceiver device determines the allocated resource based on the resource allocation indicator and the sub-band occupancy indicator.

[0006] It should be noted that general or specific embodiments may be implemented as systems, methods, integrated circuits, computer programs, storage media, or any optional combination thereof.

[0007] Additional benefits and advantages of the disclosed embodiments will become apparent from the specification and drawings. Benefits and / or advantages may be obtained individually through various embodiments and features of the specification and drawings, and it is not necessary to provide all of the various embodiments and features to obtain one or more of these benefits and / or advantages. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0008] In the following, exemplary embodiments are described in more detail with reference to the attached drawings and figures. Figure 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an exemplary architecture of a 3GPP NR system including exemplary user and control plane architectures for an LTE eNB, gNB, and UE. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the clear channel assessment of an unlicensed broadband carrier. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing channel occupancy. Figure 4 illustrates an example description of a Type 0 resource allocation directly applied to NR-U broadband operation. Figure 5 illustrates an example description of Type 1 resource allocation directly applied to NR-U broadband operation. Figure 6 is an illustration of a broadband operation situation in the unlicensed spectrum where it is determined that only a portion of the active BWP is available. FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the functional components of a scheduling device and a transceiver device according to one embodiment. FIG. 8 is a description of the steps of a method for a scheduling device according to one embodiment. FIG. 9 is a description of the steps of a method for a transceiver device according to one embodiment. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating resource allocation according to type 0, in which resource block group allocation is performed through the union of available sub-bands excluding protection bands, according to one embodiment. FIG. 11 is a description of a method for a transceiver device according to one embodiment. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating resource allocation according to type 0, in which resource block group allocation is performed through the combination of available sub-bands including a protection band, according to one embodiment. FIG. 13 is a description of a method for a transceiver device according to one embodiment. FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating a resource allocation according to Type 1, in which resource block group allocation is performed through the combination of available sub-bands including a protection band, according to one embodiment. FIG. 15 is a description of a method for a transceiver device according to one embodiment in which RA type 1 is applied. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates a typical example of a communication system comprising a base station, a terminal, and a core network. Such a communication system may be a 3GPP system, such as NR and / or LTE and / or UMTS. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the base station (BS) may be a gNB (gNodeB, e.g., an NR base station) or an eNB (eNodeB, e.g., an LTE base station). However, the present disclosure is not limited to these 3GPP systems or any other systems. Although embodiments and exemplary implementations are described using some of the terms of 3GPP systems, the present disclosure is applicable to all other communication systems, in particular to all cellular, wireless and / or mobile systems.

[0010] NR is designed to provide a single technical framework that addresses various defined use scenarios, requirements, and deployment scenarios, including, for example, enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLC), and massive machine type communication (mMTC). For instance, eMBB deployment scenarios may include indoor hotspots, dense cities, rural areas, large cities, and high-speed environments; URLLC deployment scenarios may include industrial control systems, mobile healthcare (remote monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment), real-time vehicle control, wide-area monitoring, and smart grid control systems; and mMTC may include scenarios with a large number of devices performing data transmission where time is not critical, such as smart wearables and sensor networks. While eMBB and URLLC services are similar in that both require very wide bandwidth, they differ in that URLLC services require ultra-low latency. In NR, the physical layer is based on time-frequency resources (such as Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), similar to LTE) and can support multiple antenna operation.

[0011] In LTE and NR, a terminal is referred to as a User Device (UE). This can be a mobile device such as a wireless mobile phone, smartphone, tablet computer, or a USB (universal serial bus) stick that has user terminal functions. However, mobile devices are not limited to this, and generally, a relay device may also have the functions of such a mobile device, and a mobile device may also operate as a relay device.

[0012] A base station is a network node that forms a part of a network to provide services to, for example, a terminal. A base station is a network node that provides wireless access to a terminal.

[0013] At 3GPP, NR-based operation in unlicensed spectrum (NR-U) is studied (see, for example, 3GPP TR 38.889, Study on NR-based access to unlicensed spectrum, v1.0.0). NR-U can operate in the sub-7 GHz band from 5 GHz or 6 GHz. However, the present disclosure is not limited to specific bands and may also apply to, for example, the 52 GHz millimeter wave band.

[0014] Broadband operation in the unlicensed spectrum is one of the building blocks of the NR-U. For example, the NR-U can support the possibility of configuring serving cells with a bandwidth greater than 20 MHz (within the unlicensed broadband carrier) (see FIG. 2). Additionally, if it cannot be guaranteed that there is no transmission by other radio access technologies (RATs), such as Wi-Fi, in the band where the NR-U operates, the NR-U operating bandwidth can be selected as a multiple of 20 MHz, such as 80 MHz as shown in FIG. 2. Furthermore, in the case of a band where, for example, regulations cannot guarantee that there is no Wi-Fi or other competing systems, a clear channel evaluation, such as Listen Before Talk (LBT), can be performed in a unit-unit or 20 MHz frequency range, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0015] The LBT procedure is defined as a mechanism for applying a Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) before a device uses a channel. The CCA utilizes at least energy sensing to determine whether another signal is present or absent in the channel, respectively, in order to determine whether the channel is occupied or empty.

[0016] If the detected energy level exceeds the set CCA threshold (e.g., -73 dBm / MHz in Europe; see ETSI 301 893, Clause 4.8.3), the channel is considered occupied; conversely, if the detected power level is below the set CCA threshold, the channel is considered free. If the channel is classified as free, the device may transmit immediately. The maximum transmission duration is limited to facilitate fair resource sharing with other devices operating in the same band.

[0017] As can be seen in Figure 2, as a result of the LBT clear channel evaluation in each 20 MHz frequency domain unit, some parts of the broadband carrier may be blocked by Wi-Fi or other competing systems, but nevertheless, the NR can continue to use the free parts not used by competing RATs. The blocking of specific parts of the broadband carrier may result from, for example, the NR gNB's own scheduling decision to reserve some frequency resources (whether LBT is performed or, if LBT is performed, regardless of the LBT result).

[0018] In unlicensed band operation, after the channel is acquired by the LBT, the initiating device (a scheduling device, such as an NR gNB) can occupy the channel until the channel occupancy time (COT). This is illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0019] A starting device (e.g., gNB) can share acquired time-frequency resources with a responding device (e.g., one or more transceiver devices such as a UE). Sharing of acquired time-frequency resources can enable flexible resource usage between the uplink (UL), downlink (DL), and sidelink (SL) (see FIG. 3). For example, DL, UL, and SL resources can be reallocated based on traffic demand in each direction.

[0020] In addition, sharing of collected resources can facilitate UL or SL transmission without performing LBT within the COT acquired by the gNB. In particular, if the interval between UL and DL or SL transmission is sufficiently small (e.g., less than 16 μs), the UE does not need to perform LBT for UL or SL transmission immediately after the DL burst, so LBT overhead can be reduced.

[0021] Additionally, by sharing acquired time-frequency resources, semi-statically configured or periodic reference signals, signaling, or data transmission may be possible. For example, if a semi-statically configured UL transmission configured by an upper layer was within the gNB's COT but there were no UL resources shared by the gNB, the UL transmission must be stopped.

[0022] In FIG. 3, a COT spanning two slots is shown for illustrative purposes only. For example, it can be assumed that the maximum COT is 8ms or 9ms. For example, for a subcarrier interval of 15 kHz, a COT of 8ms corresponds to 8 slots, and for a subcarrier interval of 30 kHz, a COT of 8ms corresponds to 16 slots. Additionally, in the example shown in FIG. 3, the clear channel evaluation is performed in the last slot (#j-1), and the COT starts at the first symbol of the slot preceding the slot where the clear channel evaluation is performed. However, other opportunities or time instances in which the starting device can acquire a channel may be considered. For example, there may be opportunities every second symbol or twice per slot.

[0023] In NR Release 15, two types of frequency domain resource allocation schemes, type 0 and type 1, are used, and both signal allocations across the active bandwidth portion (BWP).

[0024] Type 0 is a bitmap-based allocation scheme. The most flexible way to represent a set of allocated resource blocks is to include a bitmap with a size equal to the number of resource blocks in the BWP. A resource block corresponds to the smallest allocatable unit for data transmission and is defined by the number of subcarriers in the frequency. (Note that the NR definition of a resource block differs from the LTE definition. An NR resource block is a one-dimensional unit that spans only in the frequency domain, whereas LTE uses a two-dimensional resource block of 12 subcarriers in frequency and 1 slot in time.) This allows scheduling to transmit any combination of resource blocks, but unfortunately, it can create very large bitmaps for larger bandwidths. Therefore, bitmaps in the Type 0 resource allocation scheme are used to refer to groups of adjacent resource blocks called RBGs, rather than individual resource blocks. The size of an RBG depends on the size of the active BWP. For example, as defined by 3GPP TS 38.214 V15.4.0 and summarized in Table 1, two different configurations are possible for each size of BWP.

[0025]

[0026] As can be seen in Table 1, for example, if the BWP has a bandwidth size corresponding to a number of RBs from 1 to 36, the RGB allocated according to Type 0 contains two RBs when applying Configuration 1. Thus, for example, it has a BWP size corresponding to a number of RBs from 73 to 144. The RGB allocated according to Type 0 contains 16 RBs when applying Configuration 2. In other words, the number of RBs within the RGB depends on the bandwidth of the active BWP. The Type 1 resource allocation scheme does not depend on the bitmap. Instead, it uses a Resource Indicator Value (RIV) that encodes resource allocation into the allocation length and starting position based on the number of resource blocks. Therefore, it supports only frequency-continuous allocation and does not support random allocation of resource blocks, which reduces the number of bits required to signal resource block allocation.

[0027] Both resource allocation types refer to virtual resource blocks. For Type 0, non-interleaved mapping from virtual resource blocks to physical resource blocks is used, meaning that virtual resource blocks are mapped directly to their corresponding physical resource blocks. Meanwhile, for the Type 1 resource allocation scheme, non-interleaved mapping is supported for UL. For DL, both interleaved and non-interleaved mapping are supported for the Type 1 resource allocation scheme, and the interleaving size is the bandwidth of the active BWP. The VRB-to-PRB mapping bit (downlink only, if present) indicates whether allocation signaling uses interleaved or non-interleaved mapping.

[0028] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a Type 0 resource allocation (RA) directly applied to NR-U broadband operation. As shown in FIG. 4, the active BWP includes four subbands, each having a frequency range of 20 MHz. For example, during a clear channel evaluation by LBT, three subbands are determined to be unavailable for transmission. The aforementioned unavailable subbands are indicated by the star symbol in FIG. 4.

[0029] Since the size of an RBG—that is, the number of virtual RBs within a single RBG—depends on the active BWP, if it is determined that only a portion of the active BWP is available, the granularity of the RBG can become too coarse in relation to the available sub-band bandwidth. In the example illustrated in the figure, the active BWP can have a total of 220 virtual RBs (with a 30 kHz subcarrier spacing), and according to Table 1, the RBG size is 16 RBs. However, because only one 20 MHz sub-band is available, the granularity of the RBG becomes too coarse, which limits the flexibility of resource allocation.

[0030] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a Type 1 RA applied directly to NR-U broadband operation for a case similar to that shown in FIG. 4, where it is determined that only a portion of the active BWP is available. In this case, when a Type 1 RA is applied, many RIV entries cannot be used. In particular, in the example shown in FIG. 5, the RIV entry indicating the starting position of RB#55, regardless of length, cannot be used.

[0031] FIG. 6 illustrates a broadband operation of unlicensed spectrum for NR-U, where only some of the active BWPs are determined to be available. To compensate for RF leakage from and into subbands determined to be unavailable, a guard band resource located between the available subband and the unavailable subband, that is, at the edge of an adjacent subband, may be used. This is applicable to both RAs according to Type 0 and Type 1. In an embodiment applying the guard band, whether a guard band resource is inserted between an accessible (available) subband and an inaccessible (unavailable) subband depends on the availability of the subband, which can be determined, for example, as a result of a clear channel evaluation by LBT.

[0032] Preferred RA particle size and prevention of useless RIV items can be achieved, for example, by changing the active BWP according to sub-band availability as a result of a clear channel evaluation. However, switching the active BWP involves a delay that prevents the UE from being scheduled during the switching time. The present disclosure provides a technique for dynamically preventing useless RIV items and controlling RA particle size according to sub-band availability without the need to change the active BWP.

[0033] In addition, in the latest mobile communication standards, such as LTE Release 15 and NR Release 15, guard bands are configured semi-statically to exist at the edge of the carrier. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 6, there is no mechanism to dynamically generate guard bands with flexible frequency positions and sizes within the carrier so that guard band resources can be activated depending on the availability of sub-bands.

[0034] The present disclosure provides a technique for easily utilizing available sub-bands in a flexible and efficient manner in NR-U broadband operation. In particular, the present disclosure also provides a technique for preventing RF leakage from, from, or into unavailable sub-bands.

[0035] To enhance broadband operation, in an embodiment of the communication method and communication device described below, a starting device (scheduling device) displays a sub-band occupancy indicator (SBOI) indicating a sub-band determined to be available for transmission, and a resource allocation indicator indicating a resource included in the available sub-band and allocated to a transceiver device for transmission to a transceiver device via PDDCH, and the transceiver device interprets the resource allocation indicator according to the SBOI to determine the allocated resource.

[0036] The present disclosure provides a transceiver device and a scheduling device as illustrated in FIG. 7. The transceiver device (560) includes, when operating, a sub-band occupancy indicator that indicates a sub-band determined to be available for transmission via PDCCH, and a transceiver (570) (a transmitter and / or receiver including one or more antennas and hardware components such as a control circuit that controls the operation of the hardware components) that receives a resource allocation indicator that indicates available sub-band resources and is allocated to a transmission transceiver device. Additionally, the transceiver device (560) includes, when operating, a circuit (580) (or processing circuit) that determines the allocated resources according to the resource allocation indicator and the sub-band occupancy indicator (SBOI).

[0037] For example, the transceiver device (560) is a UE of NR. Accordingly, the transceiver (570) and the circuit (580) are also referred to as "UE transceiver" and "UE circuit" in this disclosure. However, these terms are used merely to distinguish the circuit (580) and the transceiver (570) from the circuit and transceiver included in other devices, such as a base station. The transceiver device (560) may be a terminal device, a relay device, or a communication device of a similar communication system. The UE circuit (580) may be considered as an "allocated resource determination circuit" or may include such a circuit.

[0038] A scheduling device (510) (or scheduling node) illustrated in FIG. 7 is further provided, which includes, when operating, a sub-band occupancy indicator that indicates a sub-band determined to be available for transmission, and a circuit (530) that determines a resource allocation indicator that indicates a resource included in the available sub-band and is allocated to a transmission transceiver device. The scheduling device also includes a transceiver (520) that, when operating, transmits the resource allocation indicator and the sub-band occupancy indicator via PUSCH.

[0039] For example, the scheduling device is a network node (base station) of an NR system (gNB) or a similar wireless communication system. The circuit (530) is also referred to as the “network node circuit” to distinguish it from other circuits such as the “SBOI and RA determination circuit” or the UE circuit (580).

[0040] Additionally, a method for a scheduling device (or scheduling node) is provided. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the method includes the steps of determining an SBOI indicating a sub-band determined to be available for transmission (S110), determining a resource allocation indicator indicating a resource included in the available sub-band and allocated to a transmission transceiver device (S120), and transmitting the SBOI and the resource allocation indicator through a PDCCU (S130, S140).

[0041] A method for a transceiver device is also provided. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the method comprises the steps of receiving an SBOI indicating a sub-band available for transmission via a PDCCH (S210), receiving a resource allocation indicator indicating a resource included in the available sub-band and allocated to a transceiver device for transmission (S220), and determining the allocated resource based on the resource allocation indicator and the sub-band occupancy indicator (S230).

[0042] In the additional description, details and embodiments apply to the transceiver device (560), the scheduling node (or scheduling device) (510), and each method for the transceiver device and the scheduling node, unless an explicit statement or context otherwise indicates.

[0043] The scheduling node (510) transmits an SBOI and a resource allocation indicator to the transceiver device (560). The sub-band indicated by the SBOI is a frequency range included in the carrier and available for transmission to be performed between the transceiver device and the scheduling device. The carrier may be an unlicensed carrier (or an unlicensed broadband carrier). These available sub-bands are frequency ranges ((sub-)time intervals, sub-bands, or partitions) within the unlicensed carrier that are not used by a competing RAT system (e.g., Wi-Fi) during the duration of a slot or a COT containing multiple slots or the duration of a slot. Each of these sub-bands may have the same width. For example, if the bandwidth within the unlicensed carrier where the NR-U operates is a multiple of 20 MHz, the width of the frequency range may be 20 MHz, as mentioned above.

[0044] The available sub-band is a frequency range that enables transmission between the transceiver device (560) and the scheduling node (510). This transmission may be an uplink transmission from the transceiver device (560) to the scheduling node (510) (the transceiver device (560) transmits and the scheduling node (510) receives), a downlink transmission from the scheduling node (510) to the transceiver device (560) (the scheduling node (510) transmits and the transceiver device (560) receives), or a sidelink transmission between the transceiver device (560) and a second transceiver device (the transceiver device (560) transmits and the second transceiver device receives, or vice versa). The transceiver device (560) and the scheduling node (510) communicate with each other through a wireless channel, specifically a channel of an unlicensed frequency band / carrier.

[0045] The sub-band occupancy indicator represents the sub-band available for transmission based on the results of a clear channel evaluation, such as LBT, for example. For example, bit fields for a group common PDCCH or a UE-specific PDCCH for an SBOI may be defined.

[0046] The availability of sub-band for transmission is not limited to being determined by the results of the clear channel evaluation, but may, for example, be a decision by the scheduler to intentionally reserve some resources.

[0047] The scheduling node (510) can allocate resources to a transceiver device for transmission. In particular, the scheduling node (510) generates a resource allocation indicator and transmits this indicator to a transceiver device (560) that receives the resource allocation indicator.

[0048] As mentioned, a carrier containing a sub-band may be an unlicensed carrier. For example, this carrier may be shared by a first communication system, such as an NR or NR-U, which includes a scheduling device (510) and a transceiver device (560), and a second communication system, such as a WiFi system, which uses all or part of the unlicensed broadband carrier. The scheduling device (510) may also perform a clear channel evaluation to determine available sub-bands that are not currently in use by the second communication system, thereby obtaining one or more available sub-bands for transmission within the COT. For example, multiple frequency ranges are multiple 20 MHz ranges. By obtaining available sub-bands, the scheduling device (510) may be considered to initiate communication on the unlicensed broadband carrier and may be considered a starter device. The scheduling device then, in step (S110), determines an SBOI, for example, based on the result of the clear channel evaluation. In particular, the scheduling device selects one or more of the available sub-bands as available sub-bands, and determines and generates the SBOI to be transmitted via PDCCH.

[0049] For example, a PDCCH indicating available sub-bands is a group-common (GC) PDCCH that the scheduling device (510) transmits to a group of transceiver devices including a transceiver device (560). Thus, the indicated available sub-bands are used by the group of transceiver devices. The transceiver devices in the group may be configured with a group-common RNTI (radio network temporary identifier) ​​(e.g., by an RRC) that the scheduling device (510) uses to scramble the DCI (i.e., the CRC bits of the DCI) carried by the GC PDCCH. The transceiver devices use the group-common RNTI to scramble the DCI carried by the GC PDCCH.

[0050] SBOI and resource allocation transfer

[0051] In some embodiments, the SBOI is transmitted by the scheduling device (510) via a group-common PDCCH and received by the transceiver device (560), and the resource allocation indicator is transmitted by the scheduling device (510) via a specific PDCCH and received by the transceiver device (560).

[0052] In some embodiments, both the SBOI and the resource allocation indicator are transmitted by the scheduling device (510) via a PDCCH specific to the transceiver device and received by the transceiver device (560).

[0053] In some embodiments, available sub-bands are explicitly indicated. For example, the PDCCH includes a bit field indicating available sub-bands. Thus, the PDCCH conveys an explicit indicator of a region (or regions) within a (unlicensed) broadband carrier that is not currently used for communication. For example, the bit field may be one of the following alternatives.

[0054] First alternative: Available sub-bands are explicitly indicated by a bitmap, where one bit of the bitmap represents an applicable area (e.g., a 20 MHz area).

[0055] Second alternative: The available sub-band (if the applicable portion of the unlicensed broadband carrier is continuous) is indicated by the starting position and length of the corresponding portion, where the length has a specific granularity such as 20 MHz.

[0056] A combination of the two alternatives or another signaling is also generally applicable. First AlternativeIn relation to this, in some embodiments, the bit field (i.e., SBOI) is a bitmap containing multiple bits corresponding to each of the multiple sub-bands (such as a 20 MHz area) included in the carrier. The bitmap indicates whether (each) of the multiple ranges is available for transmission. In particular, a bit of the bitmap (or each bit of the bitmap) indicates whether the corresponding sub-band is available for transmission.

[0057] In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, an unlicensed broadband of width 80 MHz is subdivided into four 20 MHz sub-bands. A gNB (or similar scheduling device (510)) can determine the availability of each 20 MHz area by performing a Clear Channel Evaluation (LBT). For example, the scheduling device (510) succeeds in frequency areas (20 MHz (sub-)bands) #1, #2, and #3 (areas #1-#3 are available), but fails for frequency area #4 (i.e., the frequency is unavailable because it is blocked / used by another system / RAT).

[0058] The scheduling device (510) generates a bitmap indicating an applicable frequency range, such as, for example, “0111”. Here, frequency range #1 corresponds to the least significant bit. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the bitmap may be, for example, “1110”.

[0059] The scheduling device (510) then transmits a PDCCH containing a bitmap indicator (SBOI) of the applicable frequency range to a group of transceiver devices or a transceiver device (if transmitted via the GC PDCCH) that communicates with the scheduling device.

[0060] In the case of an SBOI transmitted via a GC PDCCH, the UE (or other transceiver device (560) UE) monitors the GC PDCCH according to the search space configuration provided by the RRC. The configuration of the search space for monitoring the GC PDCCH includes both time and frequency domain configurations. In the time domain, this configures monitoring periodicity, such as one per slot or multiple times per slot, and the monitoring offset indicates which symbols the UE should monitor. In the frequency domain, this configuration directs the UE to frequency domain resources for monitoring the (GC) PDCCH. These frequency domain resources may be located in one 20 MHz sub-band or multiple 20 MHz sub-bands. This may be determined by the scheduling device (510) based on statistics regarding blocking in each sub-band. Thus, to facilitate reliable reception of the GC PDCCH by the UE, the search space is configured in the sub-band where blocking by other systems is less or least likely to occur. In cases where such statistical information is unavailable, and / or to maximize the delivery success rate of the (GC) PDCCH including SBOI to the scheduling device (510), the transceiver device (560)(UE) may be configured to monitor the (GC) PDCCH for every 20 MHz sub-band.

[0061] When an SBOI is transmitted to a transceiver device through a specific PDCCH, the transceiver device obtains the SBOI, for example, from a scheduling DCI within the specific PDCCH of the transceiver device.

[0062] In the above embodiment, SBOI represents a sub-band available as a bitmap containing bits corresponding to the sub-band according to Alternative 1 above. However, the availability and applicability of the sub-band are Second AlternativeThe starting position and length indicator of the applicable portion of the unlicensed carrier according to [the code] can be determined and signaled (by gNB).

[0063] Accordingly, in some embodiments, available sub-bands are included in an adjacent set of available sub-bands, and a bit field indicates the starting position of the adjacent set of sub-bands and the length of a consecutive set of applicable frequency domains. For example, for a case where an 80 MHz broadband carrier is subdivided into a 20 MHz frequency domain, two bits indicate the starting position (or starting frequency domain) of the set of applicable frequency domains, and an additional two bits may indicate the length in units of the applicable (20 MHz) frequency domain. In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the starting position is frequency domain 1 (indicated by two bits, e.g., “00”), and the length of the set of applicable domains is 3 (indicated by “10”). A consecutive set of such applicable frequency domains may be signaled by the bit field “0010”. If no available sub-band is available (the entire carrier is blocked), it may be indicated by an “impossible” combination such as “1111” (the length of the set of applicable regions is 4, starting at frequency domain position #4). In another example, the starting position and length may be co-encoded instead of having two separate bit fields. For the case mentioned above where the 80 MHz broadband carrier is subdivided into four 20 MHz sub-bands, the following encoding table may be used.

[0064]

[0065] Compared to having two separate bit fields, the joint encoding method exemplified in Table 2 can reduce signaling overhead as the number of subbands increases. As described above, if a specific (20 MHz) subband included in an unlicensed carrier is indicated as available (by the SBOI according to the first or second alternative), the UE follows the resource allocation decision rule that determines the resources allocated to the UE, obtained from the resource allocation indicator of the additional channel (e.g., in the scheduling DCI where transmission is dynamically scheduled). If a specific subband is indicated as unavailable, the UE neither transmits nor receives through this unavailable subband, even if the resource allocation indicator indicates that resources within the subband are allocated to the UE.

[0066] In some embodiments, the resource allocation indicator indicates a virtual RB as a resource allocated to the transceiver device (560) based on the available sub-bands indicated by the SBOI. The virtual RB is then mapped to a physical RB that may or may not have interleaving.

[0067] Type 0 RA

[0068] In some embodiments, the resource allocation indicator represents the RB allocated to the transceiver device (560) within the available sub-band, excluding the guard band at the edge of one or more adjacent available sub-bands.

[0069] In some embodiments, when RA is performed by a scheduling device according to type 0, an amount of guard may be configured semi-statically by a transceiver device, but the location of the guard band is determined (dynamically, e.g., based on the result of LBT). The amount of guard may correspond to a minimum guard requirement to prevent RF leakage from or into an unavailable sub-band. The scheduling device (e.g., gNB of NR-U) determines an SBOI representing an available sub-band, e.g., as a result of LBT, and derives the RGB size as the number of RBs within a single RGB by considering only the bandwidth of the available sub-band, excluding the guard band located between the available sub-band and the unavailable sub-band. Here, the bandwidth of the guard band may be defined as the RBs within the guard band as illustrated in FIG. 10. The number of RBs per RBG can be determined, for example, according to Table 1, and the bandwidth portion size is replaced by the bandwidth of the union of available sub-bands excluding the guard band. The RBG is formed across the available RBs after excluding the guard band. Subsequently, the scheduling device indicates the available sub-bands to the transceiver device UE via PDCCH.

[0070] As illustrated in FIG. 11, the transceiver device receives guard band requirements, for example, via RRC, as two guard band RBs (S310). Additionally, the transceiver device (UE) receives a resource allocation indicator, for example, via a GC PDCCH, or via a PDCCH specific to the transceiver device (S320), and derives the RGB size after excluding the guard band RBs according to, for example, Table 1 (S330), wherein the bandwidth portion size is replaced by the bandwidth of the combination of available sub-bands excluding the guard bands. Based on this, the receiver derives the number of bits for the resource allocation indicator (S340). Subsequently, the transceiver device decodes the resource allocation indicator to obtain an RGB allocation (S350).

[0071] Since the RBG size is determined based on the combination of available sub-bands excluding the guard band RB and indicated by SBOI, the particle size of RA is improved when only a portion of the active BWP is available.

[0072] When the SBOI is transmitted via the GC PDCCH, the transceiver device (UE) may determine the bitmap size of the resource allocation indicator using available sub-band information, or simply estimate it to a fixed size. When the SBOI is transmitted via the PDCCH specific to the UE, a fixed bitmap size, such as 18 bits, may be used.

[0073] As exemplified above, as an alternative to the RBG size determined based on the combination of available sub-bands, if the scheduling device performs RA according to type 0 and the number of protections is semi-statically configured in the transceiver device, the RBG size can be configured to be equal to the configured protection band size. A particular advantage of this approach is that protection band resources can be generated by a single RBG.

[0074] In any of the cases described above, for example in scheduling DCI, additional protection band resources may be created by not allocating an RBG to a UE in the resource allocation indicator.

[0075] In some embodiments, when the scheduling device performs RA according to type 0, the amount of protection may be semi-statically configured in the transceiver device, which may correspond to the worst-case protection requirement of preventing RF leakage from or into the unavailable subband. However, the location of the protection band is determined (dynamically, e.g., based on the result of LBT). The scheduling device (e.g., gNB of NR-U) determines an SBOI representing the available subband, e.g., as a result of LBT, and derives the RGB size as the number of RBs within a single RGB by considering only the bandwidth of the available subband, including the protection band located between the available subband and the unavailable subband, as illustrated in FIG. 12. The number of RBs per RGB may be determined, e.g., according to Table 1, and the bandwidth portion size is replaced by the bandwidth of the combination of the available subbands that does not exclude the protection band. The RGB is then formed across the available RBs that do not exclude the protection band. After that, the scheduling device indicates the available sub-bands to the transceiver device UE via the SBOI. Additionally, the guard bands at the edges of each block of adjacent available sub-bands are activated with a size equal to a semi-statically configured value, which means that RBs within the guard band are not used for transmission to prevent RF leakage from, or into, the unavailable sub-bands.

[0076] As illustrated in FIG. 13, the transceiver device receives guard band requirements via RRC, such as three guard bands RB (S410). Additionally, the transceiver device (UE) receives SBOI, for example, via GC PDCCH, and receives resource allocation indicators, for example, via PDCCH specific to the transceiver device (S420). It derives an RGB size that does not exclude guard bands RB, for example, according to Table 1 (S430), where the bandwidth portion size is replaced by the bandwidth of a combination of available sub-bands, regardless of which guard bands exist. Based on this, the receiver derives the number of bits for the resource allocation indicator (S440). Subsequently, the transceiver device decodes the resource allocation indicator to obtain an RGB allocation (S450). Additionally, during data transmission, the UE can recognize, thanks to the SBOI, that a guard band resource is needed at the edge of a consecutive available sub-band, and thus, even if the aforementioned guard band RB is allocated to the transceiver device according to the resource allocated according to the resource allocation indicator, the resource block within the guard band at the edge of an adjacent available sub-band is ignored (S460). Consequently, it is not ambiguous whether the guard band resource needs to be estimated by the UE.

[0077] Compared to the previously described embodiment (see FIGS. 10 and 11), an important feature of the design described above using FIGS. 12 and 13 is that the determination of the RGB size is separated from the guard band specification. Therefore, the resource allocation indicator design can be performed without considering the guard band. Similar to that shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the RGB size is determined based on the combination of available subbands indicated by the SBOI, so the particle size of the RA is improved when only a portion of the active BWP is available.

[0078] When the SBOI is transmitted via the GC PDCCH, the transceiver device (UE) may determine the bitmap size of the resource allocation indicator using available sub-band information, or simply estimate it to a fixed size. When the SBOI is transmitted via the PDCCH specific to the UE, a fixed bitmap size, such as 18 bits, may be used.

[0079] In some embodiments, when the scheduling device performs RA according to type 0, the amount of protection may be semi-statically configured in the transceiver device, which may correspond to worst-case protection requirements preventing RF leakage from or into unavailable subbands. However, the location of the protection band is determined (dynamically, e.g., based on the result of LBT). The scheduling device (e.g., gNB of the NR-U) determines an SBOI indicating an available subband, e.g., as a result of LBT. However, the RGB size, determined by the number of RBs within a single RGB, is determined by considering only the bandwidth of a single available subband, even if two or more subbands are available. Consequently, the RGB allocation is indicated for a single subband within the resource allocation indicator transmitted to the transceiver device.

[0080] When two or more sub-bands are available, the RBG allocation within the aforementioned single sub-band is then applied to all available sub-bands by the scheduling device and the transceiver device. That is, the RBG allocation is determined to be the same for equivalent RBs within different sub-bands.

[0081] One advantage of this resource allocation scheme is that the bitmap size of the resource allocation indicator can be significantly reduced because the allocation of RGBs is referenced only within a single sub-band. For this reason, a constant bitmap size can be obtained regardless of the bandwidth of the active BWP or the number of available sub-bands. For example, consider an 80 MHz broadband carrier operation using a 30 kHz subcarrier spacing. According to the aforementioned example Table 1, the RGB size can be determined to include four RGBs (see Configuration 1). Consequently, the bitmap size is ceil(55 / 4) = 14 bits. This 14-bit bitmap indication is used regardless of whether the available sub-band is 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 60 MHz, or 80 MHz.

[0082] Regarding the generation of guard bands, a mechanism similar to that described using FIGS. 12 and 13 may be adopted. More specifically, guard bands at the edges of each block of adjacent available sub-bands are activated with an amount equal to the semi-statically configured amount, which means that RBs within the guard band are not used for transmission to prevent RF leakage from or into the unavailable sub-band.

[0083] Additionally, from the perspective of a transceiver device (e.g., UE), after receiving the SBOI, the UE becomes aware of the available and unavailable sub-bands. Through this information, the UE recognizes that a guard band resource is needed at the edge of an adjacent available sub-band, and thus, even if the aforementioned guard band RB is allocated to the transceiver device according to the resource allocated by the resource allocation indicator, the resource block within the guard band of the edge of the adjacent available sub-band is ignored. Consequently, it is unambiguous whether the UE needs to estimate the guard band resource.

[0084] Type 1 RA

[0085] In some embodiments, when the scheduling device performs RA according to Type 1, the amount of protection may be semi-statically configured in the transceiver device, which may correspond to the worst protection requirement. However, the position of the protection band is determined (dynamically, e.g., based on the LBT result). The scheduling device (e.g., the gNB of the NR-U) determines the SBOI, for example, as a result of the LBT, and informs the transceiver device of the available sub-bands as the SBOI. As illustrated in FIG. 14, the RIV has a single RB granularity and is indicated for the combination of available sub-bands without the exclusion of any protection bands. If interleaving is applied to map to the physical RB, the total combination of available sub-bands becomes the interleaving size to maximize diversity. Subsequently, the scheduling device indicates the available sub-bands to the transceiver device UE as the SBOI. In addition, the guard band at the edge of each block of adjacent available sub-bands is activated with an amount equal to the semi-statically configured amount, which means that the RB within the guard band is not used for transmission to prevent RF leakage from or into the unavailable sub-band.

[0086] As illustrated in FIG. 15, the transceiver device receives guard band requirements, such as three guard bands RB, for example, via RRC (S510). Additionally, the transceiver device (UE) receives an SBOI, for example, via GC PDCCH, and receives a resource allocation indicator, for example, via a PDCCH specific to the transceiver device (S520), and derives a RIV encoding area without considering any guard band RB (S530). Additionally, the transceiver device derives the number of bits for the RIV allocation indicator (S540). It decodes the resource allocation indicator to obtain RB allocation (S550). Furthermore, thanks to the SBOI, the transceiver device can recognize the location of guard bands at the edge of each block of adjacent available sub-bands. Therefore, an RB within the guard band may be ignored to prevent RF leakage from or into an unavailable sub-band, even if the aforementioned RB is assigned to a receiver device according to the resource allocation indicator (assuming that data is not transmitted by this RB).

[0087] In some embodiments, when the scheduling device performs RA according to Type 1, the amount of protection may be configured semi-statically in the transceiver device, which may correspond to the minimum protection requirement. However, the protection band is determined (dynamically, e.g., based on the LBT result). The scheduling device (e.g., the gNB of the NR-U) determines the SBOI (also the location of the protection band), for example, as a result of the LBT, and informs the transceiver device of the available sub-bands as the SBOI. The RIV has a single RB granularity and is indicated for the combination of available sub-bands excluding the (minimum) protection band. When non-interleaved mapping is performed between the virtual RB and the physical RB, the protection band may be generated by the RA itself, as the RIV has a single RB granularity. When interleaved mapping is applied, the interleaved size is the total combination of available sub-bands excluding the protection band at the edge of the adjacent available sub-band. In any case, the amount of guard band that can be expressed as the number of RBs within the guard band, i.e., the size of the guard band, can be generated without wasting resources due to the single RB particle size of the RIV when more guard band resources are required than the semi-statically configured minimum amount.

[0088] In some embodiments, when RA is performed according to Type 1, the amount of protection may be configured semi-statically in the transceiver device, which may correspond to the worst-case requirements. However, the position of the protection band is determined (dynamically, based on the LBT result). The SBOI is determined, for example, as a result of the LBT (and due to the position of the protection band) and is transmitted to the transceiver device. The granularity of the RIV may depend on the number of available sub-bands that can be determined as a result of the LBT. For example, it may be 1 RB for 1 available sub-band, 2 RBs for 2 available sub-bands, 3 RBs for 3 available sub-bands, and so on. Below, 1-RB granularity and 2-RB granularity of RIV encoding are provided as examples in Tables 3 and 4.

[0089]

[0090]

[0091] However, the present embodiment is not limited to this specific dependence of the RIV grain size on the number of available sub-bands, and the grain size may reflect any dependence on the available sub-bands. The RIV is indicated with respect to the combination of available sub-bands without excluding any guard bands, and if interleaving is applied, the interleaving size is the entire combination of available sub-bands. Through this approach, diversity is maximized. Since guard bands, where the amount is determined semi-statically but the location is dynamically determined at the edge of each block of adjacent sub-bands, are not used for data transmission, the transceiver device ignores any RBs within the guard band even when RBs are assigned to the transceiver device according to the RA within the resource allocation indicator. One advantage of this approach is that the RIV overhead is fixed regardless of the number of available sub-bands. Consider an example of 80 MHz broadband operation with a 30 kHz subcarrier spacing, where one sub-band has a bandwidth of 20 MHz. Consequently, one sub-band has 55 RB. If the granularity of the RIV increases proportionally to the increase in the number of available sub-bands, the number of encoding bits for the RIV has a fixed value of ceil(log2(55x56 / 2))=11 bits. Consequently, decoding in DCI scheduling is possible regardless of knowing the amount of available sub-bands.

[0092] If the SBOI is transmitted via the GC PDCCH, the transceiver device may determine the size of the RIV before receiving the scheduling DCI, or simply estimate it to a fixed size, such as 11 bits. However, if the SBOI is transmitted via the PDCCH specific to the transceiver device, the transceiver device may estimate it to a fixed size.

[0093] In some embodiments, when performing RA according to Type 1, the amount of protection may be configured semi-statically in the transceiver device, which may correspond to the worst-case requirements. However, the location of the protection band is determined (dynamically, according to the LBT result). The available sub-bands (and thus the location of the protection bands) are determined by the SBOI and provided to the transceiver device. The granularity of the RIV is set to one RB, and the RIV is indicated for a single available sub-band, such as one of the single available 20 MHz sub-bands, even if two or more sub-bands are available. If interleaving is applied mapping from a virtual RB to a physical RB, the interleaving size is set to the size of a single available sub-band, such as 20 MHz, regardless of the number of available sub-bands. Guard bands at the edge of adjacent available sub-bands are not used for transmission, and the transceiver device ignores guard band RBs even if guard band RBs are allocated to the transceiver device according to the RA in the resource allocation indicator.

[0094] When determining the resources allocated to a transceiver device, the transceiver device determines the resource allocation from the resource allocation indicator based on a single available sub-band. If two or more sub-bands are available, the determined RB allocation is applied by the transceiver device to all available sub-bands. That is, the RB allocation is determined to be the same for equivalent RBs within different sub-bands. Therefore, the bits regarding the RIV indication of the resource allocation indicator can be significantly reduced because they signify only the RB allocation within a single sub-band.

[0095] In particular, when the SBOI is transmitted through the GC PDCCH, the transceiver device may determine the RIV size based on the available sub-band according to the received SBOI, or simply estimate it to a fixed size, such as 11 bits. When the SBOI is transmitted through the PDCCH specific to the transceiver device, the transceiver device may estimate it to a fixed size.

[0096] The present disclosure may be realized by software, hardware, or software that works in cooperation with hardware. Each functional block used in the description of each embodiment described above may be realized partially or wholly by a large-scale integration (LSI), such as an integrated circuit (IC), and each process described in each embodiment may be controlled partially or wholly by the same LSI or a combination of LSIs. The LSI may be formed individually as a chip, or a single chip may be formed to include part or all of the functional blocks. The LSI may include data inputs and outputs connected thereto. Depending on the degree of integration, this LSI may be referred to as an IC, system LSI, super LSI, or ultra LSI. However, the technology for implementing the integrated circuit is not limited to LSIs and may be implemented using dedicated circuits, general-purpose processors, or special-purpose processors. Additionally, a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) that can be programmed after the production of the LSI, or a reconfiguration processor in which the connections and configurations of circuit cells placed within the LSI can be reconfigured, may be used. The present disclosure may be implemented by digital processing or analog processing. If future integrated circuit technology replaces LSI as a result of advancements in semiconductor technology or other derived technologies, functional blocks can be integrated using future integrated circuit technology. Biotechnology can also be applied.

[0097] The present disclosure may be implemented by any type of device, apparatus, or system having a communication function, referred to as a communication device.

[0098] Some non-limiting examples of communication devices include mobile phones (e.g., cell phones, smartphones), tablets, personal computers (PCs) (e.g., laptops, desktops, netbooks), cameras (digital still / video cameras), digital players (digital audio / video players), wearable devices (e.g., wearable cameras, smartwatches, tracking devices), game consoles, digital book readers, telehealth / telemedicine devices, and vehicles providing communication functions (e.g., automobiles, airplanes, ships) and combinations thereof.

[0099] Communication devices are not limited to portable or mobile devices and may include all non-portable or immobile devices, apparatus, or systems, such as smart home devices (e.g., home appliances, lighting, smart meters, control panels), vending machines, and other “things” of an “Internet of Things (IoT)” network.

[0100] Communication may include transmitting data through, for example, cellular systems, wireless LAN systems, satellite systems, and various combinations thereof.

[0101] A communication device may include a device such as a controller or a sensor connected to a communication device that performs the communication functions described in the present disclosure. For example, a communication device may include a controller or a sensor that generates a control signal or a data signal used by a communication device that performs the communication functions of the communication device.

[0102] Communication devices may include infrastructure such as base stations and access points, and all other devices, apparatus, or systems that communicate with or control devices such as the non-limiting examples above.

[0103] As described above, an apparatus and method are provided that enable efficient and flexible resource allocation in NR-U.

[0104] A transceiver device is provided that, when operating, receives via a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), a sub-band occupancy indicator indicating a sub-band determined to be available for transmission and a resource allocation indicator indicating a resource included in the available sub-band and allocated to the transceiver device for transmission, and, when operating, a circuit that determines the allocated resource according to the resource allocation indicator and the sub-band occupancy indicator.

[0105] In some embodiments, when operating, the transceiver receives a sub-band occupancy indicator via a group-common PDCCH and a resource allocation indicator via a PDCCH specific to the transceiver device, or receives both the sub-band indicator and the resource allocation indicator via a PDCCH specific to the transceiver device.

[0106] In some embodiments, the sub-band occupancy indicator indicates a sub-band determined to be available for transmission based on the result of a clear channel evaluation.

[0107] In some embodiments, the resource allocation indicator indicates a resource block as a resource allocated to a transceiver device based on the available sub-band indicated by the sub-band occupancy indicator.

[0108] For example, a resource allocation indicator indicates a resource block allocated to a transceiver device within an available subband, excluding guard bands at the edges of one or more adjacent available subbands.

[0109] In some embodiments, the circuit ignores, at operation, one or more resource blocks that are guard band resource blocks located at the edges of one or more adjacent available sub-bands, even if the guard band resource blocks are assigned to a transceiver device according to a resource allocation indicator.

[0110] In some embodiments, a resource allocation indicator displays resource blocks allocated to a transceiver device by a bitmap representing resource block groups, each resource block group includes at least one resource block within an available sub-band excluding a guard band, and the circuit determines the number of resource blocks in one of the resource block groups according to the total number of resource blocks within a combination of available sub-bands excluding a guard band during operation.

[0111] In some embodiments, the resource allocation indicator displays the resource blocks allocated to the transceiver as a bitmap representing a group of resource blocks within a single available subband, each resource block group includes at least one resource block within the available subband excluding the guard band, and the circuit determines, at operation, that the number of resource blocks in one of the resource block groups is equal to the number of guard band resource blocks within each guard band.

[0112] In some embodiments, a resource allocation indicator displays resource blocks allocated to a transceiver device by a bitmap representing resource block groups, each resource block group includes at least one resource block within an available sub-band, and the circuit determines the number of resource blocks within each resource block group according to the total number of resource blocks within a combination of available sub-bands during operation.

[0113] In some embodiments, a resource allocation indicator displays resource blocks allocated to a transceiver device by a bitmap representing a group of resource blocks within a single available subband among available subbands, each resource block group includes at least one resource block within a single available subband, and the circuit, at operation, determines the number of resource blocks within one of the resource block groups according to the total number of resource blocks within a single available subband, and determines the allocation of resource block groups in other available subbands to be the same as the allocation of resource block groups in a single available subband.

[0114] In some embodiments, the resource allocation indicator indicates a resource block allocated to a transceiver device, a resource indicator value representing a starting resource block and a length for a contiguously allocated resource block.

[0115] In some embodiments, the resource allocation indicator indicates the resource blocks allocated to the transceiver device as resource indicator values ​​representing the starting resource block and length—which increases with the number of available sub-bands—for resource blocks allocated consecutively within the available sub-bands.

[0116] In some embodiments, the resource allocation indicator indicates a resource block allocated to the transceiver device as a resource indication value representing the starting resource block and length for a resource block continuously allocated within a single available subband among the available subbands, and the circuit determines, at operation, that the resource block allocation of another available subband is the same as the resource block allocation of the single available subband.

[0117] A scheduling device is also provided, comprising a circuit that determines, when operating, a sub-band occupancy indicator indicating a sub-band determined to be available for transmission, and a resource allocation indicator indicating a resource included in the available sub-band and allocated to a transceiver device for transmission, and a transceiver that transmits the sub-band occupancy indicator and the resource allocation indicator through a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) when operating.

[0118] In some embodiments, the sub-band occupancy indicator indicates a sub-band determined to be available for transmission based on the result of a clear channel evaluation.

[0119] In some embodiments, when operating, the transceiver receives a sub-band occupancy indicator via a group-common PDCCH and a resource allocation indicator via a PDCCH specific to the transceiver device, or receives both the sub-band indicator and the resource allocation indicator via a PDCCH specific to the transceiver device.

[0120] In some embodiments, the resource allocation indicator indicates a resource block as a resource allocated to a transceiver device based on the available sub-band indicated by the sub-band occupancy indicator.

[0121] In some embodiments, the resource allocation indicator indicates a resource block allocated to a transceiver device within an available sub-band, excluding the guard band of one or more adjacent available sub-band edges.

[0122] In some embodiments, a resource allocation indicator displays resource blocks allocated to a transceiver device by a bitmap representing resource block groups, each resource block group includes at least one resource block within an available sub-band excluding a guard band, and the circuit determines the number of resource blocks in one of the resource block groups according to the total number of resource blocks within a combination of available sub-bands excluding a guard band during operation.

[0123] In some embodiments, the resource allocation indicator displays resource blocks allocated to the transceiver device by a bitmap representing resource block groups, each resource block group includes at least one resource block within an available sub-band excluding the guard band, and the circuit determines, at operation, that the number of resource blocks in one of the resource block groups is equal to the number of guard band resource blocks within each guard band.

[0124] In some embodiments, a resource allocation indicator displays resource blocks allocated to a transceiver device by a bitmap representing resource block groups, each resource block group includes at least one resource block within an available sub-band, and the circuit determines the number of resource blocks within each resource block group according to the total number of resource blocks within a combination of available sub-bands during operation.

[0125] In some embodiments, a resource allocation indicator displays resource blocks allocated to a transceiver by a bitmap representing a group of resource blocks within a single available subband among available subbands, each resource block group includes at least one resource block within a single available subband, and the circuit, at operation, determines the number of resource blocks in one resource block group according to the total number of resource blocks within a single available subband, and determines the allocation of resource block groups in other available subbands to be the same as the allocation of resource block groups in a single available subband.

[0126] In some embodiments, the resource allocation indicator displays the resource blocks allocated to the transceiver device as resource indicator values ​​representing the starting resource block and length for the continuously allocated resource blocks.

[0127] In some embodiments, the resource allocation indicator indicates the resource blocks allocated to the transceiver device as resource indicator values ​​representing the starting resource block and length—which increases with the number of available sub-bands—for resource blocks allocated consecutively within the available sub-bands.

[0128] In some embodiments, the resource allocation indicator indicates a resource block allocated to a transceiver device as a resource indication value representing the starting resource block and length for a resource block allocated consecutively within a single available subband among the available subbands.

[0129] A method is also provided comprising the steps of receiving, via a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), a sub-band occupancy indicator indicating a sub-band determined to be available for transmission, and a resource allocation indicator including a resource included in the available sub-band and allocated to a transceiver device for transmission, and determining the allocated resource according to the resource allocation indicator and the sub-band occupancy indicator.

[0130] In some embodiments, the sub-band occupancy indicator indicates a sub-band determined to be available for transmission based on the result of a clear channel evaluation.

[0131] In some embodiments, when operating, the transceiver receives a sub-band occupancy indicator via a group-common PDCCH and a resource allocation indicator via a PDCCH specific to the transceiver device, or receives both the sub-band indicator and the resource allocation indicator via a PDCCH specific to the transceiver device.

[0132] In some embodiments, the resource allocation indicator indicates a resource block as a resource allocated to a transceiver device based on the available sub-band indicated by the sub-band occupancy indicator.

[0133] For example, a resource allocation indicator indicates a resource block allocated to a transceiver device within an available subband, excluding the guard bands of the edges of one or more adjacent available subbands.

[0134] In some embodiments, the method includes the step of ignoring one or more resource blocks, which are guard band resource blocks located at the edges of one or more adjacent available sub-bands, even if the guard band resource blocks are assigned to a transceiver device according to a resource allocation indicator.

[0135] In some embodiments, the resource allocation indicator displays resource blocks allocated to the transceiver device by a bitmap representing resource block groups, each resource block group includes at least one resource block within an available sub-band excluding the guard band, and the number of resource blocks in one of the resource block groups is determined by the total number of resource blocks within the combination of available sub-bands excluding the guard band.

[0136] In some embodiments, the resource allocation indicator displays resource blocks allocated to the transceiver device by a bitmap representing resource block groups, each resource block group includes at least one resource block within an available sub-band excluding the guard band, and the number of resource blocks in one of the resource block groups is determined to be equal to the number of guard band resource blocks within each guard band.

[0137] In some embodiments, the resource allocation indicator displays resource blocks allocated to the transceiver device by a bitmap representing resource block groups, each resource block group includes at least one resource block within an available sub-band, and the number of resource blocks within each resource block group is determined according to the total number of resource blocks within a combination of available sub-bands.

[0138] In some embodiments, a resource allocation indicator indicates resource blocks allocated to a transceiver device by a bitmap representing a resource block group within a single available subband among available subbands, each resource block group includes at least one resource block within a single available subband, the number of resource blocks within one of the resource block groups is determined according to the total number of resource blocks within a single available subband, and the allocation of resource block groups in other available subbands is determined to be the same as the allocation of resource block groups in a single available subband.

[0139] In some embodiments, the resource allocation indicator displays the resource blocks allocated to the transceiver device as resource indicator values ​​representing the starting resource block and length for the continuously allocated resource blocks.

[0140] In some embodiments, the resource allocation indicator indicates the resource blocks allocated to the transceiver device as resource indicator values ​​representing the starting resource block and length—which increases with the number of available sub-bands—for resource blocks allocated consecutively within the available sub-bands.

[0141] In some embodiments, the resource allocation indicator indicates a resource block allocated to a transceiver device as a resource indication value representing the starting resource block and length for a resource block allocated contiguously within a single available subband of an available subband, and the resource allocation blocks of other available subbands are determined to be identical to the resource block allocation of the single available subband.

[0142] A method is further provided comprising the steps of: determining a sub-band occupancy indicator indicating a sub-band determined to be available for transmission; determining a resource allocation indicator indicating a resource included in the available sub-band and allocated to a transceiver device for transmission; and transmitting the sub-band occupancy indicator and the resource allocation indicator through a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH).

[0143] In some embodiments, the sub-band occupancy indicator indicates a sub-band determined to be available for transmission based on the result of a clear channel evaluation.

[0144] In some embodiments, the sub-band occupancy indicator is transmitted via a group-common PDCCH and the resource allocation indicator is transmitted via a PDCCH specific to the transceiver device, or both the sub-band occupancy indicator and the resource allocation indicator are transmitted via a PDCCH specific to the transceiver device.

[0145] In some embodiments, the resource allocation indicator indicates a resource block as a resource allocated to a transceiver device based on the available sub-band indicated by the sub-band occupancy indicator.

[0146] In some embodiments, the method includes the step of ignoring one or more resource blocks, which are guard band resource blocks located at the edges of one or more adjacent available sub-bands, even if the guard band resource blocks are assigned to a transceiver device according to a resource allocation indicator.

[0147] In some embodiments, the resource allocation indicator displays resource blocks allocated to the transceiver device by a bitmap representing resource block groups, each resource block group includes at least one resource block within an available sub-band excluding the guard band, and the number of resource blocks in one of the resource block groups is determined by the total number of resource blocks within the combination of available sub-bands excluding the guard band.

[0148] In some embodiments, the resource allocation indicator displays resource blocks allocated to the transceiver device by a bitmap representing resource block groups, each resource block group includes at least one resource block within an available sub-band excluding the guard band, and the number of resource blocks in one of the resource block groups is determined to be equal to the number of guard band resource blocks within each guard band.

[0149] In some embodiments, the resource allocation indicator displays resource blocks allocated to the transceiver device by a bitmap representing resource block groups, each resource block group includes at least one resource block within an available sub-band, and the number of resource blocks within each resource block group is determined according to the total number of resource blocks within a combination of available sub-bands.

[0150] In some embodiments, a resource allocation indicator indicates resource blocks allocated to a transceiver device by a bitmap representing a resource block group within a single available subband among available subbands, each resource block group includes at least one resource block within a single available subband, the number of resource blocks within one of the resource block groups is determined according to the total number of resource blocks within a single available subband, and the allocation of resource block groups in other available subbands is determined to be the same as the allocation of resource block groups in a single available subband.

[0151] In some embodiments, the resource allocation indicator displays the resource blocks allocated to the transceiver device as resource indicator values ​​representing the starting resource block and length for the continuously allocated resource blocks.

[0152] In some embodiments, the resource allocation indicator indicates the resource blocks allocated to the transceiver device as resource indicator values ​​representing the starting resource block and length—which increases with the number of available sub-bands—for resource blocks allocated consecutively within the available sub-bands.

[0153] In some embodiments, the resource allocation indicator indicates a resource block allocated to a transceiver device as a resource indication value representing the starting resource block and length for a resource block allocated consecutively within a single available subband among the available subbands.

Claims

Claim 1 A transceiver device comprising, when operating, a sub-band occupancy indicator indicating a sub-band determined to be available for transmission via a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), and a resource allocation indicator indicating a resource included in said available sub-band and allocated to said transceiver device for transmission, and a circuit determining said allocated resource according to said resource allocation indicator and said sub-band occupancy indicator when operating, wherein the resource allocation indicator indicates a resource block as a resource allocated to said transceiver device based on said available sub-band indicated by the sub-band occupancy indicator, and the circuit ignores a plurality of resource blocks, which are guard band resource blocks located at the edge of one or more adjacent available sub-bands, even if said guard band resource blocks are allocated to said transceiver device according to said resource allocation indicator when operating. Claim 2 A transceiver device according to claim 1, wherein, when operating, the transceiver receives the sub-band occupancy indicator via a group-common PDCCH and receives the resource allocation indicator via a PDCCH unique to the transceiver device, or receives both the sub-band occupancy indicator and the resource allocation indicator via a PDCCH unique to the transceiver device. Claim 3 The transceiver device according to claim 1, wherein the resource allocation indicator indicates the resource blocks allocated to the transceiver device by a bitmap representing resource block groups, each resource block group includes at least one resource block within the available sub-band, and the circuit determines the number of resource blocks within each resource block group according to the total number of resource blocks within the combination of available sub-bands during operation. Claim 4 A transceiver device according to claim 1, wherein the resource allocation indicator indicates the resource blocks allocated to the transceiver device by a bitmap representing a group of resource blocks within a single available sub-band among the available sub-bands, each resource block group includes at least one resource block within the single available sub-band, and the circuit, when operating, determines the number of resource blocks within one of the resource block groups according to the total number of resource blocks within the single available sub-band, and determines the allocation of resource block groups of other available sub-bands to be the same as the allocation of resource block groups of the single available sub-band. Claim 5 In claim 1, the resource allocation indicator displays the resource block allocated to the transceiver device as a resource indicator value representing the start resource block and length for the continuously allocated resource block. Claim 6 A transceiver device according to claim 1, wherein the resource allocation indicator indicates the resource block allocated to the transceiver device as a resource indication value representing the starting resource block and length—the length increasing according to the number of available sub-bands—for resource blocks allocated consecutively within the available sub-band. Claim 7 In claim 1, the resource allocation indicator indicates the resource block allocated to the transceiver device as a resource indication value representing the start resource block and length for a resource block continuously allocated within a single available sub-band among the available sub-bands, and the circuit determines, upon operation, the resource block allocation of another available sub-band to be the same as the resource block allocation of the single available sub-band. Claim 8 A method comprising the steps of: receiving, via a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), a sub-band occupancy indicator indicating a sub-band determined to be available for transmission, and a resource allocation indicator indicating a resource included in said available sub-band and allocated to a transceiver device for transmission; determining said allocated resource according to said resource allocation indicator and said sub-band occupancy indicator, wherein the resource allocation indicator indicates a resource block as a resource allocated to said transceiver device based on said available sub-band indicated by said sub-band occupancy indicator, and ignoring a plurality of resource blocks, which are guard band resource blocks located at the edge of one or more adjacent available sub-bands, even if said guard band resource blocks are allocated to said transceiver device according to said resource allocation indicator. Claim 9 An integrated circuit that controls a process of a transceiver device when in operation, wherein the process comprises receiving, via a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), a sub-band occupancy indicator indicating a sub-band determined to be available for transmission, and a resource allocation indicator indicating a resource included in the available sub-band and allocated to the transceiver device for transmission, and determining the allocated resource according to the resource allocation indicator and the sub-band occupancy indicator, wherein the resource allocation indicator indicates a resource block as a resource allocated to the transceiver device based on the available sub-band indicated by the sub-band occupancy indicator, and ignoring a plurality of resource blocks, which are guard band resource blocks located at the edge of one or more adjacent available sub-bands, even if the guard band resource blocks are allocated to the transceiver device according to the resource allocation indicator. 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