Slot Format Indicator (SFI) enhancement for sub-band full-duplex

Abstract

Various aspects relate to dynamically changing a slot format of a time slot between half-duplex and sub-band full-duplex (SBFD) and / or changing flexible symbols within a flexible time slot between half-duplex and SBFD when a base station is configured to operate in SBFD mode. A slot format indicator (SFI) indicating the slot format of the time slot may be signaled, for example, via downlink control information (DCI) mapped to a downlink control channel or a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC‑CE) mapped to a downlink data channel. To improve reliability, various SFI boosting mechanisms may be further employed. For example, the base station may apply a higher aggregation level to the SFI, send repetitions of the SFI across multiple beams, apply CRC enhancement and / or MCS enhancement to a downlink control channel carrying the SFI, and / or apply a power boost to the SFI.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This patent application claims priority to and the benefit of co-pending non-provisional application No. 17 / 362,823 filed in the U.S. Patent Office on June 29, 2021, and provisional application No. 63 / 047,873 filed in the U.S. Patent Office on July 2, 2020, which are assigned to the assignee thereof and are hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth below in their entirety and for all applicable purposes. Technical Field

[0003] The techniques discussed below relate generally to wireless communication networks, and more particularly to time slot format changes in sub-band full-duplex wireless communication networks. Background Art

[0004] In wireless communication systems, such as those specified under the standards for 5G New Radio (NR), an access point (e.g., a base station) can communicate with a user equipment (UE) (e.g., a smartphone). Various duplex modes can be used for communication. For example, each of a base station (e.g., a g-node B (gNB)) and a UE can operate in half-duplex mode or full-duplex mode. In half-duplex mode, downlink transmissions and uplink transmissions occur at different times. In some examples, half-duplex communication can utilize time division duplex (TDD), where transmissions in different directions on a given channel are separated from each other using time division multiplexing. In full-duplex mode, downlink transmissions and uplink transmissions can occur simultaneously. In some examples, full-duplex communication can use frequency division duplex (FDD) in a paired spectrum, where transmissions in different directions occur at different carrier frequencies. In other examples, full-duplex communication can utilize sub-band FDD in an unpaired spectrum, where transmissions in different directions are carried in different sub-bands of a carrier bandwidth (or BWP of a carrier bandwidth).

[0005] In the time domain, communications may be time-divided into time slots. Each time slot may carry, for example, 7 or 14 symbols (e.g., orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols). The network may configure each time slot as a downlink time slot (e.g., all symbols are dedicated to downlink communications), an uplink time slot (e.g., all symbols are dedicated to uplink communications), or a flexible time slot. Flexible time slots may include symbols that may be classified as uplink symbols, downlink symbols, or flexible symbols that may be configured as uplink symbols or downlink symbols. NR TDD uses flexible time slot configuration. The time slot format of each time slot in a cell may be static, or may be configured in a semi-static or dynamic manner. For example, a time slot format indicator (SFI) sent via downlink control information (DCI) within a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) may be used to dynamically reconfigure the flexible symbols in a time slot. Summary of the invention

[0006] A brief summary of one or more aspects of the present disclosure is presented below to provide a basic understanding of these aspects. This summary is not a general overview of all expected aspects of the present disclosure, and is neither intended to identify key elements 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 present some concepts of one or more aspects of the present disclosure in the form of a preface to a specific embodiment presented later.

[0007] In one example, a method of wireless communication at a base station in a wireless communication network is disclosed. The method includes: selecting a time slot format of a time slot having a carrier bandwidth. The time slot format may include a half-duplex time slot including at least a bandwidth portion (BWP) of the carrier bandwidth configured for uplink transmission or downlink transmission, a sub-band full-duplex time slot including at least the BWP configured for simultaneous uplink transmission and downlink transmission, or a flexible time slot including at least one flexible symbol configurable as a half-duplex symbol or a sub-band full-duplex symbol. The method also includes sending a time slot format indicator indicating the time slot format of the time slot to multiple user equipments (UEs) within downlink control information or a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE).

[0008] Another example provides a base station in a wireless communication network. The base station includes a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with multiple user equipment (UE) via a carrier bandwidth, a memory, and a processor communicatively coupled to the wireless transceiver and the memory. The processor and the memory may be configured to select a slot format of a slot having a carrier bandwidth. The slot format may include a half-duplex slot including at least a bandwidth portion (BWP) of the carrier bandwidth configured for uplink transmission or downlink transmission, a sub-band full-duplex slot including at least the BWP configured for simultaneous uplink transmission and downlink transmission, or a flexible slot including at least one flexible symbol configurable as a half-duplex symbol or a sub-band full-duplex symbol. The processor and the memory may also be configured to send a slot format indicator indicating the slot format of the slot to multiple user equipment (UE) via the wireless transceiver in a downlink control message or a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE).

[0009] Another example provides a base station in a wireless communication network. The base station includes a unit for selecting a time slot format of a time slot having a carrier bandwidth. The time slot format may include a half-duplex time slot including at least a bandwidth portion (BWP) of the carrier bandwidth configured for uplink transmission or downlink transmission, a sub-band full-duplex time slot including at least the BWP configured for simultaneous uplink transmission and downlink transmission, or a flexible time slot including at least one flexible symbol configurable as a half-duplex symbol or a sub-band full-duplex symbol. The base station also includes a unit for sending a time slot format indicator indicating the time slot format of the time slot to multiple user equipments (UEs) within a downlink control message or a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE).

[0010] Another example provides a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored therein instructions executable by one or more processors of a base station to select a slot format of a slot including a carrier bandwidth. The slot format may include a half-duplex slot including at least a bandwidth portion (BWP) of the carrier bandwidth configured for uplink transmission or downlink transmission, a sub-band full-duplex slot including at least the BWP configured for simultaneous uplink transmission and downlink transmission, or a flexible slot including at least one flexible symbol configurable as a half-duplex symbol or a sub-band full-duplex symbol. The non-transitory computer-readable medium also includes instructions executable by one or more processors of the base station to send a slot format indicator indicating the slot format of the slot to multiple user equipments (UEs) within a downlink control message or a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE).

[0011] According to another example, a method for wireless communication at a user equipment in a wireless communication network is disclosed. The method includes receiving a slot format indicator from a base station in downlink control information or a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE). The slot format indicator may indicate a slot format of a slot having a carrier bandwidth, and the slot format may include a half-duplex slot including at least a bandwidth portion (BWP) of the carrier bandwidth configured for uplink transmission or downlink transmission, a sub-band full-duplex slot including at least the BWP configured for simultaneous uplink transmission and downlink transmission, or a flexible slot including at least one flexible symbol configurable as a half-duplex symbol or a sub-band full-duplex symbol. The method also includes communicating with the base station in the slot based on the slot format.

[0012] Another example provides a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication network. The UE includes a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with a base station through at least a bandwidth portion (BWP) of a carrier bandwidth, a memory, and a processor communicatively coupled to the wireless transceiver and the memory. The processor and the memory may be configured to receive a slot format indicator from the base station in a downlink control message or a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE). The slot format indicator may indicate a slot format of a slot, and the slot format may include a half-duplex slot including at least a bandwidth portion (BWP) of the carrier bandwidth configured for uplink transmission or downlink transmission, a sub-band full-duplex slot including at least the BWP configured for simultaneous uplink transmission and downlink transmission, or a flexible slot including at least one flexible symbol configurable as a half-duplex symbol or a sub-band full-duplex symbol. The processor and the memory may be configured to communicate with the base station in the slot based on the slot format via the wireless transceiver.

[0013] Another example provides a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication network. The UE includes a unit for receiving a slot format indicator from a base station in a downlink control message or a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE). The slot format indicator may indicate a slot format of a slot having a carrier bandwidth, and the slot format may include a half-duplex slot including at least a bandwidth portion (BWP) of the carrier bandwidth configured for uplink transmission or downlink transmission, a sub-band full-duplex slot including at least the BWP configured for simultaneous uplink transmission and downlink transmission, or a flexible slot including at least one flexible symbol configurable as a half-duplex symbol or a sub-band full-duplex symbol. The method also includes a unit for communicating with the base station in the slot based on the slot format.

[0014] Another example provides a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions executable by one or more processors of a user equipment (UE) to receive a slot format indicator from a base station in downlink control information or a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE). The slot format indicator may indicate a slot format of a slot having a carrier bandwidth, and the slot format may include a half-duplex slot including at least a bandwidth portion (BWP) of the carrier bandwidth configured for uplink transmission or downlink transmission, a sub-band full-duplex slot including at least the BWP configured for simultaneous uplink transmission and downlink transmission, or a flexible slot including at least one flexible symbol configurable as a half-duplex symbol or a sub-band full-duplex symbol. The non-transitory computer-readable medium may also include instructions executable by one or more processors of the UE to communicate with the base station in the slot based on the slot format.

[0015] By reading the following detailed description, these and other aspects will be more fully understood. After reading the following description of specific exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, other aspects, features and embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Although each feature can be discussed relative to certain embodiments and the accompanying drawings below, all embodiments 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 these features may also be used according to the various embodiments discussed herein. In a similar manner, although exemplary embodiments may be discussed below as equipment, system or method embodiments, such exemplary embodiments may be implemented in various equipment, systems and methods. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication system according to some aspects.

[0017] Figure 2 is a conceptual illustration of an example of a radio access network in accordance with some aspects.

[0018] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a frame structure for use in a wireless communication network in accordance with some aspects.

[0019] Figure 4A -4C illustrates an example of full-duplex communication in an unpaired spectrum according to some aspects.

[0020] Figure 5A is a schematic diagram of a base station (e.g., a gNB) including an antenna array configured for full-duplex communication according to some aspects.

[0021] Figure 5B According to some aspects of use Figure 5A Schematic diagram of an example of full-duplex wireless communication with a multi-panel antenna array shown in .

[0022] Figure 6 is a signaling diagram illustrating an example of slot format indication for sub-band full-duplex operation in accordance with some aspects.

[0023] Figure 7 is a diagram of an example CCE structure in a DL control portion of a slot in accordance with some aspects.

[0024] Figure 8 is a diagram of several example control resource sets (CORESETs) for a DL control portion of a timeslot in accordance with some aspects.

[0025] Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating communications between a base station and multiple UEs using beamformed downlink signals in accordance with some aspects.

[0026] Fig.10 is a schematic diagram of circuits within a base station configured to generate a PDCCH carrying an SFI according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0027] Fig.11 is a flow chart of an exemplary method for SFI prioritization according to some aspects.

[0028] Fig.12 is a signaling diagram illustrating an example of confirmation-based cancellation of an SFI according to some aspects.

[0029] Fig.13 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for a base station employing a processing system according to some aspects.

[0030] Fig.14 is a flow chart of an example method for SFI enhancement for sub-band full-duplex at a base station in accordance with some aspects.

[0031] Fig.15 is a flow chart of another example method for SFI enhancement for sub-band full-duplex at a base station in accordance with some aspects.

[0032] Fig.16 is a flow chart of another example method for SFI enhancement for sub-band full-duplex at a base station in accordance with some aspects.

[0033] Fig.17 is a flow chart of an example method for generating a control channel carrying a slot format indicator at a base station in accordance with some aspects.

[0034] Fig.18 is a flow chart of another example method for SFI enhancement for sub-band full-duplex at a base station in accordance with some aspects.

[0035] Fig.19 is a flow chart of another example method for SFI enhancement for sub-band full-duplex at a base station in accordance with some aspects.

[0036] Fig. 20 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for a UE employing a processing system according to some aspects.

[0037] Fig.21 is a flow chart of an example method for SFI enhancement for sub-band full-duplex at a UE in accordance with some aspects. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] 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 configurations in which the concepts described herein may be practiced. The specific embodiments include specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. In some cases, in order to avoid obscuring these concepts, well-known structures and components are shown in block diagram form.

[0039] The electromagnetic spectrum is typically subdivided into various categories, bands, channels, etc. based on frequency / wavelength. In 5G NR, two initial operating frequency bands have been identified with the frequency range designations FR1 (410 MHz–7.125 GHz) and FR2 (24.25 GHz–52.6 GHz). It should be understood that although portions of FR1 are above 6 GHz, FR1 is often (interchangeably) referred to as the “Sub-6 GHz” band in various documents and articles. Similar naming issues sometimes arise with respect to FR2, which is often (interchangeably) referred to as the “millimeter wave” band in various documents and articles, but is different from the extremely high frequency (EHF) band (30 GHz–300 GHz) identified as the “millimeter wave” band by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

[0040] Frequencies between FR1 and FR2 are generally referred to as mid-band frequencies. Recent 5G NR research has identified operating bands for these mid-band frequencies as the frequency range designation FR3 (7.125 GHz–24.25 GHz). Frequency bands falling into FR3 may inherit FR1 characteristics and / or FR2 characteristics, and may therefore effectively extend the characteristics of FR1 and / or FR2 to mid-band frequencies. In addition, higher frequency bands are currently being explored to extend 5G NR operations above 52.6 GHz. For example, three higher operating frequency bands have been identified as the frequency range designations FR4-a or FR4-1 (52.6 GHz–71 GHz), FR4 (52.6 GHz–114.25 GHz), and FR5 (114.25 GHz–300 GHz). Each of these higher frequency bands belongs to the EHF band.

[0041] In view of the above aspects, unless otherwise specifically stated, it should be understood that the term "sub-6GHz" and the like (if used herein) can broadly represent frequencies that can be less than 6GHz, can be within FR1, or can include mid-band frequencies. In addition, unless otherwise specifically stated, it should be understood that the term "millimeter wave" and the like (if used herein) can broadly represent frequencies that can include mid-band frequencies, can be within FR2, FR4, FR4-a or FR4-1 and / or FR5, or can be within the EHF band.

[0042] Although various aspects and embodiments are described in this application by illustrating some examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that additional implementations and use cases may appear in many different arrangements and scenarios. The innovative solutions described herein can be implemented on many different platform types, devices, systems, shapes, sizes, and packaging arrangements. For example, embodiments and / or uses may be implemented via integrated chip embodiments and other devices based on non-module components (e.g., end-user devices, vehicles, communication devices, computing devices, industrial equipment, retail / purchasing equipment, medical equipment, AI-enabled devices, etc.). Although some examples may or may not be specifically for use cases or applications, a variety of applicability of the described innovative solutions may occur. The scope of implementations can be extended from chip-level or modular components to non-modular, non-chip-level implementations, and further to aggregated, distributed or OEM devices or systems containing one or more aspects of the described innovative solutions. In some practical settings, the devices containing the described aspects and features may also necessarily include additional components and features for implementing and implementing the claimed and described embodiments. For example, the transmission and reception of wireless signals necessarily include several components for analog and digital purposes (e.g., hardware components, including antennas, RF chains, power amplifiers, modulators, buffers, processors, interleavers, adders / summers, etc.). It is contemplated that the innovative solutions described herein can be implemented in a variety of different devices, chip-level components, systems, distributed arrangements, aggregated or deaggregated arrangements, end-user devices, etc., of different sizes, shapes, and structures.

[0043] The various concepts presented throughout this disclosure may be implemented in a wide variety of telecommunication systems, network architectures and communication standards. Figure 1 , various aspects of the present disclosure are illustrated with reference to a wireless communication system 100, by way of illustrative example and not limitation. The wireless communication system 100 includes three interacting domains: a core network 102, a radio access network (RAN) 104, and a user equipment (UE) 106. With the wireless communication system 100, the UE 106 can implement data communications with an external data network 110, such as (but not limited to) the Internet.

[0044] The RAN 104 may implement any suitable one or more wireless communication technologies to provide radio access to the UE 106. As an example, the RAN 104 may operate in accordance with the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) New Radio (NR) specification (commonly referred to as 5G). As another example, the RAN 104 may operate under a hybrid of 5G NR and Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (eUTRAN) standards, which are commonly referred to as Long Term Evolution (LTE). 3GPP refers to such a hybrid RAN as the Next Generation RAN or NG-RAN. Of course, many other examples may be used within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0045] As shown, RAN 104 includes multiple base stations 108. In general, a base station is a network element in a radio access network, responsible for radio transmission and reception to or from a UE in one or more cells. In different technologies, standards or contexts, those skilled in the art may refer to base stations as base transceiver stations (BTS), radio base stations, radio transceivers, transceiver functions, basic service sets (BSS), extended service sets (ESS), access points (APs), node Bs (NBs), e-node Bs (eNBs), g-node Bs (gNBs), transmission and reception points (TRPs), or some other suitable terminology. In some examples, a base station may include two or more TRPs, which may be co-located or not co-located. Each TRP may communicate on the same or different carrier frequencies in the same or different frequency bands. In an example where RAN 104 operates according to both the LTE standard and the 5G NR standard, one of the base stations may be an LTE base station, and the other base station may be a 5G NR base station.

[0046] Further shown is a RAN 104 that supports wireless communications for multiple mobile devices. Although a mobile device may be referred to as a user equipment (UE) in the 3GPP standard, in some cases, a mobile device may also be referred to by those skilled in the art as a mobile station (MS), a subscriber station, a mobile unit, a subscriber unit, a wireless unit, a remote unit, a mobile device, a wireless device, a wireless communication device, a remote device, a mobile subscriber station, an access terminal (AT), a mobile terminal, a wireless terminal, a remote terminal, a handset, a terminal, a user agent, a mobile client, a client, or some other suitable term. A UE may be a device (e.g., a mobile device) that provides a user with access to network services.

[0047] In the present disclosure, a "mobile" device does not necessarily have mobile capabilities and can be stationary. The term mobile device or mobile device broadly refers to a wide variety of devices and technologies. A UE may include multiple hardware structural components whose size, shape, and arrangement facilitate communication; these components may include antennas, antenna arrays, RF chains, amplifiers, one or more processors, etc. that are electrically coupled to each other. For example, some non-limiting examples of mobile devices include mobile stations, cellular (cellular) phones, smart phones, session initiation protocol (SIP) phones, laptops, personal computers (PCs), notebook computers, netbooks, smartbooks, tablets, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and a wide range of embedded systems (e.g., corresponding to the "Internet of Things" (IoT)).

[0048] The mobile device may also be a car or other transportation vehicle, a remote sensor or actuator, a robot or robotic device, a satellite radio unit, a global positioning system (GPS) device, an object tracking device, a drone, a multi-rotor aircraft, a quadcopter, a remote control device, a consumer device, and / or a wearable device (e.g., glasses, wearable cameras, virtual reality devices, smart watches, health or fitness trackers, digital audio players (e.g., MP3), cameras, game consoles, etc.). The mobile device may also be a digital home device or smart home device, such as home audio, video, and / or multimedia devices, appliances, vending machines, smart lighting, home security systems, smart meters, etc. The mobile device may also be a smart energy device, a security device, a solar panel or solar array, municipal infrastructure equipment that controls electricity (e.g., smart grids), lighting, water, etc., industrial automation and enterprise equipment, logistics controllers, and / or agricultural equipment, etc. In addition, the mobile device may provide connected medicine or telemedicine support, i.e., healthcare at a distance. Telemedicine devices may include telemedicine monitoring devices and telemedicine management devices, whose communications may be given preferential treatment or priority access over other types of information, for example, with respect to priority access to the transmission of critical service data, and / or associated QoS for the transmission of critical service data.

[0049] Wireless communication between RAN 104 and UE 106 can be described as utilizing an air interface. Transmissions over the air interface from a base station (e.g., base station 108) to one or more UEs (e.g., similar to UE 106) can be referred to as downlink (DL) transmissions. According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, the term downlink can refer to point-to-multipoint transmissions originating from a base station (e.g., base station 108). Another way to describe the scheme can be to use the term broadcast channel multiplexing. Transmissions from a UE (e.g., UE 106) to a base station (e.g., base station 108) can be referred to as uplink (UL) transmissions. According to other aspects of the present disclosure, the term uplink can refer to point-to-point transmissions originating from a UE (e.g., UE 106).

[0050] In some examples, access to the air interface may be scheduled, wherein a scheduling entity (e.g., a base station 108) allocates resources for communication between some or all devices and apparatuses within its service area or cell. Within the present disclosure, as discussed further below, a scheduling entity may be responsible for scheduling, assigning, reconfiguring, and releasing resources for one or more scheduled entities (e.g., UE 106). That is, for scheduled communications, multiple UEs 106, which may be scheduled entities, may use resources allocated by the scheduling entity 108.

[0051] Base station 108 is not the only entity that can act as a scheduling entity. That is, in some examples, a UE can act as a scheduling entity to schedule resources for one or more scheduled entities (e.g., one or more other UEs). For example, a UE can communicate directly with other UEs in a peer-to-peer or device-to-device manner and / or in a relay configuration.

[0052] As in Figure 1 As shown in , the scheduling entity 108 can broadcast downlink traffic 112 to one or more scheduled entities (e.g., one or more UEs 106). In general, the scheduling entity 108 is a node or device responsible for scheduling traffic in the wireless communication network, wherein the traffic includes downlink traffic 112 and in some examples includes uplink traffic 116 from one or more scheduled entities (e.g., one or more UEs 106) to the scheduling entity 108. On the other hand, the scheduled entity (e.g., UE 106) is a node or device that receives downlink control information 114, wherein the downlink control information 114 includes, but is not limited to, scheduling information (e.g., grants), synchronization or timing information, or other control information from another entity such as the scheduling entity 108 in the wireless communication network.

[0053] In addition, uplink and / or downlink control information and / or traffic information can be sent on a waveform that can be time-divided into frames, subframes, time slots and / or symbols. As used herein, a symbol can refer to a time unit that carries a resource element (RE) per subcarrier in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) waveform. A time slot can carry 7 or 14 OFDM symbols. A subframe can refer to a duration of 1 ms. Multiple subframes or time slots can be grouped together to form a single frame or radio frame. In the present disclosure, a frame can refer to a predetermined duration (e.g., 10 ms) for wireless transmission, wherein each frame includes, for example, 10 subframes of 1 ms each. Of course, these definitions are not required, and any suitable scheme for organizing waveforms can be used, and the various time divisions of waveforms can have any suitable duration.

[0054] Typically, the base stations 108 may include a backhaul interface for communicating with a backhaul portion 120 of the wireless communication system 100. The backhaul portion 120 may provide a link between the base stations 108 and the core network 102. Additionally, in some examples, a backhaul network may provide interconnections between the respective base stations 108. Various types of backhaul interfaces may be employed, such as a direct physical connection using any suitable transport network, a virtual network, etc.

[0055] The core network 102 may be part of the wireless communication system 100 and may be independent of the radio access technology used in the RAN 104. In some examples, the core network 102 may be configured according to a 5G standard (e.g., 5GC). In other examples, the core network 102 may be configured according to a 4G Evolved Packet Core (EPC) or any other suitable standard or configuration.

[0056] Now refer to Figure 2 , by way of illustration and not limitation, a schematic diagram of a radio access network (RAN) 200 according to some aspects of the present disclosure is provided. In some examples, the RAN 200 may be similar to the one described above and in Figure 1 The same as the RAN 104 shown in FIG.

[0057] The geographic area covered by the RAN 200 may be divided into a number of cellular areas (cells) that may be uniquely identified by a user equipment (UE) based on an identity broadcast over the geographic area from an access point or base station. Figure 2Cells 202, 204, 206, and 208 are shown, each of which may include one or more sectors (not shown). A sector is a sub-area of ​​a cell. All sectors within a cell are served by the same base station. A radio link within a sector may be identified by a single logical identifier belonging to the sector. In a cell divided into sectors, multiple sectors within a cell may be formed by antenna groups, each antenna in the antenna group being responsible for communicating with a UE in a portion of the cell.

[0058] Various base station arrangements can be used. Figure 2 , two base stations are shown in cells 202 and 204 - base station 210 and base station 212. And a third base station - base station 214 is shown controlling a remote radio head (RRH) 216 in cell 206. That is, the base station may have an integrated antenna or may be connected to the antenna or RRH 216 by a feeder cable. In the example shown, cells 202, 204, and 206 may be referred to as macro cells because base stations 210, 212, and 214 support cells with large sizes. In addition, base station 218 is shown in cell 208, which may overlap with one or more macro cells. In this example, cell 208 may be referred to as a small cell (e.g., a micro cell, a pico cell, a femto cell, a home base station, a home node B, a home e-node B, etc.) because base station 218 supports a cell with a relatively small size. Cell sizing may be accomplished based on system design and component constraints.

[0059] It should be understood that the RAN 200 may include any number of wireless base stations and cells. In addition, relay nodes may be deployed to extend the size or coverage area of ​​a given cell. Base stations 210, 212, 214, 218 provide wireless access points to the core network for any number of mobile devices. In some examples, base stations 210, 212, 214, and / or 218 may be the same as those described above and in Figure 1 The scheduling entity 108 shown in FIG. 1 is the same as or similar to that shown in FIG.

[0060] Figure 2 Also included is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) 220, which may be a drone or a quadcopter. UAV 220 may be configured to function as a base station or more specifically as a mobile base station. That is, in some examples, the cell is not necessarily stationary, and the geographic area of ​​the cell may move depending on the location of a mobile base station such as UAV 220.

[0061] Within the RAN 200, cells may include UEs that may communicate with one or more sectors of each cell. In addition, each base station 210, 212, 214, and 218 may be configured to provide access to the core network 102 (see FIG. 1 ) for all UEs in the corresponding cell. Figure 1) access point. For example, UEs 222 and 224 may communicate with base station 210; UEs 226 and 228 may communicate with base station 212; UEs 230 and 232 may communicate with base station 214 via RRH 216; UE 234 may communicate with base station 218; UE 234 may communicate with base station 218; and UE 236 may communicate with mobile base station 220. In some examples, UEs 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, 238, 240, and / or 242 may communicate with each other as described above and in Figure 1 200. In some examples, UAV 220 (e.g., a quadcopter) may be a mobile network node and may be configured to function as a UE. For example, UAV 220 may operate within cell 202 by communicating with base station 210.

[0062] In another aspect of RAN 200, sidelink signals can be used between UEs without relying on scheduling or control information from a base station. For example, sidelink communications can be used in a device-to-device (D2D) network, a peer-to-peer (P2P) network, a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) network, a vehicle-to-everything (V2X) network, and / or other suitable sidelink networks. For example, two or more UEs (e.g., UE 238, 240, and 242) can communicate with each other using sidelink signals 237 without relaying the communication through a base station (e.g., base station 212). In some examples, UE 238, 240, and 242 can each serve as a scheduling entity or a transmitting sidelink device and / or a scheduling entity or a receiving sidelink device to schedule resources and transmit sidelink signals 237 therebetween without relying on scheduling or control information from a base station. In other examples, two or more UEs (e.g., UEs 226 and 228) within the coverage area of ​​a base station (e.g., base station 212) may also communicate sidelink signals 227 via a direct link (sidelink) without transmitting the communication through base station 212. In this example, base station 212 may allocate resources to UEs 226 and 228 for sidelink communication.

[0063] In order to achieve a low bit error rate (BLER) for transmissions over the air interface while still achieving very high data rates, channel coding can be used. That is, wireless communications can often make use of appropriate error-correcting block codes. In a typical block code, an information message or sequence is segmented into code blocks (CBs), and then an encoder (e.g., CODEC) at the transmitting device mathematically adds redundancy to the information message. Exploiting this redundancy in the encoded information message can improve the reliability of the message, thereby being able to correct any bit errors that may occur due to noise.

[0064] Data encoding can be implemented in a variety of ways. In early 5G NR specifications, user data is encoded using quasi-cyclic low-density parity check (LDPC) with two different base graphs: one base graph for large code blocks and / or high code rates, and another base graph for other cases. Polar coding is used based on nested sequences to encode control information and physical broadcast channel (PBCH). For these channels, puncturing, shortening, and repetition are used for rate matching.

[0065] Aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented using any suitable channel codes. Various implementations of base stations and UEs may include appropriate hardware and capabilities (eg, encoders, decoders, and / or CODECs) to use one or more of these channel codes for wireless communications.

[0066] In the RAN 200, the ability of a UE to communicate while moving, regardless of its location, is known as mobility. Various physical channels between the UE and the RAN 200 are typically established, maintained, and released under the control of an access and mobility management function (AMF). In some scenarios, the AMF may include a security context management function (SCMF) and a security anchor function (SEAF) that performs authentication. The SCMF may manage security contexts for control plane and user plane functions in whole or in part.

[0067] In various aspects of the present disclosure, the RAN 200 may utilize DL-based mobility or UL-based mobility to implement mobility and handover (i.e., the transfer of a UE's connection from one radio channel to another). In a network configured for DL-based mobility, during a call with a scheduling entity, or at any other time, the UE may monitor various parameters of the signal from its serving cell and various parameters of neighboring cells. Based on the quality of these parameters, the UE may maintain communication with one or more neighboring cells. During this time, if the UE moves from one cell to another, or if the signal quality from a neighboring cell exceeds the signal quality from the serving cell for a given amount of time, the UE may perform a handover or handover from the serving cell to a neighboring (target) cell. For example, a UE 224 may move from a geographic region corresponding to its serving cell 202 to a geographic region corresponding to a neighboring cell 206. When the signal strength or quality from a neighboring cell 206 exceeds the signal strength and quality of its serving cell 202 for a given amount of time, the UE 224 may send a report message to its serving base station 210 indicating this condition. In response, UE 224 may receive a handover command, and the UE may undergo a handover to cell 206 .

[0068] In a network configured for UL-based mobility, the network can utilize the UL reference signal from each UE to select a serving cell for each UE. In some examples, base stations 210, 212, and 214 / 216 can broadcast a unified synchronization signal (e.g., a unified primary synchronization signal (PSS), a unified secondary synchronization signal (SSS), and a unified physical broadcast channel (PBCH)). UE 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, and 232 can receive a unified synchronization signal, derive carrier frequency and slot timing from the synchronization signal, and send an uplink pilot or reference signal in response to the derived timing. The uplink pilot signal sent by a UE (e.g., UE 224) can be received simultaneously by two or more cells (e.g., base stations 210 and 214 / 216) within RAN 200. Each cell may measure the strength of the pilot signal, and the radio access network (e.g., one or more of the base stations 210 and 214 / 216 and / or a central node within the core network) may determine a serving cell for the UE 224. As the UE 224 moves through the RAN 200, the RAN 200 may continue to monitor the uplink pilot signals sent by the UE 224. When the signal strength or quality of the pilot signal measured by the neighboring cell exceeds the signal strength and quality measured by the serving cell, the RAN 200 may handover the UE 224 from the serving cell to the neighboring cell with or without notifying the UE 224.

[0069] Although the synchronization signals transmitted by base stations 210, 212 and 214 / 216 may be uniform, the synchronization signals may not identify a specific cell, but may identify a zone of multiple cells operating on the same frequency and / or with the same timing. The use of zones in a 5G network or other next generation communication network implements an uplink-based mobility framework and improves the efficiency of both the UE and the network because the number of mobility messages that need to be exchanged between the UE and the network can be reduced.

[0070] In various implementations, the air interface in the radio access network 200 may use licensed spectrum, unlicensed spectrum, or shared spectrum. Licensed spectrum typically provides dedicated use of a portion of the spectrum through the purchase of a license by a mobile network operator from a government regulator. Unlicensed spectrum provides shared use of a portion of the spectrum without the need for a government-approved license. Although certain technical rules generally still need to be followed to access the unlicensed spectrum, typically any operator or device can obtain access. Shared spectrum can be between licensed and unlicensed spectrum, where technical rules or restrictions may be required to access the spectrum, but the spectrum can still be shared by multiple operators and / or multiple RATs. For example, the holder of a license for a portion of the licensed spectrum may provide licensed shared access (LSA) to share the spectrum with other parties, for example, with access obtained under conditions determined by the appropriate licensee.

[0071] Devices communicating in the radio access network 200 may utilize one or more multiplexing techniques and multiple access algorithms to enable simultaneous communication of various devices. For example, the 5G NR specification provides multiple access for UL transmissions from UEs 222 and 224 to base station 210 using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) with a cyclic prefix (CP), and provides multiple access for DL ​​transmissions from base station 210 to one or more UEs 222 and 224. In addition, for UL transmissions, the 5G NR specification also supports discrete Fourier transform spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) with CP (also known as single carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA)). However, within the scope of the present disclosure, multiplexing and multiple access are not limited to the above schemes, and may be provided using time division multiple access (TDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), sparse code multiple access (SCMA), resource extension multiple access (RSMA), or other suitable multiple access schemes. In addition, multiplexing of DL transmissions from base station 210 to UEs 222 and 224 may be provided using time division multiplexing (TDM), code division multiplexing (CDM), frequency division multiplexing (FDM), orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), sparse code multiplexing (SCM), or other suitable multiplexing schemes.

[0072] The equipment in the radio access network 200 may also utilize one or more duplex algorithms. Duplex refers to a point-to-point communication link, in which two endpoints can communicate with each other in two directions. Full-duplex means that two endpoints can communicate with each other at the same time. Half-duplex means that only one endpoint can send information to the other endpoint at a time. Half-duplex simulation is often implemented for wireless links using time division duplex (TDD). In TDD, time division multiplexing is used to separate transmissions in different directions on a given channel from each other. That is, in some cases, a channel is dedicated to transmission in one direction, while at other times, a channel is dedicated to transmission in another direction, where the direction can change very quickly, for example, several times per time slot. In wireless links, full-duplex channels usually rely on physical isolation of transmitters and receivers and appropriate interference cancellation techniques. Full-duplex simulation is often implemented for wireless links by using frequency division duplex (FDD) or space division duplex (SDD). In FDD, transmissions in different directions can be operated at different carrier frequencies (e.g., in a paired spectrum). In SDD, transmissions in different directions on a given channel are separated from each other using spatial division multiplexing (SDM). In other examples, full-duplex communication can be implemented within an unpaired spectrum (e.g., within a single carrier bandwidth), where transmissions in different directions occur within different sub-bands of the carrier bandwidth. This type of full-duplex communication may be referred to herein as sub-band full-duplex (SBFD), also known as flexible duplex.

[0073] Will refer to Figure 3 Various aspects of the present disclosure are described with reference to the OFDM waveforms schematically shown in FIG. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various aspects of the present disclosure may be applied to SC-FDMA waveforms in substantially the same manner as described below. That is, although some examples of the present disclosure may be directed to OFDM links for clarity, it will be appreciated that the same principles may also be applied to SC-FDMA waveforms.

[0074] Now refer to Figure 3 , shows an expanded view of an exemplary subframe 302, showing an OFDM resource grid. However, as will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, the PHY transmission structure for any particular application may differ from the examples described herein, depending on any number of factors. Here, time is in the horizontal direction in units of OFDM symbols; and frequency is in the vertical direction in units of subcarriers or carriers.

[0075] Resource grid 304 can be used to schematically represent the time-frequency resources for a given antenna port. That is, in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) implementation with multiple available antenna ports, corresponding multiple resource grids 304 can be used for communication. Resource grid 304 is divided into multiple resource elements (RE) 306. RE is 1 subcarrier × 1 symbol, is the smallest discrete part of the time-frequency grid, and contains a single complex value representing data from a physical channel or signal. Depending on the modulation used in a specific implementation, each RE can represent one or more information bits. In some examples, RE blocks can be referred to as physical resource blocks (PRBs) or simply resource blocks (RBs) 308, which contain any suitable number of consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain. In one example, an RB can include 12 subcarriers, the number of which is independent of the digital scheme used. In some examples, depending on the digital scheme, an RB can include any suitable number of consecutive OFDM symbols in the time domain. In the present disclosure, it is assumed that a single RB such as RB 308 corresponds entirely to a single communication direction (transmission or reception for a given device).

[0076] A group of contiguous or discontinuous resource blocks may be referred to herein as a resource block group (RBG), a subband, or a bandwidth part (BWP). A group of subbands or BWPs may span the entire bandwidth. Scheduling of a scheduled entity (e.g., a UE) for downlink transmission, uplink transmission, or sidelink transmission typically involves scheduling one or more resource elements 306 within one or more subbands or bandwidth parts (BWPs). Therefore, the UE typically utilizes only a subset of the resource grid 304. In some examples, an RB may be the smallest resource unit that may be allocated to a UE. Therefore, the more RBs scheduled for a UE and the higher the modulation scheme selected for the air interface, the higher the data rate of the UE. The RBs may be scheduled by a base station (e.g., a gNB, eNB, etc.), or may be scheduled by the UE itself implementing the D2D sidelink communication.

[0077] In this illustration, RB 308 is shown as occupying less than the entire bandwidth of subframe 302, with some subcarriers shown above and below RB 308. In a given implementation, subframe 302 may have a bandwidth corresponding to any number of one or more RBs 308. Furthermore, in this illustration, RB 308 is shown as occupying less than the entire duration of subframe 302, but this is merely one possible example.

[0078] Each 1 ms subframe 302 may be composed of one or more adjacent time slots. Figure 3In the example shown in , as an illustrative example, a subframe 302 includes four time slots 310. In some examples, a time slot can be defined according to a specified number of OFDM symbols with a given cyclic prefix (CP) length. For example, a time slot can include 7 or 14 OFDM symbols with a nominal CP. Additional examples may include mini-slots with shorter durations (e.g., one to three OFDM symbols), sometimes referred to as shortened transmission time intervals (TTIs). In some cases, these mini-slots or shortened transmission time intervals (TTIs) may be sent, occupying resources scheduled for ongoing time slot transmissions for the same or different UEs. Any number of resource blocks may be utilized within a subframe or time slot.

[0079] An enlarged view of one of the time slots 310 shows the time slot 310 including a control region 312 and a data region 314. In general, the control region 312 may carry control channels, and the data region 314 may carry data channels. Of course, a time slot may contain all DL, all UL, or at least one DL portion and at least one UL portion. Figure 3 The simple structure shown in is merely exemplary in nature, and different slot structures may be used and may include one or more of each of the control region and the data region.

[0080] Although not in Figure 3 As shown in FIG. 3 , each RE 306 within an RB 308 may be scheduled to carry one or more physical channels, including a control channel, a shared channel, a data channel, etc. Other REs 306 within an RB 308 may also carry pilot or reference signals. These pilot or reference signals may be used by a receiving device to perform channel estimation on the corresponding channel, which may enable coherent demodulation / detection of control and / or data channels within the RB 308.

[0081] In some examples, time slot 310 may be used for broadcast, multicast, groupcast, or unicast communications. For example, broadcast, multicast, or groupcast communications may refer to point-to-multipoint transmissions from one device (e.g., a base station, UE, or other similar device) to other devices. Here, broadcast communications are delivered to all devices, while multicast communications or groupcast communications are delivered to multiple intended recipient devices. Unicast communications may refer to point-to-point transmissions from one device to a single other device.

[0082] In an example of cellular communication over a cellular carrier via a Uu interface, for DL ​​transmission, a scheduling entity (e.g., a base station) may allocate (e.g., within a control region 312) one or more REs 306 to carry DL control information including one or more DL control channels, such as a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) to one or more scheduled entities (e.g., UEs). The PDCCH carries downlink control information (DCI), which includes, but is not limited to, power control commands (e.g., one or more open-loop power control parameters and / or one or more closed-loop power control parameters), scheduling information, grants, and / or RE assignments for DL ​​and UL transmissions. The PDCCH may also carry HARQ feedback transmissions, such as an acknowledgement (ACK) or a negative acknowledgement (NACK). HARQ is a technique well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, in which the integrity of a packet transmission may be checked at the receiving side to ensure accuracy, for example, using any suitable integrity check mechanism, such as a checksum or a cyclic redundancy check (CRC). If the integrity of the transmission is confirmed, an ACK may be sent, and if not, a NACK may be sent. In response to the NACK, the transmitting device may send a HARQ retransmission, which may implement chase combining, incremental redundancy, etc.

[0083] The base station may also allocate (e.g., within the control region 312 or the data region 314) one or more REs 306 to carry other DL signals, such as: a demodulation reference signal (DMRS); a phase tracking reference signal (PT-RS); a channel state information (CSI) reference signal (CSI-RS); a synchronization signal block (SSB). The SSB may be broadcast at regular intervals based on a period (e.g., 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, or 160 ms). The SSB includes a primary synchronization signal (PSS), a secondary synchronization signal (SSS), and a physical broadcast control channel (PBCH). The UE may utilize the PSS and SSS to achieve radio frame, subframe, time slot, and symbol synchronization in the time domain, identify the center of the channel (system) bandwidth in the frequency domain, and identify the physical cell identity (PCI) of the cell.

[0084] The PBCH in the SSB may also include a master information block (MIB), which includes various system information and parameters for decoding a system information block (SIB). The SIB may be, for example, SystemInformationType1 (SIB1), which may include various additional system information. The MIB and SIB1 together provide minimum system information (SI) for initial access. Examples of system information sent in the MIB may include, but are not limited to, subcarrier spacing (e.g., default downlink digital scheme), system frame number, configuration of a PDCCH control resource set (CORESET) (e.g., PDCCH CORESET0), cell barring indicator, cell reselection indicator, grid offset, and search space for SIB1. Examples of the remaining minimum system information (RMSI) sent in SIB1 may include, but are not limited to, random access search space, paging search space, downlink configuration information, and uplink configuration information. The base station may also send other system information (OSI).

[0085] In UL transmission, the scheduled entity (e.g., UE) may utilize one or more REs 306 to carry UL control information (UCI) including one or more UL control channels such as a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) to the scheduling entity. UCI may include various packet types and categories, including pilots, reference signals, and information configured to implement or assist in decoding uplink data transmissions. Examples of uplink reference signals may include sounding reference signals (SRS) and uplink DMRS. In some examples, UCI may include a scheduling request (SR), i.e., a request for requesting a scheduling entity to schedule an uplink transmission. Here, in response to the SR sent on the UCI, the scheduling entity may send downlink control information (DCI) that may schedule resources for uplink packet transmission. UCI may also include HARQ feedback, channel state feedback (CSF) (e.g., CSI report), or any other suitable UCI.

[0086] In addition to control information, one or more REs 306 may be allocated for traffic data (e.g., within data region 314). Such data traffic may be carried on one or more traffic channels, such as a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) for DL ​​transmissions or a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) for UL transmissions. In some examples, one or more REs 306 within data region 314 may be configured to carry other signals, such as one or more SIBs and DMRS.

[0087] In an example of sidelink communication on a sidelink carrier via a ProSe (ProSe) PC5 interface, a control region 312 of a time slot 310 may include a physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH) including sidelink control information (SCI) sent by a sidelink initiating (transmitting) device (e.g., a Tx V2X device or other Rx UE) toward a group of one or more other sidelink receiving devices (e.g., an Rx V2X device or other Tx UE). A data region 314 of the time slot 310 may include a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH) including sidelink data traffic sent by a sidelink initiating (transmitting) device in resources reserved by the sidelink transmitting device via the SCI on the sidelink carrier. Other information may also be sent on each RE 306 within the time slot 310. For example, HARQ feedback information may be sent from a sidelink receiving device to a sidelink transmitting device in a physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH) within the time slot 310. In addition, one or more reference signals such as a sidelink SSB, a sidelink CSI-RS, a sidelink SRS and / or a sidelink positioning reference signal (PRS) may be sent within time slot 310 .

[0088] These physical channels are usually multiplexed and mapped to transport channels for processing at the medium access control (MAC) layer. Transport channels carry information blocks called transport blocks (TBs). The transport block size (TBS), which may correspond to a number of information bits, may be a controlled parameter based on the modulation and coding scheme (MCS) and the number of RBs in a given transmission.

[0089] Figure 3 The channels or carriers shown in are not necessarily all channels or carriers that can be utilized between devices, and one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other channels or carriers (such as other traffic, control, and feedback channels) may be used in addition to those shown.

[0090] Transport blocks may be communicated between a scheduling entity (e.g., a base station such as a gNB) and a scheduled entity (e.g., such as a UE) via downlink resources or uplink resources allocated in a time slot for the transport block. When operating in full-duplex mode, both downlink resources and uplink resources may be allocated within symbols of the same time slot for transmitting downlink transport blocks and uplink transport blocks, respectively. In some examples, downlink resources and uplink resources may overlap in time (e.g., one or more symbols of a time slot may carry both a downlink transport block and an uplink transport block). For example, simultaneous transmissions in different directions (uplink and downlink) may utilize frequency division duplexing (FDD) in a paired spectrum (e.g., transmissions in different directions are carried on different carrier frequencies) or utilize frequency division duplexing (FDD) in an unpaired spectrum (e.g., transmissions in different directions are carried on a single carrier bandwidth).

[0091] Figure 4A –4C shows an example of full-duplex communication in an unpaired spectrum. Figures 4A to 4C In the example shown, time is in the horizontal direction and frequency is in the vertical direction.Here, carrier bandwidth 402 (or a collection of one or more active bandwidth parts (BWPs)) is shown along the frequency axis and time slots 404 are shown along the time axis.

[0092] Figure 4A and 4B shows in-band full-duplex (IBFD) communication, while Figure 4C For IBFD communication, as shown in Figure 4A and 4B As shown in , downlink transmissions and uplink transmissions occur on the same time and frequency resources. For example, downlink resources 406 allocated for transmission in the downlink direction overlap in both time and frequency with uplink resources 408 allocated for transmission in the uplink direction. The overlap can be complete (as in Figure 4A ) or part of it (as in Figure 4B ).

[0093] For sub-band FDD communication, such as in Figure 4CAs shown in , carrier bandwidth 402 (or active BWP) can be divided into sub-bands 410a and 410b. Each sub-band 410a and 410b can be allocated for communication in a single direction. For example, sub-band 410a can be allocated for downlink transmission, and sub-band 410b can be allocated for uplink transmission. Therefore, the downlink resources 406 allocated for transmission in the downlink direction overlap with the uplink resources 408 allocated for transmission in the uplink direction in time, but do not overlap in frequency. Downlink resources 406 can be further separated from uplink resources 408 in the frequency domain by guard band 412 to isolate uplink transmission and downlink transmission in frequency.

[0094] Figure 5A is a schematic diagram of a base station 502 (e.g., a gNB) including an antenna array 500 configured for full-duplex communication according to some aspects. The antenna array 500 is divided into two panels (Panel 1 504, Panel 2 506) with a physical separation 508 therebetween. Each of the two panels can be a subarray of antennas. A given panel can transmit and / or receive beams or beam groups. In one example, the panels can be physically separated from each other by a distance selected to provide improved isolation between simultaneous transmit (Tx) operations and receive (Rx) operations in full-duplex mode, thereby mitigating at least a portion of self-interference caused by simultaneously transmitting / receiving signals. Figure 5A The multi-panel antenna configuration shown in can also be applied to the UE to achieve full-duplex communication at the UE.

[0095] Figure 5B According to some aspects of use Figure 5A Schematic diagram of an example of sub-band full-duplex wireless communication 510 for a multi-panel antenna array 500 as shown in FIG. Figure 5B In the example shown in , time is in the horizontal direction in units of time slots 512a to 512d, each time slot including multiple OFDM symbols; and frequency is in the vertical direction. Here, the carrier bandwidth 514 (or a set of one or more active BWPs) is shown along the frequency axis. For sub-band FDD full-duplex operation, the carrier bandwidth 514 (or active BWP) can be divided into multiple sub-bands 550a-550c.

[0096] exist Figure 5BIn the example shown in , in time slot 512a, antenna array 500 is first configured for downlink (DL) communication (e.g., DL burst 516 and DL data portion 518). DL burst 516 may include DL control sent in the first few symbols of time slot 512a. DL control 516 may include, for example, a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) carrying DCI, which may be related to time slot 512a or a previous time slot or a subsequent time slot. In an example, DCI may include common DCI or UE-specific DCI. Common DCI may include, for example, public control information broadcast to a group of UEs or all UEs in a cell. UE-specific DCI may include, for example, HARQ feedback information (e.g., ACK / NACK), scheduling information for downlink data transmission and / or uplink transmission in scheduling time slot 512a or subsequent time slots (e.g., time slots 512b, 512c, and / or 512d), and other suitable information. The DL burst 516 may also include various DL reference signals (e.g., SSB and / or CSI-RS). In this example, both panel 1 504 and panel 2 506 may be configured for DL ​​transmission. The DL data portion 518 may include DL data carried, for example, within a PDSCH. In addition to the DL data, the DL data portion 518 may also include DL reference signals (e.g., DMRS) for demodulating and decoding the DL data.

[0097] The time slot 512a may also include a common uplink (UL) burst 522 at the end of the time slot 512a. The common UL burst 522 may include, for example, a PUCCH carrying UCI and other UL signals. Figure 5B As shown in , the end of the DL data portion 518 can be separated in time from the beginning of the UL burst 522. This time separation 520 may sometimes be referred to as a gap, a guard period, a guard interval, and / or various other suitable terms. Such separation can provide time for the base station and the UE to perform a switch between transmission and reception, or vice versa. In this example, both panel 1 504 and panel 2 506 can be configured for UL transmission during the UL burst 522.

[0098] In time slots 512b and 512c, the antenna array 500 is configured for both DL and UL communications. For example, in time slots 512b and 512c, the carrier bandwidth 514 (or active BWP) is shown as being divided between uplink transmission and downlink transmission. Subbands 550a and 550b are allocated for downlink transmission, while subband 550c is allocated for uplink transmission. In the example operation of the subband full-duplex configuration shown in Figure 5, panel 1 504 can be configured for DL ​​transmission at both edges (e.g., subbands 550a and 550b) of the carrier bandwidth 514 (or active BWP), and panel 2 506 can be configured for UL reception at the middle (e.g., subband 550c) of the carrier bandwidth 5124 (or active BWP).

[0099] In each of the sub-band FDD time slots 512b and 512c, the DL sub-bands 550a and 550b include DL bursts 524 and 534, respectively, which may include a PDCCH carrying DCI and / or DL ​​reference signals in the initial portion of the time slots 512b, 512c. After the DL bursts 524 and 534, the time slots 512b and 512c each include a DL data portion 526 and 536, respectively, for sending DL data within the sub-bands 550a and 550b. For example, the DL data may be sent within the PDSCH. In addition to the DL data, the DL data portions 526 and 536 may also include a DL reference signal (e.g., DMRS) for demodulating and decoding the DL data.

[0100] In the uplink (UL) subband 550c, time slots 512b and 512c each include a UL data portion 528 and 538 for transmitting UL data, respectively. For example, the UL data may be transmitted within a PUSCH. After the UL data portions 528 and 538, the UL subbands 550c of time slots 512b and 512c each include a UL burst 530 and 540, respectively. The UL bursts 530 and 540 may include, for example, a PUCCH including UCI and / or other UL signals. A guard band 532 is further provided between the UL subband 550c and the DL subbands 550a and 550b to mitigate self-interference between simultaneous DL transmissions in the DL subbands 550 and 550b and UL transmissions in the UL subband 550.

[0101] Timeslots 512b and 512c are sub-band full-duplex FDD timeslots that utilize FDM to multiplex uplink transmissions and downlink transmissions in frequency. The sub-band full-duplex timeslot configuration shown in FIG. 5 is merely exemplary, and other configurations of sub-band full-duplex timeslots may be utilized in various aspects of the present disclosure. For example, other configurations including UL and DL sub-bands (e.g., Figure 4CSub-band full-duplex time slots in the configuration shown in or other suitable sub-band configurations) may be used in various aspects.

[0102] In time slot 512d, antenna array 500 is configured for UL communication. For example, time slot 512d includes UL data portion 542 followed by UL burst 544. As described above, UL data portion 542 and UL burst 544 may include UL control information and / or UL data. In this example, both panel 1 504 and panel 2 506 may be configured for UL reception. Time slots 512a and 512d are half-duplex TDD time slots that utilize TDM to time-multiplex DL transmissions and UL transmissions.

[0103] In some aspects of the present disclosure, one or more time slots may be flexible time slots that include one or more flexible symbols that may be configured as half-duplex symbols (e.g., all UL or all DL) or sub-band full-duplex symbols (e.g., including both UL transmissions and DL transmissions). For example, in time slot 512b, DL burst 524 may be configured to occupy all sub-bands 550a-550c of time slot 512b, and thus, the symbol corresponding to DL burst 524 may be a flexible symbol that may be configured as a half-duplex symbol to enable DL communication across all sub-bands 550a-550c. Similarly, UL burst 530 may be configured to occupy all sub-bands 550a-550c of time slot 512b, and thus, the symbol corresponding to UL burst 530 may be a flexible symbol that may be configured as a half-duplex symbol to enable UL communication across all sub-bands 550a-550c.

[0104] In sub-band full-duplex operation, the time slot format can be classified according to the duplex mode of the base station. For example, a time slot can be classified as a half-duplex time slot (e.g., time slot 512a or 512b) including symbols dedicated to TDM-based DL transmission or UL transmission. In addition, a time slot can be classified as a full-duplex (or sub-band full-duplex) time slot (e.g., time slot 512b or 512c) including a mixture of FDM-based DL transmission and UL transmission. A time slot can also be classified as a flexible time slot that can be partially or fully configurable (e.g., one or more symbols can be flexible symbols).

[0105] In various aspects of the present disclosure, in order to accommodate low-latency and / or high-reliability services (such as ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC)), a base station operating in a sub-band full-duplex mode may dynamically change the slot format of a time slot between half-duplex and sub-band full-duplex, and / or may change the flexible symbols within a flexible time slot between half-duplex and sub-band full-duplex. A slot format indicator (SFI) indicating the slot format of the time slot may be signaled, for example, via a DCI mapped to a PDCCH or a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE) mapped to a PDSCH.

[0106] Figure 6 is a signaling diagram illustrating an example of a time slot format indication for sub-band full-duplex operation according to some aspects. Figure 6 In the example shown in FIG. 6 , a base station 602 (e.g., a gNB) is in wireless communication with a UE 604. The base station 602 may correspond to Figure 1 , 2 and / or any scheduling entity or base station shown in 5A, which may be configured to operate in sub-band full-duplex mode. UE 604 may correspond to Figure 1 and / or any scheduled entity or UE shown in 2.

[0107] At 606, the base station 602 may select a slot format for the time slot. The time slot may include a carrier bandwidth, and communication with the UE 604 in the time slot may occur across the carrier bandwidth or within one or more active bandwidth parts (BWPs) of the carrier bandwidth. The time slot format may include, for example, one of a half-duplex time slot in which at least the BWP of the time slot is configured for uplink transmission or downlink transmission, a sub-band full-duplex time slot in which at least the BWP is configured for simultaneous uplink transmission and downlink transmission, or a flexible time slot including at least one flexible symbol configurable as a half-duplex symbol or a sub-band full-duplex symbol.

[0108] At 608, the base station 602 may send a slot format indicator (SFI) indicating the slot format to the UE 604. In an example in which the selected slot format includes a flexible slot, the SFI may further indicate a specific configuration of flexible symbols within the slot. For example, the SFI may be included in a DCI carried in the PDCCH or in a MAC-CE carried in the PDSCH. For example, the DCI may have a DCI format 2_0, which is configured to carry group common control information (e.g., control information broadcast to a group of UEs) including an SFI information element (IE). The DCI may also include a set of cyclic redundancy check (CRC) bits scrambled with a radio network temporary identifier (RNTI), wherein the RNTI may be an RNTI specific to the SFI to allow the UE 604 to determine the type of control information (e.g., SFI) sent in the PDCCH.

[0109] At block 610, base station 602 and UE 604 may communicate uplink and transmissions and / or downlink transmissions within a time slot based on the SFI. For example, if the SFI indicates that the time slot is a DL half-duplex time slot, base station 602 may be configured to send DL control and / or DL ​​data to UE 604 in the time slot. In some examples, such as in Figure 5B As shown in , the DL half-duplex time slot may include a UL burst at the end of the time slot. As another example, if the SFI indicates that the time slot is a UL half-duplex time slot, the UE 604 may be configured to send UL data and / or UL control to the base station 602 in the time slot. As yet another example, if the SFI indicates that the time slot is a sub-band full-duplex time slot, the base station 602 may be configured to send DL control and / or DL ​​data to the UE 604 within one or more DL sub-bands of the time slot, and the UE 604 may be configured to send UL control and / or UL data to the base station 602 within one or more UL sub-bands of the time slot. In some examples, the SFI may further indicate the configuration of one or more symbols of the flexible time slot. For example, the SFI may indicate that the first group of one or more symbols in the time slot are half-duplex symbols (carrying DL or UL communication) and the second group of one or more symbols in the time slot are sub-band full-duplex symbols (carrying both DL communication and UL communication in different sub-bands).

[0110] To avoid or mitigate cross link interference (CLI) that may be caused by SFI misses or erroneous detections involving one or more UEs, various aspects of the present disclosure further provide mechanisms for enhancing SFI transmissions. For example, when SFI changes a resource set (e.g., one or more subbands and / or symbols) in a time slot from UL resources to DL resources, if a UE with a semi-persistently scheduled or periodically scheduled UL transmission in the resource set misses the SFI, CLI may occur between the UE's UL transmission and any DL transmission of the base station.

[0111] In an example where the SFI is carried in the PDCCH, the PDCCH may be transmitted through aggregation of consecutive control channel elements (CCEs) in the DL control portion of a slot. To improve the reliability of SFI transmission, a larger aggregation level may be applied to the PDCCH carrying the SFI.

[0112] Figure 7 is a diagram of an example CCE 700 structure in a DL control portion 706 of a time slot according to some aspects. A time slot may correspond to, for example, Figure 5B Any time slot shown in . Figure 7 The CCE 700 structure of 700 represents a portion of a DL control portion 706, including several REs 702 that may be grouped into resource element groups (REGs) 704. Each REG 704 may typically include, for example, twelve consecutive REs 702 (or nine REs 702 and three DMRS REs) within the same OFDM symbol and the same RB. In this example, the CCE structure 700 includes at least six REGs 704 distributed over three OFDM symbols. However, as will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, the CCE 700 structure for any particular application may differ from the example described herein depending on any number of factors. For example, the CCE 700 structure may include any suitable number of REGs.

[0113] In some examples, depending on the PDCCH format (or aggregation level), the PDCCH can be constructed based on a variable number of CCEs. Each PDCCH format (or aggregation level) supports different DCI lengths. In some examples, PDCCH aggregation levels of 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 can be supported, corresponding to 1, 2, 4, 8, or 16 consecutive CCEs, respectively.

[0114] In various aspects of the present disclosure, the base station may apply an aggregation level greater than or equal to a threshold aggregation level to the PDCCH carrying the SFI to improve the reliability of the SFI transmission. For example, the aggregation level for the SFI may be determined by the threshold aggregation level N. f,r,wTo set the lower limit, where f refers to the carrier frequency, r refers to the coverage of the cell served by the base station (e.g., a micro cell, a small cell, or a large cell), and w refers to the bandwidth of the active DL BWP. In this example, the threshold aggregation level can be set based on at least one of f, r, and w. In the example of a large cell (large r), the base station can set a higher threshold aggregation level (e.g., N=4 or 8) for the PDCCH carrying the SFI to ensure that the PDCCH is received by the cell edge UE. In the example of a small cell, or when the base station is aligning the SFI to a UE near the base station (small r) or prioritizing the SFI to a UE near the base station (small r), the base station can set a lower threshold aggregation level (e.g., N=2 or 4) for the PDCCH carrying the SFI. In some examples, the threshold aggregation level N can be defined in a standard (e.g., a 3GPP NR standard) and hard-coded in the base station and the UE. In other examples, the threshold aggregation level N can be provided to the UE via, for example, radio resource control (RRC) signaling.

[0115] Since the UE does not know the specific aggregation level of the PDCCH or whether there are multiple PDCCHs for the UE in the time slot, the UE can blindly decode each decoding candidate within the first N control OFDM symbols (as indicated by the time slot format of the time slot). Each decoding candidate includes a set of one or more consecutive CCEs based on the assumed DCI length (e.g., PDCCH aggregation level). In order to limit the number of blind decodings, a search space set can be defined to define a UE-specific search space and a common search space. The search space set limits the number of blind decodings performed by the UE for each PDCCH format combination. The common search space set consists of CCEs used to send control information common to a group of UEs or to all UEs. Therefore, the common search space set is monitored by multiple UEs in the cell.

[0116] The starting point (offset or index) of the search space set for group common control information may be the same for all UEs in the group, and there may be multiple search space sets defined for group common control information (e.g., one search space set for each configured aggregation level for the UE group). Based on a threshold aggregation level N, the UE may monitor multiple search space sets (in frequency) within at least one monitoring opportunity (in time) for a PDCCH carrying an SFI, where each search space set corresponds to an aggregation level greater than or equal to the threshold aggregation level N for the SFI PDCCH. The UE may perform blind decoding on all group common control search space sets to determine whether there is at least one valid DCI carrying an SFI in the search space set.

[0117] The reliability of the SFI may be further improved by sending repetitions of the SFI. For example, the base station may configure multiple cascaded control resource sets (CORESETs) for SFI repetitions. Each CORESET may include one or more CCEs based on the aggregation level of the PDCCH applied to carry the SFI. The UE may monitor multiple search space sets within at least one monitoring opportunity for the cascaded CORESET including repetitions of the SFI, and merge the repetitions of the SFI to produce a merged SFI. Here, each CORESET may include a corresponding repetition of the SFI.

[0118] Figure 8 8 is a diagram of several example control resource sets (CORESETs) 800 of a DL control portion 806 of a time slot according to some aspects. The DL control portion 806 may correspond to, for example, Figure 3 or the DL control part shown in 5B. CORESET 800 may be configured for group common control information or UE-specific control information and may be used to send a PDCCH including group common control messages or UE-specific control information to a set of one or more UEs. A UE may monitor one or more CORESET 800s that the UE is configured to monitor for UE-specific control information or group common control information.

[0119] Each CORESET 800 represents a portion of the DL control portion 806, which includes a number of subcarriers in the frequency domain and one or more symbols in the time domain. Figure 8 In the example of FIG. 8 , each CORESET 800 includes at least one CCE 802 having dimensions in both frequency and time and sized to span at least three OFDM symbols. A CORESET having a size spanning two or more OFDM symbols may be beneficial for use over a relatively small system bandwidth (e.g., 5 MHz). However, a one-symbol CORESET is also possible.

[0120] The first CORESET 800 is indexed as "CORESET #1" (Control Resource Set (CORESET) Index) and is shown as occurring during three OFDM symbols in the time domain and occupying the first region of frequency resources in the frequency domain of the DL control portion 806. Figure 8 In the example shown in FIG. 8 , the first CORESET 800 may include four CCEs 802. It should be noted that this is just an example. In another example, the first CORESET 800 may include any suitable number of CCEs 802.

[0121] The base station may allocate multiple cascaded CORESETs 800 (e.g., CORESET#1-CORESET#N) to send repetitions of the same PDCCH, each repetition carrying the same SFI. The cascaded CORESETs 800 occupy contiguous time-frequency resources within the DL control portion 806 of the time slot. Figure 8 In the example shown in , each concatenated CORESET 800 includes four CCEs 802, each CCE 802 including six REGs distributed over three symbols. The number of CCEs 802 for each CORESET 800 and the configuration of the CCEs 802 may depend, for example, on the aggregation level applied to the PDCCH carrying the SFI.

[0122] The cascade mode of multiple cascaded CORESETs may be preconfigured on the UE. For example, the base station may send the cascade mode to the UE via RRC signaling. The cascade mode may indicate, for example, the number of CORESETs (e.g., the number of SFI repetitions) and other appropriate information related to the CORESET mode. The monitoring opportunity for SFI repetition may be further preconfigured on the UE. For example, the base station may send a configuration of a monitoring opportunity associated with the UE receiving a repetition of the SFI via, for example, RRC signaling. Each UE may monitor multiple search space sets for multiple cascaded CORESETs within the monitoring opportunity for SFI repetition, and merge the repeated SFIs to produce a merged SFI with improved reliability.

[0123] In some examples, each SFI repetition may be beamformed. In this example, the repetition of the SFI may be sent across multiple beams. In some examples, the repetition of the SFI may be sent across multiple beams in the MAC CE. In other examples, the repetition of the SFI may be sent across multiple beams in the DCI. In this example, each CORESET within a plurality of cascaded CORESETs may be associated with a corresponding beam. For example, a corresponding transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state may be associated with each CORESET to indicate a corresponding beam for each CORESE on which the SFI repetition is sent. In this example, the cascade mode may further indicate a beam set (e.g., a TCI state) corresponding to the corresponding CORESET.

[0124] Beamforming is a signal processing technique that can be used at a transmitter or receiver to shape or steer an antenna beam (e.g., a transmit beam or a receive beam) along a spatial path between the transmitter and the receiver. Beamforming can be accomplished by combining antennas (e.g., antenna elements of an antenna array, such as in Figure 5AThe invention relates to a method of transmitting or receiving signals transmitted or received by a transmitter or receiver using an antenna array (such as the antenna array shown in FIG. 1 ) so that some signals experience constructive interference and other signals experience destructive interference. To produce the desired constructive / destructive interference, a transmitter or receiver may apply an amplitude and / or phase shift to signals transmitted or received from one or more antenna elements associated with the transmitter or receiver.

[0125] Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating communication between a base station 904 and a plurality of UEs 902a-902c using beamformed downlink signals according to some aspects. The base station 904 may correspond to Figure 1 , 2 , 5A and / or 6, and UEs 902a-902c may correspond to any base station or other scheduling entity shown in Figure 1 , 2 6. It should be noted that although some beams are shown as being adjacent to each other, this arrangement may be different in different aspects. In some examples, beams transmitted during the same symbol may not be adjacent to each other. In some examples, base station 904 may transmit more or fewer beams distributed in all directions (e.g., 360 degrees).

[0126] exist Fig. 9 In the example shown in , the base station 904 may include an SFI repetition circuit 908 configured to identify a beam set 906a-906h on which a repetition of the SFI is to be sent via a MAC CE or DCI. Each beam may be sent in a different corresponding beam direction. In the example in which the SFI repetition is sent in the DCI, each beam may be sent on a corresponding CORESET, and all CORESETs may be cascaded within the DL control portion of the time slot. The beam sets 906a-906h may be distributed in all directions, or may be located within one or more sectors of a cell served by the base station so as to align the SFI repetitions to a set of one or more UEs (e.g., UEs 902a-902c), the latter of which is shown. At each UE 902a-902c, the SFI repetitions received on multiple beams 906a-906h may be spatially combined to produce a combined SFI, thereby improving the spatial diversity gain of the SFI reception and increasing the reliability of the SFI.

[0127] In various aspects, the reliability of SFI can be further improved by enhancing the CRC attached to the DCI containing SFI, enhancing the modulation and coding scheme (MCS) of the PDCCH used to carry SFI, and / or increasing the transmit power of the PDCCH carrying SFI. In some examples, the base station may increase the number of CRC bits attached to the DCI. For example, the base station may generate a PDCCH carrying SFI, which has a number of CRC bits greater than a threshold number of CRC bits. For example, the threshold number of CRC bits may be twenty-four bits. For example, the base station may increase the number of CRC bits to thirty or thirty-six CRC bits. In other examples, the base station may segment the payload of the PDCCH carrying SFI into two or more segments. A corresponding set of segmented CRC bits may be generated for each segment. In addition, a global CRC bit set may be generated for a PDCCH including a corresponding set of segmented CRC bits.

[0128] Fig.10 1 is a schematic diagram of a circuit 1000 within a base station configured to generate a PDCCH carrying an SFI according to some aspects of the present disclosure. In the illustration, the base station can segment the payload of the PDCCH carrying the SFI into multiple SFI segments 1002 (SFI segment #1, SFI segment #2, ..., SFI segment #N). In some examples, the PDCCH payload can be equally divided so that the size of each SFI segment 1002 can be the same.

[0129] As shown, each SFI segment 1002 is subjected to a segment CRC calculation block 1004, and a corresponding segment CRC (e.g., a set of segment CRC bits) may be appended to each SFI segment. In some examples, the segment CRCs may each include one or more CRC bits. For example, each segment CRC may have a length of sixteen bits, twenty-four bits, or thirty-two bits. The SFI segments 1002 (including the appended segment CRCs) may then be jointly subjected to a second global CRC calculation block 1006 to apply a global CRC (e.g., a set of global CRC bits) to the merged SFI segments and the corresponding segment CRCs. In some examples, the global CRC may include twenty-four CRC bits.

[0130] The merged SFI segments along with the segment CRC and the global CRC may then be concatenated or interleaved (e.g., to create a relatively larger information block) by a concatenation / interleaving block 1008 and may then be encoded by an encoder 1010 (e.g., a polar encoder) to produce a code block (or multiple code blocks that may be grouped into a code block group). The code block may then be subjected to a modulation, scrambling, and mapping block 1012 to modulate, scramble, and / or map the code block to a suitable resource (e.g., a CORESET) for transmission over a wireless air interface.

[0131] In some examples, the segmented CRC calculation block 1004 can be removed or bypassed, and instead, the global CRC calculation block 1006 can be configured to generate a global CRC with a length greater than a CRC threshold (e.g., a threshold number of CRC bits). The CRC threshold can be, for example, twenty-four bits. For example, the global CRC calculation block 1006 can apply an extended CRC (e.g., greater than twenty-four CRC bits) to the PDCCH payload (e.g., SFI). In some examples, the extended CRC can include thirty bits or thirty-six bits.

[0132] In some examples, in addition to or as an alternative to the segment-wise CRC included on top of the global CRC or the extended global CRC, the base station can further select an MCS that can reduce sensitivity to channel estimation errors. In the current 5G NR specification, quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) is used to modulate the PDCCH. In some examples, the modulation, scrambling, and mapping block 1012 can select binary phase shift keying (BPSK) instead of QPSK for modulating the PDCCH carrying the SFI. BPSK relies on amplitude modulation and can therefore be more robust than QPSK, which relies on phase modulation.

[0133] In some examples, SFI reliability improvement can be used as described above with reference to Figure 7-10 Any combination of the described examples is implemented. For example, the base station can improve the reliability of the SFI by performing one or more of the following: (1) applying an aggregation level greater than or equal to a threshold aggregation level to the PDCCH carrying the SFI; (2) sending repetitions of the SFI across multiple beams via DCI or MAC CE; (3) increasing the number of CRC bits (e.g., using an extended CRC) or a segmented CRC added on top of the global CRC; (4) modulating the PDCCH using BPSK; and / or (5) sending the SFI at a transmit power greater than a threshold transmit power.

[0134] In some examples, the SFI may change a resource set (e.g., one or more subbands and / or symbols) in a time slot from UL resources to DL resources. When a UE preconfigured for UL transmission in the resource set (e.g., periodically scheduled or semi-persistently scheduled SRS, PUSCH, or PUCCH) misses the SFI, the UL transmission by the UE may interfere with the DL reception by other UEs that successfully detect the SFI.

[0135] To further avoid or mitigate CLI caused by missed SFIs, the base station may prioritize transmission of SFIs to a set of UEs that have semi-persistently or periodically scheduled UL transmissions within a resource set. In some examples, the base station may prioritize transmission of SFIs to those UEs that may be strong interferers (e.g., UEs that have transmit beams that are more likely to interfere with intended DL reservations originating from SFIs).

[0136] Fig.11 1100 is a flowchart of an exemplary method for SFI prioritization according to some aspects. As described below, some or all of the illustrated features may be omitted in certain implementations within the scope of the present disclosure, and some of the illustrated features may not be required for implementations of all embodiments. In some examples, the method may be as described below and in Fig.13 The base station 1300 shown in FIG. 1 is executed by a processor or a processing system, or by any suitable unit for performing the functions.

[0137] In block 1102, the base station may select a time slot format that changes a resource set in the time slot from an uplink resource to a downlink resource. For example, the time slot may have been previously configured as a UL half-duplex time slot, and the selected time slot format may correspond to a DL half-duplex time slot. As another example, the time slot may have been previously configured as a sub-band full-duplex time slot including at least one UL sub-band corresponding to the resource set, and the selected time slot format may correspond to a DL half-duplex time slot. As yet another example, the time slot may have been previously configured as a UL half-duplex time slot, and the selected time slot format may correspond to a sub-band half-duplex time slot including at least one DL sub-band corresponding to the resource set. Other examples may include reconfiguring one or more symbols in the time slot from a UL symbol or a symbol including a UL sub-band to a DL symbol or a symbol including a DL sub-band.

[0138] At block 1104, the base station may identify a set of UEs having semi-persistently scheduled or periodically scheduled uplink transmissions within the resource set. At block 1106, the base station may prioritize transmission of the SFI to the set of UEs (e.g., the set of UEs or a subset of the set of UEs having semi-persistently scheduled or periodically scheduled uplink transmissions in the resource set). In some examples, the subset of UEs may be strong interferers.

[0139] In one example, the base station may repeat the transmission of the SFI across multiple beams (e.g., as described above in conjunction with Figure 8 and 9 The base station may select an active DL beam that is currently used for communication with each UE in the group of UEs.

[0140] In another example, the base station may apply an aggregation level to the PDCCH carrying the SFI based at least on the group of UEs, the aggregation level being at least a threshold aggregation level, as described above in conjunction with Figure 7 As described. For example, the selected aggregation level can be limited by the maximum payload size of the SFI, which is determined by the CORESET size that the UE is configured to monitor. In this example, the number of UEs that can receive group common control information including the SFI can be limited. For example, the number of UEs (e.g., a set of UEs) with semi-persistently scheduled or periodically scheduled UL transmissions within a resource set can be greater than the number of UEs that can receive the SFI (e.g., based on the CORESET size limit value). In this example, the base station can prioritize the transmission of the SFI by selecting a subset of the UE set with a transmit beam that is more likely to interfere with the DL transmission in the resource set.

[0141] For example, the base station may select a subset of UEs from the set of UEs, each UE in the subset of UEs having a corresponding transmit beam configured to generate a higher interference level (e.g., higher interference associated with DL transmissions) within the resource set than other non-selected UEs in the set of UEs. The number of selected UEs in the subset of UEs may be equal to the number of UEs that can receive the SFI (e.g., based on the maximum payload size of the SFI). The base station may then send a PDCCH carrying the SFI to the selected subset of UEs.

[0142] In some examples, the base station may further transmit repetitions of the PDCCH carrying the SFI across multiple beams selected based on the UE subset. In addition, the base station may also apply one or more of CRC enhancement, MCS enhancement, or power boost to the SFI transmitted to the UE subset or the UE set defining the group of UEs.

[0143] As an alternative or in addition to prioritizing SFIs to a group of UEs, CLI caused by missed SFIs can be further avoided or mitigated by confirmation-based cancellation of SFI changes from uplink resources to downlink resources in a resource set of a time slot. For example, the base station can receive an acknowledgment (ACK) from one or more UEs to which the SFI is sent. Based on the received ACK, the base station can modify the selected portion of the resource set to maintain the selected portion of the resources as uplink resources regardless of the time slot format, or cancel the SFI change by avoiding scheduling downlink transmissions in the resource set of the time slot.

[0144] Fig.12 is a signaling diagram illustrating an example of confirmation-based cancellation of an SFI according to some aspects. Fig.12 In the example shown in FIG. 1 , a base station 1202 (e.g., a gNB) communicates wirelessly with a plurality of UEs 1204a, 1204b, ..., 1204N. The base station 1202 may correspond to Figure 1 , 2 , 5A, 6, 9 or 10, which may be configured to operate in sub-band full-duplex mode. UE 1204a-1204N may correspond to Figure 1 , 2 , 6 or 9 as shown in any scheduled entity or UE.

[0145] At 1206, the base station 1202 may select a slot format for the time slot. The time slot may include a carrier bandwidth, and communication with the UEs 1204a-1204N in the time slot may occur across the carrier bandwidth or within one or more active bandwidth parts (BWPs) of the carrier bandwidth. The time slot format may include, for example, a half-duplex time slot in which at least the BWP of the time slot is configured for uplink transmission or downlink transmission, a sub-band full-duplex time slot in which at least the BWP is configured for simultaneous uplink transmission and downlink transmission, or a flexible time slot including at least one flexible symbol that can be configured as a half-duplex symbol or a sub-band full-duplex symbol. In some examples, the selected time slot format changes the resource set in the time slot from uplink resources to downlink resources.

[0146] At 1208, the base station 1202 may send a slot format indicator (SFI) indicating a slot format to a plurality of UEs 1204a-1204N. In an example in which the selected slot format includes a flexible slot, the SFI may further indicate a specific configuration of flexible symbols within the slot. For example, the SFI may be included in a DCI carried in a PDCCH or in a MAC-CE carried in a PDSCH. For example, the DCI may have a DCI format 2_0, which is configured to carry group common control information (e.g., control information broadcast to a group of UEs) including an SFI information element (IE). The DCI may also include a set of cyclic redundancy check (CRC) bits scrambled with a radio network temporary identifier (RNTI), wherein the RNTI may be an SFI-specific RNTI to allow the UE to determine the type of control information (e.g., SFI) sent in the PDCCH.

[0147] At 1210a…1210N, the base station 1202 may receive corresponding acknowledgments (ACKs) for the SFIs from at least a portion of the plurality of UEs 1204a-1204N. The ACKs may be sent, for example, on the PUCCH, on the UCI piggybacked on the PUSCH, or on the SRS. In some examples, the base station 1202 may not be able to receive ACKs from a set of one or more UEs in the plurality of UEs 1204 (e.g., the base station may receive a NACK or not receive HARQ feedback). Fig.12 In the example shown in , base station 1202 fails to receive an ACK from UE 1204b.

[0148] At 1212, the base station 1202 may adjust the time slot format of the time slot based on the set of one or more UEs for which the ACK was not received. In some examples, the base station 1202 may maintain as uplink resources a selected portion of the resource set that is semi-persistently scheduled or periodically scheduled for uplink communications by the set of one or more UEs. In this example, the set of one or more UEs may send their semi-persistent or periodic uplink transmissions in the selected portion of the resource set without interfering with any downlink transmissions scheduled in any remaining portion of the resource set. Thus, the base station 1202 may adjust the downlink occupancy of the resource set by transmitting on the remaining portion of the resource set (e.g., resources associated with the UE that acknowledged the cancellation of the uplink transmission). Fig.12 In the example shown in , base station 1202 can maintain uplink resources semi-persistently scheduled or periodically scheduled by UE 1204b for uplink transmission.

[0149] In other examples, the base station 1202 can adjust the time slot format of the time slot by avoiding scheduling downlink transmissions in the resource set of the time slot. Thus, in this example, the base station 1202 can schedule downlink pre-emptive transmissions only when an ACK is received from each intended recipient of the SFI (e.g., from each UE in the plurality of UEs 1204a-1204N).

[0150] Fig.13 13 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a hardware implementation of an exemplary base station 1300 employing a processing system 1314. For example, the base station 1300 may be as described in Figure 1 , 2 , 5A, 6, 9, 10 and / or 12, or any one or more of the gNBs or other scheduling entities shown.

[0151] The base station 1300 may be implemented with a processing system 1314 including one or more processors 1304. Examples of the processor 1304 include a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a digital signal processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic device (PLD), a state machine, a gated logic, a discrete hardware circuit, and other suitable hardware configured to perform various functions described throughout the present disclosure. In various examples, the base station 1300 may be configured to perform any one or more of the functions described herein. That is, the processor 1304 as used in the base station 1300 may be used to implement any one or more of the processing procedures described below.

[0152] In some cases, the processor 1304 may be implemented by a baseband or modem chip, and in other implementations, the processor 1304 itself may include multiple devices that are distinct and different from the baseband or modem chip (e.g., in this case, can work together to implement the embodiments discussed herein). And as described above, various hardware arrangements and components other than the baseband modem processor may be used in implementations including RF chains, power amplifiers, modulators, buffers, interleavers, adders / summers, etc.

[0153] In this example, the processing system 1314 may be implemented with a bus architecture, generally represented by bus 1302. Bus 1302 may include any number of interconnecting buses and bridges, depending on the specific application and overall design constraints of the processing system 1314. Bus 1302 communicatively couples together various circuits including one or more processors (generally represented by processor 1304), memory 1305, and computer-readable media (generally represented by computer-readable media 1306). Memory 1305 may store, for example, one or more thresholds 1315 that may be used by processor 1304. For example, one or more thresholds 1315 may include a threshold aggregation level, a threshold number of CRC bits (e.g., a CRC threshold), and / or a threshold transmit power.

[0154] The bus 1302 may also link various other circuits, such as timing sources, peripherals, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art and will not be described further. The bus interface 1308 provides an interface between the bus 1302 and the transceiver 1310. The transceiver 1310 provides a means for communicating with various other devices using an antenna array 1320 (e.g., each including one or more antenna panels) over a transmission medium (e.g., an air interface). A user interface 1312 (e.g., a keypad, display, speaker, microphone, joystick) may also be provided. Of course, such a user interface 1312 is optional and may be omitted in some examples.

[0155] The processor 1304 is responsible for managing the bus 1302 and general processing, including executing software stored on the computer-readable medium 1306. The software, when executed by the processor 1304, causes the processing system 1314 to perform the various functions described below for any particular device. The computer-readable medium 1306 and memory 1305 may also be used to store data that is manipulated by the processor 1304 when executing the software.

[0156] One or more processors 1304 in the processing system can execute software. Software should be broadly interpreted to mean instructions, instruction sets, codes, code segments, program codes, programs, subroutines, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executable programs, threads in execution, processes, functions, etc., whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language or otherwise. The software may reside on a computer readable medium 1306.

[0157] Computer readable medium 1306 may be a non-transitory computer readable medium. For example, non-transitory computer readable media include magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disks, floppy disks, magnetic strips), optical disks (e.g., compact disks (CDs) or digital versatile disks (DVDs)), smart cards, flash memory devices (e.g., card, stick or key drives), random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), erasable PROM (EPROM), electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), registers, removable disks, and any other suitable medium for storing software and / or instructions that can be accessed and read by a computer. For example, computer readable media may also include carrier waves, transmission lines, and any other suitable medium for sending software and / or instructions that can be accessed and read by a computer. Computer readable medium 1306 may reside in processing system 1314, outside processing system 1314, or distributed on multiple entities including processing system 1314. Computer readable medium 1306 may be implemented in a computer program product. In some examples, computer readable medium 1306 may be part of memory 1305. For example, a computer program product may include a computer readable medium in packaging materials. Those skilled in the art will recognize how to best implement the described functionality presented throughout this disclosure depending on the specific application and the overall design constraints imposed on the entire system.

[0158] In some aspects of the present disclosure, the processor 1304 may include circuits configured for various functions. For example, the processor 1304 may include a resource assignment and scheduling circuit 1342 configured to generate, schedule, and modify resource assignments or grants for time frequency resources. For example, the resource assignment and scheduling circuit 1342 may schedule time frequency resources within multiple subbands or BWPs of one or more TDD half-duplex and / or FDD full-duplex subframes or time slots to transmit user data traffic and / or control information to and / or from multiple UEs.

[0159] In various aspects of the present disclosure, the resource assignment and scheduling circuit 1342 may be configured to schedule downlink transmission of a slot format indicator (SFI) for a time slot to multiple UEs (e.g., a group of UEs). In some examples, the resource assignment and scheduling circuit 1342 may schedule downlink transmission of the SFI based on the aggregation level applied to the PDCCH carrying the SFI. The resource assignment and scheduling circuit 1342 may also be configured to schedule repetitions of the SFI across multiple beams in a DCI or MAC CE. For example, the resource assignment and scheduling circuit 1342 may be configured to schedule repetitions of the SFI within multiple cascaded CORESETs, each CORESET being associated with a corresponding beam. The resource assignment and scheduling circuit 1342 may also be configured to schedule downlink transmissions of a cascaded mode of multiple cascaded CORESETs and configuration of monitoring opportunities associated with repeated reception of the SFI by multiple UEs.

[0160] The resource assignment and scheduling circuit 1342 may also schedule resources (e.g., within a PUCCH, PUSCH, or SRS) for receiving HARQ feedback (e.g., ACK or NACK) for the SFI from multiple UEs. The resource assignment and scheduling circuit 1342 may also schedule resources for downlink transmission within a resource set that has been reconfigured from uplink resources to downlink resources by the SFI. In some examples, the resource assignment and scheduling circuit 1342 may also semi-persistently schedule or periodically schedule uplink transmissions by multiple UEs within the resource set. In addition, the resource assignment and scheduling circuit 1342 may schedule downlink transmissions only within a portion of the resource set (e.g., the remaining portion) used by the UE for which an ACK is received. The resource assignment and scheduling circuit 1342 may also be configured to execute resource assignment and scheduling software 1352 stored in the computer-readable medium 1306 to implement one or more functions described herein.

[0161] Processor 1304 may also include communication and processing circuitry 1344 configured to communicate with multiple UEs in a sub-band full-duplex mode over a carrier bandwidth of a carrier frequency. In some examples, communication and processing circuitry 1344 may include one or more hardware components that provide a physical structure that performs processing related to wireless communication (e.g., signal reception and / or signal transmission) and signal processing (e.g., processing received signals and / or processing signals for transmission).

[0162] In some implementations where communication involves receiving information, the communication and processing circuitry 1344 may obtain information from a component of the base station 1300 (e.g., from a transceiver 1310 that receives information via radio frequency signaling or some other type of signaling suitable for an applicable communication medium), process (e.g., decode) the information, and output the processed information. For example, the communication and processing circuitry 1344 may output the information to another component of the processor 1304, to the memory 1305, or to the bus interface 1308. In some examples, the communication and processing circuitry 1344 may receive one or more of a signal, a message, other information, or any combination thereof. In some examples, the communication and processing circuitry 1344 may receive information via one or more channels. In some examples, the communication and processing circuitry 1344 may include functionality for a unit for receiving. In some examples, the communication and processing circuitry 1344 may include functionality for a unit for processing including a unit for demodulation, a unit for decoding, and the like.

[0163] In some implementations where communication involves issuing (e.g., sending) information, the communication and processing circuitry 1344 may obtain information (e.g., from another component of the processor 1304, the memory 1305, or the bus interface 1308), process (e.g., modulate, encode, etc.) the information, and output the processed information. For example, the communication and processing circuitry 1344 may output the information to the transceiver 1310 (e.g., the transceiver 1310 sends the information via radio frequency signaling or some other type of signaling suitable for the applicable communication medium). In some examples, the communication and processing circuitry 1344 may send one or more of a signal, a message, other information, or any combination thereof. In some examples, the communication and processing circuitry 1344 may send information via one or more channels. In some examples, the communication and processing circuitry 1344 may include functionality for a unit for issuing (e.g., a unit for sending). In some examples, the communication and processing circuitry 1344 may include functionality for a unit for generating including a unit for modulating, a unit for encoding, and the like.

[0164] The communication and processing circuit 1344 may be configured to generate a slot format indicator (SFI) indicating a selected slot format of a slot and send it to a plurality of UEs. In an example in which the selected slot format includes a flexible slot, the SFI may further indicate a specific configuration of flexible symbols within the slot. The SFI may be sent, for example, within a DCI carried in a PDCCH or within a MAC-CE carried in a PDSCH. For example, the DCI may have a DCI format 2_0, which is configured to carry group common control information (e.g., control information broadcast to a group of UEs) including an SFI information element (IE).

[0165] In some examples, communication and processing circuitry 1344 may be configured to generate a PDCCH carrying the SFI at an aggregation level greater than or equal to a threshold aggregation level 1315 to improve reliability of SFI transmission.

[0166] In some examples, the communication and processing circuit 1344 may be configured to generate and transmit a beamformed downlink signal at a mmWave frequency (e.g., FR2) or a sub-6 GHz frequency (e.g., FR1) via the transceiver 1310 and the antenna array 1320. For example, the communication and processing circuit 1344 may be configured to generate and transmit repetitions of the SFI on multiple downlink beams. In addition, the communication and processing circuit 1344 may be configured to transmit SFI repetitions on multiple cascaded control resource sets (CORESETs) based on the aggregation level. The communication and processing circuit 1344 may also be configured to generate a cascade pattern of multiple cascaded CORESETs and transmit it to multiple UEs via RRC signaling. In addition, the communication and processing circuit 1344 may be configured to generate a configuration of a monitoring opportunity associated with the reception of repetitions of the SFI by the UE and transmit the configuration via, for example, RRC signaling.

[0167] In some examples, the communication and processing circuit 1344 may also be configured to generate a CRC (e.g., a set of CRC bits) for the SFI and attach the CRC to the DCI containing the SFI. In addition, the communication and processing circuit 1344 may scramble the CRC with a radio network temporary identifier (RNTI), which may be an RNTI specific to the SFI. In some examples, the communication and processing circuit 1344 may increase the number of CRC bits attached to the DCI. For example, a base station may generate a PDCCH carrying an SFI, the number of CRC bits of which is greater than a threshold number (e.g., a CRC threshold) 1315 of CRC bits. For example, the CRC threshold 1315 may be twenty-four bits. The communication and processing circuit 1344 may, for example, increase the number of CRC bits to thirty or thirty-six CRC bits. In other examples, the communication and processing circuit 1344 may be configured to segment the payload of the PDCCH carrying the SFI into two or more segments. A corresponding set of segment CRC bits may be generated for each segment. Furthermore, a global set of CRC bits may be generated for the PDCCH including a corresponding set of segmented CRC bits.

[0168] In some examples, the communication and processing circuit 1344 may generate a PDCCH carrying the SFI using BPSK. In some examples, the communication and processing circuit 1344 may be configured to control the power supply 1330 to increase the transmit power of the PDCCH carrying the SFI above the threshold transmit power 1315. In some examples, the communication and processing circuit 1344 may be configured to receive a corresponding acknowledgement from one or more of the plurality of UEs.

[0169] In some examples, the communication and processing circuit 1344 may also be configured to prioritize the transmission of the SFI to a group of UEs that have semi-persistently scheduled or periodically scheduled uplink transmissions within a set of resources that are changed from uplink resources to downlink resources by the SFI. For example, the communication and processing circuit 1344 may be configured to apply an aggregation level corresponding to at least a threshold aggregation level based on the group of UEs. As another example, the communication and processing circuit 1344 may be configured to repeat the transmission of the SFI across multiple beams selected based on the group of UEs. The communication and processing circuit 1344 may also be configured to apply CRC enhancement, MCS enhancement, or transmit power enhancement to the SFI sent to the group of UEs.

[0170] The communication and processing circuit 1344 may also be configured to communicate uplink transmissions and / or downlink transmissions within a time slot based on the SFI. For example, if the SFI indicates that the time slot is a DL half-duplex time slot, the communication and processing circuit 1344 may be configured to send DL control and / or DL ​​data in the time slot. As another example, if the SFI indicates that the time slot is a UL half-duplex time slot, the communication and processing circuit 1344 may be configured to receive UL data and / or UL control in the time slot. As yet another example, if the SFI indicates that the time slot is a sub-band full-duplex time slot, the communication and processing circuit 1344 may be configured to send DL control and / or DL ​​data within one or more DL sub-bands of the time slot, and receive UL control and / or UL data within one or more UL sub-bands of the time slot. In some examples, if the SFI indicates a configuration of one or more symbols of a flexible time slot, the communication and processing circuit 1344 can be configured to send and / or receive control and / or data in each symbol of the time slot based on the configuration of each symbol (e.g., as a half-duplex symbol or a sub-band full-duplex symbol). The communication and processing circuit 1344 can also be configured to execute communication and processing software 1354 stored in the computer-readable medium 1306 to implement one or more functions described herein.

[0171] The processor 1304 may also include a time slot configuration circuit 1346, which is configured to select a time slot format of a time slot having a carrier bandwidth. The selected time slot format may include a half-duplex time slot configured for uplink transmission or downlink transmission, a sub-band full-duplex time slot configured for simultaneous uplink transmission and downlink transmission, or one of flexible time slots including at least one flexible symbol that can be configured as a half-duplex symbol or a sub-band full-duplex symbol. The time slot configuration circuit 1346 may also be configured to adjust the time slot format of the time slot based on the SFI confirmation received from multiple UEs. For example, the communication and processing circuit 1344 may not be able to receive confirmation from a set of one or more UEs. In this example, the time slot configuration circuit 1346 may be configured to maintain the selected portion of the resource set that is semi-persistently scheduled or periodically scheduled for uplink communication by a set of one or more UEs as an uplink resource. Therefore, the time slot configuration circuit 1346 can adjust the downlink reservation of the resource set by configuring the resource assignment and scheduling circuit 1342 and the communication and processing circuit 1344 to implement downlink transmission only on the remaining portion of the resource set (e.g., resources associated with the UE that confirmed the SFI).

[0172] In other examples, the time slot configuration circuit 1346 can adjust the time slot format of the time slot by avoiding scheduling downlink transmissions in the resource set of the time slot. Therefore, in this example, the time slot configuration circuit 1346 can instruct the resource assignment and scheduling circuit 1342 to schedule downlink preemptive transmissions only when an ACK is received from each intended recipient of the SFI. The time slot configuration circuit 1346 can also be configured to execute the time slot configuration software 1356 stored in the computer readable medium 1306 to implement one or more functions described herein.

[0173] Processor 1304 may further include SFI configuration circuit 1348 configured to generate an SFI indicating a slot format for the slot selected by slot configuration circuit 1346. SFI configuration circuit 1348 may further be configured to instruct communication and processing circuit 1344 to send the SFI via PDCCH or MAC-CE.

[0174] In some examples, the SFI configuration circuit 1348 can also be configured to use various mechanisms to improve the reliability of SFI transmission. In some examples, the SFI configuration circuit 1348 can be configured to set an aggregation level greater than or equal to a threshold aggregation level 1315 for SFI. The SFI configuration circuit 1348 can also be configured to set the threshold aggregation level 1315 based on at least one of a carrier frequency of a time slot, a coverage of a cell served by the base station 1300, or a bandwidth of an active downlink bandwidth portion used for communication with multiple UEs.

[0175] The SFI configuration circuit 1348 may also be configured to instruct the resource assignment and scheduling circuit 1342 and the communication and processing circuit 1344 to send repetitions of the SFI on multiple downlink beams. For example, the SFI configuration circuit 1348 may be configured to configure multiple cascade control resource sets (CORESETs) based on the aggregation level for sending repetitions of the SFI. Each CORESET may be used to send a corresponding repetition of the SFI on a corresponding beam. Therefore, each CORESET may be associated with a corresponding TCI state that indicates the beam on which the repetition of the SFI is sent.

[0176] In some examples, the SFI configuration circuit 1348 may also be configured to instruct the communication and processing circuit 1344 to use the CRC threshold 1315, BPSK, and / or threshold transmit power 1315 when generating and transmitting the PDCCH carrying the SFI. In some examples, the SFI configuration circuit 1348 may also be configured to instruct the communication and processing circuit 1344 to segment the SFI payload into two or more segments, generate a corresponding segment CRC for each segment, and generate a global CRC for the PDCCH.

[0177] In some examples, the SFI configuration circuit 1348 may also be configured to identify a group of UEs that have corresponding semi-persistently scheduled or periodically scheduled uplink transmissions within a resource set that is changed from uplink resources to downlink resources by SFI. The SFI configuration circuit 1348 may also be configured to prioritize the transmission of SFI to the group of UEs. For example, the SFI configuration circuit 1348 may be configured to select a UE subset as the group of UEs from a set of UEs that have semi-persistently scheduled or periodically scheduled transmissions within a resource set based on the aggregation level to be applied to the SFI. The UE subset may correspond to the maximum number of UEs to which group common control information containing SFI may be sent that can be included in the group of UEs. The maximum number of UEs may be determined based on the aggregation level. In some examples, the aggregation level may be limited by the maximum payload size of the SFI (determined by the CORESET size that the UE is configured to monitor).

[0178] The SFI configuration circuit 1348 may be configured to prioritize transmission of the SFI to the group of UEs by applying an aggregation level greater than a threshold aggregation level selected based on the group of UEs. For example, the selected aggregation level may be limited by a maximum SFI payload size supported by the UE. The SFI configuration circuit 1348 may also be configured to prioritize transmission of the SFI to the group of UEs by selecting a plurality of beams for transmitting repetitions of the SFI based on the group of UEs. For example, the selected beams may include active downlink beams used for communication with the group of UEs.

[0179] The SFI configuration circuit 1348 may also be configured to prioritize the transmission of the SFI to the group of UEs using an extended CRC (or segmented CRC), BPSK modulation, and / or increased transmit power when generating and sending the SFI to the group of UEs by instructing the communication and processing circuit 1344. The SFI configuration circuit 1348 may also be configured to execute SFI configuration software 1358 stored in the computer-readable medium 1306 to implement one or more functions described herein.

[0180] Fig.14 1400 is a flow chart of a method for SFI enhancement for sub-band full-duplex at a base station according to some aspects. As described below, some or all of the illustrated features may be omitted in certain implementations within the scope of the present disclosure, and some of the illustrated features may not be required for implementations of all embodiments. In some examples, the method may be as described above and Fig.13 The illustrated base station 1300 is executed by a processor or a processing system, or by any suitable means for performing the functions.

[0181] At block 1402, the base station may select a time slot format for a time slot. The time slot may include a carrier bandwidth, and communication with multiple UEs in the time slot may occur on the carrier bandwidth or within one or more active bandwidth parts (BWPs) of the carrier bandwidth. The time slot format may include one of a half-duplex time slot configured for uplink transmission or downlink transmission, a sub-band full-duplex time slot configured for simultaneous uplink transmission and downlink transmission, or a flexible time slot including at least one flexible symbol configurable as a half-duplex symbol or a sub-band full-duplex symbol. For example, the above in conjunction with Fig.13 The slot configuration circuit 1346 shown and described may provide means for selecting the slot format of the time slots.

[0182] At block 1404, the base station may send a slot format indicator (SFI) indicating a slot format to the plurality of UEs. In some examples, the SFI may be carried in downlink control information (e.g., group common control information) mapped to a downlink control channel (e.g., PDCCH) or in a MAC-CE mapped to a downlink data channel (e.g., PDSCH).

[0183] In some examples, the base station may apply an aggregation level greater than or equal to a threshold aggregation level to a control channel (e.g., PDCCH) carrying a slot format indicator. The base station may also set the threshold aggregation level based on at least one of a carrier frequency associated with a carrier bandwidth, a coverage of a cell served by the base station, or a bandwidth of an active downlink bandwidth portion.

[0184] In some examples, the base station may also send repetitions of the SFI across multiple beams in a DCI or MAC CE. For example, the base station may configure multiple cascaded control resource sets (CORESETs) for sending repetitions of the SFI on multiple beams. Each CORESET within the multiple cascaded CORESETs may be associated with sending a corresponding repetition of a slot format indicator on a corresponding beam in the multiple beams. For example, a corresponding TCI state may be associated with each CORESET. The base station may also send a cascade mode of multiple cascaded CORESETs to multiple UEs. In addition, the base station may send a configuration of a monitoring opportunity associated with receiving repetitions of the SFI on each beam in the multiple beams by multiple UEs.

[0185] In some examples, the base station may also generate a control channel (e.g., PDCCH) carrying the SFI having a number of CRC bits greater than a threshold number. In some examples, the base station may segment the payload of the control channel containing the SFI into at least two segments, generate a corresponding set of segment CRC bits for each of the at least two segments, and generate a global set of CRC bits for the payload and the corresponding set of segment CRC bits. In some examples, the base station may also generate a control channel carrying the SFI using BPSK modulation. In some examples, the base station may send the SFI at a transmit power greater than a threshold transmit power.

[0186] In some examples, the SFI may change a resource set in a time slot from an uplink resource to a downlink resource. In this example, the base station may also identify a group of UEs having corresponding semi-persistently scheduled or periodically scheduled uplink transmissions within the resource set, and prioritize the transmission of the SFI to the group of UEs. Here, the group of UEs corresponds to multiple UEs. For example, the base station may apply an aggregation level greater than or equal to a threshold aggregation level to a control channel carrying the SFI based on the group of UEs. As an example, the base station may select a subset of UEs as the group of UEs from a group of UEs having corresponding semi-persistently scheduled or periodically scheduled uplink transmissions within the resource set based on the aggregation level. Each UE in the UE subset may have a corresponding transmit beam that is configured to generate a higher interference level within the resource set than other non-selected UEs in the UE set. In other examples, the base station may repeat the transmission of the SFI across multiple beams selected based on the group of UEs. For example, the SFI configuration circuit 1348 is combined with the above Fig.13 The communication and processing circuitry 1344, transceiver 1310, antenna array 1320, and power supply 1330 shown and described together may provide a means for transmitting SFI to multiple UEs.

[0187] Fig.14The processing procedures shown in may include additional aspects, such as any single aspect or any combination of aspects described above and / or related to one or more other processing procedures described elsewhere herein. For example, the base station may also be unable to receive confirmation of the SFI from a set of one or more UEs among a plurality of UEs. When the SFI changes the resource set in a time slot from uplink resources to downlink resources, the base station may further adjust the time slot format of the time slot based on the set of one or more UEs. For example, the base station may maintain a selected portion of uplink resources semi-persistently scheduled or periodically scheduled by a set of one or more UEs for uplink communication. As another example, the base station may avoid scheduling downlink transmissions in the resource set of the time slot.

[0188] In one configuration, the base station 1300 (e.g., gNB) includes a Fig.14 In one aspect, the aforementioned units may be in Fig.13 The processor 1304 shown in is configured to perform the functions described in the aforementioned units. In another aspect, the aforementioned units may be circuits or any devices configured to perform the functions described in the aforementioned units.

[0189] Of course, in the above example, the circuit included in the processor 1304 is provided only as an example, and other units for performing the functions may be included in various aspects of the present disclosure, including but not limited to instructions stored in the computer-readable storage medium 1306, or in Figure 1 , 2 , 5A, 6, 9, 10 and / or 12 and using, for example, the Fig.11 and 14 Any other suitable means or units for the described processes and / or algorithms.

[0190] Fig.15 1500 is a flow chart of another method for SFI enhancement for sub-band full-duplex at a base station according to some aspects. As described below, some or all of the illustrated features may be omitted in certain implementations within the scope of the present disclosure, and some of the illustrated features may not be required for implementations of all embodiments. In some examples, the method may be as described above and in Fig.13 The base station 1300 shown in FIG. 1 is executed by a processor or a processing system, or by any suitable unit for performing the functions.

[0191] At block 1502, a base station may configure a plurality of cascaded control resource sets (CORESETs) for transmitting repetitions of a slot format indicator (SFI) across a plurality of beams within downlink control information. Each CORESET within the plurality of cascaded CORESETs may be associated with transmitting a respective repetition of a slot format indicator on a respective beam in the plurality of beams. For example, a respective TCI state may be associated with each CORESET. For example, in conjunction with the above Fig.13 The SFI configuration circuit 1348 shown and described may provide a unit to configure multiple cascaded CORESETs.

[0192] At block 1504, the base station may send a cascade pattern of multiple cascaded CORESETs to multiple UEs. Fig.13 The SFI configuration circuit 1348 and the communication and processing circuit 1344 and transceiver 1310 shown and described may provide a means to transmit the cascade mode.

[0193] At block 1506, the base station may send a configuration of monitoring opportunities associated with receiving repetitions of the SFI on each of the plurality of beams by the plurality of UEs. Fig.13 The SFI configuration circuit 1348 and the communication and processing circuit 1344 and transceiver 1310 shown and described may provide means to transmit configuration of monitoring opportunities.

[0194] At block 1508, the base station may select a time slot format for the time slot. The time slot may include a carrier bandwidth, and communication with multiple UEs in the time slot may occur on the carrier bandwidth or within one or more active bandwidth parts (BWPs) of the carrier bandwidth. The time slot format may include one of a half-duplex time slot configured for uplink transmission or downlink transmission, a sub-band full-duplex time slot configured for simultaneous uplink transmission and downlink transmission, or a flexible time slot including at least one flexible symbol configurable as a half-duplex symbol or a sub-band full-duplex symbol. For example, the above in conjunction with Fig.13 The slot configuration circuit 1346 shown and described may provide means for selecting the slot format of the time slots.

[0195] At block 1510, the base station may send a repetition of the SFI indicating the slot format across multiple beams in downlink control information to multiple UEs. For example, the SFI configuration circuit 1348 may be combined with the above Fig.13 The communication and processing circuitry 1344, transceiver 1310, and antenna array 1320 shown and described together may provide a means to transmit repetitions of the SFI to multiple UEs.

[0196] Fig.161600 is a flowchart of another method for SFI enhancement for sub-band full-duplex at a base station according to some aspects. As described below, some or all of the illustrated features may be omitted in certain implementations within the scope of the present disclosure, and some of the illustrated features may not be required for implementation of all embodiments. In some examples, the method may be as described above and in Fig.13 The base station 1300 shown in FIG. 1 is executed by a processor or a processing system, or by any suitable unit for performing the functions.

[0197] At block 1602, the base station may select a time slot format for a time slot. The time slot may include a carrier bandwidth, and communication with multiple UEs in the time slot may occur on the carrier bandwidth or within one or more active bandwidth parts (BWPs) of the carrier bandwidth. The time slot format may include one of a half-duplex time slot configured for uplink transmission or downlink transmission, a sub-band full-duplex time slot configured for simultaneous uplink transmission and downlink transmission, or a flexible time slot including at least one flexible symbol configurable as a half-duplex symbol or a sub-band full-duplex symbol. For example, the above in conjunction with Fig.13 The slot configuration circuit 1346 shown and described may provide means for selecting the slot format of the time slots.

[0198] At block 1604, the base station may generate a control channel carrying a slot format indicator (SFI) in downlink control information, the slot format indicator (SFI) indicating the slot format of the slot, the control channel having a certain number of cyclic redundancy check (CRC) bits greater than a threshold number. Fig.13 The SFI configuration circuitry 1348 and the communication and processing circuitry 1344 shown and described may provide means for generating a control channel carrying the SFI.

[0199] At block 1606, the base station may send a control channel carrying a slot format indicator (SFI) indicating a slot format to the plurality of UEs. Fig.13 The SFI configuration circuitry 1348, along with the communication and processing circuitry 1344 and transceiver 1310 shown and described may provide means for transmitting a control channel carrying the SFI to multiple UEs.

[0200] Fig.17 1700 is a flow chart of a method for generating a control channel carrying a slot format indicator at a base station according to some aspects. The method may correspond to, for example, Fig.16As described below, some or all of the illustrated features may be omitted in certain implementations within the scope of the present disclosure, and some of the illustrated features may not be required for implementations of all embodiments. In some examples, the method may be as described above and in Fig.13 The base station 1300 shown in FIG. 1 is executed by a processor or a processing system, or by any suitable unit for performing the functions.

[0201] At block 1702, the base station may segment the payload of the control channel including the slot format indicator into at least two segments. Fig.13 The SFI configuration circuitry 1348 and the communication and processing circuitry 1344 shown and described may provide means to segment the payload of the control channel.

[0202] At block 1704, the base station may generate a corresponding set of segment CRC bits for each of the at least two segments. Fig.13 The SFI configuration circuitry 1348 and the communications and processing circuitry 1344 shown and described may provide means for generating corresponding sets of segment CRC bits.

[0203] At block 1706, the base station may generate a global set of CRC bits for the payload and corresponding sets of segment CRC bits. Fig.13 The SFI configuration circuitry 1348 and the communications and processing circuitry 1344 shown and described may provide means for generating a global set of CRC bits.

[0204] Fig.18 1800 is a flowchart of another method for SFI enhancement for sub-band full-duplex at a base station according to some aspects. As described below, some or all of the illustrated features may be omitted in certain implementations within the scope of the present disclosure, and some of the illustrated features may not be required for implementations of all embodiments. In some examples, the method may be as described above and in Fig.13 The base station 1300 shown in FIG. 1 is executed by a processor or a processing system, or by any suitable unit for performing the functions.

[0205] At block 1802, the base station may select a time slot format for a time slot. The time slot may include a carrier bandwidth, and communication with multiple UEs in the time slot may occur on the carrier bandwidth or within one or more active bandwidth parts (BWPs) of the carrier bandwidth. The time slot format may include one of a half-duplex time slot configured for uplink transmission or downlink transmission, a sub-band full-duplex time slot configured for simultaneous uplink transmission and downlink transmission, or a flexible time slot including at least one flexible symbol configurable as a half-duplex symbol or a sub-band full-duplex symbol. For example, the above in conjunction with Fig.13 The slot configuration circuit 1346 shown and described may provide means for selecting the slot format of the time slots.

[0206] At block 1804, the base station may identify a group of UEs having corresponding semi-persistently scheduled or periodically scheduled uplink transmissions within a resource set that is changed from uplink resources to downlink resources in a time slot. Fig.13 The SFI configuration circuit 1348 shown and described may provide means for identifying the group of UEs.

[0207] At blocks 1806 and 1808, the base station may then apply an aggregation level to a control channel carrying a slot format indicator indicating a slot format of the slots, wherein the aggregation level is based on at least a threshold aggregation level for the group of UEs, and send the control channel carrying the slot format indicator to the group of UEs. Fig.13 The SFI configuration circuitry 1348 and the communication and processing circuitry 1344 and transceiver 1310 shown and described may provide means for applying an aggregation level to a control channel carrying an SFI and sending the SFI carrying control channel to the group of UEs.

[0208] Alternatively, at blocks 1810 and 1812, the base station may send a slot format indicator indicating a slot format of a slot to the group of UEs in downlink control information or a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE), and repeat the transmission of the slot format indicator in the downlink control information or MAC-CE across multiple beams selected based on the group of UEs. For example, in conjunction with Fig.13 The SFI configuration circuitry 1348 shown and described, together with the communication and processing circuitry 1344, the transceiver 1310, and the antenna array 1320, may provide means for transmitting the SFI and repeating transmission of the SFI to the group of UEs.

[0209] Fig.191900 is a flowchart of another method for SFI enhancement for sub-band full-duplex at a base station according to some aspects. As described below, some or all of the illustrated features may be omitted in certain implementations within the scope of the present disclosure, and some illustrated features may not be required for implementations of all embodiments. In some examples, the method may be as described above and in Fig.13 The base station 1300 shown in FIG. 1 is executed by a processor or a processing system, or by any suitable unit for performing the functions.

[0210] At block 1902, the base station may select a time slot format for a time slot. The time slot may include a carrier bandwidth, and communication with multiple UEs in the time slot may occur on the carrier bandwidth or within one or more active bandwidth parts (BWPs) of the carrier bandwidth. The time slot format may include one of a half-duplex time slot configured for uplink transmission or downlink transmission, a sub-band full-duplex time slot configured for simultaneous uplink transmission and downlink transmission, or a flexible time slot including at least one flexible symbol configurable as a half-duplex symbol or a sub-band full-duplex symbol. For example, the above in conjunction with Fig.13 The time slot configuration circuit 1346 shown and described may provide means for selecting the time slot format of the time slots.

[0211] At block 1904, the base station may send a slot format indicator (SFI) indicating a slot format to the plurality of UEs. In some examples, the SFI may be carried in downlink control information (e.g., group common control information) mapped to a downlink control channel (e.g., PDCCH) or in a MAC-CE mapped to a downlink data channel (e.g., PDSCH). For example, the above in conjunction with Fig.13 The SFI configuration circuit 1348 and the communication and processing circuit 1344 and transceiver 1310 shown and described may provide means for sending the SFI to multiple UEs.

[0212] At block 1906, the base station may determine whether an acknowledgment (ACK) for the slot format indicator is received from a set of one or more UEs in the plurality of UEs. Fig.13 The communication and processing circuitry 1344 shown and described may provide means for determining whether an ACK is received from a set of one or more UEs.

[0213] If an ACK is not received from the set of one or more UEs, then at block 1908, the base station may adjust the time slot format of the time slot based on the set of one or more UEs in the plurality of UEs. In some examples, the base station may adjust the time slot format by maintaining a selected portion of uplink resources semi-persistently scheduled or periodically scheduled by the set of one or more UEs for uplink communications. In other examples, the base station may adjust the time slot format by avoiding scheduling downlink transmissions in the set of resources in the time slot. For example, in conjunction with Fig.13 The slot configuration circuit 1346 shown and described may provide means for adjusting the slot format of a slot based on a set of one or more UEs that failed to acknowledge an SFI.

[0214] Fig. 20 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware implementation of a UE 2000 employing a processing system 2014. For example, the UE 2000 may correspond to the above referenced Figure 1 , 2 , 6, 9 and / or 12 show and describe any UE or scheduled entity.

[0215] According to various aspects of the present disclosure, an element or any portion of an element or any combination of elements may be implemented using a processing system 2014 including one or more processors 2004. The processing system 2014 may be used with Fig.13 The processing system 1314 shown in FIG. 1 is substantially the same as that shown in FIG. 1 , including a bus interface 2008, a bus 2002, a memory 2005, a processor 2004, and a computer-readable medium 2006. In addition, the UE 2000 may include a substantially similar Fig.13 That is, the processor 2004 used in the UE 2000 can be used to implement any one or more of the processing procedures described below.

[0216] In some aspects of the present disclosure, the processor 2004 may include circuits configured for various functions. For example, the processor 2004 may include a communication and processing circuit 2042 configured to communicate with a base station (e.g., a gNB) in a sub-band full-duplex mode via the transceiver 2010 and the antenna array 2020. The communication and processing circuit 2042 may include one or more hardware components that provide a physical structure for performing processing related to wireless communication (e.g., signal reception and / or signal transmission) and signal processing (e.g., processing received signals and / or processing signals for transmission). For example, the communication and processing circuit 2042 may be configured to exchange control information and data with a base station via one or more subframes, time slots, and / or mini-time slots.

[0217] In some examples, the communication and processing circuit 2042 can be configured to receive a slot format indicator (SFI) 2015 from a base station indicating a slot format of a slot. The slot can include a carrier bandwidth, and the communication with the base station in the slot can occur across the carrier bandwidth or within one or more active bandwidth parts (BWPs) of the carrier bandwidth. The SFI can be received, for example, within a DCI carried in a PDCCH or within a MAC-CE carried in a PDSCH. For example, the DCI can have a DCI format 2_0, which is configured to carry group common control information (e.g., control information broadcast to a group of UEs) including an SFI information element (IE). The SFI 2015 can be stored, for example, in a memory 2005.

[0218] In some examples, the communication and processing circuit 2042 can be configured to receive a PDCCH carrying an SFI at an aggregation level greater than or equal to a threshold aggregation level.

[0219] In some examples, the communication and processing circuit 2042 may be configured to receive a beamformed downlink signal at a mmWave frequency or at a sub-6 GHz frequency via the transceiver 2010 and the antenna array 2020. For example, the communication and processing circuit 2042 may be configured to receive repetitions of the SFI across multiple downlink beams. In addition, the communication and processing circuit 2042 may be configured to monitor multiple search space sets within at least one monitoring opportunity for multiple cascaded control resource sets (CORESETs) including repetitions of a slot format indicator. Each CORESET within the multiple cascaded CORESETs may include a corresponding repetition of a slot format indicator sent on a corresponding beam in the multiple beams. In this example, a corresponding TCI state may be associated with each CORESET in the multiple cascaded CORESETs. The communication and processing circuit 2042 may also be configured to merge repetitions of the SFI to produce a merged SFI.

[0220] In some examples, the communication and processing circuit 2042 may also be configured to receive a cascade mode of multiple cascaded CORESETs from the base station via RRC signaling. In addition, the communication and processing circuit 2042 may be configured to receive a configuration of at least one monitoring opportunity from the base station via, for example, RRC signaling.

[0221] In some examples, the communication and processing circuit 2042 may also be configured to receive a PDCCH carrying an SFI, the PDCCH having a certain number of CRC bits greater than a threshold number (e.g., a CRC threshold). For example, the CRC threshold may be twenty-four bits. In some examples, the communication and processing circuit 2042 may be configured to receive a PDCCH including at least two segments of a payload including an SFI. Each segment of the at least two segments may include a corresponding set of segment CRC bits, and the PDCCH may also include a global CRC bit set.

[0222] In some examples, the communication and processing circuitry 2042 may be configured to receive a BPSK modulated PDCCH carrying an SFI. In some examples, the communication and processing circuitry 2042 may be configured to receive an SFI sent at a transmit power greater than a threshold transmit power. The communication and processing circuitry 2042 may also be configured to execute communication and processing software 2052 stored in the computer-readable medium 2006 to implement one or more functions described herein.

[0223] The processor 2004 may also include a time slot format identification circuit 2044 configured to identify the time slot format indicated by the SFI 2015. The time slot format identification circuit 2044 may also be configured to instruct the communication and processing circuit 2042 to communicate uplink transmissions and / or downlink transmissions within the time slot based on the SFI 2015. For example, if the SFI 2015 indicates that the time slot is a DL half-duplex time slot, the time slot format identification circuit 2044 may configure the communication and processing circuit 2042 to receive DL control and / or DL ​​data in the time slot. As another example, if the SFI 2015 indicates that the time slot is a UL half-duplex time slot, the time slot format identification circuit 2044 may configure the communication and processing circuit 2042 to send UL data and / or UL control in the time slot. As another example, if the SFI 2015 indicates that the time slot is a sub-band full-duplex time slot, the time slot format identification circuit 2044 can configure the communication and processing circuit 2042 to receive DL control and / or DL ​​data in one or more DL sub-bands of the time slot and send UL control and / or UL data in one or more UL sub-bands of the time slot. In some examples, if the SFI 2015 indicates the configuration of one or more symbols of the flexible time slot, the time slot format identification circuit 2044 can configure the communication and processing circuit 2042 to send and / or receive control and / or data in each symbol of the time slot based on the configuration of each symbol (e.g., as a half-duplex symbol or a sub-band full-duplex symbol). The time slot format identification circuit 2044 can also be configured to execute the time slot format identification software 2054 stored in the computer-readable medium 2006 to implement one or more functions described herein.

[0224] Fig.21 21 is a flow chart of a method for SFI enhancement for sub-band full duplex at a UE according to some aspects. As described below, some or all of the illustrated features may be omitted in certain implementations within the scope of the present disclosure, and some of the illustrated features may not be required for implementations of all embodiments. In some examples, the method may be as described above and in Fig. 20 The functions may be performed by the UE 2000 shown in FIG. 1 , a processor or a processing system, or any suitable unit for performing the functions.

[0225] In block 2102, the UE may receive a slot format indicator (SFI) from a base station indicating a slot format of a slot. The slot may include a carrier bandwidth, and communication with the base station in the slot may occur across the carrier bandwidth or within one or more active bandwidth parts (BWPs) of the carrier bandwidth. The slot format may include a half-duplex slot configured for uplink transmission or downlink transmission, a sub-band full-duplex slot configured for simultaneous uplink transmission and downlink transmission, or one of flexible slots including at least one flexible symbol configurable as a half-duplex symbol or a sub-band full-duplex symbol. In some examples, the SFI may be carried in downlink control information (e.g., group common control information) mapped to a downlink control channel (e.g., PDCCH) or in a MAC-CE mapped to a downlink data channel (e.g., PDSCH).

[0226] In some examples, the UE may receive a control channel (e.g., a PDCCH) carrying an SFI with an aggregation level of at least a threshold aggregation level. In some examples, the UE may receive a repetition of the SFI in a DCI or MAC CE across multiple beams. For example, the UE may monitor multiple search space sets within at least one monitoring opportunity for multiple cascaded control resource sets (CORESETs) including repetitions of a slot format indicator. Each CORESET within the multiple cascaded CORESETs may include a corresponding repetition of the SFI on a corresponding beam in the multiple beams. The UE may also merge the repetitions of the SFI to produce a merged SFI. In some examples, the UE may also receive a cascade mode of multiple cascaded CORESETs from a base station. In some examples, the UE may also receive a configuration of at least one monitoring opportunity from the base station. In some examples, a corresponding TCI state is associated with each CORESET in the multiple cascaded CORESETs.

[0227] In some examples, the UE may receive a control channel carrying a slot format indicator having a certain number of cyclic redundancy check (CRC) bits greater than a threshold number. In some examples, the UE may receive a control channel including at least two segments of a payload including a slot format indicator. Each of the at least two segments may include a corresponding set of segment CRC bits, and the control channel may also include a global set of CRC bits. In some examples, the UE may receive a BPSK modulated control channel carrying an SFI. In some examples, the UE may receive an SFI including a transmit power greater than a threshold transmit power. For example, in combination with the above Fig. 20 The communication and processing circuitry 2042 and transceiver 2010 and antenna array 2020 shown and described may receive the SFI.

[0228] In box 2104, the UE may communicate with the base station in the time slot based on the time slot format. For example, if the SFI indicates that the time slot is a DL half-duplex time slot, the UE may receive DL control and / or DL ​​data in the time slot. As another example, if the SFI indicates that the time slot is a UL half-duplex time slot, the UE may send UL data and / or UL control in the time slot. As yet another example, if the SFI indicates that the time slot is a sub-band full-duplex time slot, the UE may receive DL control and / or DL ​​data in one or more DL sub-bands of the time slot and send UL control and / or UL data in one or more UL sub-bands of the time slot. In some examples, if the SFI indicates the configuration of one or more symbols of the flexible time slot, the UE may send and / or receive control and / or data in each symbol of the time slot based on the configuration of each symbol (e.g., as a half-duplex symbol or a sub-band full-duplex symbol). For example, the above in combination Fig. 20 The slot format identification circuit 2044 and the communication and processing circuit 2042, transceiver 2010 and antenna array 2020 shown and described can communicate with a base station based on the slot format of the time slots.

[0229] exist Fig.21 The process shown in may include additional aspects, such as any single aspect or any combination of aspects described above and / or in connection with one or more other processes described elsewhere herein.

[0230] In one configuration, UE 2000 includes a Fig.21 In one aspect, the aforementioned units may be in Fig. 20 The processor 2004 shown in is configured to perform the functions described in the aforementioned units. In another aspect, the aforementioned units may be circuits or any devices configured to perform the functions described in the aforementioned units.

[0231] Of course, in the above example, the circuit included in the processor 2004 is provided only as an example, and other units for performing the functions may be included in various aspects of the present disclosure, including but not limited to instructions stored in the computer-readable storage medium 2006, or in Figure 1 , 2 , 6, 9, 10 and / or 12 and using, for example, the present invention with respect to Fig.21 Any other suitable means or units for the described processes and / or algorithms.

[0232] exist Figure 6 , 11 , 12, 14-19 and 21 may include additional aspects, such as any single aspect or any combination of aspects described below and / or related to one or more other processes described elsewhere herein.

[0233] Aspect 1: A method for wireless communication at a base station in a wireless communication network, the method comprising: selecting a time slot format of a time slot including a carrier bandwidth, the time slot format including a half-duplex time slot including at least a bandwidth portion (BWP) of the carrier bandwidth configured for uplink transmission or downlink transmission, a sub-band full-duplex time slot including at least the BWP configured for simultaneous uplink transmission and downlink transmission, or a flexible time slot including at least one flexible symbol configurable as a half-duplex symbol or a sub-band full-duplex symbol; and sending a time slot format indicator indicating the time slot format of the time slot to multiple user equipments (UEs) within downlink control information or a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE).

[0234] Aspect 2: A method according to Aspect 1, wherein the time slot format indicator is sent within the downlink control information of the control channel, and further comprising: applying an aggregation level to the control channel carrying the time slot format indicator, wherein the aggregation level is at least a threshold aggregation level.

[0235] Aspect 3: The method according to aspect 2 also includes: setting the threshold aggregation level based on at least one of a carrier frequency associated with the carrier bandwidth, a coverage of a cell served by the base station, or a bandwidth of an active downlink bandwidth portion.

[0236] Aspect 4: The method according to aspect 1, 2 or 3, wherein the sending of the time slot format indicator further comprises: sending a repetition of the time slot format indicator across multiple beams within the downlink control information or the MAC-CE.

[0237] Aspect 5: The method according to Aspect 4 further includes: configuring multiple cascaded control resource sets (CORESETs) for sending the repetitions of the time slot format indicator across the multiple beams within the downlink control information, wherein each CORESET within the multiple cascaded CORESETs is associated with sending corresponding repetitions of the time slot format indicator on corresponding beams among the multiple beams.

[0238] Aspect 6: The method according to aspect 5 further includes: sending the cascade mode of the multiple cascaded CORESETs to the multiple UEs.

[0239] Aspect 7: The method according to aspect 5 or 6 also includes: sending a configuration of a monitoring opportunity associated with receiving the repetition of the time slot format indicator on each beam of the multiple beams by the multiple UEs.

[0240] Aspect 8: The method according to aspect 5, 6 or 7, wherein a corresponding transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state is associated with each CORESET in the plurality of cascaded CORESETs.

[0241] Aspect 9: The method according to Aspect 1, 2 or 4 also includes: generating a control channel carrying the time slot format indicator in the downlink control information, the control channel having a certain number of cyclic redundancy check (CRC) bits greater than a threshold number.

[0242] Aspect 10: The method according to Aspect 9 also includes: segmenting the payload of the control channel containing the time slot format indicator into at least two segments; generating a corresponding set of segment CRC bits for each of the at least two segments; and generating a global CRC bit set for the payload and the corresponding set of segment CRC bits.

[0243] Aspect 11: The method according to aspect 1, 2, 4 or 9 further includes: using binary phase shift keying (BPSK) modulation to generate a control channel carrying the time slot format indicator in the downlink control information.

[0244] Aspect 12: The method according to aspect 1, 2, 4, 9 or 11, wherein the sending the time slot format indicator further comprises: sending the time slot format indicator at a transmission power higher than a threshold transmission power.

[0245] Aspect 13: A method according to Aspect 1, 2 or 4, wherein the time slot format indicator changes the resource set in the time slot from uplink resources to downlink resources, and also includes: identifying a group of UEs having corresponding semi-continuously scheduled or periodically scheduled uplink transmissions within the resource set, wherein the multiple UEs correspond to the group of UEs; and giving priority to the transmission of the time slot format indicator to the group of UEs.

[0246] Aspect 14: A method according to Aspect 13, wherein prioritizing the transmission of the time slot format indicator to the group of UEs further includes at least one of the following: applying an aggregation level to a control channel carrying the time slot format indicator, wherein the aggregation level is at least based on a threshold aggregation level of the group of UEs; or repeating the transmission of the time slot format indicator across multiple beams selected based on the group of UEs within the downlink control information or the MAC-CE.

[0247] Aspect 15: A method according to Aspect 14, wherein the identifying the group of UEs further includes: based on the aggregation level, selecting a subset of the set of UEs having corresponding semi-persistently scheduled or periodically scheduled uplink transmissions within the resource set as the group of UEs, wherein each UE in the group of UEs includes a corresponding transmit beam, and the corresponding transmit beam is configured to generate a higher interference level within the resource set compared to non-selected UEs in the UE set.

[0248] Aspect 16: A method according to Aspect 1 or 13, wherein the time slot format indicator changes the resource set in the time slot from uplink resources to downlink resources, and also includes: in response to failing to receive confirmation of the time slot format indicator from the set of one or more UEs among the multiple UEs, adjusting the time slot format of the time slot based on the set of one or more UEs among the multiple UEs.

[0249] Aspect 17: A method according to Aspect 16, wherein the adjusting the time slot format of the time slot further includes: maintaining the selected portion of the uplink resources semi-persistently scheduled or periodically scheduled by the set of one or more UEs for uplink communication regardless of the time slot format.

[0250] Aspect 18: The method according to aspect 16, wherein the adjusting the time slot format of the time slot further comprises: avoiding scheduling downlink transmission in the resource set of the time slot.

[0251] Aspect 19: The method according to aspect 1, wherein the sending of the time slot format indicator further comprises: sending the time slot format identifier within a MAC-CE mapped to a downlink data channel.

[0252] Aspect 20: A method for wireless communication at a user equipment in a wireless communication network, the method comprising: receiving a time slot format indicator from a base station within downlink control information or a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE), wherein the time slot format indicator indicates a time slot format of a time slot including a carrier bandwidth, and the time slot format includes a half-duplex time slot including at least a bandwidth part (BWP) of the carrier bandwidth configured for uplink transmission or downlink transmission, a sub-band full-duplex time slot including at least the BWP configured for simultaneous uplink transmission and downlink transmission, or a flexible time slot including at least one flexible symbol configurable as a half-duplex symbol or a sub-band full-duplex symbol; and communicating with the base station in the time slot based on the time slot format.

[0253] Aspect 21: The method according to aspect 20, wherein the time slot format indicator is received within the downlink control information of a control channel, and wherein the aggregation level of the control channel is at least a threshold aggregation level.

[0254] Aspect 22: The method according to aspect 20 or 21, wherein the receiving the time slot format indicator further comprises: receiving a repetition of the time slot format indicator across multiple beams within the downlink control information or the MAC-CE.

[0255] Aspect 23: A method according to Aspect 22, wherein the receiving of the repetition of the time slot format indicator further comprises: for a plurality of cascaded control resource sets (CORESETs) including the repetition of the time slot format indicator in the downlink control information, monitoring a plurality of search space sets within at least one monitoring opportunity, wherein each CORESET within the plurality of cascaded CORESETs includes a corresponding repetition of the time slot format indicator on a corresponding beam among the plurality of beams; and merging the repetition of the time slot format indicator to produce a merged time slot format indicator.

[0256] Aspect 24: The method according to aspect 23 further includes: receiving a cascading mode of the plurality of cascaded CORESETs from the base station.

[0257] Aspect 25: The method according to aspect 23 or 24 further includes: receiving a configuration of the at least one monitoring opportunity from the base station.

[0258] Aspect 26: A method according to aspect 23, 24 or 25, wherein a corresponding transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state is associated with each CORESET in the plurality of cascaded CORESETs.

[0259] Aspect 27: A method according to aspect 20, 21 or 23, wherein the time slot format indicator is received within the downlink control information of a control channel, and the control channel includes a certain number of cyclic redundancy check (CRC) bits greater than a threshold number.

[0260] Aspect 28: A method according to Aspect 27, wherein the receiving of the control channel carrying the time slot format indicator further includes: receiving the control channel including at least two segments of a payload containing the time slot format indicator, wherein each of the at least two segments includes a corresponding set of segment CRC bits, and the control channel also includes a global CRC bit set.

[0261] Aspect 29: A method according to aspect 20, 21, 23 or 27, wherein the time slot format indicator is received within the downlink control information of a control channel modulated by binary phase shift keying (BPSK).

[0262] Aspect 30: The method according to aspect 20, 21, 23, 27 or 29, wherein the receiving the time slot format indicator further comprises: receiving the time slot format indicator including a transmission power higher than a threshold transmission power.

[0263] Aspect 31: The method according to aspect 20, wherein the time slot format indicator is received in the MAC-CE mapped to a downlink data channel.

[0264] Aspect 32: An apparatus in a wireless communication network, comprising a wireless transceiver, a memory, and a processor coupled to the wireless transceiver and the memory, wherein the processor and the memory are configured to execute the method according to any one of aspects 1 to 19 or aspects 20 to 31.

[0265] Aspect 33: An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising at least one unit for executing the method according to any one of aspects 1 to 19 or aspects 20 to 31.

[0266] Aspect 34: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing therein instructions executable by one or more processors of a device to perform the method according to any one of aspects 1 to 19 or aspects 20 to 31.

[0267] Several aspects of a wireless communication network have been presented with reference to exemplary implementations. As those skilled in the art will readily appreciate, various aspects described throughout this disclosure may be extended to other telecommunication systems, network architectures, and communication standards.

[0268] As an example, various aspects may be implemented in other systems such as Long Term Evolution (LTE), Evolved Packet System (EPS), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), and / or Global System for Mobile (GSM) defined by 3GPP. Various aspects may also be extended to systems defined by the Third Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2), such as CDMA2000 and / or Evolution Data Optimized (EV-DO). Other examples may be implemented in systems employing IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE802.20, Ultra Wideband (UWB), Bluetooth, and / or other suitable systems. The actual telecommunication standards, network architectures, and / or communication standards employed will depend on the specific application and the overall design constraints imposed on the system.

[0269] In the present disclosure, the word "exemplary" is used to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration". Any implementation or aspect described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects of the present disclosure. Likewise, the term "aspect" does not require that all aspects of the present disclosure include the discussed features, advantages, or modes of operation. The term "coupled" is used herein to refer to a direct or indirect coupling between two objects. For example, if object A physically contacts object B, and object B contacts object C, objects A and C can still be considered to be coupled to each other - even if they are not in direct physical contact with each other. For example, a first object can be coupled to a second object even if the first object never directly physically contacts the second object. The terms "circuit" and "circuitry" are used broadly and are intended to include: hardware implementations of electrical devices and conductors, where the electrical devices and conductors, when connected and configured, enable the functions described in the present disclosure to be performed, without limitation to the type of electronic circuits; and software implementations of information and instructions, where the information and instructions, when executed by a processor, enable the functions described in the present disclosure to be performed.

[0270] exist Figure 1-21 One or more of the components, steps, features, and / or functions shown in the disclosure may be rearranged and / or combined into a single component, step, feature, or function, or implemented in several components, steps, or functions. Additional elements, components, steps, and / or functions may also be added without departing from the novel features disclosed herein. Figure 1 , 2, 5A, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13 and 20. The devices, apparatuses and / or components shown in the drawings may be configured to perform one or more of the methods, features or steps described herein. The novel algorithms described herein may also be effectively implemented in software and / or embedded in hardware.

[0271] It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the disclosed methods is an illustration of exemplary processes. Based on design preferences, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the methods may be rearranged. The accompanying method claims present elements of the various steps in a sample order, and are not meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented unless specifically recited therein.

[0272] The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. Various modifications to these aspects will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein can be applied to other aspects. Therefore, the claims are not intended to be limited to the various aspects shown herein, but to conform to the full scope consistent with the language of the claims, wherein the reference element in the singular form is not intended to represent "one and only one" (unless specifically stated) but to represent "one or more". Unless otherwise specifically stated, the term "some" refers to one or more. The phrase "at least one" in the list of items refers to any combination of those items, including a single member. For example, "at least one of a, b or c" is intended to cover: a; b; c; a and b; a and c; b and c; and a, b and c. All structural and functional equivalents of the elements of the various aspects described throughout the present disclosure are known or will be known subsequently to those of ordinary skill in the art, which are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be covered by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public, regardless of whether such disclosure is clearly recorded in the claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus for wireless communication at a network element, comprising: one or more memories; as well as One or more processors coupled to the one or more memories, wherein the one or more processors are configured to: selecting a slot format comprising slots of a carrier bandwidth, the slot format comprising one of a half-duplex slot comprising at least a bandwidth portion (BWP) of the carrier bandwidth configured for uplink transmission or downlink transmission, a sub-band full-duplex slot comprising at least the BWP configured for simultaneous uplink and downlink transmission, or a flexible slot comprising at least one flexible symbol configurable as a half-duplex symbol or a sub-band full-duplex symbol; as well as A slot format indicator indicating the slot format of the slot is provided for a plurality of user equipments (UEs) at a transmit power above a threshold transmit power and within downlink control information or a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE).

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein: The slot format indicator is provided within the downlink control information of a control channel, and wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: An aggregation level is applied to the control channel carrying the slot format indicator, wherein the aggregation level is at least a threshold aggregation level.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein: The one or more processors are further configured to: The threshold aggregation level is set based on at least one of a carrier frequency associated with the carrier bandwidth, coverage of a cell served by the network element, or a bandwidth of an active downlink bandwidth portion.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein: The one or more processors are further configured to: Repetitions of the slot format indicator are sent across multiple beams within the downlink control information or the MAC-CE.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein: The one or more processors are further configured to: A plurality of cascaded control resource sets (CORESETs) are configured for transmitting the repetitions of the time slot format indicator across the plurality of beams within the downlink control information, wherein each CORESET within the plurality of cascaded CORESETs is associated with transmitting a corresponding repetition of the time slot format indicator on a corresponding beam in the plurality of beams.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein: The one or more processors are further configured to: The cascade mode of the multiple cascaded CORESETs is sent to the multiple UEs.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein: The one or more processors are further configured to: A configuration of monitoring opportunities associated with receiving, by the plurality of UEs, the repetition of the slot format indicator on each of the plurality of beams is transmitted.

8. The device according to claim 5, wherein: A respective transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state is associated with each CORESET of the plurality of cascaded CORESETs.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein: The one or more processors are further configured to: A control channel is generated that carries the slot format indicator in the downlink control information, the control channel having a number of cyclic redundancy check (CRC) bits greater than a threshold number.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein: The one or more processors are further configured to: segmenting a payload of the control channel including the slot format indicator into at least two segments; generating a respective set of segment CRC bits for each of the at least two segments; as well as A set of global CRC bits is generated for the payload and a corresponding set of segment CRC bits.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein: The one or more processors are further configured to: A control channel carrying the slot format indicator in the downlink control information is generated using binary phase shift keying (BPSK) modulation.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein: The time slot format indicator changes a set of resources in the time slot from uplink resources to downlink resources, and wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: identifying a group of UEs having corresponding semi-persistently scheduled or periodically scheduled uplink transmissions within the set of resources, wherein the plurality of UEs corresponds to the group of UEs; and Transmission of the slot format indicator to the group of UEs is prioritized.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein: The one or more processors are further configured to perform at least one of the following: applying an aggregation level to a control channel carrying the slot format indicator, wherein the aggregation level is based on at least a threshold aggregation level of the group of UEs; or Transmission of the slot format indicator is repeated within the downlink control information or the MAC-CE across a plurality of beams selected based on the group of UEs.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein: The one or more processors are further configured to: Based on the aggregation level, a subset of the set of UEs having corresponding semi-persistently scheduled or periodically scheduled uplink transmissions within the resource set is selected as the group of UEs, wherein each UE in the group of UEs includes a corresponding transmit beam, and the corresponding transmit beam is configured to generate a higher interference level within the resource set compared to non-selected UEs in the set of UEs.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein: The time slot format indicator changes a set of resources in the time slot from uplink resources to downlink resources, and wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: The slot format of the time slot is adjusted based on the set of one or more UEs in the plurality of UEs in response to failure to receive an acknowledgement of the slot format indicator from the set of one or more UEs in the plurality of UEs.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein: The one or more processors are further configured to adjust the time slot format by: maintaining the selected portion of the uplink resources semi-persistently scheduled or periodically scheduled for uplink communications by the set of one or more UEs regardless of the timeslot format, or Scheduling downlink transmissions in the set of resources in the time slot is avoided.

17. The device according to claim 1, wherein: The one or more processors are further configured to: The slot format identifier is sent within the MAC-CE mapped to a downlink data channel.

18. A method of wireless communication at a network element, the method comprising: selecting a slot format comprising slots of a carrier bandwidth, the slot format comprising one of a half-duplex slot comprising at least a bandwidth portion (BWP) of the carrier bandwidth configured for uplink transmission or downlink transmission, a sub-band full-duplex slot comprising at least the BWP configured for simultaneous uplink and downlink transmission, or a flexible slot comprising at least one flexible symbol configurable as a half-duplex symbol or a sub-band full-duplex symbol; as well as A slot format indicator indicating the slot format of the slot is provided for a plurality of user equipments (UEs) at a transmit power above a threshold transmit power and within downlink control information or a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE).

19. An apparatus for wireless communication at a user equipment (UE), comprising: one or more memories; as well as One or more processors coupled to the one or more memories, wherein the one or more processors are configured to: receiving a slot format indicator from a network element at a transmit power above a threshold transmit power and within downlink control information or a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE), wherein the slot format indicator indicates a slot format of a time slot, and the slot format comprises one of a half-duplex time slot comprising at least a bandwidth portion (BWP) of a carrier bandwidth configured for uplink transmission or downlink transmission, a sub-band full-duplex time slot comprising at least the BWP configured for simultaneous uplink transmission and downlink transmission, or a flexible time slot comprising at least one flexible symbol configurable as a half-duplex symbol or a sub-band full-duplex symbol; and Communicating with the network element in the time slot is performed based on the time slot format.

20. The device according to claim 19, wherein The slot format indicator is received within the downlink control information of a control channel, and wherein an aggregation level of the control channel is at least a threshold aggregation level.

21. The device according to claim 19, wherein The one or more processors are further configured to: Repetitions of the slot format indicator are received across multiple beams within the downlink control information or the MAC-CE.

22. The device according to claim 21, wherein The one or more processors are further configured to: monitoring a plurality of search space sets within at least one monitoring occasion for a plurality of concatenated control resource sets (CORESETs) comprising the repetition of the slot format indicator within the downlink control information, wherein each CORESET within the plurality of concatenated CORESETs comprises a respective repetition of the slot format indicator on a respective beam of the plurality of beams; and The repetitions of the slot format indicator are merged to produce a merged slot format indicator.

23. The device according to claim 22, wherein: The one or more processors are further configured to perform at least one of the following: receiving a cascade mode of the plurality of cascaded CORESETs from the network element, or A configuration of the at least one monitoring opportunity is received from the network element.

24. The device according to claim 22, wherein: A respective transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state is associated with each CORESET of the plurality of cascaded CORESETs.

25. The device according to claim 19, wherein The slot format indicator is received within the downlink control information of a control channel, and the control channel includes a number of cyclic redundancy check (CRC) bits greater than a threshold number, and wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: The control channel comprising at least two segments including a payload including the slot format indicator is received, wherein each of the at least two segments comprises a respective set of segment CRC bits and the control channel further comprises a global set of CRC bits.

26. The device according to claim 19, wherein The slot format indicator is received within the downlink control information of a binary phase shift keying (BPSK) modulated control channel.

27. The device according to claim 19, wherein The slot format indicator is received in the MAC-CE mapped to a downlink data channel.

28. A method of wireless communication at a user equipment, the method comprising: receiving a slot format indicator from a network element at a transmit power above a threshold transmit power and within downlink control information or a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE), wherein the slot format indicator indicates a slot format of a slot comprising a carrier bandwidth, and the slot format comprises one of a half-duplex slot comprising at least a bandwidth part (BWP) of the carrier bandwidth configured for uplink transmission or downlink transmission, a sub-band full-duplex slot comprising at least the BWP configured for simultaneous uplink transmission and downlink transmission, or a flexible slot comprising at least one flexible symbol configurable as a half-duplex symbol or a sub-band full-duplex symbol; and Communicating with the network element in the time slot is performed based on the time slot format.

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