A method and device for wireless communication

Abstract

A wireless communication system and method related to multiplexing uplink control channel signals from different users are provided. A first wireless communication device obtains an uplink control channel multiplexing configuration, which indicates a first frequency spread sequence, and at least one of a second frequency spread sequence or a first spatial direction. The first wireless communication device transmits a first uplink control channel signal including a first reference signal and a first uplink control information signal to a second wireless communication device in a frequency spectrum based on the uplink control channel multiplexing configuration. The first reference signal is based on the first frequency spread sequence, and the first uplink control information signal is based on at least one of the second frequency spread sequence or the first spatial direction.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application is a divisional application of a patent application filed on November 15, 2018, entitled “A method and device for wireless communication” and application number 201880075016.5.

[0003] This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application No. 16 / 191,257, filed on November 14, 2018, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 590,093, filed on November 22, 2017, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth below and for all applicable purposes. Technical Field

[0004] The present application relates to wireless communication systems and methods, and more particularly, to multiplexing uplink control channel signals from multiple users on the same frequency resources in a spectrum shared by multiple network operating entities. Background Art

[0005] Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, etc. These systems are capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing available system resources (e.g., time, frequency, and power). A wireless multiple-access communication system may include multiple base stations (BSs), each of which simultaneously supports communication for multiple communication devices, which may also be referred to as user equipment (UE).

[0006] In order to meet the growing demand for extended mobile broadband connections, wireless communication technology is evolving from LTE technology to next generation New Radio (NR) technology. NR can provide dynamic medium sharing between network operators in licensed spectrum, shared spectrum and / or unlicensed spectrum. For example, shared spectrum and / or unlicensed spectrum can include frequency bands at about 3.5 gigahertz (GHz), about 6 GHz and about 60 GHz.

[0007] Some spectrums may have certain power spectral density (PSD) requirements. For example, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) document EN 301 893 V2.1.1 specifies various PSD limits for frequency bands below 6 GHz, and the ETSI draft document EN302 567 V2.0.22 specifies the maximum equivalent isotropic radiated power (EIRP) and EIRP density for the 60 GHz band. Some other frequency bands, such as the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) band at about 3.5 GHz, may not constrain transmissions to specific PSD limits. In general, different spectrums may have different PSD requirements and / or different bandwidth occupancy requirements.

[0008] One method for meeting the PSD requirements of the spectrum and allowing wireless communication devices to transmit in the spectrum at full transmit power is to expand the frequency occupancy of the transmission signal over a wider bandwidth. However, the expansion of the frequency occupancy reduces the number of wireless communication devices that can frequency reuse in the spectrum. Summary of the invention

[0009] Some aspects of the present disclosure are summarized below to provide a basic understanding of the discussed technology. This summary is not an exhaustive overview of all expected features of the present disclosure, and is neither intended to identify key or important elements of all aspects of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to describe the scope of any or all aspects of the present disclosure. Its sole purpose is to provide some concepts of one or more aspects of the present disclosure in a summarized form as a prelude to more specific embodiments that will be provided later.

[0010] For example, in one aspect of the present disclosure, a method of wireless communication includes: obtaining an uplink control channel multiplexing configuration by a first wireless communication device, the uplink control channel multiplexing configuration indicating a first frequency spread sequence, and at least one of a second frequency spread sequence or a first spatial direction; and transmitting, by the first wireless communication device based on the uplink control channel multiplexing configuration, a first uplink control channel signal including a first reference signal and a first uplink control information signal with a second wireless communication device in a spectrum, wherein the first reference signal is based on the first frequency spread sequence, and the first uplink control information signal is based on the second frequency spread sequence or at least one of the first spatial direction.

[0011] In an additional aspect of the present disclosure, a method of wireless communication includes: obtaining, by a first wireless communication device, an uplink control channel multiplexing configuration, the uplink control channel multiplexing configuration indicating a portion of a first frequency interlace among multiple frequency interlaces in a spectrum; and using, by the first wireless communication device, the portion of the first frequency interlace to transmit a first uplink control channel signal with a second wireless communication device.

[0012] In an additional aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus includes: a unit for obtaining an uplink control channel multiplexing configuration, the uplink control channel multiplexing configuration indicating a first frequency spread sequence, and at least one of a second frequency spread sequence or a first spatial direction; and a unit for transmitting a first uplink control channel signal including a first reference signal and a first uplink control information signal to a second wireless communication device in a spectrum based on the uplink control channel multiplexing configuration, wherein the first reference signal is based on the first frequency spread sequence, and the first uplink control information signal is based on at least one of the second frequency spread sequence or the first spatial direction.

[0013] In additional aspects of the present disclosure, an apparatus includes: a unit for obtaining an uplink control channel multiplexing configuration, wherein the uplink control channel multiplexing configuration indicates a portion of a first frequency interlace among multiple frequency interlaces in a spectrum; and a unit for using the portion of the first frequency interlace to transmit a first uplink control channel signal with a second wireless communication device.

[0014] After reading the following description of specific, exemplary embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, other aspects, features, and embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Although the features of the present invention may be discussed below with respect to certain embodiments and the accompanying drawings, all embodiments of the present invention may include one or more of the advantageous features discussed herein. In other words, although one or more embodiments may be discussed as having certain advantageous features, one or more of such features may also be used according to the various embodiments of the present invention discussed herein. In a similar manner, although the exemplary embodiments may be discussed below as device, system, or method embodiments, it should be understood that such exemplary embodiments may be implemented in various devices, systems, and methods. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1

[0013] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a wireless communication network is shown.

[0016] Figure 2An embodiment according to the present disclosure shows a resource configuration scheme with frequency interlaces.

[0017] Figure 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary user equipment (UE) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0018] Figure 4 is a block diagram of an exemplary base station (BS) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0019] Figure 5 An embodiment according to the present disclosure shows an uplink control channel multiplexing scheme for a short physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) signal with format 0.

[0020] Figure 6 An embodiment according to the present disclosure shows an uplink control channel multiplexing scheme for a short PUCCH signal with format 2.

[0021] Figure 7 An embodiment according to the present disclosure shows an uplink control channel multiplexing scheme for a short PUCCH signal with format 2.

[0022] Figure 8 An embodiment according to the present disclosure shows an uplink control channel multiplexing scheme for a short PUCCH signal with format 2.

[0023] Fig. 9 An embodiment according to the present disclosure shows an uplink control channel multiplexing scheme for a short PUCCH signal with format 2.

[0024] Fig.10 An embodiment according to the present disclosure shows an uplink control channel multiplexing scheme for long PUCCH signals having format 3 and format 4.

[0025] Fig.11 An embodiment according to the present disclosure shows an uplink control channel multiplexing scheme for long PUCCH signals having format 3 and format 4.

[0026] Fig.12 An embodiment according to the present disclosure shows an uplink control channel multiplexing scheme for a long PUCCH signal with format 1.

[0027] Fig.13 An embodiment according to the present disclosure illustrates an uplink control channel communication scheme using fractional frequency interlaces.

[0028] Fig.14 is a signaling diagram of an uplink control channel communication method 1400 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0029] Fig.15 is a flowchart of an uplink control channel communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0030] Fig.16 is a flowchart of an uplink control channel communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The specific embodiments described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings are intended as descriptions of various configurations, rather than being intended to represent the only configuration in which the concepts described herein can be practiced. In order to provide a comprehensive understanding of the various concepts, the specific embodiments include specific details. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts can be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, in order to avoid ambiguity to these concepts, known structures and components are shown in block diagram form.

[0032] The technology described herein can be used in various wireless communication networks, such as code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), single carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA) and other networks. The terms "network" and "system" are often used interchangeably. A CDMA network can implement radio technologies such as Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA), cdma2000, etc. UTRA includes Wideband CDMA (WCDMA) and other variants of CDMA. cdma2000 covers IS-2000, IS-95 and IS-856 standards. A TDMA network can implement radio technologies such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). An OFDMA network can implement radio technologies such as Evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, Flash-OFDMA, etc. UTRA and E-UTRA are parts of Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS). 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) and Improved (LTE-A) are new versions of UMTS using E-UTRA. UTRA, E-UTRA, UMTS, LTE, LTE-A and GSM are described in documents from an organization named "3rd Generation Partnership Project" (3GPP). CDMA2000 and UMB are described in documents from an organization named "3rd Generation Partnership Project 2" (3GPP2). The technology described herein can be used for the wireless networks and radio technologies mentioned above as well as other wireless networks and radio technologies, such as next generation (e.g., fifth generation (5G) or new radio (NR) operating in millimeter wave bands) networks.

[0033] In a wireless network, a base station (BS) can serve one or more UEs. Each UE can send uplink (UL) control information to the serving BS to facilitate scheduling at the BS. UL refers to the transmission direction from the UE to the BS. UL control channel information may include scheduling requests (SRs), channel status information, and message confirmations. Channel status information may include channel quality information (CQI), channel state information (CSI), precoding matrix indicator (PMI), and / or rank indicator (RI). Message confirmations may include hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) confirmation / negative confirmation (ACK / NAK).

[0034] In the context of LTE or NR, UL control information may be carried in a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH). NR may define various PUCCH formats for carrying UL control information of different types and / or different sizes, and may support multiplexing for some PUCCH formats. For example, NR may include PUCCH format 0, PUCCH format 1, PUCCH format 2, PUCCH format 3, and PUCCH format 4. In some cases, the PUCCH signal may carry uplink control information (UCI) and a demodulation reference signal (DMRS), which may facilitate channel estimation and UCI decoding at the BS.

[0035] In NR, short PUCCH format 0 may span a duration of approximately one orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol or approximately two OFDM symbols, and may carry two or fewer uplink control information (UCI) bits. Long PUCCH format 1 may have a duration between approximately four OFDM symbols and approximately fourteen OFDM symbols, and may carry two or fewer UCI bits. Short PUCCH format 2 may have a duration between approximately four OFDM symbols and approximately fourteen OFDM symbols, and may carry more than two UCI bits. Long PUCCH format 3 may have a duration between approximately four OFDM symbols and approximately fourteen OFDM symbols, and may carry UCI with a medium-sized payload (e.g., including between approximately 2 bits and approximately N bits, where N is a positive integer). Long PUCCH format 4 may have a duration between approximately four OFDM symbols and approximately fourteen OFDM symbols, and may carry UCI with a large-sized payload (e.g., including greater than approximately N bits). For some of the PUCCH formats (e.g., formats 1 and 3), NR can support multiplexing for different UEs on the same frequency resources.

[0036] As described above, some spectrums (such as shared spectrum or unlicensed spectrum) may have a certain PSD requirement. In order to meet the PSD requirement, the UE may only be able to transmit up to a certain maximum power depending on the signal bandwidth. In order to transmit at a higher power for better power utilization, the UE can increase the frequency occupancy of the signal transmission by spreading the signal transmission over a wider bandwidth (e.g., by using a frequency interlace). However, this spreading reduces the frequency reuse capability.

[0037] The present application describes a mechanism for scheduling and / or multiplexing uplink control channel signals from multiple UEs in a shared spectrum including PSD requirements. The disclosed embodiments employ various multiplexing schemes to improve PUCCH multiplexing capabilities when using frequency interlaces. The disclosed embodiments may employ time domain code division multiplexing (CDM), frequency domain CDM, space division multiplexing (SDM), and / or frequency multiplexing with cyclic shift separation to multiplex PUCCH transmissions from different UEs on the same time-frequency resources (e.g., within a frequency interlace). The multiplexing scheme may be selected based on the PUCCH format. In addition, the disclosed embodiments may assign a portion of a frequency interlace to a UE, for example, based on PSD requirements and / or link parameters (e.g., link budget).

[0038] In an embodiment, transmissions of PUCCH formats 0 and 2 with a duration of two symbols from different UEs may be multiplexed by using time domain CDM (eg, by applying an orthogonal cover code (OCC) or an orthogonal time spreading sequence across a single carrier symbol).

[0039] In an embodiment, PUCCH format 2 transmissions with a duration of one or two symbols from different UEs may be multiplexed by multiplexing the DMRS and UCI of different UEs, respectively. For example, DMRS of different UEs may be multiplexed using frequency domain CDM (e.g., by applying frequency orthogonal cover codes (OCC) or orthogonal frequency spreading sequences across frequency subcarriers or tones). UCI of different UEs may be multiplexed using frequency domain CDM or SDM.

[0040] In an embodiment, transmissions of PUCCH formats 3 and 4 from different UEs may be multiplexed using time domain CDM or SDM. In an embodiment, transmissions of PUCCH format 1 from different UEs may be multiplexed using cyclic shift separation (e.g., by applying a cyclically shifted sequence (e.g., a constant amplitude zero autocorrelation (CAZAC) sequence) to a pre-discrete Fourier transform (pre-DFT) modulation symbol).

[0041] Various aspects of the present application may provide several benefits. For example, NR may not support multiplexing for PUCCH formats 0, 2, and 4, and may provide medium multiplexing capabilities for PUCCH format 3 (e.g., up to about four UEs) and high multiplexing capabilities for PUCCH format 1 (e.g., up to about 7 UEs). The use of time domain CDM for PUCCH formats 0 and 2 and frequency domain CDM and SDM for PUCCH format 2 can improve spectrum utilization efficiency when using frequency interlaces. The use of time domain CDM for PUCCH formats 3 and 4 can increase the number of multiplexed UEs to about six. The use of frequency multiplexing with cyclic shift separation for PUCCH format 1 can further increase UE multiplexing capacity.

[0042] Figure 1 A wireless communication network 100 is shown according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The network 100 includes a BS 105, a UE 115, and a core network 130. In some embodiments, the network 100 operates on a shared spectrum. The shared spectrum may be unlicensed or partially licensed to one or more network operators. Access to the spectrum may be restricted and may be controlled by separate coordination entities. In some embodiments, the network 100 may be an LTE or LTE-A network. In other embodiments, the network 100 may be a millimeter wave (mmW) network, a new radio (NR) network, a 5G network, or any other successor network of LTE. The network 100 may be operated by more than one network operator. Wireless resources may be divided and arbitrated between different network operators for coordinated communications between network operators on the network 100.

[0043] BS105 can communicate wirelessly with UE 115 via one or more BS antennas. Each BS105 can provide communication coverage for the corresponding geographic coverage area 110. In 3GPP, the term "cell" can refer to a specific coverage area of ​​the BS and / or a BS subsystem serving the coverage area, depending on the context in which the term is used. In this regard, BS105 can provide communication coverage for macro cells, micro cells, femto cells and / or other types of cells. Macro cells usually cover relatively large geographic areas (e.g., several kilometers in radius) and can allow unrestricted access by UEs with service subscriptions to network providers. Pico cells can usually cover relatively small geographic areas and can allow unrestricted access by UEs with service subscriptions to network providers. Femto cells can also usually cover relatively small geographic areas (e.g., residential), and in addition to unrestricted access, can also provide restricted access by UEs with associations with the femto cells (e.g., UEs in closed subscriber groups (CSGs), UEs for users in residential areas, etc.). BSs for macro cells can be referred to as macro BSs. A BS for a pico cell may be referred to as a pico BS. A BS for a femto cell may be referred to as a femto BS or a home BS. Figure 1 In the example shown in FIG. 1 , BSs 105a, 105b, and 105c are examples of macro BSs for coverage areas 110a, 110b, and 110c, respectively. BS 105d is an example of a pico BS or a femto BS for coverage area 110d. As will be appreciated, BS 105 may support one or more (e.g., two, three, four, etc.) cells.

[0044] The communication link 125 shown in the network 100 may include an uplink (UL) transmission from the UE 115 to the BS 105, or a downlink (DL) transmission from the BS 105 to the UE 115. The UE 115 may be dispersed throughout the network 100, and each UE 115 may be fixed or mobile. The UE 115 may also be referred to as a mobile station, a user station, a mobile unit, a user unit, a wireless unit, a remote unit, a mobile device, a wireless device, a wireless communication device, a remote device, a mobile user station, an access terminal, a mobile terminal, a wireless terminal, a remote terminal, a mobile phone, a user agent, a mobile client, a client, or some other appropriate term. The UE 115 may also be a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless modem, a wireless communication device, a handheld device, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a cordless phone, a personal electronic device, a handheld device, a personal computer, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, an Internet of Everything (IoE) device, a machine type communication (MTC) device, an appliance, a car, etc.

[0045] The BSs 105 may communicate with the core network 130 and with each other. The core network 130 may provide user authentication, access authorization, tracking, Internet Protocol (IP) connectivity, and other access, routing, or mobility functions. At least some of the BSs 105 (e.g., which may be examples of evolved Node Bs (eNBs), next generation Node Bs (gNBs), or access node controllers (ANCs)) may interface with the core network 130 via a backhaul link 132 (e.g., S1, S2, etc.), and may perform wireless configuration and scheduling for communications with the UEs 115. In various examples, the BSs 105 may communicate with each other directly or indirectly (e.g., through the core network 130) over a backhaul link 134 (e.g., X1, X2, etc.), which may be a wired or wireless communication link.

[0046] Each BS 105 may also communicate with multiple UEs 115 through multiple other BSs 105, where the BSs 105 may be examples of intelligent wireless heads. In alternative configurations, the various functions of each BS 105 may be distributed across the various BSs 105 (e.g., wireless heads and access network controllers) or merged into a single BS 105.

[0047] In some implementations, the network 100 utilizes orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) on the downlink and single carrier frequency division multiplexing (SC-FDM) on the UL. OFDM and SC-FDM divide the system bandwidth into multiple (K) orthogonal subcarriers, which are also commonly referred to as tones, frequency bins, etc. Each subcarrier can be modulated with data. Typically, modulation symbols are sent in the frequency domain using OFDM and in the time domain using SC-FDM. The spacing between adjacent subcarriers can be fixed, and the total number of subcarriers (K) can depend on the system bandwidth. The system bandwidth can also be divided into subbands.

[0048] In one embodiment, BS105 may assign or schedule transmission resources (e.g., in the form of time-frequency resource blocks (RBs)) for DL ​​and UL transmissions in network 100. DL refers to the transmission direction from BS105 to UE 115, and UL refers to the transmission direction from UE115 to BS105. Communication may be in the form of a radio frame. A radio frame may be divided into a plurality of subframes, e.g., about 10. Each subframe may be divided into time slots, e.g., about 2. Each time slot may be further divided into micro-slots. In frequency division duplex (FDD) mode, simultaneous UL and DL transmissions may occur in different frequency bands. For example, each subframe includes a UL subframe in a UL frequency band and a DL subframe in a DL frequency band. In time division duplex (TDD) mode, UL and DL transmissions occur at different time periods using the same frequency band. For example, a subframe subset (e.g., a DL subframe) in a radio frame may be used for DL ​​transmission, and another subframe subset (e.g., a UL subframe) in a radio frame may be used for UL transmission.

[0049] DL subframes and UL subframes may also be divided into several regions. For example, each DL or UL subframe may have a predefined region for the transmission of reference signals, control information, and data. A reference signal is a predetermined signal that facilitates communication between BS105 and UE 115. For example, a reference signal may have a specific pilot pattern or structure, wherein a pilot tone may span an operable bandwidth or frequency band, and each pilot tone may be located at a predefined time and a predefined frequency. For example, BS105 may send a cell-specific reference signal (CRS) and / or a channel state information-reference signal (CSI-RS) to enable UE 115 to estimate a DL channel. Similarly, UE 115 may send a sounding reference signal (SRS) to enable BS105 to estimate an UL channel. Control information may include resource assignments and protocol control. Data may include protocol data and / or operable data. In some embodiments, BS105 and UE 115 may communicate using a self-contained subframe. A self-contained subframe may include a portion for DL ​​communication and a portion for UL communication. A self-contained subframe may be DL-centric or UL-centric. A DL-centric subframe may include a longer duration for DL ​​communications than for UL communications. A UL-centric subframe may include a longer duration for UL communications than for UL communications.

[0050] In one embodiment, BS 105 may transmit synchronization signals (e.g., including a primary synchronization signal (PSS) and a secondary synchronization signal (SSS)) to facilitate synchronization in network 100. BS 105 may broadcast system information associated with network 100 (e.g., including a master information block (MIB), remaining minimum system information (RMSI), and other system information (OSI)) to facilitate initial network access.

[0051] In one embodiment, a UE 115 attempting to access the network 100 may perform an initial cell search by detecting a PSS from the BS 105. The PSS may enable synchronization of time period timing and may indicate a physical layer identity value. Subsequently, the UE 115 may receive the SSS. The SSS may enable wireless frame synchronization and may provide a cell identity value, which may be combined with the physical layer identity value to identify the cell. The SSS may also enable detection of duplex mode and cyclic prefix length. Some systems (such as TDD systems) may send the SSS without sending the PSS. Both the PSS and the SSS may be located in the central portion of the carrier, respectively.

[0052] After receiving the PSS and SSS, the UE 115 may receive the MIB, which may be sent in a physical broadcast channel (PBCH). The MIB may include system information for initial network access and scheduling information for RMSI and / or OSI. After decoding the MIB, the UE 115 may receive the RMSI and / or OSI. The RMSI and / or OSI may include radio resource configuration (RRC) configuration information related to the random access channel (RACH) process, paging, physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), power control, SRS, and cell barring. After obtaining the MIB and / or SIB, the UE 115 may perform a random access process to establish a connection with the BS 105. After the connection is established, the UE 115 and the BS 105 may enter a normal operation phase, in which operational data may be exchanged.

[0053] During the normal operation phase, the UE 115 may send UL control information on the PUCCH to the BS 105. The BS 105 may schedule the UE 115 for UL transmission based on the received UL control information. In some examples, the BS 105 may assign the same PUCCH resources (e.g., time-frequency resources) to multiple UEs 115 using various multiplexing schemes as described in more detail herein.

[0054] In one embodiment, network 100 can operate on various frequency bands, for example, in a frequency range of about 2 GHz to above 60 GHz. Different frequency bands can have different PSD requirements. For example, some frequency bands can have a maximum allowed PSD level of about 10 decibel milliwatts per megahertz (dBm / MHz) to about 17 dBm / MHz. Therefore, a transmitter with a full power of about 23 dBm can use full power for signal transmission, or may not use full power for signal transmission, depending on the signal frequency bandwidth. In order to meet a certain PSD requirement in the spectrum, a transmitter (e.g., BS105 and UE 115) can distribute the frequency occupancy of a transmission signal over a wider bandwidth. For example, as described in more detail herein, a transmitter can send a signal with higher power over multiple narrow frequency bands spaced apart from each other in a frequency bandwidth compared to sending a signal over a continuous frequency.

[0055] Figure 2 According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a resource configuration scheme 200 with a frequency interlace is shown. The scheme 200 can be adopted by a BS such as BS105 and a UE such as UE 115 to communicate on a spectrum 202. The spectrum 202 can have a bandwidth of about 10 megahertz (MHz) or about 20MHz and a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of about 15 kilohertz (kHz), about 30kHz or about 20kHz. The spectrum 202 can be located at any appropriate frequency. In some embodiments, the spectrum 202 can be located at about 3.5GHz, 6GHz or 60GHz. The scheme 200 allocates resources in units of frequency interlaces 208.

[0056] The frequency interleaver is shown as 208 I(0) To 208 (M-1) , where M is a positive integer. Each frequency interlace 208 may include K RBs 210 evenly spaced across the spectrum 202, where K is a positive integer. In other words, 208 in a particular frequency interlace I(i) RBs 210 in the frequency interlace 208 are spaced apart from each other by at least one other RB 210, where i can vary between 0 and M-1. As described in more detail herein, the values ​​of K and M can vary based on several factors, such as the bandwidth of the spectrum 202, SCS, and / or PSD limits. In one embodiment, the frequency interlace 208 I(0) can be assigned to a UE, and the frequency interlace 208 I(1) can be assigned to another UE. As an example, frequency interlace 208 is used I(0) The allocations are shown as boxes with patterns.

[0057] A group of M localized RBs 210 forms a cluster 204. As shown, a frequency interlace 208I(0) To 208 (M-1) Form K clusters 204 C(0) To 204 C(K-1) Each RB 210 may span approximately twelve consecutive subcarriers 212 in frequency and across a time period 214. The subcarriers 212 are indexed from 0 to 11. The time period 214 may span any suitable number of OFDM symbols 216. In some embodiments, the time period 214 may correspond to a transmission time interval (TTI), which may include approximately fourteen OFDM symbols 216.

[0058] The number of clusters 204 or the value of K may depend on the amount of frequency distribution required to maintain a certain PSD level. As an example, the scheme 200 may divide the spectrum 202 into approximately ten clusters 204 (e.g., K=10), and distribute the allocation across the ten clusters 204 to increase the frequency occupancy of the allocation. In an embodiment, the spectrum 202 may have a bandwidth of approximately 20 MHz, and each subcarrier 212 may span approximately 15 kHz in frequency. In such an embodiment, the spectrum 202 may include approximately ten frequency interlaces 208 (e.g., M=10). For example, the allocation may include a frequency interlace 208 having ten distributed or equally spaced RBs 210. An interlaced allocation with ten distributed RBs 210 allows the UE to transmit at a higher frequency while maintaining the same PSD level compared to an allocation with a single RB or ten localized RBs.

[0059] In another embodiment, the spectrum 202 may have a bandwidth of approximately 10 MHz, and each subcarrier 212 may span approximately 15 kHz in frequency. In such an embodiment, the spectrum 202 may include approximately five frequency interlaces 208 (e.g., M=5). Similarly, the allocation may include one frequency interlace 208 with ten distributed RBs 210. An interlaced allocation with ten distributed RBs may allow for better power utilization than an allocation with a single RB or ten localized RBs at the same PSD level.

[0060] In another embodiment, the spectrum 202 may have a bandwidth of approximately 20 MHz, and each subcarrier 212 may span approximately 30 kHz in frequency. In such an embodiment, the spectrum 202 may include approximately five frequency interlaces 208 (e.g., M=5). Similarly, the allocation may include one frequency interlace 208 with ten distributed RBs 210. An interlace allocation with ten distributed RBs may allow for better power utilization than an allocation with a single RB or ten localized RBs at the same PSD level.

[0061] Using frequency interleaving to distribute the allocations into a wider bandwidth allows the transmitter to transmit at a higher power level than when the allocations occupy contiguous frequencies. As an example, the spectrum 202 may have a maximum allowable PSD level of about 13 dBm / MHz, and the transmitter (e.g., UE 115) may have a power amplifier (PA) capable of transmitting at about 23 dBm. Distributing the allocated frequency occupancy into five clusters 204 may allow the transmitter to transmit at about 20 dBm (e.g., with a power boost of about 7 dB) while maintaining a PSD level of about 13 dBm / MHz. Distributing the allocated frequency occupancy into ten clusters 204 may allow the transmitter to transmit at a full power of about 23 dBm (e.g., with a power boost of about 10 dB) while maintaining a PSD level of about 13 dBm / MHz. Thus, using frequency interleaving may provide better power utilization.

[0062] In one embodiment, the scheme 200 may be applied to PUCCH to provide a power boost at a transmitter (e.g., UE 115). For example, one RB 210 may be sufficient to carry the UCI of a particular PUCCH format signal. However, to meet the PSD requirement, the UE may extend the frequency occupancy of the PUCCH signal from one RB 210 to K RBs 210 by transmitting the PUCCH signal using one frequency interlace 208. However, the number of UEs that can be multiplexed on the spectrum 202 for PUCCH signal transmission may be reduced by a factor of approximately K. Mechanisms for increasing multiplexing capacity when using frequency interlaces 208 for PUCCH transmission are described in more detail herein.

[0063] Figure 3 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary UE 300 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. UE 300 may be UE 115 as discussed above. As shown, UE 300 may include a processor 302, a memory 304, a UL control channel processing module 308, a transceiver 310 including a modem 312 and a radio frequency (RF) unit 314, and one or more antennas 316. These elements may communicate with each other directly or indirectly, for example, via one or more buses.

[0064] The processor 302 may include a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a controller, a field programmable gate array (FPGA) device, another hardware device, a firmware device, or any combination thereof configured to perform the operations described herein. The processor 302 may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, for example, a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in combination with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.

[0065] The memory 304 may include a cache memory (e.g., a cache memory of the processor 302), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetoresistive RAM (MRAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a flash memory, a solid-state memory device, a hard disk drive, other forms of volatile and non-volatile memory, or a combination of different types of memory. In one embodiment, the memory 304 includes a non-transitory computer-readable medium. The memory 304 may store instructions 306. The instructions 306 may include instructions that, when executed by the processor 302, cause the processor 302 to perform the operations described herein in conjunction with the embodiments of the present disclosure, with reference to the UE 115. The instructions 306 may also be referred to as code. The terms "instructions" and "code" should be interpreted broadly to include any type of computer-readable statements. For example, the terms "instructions" and "code" may refer to one or more programs, routines, subroutines, functions, processes, and the like. "Instructions" and "code" may include a single computer-readable statement or many computer-readable statements.

[0066] The UL control channel processing module 308 may be implemented via hardware, software, or a combination thereof. For example, the UL control channel processing module 308 may be implemented as a processor, a circuit, and / or an instruction 306 stored in the memory 304 and executed by the processor 302. The UL control channel processing module 308 may be used in various aspects of the present disclosure. For example, the UL control channel processing module 308 is configured to receive uplink control channel resources and / or multiplexing configurations from a BS (e.g., BS105), and to send uplink control channel signals based on the received configurations. The multiplexing configurations may include time domain CDM, frequency domain CDM, SDM, and / or frequency multiplexing with cyclic shift separation, and the resources may include a frequency interlace (e.g., frequency interlace 208) or a frequency interlace is a part, as described in more detail herein.

[0067] As shown, the transceiver 310 may include a modem subsystem 312 and an RF unit 314. The transceiver 310 may be configured to communicate bidirectionally with other devices, such as the BS 105. The modem subsystem 312 may be configured to modulate and / or encode data from the memory 304 and / or the UL control channel processing module 308 according to a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) (e.g., a low-density parity check (LDPC) coding scheme, a turbo coding scheme, a convolutional coding scheme, a digital beamforming scheme, etc.). The RF unit 314 may be configured to process (e.g., perform analog-to-digital conversion or digital-to-analog conversion, etc.) the modulated / encoded data from the modem subsystem 312 (for outbound transmissions) or a transmission originating from another source, such as the UE 115 or the BS 105. The RF unit 314 may also be configured to perform analog beamforming in conjunction with digital beamforming. Although shown as integrated together in the transceiver 310, the modem subsystem 312 and the RF unit 314 may be separate devices that are coupled together at the UE 115 to enable the UE 115 to communicate with other devices.

[0068] RF unit 314 may provide modulated and / or processed data (e.g., data packets (or more generally, data messages that may include one or more data packets and other information)) to antenna 316 for transmission to one or more other devices. For example, this may include transmission of communication signals using frequency interlaces (e.g., frequency interlaces 208) in coordination with various multiplexing schemes in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Antenna 316 may also receive data messages sent from other devices. Antenna 316 may provide received data messages for processing and / or demodulation at transceiver 310. Antenna 316 may include multiple antennas of similar design or different designs to maintain multiple transmission links. RF unit 314 may configure antenna 316.

[0069] Figure 4 4 is a block diagram of an exemplary BS 400 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. BS 400 may be BS 105 as discussed above. As shown, BS 400 may include a processor 402, a memory 404, a UL control channel scheduling and processing module 408, a transceiver 410 including a modem 412 and an RF unit 414, and one or more antennas 416. These elements may communicate with each other directly or indirectly, for example, via one or more buses.

[0070] The processor 402 may have various features as specific to the type of processor. For example, these may include a CPU, a DSP, an ASIC, a controller, an FPGA device, another hardware device, a firmware device, or any combination thereof configured to perform the operations described herein. The processor 402 may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, for example, a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, a combination of one or more microprocessors and a DSP core, or any other such configuration.

[0071] Memory 404 may include cache memory (e.g., cache memory of processor 402), RAM, MRAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory, solid-state memory devices, one or more hard disk drives, memristor-based arrays, other forms of volatile and non-volatile memory, or a combination of different types of memory. In some embodiments, memory 404 includes a non-transitory computer-readable medium. Memory 404 may store instructions 406. Instructions 406 may include instructions that, when executed by processor 402, cause processor 402 to perform the operations described herein. Instructions 406 may also be referred to as code, which may be broadly interpreted to include any type of computer-readable statements, such as those described above with respect to Figure 4 Discussed.

[0072] The UL control channel scheduling and processing module 408 may be implemented via hardware, software, or a combination thereof. For example, the UL control channel scheduling and processing module 408 may be implemented as a processor, circuit, and / or instructions 406 stored in the memory 404 and executed by the processor 402. The UL control channel scheduling and processing module 408 may be used in various aspects of the present disclosure. For example, the UL control channel scheduling and processing module 408 is configured to assign and schedule UL control channel resources and multiplexing configurations for UEs (e.g., UEs 115 and 300) to send uplink control channel signals and receive uplink control channel signals from the UEs based on the assignments. The UL control channel resources may include frequency interlaces (e.g., frequency interlaces 208), and the multiplexing configurations may include time domain CDM, frequency domain CDM, SDM, and / or frequency multiplexing with cyclic shift separation, as described in more detail herein.

[0073] As shown, the transceiver 410 may include a modem subsystem 412 and an RF unit 414. The transceiver 410 may be configured to communicate bidirectionally with other devices (such as UE 115 and / or another core network element). The modem subsystem 412 may be configured to modulate and / or encode data according to an MCS (e.g., an LDPC coding scheme, a turbo coding scheme, a convolutional coding scheme, a digital beamforming scheme, etc.). The RF unit 414 may be configured to process (e.g., perform analog-to-digital conversion or digital-to-analog conversion, etc.) the modulated / encoded data from the modem subsystem 412 (regarding outbound transmissions) or a transmission originating from another source (such as UE 115 or 300). The RF unit 414 may also be configured to perform analog beamforming in conjunction with digital beamforming. Although shown as being integrated together in the transceiver 410, the modem subsystem 412 and the RF unit 414 may be separate devices that are coupled together at the BS 105 to enable the BS 105 to communicate with other devices.

[0074] The RF unit 414 may provide modulated and / or processed data (e.g., data packets (or more generally, data messages containing one or more data packets and other information)) to the antenna 416 for transmission to one or more other devices. For example, this may include transmission of transmission information to complete attachment to a network and communication with a resident UE 115 or 300 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The antenna 416 may also receive data messages sent from other devices and provide the received data messages for processing and / or demodulation at the transceiver 410. The antenna 416 may include multiple antennas of similar or different designs in order to maintain multiple transmission links.

[0075] Figure 5-Figure 12 Various mechanisms are shown for multiplexing PUCCH signals from different UEs (eg, UEs 115 and 300) on the same resources (eg, frequency interlace 208). Figure 5-12 In this example, the x-axis represents time in some constant unit, and the y-axis represents frequency in some constant unit. Figures 5 to 12 Multiplexing is shown between two UEs (e.g., UE A and UE B) on one RB 210. However, embodiments of the present disclosure may be extended to multiplex any suitable number of UEs (e.g., approximately 3, 4, 5, 6, or more than 6) on any suitable number of RBs 210s (e.g., between approximately 2 and approximately 20) within a frequency interlace 208.

[0076] Figure 5An uplink control channel multiplexing scheme 500 for a short PUCCH signal 530 having format 0 is shown according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The scheme 500 can be adopted by UEs such as UEs 115 and 300 and BSs such as BSs 105 and 400. The short PUCCH signal 530 can carry UCI (e.g., CQI, SR, and HARQ ACK / NAK). In some cases, the UCI can be represented by different sequences. For example, the UE can send one sequence to indicate ACK and another sequence to indicate NAK. The scheme 500 multiplexes short PUCCH signals 530 with a duration of two symbols 216 from different UEs (e.g., UE A and UE B) on the same resource (e.g., frequency interlace 208) by applying time domain CDM across symbols 216 (as shown by arrow 504).

[0077] For example, the BS may schedule UE A and UE B to transmit on the same RB 210. The BS may assign a time spread sequence 510 to UE A, and may assign a time spread sequence 512 orthogonal to the time spread sequence 510 to UE B. The time spread sequences 510 and 512 may be defined based on Walsh codes. In an embodiment, the time spread sequence 510 may include a first code represented as {+} and a second code represented as {+}, and the time spread sequence 512 may include a first code represented as {+} and a second code represented as {-}. The orthogonal time spread sequences 510 and 512 enable the BS to distinguish the PUCCH format 0 transmission of UE A from the PUCCH format 0 transmission of UE B.

[0078] When UE A sends a short PUCCH signal 530 on RB 210, UE A applies the time extension sequence 510 to the PUCCH signal 530 (as shown by signal 532), and sends signal 532 on RB 210. For example, UE A may apply the first symbol 216 to the PUCCH signal 530. (1) multiplying the first code {+} of the time spreading sequence 510, and converting the second symbol 216 (2) Multiply by the second code {+} of the time spreading sequence 510.

[0079] When UE B transmits the short PUCCH signal 530 on RB 210, UE B may apply the time extension sequence 512 to the PUCCH signal 530 (as shown by signal 534), and transmit the signal 534 on RB 210. For example, UE B may multiply the first symbol 216 with the first code {+} of the time extension sequence 512, and multiply the second symbol 216 with the second code {-} of the time extension sequence 512.

[0080] Figure 6 An embodiment according to the present disclosure shows an uplink control channel multiplexing scheme 600 for a short PUCCH signal 630 having format 2. The scheme 600 may be employed by a UE such as UEs 115 and 300 and a BS such as BSs 105 and 400. The scheme 600 is substantially similar to the scheme 500, but shows multiplexing of PUCCH format 2 instead of PUCCH format 1.

[0081] The short PUCCH signal 630 may include UCI 620 and DMRS 622. As shown, UCI 620 may be mapped to subcarriers 212 indexed 0, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 11, and DMRS 622 may be mapped to subcarriers 212 indexed 1, 4, 7, and 10. In some embodiments, DMRS 622 and UCI 620 may be mapped to subcarriers 212 alternatively to achieve similar functions. UCI 620 may carry information such as CQI, SR, and HARQ ACK / NAK. DMRS 622 may include a predetermined sequence and may be referred to as a pilot signal. DMRS 622 allows a receiver (e.g., BS 105) to determine a channel estimate for decoding UCI 620.

[0082] Similar to scheme 500, the BS may assign a time extension sequence 510 to UE A and a time extension sequence 512 to UE B. When UE A transmits a short PUCCH signal 630 on RB 210, UE A applies the time extension sequence 510 to the PUCCH signal 630 (as shown by signal 632) and transmits the signal 632 on RB 210. When UE B transmits a short PUCCH signal 630 on RB 210, UE B may apply the time extension sequence 512 to the PUCCH signal 630 (as shown by signal 634) and transmits the signal 634 on RB 210.

[0083] Although scheme 500 shows multiplexing of short PUCCH signals 530 from different UEs, and scheme 600 shows multiplexing of short PUCCH signals 630 from different UEs, in some embodiments, the same time domain CDM mechanism may be applied to multiplex the short PUCCH signal 530 from one UE with the short PUCCH signal 630 from another UE on the same resource. In addition, when schemes 500 and / or 600 are applied, the non-overlapping RBs 210 in the frequency interlace 208 may provide sufficient frequency diversity for PUCCH transmission, and thus frequency hopping on PUCCH transmission as applied in LTE and NR may not be required. Frequency hopping may refer to using different RBs (e.g., RBs 210) in different symbols (e.g., symbol 216) for signal transmission.

[0084] Figure 7 An uplink control channel multiplexing scheme 700 for a short PUCCH signal 730 having format 2 is shown according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The scheme 700 may be employed by UEs such as UEs 115 and 300 and BSs such as BSs 105 and 400. The short PUCCH signal 730 is similar to the short PUCCH signal 630, but includes one symbol 216 instead of two symbols 216. For example, the short PUCCH signal 730 may include a UCI 720 (e.g., UCI 620) and a DMRS 722 (e.g., DMRS 622). The scheme 700 multiplexes short PUCCH signals 730 from different UEs (e.g., UE A and UE B) on the same resource (e.g., frequency interlace 208) by applying frequency domain CDM for the UCI 720 and for the DMRS 722 across two subcarriers 212, respectively.

[0085] For example, the BS may schedule UE A and UE B to transmit on the same RB 210. The BS may assign, to UE A, a frequency spreading sequence 710 for application to DMRS 722 and a frequency spreading sequence 714 for application to UCI 720. The BS may assign, to UE B, a frequency spreading sequence 712 for application to DMRS 722 that is orthogonal to the frequency spreading sequence 710 and a frequency spreading sequence 716 for application to UCI 720 that is orthogonal to the frequency spreading sequence 714.

[0086] Frequency spreading sequences 710, 712, 714, and 716 may be defined based on Walsh codes. In an embodiment, frequency spreading sequence 710 may include a first code represented as {+} and a second code represented as {+}. Frequency spreading sequence 712 may include a first code represented as {+} and a second code represented as {-}. Frequency spreading sequence 714 may include a first code represented as {+} and a second code represented as {+}. Frequency spreading sequence 716 may include a first code represented as {+} and a second code represented as {-}. Frequency spreading sequences 710 and 714 may be the same as shown or different from each other. Similarly, frequency spreading sequences 712 and 716 may be the same as shown or different from each other. Orthogonal frequency spreading sequences 710 and 712 enable the BS to distinguish DMRS transmission of UE A from DMRS transmission of UE B. Similarly, orthogonal frequency spreading sequences 714 and 716 enable the BS to distinguish UCI transmission of UE A from UCI transmission of UE B.

[0087] When UE A transmits a short PUCCH signal 730 on RB 210, UE A applies frequency spreading sequences 710 and 714 to DMRS 722 and UCI 720, respectively. As shown, frequency spreading sequence 710 is applied to a pair of subcarriers 212 indexed 1 and 4 and a pair of subcarriers 212 indexed 7 and 10, respectively. Frequency spreading sequence 714 is applied to a pair of subcarriers 212 indexed 0 and 2, a pair of subcarriers 212 indexed 3 and 5, a pair of subcarriers 212 indexed 6 and 8, and a pair of subcarriers 212 indexed 9 and 11, respectively.

[0088] When UE B transmits a short PUCCH signal 730 on RB 210, UE B applies frequency spreading sequences 712 and 716 to DMRS 722 and UCI 720, respectively. As shown, frequency spreading sequence 712 is applied to a pair of subcarriers 212 indexed 1 and 4 and a pair of subcarriers 212 indexed 7 and 10, respectively. Frequency spreading sequence 716 is applied to a pair of subcarriers 212 indexed 0 and 2, a pair of subcarriers 212 indexed 3 and 5, a pair of subcarriers 212 indexed 6 and 8, and a pair of subcarriers 212 indexed 9 and 11, respectively.

[0089] Figure 8An uplink control channel multiplexing scheme 800 for short PUCCH signals 630 having format 2 is shown according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Scheme 800 may be employed by UEs such as UEs 115 and 300 and BSs such as BSs 105 and 400. Scheme 800 is similar to scheme 700, but shows multiplexing of short PUCCH signals 630 having a duration of 2 symbols 216 instead of one symbol 216. UE A and UE B may simultaneously transmit PUCCH format 2 signals 630 on the same RB 210 using the same mechanism as described in scheme 700.

[0090] Fig. 9 An embodiment according to the present disclosure shows an uplink control channel multiplexing scheme 900 for short PUCCH format 2 signals 730. Scheme 900 may be employed by UEs such as UEs 115 and 300 and BSs such as BSs 105 and 400. Similar to schemes 700 and 800, scheme 900 multiplexes short PUCCH format 2 signals 730 from different UEs (e.g., UE A and UE B) on the same resource (e.g., frequency interlace 208) by applying frequency domain CDM across two subcarriers 212 for DMRS 722, but applying SDM for UCI 720.

[0091] For example, the BS may schedule UE A and UE B to transmit on the same RB 210. The BS may assign, to UE A, a frequency spreading sequence 710 for applying to DMRS 722 and a spatial direction 910 for applying to UCI 720. The BS may assign, to UE B, a frequency spreading sequence 712 for applying to DMRS 722 and a spatial direction 912 for applying to UCI 720 that is different from the spatial direction 910.

[0092] When UE A sends a short PUCCH signal 730 on RB 210, UE A applies the frequency spreading sequence 710 to DMRS 722 and sends UCI 720 in the spatial direction 910. When UE B sends a short PUCCH format 2 signal 730 on RB 210, UE B applies the frequency spreading sequence 712 to DMRS 722 and sends UCI 720 in the spatial direction 912.

[0093] Although the scheme 900 illustrates multiplexing of a short PUCCH format 2 signal 730 having a duration of one symbol 216 , a similar mechanism may be applied to multiplex a PUCCH format 2 signal 630 having a duration of two symbols 216 .

[0094] Fig.10An uplink control channel multiplexing scheme 1000 for long PUCCH signals 1030 having format 3 and format 4 is shown according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The scheme 1000 can be adopted by UEs such as UEs 115 and 300 and BSs such as BSs 105 and 400. The scheme 1000 multiplexes long PUCCH signals 1030 having format 3 and format 4 from different UEs (e.g., UE A and UE B) on the same resource (e.g., frequency interlace 208) by applying pre-DFT spreading and time spreading across single carrier symbols 216. The long PUCCH signal 1030 having format 3 or format 4 may include between about four symbols 216 and about 14 symbols 216. The long PUCCH signal 1030 may include UCI 1020 (e.g., UCI 620 and 720) and DMRS 1022 (e.g., DMRS 622 and 722). For ease of discussion, Fig.10 Multiplexing is shown on four symbols 216 , but embodiments of the present disclosure may be extended to multiplexing on any suitable number of symbols 216 (eg, between about four symbols 216 to about fourteen symbols 216 ).

[0095] For example, the BS may schedule UE A and UE B to transmit on the same RB 210. The BS may assign a time spreading sequence 1010 for pre-DFT spreading and a time spreading sequence 1014 for spreading across a single carrier symbol 216 to UE A. The BS may assign a time spreading sequence 1012 for pre-DFT spreading orthogonal to the time spreading sequence 1010 and a time spreading sequence 1016 for spreading across a single carrier symbol 1014 orthogonal to the time spreading sequence 1014 to UE B, as indicated by arrow 1004. In an embodiment, the time spreading sequence 1014 may include a code {+, +, +}, and the time spreading sequence 1016 may include a code {-, -, -} for spreading across three symbols 216.

[0096] Scheme 1000 includes an extension component 1040, a DFT component 1042, a subcarrier mapping component 1044, an inverse DFT (IDFT) component 1046, a cyclic prefix (CP) component 1048, and an extension component 1050. Extension component 1040, DFT component 1042, subcarrier mapping component 1044, IDFT component 1046, CP component 1048, and extension component 1050 may be implemented using software and / or hardware components at a UE (e.g., UEs 115 and 300, UE A, and UE B).

[0097] The spreading component 1040 spreads the input long PUCCH signal 1030 signal (e.g., including modulation symbols of UCI 1020 and DMRS 1022) based on the time spreading sequence. For example, at UE A, the spreading component 1040 can apply the time spreading sequence 1010 for spreading. Alternatively, at UE B, the spreading component 1040 can apply the time spreading sequence 1012 for spreading.

[0098] The DFT component 1042 performs a DFT on the input signal to generate a frequency domain signal. The subcarrier mapping component 1044 maps the input signal to subcarriers 212. The IDFT component 1046 performs an IDFT on the input signal to generate a time domain signal. The CP component 1048 generates a CP from the input signal and appends the CP to the input signal to generate a single carrier symbol (e.g., symbol 216).

[0099] The spreading component 1050 spreads the input single carrier symbol across time based on the time spreading sequence. For example, at UE A, the spreading component 1050 can apply the time spreading sequence 1014. Alternatively, at UE B, the spreading component 1050 can apply the time spreading sequence 1016. In an embodiment, the spreading component 1050 is applied to the symbol 216 carrying the UCI 1020, as shown by the arrow 1004.

[0100] Fig.11 An embodiment according to the present disclosure shows an uplink control channel multiplexing scheme 1100 for long PUCCH signals 1030 having format 3 and format 4. Scheme 1100 may be employed by UEs such as UEs 115 and 300 and BSs such as BSs 105 and 400. Similar to scheme 1000, scheme 1100 multiplexes long PUCCH signals 1030 having format 3 and format 4 from different UEs (e.g., UE A and UE B) on the same resource (e.g., frequency interlace 208) by applying pre-DFT spreading, but applying SDM to symbols 216 carrying UCI 1020.

[0101] For example, the BS may schedule UE A and UE B to transmit on the same RB 210. The BS may assign a time spreading sequence 1010 for pre-DFT spreading and a spatial direction 1110 (e.g., spatial direction 910) for transmitting UCI 1020 to UE A. The BS may assign a time spreading sequence 1012 for pre-DFT spreading orthogonal to the time spreading sequence 1010, and a spatial direction 1112 (e.g., spatial direction 912) for transmitting UCI 1020 different from the spatial direction 1110 to UE B. In an embodiment, the BS may configure a receive beam based on the spatial direction 1110, and configure another receive beam based on the spatial direction 1112 to receive UCI 1020 from UE A and receive UCI 1020 from UE B.

[0102] The scheme 1100 includes an extension component 1040, a DFT component 1042, a subcarrier mapping component 1044, an IDFT component 1046, a CP component 1048, and a spatial direction configuration component 1140. The extension component 1040, the DFT component 1042, the subcarrier mapping component 1044, the IDFT component 1046, the CP component 1048, and the spatial direction configuration component 1140 can be implemented using software and / or hardware components at a UE (e.g., UEs 115 and 300, UE A, and UE B). In the scheme 1100, the extension component 1040, the DFT component 1042, the subcarrier mapping component 1044, the IDFT component 1046, and the CP component 1048 can perform functions similar to those in the scheme 1000.

[0103] The spatial direction configuration component 1140 can configure the transmission beam to be pointed to a specific spatial direction, for example, based on analog beamforming and / or digital beamforming. For example, at UE A, the spatial direction configuration component 1140 can configure the transmission beam 1020 carrying UCI to point to the spatial direction 1110. Alternatively, at UE B, the spatial direction configuration component 1140 can configure the transmission beam carrying UCI 1020 to point to the spatial direction 1112.

[0104] Fig.12An uplink control channel multiplexing scheme 1200 for a long PUCCH signal 1230 having format 1 is shown according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The scheme 1200 may be employed by UEs such as UEs 115 and 300 and BSs such as BSs 105 and 400. The scheme 1200 multiplexes long PUCCH signals 1230 from different UEs (e.g., UE A and UE B) on the same resource (e.g., frequency interlace 208) by applying pre-DFT cyclic shift separation and time spreading across single carrier symbols 216. The long PUCCH signal 1230 may include between approximately four symbols 216 and approximately fourteen symbols 216. The long PUCCH signal 1230 may include a UCI 1220 (e.g., UCI 620, 720, 1020) and a DMRS 1222 (e.g., DMRS 622, 722, 1022). For ease of discussion, Fig.12 Multiplexing is shown on four symbols 216 , but embodiments of the present disclosure may be extended to multiplexing on any suitable number of symbols 216 (eg, between about four symbols 216 to about fourteen symbols 216 ).

[0105] For example, the BS may schedule UE A and UE B to transmit on the same RB 210. The BS may assign a cyclic shift value 1210 for cyclically shifting a predetermined sequence and a time spreading sequence 1014 for spreading across a single carrier symbol to UE A. The BS may assign a cyclic shift value 1212 for cyclically shifting a predetermined sequence and a time spreading sequence 1016 for spreading across a single carrier symbol 216 that is orthogonal to the time spreading sequence 1014 to UE B. The cyclic shift values ​​1210 and 1212 may be applied to a sequence (e.g., a CAZAC sequence) for which cyclically shifted versions are mutually orthogonal.

[0106] The scheme 1200 includes a cyclic shift separation component 1240, a DFT component 1042, a subcarrier mapping component 1044, an IDFT component 1046, a CP component 1048, and a frequency extension component 1050. The cyclic shift separation component 1240, the DFT component 1042, the subcarrier mapping component 1044, the IDFT component 1046, the CP component 1048, and the extension component 1050 can be implemented using software and / or hardware components at a UE (e.g., UEs 115 and 300, UE A, and UE B). In the scheme 1200, the DFT component 1042, the subcarrier mapping component 1044, the IDFT component 1046, the CP component 1048, and the extension component 1050 can perform functions similar to those in the schemes 1000 and 1100.

[0107] The cyclic shift separation component 1240 cyclically shifts the sequence (e.g., CAZAC sequence) and multiplies the modulation symbols of the input long PUCCH signal 1230 by the cyclically shifted sequence. For example, at UE A, the cyclic shift separation component 1240 can apply the cyclic shift value 1210 to the cyclic shift. Alternatively, at UE B, the cyclic shift separation component 1240 can apply the cyclic shift value 1212 to the cyclic shift.

[0108] Fig.13 An uplink control channel communication scheme 1300 using a fractional frequency interlace 208 is shown according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig.13 , the x-axis represents time in a certain constant unit, and the y-axis represents frequency in a certain constant unit. Scheme 1300 can be adopted by UEs such as UEs 115 and 300 and BSs such as BSs 105 and 400. Scheme 1300 adopts the same frequency interlace structure as in scheme 200. Scheme 1300 can assign different parts of frequency interlace 208 to different UEs, for example, based on the link budget, link parameters of the UE.

[0109] For example, the BS may schedule UE A and UE B to be in the same frequency interlace 208. I(0) But in the frequency interleaving body 208 I(0) As shown in the figure, the frequency interleaving body 208 I(0) A portion 1310 of the frequency interlace 208 is assigned to the UE to send a PUCCH signal 1330, which may have PUCCH format 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4. I(0) Another portion 1312 of may be assigned to UE B to transmit a PUCCH signal 1332, which may have PUCCH format 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4. In one embodiment, portion 1310 and portion 1312 may include the same number of RBs 210. In another embodiment, portion 1310 and portion 1312 may include different numbers of RBs 210.

[0110] In some embodiments, the scheme 1300 may allow, for example, different frequency interlace structures to be configured in different time periods. For example, the spectrum 202 may be configured to include 5 frequency interlaces 208 each including 20 RBs 210 in one time period, and 10 frequency interlaces 208 each including 10 RBs 210 in another time period. In some embodiments, the scheme 1300 may configure the spectrum 202 to include frequency interlaces 208 with different numbers of RBs 210 and / or with different RB spacings. The scheme 1300 may configure frequency interlaces 208 and assignments for specific link budgets (e.g., based on PSD requirements in the spectrum 202 and / or power utilization factors of the UE).

[0111] Fig.14 1 is a signaling diagram of an uplink control channel communication method 1400 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Method 1400 is implemented between a BS, UE A, and UE B. The BS may be similar to BS105 and 400. UE A and B may be similar to UE115 and 300. The steps of method 1400 may be performed by a computing device (e.g., a processor, a processing circuit, and / or other appropriate components) of the BS and UE A and B. As shown, method 1400 includes a plurality of enumerated steps, but an embodiment of method 1400 may include additional steps before, after, and between the enumerated steps. In some embodiments, one or more of the enumerated steps may be omitted or performed in a different order.

[0112] At step 1410, the BS determines a multiplexing configuration for multiplexing PUCCH signals from UE A and UE B on a spectrum (e.g., spectrum 202). The PUCCH signal may be similar to a short PUCCH format 0 signal 530, a short PUCCH format 2 signal 630 and 730, a long PUCCH format 3 or 4 signal 1030, and a long PUCCH format 1 signal 1230. The BS may determine the multiplexing configuration based on the PUCCH format (e.g., format 0, 1, 2, 3, and / or 4) of the PUCCH signal and / or the link budget and / or power utilization factor of UE A and UE B. The BS may adopt the above-mentioned respective PUCCH formats. Figure 2 , 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 described in any appropriate combination of the schemes 200, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100, 1200 and the scheme 1300. For example, the BS can use the scheme 1300 to select a specific frequency interlace structure or a specific portion (e.g., portions 1310 and 1312) of a frequency interlace (e.g., frequency interlace 208) in combination with any of the schemes 500-1200. The reuse configuration can be semi-statically or dynamically determined.

[0113] At step 1420, the BS transmits the multiplexing configuration to UE A. The BS may include configuration information associated with UE A in the transmission.

[0114] At step 1430, the BS sends the multiplexing configuration to UE B. Similarly, the BS may include configuration information associated with UE A in the transmission. In some embodiments, the BS may send the multiplexing configuration to UE A and UE B via an RRC message.

[0115] At step 1440, UE A sends a PUCCH signal based on the received multiplexing configuration. At step 1450, UE B sends a PUCCH signal based on the received multiplexing configuration. UE A and UE B may use the same frequency interlace to send the PUCCH signal. In one embodiment, UE A and UE B may use the same time-frequency resources or the same RB (e.g., RB210) to send the PUCCH signal. In another embodiment, UE A and UE B may use different parts of the frequency interlace or different RBs to send the PUCCH signal.

[0116] Fig.15 1 is a flowchart of an uplink control channel communication method 1500 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The steps of method 1500 may be performed by a computing device (e.g., a processor, a processing circuit, and / or other appropriate components) of a wireless communication device or other appropriate units for performing these steps. For example, a wireless communication device such as BS 105 and 400 may utilize one or more components (such as a processor 402, a memory 404, an uplink channel scheduling and processing module 408, a transceiver 410, and one or more antennas 416) to perform the steps of method 1500. Alternatively, a wireless communication device such as UE 115 and 300 may utilize one or more components (such as a processor 302, a memory 304, an uplink channel control channel processing module 308, a transceiver 310, a modem 312, and one or more antennas 316) to perform the steps of method 1500. Method 1500 may be implemented in the same manner as described in the respective embodiments of the present disclosure. Figure 2 , 7, 8, 9, 13 and 14 described in the schemes 200, 700, 800, 900 and 1300 and the similar mechanism in the method 1400. As shown, the method 1500 includes a plurality of enumerated steps, but the embodiment of the method 1500 may include additional steps before, after and between the enumerated steps. In some embodiments, one or more of the enumerated steps may be omitted or performed in a different order.

[0117] At step 1510, method 1500 includes: obtaining, by a first wireless communication device, an uplink control channel multiplexing configuration, the uplink control channel multiplexing configuration indicating a first frequency extension sequence (e.g., frequency extension sequence 710), and at least one of a second frequency extension sequence (e.g., frequency extension sequence 714) or a first spatial direction (e.g., spatial direction 910).

[0118] At step 1520, method 1500 includes: transmitting, by the first wireless communication device, a first uplink control channel signal including a first reference signal (e.g., DMRS 622 and 722) and a first uplink control information signal (e.g., UCI 620 and 720) with a second wireless communication device in a spectrum (e.g., spectrum 202) based on an uplink control channel multiplexing configuration. The first reference signal is based on a first frequency spread sequence. The second reference signal is based on at least one of a second frequency spread sequence or a second spatial direction.

[0119] In an embodiment, the first uplink control channel signal may be a short PUCCH signal 630 having a duration of two symbols (eg, symbol 216). In an embodiment, the first uplink control channel signal may be a short PUCCH format 2 signal 730 having a duration of one symbol.

[0120] In an embodiment, the spectrum may be shared by multiple network operating entities. The first uplink control channel signal may be transmitted using a set of resource blocks (e.g., RB 210) that are spaced apart from each other by at least one other resource block in the spectrum. The set of resource blocks may be within a particular frequency interlace (e.g., frequency interlace 208). In some embodiments, the set of resource blocks may correspond to a portion of a frequency interlace (e.g., portions 1310 and 1312).

[0121] In an embodiment, the first wireless communication device may be a BS, and the second wireless communication device may be a UE. In such an embodiment, the transmission may include: receiving, by the first wireless communication device, a first reference signal from a first frequency resource from the second wireless communication device based on a first frequency spreading sequence; and receiving, by the first wireless communication device, a first uplink control information signal from a second frequency resource different from the first frequency resource from the second wireless communication device based on at least one of a second frequency spreading sequence or a first spatial direction.

[0122] In one embodiment, when the first wireless communication device is a BS, the first wireless communication device may also receive a second reference signal (e.g., DMRS 622 and 722) from the first frequency resource of a second uplink control channel signal (e.g., short PUCCH signals 630 and 730) from a third wireless communication device (e.g., UE 115 and 300) based on a third frequency extension sequence (e.g., frequency extension sequence 712) different from the first frequency extension sequence. The first wireless communication device may also receive a second uplink control information signal (e.g., UCI 620 and 720) from the second frequency resource of a second uplink control channel signal from the third wireless communication device based on a fourth frequency extension sequence (e.g., frequency extension sequence 716) different from the second frequency extension sequence.

[0123] In one embodiment, when the first wireless communication device is a BS, the first wireless communication device may also receive a second reference signal (e.g., DMRS 622 and 722) from the first frequency resource of a second uplink control channel signal (e.g., short PUCCH signals 630 and 730) from a third wireless communication device based on a third frequency extension sequence (e.g., frequency extension sequence 712) different from the first frequency extension sequence. The first wireless communication device may also receive a second uplink control information signal (e.g., UCI 620 and 720) from the second frequency resource of a second uplink control channel signal from a third wireless communication device based on a second spatial direction (e.g., spatial direction 912) different from the first spatial direction.

[0124] In one embodiment, when the first wireless communication is a BS, obtaining may include: allocating resources for one or more wireless communication devices (e.g., frequency interlace 208, parts 1310 and 1312 of the frequency interlace), for example, based on PSD requirements in the spectrum and link and / or power parameters of one or more wireless communication devices (e.g., UE 115 and 300) including the second wireless communication device. Obtaining may include: determining a multiplexing configuration for multiplexing transmissions from one or more wireless communication devices on the frequency interlace. The multiplexing configuration may be based on time domain CDM, frequency domain CDM, SDM, and / or cyclic shift separation on the same time-frequency resource (e.g., RB210). The multiplexing configuration may be based on a partial frequency interlace assignment (e.g., parts 1310 and 1312).

[0125] In an embodiment, the first wireless communication device may be a UE, and the second wireless communication device may be a BS. In such an embodiment, obtaining may include: receiving an uplink control channel multiplexing configuration from the second wireless communication device. Transmitting may include: spreading the first reference signal in frequency based on the first frequency extension by the first wireless communication device; and spreading the first uplink control information signal in frequency based on the second frequency extension sequence by the first wireless communication device. Alternatively, transmitting includes: sending the first uplink control information signal to the second wireless communication device in the first spatial direction by the first wireless communication device.

[0126] Fig.16 1600 is a flowchart of an uplink control channel communication method 1600 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The steps of method 1600 may be performed by a computing device (e.g., a processor, a processing circuit, and / or other appropriate components) of a wireless communication device or other appropriate units for performing these steps. For example, a wireless communication device such as BS 105 and 400 may utilize one or more components (such as a processor 402, a memory 404, an uplink channel scheduling and processing module 408, a transceiver 410, and one or more antennas 416) to perform the steps of method 1600. Alternatively, a wireless communication device such as UE 115 and 300 may utilize one or more components (such as a processor 302, a memory 304, an uplink channel control channel processing module 308, a transceiver 310, a modem 312, and one or more antennas 316) to perform the steps of method 1600. Method 1600 may be implemented in the same manner as described in the respective embodiments of the present disclosure. Figure 2 , 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 described in the schemes 200, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100, 1200 and 1300 and the similar mechanism in the method 1400. As shown, the method 1500 includes a plurality of enumerated steps, but the embodiment of the method 1500 may include additional steps before, after and between the enumerated steps. In some embodiments, one or more of the enumerated steps may be omitted or performed in a different order.

[0127] At step 1610, method 1600 includes: obtaining, by a first wireless communication device, an uplink control channel multiplexing configuration, the uplink control channel multiplexing configuration indicating a portion (e.g., portion 1310) of a first frequency interlace (e.g., frequency interlace 208) among multiple frequency interlaces in a spectrum (e.g., spectrum 202).

[0128] At step 1620, the method 1600 includes: using the portion of the first frequency interlace by the first wireless communication device to transmit a first uplink control channel signal with the second wireless communication device. The first uplink control channel signal may include a short PUCCH signal 530, a long PUCCH signal 1230, a short PUCCH signal 630, a short PUCCH format 2 signal 730, and / or a long PUCCH signal 1030 having format 3 or format 4.

[0129] In an embodiment, the spectrum may be shared by multiple network operating entities.The first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device may be associated with one of the multiple network operating entities.

[0130] In an embodiment, each frequency interlace in a plurality of frequency interlaces (e.g., frequency interlace 208) includes a set of resource blocks (e.g., RB 210) that are spaced apart from each other by at least one other resource block in the frequency spectrum. A first frequency interlace may include resource blocks spaced differently than a second frequency interlace in the plurality of frequency interlaces.

[0131] In an embodiment, the first wireless communication device is a BS, and the second wireless communication device is a UE. In such an embodiment, the transmission may include: receiving, by the first wireless communication device, a first uplink control channel signal from the second wireless communication device. The first wireless communication device may also receive a second uplink control channel signal (e.g., PUCCH signals 530, 630, 730, 1030, and 1230) from another portion (e.g., portion 1312) of the first frequency interlace from a third wireless communication device (e.g., another UE).

[0132] In one embodiment, when the first wireless communication is a BS, obtaining may include: allocating resources for one or more wireless communication devices (e.g., frequency interlace 208, parts 1310 and 1312 of the frequency interlace), for example, based on PSD requirements in the spectrum and link and / or power parameters of one or more wireless communication devices (e.g., UE 115 and 300) including the second wireless communication device. Obtaining may include: determining a multiplexing configuration for multiplexing transmissions from one or more wireless communication devices on the frequency interlace. The multiplexing configuration may be based on time domain CDM, frequency domain CDM, SDM, and / or cyclic shift separation on the same time-frequency resource (e.g., RB210). The multiplexing configuration may be based on a partial frequency interlace assignment (e.g., parts 1310 and 1312).

[0133] In an embodiment, the first wireless communication device is a UE, and the second wireless communication device is a BS. In such an embodiment, transmitting may include sending, by the first wireless communication device, a first uplink control channel signal to the second wireless communication device.

[0134] In one embodiment, transmitting may include: transmitting a first uplink control channel signal including at least one of the following based on a time spread sequence: a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format 0 signal, a PUCCH format 2 signal, a PUCCH format 3 signal, or a PUCCH format 4 signal.

[0135] In an embodiment, transmitting may include transmitting a first uplink control channel signal including a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format 1 signal based on cyclic shift separation.

[0136] Information and signals may be represented using any of a variety of different techniques and methods. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips mentioned throughout the above description may be represented by voltage, current, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof.

[0137] The various illustrative blocks and modules described in conjunction with the disclosure herein may be implemented or executed using a general purpose processor, DSP, ASIC, FPGA or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in an alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. The processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices (e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, a combination of one or more microprocessors and a DSP core, or any other such configuration).

[0138] The functions described herein can be implemented in hardware, software executed by a processor, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software executed by a processor, the functions can be stored as one or more instructions or codes on a computer-readable medium, or sent on a computer-readable medium. Other examples and implementations are within the scope of protection of the present disclosure and the appended claims. For example, due to the nature of software, the functions described above can be implemented using software, hardware, firmware, hardware wiring, or any combination thereof executed by a processor. The features used to implement the functions can be physically located at multiple locations, including being distributed so that the functions are implemented at different physical locations. In addition, as used herein (including in the claims), "or" as used in a list of items (e.g., "or" used in a list of items ending with "at least one of" or "one or more of") indicates an inclusive list, so that, for example, a list of [at least one of A, B, or C] means: A or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (i.e., A and B and C).

[0139] Another embodiment of the present disclosure includes a method for wireless communication, comprising: obtaining an uplink control channel multiplexing configuration by a first wireless communication device, the uplink control channel multiplexing configuration indicating a first frequency extension sequence, and at least one of a second frequency extension sequence or a first spatial direction; and transmitting, by the first wireless communication device based on the uplink control channel multiplexing configuration, a first uplink control channel signal including a first reference signal and a first uplink control information signal with a second wireless communication device in a spectrum, wherein the first reference signal is based on the first frequency extension sequence, and the first uplink control information signal is based on the second frequency extension sequence or at least one of the first spatial direction.

[0140] In some embodiments, wherein the first uplink control channel signal is a short physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format 2 signal. In some embodiments, wherein the spectrum is shared by multiple network operating entities, and wherein the first uplink control channel signal is transmitted using a set of resource blocks that are spaced apart from each other by at least one other resource block in the spectrum. In some embodiments, wherein the transmitting comprises: receiving, by the first wireless communication device, the first reference signal from a first frequency resource from the second wireless communication device based on the first frequency spread sequence; and receiving, by the first wireless communication device, the first uplink control information signal from a second frequency resource different from the first frequency resource from the second wireless communication device based on at least one of the second frequency spread sequence or the first spatial direction. In some embodiments, the method further comprises: receiving, by the first wireless communication device, a second reference signal from the first frequency resource of a second uplink control channel signal from a third wireless communication device based on a third frequency spread sequence different from the first frequency spread sequence; and receiving, by the first wireless communication device, a second uplink control information signal from the second frequency resource of a second uplink control channel signal from the third wireless communication device based on a fourth frequency spread sequence different from the second frequency spread sequence. In some embodiments, the method further comprises: receiving, by the first wireless communication device, a second reference signal from the first frequency resource of a second uplink control channel signal from a third wireless communication device based on a third frequency extension sequence different from the first frequency extension sequence; and receiving, by the first wireless communication device, a second uplink control information signal from the second frequency resource of the second uplink control channel signal from the third wireless communication device based on a second spatial direction different from the first spatial direction. In some embodiments, wherein, the transmitting comprises: sending, by the first wireless communication device, the first uplink control channel signal to the second wireless communication device. In some embodiments, wherein, the transmitting comprises: spreading, by the first wireless communication device, the first reference signal in frequency based on the first frequency extension; and spreading, by the first wireless communication device, the first uplink control information signal in frequency based on the second frequency extension sequence. In some embodiments, wherein, the transmitting comprises: sending, by the first wireless communication device, the first uplink control information signal to the second wireless communication device in the first spatial direction.

[0141] Another embodiment of the present disclosure includes a method of wireless communication, comprising: obtaining, by a first wireless communication device, an uplink control channel multiplexing configuration, the uplink control channel multiplexing configuration indicating a portion of a first frequency interlace among multiple frequency interlaces in a spectrum; and using, by the first wireless communication device, the portion of the first frequency interlace to transmit a first uplink control channel signal with a second wireless communication device.

[0142] In some embodiments, wherein the spectrum is shared by a plurality of network operating entities, and wherein the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device are associated with one of the plurality of network operating entities. In some embodiments, wherein each frequency interlace of the plurality of frequency interlaces comprises a set of resource blocks spaced apart from each other by at least one other resource block in the spectrum, and wherein the first frequency interlace comprises a set of resource blocks different from a second frequency interlace of the plurality of frequency interlaces. In some embodiments, wherein the transmitting comprises: receiving, by the first wireless communication device, the first uplink control channel signal from the second wireless communication device. In some embodiments, the method further comprises: receiving, by the first wireless communication device, a second uplink control channel signal from another portion of the first frequency interlace from a third wireless communication device. In some embodiments, the method further comprises: selecting, by the first wireless communication device, the portion of the first frequency interlace based on a link parameter associated with the second wireless communication device. In some embodiments, wherein the transmitting comprises: sending, by the first wireless communication device, the first uplink control channel signal to the second wireless communication device. In some embodiments, wherein the transmitting comprises: transmitting the first uplink control channel signal comprising at least one of the following based on a time spread sequence: a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format 0 signal, a PUCCH format 2 signal, a PUCCH format 3 signal, or a PUCCH format 4 signal. In some embodiments, wherein the transmitting comprises: transmitting the first uplink control channel signal comprising a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format 1 signal based on a cyclic shift separation.

[0143] Another embodiment of the present disclosure includes an apparatus comprising: a processor configured to obtain an uplink control channel multiplexing configuration, wherein the uplink control channel multiplexing configuration indicates a first frequency extension sequence, and at least one of a second frequency extension sequence or a first spatial direction; and a transceiver configured to transmit a first uplink control channel signal including a first reference signal and a first uplink control information signal to a second wireless communication device in a spectrum based on the uplink control channel multiplexing configuration, wherein the first reference signal is based on the first frequency extension sequence, and the first uplink control information signal is based on the second frequency extension sequence or at least one of the first spatial direction.

[0144] In some embodiments, wherein the first uplink control channel signal is a short physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format 2 signal. In some embodiments, wherein the spectrum is shared by multiple network operating entities, and wherein the first uplink control channel signal is transmitted using a set of resource blocks that are spaced apart from each other by at least one other resource block in the spectrum. In some embodiments, wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit the first uplink control channel signal by: receiving the first reference signal from the first frequency resource from the second wireless communication device based on the first frequency spread sequence; and receiving the first uplink control information signal from the second frequency resource different from the first frequency resource from the second wireless communication device based on at least one of the second frequency spread sequence or the first spatial direction. In some embodiments, wherein the transceiver is further configured to: receive the second reference signal from the first frequency resource of the second uplink control channel signal from the third wireless communication device based on a third frequency spread sequence different from the first frequency spread sequence; and receive the second uplink control information signal from the second frequency resource of the second uplink control channel signal from the third wireless communication device based on a fourth frequency spread sequence different from the second frequency spread sequence. In some embodiments, wherein the transceiver is further configured to: receive a second reference signal from the first frequency resource of a second uplink control channel signal from a third wireless communication device based on a third frequency spreading sequence different from the first frequency spreading sequence; and receive a second uplink control information signal from the second frequency resource of the second uplink control channel signal from the third wireless communication device based on a second spatial direction different from the first spatial direction. In some embodiments, wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit the first uplink control channel signal by: sending the first uplink control channel signal to the second wireless communication device. In some embodiments, wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit the first uplink control channel signal by: spreading the first reference signal in frequency based on the first frequency spreading; and spreading the first uplink control information signal in frequency based on the second frequency spreading sequence. In some embodiments, wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit the first uplink control channel signal by: sending the first uplink control information signal to the second wireless communication device in the first spatial direction.

[0145] Another embodiment of the present disclosure includes an apparatus comprising: a processor configured to obtain an uplink control channel multiplexing configuration, wherein the uplink control channel multiplexing configuration indicates a portion of a first frequency interlace among multiple frequency interlaces in a spectrum; and a transceiver configured to use the portion of the first frequency interlace to transmit a first uplink control channel signal to a second wireless communication device.

[0146] In some embodiments, wherein the spectrum is shared by a plurality of network operating entities, and wherein the apparatus and the second wireless communication device are associated with one of the plurality of network operating entities. In some embodiments, wherein each of the plurality of frequency interlaces comprises a set of resource blocks spaced apart from each other by at least one other resource block in the spectrum, and wherein the first frequency interlace comprises a set of resource blocks different from a second frequency interlace of the plurality of frequency interlaces. In some embodiments, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the first uplink control channel signal by: receiving the first uplink control channel signal from the second wireless communication device. In some embodiments, wherein the transceiver is further configured to: receive a second uplink control channel signal from another portion of the first frequency interlace from a third wireless communication device. In some embodiments, wherein the processor is further configured to: select the portion of the first frequency interlace based on a link parameter associated with the second wireless communication device. In some embodiments, wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit the first uplink control channel signal by: sending the first uplink control channel signal to the second wireless communication device. In some embodiments, wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit the first uplink control channel signal by: transmitting the first uplink control channel signal including at least one of the following based on a time spread sequence: a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format 0 signal, a PUCCH format 2 signal, a PUCCH format 3 signal, or a PUCCH format 4 signal. In some embodiments, wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit the first uplink control channel signal by: transmitting the first uplink control channel signal including a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format 1 signal based on a cyclic shift separation.

[0147] Another embodiment of the present disclosure includes a computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon, the program code including: a code for enabling a first wireless communication device to obtain an uplink control channel multiplexing configuration, the uplink control channel multiplexing configuration indicating a first frequency extension sequence, and at least one of a second frequency extension sequence or a first spatial direction; and a code for enabling the first wireless communication device to transmit a first uplink control channel signal including a first reference signal and a first uplink control information signal in a spectrum with a second wireless communication device based on the uplink control channel multiplexing configuration, wherein the first reference signal is based on the first frequency extension sequence, and the first uplink control information signal is based on at least one of the second frequency extension sequence or the first spatial direction.

[0148] In some embodiments, wherein the first uplink control channel signal is a short physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format 2 signal. In some embodiments, wherein the spectrum is shared by multiple network operating entities, and wherein the first uplink control channel signal is transmitted using a set of resource blocks that are spaced apart from each other by at least one other resource block in the spectrum. In some embodiments, wherein the code for causing the first wireless communication device to transmit the first uplink control channel signal is also configured to: receive the first reference signal from the first frequency resource from the second wireless communication device based on the first frequency spread sequence; and receive the first uplink control information signal from the second wireless communication device from a second frequency resource different from the first frequency resource based on at least one of the second frequency spread sequence or the first spatial direction. In some embodiments, the computer-readable medium further comprises: code for causing the first wireless communication device to receive a second reference signal from the first frequency resource of a second uplink control channel signal from a third wireless communication device based on a third frequency extension sequence different from the first frequency extension sequence; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to receive a second uplink control information signal from the second frequency resource of the second uplink control channel signal from the third wireless communication device based on a fourth frequency extension sequence different from the second frequency extension sequence. In some embodiments, the computer-readable medium further comprises: code for causing the first wireless communication device to receive a second reference signal from the first frequency resource of a second uplink control channel signal from a third wireless communication device based on a third frequency extension sequence different from the first frequency extension sequence; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to receive a second uplink control information signal from the second frequency resource of the second uplink control channel signal from the third wireless communication device based on a second spatial direction different from the first spatial direction. In some embodiments, the code for causing the first wireless communication device to transmit the first uplink control channel signal is further configured to: send the first uplink control channel signal to the second wireless communication device. In some embodiments, the code for causing the first wireless communication device to transmit the first uplink control channel signal is further configured to: spread the first reference signal in frequency based on the first frequency extension; and spread the first uplink control information signal in frequency based on the second frequency extension sequence. In some embodiments, the code for causing the first wireless communication device to transmit the first uplink control channel signal is further configured to: send the first uplink control information signal to the second wireless communication device in the first spatial direction.

[0149] Another embodiment of the present disclosure includes a computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon, the program code including: code for causing a first wireless communication device to obtain an uplink control channel multiplexing configuration, the uplink control channel multiplexing configuration indicating a portion of a first frequency interlace among multiple frequency interlaces in a spectrum; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to use the portion of the first frequency interlace to transmit a first uplink control channel signal with a second wireless communication device.

[0150] In some embodiments, wherein the frequency spectrum is shared by a plurality of network operating entities, and wherein the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device are associated with one of the plurality of network operating entities. In some embodiments, wherein each frequency interlace of the plurality of frequency interlaces comprises a set of resource blocks spaced apart from each other by at least one other resource block in the frequency spectrum, and wherein the first frequency interlace comprises a set of resource blocks different from a second frequency interlace of the plurality of frequency interlaces. In some embodiments, wherein the code for causing the first wireless communication device to transmit the first uplink control channel signal is further configured to: receive the first uplink control channel signal from the second wireless communication device. In some embodiments, the computer-readable medium further comprises: code for causing the first wireless communication device to receive a second uplink control channel signal from another portion of the first frequency interlace from a third wireless communication device. In some embodiments, the computer-readable medium further comprises: code for causing the first wireless communication device to select the portion of the first frequency interlace based on a link parameter associated with the second wireless communication device. In some embodiments, wherein, according to the computer-readable medium of claim 46, wherein the code for causing the first wireless communication device to transmit the first uplink control channel signal is further configured to: send the first uplink control channel signal to the second wireless communication device. In some embodiments, wherein the code for causing the first wireless communication device to transmit the first uplink control channel signal is further configured to: transmit the first uplink control channel signal including at least one of the following based on a time spread sequence: a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format 0 signal, a PUCCH format 2 signal, a PUCCH format 3 signal, or a PUCCH format 4 signal. In some embodiments, wherein the code for causing the first wireless communication device to transmit the first uplink control channel signal is further configured to: transmit the first uplink control channel signal including a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format 1 signal based on a cyclic shift separation.

[0151] Another embodiment of the present disclosure includes an apparatus comprising: a unit for obtaining an uplink control channel multiplexing configuration, the uplink control channel multiplexing configuration indicating a first frequency spread sequence, and at least one of a second frequency spread sequence or a first spatial direction; and a unit for transmitting a first uplink control channel signal including a first reference signal and a first uplink control information signal to a second wireless communication device in a spectrum based on the uplink control channel multiplexing configuration, wherein the first reference signal is based on the first frequency spread sequence, and the first uplink control information signal is based on the second frequency spread sequence or at least one of the first spatial direction.

[0152] In some embodiments, wherein the first uplink control channel signal is a short physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format 2 signal. In some embodiments, wherein the spectrum is shared by multiple network operating entities, and wherein the first uplink control channel signal is transmitted using a set of resource blocks that are spaced apart from each other by at least one other resource block in the spectrum. In some embodiments, wherein the unit for transmitting the first uplink control channel signal is further configured to: receive the first reference signal from the first frequency resource from the second wireless communication device based on the first frequency spread sequence; and receive the first uplink control information signal from the second frequency resource different from the first frequency resource from the second wireless communication device based on at least one of the second frequency spread sequence or the first spatial direction. In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes: a unit for receiving a second reference signal from the first frequency resource of a second uplink control channel signal from a third wireless communication device based on a third frequency spread sequence different from the first frequency spread sequence; and a unit for receiving a second uplink control information signal from the second frequency resource of the second uplink control channel signal from the third wireless communication device based on a fourth frequency spread sequence different from the second frequency spread sequence. In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises: a unit for receiving a second reference signal from the first frequency resource for a second uplink control channel signal from a third wireless communication device based on a third frequency spreading sequence different from the first frequency spreading sequence; and a unit for receiving a second uplink control information signal from the second frequency resource for the second uplink control channel signal from the third wireless communication device based on a second spatial direction different from the first spatial direction. In some embodiments, wherein the unit for transmitting the first uplink control channel signal is further configured to: send the first uplink control channel signal to the second wireless communication device. In some embodiments, wherein the unit for transmitting the first uplink control channel signal is further configured to: spread the first reference signal in frequency based on the first frequency spreading; and spread the first uplink control information signal in frequency based on the second frequency spreading sequence. In some embodiments, wherein the unit for transmitting the first uplink control channel signal is further configured to: send the first uplink control information signal to the second wireless communication device in the first spatial direction.

[0153] Another embodiment of the present disclosure includes an apparatus comprising: a unit for obtaining an uplink control channel multiplexing configuration, wherein the uplink control channel multiplexing configuration indicates a portion of a first frequency interlace among multiple frequency interlaces in a spectrum; and a unit for using the portion of the first frequency interlace to transmit a first uplink control channel signal with a second wireless communication device.

[0154] In some embodiments, wherein the spectrum is shared by a plurality of network operating entities, and wherein the apparatus and the second wireless communication device are associated with one of the plurality of network operating entities. In some embodiments, wherein each of the plurality of frequency interlaces comprises a set of resource blocks spaced apart from each other by at least one other resource block in the spectrum, and wherein the first frequency interlace comprises a set of resource blocks different from a second frequency interlace of the plurality of frequency interlaces. In some embodiments, wherein the means for transmitting the first uplink control channel signal is further configured to: receive the first uplink control channel signal from the second wireless communication device. In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises: means for receiving a second uplink control channel signal from another portion of the first frequency interlace from a third wireless communication device. In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises: means for selecting the portion of the first frequency interlace based on a link parameter associated with the second wireless communication device. In some embodiments, wherein the means for transmitting the first uplink control channel signal is further configured to: send the first uplink control channel signal to the second wireless communication device. In some embodiments, wherein the means for transmitting the first uplink control channel signal is further configured to: transmit the first uplink control channel signal including at least one of the following based on a time spread sequence: a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format 0 signal, a PUCCH format 2 signal, a PUCCH format 3 signal, or a PUCCH format 4 signal. In some embodiments, wherein the means for transmitting the first uplink control channel signal is further configured to: transmit the first uplink control channel signal including a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format 1 signal based on a cyclic shift separation.

[0155] As will be understood by those skilled in the art by now and depending on the specific application at the time, many modifications, substitutions and changes may be made in or to the materials, devices, configurations and methods of use of the devices of the present disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. In view of this, the scope of the present disclosure should not be limited to the scope of the specific embodiments shown and described herein, as they are only by way of some examples thereof, but rather, should be fully commensurate with the scope of the claims appended hereto and their functional equivalents.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communication performed by a user equipment (UE), the method include: receiving, from a network device, an uplink control channel multiplexing configuration indicating a first frequency spreading sequence and a second frequency spreading sequence; as well as transmitting an uplink control channel signal including a first reference signal and a first uplink control information signal to the network device in a frequency spectrum based on the uplink control channel multiplexing configuration, The first reference signal is transmitted using a first frequency resource based on the first frequency extension sequence, and The first uplink control information signal is transmitted using a second frequency resource based on the second frequency spreading sequence, and the first frequency resource and the second frequency resource are different.

2. The method according to claim 1, in, The uplink control channel signal is a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format 2 signal.

3. The method according to claim 1, in, Transmitting the uplink control channel signal includes transmitting the uplink control channel signal using a set of resource blocks that are spaced apart from each other by at least one other resource block in the frequency spectrum.

4. The method according to claim 1, in, The sending the uplink control channel signal includes sending the uplink control channel signal via a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH).

5. The method according to claim 4, in, The sending the uplink control channel signal comprises: spreading the first reference signal in frequency based on the first frequency spreading sequence; and The first uplink control information signal is spread in frequency based on the second frequency spreading sequence.

6. The method according to claim 1, in, The first frequency spreading sequence includes a first code indicated as positive and a second code indicated as positive; and The second frequency extension sequence includes a third code represented as positive and a fourth code represented as positive.

7. The method according to claim 6, in: The first frequency spreading sequence is orthogonal to a third frequency spreading sequence associated with the second UE; and The second frequency spreading sequence is orthogonal to a fourth frequency spreading sequence associated with the second UE.

8. The method according to claim 7, in, The third frequency spreading sequence includes a first code represented as positive and a second code represented as negative; and The fourth frequency extension sequence includes a first code represented as positive and a second code represented as negative.

9. The method according to claim 7, in, The third frequency spreading sequence includes a first code expressed as a negative and a second code expressed as a negative; and The fourth frequency extension sequence includes a first code expressed as a negative value and a second code expressed as a negative value.

10. The method according to claim 1, in, The first frequency resources and the second frequency resources are at least partially within a first frequency interlace.

11. The method according to claim 1, in, The first reference signal is a demodulation reference signal (DMRS).

12. The method according to claim 1, in, The first frequency spreading sequence is the same as the second frequency spreading sequence.

13. A user equipment (UE), include: Memory; Transceiver; as well as a processor coupled to the memory and the transceiver and configured to, when executing instructions stored on the memory, cause the UE to perform the following operations: receiving, from a network device, an uplink control channel multiplexing configuration indicating a first frequency spreading sequence and a second frequency spreading sequence; and transmitting an uplink control channel signal including a first reference signal and a first uplink control information signal to the network device in a frequency spectrum based on the uplink control channel multiplexing configuration, The first reference signal is transmitted using a first frequency resource based on the first frequency extension sequence, and The first uplink control information signal is transmitted using a second frequency resource based on the second frequency spreading sequence, and the first frequency resource and the second frequency resource are different.

14. The UE according to claim 13, in, The uplink control channel signal is a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format 2 signal.

15. The UE according to claim 13, in, Transmitting the uplink control channel signal includes transmitting the uplink control channel signal using a set of resource blocks that are spaced apart from each other by at least one other resource block in the frequency spectrum.

16. The UE according to claim 13, in, The processor is further configured to: Transmitting the uplink control channel signal includes transmitting the uplink control channel signal via a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH).

17. The UE according to claim 16, in, The processor is further configured to perform the following operations: spreading the first reference signal in frequency based on the first frequency spreading sequence; and The first uplink control information signal is spread in frequency based on the second frequency spreading sequence.

18. The UE according to claim 13, in, The first frequency spreading sequence includes a first code indicated as positive and a second code indicated as positive; and The second frequency extension sequence includes a third code represented as positive and a fourth code represented as positive.

19. The UE according to claim 18, in: The first frequency spreading sequence is orthogonal to a third frequency spreading sequence associated with the second UE; and The second frequency spreading sequence is orthogonal to a fourth frequency spreading sequence associated with the second UE.

20. The UE according to claim 19, in, The third frequency spreading sequence includes a first code represented as positive and a second code represented as negative; and The fourth frequency extension sequence includes a first code represented as positive and a second code represented as negative.

21. The UE according to claim 19, in, The third frequency spreading sequence includes a first code expressed as a negative and a second code expressed as a negative; and The fourth frequency extension sequence includes a first code expressed as a negative value and a second code expressed as a negative value.

22. The UE according to claim 13, in, The first frequency resources and the second frequency resources are at least partially within a first frequency interlace.

23. The UE according to claim 13, in, The first reference signal is a demodulation reference signal (DMRS).

24. The UE according to claim 13, in, The first frequency spreading sequence is the same as the second frequency spreading sequence.

25. A non-transitory computer readable medium having program code recorded thereon for execution by a user equipment (UE), the program code include: A code for causing the UE to receive, from a network device, an uplink control channel multiplexing configuration indicating a first frequency spreading sequence and a second frequency spreading sequence; as well as code for causing the UE to transmit an uplink control channel signal including a first reference signal and a first uplink control information signal to the network device in a frequency spectrum based on the uplink control channel multiplexing configuration, The first reference signal is transmitted using a first frequency resource based on the first frequency extension sequence, and The first uplink control information signal is transmitted using a second frequency resource based on the second frequency spreading sequence, and the first frequency resource and the second frequency resource are different.

26. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 25, in, The code for causing the UE to send the uplink control channel signal includes: Code for causing the UE to transmit the uplink control information signal as a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format 2 signal.

27. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 25, in, The code for causing the UE to send the uplink control channel signal includes: Code for causing the UE to transmit using the first frequency resources and the second frequency resources at least partially within a first frequency interlace.

28. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 25, in, The code for causing the UE to send the uplink control channel signal includes: Code for causing the UE to transmit the first reference signal as a demodulation reference signal (DMRS).

29. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 25, in, The code for causing the UE to transmit the uplink control channel signal includes code for causing the UE to transmit the uplink control channel signal using a set of resource blocks that are spaced apart from each other by at least one other resource block in the frequency spectrum.

30. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 25, in, The code for causing the UE to transmit the uplink control channel signal includes code for causing the UE to transmit the uplink control channel signal via a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH).

31. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 30, in, The code for causing the UE to send the uplink control channel signal includes: code for causing the UE to spread the first reference signal in frequency based on the first frequency spreading sequence; and Code for causing the UE to spread the first uplink control information signal in frequency based on the second frequency spreading sequence.

32. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 25, in, The first frequency spreading sequence is the same as the second frequency spreading sequence.

33. A user equipment (UE), include: means for receiving, from a network device, an uplink control channel multiplexing configuration indicating a first frequency spreading sequence and a second frequency spreading sequence; as well as means for transmitting an uplink control channel signal including a first reference signal and a first uplink control information signal to the network device in a frequency spectrum based on the uplink control channel multiplexing configuration, The first reference signal is transmitted using a first frequency resource based on the first frequency extension sequence, and The first uplink control information signal is transmitted using a second frequency resource based on the second frequency spreading sequence, and the first frequency resource and the second frequency resource are different.

34. The UE according to claim 33, in, The unit for sending the uplink control channel signal includes: Means for transmitting the uplink control channel signal as a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format 2 signal.

35. The UE according to claim 33, in, The unit for sending the uplink control channel signal includes: Means for sending the uplink control channel signal utilizing the first frequency resources and the second frequency resources at least partially within a first frequency interlace.

36. The UE according to claim 33, in, The unit for sending the uplink control channel signal includes: Means for transmitting the uplink control channel signal using the first reference signal as a demodulation reference signal (DMRS).

37. The UE according to claim 33, in, The means for transmitting the uplink control channel signal includes means for transmitting the uplink control channel signal using a set of resource blocks that are spaced apart from each other by at least one other resource block in the frequency spectrum.

38. The UE according to claim 33, in, The means for transmitting the uplink control channel signal includes means for transmitting the uplink control channel signal via a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH).

39. The UE according to claim 38, in, The unit for sending the uplink control channel signal includes: means for spreading the first reference signal in frequency based on the first frequency spreading sequence; and Means for spreading the first uplink control information signal in frequency based on the second frequency spreading sequence.

40. The UE according to claim 33, in, The first frequency spreading sequence is the same as the second frequency spreading sequence.

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