Techniques for Serving Cell Activation and Deactivation Using Reference Signals

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus for wireless communication are described. A user equipment (UE) can be configured to receive an indication for activating or deactivating a second serving cell supported by a base station when the UE is wirelessly communicating with a first serving cell supported by a base station. The UE can receive a reference signal from the base station via the first serving cell after a duration following the receipt of the indication, wherein the duration is an interruption period for wireless communication with the first serving cell. The UE can then resume wireless communication with the first serving cell based on the end of the interruption period upon receipt of the reference signal.

Description

[0001] Cross-referencing

[0002] This patent application claims the benefits of the following applications: U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 079,630, filed September 17, 2020, entitled “TECHNIQUES FOR SERVING CELL ACTIVATION AND DEACTIVATION USING REFERENCE SIGNALS”, by Takeda et al.; and U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 469,347, filed September 8, 2021, entitled “TECHNIQUES FOR SERVING CELL ACTIVATION AND DEACTIVATION USING REFERENCE SIGNALS”; each of the above applications is assigned to the assignee of this application. Technical Field

[0003] In summary, the following text relates to wireless communication, and more specifically, to techniques for activating and deactivating serving cells using reference signals. Background Technology

[0004] Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content, such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, and broadcasting. These systems can support communication with multiple users by sharing available system resources (e.g., time, frequency, and power). Examples of such multiple access systems include fourth-generation (4G) systems (e.g., Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems, improved LTE (LTE-A) systems, or LTE-A Pro systems) and fifth-generation (5G) systems (which may be referred to as New Radio (NR) systems). These systems can employ technologies such as Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), or Discrete Fourier Transform Extended Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (DFT-S-OFDM). A wireless multiple access communication system may include one or more base stations or one or more network access nodes, each base station or network access node simultaneously supporting communication with multiple communication devices (which may also be referred to as User Equipment (UE)).

[0005] In some wireless communication systems, a base station can communicate with a UE via one or more serving cells (e.g., a primary cell (PCell) and one or more secondary cells (SCells)). The base station can activate additional serving cells (e.g., SCells) at the UE to increase data throughput, alleviate network congestion, or both. Conversely, the network can deactivate previously activated serving cells. However, the process of activating / deactivating serving cells may cause interruptions in wireless communication within other serving cells that are in the same frequency band as the serving cell being activated / deactivated (e.g., in-band carrier aggregation). Summary of the Invention

[0006] The described technology relates to improved methods, systems, apparatus, and devices for supporting techniques for activating and deactivating serving cells using reference signals. Generally, the described technology relates to using reference signals (e.g., temporary reference signals) on a serving cell that remains active at a user equipment (UE) to reduce the duration of interruptions at the serving cell attributable to the activation and / or deactivation of other serving cells at the UE. In some aspects, the UE can perform wireless communication with a first serving cell supported by a base station and can receive an indication that a second serving cell supported by the base station will be activated or deactivated. In this example, the first serving cell may include an active primary cell (PCell) and / or an active secondary cell (SCell), while the second cell may include a secondary cell to be activated or deactivated. Wireless communication with the first serving cell may be interrupted due to the activation / deactivation of the second serving cell. To shorten the interruption period of the first serving cell, a temporary reference signal can be transmitted on the first serving cell. By receiving a temporary reference signal on the first serving cell, the interruption period of the first serving cell can be reduced, thereby enabling the resumption of communication on the first serving cell. In other examples, the first serving cell can be a primary-secondary cell (PSCell) in a secondary cell group (SCG), while the second serving cell can be a secondary cell in the SCG. In yet another example, the first serving cell can be the primary node (MN) in a dual connectivity (DC) scenario, while the second serving cell can be the secondary node (SN) in a DC scenario.

[0007] A method for wireless communication at a UE is described. The method may include: when the UE is wirelessly communicating with a first serving cell supported by a base station, receiving an indication for activating or deactivating a second serving cell supported by the base station; receiving a reference signal from the base station via the first serving cell, the reference signal being received after a duration following the receipt of the indication, wherein the duration is an interruption period for the wireless communication with the first serving cell; and resuming the wireless communication with the first serving cell based on the interruption period ending upon receipt of the reference signal.

[0008] An apparatus for wireless communication at a UE is described. The apparatus may include a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and instructions stored in the memory. The instructions may be executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: receive an instruction for activating or deactivating a second serving cell supported by the base station when the UE is wirelessly communicating with a first serving cell supported by a base station; receive a reference signal from the base station via the first serving cell after a duration following the receipt of the instruction, wherein the duration is an interruption period for the wireless communication with the first serving cell; and resume the wireless communication with the first serving cell based on the end of the interruption period upon receipt of the reference signal.

[0009] Another apparatus for wireless communication at a UE is described. The apparatus may include units for performing the following operations: when the UE is wirelessly communicating with a first serving cell supported by a base station, receiving an instruction for activating or deactivating a second serving cell supported by the base station; receiving a reference signal from the base station via the first serving cell after a duration following the receipt of the instruction, wherein the duration is an interruption period for the wireless communication with the first serving cell; and resuming the wireless communication with the first serving cell based on the end of the interruption period upon receipt of the reference signal.

[0010] A non-transitory computer-readable medium is described, storing code for wireless communication at a UE. The code may include instructions executable by a processor to: receive an indication to activate or deactivate a second serving cell supported by the base station when the UE is wirelessly communicating with a first serving cell supported by a base station; receive a reference signal from the base station via the first serving cell after a duration following the receipt of the indication, wherein the duration is an interruption period for the wireless communication with the first serving cell; and resume the wireless communication with the first serving cell based on the end of the interruption period upon receipt of the reference signal.

[0011] Some examples of the methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for performing the following: receiving a control message from the base station, the control message including an indication of a set of resources that the UE may use to receive the reference signal, wherein receiving the reference signal may be based on the control message.

[0012] Some examples of the methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for performing the following: receiving a downlink control message from the base station via the first serving cell to schedule downlink transmissions from the base station to the UE, wherein receiving the indication for activating or deactivating the second serving cell may be based on the downlink control message.

[0013] Some examples of the methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for performing the following: receiving, via the downlink control message, an indication that a reference signal associated with the first serving cell may have been activated, wherein receiving the reference signal may be based on receiving the indication that the reference signal may have been activated.

[0014] Some examples of the methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for performing the following: determining, based on receiving the indication for activating or deactivating the second serving cell, that the reference signal associated with the first serving cell may have been activated, wherein receiving the reference signal may be based on determining that the reference signal may have been activated.

[0015] Some examples of the methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for performing the following: determining an indication that a reference signal associated with the first serving cell may have been activated based on receiving the Media Access Control-Control Element (MAC-CE) message, wherein receiving the reference signal may be based on determining that the reference signal may have been activated.

[0016] Some examples of the methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for sending a feedback message to the base station based on receiving an instruction for activating or deactivating the second serving cell, wherein the interruption period begins based on sending the feedback message.

[0017] In some examples of the methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the indication may include operations, features, elements, or instructions for: receiving additional reference signals from the base station via the second serving cell based on receiving the indication for activating the second serving cell; and establishing wireless communication with the base station via the second serving cell based on receiving the additional reference signals.

[0018] In some examples of the methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the reference signal, the additional reference signal, or both include a temporary reference signal.

[0019] In some examples of the methods, apparatuses and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the temporary reference signal may be a tracking reference signal or a non-zero power channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) configured as a tracking reference signal.

[0020] In some examples of the methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the reference signal received via the first serving cell and the additional reference signal received via the second serving cell may be received using a set of common time resources.

[0021] In some examples of the methods, apparatuses and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the reference signal received via the first serving cell and the additional reference signal received via the second serving cell may be received using a common subcarrier spacing (SCS).

[0022] Some examples of the methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for performing the following: receiving from the base station an indication that a reference signal associated with the first serving cell and the second serving cell may have been activated, wherein receiving the reference signal via the first serving cell, receiving the additional reference signal via the second serving cell, or both may be based on receiving the indication that the reference signal may have been activated.

[0023] In some examples of the methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the indication may include operations, features, elements, or instructions for: sending a feedback message to the base station based on receiving the indication for deactivating the second serving cell; and determining, based on sending the feedback message, that the second serving cell may have been deactivated.

[0024] In some examples of the methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the first serving cell includes PCell, and the second serving cell includes SCell.

[0025] Examples of methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, wherein both the first serving cell and the second serving cell each include an SCell.

[0026] In some examples of the methods, apparatuses and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the first serving cell and the second serving cell may be in the same frequency band.

[0027] Some examples of the methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for performing: determining automatic gain control (AGC), tracking, or both associated with the first serving cell during the interruption period and based on receiving the reference signal.

[0028] In some examples of the methods, apparatuses and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the first serving cell may be associated with a first radio access technology, and the second serving cell may be associated with a second radio access technology different from the first radio access technology.

[0029] In some examples of the methods, apparatuses and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, each of the first radio access technology and the second radio access technology includes one of New Radio (NR) access technology, fifth-generation (5G) radio access technology, Long Term Evolution (LTE) radio access technology, or fourth-generation (4G) radio access technology.

[0030] In some examples of the methods, apparatuses and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the first serving cell may be associated with a first frequency band of a first radio access technology, and the second serving cell may be associated with a second frequency band of the first radio access technology.

[0031] In some examples of the methods, apparatuses and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the first serving cell may be a PSCell of the SCG, and the second serving cell may be an SCell of the SCG.

[0032] A method for wireless communication at a base station is described. The method may include: when the base station is wirelessly communicating with a UE via a first serving cell supported by the base station, sending to the UE an indication for activating or deactivating a second serving cell supported by the base station; sending to the UE via the first serving cell a reference signal after a duration following the sending of the indication, wherein the duration is an interruption period for the wireless communication with the first serving cell; and resuming the wireless communication with the UE via the first serving cell based on the interruption period ending upon receipt of the reference signal.

[0033] An apparatus for wireless communication at a base station is described. The apparatus may include a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and instructions stored in the memory. The instructions may be executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: when the base station is wirelessly communicating with a UE via a first serving cell supported by the base station, send to the UE an indication for activating or deactivating a second serving cell supported by the base station; send to the UE via the first serving cell a reference signal after a duration following the sending of the indication, wherein the duration is an interruption period for the wireless communication with the first serving cell; and resume the wireless communication with the UE via the first serving cell based on the end of the interruption period upon receiving the reference signal.

[0034] Another apparatus for wireless communication at a base station is described. The apparatus may include units for performing the following operations: when the base station is wirelessly communicating with a UE via a first serving cell supported by the base station, sending to the UE an indication for activating or deactivating a second serving cell supported by the base station; sending to the UE via the first serving cell a reference signal after a duration following the sending of the indication, wherein the duration is an interruption period for the wireless communication with the first serving cell; and resuming the wireless communication with the UE via the first serving cell based on the end of the interruption period upon receiving the reference signal.

[0035] A non-transitory computer-readable medium is described, storing code for wireless communication at a base station. The code may include instructions executable by a processor to: send an indication to the UE for activating or deactivating a second serving cell supported by the base station when the base station is wirelessly communicating with a UE via a first serving cell supported by the base station; send a reference signal to the UE via the first serving cell after a duration following the sending of the indication, wherein the duration is an interruption period for the wireless communication with the first serving cell; and resume the wireless communication with the UE via the first serving cell based on the end of the interruption period upon receiving the reference signal.

[0036] Some examples of the methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for performing the following: sending a control message to the UE, the control message including an indication of a set of resources that the UE may use to receive the reference signal, wherein sending the reference signal may be based on the control message.

[0037] Some examples of the methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for performing the following: sending a downlink control message to the UE via the first serving cell to schedule downlink transmission from the base station to the UE, wherein sending the indication for activating or deactivating the second serving cell may be based on the downlink control message.

[0038] Some examples of the methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for performing the following: transmitting via the downlink control message an indication that a reference signal associated with the first serving cell may have been activated, wherein transmitting the reference signal may be based on transmitting the indication that the reference signal may have been activated.

[0039] In some examples of the methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the indication for activating or deactivating the second serving cell may be sent to the UE via a MAC-CE message.

[0040] Some examples of the methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for receiving a feedback message from the UE based on the instruction to activate or deactivate the second serving cell, wherein the interruption period begins based on the feedback message.

[0041] In some examples of the methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the indication may include operations, features, elements, or instructions for: transmitting an additional reference signal to the UE via the second serving cell based on the indication for activating the second serving cell; and establishing wireless communication with the UE via the second serving cell based on the transmission of the additional reference signal.

[0042] In some examples of the methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the reference signal, the additional reference signal, or both include a temporary reference signal.

[0043] In some examples of the methods, apparatuses and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the temporary reference signal may be a tracking reference signal or a non-zero power CSI-RS configured as a tracking reference signal.

[0044] In some examples of the methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the reference signal transmitted via the first serving cell and the additional reference signal transmitted via the second serving cell may be transmitted using a set of common time resources.

[0045] In some examples of the methods, apparatuses and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the reference signal transmitted via the first serving cell and the additional reference signal transmitted via the second serving cell may be transmitted using a common SCS.

[0046] Some examples of the methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for performing the following: sending an indication to the UE that a reference signal associated with the first serving cell and the second serving cell may have been activated, wherein sending the reference signal via the first serving cell, sending the additional reference signal via the second serving cell, or both may be based on sending the indication that the reference signal may have been activated.

[0047] In some examples of the methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the indication may include operations, features, elements, or instructions for: receiving a feedback message from the UE based on sending the indication for deactivating the second serving cell; and determining, based on receiving the feedback message, that the second serving cell may have been deactivated.

[0048] In some examples of the methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the first serving cell includes PCell, and the second serving cell includes SCell.

[0049] Examples of methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, wherein both the first serving cell and the second serving cell each include an SCell.

[0050] In some examples of the methods, apparatuses and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the first serving cell and the second serving cell may be in the same frequency band.

[0051] In some examples of the methods, apparatuses and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the reference signal includes an indication of AGC associated with the first serving cell, an indication of tracking associated with the first serving cell, or both.

[0052] In some examples of the methods, apparatuses and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the first serving cell may be associated with a first radio access technology, and the second serving cell may be associated with a second radio access technology different from the first radio access technology.

[0053] In some examples of the methods, apparatuses and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, each of the first radio access technology and the second radio access technology includes one of NR access technology, 5G radio access technology, LTE radio access technology or 4G radio access technology.

[0054] In some examples of the methods, apparatuses and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the first serving cell may be associated with a first frequency band of a first radio access technology, and the second serving cell may be associated with a second frequency band of the first radio access technology.

[0055] In some examples of the methods, apparatuses and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the first serving cell may be a PSCell of the SCG, and the second serving cell may be an SCell of the SCG. Attached Figure Description

[0056] Figure 1 Examples of wireless communication systems supporting techniques for serving cell activation and deactivation using reference signals, according to various aspects of this disclosure, are shown.

[0057] Figure 2 Examples of wireless communication systems supporting techniques for serving cell activation and deactivation using reference signals, according to various aspects of this disclosure, are shown.

[0058] Figure 3 An example of a resource allocation scheme supporting techniques for serving cell activation and deactivation using reference signals, based on various aspects of this disclosure, is shown.

[0059] Figure 4 An example of a resource allocation scheme supporting techniques for serving cell activation and deactivation using reference signals, based on various aspects of this disclosure, is shown.

[0060] Figure 5 An example of a resource allocation scheme supporting techniques for serving cell activation and deactivation using reference signals, based on various aspects of this disclosure, is shown.

[0061] Figure 6 An example of a resource allocation scheme supporting techniques for serving cell activation and deactivation using reference signals, based on various aspects of this disclosure, is shown.

[0062] Figure 7 An example of a process flow supporting techniques for serving cell activation and deactivation using reference signals, based on various aspects of this disclosure, is shown.

[0063] Figure 8 and 9 A block diagram of an apparatus supporting techniques for serving cell activation and deactivation using reference signals, according to various aspects of this disclosure, is shown.

[0064] Figure 10 A block diagram of a communication manager supporting techniques for serving cell activation and deactivation using reference signals, according to various aspects of this disclosure, is shown.

[0065] Figure 11 A diagram of a system including devices supporting techniques for activating and deactivating serving cells using reference signals, according to various aspects of this disclosure, is shown.

[0066] Figure 12 and 13 A block diagram of an apparatus supporting techniques for serving cell activation and deactivation using reference signals, according to various aspects of this disclosure, is shown.

[0067] Figure 14 A block diagram of a communication manager supporting techniques for serving cell activation and deactivation using reference signals, according to various aspects of this disclosure, is shown.

[0068] Figure 15 A diagram of a system including devices supporting techniques for activating and deactivating serving cells using reference signals, according to various aspects of this disclosure, is shown.

[0069] Figures 16 to 19 A flowchart illustrating a method for serving cell activation and deactivation techniques using reference signals, based on various aspects of this disclosure, is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0070] In some wireless communication systems, a base station can communicate with a user equipment (UE) via one or more serving cells (e.g., a primary cell (PCell) and one or more secondary cells (SCells)). The network can activate additional serving cells (e.g., SCells) at the UE to increase data throughput, alleviate network congestion, or both. Conversely, the network can also deactivate previously activated serving cells. However, the process of activating / deactivating a serving cell may cause interruptions in wireless communication in other serving cells that are in the same frequency band as the serving cell being activated / deactivated (e.g., in-band carrier aggregation). For example, when the SCell and PCell are in the same frequency band, the process of activating and / or deactivating the SCell may include retuning a common antenna or antenna array, resulting in an interruption of wireless communication on the PCell. In some cases, the period of wireless communication interruption at the PCell may be extended from the time the network notifies the UE of the SCell's activation / deactivation until the next synchronization signal block (SSB) is received on the PCell, which may result in significant interruptions in wireless communication.

[0071] To reduce interruptions in wireless communication on a serving cell, techniques for serving cell activation and deactivation using reference signals are disclosed. Specifically, the techniques described herein involve using temporary reference signals on serving cells that are already active and will remain active to reduce the duration of interruptions on active serving cells attributable to the activation / deactivation of other serving cells. For example, a UE may perform wireless communication with a first serving cell supported by a base station and may receive an indication that a second serving cell supported by the base station will be activated or deactivated. In this example, the first serving cell may include an active PCell and / or an active SCell, while the second serving cell may include SCells to be activated or deactivated. Wireless communication with the first serving cell may be interrupted due to the activation or deactivation of the second serving cell. In some aspects, the UE may receive temporary reference signals on the first serving cell to reduce the duration of the interruption on the first serving cell and may resume wireless communication on the first serving cell based on the reception of the temporary reference signals.

[0072] When a second serving cell is being activated, the UE can additionally receive a second temporary reference signal on the second serving cell to shorten the activation time of the second serving cell. The temporary reference signal received via the first and second serving cells can be received using a common time resource set (e.g., the same time slot, the same subframe), a common subcarrier spacing (SCS), or any combination thereof. Furthermore, the UE can be configured to determine whether a temporary reference signal on the first and / or second serving cell has been triggered (e.g., activated, initiated) based on explicit signaling from the base station (e.g., downlink control information (DCI) signaling, medium access control-control element (MAC-CE) signaling), implicitly based on the activation / deactivation of the second serving cell, or both. By reducing the outage period on active serving cells attributable to the activation / deactivation of additional serving cells, the techniques described herein enable more reliable and efficient wireless communication and improve the overall user experience.

[0073] The various aspects of this disclosure are first described in the context of a wireless communication system. Additional aspects of this disclosure are described in the context of example resource allocation schemes and example process flows. These aspects are further illustrated by apparatus diagrams, system diagrams, and flowcharts relating to techniques for activating and deactivating serving cells using reference signals, and are described with reference to these diagrams.

[0074] Figure 1 Examples of a wireless communication system 100 supporting techniques for serving cell activation and deactivation using reference signals, according to various aspects of this disclosure, are shown. The wireless communication system 100 may include one or more base stations 105, one or more UEs 115, and a core network 130. In some examples, the wireless communication system 100 may be an LTE network, an improved LTE (LTE-A) network, an LTE-A Pro network, or a new radio (NR) network. In some examples, the wireless communication system 100 may support enhanced broadband communication, ultra-reliable (e.g., mission-critical) communication, low-latency communication, or communication with low-cost and low-complexity devices, or any combination thereof.

[0075] Base stations 105 can be distributed throughout a geographical area to form a wireless communication system 100, and can be devices of different forms or with different capabilities. Base stations 105 and UE 115 can communicate wirelessly via one or more communication links 125. Each base station 105 can provide a coverage area 110, and UE 115 and base station 105 can establish one or more communication links 125 on the coverage area 110. Coverage area 110 can be an example of a geographical area where base station 105 and UE 115 can support signal transmission according to one or more radio access technologies.

[0076] UE 115 can be distributed throughout the entire coverage area 110 of the wireless communication system 100, and each UE 115 can be stationary, mobile, or both at different times. UE 115 can be devices of different forms or with different capabilities. Figure 1 Some example UE 115s are shown in the document. The UE 115 described herein is capable of communicating with various types of devices, such as other UE 115s, base station 105, or network devices (e.g., core network nodes, relay devices, integrated access and backhaul (IAB) nodes, or other network devices), such as... Figure 1 As shown.

[0077] Base station 105 can communicate with core network 130, communicate with each other, or perform both of these operations. For example, base station 105 can interface with core network 130 via one or more backhaul links 120 (e.g., via S1, N2, N3, or other interfaces). Base station 105 can communicate with each other directly (e.g., directly between base stations 105) on backhaul links 120 (e.g., via X2, Xn, or other interfaces), or indirectly (e.g., via core network 130), or perform both of these operations. In some examples, backhaul link 120 can be or includes one or more radio links.

[0078] One or more of the base stations 105 described herein may include, or may be referred to by those skilled in the art as, base station transceiver, radio base station, access point, radio transceiver, node B, evolved node B (eNB), next-generation node B or gigabit node B (any of which may be referred to as gNB), home node B, home evolved node B, or some other suitable term.

[0079] UE 115 may include or be referred to as a mobile device, wireless device, remote device, handheld device, or subscriber device, or some other suitable term, wherein "device" may also be referred to as a unit, station, terminal, or client, and other examples. UE 115 may also include or be referred to as a personal electronic device, such as a cellular phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), tablet computer, laptop computer, or personal computer. In some examples, UE 115 may include or be referred to as a wireless local loop (WLL) station, Internet of Things (IoT) device, Internet of Everything (IoE) device, or machine-type communication (MTC) device, and other examples, which may be implemented in various articles such as electrical appliances, vehicles, meters, and other examples.

[0080] The UE 115 described in this document can communicate with various types of devices, such as other UE 115s that can sometimes act as repeaters, as well as base station 105 and network devices, including macro eNBs or gNBs, small cell eNBs or gNBs, or relay base stations, and other examples, such as... Figure 1 As shown.

[0081] UE 115 and base station 105 can wirelessly communicate with each other via one or more communication links 125 on one or more carriers. The term "carrier" can refer to a set of radio frequency spectrum resources having a defined physical layer structure for supporting communication link 125. For example, a carrier for communication link 125 may include a portion of a radio frequency spectrum band (e.g., a bandwidth portion (BWP)) that operates according to one or more physical layer channels for a given radio access technology (e.g., LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, NR). Each physical layer channel may carry acquisition signaling (e.g., synchronization signals, system information), control signaling coordinating operation for the carrier, user data, or other signaling. Wireless communication system 100 can support communication with UE 115 using carrier aggregation or multi-carrier operation. Depending on the carrier aggregation configuration, UE 115 can be configured with multiple downlink component carriers and one or more uplink component carriers. Carrier aggregation can be used in conjunction with both frequency division duplex (FDD) component carriers and time division duplex (TDD) component carriers.

[0082] In some examples (e.g., in a carrier aggregation configuration), carriers may also have acquisition or control signaling that coordinates operation against other carriers. Carriers may be associated with frequency channels (e.g., Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number (EARFCN)) and may be positioned according to a channel grid for discovery by UE 115. Carriers may operate in standalone mode, where UE 115 performs initial acquisition and connection via a carrier, or in non-standalone mode, where different carriers (e.g., the same or different radio access technologies) are used to anchor the connection.

[0083] The communication link 125 shown in the wireless communication system 100 may include uplink transmission from UE 115 to base station 105, or downlink transmission from base station 105 to UE 115. The carrier may carry downlink or uplink communication (e.g., in FDD mode) or may be configured to carry both downlink and uplink communication (e.g., in TDD mode).

[0084] A carrier can be associated with a specific bandwidth of the radio frequency spectrum, and in some examples, the carrier bandwidth can be referred to as the carrier or the “system bandwidth” of the wireless communication system 100. For example, the carrier bandwidth can be one of a number of defined bandwidths for a particular radio access technology (e.g., 1.4, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 40, or 80 MHz). Devices of the wireless communication system 100 (e.g., base station 105, UE 115, or both) can have a hardware configuration that supports communication on a specific carrier bandwidth, or can be configured to support communication on one carrier bandwidth in a set of carrier bandwidths. In some examples, the wireless communication system 100 may include a base station 105 or UE 115 that supports simultaneous communication via carriers associated with multiple carrier bandwidths. In some examples, each served UE 115 can be configured to operate on a portion (e.g., a subband, BWP) or all of the carrier bandwidth.

[0085] The signal waveform transmitted on a carrier can consist of multiple subcarriers (e.g., using multicarrier modulation (MCM) techniques such as Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) or Discrete Fourier Transform Spread Spectrum OFDM (DFT-S-OFDM)). In a system employing MCM, a resource element can include a symbol period (e.g., the duration of a modulation symbol) and a subcarrier, where the symbol period and subcarrier spacing are inversely related. The number of bits carried by each resource element can depend on the modulation scheme (e.g., the order of the modulation scheme, the coding rate of the modulation scheme, or both). Therefore, the more resource elements UE 115 receives and the higher the order of the modulation scheme, the higher the data rate can be for UE 115. Wireless communication resources can refer to a combination of radio frequency spectrum resources, temporal resources, and spatial resources (e.g., spatial layers or beams), and the use of multiple spatial layers can further increase the data rate or data integrity used for communication with UE 115.

[0086] One or more digital schemes (numerologies) can be supported for a carrier, where the digital scheme may include a subcarrier spacing (Δf) and a cyclic prefix. A carrier can be divided into one or more BWPs with the same or different digital schemes. In some examples, UE 115 can be configured with multiple BWPs. In some examples, a single BWP for a carrier can be active at a given time, and communication for UE 115 can be restricted to one or more active BWPs.

[0087] It can be expressed in a basic unit of time (which can be, for example, T). s =1 / (Δf) max ·N f The sampling period is ) seconds, where Δf maxThis can represent the maximum supported subcarrier spacing, and N f The time interval for base station 105 or UE 115 can be represented as a multiple of the maximum supported Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) size. The time interval for communication resources can be organized based on radio frames, each having a specified duration (e.g., 10 milliseconds (ms)). Each radio frame can be identified by a System Frame Number (SFN) (e.g., ranging from 0 to 1023).

[0088] Each frame may include multiple consecutively numbered subframes or time slots, and each subframe or time slot may have the same duration. In some examples, a frame may be divided (e.g., in the time domain) into subframes, and each subframe may be further divided into a number of time slots. Alternatively, each frame may include a variable number of time slots, and the number of time slots may depend on the subcarrier spacing. Each time slot may include a number of symbol periods (e.g., this depends on the length of the cyclic prefix added before each symbol period). In some wireless communication systems 100, time slots may be further divided into multiple micro-time slots containing one or more symbols. Excluding the cyclic prefix, each symbol period may contain one or more (e.g., N) f (Number) sampling periods. The duration of a symbol period can depend on the subcarrier spacing or the operating frequency band.

[0089] A subframe, time slot, micro-time slot, or symbol can be the smallest scheduling unit of the wireless communication system 100 (e.g., in the time domain) and can be referred to as a transmission time interval (TTI). In some examples, the duration of the TTI (e.g., the number of symbol periods in the TTI) can be variable. Alternatively, the smallest scheduling unit of the wireless communication system 100 can be dynamically selected (e.g., in a burst form of a shortened TTI (sTTI)).

[0090] Physical channels can be multiplexed on a carrier using various techniques. For example, one or more of Time Division Multiplexing (TDM), Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM), or hybrid TDM-FDM techniques can be used to multiplex physical control channels and physical data channels on a downlink carrier. A control region (e.g., a control resource set (CORESET)) for physical control channels can be defined by the number of symbol periods and can extend across the system bandwidth or a subset of the system bandwidth of the carrier. One or more control regions (e.g., CORESETs) can be configured for a group of UEs 115. For example, one or more of the UEs 115 can monitor or search for control regions against control information based on one or more search space sets, and each search space set can include one or more control channel candidates arranged in a cascaded manner at one or more aggregation levels. The aggregation level for control channel candidates can refer to the number of control channel resources (e.g., control channel elements (CCEs)) associated with coded information for a control information format having a given payload size. The search space set may include a common search space set configured to send control information to multiple UEs 115 and a UE-specific search space set used to send control information to a specific UE 115.

[0091] Each base station 105 may provide communication coverage via one or more cells (e.g., macro cells, small cells, hotspots, or other types of cells, or any combination thereof). The term "cell" may refer to a logical communication entity used (e.g., on a carrier) to communicate with base station 105 and may be associated with an identifier used to distinguish neighboring cells (e.g., Physical Cell Identifier (PCID), Virtual Cell Identifier (VCID), or other identifier). In some examples, a cell may also refer to a geographic coverage area 110 or a portion of geographic coverage area 110 (e.g., a sector) on which a logical communication entity operates. Depending on various factors (such as the capabilities of base station 105), the range of such cells can range from small areas (e.g., structures, subsets of structures) to large areas. For example, a cell may be or include buildings, subsets of buildings, or external space between or overlapping geographic coverage areas 110, and other examples.

[0092] Macro cells typically cover a relatively large geographical area (e.g., a radius of several kilometers) and can allow unrestricted access by UE 115 with a service subscription to a network provider supporting the macro cell. In contrast, small cells can be associated with a lower-power base station 105 and can operate in the same or different (e.g., licensed, unlicensed) frequency bands as macro cells. Small cells can provide unrestricted access to UE 115 with a service subscription to a network provider, or restricted access to UE 115 associated with the small cell (e.g., UE 115 in a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG), or UE 115 associated with a user in a residence or office). Base station 105 can support one or more cells and can also support communication on one or more cells using one or more component carriers.

[0093] In some examples, a carrier can support multiple cells and can be configured with different cells based on different protocol types that can provide access for different types of devices (e.g., MTC, Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT), Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB)).

[0094] In some examples, base station 105 may be mobile, and therefore provide communication coverage for mobile geographic coverage areas 110. In some examples, different geographic coverage areas 110 associated with different technologies may overlap, but different geographic coverage areas 110 may be supported by the same base station 105. In other examples, overlapping geographic coverage areas 110 associated with different technologies may be supported by different base stations 105. Wireless communication system 100 may include, for example, a heterogeneous network, in which different types of base stations 105 use the same or different radio access technologies to provide coverage for various geographic coverage areas 110.

[0095] Wireless communication system 100 can be configured to support ultra-reliable communication or low-latency communication, or various combinations thereof. For example, wireless communication system 100 can be configured to support ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC) or mission-critical communication. UE 115 can be designed to support ultra-reliable, low-latency, or mission-critical functions (e.g., mission-critical functions). Ultra-reliable communication can include private or group communication and can be supported by one or more mission-critical services (such as mission-critical push-to-talk (MCPTT), mission-critical video (MCVideo), or mission-critical data (MCData)). Support for mission-critical functions can include service prioritization, and mission-critical services can be used for public safety or general commercial applications. The terms ultra-reliable, low-latency, mission-critical, and ultra-reliable low-latency are used interchangeably herein.

[0096] In some examples, UE 115 is able to communicate directly with other UE 115 on a device-to-device (D2D) communication link 135 (e.g., using peer-to-peer (P2P) or D2D protocols). One or more UE 115s utilizing D2D communication can be within the geographic coverage area 110 of base station 105. Other UE 115s in such a group may be outside the geographic coverage area 110 of base station 105 or otherwise unable to receive transmissions from base station 105. In some examples, groups of UE 115s communicating via D2D communication can utilize a one-to-many (1:M) system, where each UE 115 transmits to every other UE 115 in the group. In some examples, base station 105 facilitates the scheduling of resources for D2D communication. In other cases, D2D communication is performed between UE 115s without involving base station 105.

[0097] Core network 130 can provide user authentication, access authorization, tracking, Internet Protocol (IP) connectivity, and other access, routing, or mobility functions. Core network 130 can be an evolved packet core (EPC) or a 5G core (5GC), and can include at least one control plane entity (e.g., a mobility management entity (MME), access and mobility management function unit (AMF)) managing access and mobility, and at least one user plane entity (e.g., a serving gateway (S-GW), packet data network (PDN) gateway (P-GW), or user plane function unit (UPF)) routing packets to or interconnecting with external networks. The control plane entity can manage non-access stratum (NAS) functions, such as mobility, authentication, and bearer management for UE 115 served by base station 105 associated with core network 130. User IP packets can be transmitted through the user plane entity, which can provide IP address allocation and other functions. The user plane entity can connect to IP service 150 for one or more network operators. IP services 150 may include access to the Internet, intranets, IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), or packet-switched streaming services.

[0098] Some network devices (e.g., base station 105) may include sub-components such as access network entity 140, which may be an example of an access node controller (ANC). Each access network entity 140 may communicate with UE 115 through one or more other access network transport entities 145 (which may be referred to as a radio headend, smart radio headend, or transmit / receive point (TRP)). Each access network transport entity 145 may include one or more antenna panels. In some configurations, the various functions of each access network entity 140 or base station 105 may be distributed across individual network devices (e.g., radio headends and ANCs) or incorporated into a single network device (e.g., base station 105).

[0099] Wireless communication system 100 can operate using one or more frequency bands (typically in the range of 300 MHz to 300 GHz). The region from 300 MHz to 3 GHz is often referred to as the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) region or decimeter band because the wavelength range extends from approximately one decimeter to one meter in length. UHF waves may be blocked or redirected by buildings and environmental features, but the waves can be sufficiently permeable to penetrate structures for use in macrocells to provide service to UE 115 located indoors. Compared to the transmission of smaller frequencies and longer waves in the lower 300 MHz portion of the spectrum in the High Frequency (HF) or Very High Frequency (VHF) regions, UHF wave transmission can be associated with smaller antennas and shorter distances (e.g., less than 100 km).

[0100] Wireless communication system 100 can utilize both licensed and unlicensed radio frequency spectrum bands. For example, wireless communication system 100 can employ licensed assisted access (LAA), LTE unlicensed (LTE-U) radio access technology, or NR technology in unlicensed frequency bands (such as the 5 GHz Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band). When operating in unlicensed radio frequency spectrum bands, devices (such as base station 105 and UE 115) can employ carrier sensing for collision detection and avoidance. In some examples, operation in unlicensed frequency bands can be based on carrier aggregation configurations that combine component carriers operating in licensed frequency bands (e.g., LAA). Operation in unlicensed spectrum can include downlink transmissions, uplink transmissions, P2P transmissions, or D2D transmissions, and other examples.

[0101] Base station 105 or UE 115 may be equipped with multiple antennas, which can be used to employ techniques such as transmit diversity, receive diversity, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication, or beamforming. The antennas of base station 105 or UE 115 may be located within one or more antenna arrays or antenna panels (which may support MIMO operation or transmit or receive beamforming). For example, one or more base station antennas or antenna arrays may be co-located at an antenna assembly, such as an antenna tower. In some examples, the antennas or antenna arrays associated with base station 105 may be located in different geographical locations. Base station 105 may have an antenna array having a number of rows and columns of antenna ports that base station 105 can use to support beamforming for communication with UE 115. Similarly, UE 115 may have one or more antenna arrays that can support various MIMO or beamforming operations. Additionally or alternatively, antenna panels may support radio frequency beamforming for signals transmitted via antenna ports.

[0102] Base station 105 or UE 115 can use MIMO communication to utilize multipath signal propagation and improve spectral efficiency by transmitting or receiving multiple signals via different spatial layers. Such a technique can be called spatial multiplexing. For example, a transmitting device can transmit multiple signals via different antennas or different combinations of antennas. Similarly, a receiving device can receive multiple signals via different antennas or different combinations of antennas. Each of the multiple signals can be referred to as a separate spatial stream and can carry bits associated with the same data stream (e.g., the same codeword) or different data streams (e.g., different codewords). Different spatial layers can be associated with different antenna ports used for channel measurement and reporting. MIMO techniques include single-user MIMO (SU-MIMO) (where multiple spatial layers are transmitted to the same receiving device) and multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) (where multiple spatial layers are transmitted to multiple devices).

[0103] Beamforming (also known as spatial filtering, directional transmission, or directional reception) is a signal processing technique that can be used at a transmitting or receiving device (e.g., base station 105, UE 115) to form or guide an antenna beam (e.g., transmit beam, receive beam) along a spatial path between the transmitting and receiving devices. Beamforming can be achieved by combining signals transmitted via antenna elements of an antenna array such that some signals propagating relative to a specific orientation of the antenna array experience constructive interference, while others experience destructive interference. Adjustments to the signals transmitted via the antenna elements can include applying amplitude offset, phase offset, or both to the signals carried via the antenna elements associated with the transmitting or receiving device. The adjustments associated with each antenna element can be defined by a set of beamforming weights associated with a specific orientation (e.g., relative to the antenna array of the transmitting or receiving device, or relative to some other orientation).

[0104] As part of beamforming operations, base station 105 or UE 115 may use beam scanning techniques. For example, base station 105 may use multiple antennas or antenna arrays (e.g., antenna panels) to perform beamforming operations for directional communication with UE 115. Base station 105 may transmit some signals (e.g., synchronization signals, reference signals, beam selection signals, or other control signals) multiple times in different directions. For example, base station 105 may transmit signals according to different sets of beamforming weights associated with different transmission directions. Transmissions in different beam directions may be used (e.g., by a transmitting device (such as base station 105) or by a receiving device (such as UE 115)) to identify the beam direction for subsequent transmissions or receptions performed by base station 105.

[0105] Base station 105 may transmit signals (e.g., data signals associated with a specific receiving device, such as UE 115) in a single beam direction (e.g., a direction associated with a particular receiving device, such as UE 115). In some examples, the beam direction associated with transmission along a single beam direction may be determined based on signals transmitted in one or more beam directions. For example, UE 115 may receive one or more signals transmitted by base station 105 in different directions and may report to base station 105 an indication of the signal received by UE 115 that has the highest signal quality or otherwise acceptable signal quality.

[0106] In some examples, multiple beam directions can be used to perform transmissions by a device (e.g., base station 105 or UE 115), and the device can use a combination of digital precoding or radio frequency beamforming to generate combined beams for (e.g., from base station 105 to UE 115) transmissions. UE 115 can report feedback indicating precoding weights for one or more beam directions, and this feedback can correspond to a configured number of beams spanning the system bandwidth or one or more subbands. Base station 105 can transmit reference signals that can be precoded or unprecoded (e.g., cell-specific reference signals (CRS), channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS)). UE 115 can provide feedback on beam selection, which can be a precoding matrix indicator (PMI) or codebook-based feedback (e.g., multi-panel type codebook, linear combination type codebook, port selection type codebook). Although these techniques are described with reference to signals transmitted by base station 105 in one or more directions, UE 115 may employ similar techniques to transmit signals multiple times in different directions (e.g., to identify beam directions for subsequent transmissions or receptions by UE 115) or to transmit signals in a single direction (e.g., to transmit data to a receiving device).

[0107] When receiving various signals (such as synchronization signals, reference signals, beam selection signals, or other control signals) from base station 105, the receiving device (e.g., UE 115) can attempt multiple receiving configurations (e.g., directional listening). For example, the receiving device can attempt multiple receiving directions by receiving via different antenna subarrays, by processing the received signals according to different antenna subarrays, by receiving according to different sets of receiving beamforming weights applied to signals received at multiple antenna elements of the antenna array (e.g., different sets of directional listening weights), or by processing the received signals according to different sets of receiving beamforming weights applied to signals received at multiple antenna elements of the antenna array (any of these operations can be referred to as "listening" according to different receiving configurations or receiving directions). In some examples, the receiving device can use a single receiving configuration to receive along a single beam direction (e.g., when receiving data signals). A single receiver configuration can be aligned to a beam direction determined based on listening in different receiver configuration directions (e.g., a beam direction determined to have the highest signal strength, highest signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), or otherwise acceptable signal quality based on listening in multiple beam directions).

[0108] The wireless communication system 100 can be a packet-based network operating according to a layered protocol stack. In the user plane, communication at the bearer or Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer can be IP-based. The Radio Link Control (RLC) layer can perform packet fragmentation and reassembly for transmission over logical channels. The Media Access Control (MAC) layer can perform priority handling and multiplexing of logical channels to transport channels. The MAC layer can also use error detection techniques, error correction techniques, or both to support retransmissions at the MAC layer to improve link efficiency. In the control plane, the Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocol layer can provide the establishment, configuration, and maintenance of RRC connections (which support radio bearers for user plane data) between the UE 115 and the base station 105 or core network 130. At the physical layer, transport channels can be mapped to physical channels.

[0109] UE 115 and base station 105 can support data retransmission to increase the likelihood of successful data reception. Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) feedback is a technique used to increase the likelihood of correct data reception on communication link 125. HARQ can include a combination of error detection (e.g., using Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC)), forward error correction (FEC), and retransmission (e.g., Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ)). HARQ can improve throughput at the MAC layer under poor radio conditions (e.g., low signal and noise conditions). In some examples, the device can support same-slot HARQ feedback, where the device can provide HARQ feedback for data received in a previous symbol within a specific time slot. In other cases, the device can provide HARQ feedback in subsequent time slots or according to some other time interval.

[0110] In some aspects, the UE 115 and base station 105 of the wireless communication system 100 may support techniques for serving cell activation and deactivation using temporary reference signals. In particular, the UE 115 of the wireless communication system 100 may be configured to receive reference signals (e.g., temporary reference signals) on a first serving cell supported by the base station 105 in order to reduce the interruption of wireless communication on the first serving cell attributable to the activation and / or deactivation of a second serving cell supported by the base station 105.

[0111] For example, UE 115 of wireless communication system 100 can perform wireless communication with a first serving cell (e.g., PCell) supported by base station 105. In this example, base station 105 can send an indication to UE 115 that a second serving cell (e.g., SCell) supported by base station 105 will be activated or deactivated at UE 115. Base station 105 can activate the second serving cell at UE 115 to increase data throughput, alleviate network congestion, or both. Conversely, when the benefits provided by the second serving cell (e.g., increased data throughput, alleviated network congestion) are no longer needed, base station 105 can deactivate the second serving cell. Due to the activation or deactivation of the second serving cell, wireless communication with the first serving cell may be interrupted. In some aspects, UE 115 can receive a temporary reference signal on the first serving cell to reduce the duration of the interruption of the first serving cell, and can resume wireless communication on the first serving cell based on the reception of the temporary reference signal. For example, UE115 can determine automatic gain control (AGC), time / frequency tracking, or both associated with the first serving cell based on the received temporary reference signal, thereby enabling UE115 to resume communication with the first serving cell.

[0112] While the second serving cell is being activated, UE 115 can additionally receive a second temporary reference signal on the second serving cell to shorten the activation time of the second serving cell. The temporary reference signal received via the first and second serving cells can be received using a common time resource set (e.g., the same time slot, the same subframe), a common SCS, or any combination thereof. Furthermore, UE 115 can be configured to determine that a temporary reference signal on the first and / or second serving cell has been triggered (e.g., activated, initiated) based on explicit signaling from base station 105 (e.g., DCI signaling, MAC-CE signaling), implicitly based on the activation / deactivation of the second serving cell, or both.

[0113] The techniques described herein can provide improved wireless communication by reducing the duration of outages attributable to the activation / deactivation of other serving cells. Specifically, by receiving a reference signal (e.g., a temporary reference signal, a tracking reference signal, a non-zero power CSI-RS with higher-layer parameters such as TRS-Info) on the serving cell that will remain active, UE 115 can determine information associated with the cell that will remain active (e.g., AGC, time / frequency tracking). This information determined based on the reference signal can thereby reduce the duration of the outage and enable UE 115 to resume wireless communication on the active cell. By reducing the duration of outages at the serving cell at UE 115, the techniques described herein can improve the efficiency and reliability of wireless communication and enhance the overall user experience.

[0114] Figure 2 Examples of a wireless communication system 200 supporting techniques for serving cell activation and deactivation using reference signals, according to various aspects of this disclosure, are shown. In some examples, the wireless communication system 200 may implement aspects of the wireless communication system 100. The wireless communication system 200 may include a UE 115-a and a base station 105-a, which may be as referenced... Figure 1 Examples of UE 115 and base station 105 described.

[0115] The wireless communication system 200 can support wireless communication with a wireless device (e.g., UE 115-a) via one or more serving cells 205 of the wireless communication system 200. Specifically, each serving cell 205 can be supported by one or more base stations 105 of the wireless communication system 200. For example, as Figure 2 As shown, the wireless communication system 200 may include a first serving cell 205-a supported by base station 105-a and a second serving cell 205-b supported by base station 105-b. Serving cells 205 may include PCells, SCells, primary and secondary cells of a secondary cell group (SCG) (PSCell), or any combination thereof. The wireless communication system 200 may include any number of serving cells 205 supported by any number of base stations 105. For example, in an additional or alternative manner, the first cell 205-a may be supported by base station 105-a, and the second cell 205-b may be supported by a second base station 105 (not shown) different from base station 105-a.

[0116] In some aspects, the first serving cell 205-a and the second serving cell 205-b may be associated with the same frequency band (e.g., in-band carrier aggregation). In some aspects, the first serving cell 205-a, the second serving cell 205-b, or both may include a PCell, an SCell, a PSCell of an SCG, or any combination thereof. For example, if the first serving cell 205-a includes a PCell, the second serving cell 205-b may include an SCell. As another example, if the first serving cell 205-a includes an SCell, the second serving cell 205-b may include an additional SCell. Furthermore, if the first serving cell 205-a includes a PSCell of an SCG, the second serving cell 205-b may include an SCell of an SCG.

[0117] In some cases, the first serving cell 205-a, the second serving cell 205-b, or both may be associated with a given radio access technology (such as 5G radio access technology, NR access technology, 4G radio access technology, or LTE radio access technology, or any combination thereof). In some cases, the technologies described herein can be implemented in the context of a dual-connectivity scenario. In this regard, the second serving cell 205-b may be associated with the same or different radio access technology as the radio access technology associated with the first serving cell 205-a. For example, if the first serving cell 205-a is associated with 5G or NR access technology, the second serving cell 205-b may be associated with 4G radio access technology, LTE radio access technology, or both. Furthermore, in some cases, the first serving cell 205-a and the second serving cell 205-b may be associated with different frequency bands associated with public radio access technologies. For example, in some cases, both the first serving cell 205-a and the second serving cell 205-b can be associated with NR access technology, wherein the first serving cell 205-a is associated with the FR1 band of the NR access technology, and the second serving cell 205-b is associated with the FR2 band of the NR access technology. In some examples, the first serving cell 205-a and the second serving cell 205-b can be served by different base stations. For example, the first serving cell 205-a can be supported by a first base station (e.g., base station 105-a), and the second serving cell can be supported by a second base station (e.g., another base station 105 (not shown)).

[0118] In some aspects, UE 115-a may communicate with base station 105-a using one or more beams, one or more carriers, one or more communication links, or any combination thereof. For example, each serving cell 205 may be associated with different frequency ranges, separate beams, separate component carriers, and / or communication links to facilitate wireless communication between UE 115-a and the corresponding serving cell 205. For example, UE 115-a may communicate with base station 105-a via communication link 210, wherein communication link 210 includes a first component carrier 215-a and a second component carrier 215-b. In some aspects, the first component carrier 215-a may be associated with a first serving cell 205-a, and the second component carrier 215-b may be associated with a second serving cell 205-b. In some cases, communication link 210 may include examples of an access link (e.g., a Uu link). Communication link 210 may include a bidirectional link that may include both uplink and downlink communication. For example, UE 115-a can use communication link 210 to send uplink transmissions (such as uplink control signals or uplink data signals) to base station 105-a, and base station 105-a can use radio link 210 to send downlink transmissions (such as downlink control signals or downlink data signals) to UE 115-a.

[0119] In some aspects, the UE 115-a and base station 105-a of the wireless communication system 200 can support techniques for serving cell activation and deactivation using temporary reference signals. Specifically, the UE 115-a of the wireless communication system 200 can be configured to receive a reference signal (e.g., a temporary reference signal) on a first serving cell 205-a supported by base station 105-a in order to reduce interruptions in wireless communication on the first serving cell 205-a attributable to the activation and / or deactivation of a second serving cell 205-b supported by base station 105-a.

[0120] For example, UE 115-a can establish wireless communication with the first serving cell 205-a. In some aspects, UE 115-a can establish wireless communication with the first serving cell 205-a by initiating or otherwise performing an establishment procedure with the first serving cell 205-a. In some aspects, UE 115-a can receive control messages 220 from base station 105-a via the first serving cell 205-a, the second serving cell 205-b, or both. For example, as... Figure 2As shown, UE 115-a can receive control message 220 via first serving cell 205-a (e.g., via first component carrier 215-a). In some aspects, control message 220 may include an indication of a set of resources that UE 115-a can use to receive reference signal 240 (e.g., temporary reference signal) from base station 105-a via first serving cell 205-a, second serving cell 205-b, or both. The resource set may include a time resource set, a frequency resource set, a spatial resource set, or any combination thereof. Control message 220 may include RRC messages, System Information Block (SIB) messages, SSB messages, or any combination thereof. In some aspects, UE 115-a may receive control message 220 based on establishing wireless communication with first serving cell 205-a.

[0121] In some aspects, UE 115-a can receive DCI message 225 from base station 105-a via first serving cell 205-a and / or second serving cell 205-b, which schedules downlink transmissions from base station 105-a to UE 115-a (e.g., Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) transmission, MAC-CE message 230). For example, as Figure 2 As shown, UE 115-a can receive DCI message 225 from base station 105-a via first serving cell 205-a (e.g., via first component carrier 215-a). DCI message 225 can be transmitted via physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) resources. In some aspects, UE 115-a can receive DCI message 225 based on establishing wireless communication with first serving cell 205-a, receiving control message 220 (e.g., RRC message, SIB message, SSB message), or any combination thereof. In some aspects, DCI message 225 may include an indication that a reference signal 240 (e.g., temporary reference signal) associated with first serving cell 205-a, second serving cell 205-b, or both has been activated (e.g., triggered, initiated). In this regard, UE 115-a can be configured to determine, based on the indication in DCI message 225, whether UE 115-a can monitor reference signal 240 on the first serving cell 205-a, the second serving cell 205-b, or both.

[0122] In some aspects, UE 115-a can receive instructions from base station 105-a for activating or deactivating the second serving cell 205-b via the first serving cell 205-a and / or the second serving cell 205-b. For example, as Figure 2As shown, UE 115-b can receive MAC-CE message 230 from base station 105-a via first serving cell 205-a (e.g., via first component carrier 215-a). In this example, MAC-CE message 230 may include an indication for activating or deactivating the second serving cell 205-b. In some aspects, base station 105-a may send an indication for activating or deactivating the second serving cell 205-a (e.g., MAC-CE message 230) based on DCI message 225, and UE 115-a may receive this indication. For example, DCI message 225 may schedule PDSCH transmission (e.g., MAC-CE message 230), wherein the PDSCH transmission includes an indication for activating or deactivating the second serving cell 205-b.

[0123] When an instruction for activating or deactivating the second serving cell 205-b is transmitted via MAC-CE message 230, MAC-CE message 230 may include an indication that a reference signal 240 (e.g., a temporary reference signal) associated with the first serving cell 205-a, the second serving cell 205-b, or both has been activated (e.g., triggered, initiated). In this regard, DCI message 225, MAC-CE message 230, or both may include an indication that a reference signal 240 associated with the first serving cell 205-a and / or the second serving cell 205-b has been activated. When a reference signal 240 associated with both the first serving cell 205-a and the second serving cell 205-b is triggered / activated (e.g., in the case where the second serving cell 205-b is activated), the reference signal 240 associated with the respective serving cell 205 may be activated individually or together (e.g., in series). For example, DCI message 225 and / or MAC-CE message 230 may activate (e.g., indicate, trigger, request) temporary reference signal 240 on both the first and second serving cells 205. As another example, DCI message 225 may activate (e.g., indicate, trigger, request) temporary reference signal 240-a on the first serving cell 205-a, and MAC-CE message 230 may activate (e.g., indicate, trigger, request) temporary reference signal 240-b on the second serving cell 205-b (and vice versa).

[0124] In some aspects, UE 115-a may send a feedback message 235 to base station 105 via first serving cell 205-a, second serving cell 205-b, or both. For example, when receiving MAC-CE message 230 via first serving cell 205-a, UE 115-a may send feedback message 235 via first serving cell 205-a. In some aspects, UE 115-a may send feedback message 235 to base station 105-a based on (e.g., in response to) receiving an indication for activating or deactivating second serving cell 205-a. Feedback message 235 may include an acknowledgment (ACK) message, a negative acknowledgment (NACK) message, or both. For example, if the indication in MAC-CE message 230 includes activation of second serving cell 205-b, UE 115-a may send an ACK message in response to activation of second serving cell 205-b. As another example, if the indication in the MAC-CE message 230 includes the deactivation of the second serving cell 205-b, UE 115-a can send an ACK message in response to the deactivation of the second serving cell 205-b. In this example, UE 115-a and / or base station 105-a can determine that the second serving cell 205-b has been deactivated based on the send / receive feedback message 235.

[0125] In some cases, UE 115-a, base station 105-a associated with serving cell 205, or both can identify periods of interruption in wireless communication between UE 115-a and the first serving cell 205-a. However, it is noted here that UE 115-a, base station 105-a, or both are not required to actually identify periods of interruption in all cases. In some aspects, UE 115-a and / or base station 105-a can identify periods of interruption based on receiving / transmitting indications for activating or deactivating the second serving cell 205-b (e.g., based on MAC-CE message 230). Alternatively or additionally, UE 115-a and / or base station 105-a can identify periods of interruption based on sending / receiving feedback message 235. For example, in some cases, periods of interruption in wireless communication between UE 115-a and the first serving cell 205-a can begin based on UE 115-a sending feedback message 235. For example, as discussed earlier herein, the interruption period may begin after a specific duration (e.g., 3 ms) following the transmission of feedback message 235. In this respect, the transmission of feedback message 235 may initiate or trigger the start of the interruption period.

[0126] In some aspects, UE 115-a may determine that a reference signal 240 (e.g., a temporary reference signal) associated with the first serving cell 205-a, the second serving cell 205-b, or both has been activated (e.g., triggered, initiated). In some aspects, the reference signal 240 associated with the first serving cell 205-a and the second serving cell 205-b may be activated individually (e.g., at separate times, via separate signaling) or in series (e.g., at the same time, via the same signaling). In some aspects, UE 115-a may determine that the reference signal 240 associated with the first serving cell 205-a and / or the second serving cell 205-b has been activated based on implicit determination, based on explicit signaling received from base station 105-a, or both. Specifically, UE 115-a can be configured to determine that the reference signal 240 associated with the first serving cell 205-a and / or the second serving cell 205-b has been activated based on receiving DCI message 225, receiving an indication for activating / deactivating the second serving cell 205-b (e.g., MAC-CE message 230), or both.

[0127] For example, if DCI message 225 and / or MAC-CE message 230 include an indication that reference signal 240 associated with first serving cell 205-a and / or second serving cell 205-b has been activated, UE 115-a can determine that reference signal 240 has been activated based on explicit signaling in DCI message 225 and / or MAC-CE message 230. Conversely, UE 115-a can be configured to determine that reference signal 240 associated with first serving cell 205-a and / or second serving cell 205-b has been implicitly activated (e.g., in the absence of explicit signaling from base station 105-a). For example, in some cases, UE 115-a can be configured to determine that reference signal 240 associated with first serving cell 205-a and / or second serving cell 205-b has been activated based on an indication used to activate / deactivate second serving cell 205-b. In this regard, UE 115-a can be configured to determine that a reference signal 240 associated with the active serving cell 205 (e.g., the first serving cell 205-a) that will remain active has been triggered / activated due to the activation or deactivation of the second serving cell 205-b.

[0128] In some aspects, UE 115-a may receive reference signal 240-a from base station 105-a via first serving cell 205-a. In some aspects, UE 115-a may receive reference signal 240-a for a duration after receiving an indication for activating / deactivating second serving cell 205-b and during periods of interruption in wireless communication with first serving cell 205-a. Reference signal 240-a may include, but is not limited to, temporary reference signal 240-a. For example, temporary reference signal may include tracking reference signal, non-zero power CSI-RS configured to track reference signal, or both. In some aspects, UE 115-a may receive reference signal 240-a based on receiving control message 220, receiving DCI message 225, receiving an indication for activating / deactivating second serving cell 205-d (e.g., receiving MAC-CE message 230), sending feedback message 235, identifying interruption periods, determining that reference signal 240 associated with first and / or second serving cell 205 has been activated, or any combination thereof. For example, if control message 220 includes an indication of a set of resources that UE 115-a can use to receive reference signal 240, UE 115-a can receive reference signal 240 based on (e.g., using, according to) the set of resources indicated in control message 220.

[0129] In some aspects, UE 115-a may determine and / or adjust AGC associated with the first serving cell 205-a, tracking associated with the first serving cell 205-a (e.g., time tracking, frequency tracking), or any combination thereof. In some aspects, UE 115-a may determine and / or adjust AGC and / or tracking during periods of interruption in wireless communication between UE 115-a and the first serving cell 205-a. In some aspects, UE 115-a may determine and / or adjust AGC and / or tracking associated with the first serving cell 205-a based on a reference signal 240-a (e.g., a temporary reference signal 240-a). For example, the reference signal 240-a received via the first serving cell 205-a may include a non-zero power CSI-RS configured with trs-Info, which enables adjustment of AGC and / or tracking associated with the first serving cell 205-a.

[0130] In some aspects, UE 115-a can resume wireless communication with the first serving cell 205-a. In some cases, reference signal 240-a can trigger the end of an interruption period, and UE 115-a can resume wireless communication with the first serving cell 205-a based on the end of the interruption period. For example, UE 115-a can determine AGC and / or time / frequency tracking associated with the first serving cell 205-a based on reference signal 240-a (e.g., temporary reference signal 240-a). In this example, AGC and / or tracking can enable UE 115-a to resume wireless communication with the first serving cell 205-a, thereby triggering the end of the interruption period.

[0131] If the indication for activating / deactivating the second serving cell 205-a includes activating the second serving cell 205-b, UE 115-b may additionally receive an additional reference signal 240-b from base station 105-a via the second cell 205-b. The additional reference signal 240-b may include, but is not limited to, a temporary reference signal 240-b. In some aspects, UE 115-a may receive the additional reference signal 240-b based on receiving control message 220, receiving DCI message 225, receiving an indication for activating the second serving cell 205-b (e.g., MAC-CE message 230), sending feedback message 235, determining that the reference signal 240-b associated with the second serving cell 205-b has been activated, or any combination thereof. For example, if control message 220 includes an indication of a set of resources that UE 115-b can use to receive the reference signal 240, UE 115-a may receive the additional reference signal 240-b based on (e.g., using, according to) the set of resources indicated in control message 220.

[0132] In some cases, a common time resource set can be used to receive reference signal 240-a received via first serving cell 205-a and additional reference signal 240-b received via second serving cell 205-b. For example, base station 105-a can transmit both the first reference signal 240-a and the additional reference signal 240-b in the same time slot, the same subframe, or both, and UE 115-a can receive both the first reference signal 240-a and the additional reference signal 240-b in the same time slot, the same subframe, or both. Alternatively, the same characteristics or parameters (including but not limited to subcarrier spacing (SCS)) can be used to receive / transmit reference signal 240 received via first serving cell 205-a and second serving cell 205-b, respectively. For example, in some cases, base station 105-a may use a common SCS to transmit (and UE 115-a may use a common SCS to receive) the reference signal 240-a received via the first serving cell 205-a and the additional reference signal 240-b received via the second serving cell 205-b. In other cases, base station 105-a may use a different SCS to transmit (and UE 115-a may use a different SCS to receive) the reference signal 240-a received via the first serving cell 205-a and the additional reference signal 240-b received via the second serving cell 205-b.

[0133] In some aspects, UE 115-a may determine and / or adjust the AGC associated with the second serving cell 205-b, the tracking associated with the second serving cell 205-b (e.g., time tracking, frequency tracking), or any combination thereof. In some aspects, UE 115-b may adjust the AGC and / or tracking associated with the second serving cell 205-b based on an additional reference signal 240-b (e.g., an additional temporary reference signal 240-b). For example, the additional reference signal 240-b may include a non-zero power CSI-RS resource configured with trs-Info, which enables the adjustment of the AGC and / or tracking associated with the second serving cell 205-b.

[0134] In some aspects, UE 115-a, base station 105-a, or both may determine that the second serving cell 205-b has been activated (e.g., indicated, triggered, requested) and establish wireless communication with the second serving cell 205-b, or both. In some aspects, UE 115-a and / or base station 105-a may determine that the second serving cell 205-b has been activated (e.g., indicated, triggered, requested) and / or establish wireless communication with the second serving cell 205-b based on receiving additional reference signal 240-b, determining and / or adjusting AGC and / or tracking associated with the second serving cell 205-b, or any combination thereof. For example, UE 115-b may determine and / or adjust AGC and / or tracking associated with the second serving cell 205-b based on additional reference signal 240-b (e.g., a temporary reference signal). In this example, AGC and / or tracking enable UE 115-a to establish wireless communication with the second serving cell 205-b and / or determine that the second serving cell 205-b has been activated.

[0135] The techniques described herein can provide improved wireless communication by reducing the duration of outage periods attributable to the activation / deactivation of other serving cells 205 (e.g., the first serving cell 205-a), such as activation / deactivation. Specifically, by receiving a reference signal (e.g., a temporary reference signal) on the first serving cell 205-a that will remain active, UE 115-a can determine and / or adjust information associated with the first serving cell 205-c that will remain active (e.g., AGC, time / frequency tracking). This information determined based on the reference signal can thereby reduce the duration of the outage and enable UE 115-a to resume wireless communication on the first serving cell 205-a. By reducing the duration of outage periods at the serving cell 205 at UE 115-a, the techniques described herein can improve the efficiency and reliability of wireless communication and enhance the overall user experience.

[0136] Figure 3 Examples of a resource allocation scheme 300 supporting techniques for serving cell activation and deactivation using reference signals, according to various aspects of this disclosure, are shown. In some examples, resource allocation scheme 300 may be implemented by or by aspects of wireless communication system 100, wireless communication system 200, or both. Resource allocation scheme 300 can achieve improved activation and deactivation of serving cells while reducing the duration of interruptions on serving cells that will remain active.

[0137] Resource allocation scheme 300 may include a first serving cell 305 (e.g., PCell 305) and three additional serving cells 310 (e.g., first SCell 310-a, second SCell 310-b, and third SCell 310-c). In some aspects, Figure 3 The resource allocation scheme 300 shown illustrates the activation of the third SCell 310-c. In this example, each of PCell 305, the first SCell 305-a, and the second SCell 305-b will remain active. Additionally, resource allocation scheme 300 illustrates how the techniques described herein can be implemented on the second SCell 310-b to reduce the duration of the terminal period 345-b associated with the second SCell 310-b relative to the duration of the interruption period 345-a associated with the first SCell 310-a.

[0138] exist Figure 3 In the example shown, each of the SCells 310 (e.g., first SCell 310-a, second SCell 310-b, and third SCell 310-c) may be associated with a common frequency band (e.g., in-band carrier aggregation). In some aspects, UE 115 may be configured to communicate with base station 105 via each of the active serving cells 305 and 310 (e.g., PCell 305, first SCell 310-a, and second SCell 310-b). In this example, UE 115 may also be configured to communicate with base station 105 via third SCell 310-c once third SCell 310-c is activated (e.g., after the expiration of the interruption period 345-c associated with third SCell 310-c). In some cases, base station 105 may be configured to send SSB message 315 to UE 115 via each of the serving cells 305 and 310 according to SSB cycle 320. For example, in the context of NR access technology, base station 105 can send SSB message 315 according to a 10ms SSB period 320, a 20ms SSB period 320 or another duration.

[0139] In some aspects, UE 115 may receive control messages (e.g., DCI messages) via PCell 305 for scheduling PDSCH transmissions 330 (e.g., MAC-CE messages) from base station 105 to UE 115. Subsequently, UE 115 may receive PDSCH transmissions 330 (e.g., MAC-CE messages) based on control messages 325. In this example, PDSCH transmission 330 may include an indication for activating a third SCell 310-c. UE 115 may, in response to receiving the indication for activating the third SCell 310-c via PDSCH transmission 330, send a feedback message 335 (e.g., ACK message) to base station 105 via PCell 305.

[0140] In some aspects, control message 325 (e.g., DCI message), PDSCH transmission 330 (e.g., MAC-CE message), or both may include an indication that reference signal 350 (e.g., temporary reference signal 350) on one or more serving cells 305 and / or 310 has been activated (e.g., triggered, initiated). For example, as Figure 3 As shown, control message 325 and / or PDSCH transmission 330 may include an indication that reference signal 350 on the second SCell 310-b and / or the third SCell 310-c has been activated. In this regard, UE 115 may be configured to determine that reference signal 350 on the second and / or third SCell 310-b, 310-c has been activated based on an explicit indication within control message 325 and / or PDSCH transmission 330. Alternatively, UE 115 may be configured to implicitly determine that reference signal 350 on the second and / or third SCell 310-b, 310-c has been activated based on activation / deactivation of the third SCell 310-c. In such a case, UE 115 may determine that reference signal 350 on the second and / or third SCell 310-b, 310-c has been activated without any explicit indication from base station 105.

[0141] In some aspects, the transmission of feedback message 335 may trigger an interruption period 345 on each of the active serving cells 310 located in the same frequency band as the activated third SCell 310-c. For example, the transmission of feedback message 335 may trigger interruption periods 345-a and 345-b on the first SCell 310-a and the second SCell 310-b, respectively. Additionally, when the third SCell 310-c is being activated, the transmission of feedback message 335 may trigger an interruption period 345-c on the third SCell 310-c. In some cases, the interruption period 345 may be attributed to a retuning process of a common antenna or antenna array used across the respective serving cells 305 and 310, resulting in an interruption of wireless communication on the corresponding serving cell 310. In some aspects, the interruption period 345 within the respective serving cells 310-a, 310-b, and 310-c may begin after a duration 340 from the transmission of feedback message 335. For example, in some wireless communication systems, the duration 340 from the transmission of feedback message 335 to the start of interruption period 345 can be approximately 3 ms.

[0142] In some wireless communication systems, to reduce the duration of the outage period 345-b on the third SCell 310-c, the UE 115 may receive a reference signal 350-a (e.g., a temporary reference signal 350-a) via the third SCell 310-c. The reference signal 350-a may be received during the outage period 345-c associated with the third SCell 310-c. In some aspects, the UE 115 may determine and / or adjust the AGC associated with the third SCell 310-c, the tracking associated with the third SCell 310-b (e.g., time tracking, frequency tracking), or any combination thereof, based on the reference signal 350-a. Additionally, the UE 115 may receive an aperiodic channel state information reference signal (e.g., A-CSI-RS 355) from the base station 105 via the third SCell 310-c. In some aspects, the UE 115 may perform one or more measurements on the A-CSI-RS 355 to determine the channel state of the third SCell 310-c. Subsequently, UE 115 can send a Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) report to base station 105 via Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) transmission 360. Base station 105 can then be configured to determine the channel state of third SCell 310-c based on the received CQI report (e.g., PUSCH transmission 360). Therefore, both UE 115 and base station 105 can determine the channel state of third SCell 310-c based on A-CSI-RS 355 and / or PUSCH transmission 360, thereby terminating the interruption period 345-c during the transmission of PUSCH transmission 360. In some aspects, third SCell 310-c can be fully activated upon termination of interruption period 345-c. Furthermore, upon termination of interruption period 345-c, wireless communication can be established between UE 115 and base station 105 via third SCell 310-c.

[0143] In some wireless communication systems, an outage period 345 attributable to the activation of another serving cell can continue from the start of the outage period 345 (e.g., duration 340 after the transmission of feedback message 335) until the SSB message 315 can be obtained on the corresponding serving cell. For example, as Figure 3 As shown, the interrupt period 345-a on the first SCell 310-a can last from the end of duration 340 until the next SSB message 315-c is received on the first SCell 310-a. Depending on the relative timing of the SSB period 320 (e.g., 10ms, 20ms) and the feedback message 335, this interrupt period 345-a can last for a considerable amount of time, thereby preventing wireless communication on the first SCell 310-a throughout the entire interrupt period 345-a.

[0144] Therefore, in order to reduce the duration of outages on a serving cell that will remain active, which can be attributed to the activation / deactivation of other serving cells, the techniques described herein can support the transmission / reception of reference signals on the serving cell that will remain active. For example, as Figure 3 As shown, the interruption period 345-b on the second SCell 310-b may begin after a duration 340 (e.g., 3 ms) following the transmission of feedback message 335. In some aspects, UE 115 may receive reference signal 350-b (e.g., temporary reference signal 350-a) via the second SCell 310-b. In some cases, UE 115 may use the same set of time resources as reference signal 350-a received via the third SCell 310-c to receive reference signal 350-b. For example, base station 105 may transmit both reference signals 350-a and 350-b in the same time slot, the same subframe, or both, and UE 115 may receive both reference signals 350-a and 350-b in the same time slot, the same subframe, or both. Furthermore, reference signals 350-a and 350-b may be transmitted using the same or different parameters (e.g., the same or different SCS).

[0145] In some aspects, UE 115 may determine and / or adjust information associated with the second SCell 310-b (e.g., AGC, time tracking, frequency tracking) based on reference signal 350-b. In some cases, UE 115 may determine information associated with the second SCell 310-b based on reference signal 350-b that ends the interruption period 345-b and enables UE 115 to resume wireless communication with the second SCell 310-b. For example, AGC and / or time / frequency tracking indicated in reference signal 350-b may enable UE 115 to resume wireless communication with the second SCell 310-b, thereby triggering the end of the interruption period.

[0146] like Figure 3 As can be seen, the techniques described herein can significantly reduce the duration of outage periods 345 attributable to the activation / deactivation of other serving cells. For example, it is understood that the techniques described herein can significantly reduce the duration of outage periods 345-b on the second SCell 310-b relative to outage period 345-a on the first SCell 310-a. This reduction in outage periods 345-b achieved by the techniques described herein enables wireless communication to be resumed on the second SCell 310-b in a more timely manner, thereby improving the efficiency and reliability of wireless communication within the wireless communication system (e.g., wireless communication system 100 or 200) and enhancing the overall user experience.

[0147] Figure 4 Examples of a resource allocation scheme 400 supporting techniques for serving cell activation and deactivation using reference signals, according to various aspects of this disclosure, are shown. In some examples, the resource allocation scheme 400 may be implemented by or by aspects of wireless communication system 100, wireless communication system 200, or both. The resource allocation scheme 400 can achieve improved activation and deactivation of serving cells while reducing the duration of interruptions on serving cells that will remain active.

[0148] Resource allocation scheme 400 may include a first serving cell 405 (e.g., PCell 405) and an additional serving cell 410 (e.g., SCell 410). In some aspects, Figure 4 The resource allocation scheme 400 shown illustrates the activation of SCell 410, where PCell 405 remains active. In this example, PCell 405 and SCell 410 may be in the same frequency band (e.g., in-band carrier aggregation). Furthermore, resource allocation scheme 400 may illustrate how the techniques described herein can be implemented on PCell 405 to reduce the duration of the outage period 445-b associated with PCell 405, which can be attributed to the activation of SCell 410.

[0149] In some cases, base station 105 may be configured to send SSB message 415 to UE 115 via each of the serving cells according to SSB period 420 (e.g., 10ms, 20ms). In some aspects, UE 115 may receive control message 425 (e.g., DCI message) via PCell 405 to schedule PDSCH transmission 430 (e.g., MAC-CE message) from base station 105 to UE 115. Subsequently, UE 115 may receive PDSCH transmission 430 (e.g., MAC-CE message) based on control message 425. In this example, PDSCH transmission 430 may include an indication for activating SCell 410. In response to receiving the indication for activating SCell 410, UE 115 may send feedback message 435 (e.g., ACK message) to base station 105 via PCell 405.

[0150] In some aspects, control message 425 (e.g., DCI message), PDSCH transmission 430 (e.g., MAC-CE message), or both may include an indication that reference signal 450 (e.g., temporary reference signal 450) on PCell 405 and / or SCell 410 has been activated. In this regard, UE 115 may be configured to determine that reference signal 450 on PCell 405 and / or SCell 410 has been activated based on an explicit indication within control message 425 and / or PDSCH transmission 430. Alternatively, UE 115 may be configured to implicitly determine that reference signal 450 on PCell 405 and / or SCell 410 has been activated based on activation / deactivation of SCell 410. In such a case, UE 115 may determine that reference signal 450 on PCell 405 and / or SCell 410 has been activated without any explicit indication from base station 105.

[0151] As previously mentioned herein, the transmission of feedback message 435 can trigger interruption periods 445-a and 445-b on SCell 410 and PCell 405, respectively. In some cases, interruption period 345 may be attributed to a retuning process of a common antenna or antenna array used across various serving cells, resulting in an interruption of wireless communication on the corresponding serving cell. In some aspects, interruption period 445 within PCell 405 and / or SCell 410 may begin after a duration 440 from the transmission of feedback message 435. For example, in some wireless communication systems, the duration 440 from the transmission of feedback message 435 to the start of interruption period 445 may be approximately 3 ms.

[0152] In some aspects, to reduce the duration of the outage period 445-a on SCell 410, UE 115 may receive a reference signal 450-a (e.g., a temporary reference signal 450-a) via SCell 410. The reference signal 450-a may be received during the outage period 445-a associated with SCell 410. In some aspects, UE 115 may determine and / or adjust the AGC associated with SCell 410, the tracking associated with SCell 410 (e.g., time tracking, frequency tracking), or any combination thereof, based on the reference signal 450-a. Additionally, UE 115 may receive A-CSI-RS 455 from base station 105 via SCell 410. In some aspects, UE 115 may perform one or more measurements on A-CSI-RS 455 to determine the channel state of SCell 410. Subsequently, UE 115 may send a CQI report to base station 105 via PUSCH transmission 460. Then, base station 105 can be configured to determine the channel state of SCell 410 based on received CQI reports (e.g., PUSCH transmission 460). Therefore, both UE 115 and base station 105 can determine the channel state of SCell 410 based on A-CSI-RS 455 and / or PUSCH transmission 460, thereby terminating the interruption period 445-a during the transmission of PUSCH transmission 460. In some aspects, SCell 410 can be fully activated when interruption period 445-a terminates. Furthermore, wireless communication can be established between UE 115 and base station 105 via SCell 410 when interruption period 445-a terminates.

[0153] In some aspects, UE 115 may additionally receive reference signal 450-b (e.g., temporary reference signal 450-b) via PCell 405. In some cases, UE 115 may use the same set of time resources as reference signal 450-a received via SCell 410 to receive reference signal 450-b. For example, base station 105 may transmit both reference signals 450-a and 450-b in the same time slot, the same subframe, or both, and UE 115 may receive both reference signals 450-a and 450-b in the same time slot, the same subframe, or both. Furthermore, reference signals 450-a and 450-b may be transmitted using the same or different parameters (e.g., the same or different SCS).

[0154] In some aspects, UE 115 may determine and / or adjust information associated with PCell 405 (e.g., AGC, time tracking, frequency tracking) based on reference signal 450-b. In some cases, UE 115 may determine information associated with PCell 405 based on reference signal 450-b that ends the interruption period 445-b and enables UE 115 to resume wireless communication with PCell 405. For example, AGC and / or tracking indicated in reference signal 450-b may enable UE 115 to resume wireless communication with PCell 405, thereby triggering the end of the interruption period.

[0155] like Figure 4 As can be seen, the techniques described herein can significantly reduce the duration of interruption period 445-b on PCell 405, which can be attributed to the activation of SCell 410. This reduction in interruption period 445-b achieved by the techniques described herein enables more timely resumption of wireless communication on PCell 405, thereby improving the efficiency and reliability of wireless communication within a wireless communication system (e.g., wireless communication system 100 or 200) and enhancing the overall user experience.

[0156] Figure 5 Examples of a resource allocation scheme 500 supporting techniques for serving cell activation and deactivation using reference signals, according to various aspects of this disclosure, are shown. In some examples, the resource allocation scheme 500 may be implemented by or by aspects of wireless communication system 100, wireless communication system 200, or both. The resource allocation scheme 500 can achieve improved activation and deactivation of serving cells while reducing the duration of interruptions on serving cells that will remain active.

[0157] Resource allocation scheme 500 may include a first serving cell 505 (e.g., PCell 505) and additional serving cells 510 (e.g., first SCell 510-a, second SCell 510-b). In some aspects, Figure 5The resource allocation scheme 500 shown illustrates the activation of the second SCell 510-b, where PCell 505 and the first SCell 510-a remain active. In this example, the first SCell 510-a and the second SCell 510-b may be in the same frequency band (e.g., in-band carrier aggregation), while PCell 505 is in a different frequency band. Additionally, the resource allocation scheme 500 may illustrate how the techniques described herein can be implemented on the first SCell 510-a to reduce the duration of the interruption period 545-b associated with the first SCell 510-a, which can be attributed to the activation of the second SCell 510-b.

[0158] In some cases, base station 105 may be configured to send SSB messages 515 to UE 115 via each of the serving cells according to an SSB period 520 (e.g., 10ms, 20ms). In some aspects, UE 115 may receive control messages 525 (e.g., DCI messages) via PCell 505 to schedule PDSCH transmissions 530 (e.g., MAC-CE messages) from base station 105 to UE 115. Subsequently, UE 115 may receive PDSCH transmissions 530 (e.g., MAC-CE messages) based on control messages 525. In this example, PDSCH transmission 530 may include an indication for activating a second SCell 510-b. In response to receiving the indication for activating the second SCell 510-b, UE 115 may send a feedback message 535 (e.g., ACK message) to base station 105 via PCell 505.

[0159] In some aspects, control message 525 (e.g., DCI message), PDSCH transmission 530 (e.g., MAC-CE message), or both may include an indication that a reference signal 550 (e.g., temporary reference signal 550) on the first SCell 510-a and / or the second SCell 510-b has been activated. In this regard, UE 115 may be configured to determine that a reference signal 550 on SCell 510 has been activated based on an explicit indication within control message 525 and / or PDSCH transmission 530. Alternatively, UE 115 may be configured to implicitly determine that a reference signal 550 on the first SCell 510-a and / or the second SCell 510-b has been activated based on the activation / deactivation of the second SCell 510-b. In such a case, UE 115 may determine that a reference signal 550 on the first SCell 510-a and / or the second SCell 510-b has been activated without any explicit indication from base station 105.

[0160] As previously mentioned herein, the transmission of feedback message 535 can trigger interruption periods 545-a and 545-b on the first SCell 510-a and the second SCell 510-b, respectively. In some cases, interruption period 545 may be attributed to a retuning process of a common antenna or antenna array used across various serving cells, resulting in an interruption of wireless communication on the corresponding serving cell. In some cases, activation of the second SCell 510-b may not result in an interruption period on PCell 505, where PCell 505 is not in the same frequency band as the second SCell 510-b. In some aspects, the interruption period 545 associated with the first SCell 510-a and / or the second SCell 510-b may begin after a duration 540 from the transmission of feedback message 535. For example, in some wireless communication systems, the duration 540 from the transmission of feedback message 535 to the start of interruption period 545 may be approximately 3 ms.

[0161] In some aspects, to reduce the duration of the outage period 545-a on the second SCell 510-b, the UE 115 may receive a reference signal 550-b (e.g., a temporary reference signal 550-b) via the second SCell 510-b. The reference signal 550-b may be received during the outage period 545-b associated with the second SCell 510-b. In some aspects, the UE 115 may determine and / or adjust the AGC associated with the second SCell 510-b, the tracking associated with the second SCell 510-b (e.g., time tracking, frequency tracking), or any combination thereof, based on the reference signal 550-b. Additionally, the UE 115 may receive A-CSI-RS 555 from the base station 105 via the second SCell 510-b. In some aspects, the UE 115 may perform one or more measurements on the A-CSI-RS 555 to determine the channel state of the second SCell 510-b. Subsequently, UE 115 can send a CQI report to base station 105 via PUSCH transmission 560. Base station 105 can then be configured to determine the channel state of the second SCell 510-b based on the received CQI report (e.g., PUSCH transmission 560). Therefore, both UE 115 and base station 105 can determine the channel state of the second SCell 510-b based on A-CSI-RS 555 and / or PUSCH transmission 560, thereby terminating the interruption period 545-b during the transmission of PUSCH transmission 560. In some aspects, the second SCell 510-b can be fully activated upon termination of interruption period 545-b. Furthermore, upon termination of interruption period 545-b, wireless communication can be established between UE 115 and base station 105 via the second SCell 510-b.

[0162] In some aspects, UE 115 may additionally receive reference signal 550-a (e.g., temporary reference signal 550-a) via a first SCell 510-a. In some cases, UE 115 may use the same set of time resources as reference signal 550-b received via a second SCell 510-b to receive reference signal 550-a. For example, base station 105 may transmit both reference signals 550-a and 550-b in the same time slot, the same subframe, or both, and UE 115 may receive both reference signals 550-a and 550-b in the same time slot, the same subframe, or both. Furthermore, reference signals 550-a and 550-b may be transmitted using the same or different parameters (e.g., the same or different SCS).

[0163] In some aspects, UE 115 may determine and / or adjust information associated with the first SCell 510-a (e.g., AGC, time tracking, frequency tracking) based on reference signal 550-a. In some cases, UE 115 may determine information associated with the first SCell 510-a based on reference signal 550-a that ends the interruption period 545-a and enables UE 115 to resume wireless communication with the first SCell 510-a. For example, AGC and / or time / frequency tracking indicated in reference signal 550-a may enable UE 115 to resume wireless communication with the first SCell 510-a, thereby triggering the end of the interruption period 545-a.

[0164] like Figure 5 As can be seen, the techniques described herein can significantly reduce the duration of the interruption period 545-a on the first SCell 510-a, which can be attributed to the activation of the second SCell 510-b. This reduction in the interruption period 545-a achieved by the techniques described herein enables the resumption of wireless communication on the first SCell 510-a in a more timely manner, thereby improving the efficiency and reliability of wireless communication within the wireless communication system (e.g., wireless communication system 100 or 200) and enhancing the overall user experience.

[0165] Figure 6 Examples of a resource allocation scheme 600 supporting techniques for serving cell activation and deactivation using reference signals, according to various aspects of this disclosure, are shown. In some examples, resource allocation scheme 600 may be implemented by or by aspects of wireless communication system 100, wireless communication system 200, or both. Resource allocation scheme 600 can achieve improved activation and deactivation of serving cells while reducing the duration of interruptions on serving cells that will remain active.

[0166] Resource allocation scheme 600 may include a first serving cell 605 (e.g., PCell 605) and additional serving cells 610 (e.g., first SCell 610-a, second SCell 610-b). In some aspects, Figure 6The resource allocation scheme 600 shown illustrates the deactivation of the second SCell 610-b, where PCell 605 and the first SCell 610-a remain active. In this example, the first SCell 610-a and the second SCell 610-b may be in the same frequency band (e.g., in-band carrier aggregation), while PCell 605 is in a different frequency band. Additionally, resource allocation scheme 600 may illustrate how the techniques described herein can be implemented on the first SCell 610-a to reduce the duration of the interruption period 645-b associated with the first SCell 610-a, which can be attributed to the deactivation of the second SCell 610-b.

[0167] In some cases, base station 105 may be configured to send SSB message 615 to UE 115 via each of the serving cells according to SSB period 620 (e.g., 10ms, 20ms). In some aspects, UE 115 may receive control message 625 (e.g., DCI message) via PCell 605 to schedule PDSCH transmission 630 (e.g., MAC-CE message) from base station 105 to UE 115. Subsequently, UE 115 may receive PDSCH transmission 630 (e.g., MAC-CE message) based on control message 625. In this example, PDSCH transmission 630 may include an indication for deactivating second SCell 610-b. In response to receiving the indication for deactivating second SCell 610-b, UE 115 may send feedback message 635 (e.g., ACK message) to base station 105 via PCell 605.

[0168] In some aspects, control message 625 (e.g., DCI message), PDSCH transmission 630 (e.g., MAC-CE message), or both may include an indication that reference signal 650 (e.g., temporary reference signal 650) on the first SCell 610-a has been activated. In this regard, UE 115 may be configured to determine that reference signal 650 on the first SCell 610-a has been activated based on an explicit indication within control message 525 and / or PDSCH transmission 630. Alternatively, UE 115 may be configured to implicitly determine that reference signal 650 on the first SCell 610-a has been activated based on the deactivation of the second SCell 610-b. In such a case, UE 115 may determine that reference signal 650 on the first SCell 610-a has been activated without any explicit indication from base station 105.

[0169] As previously mentioned herein, the transmission of feedback message 635 may trigger an interruption period 645 on the first SCell 610-a. In some cases, the interruption period 645 may be attributed to a retuning process of a common antenna or antenna array used across various serving cells, resulting in an interruption of wireless communication on the first SCell 610-a. In some cases, activation of the second SCell 610-b may not result in an interruption period on PCell 605, where PCell 605 is not in the same frequency band as the second SCell 610-b. In some aspects, the interruption period 645 associated with the first SCell 610 may begin after a duration 640 from the transmission of feedback message 635. For example, in some wireless communication systems, the duration 640 from the transmission of feedback message 635 to the start of interruption period 645 may be approximately 3 ms.

[0170] In some aspects, the deactivation of the second SCell 610-b can be completed after a duration of 640 following the transmission of feedback message 635. For example, the deactivation of the second SCell 610-b can be completed approximately 3 ms after the transmission of feedback message 635. In this respect, UE 115 and / or base station 105 can determine that the second SCell 610-b has been deactivated based on the transmission / reception of feedback message 635.

[0171] In some aspects, UE 115 may receive reference signal 650 (e.g., temporary reference signal 650) via first SCell 610-a. In some aspects, UE 115 may determine and / or adjust information associated with first SCell 610-a (e.g., AGC, time tracking, frequency tracking) based on reference signal 650. In some cases, UE 115 may determine information associated with first SCell 610-a based on reference signal 650 that ends interruption period 645 and enables UE 115 to resume wireless communication with first SCell 610-a. For example, AGC and / or time / frequency tracking indicated in reference signal 650 may enable UE 115 to resume wireless communication with first SCell 610-a, thereby triggering the end of interruption period 645.

[0172] like Figure 6As can be seen, the techniques described herein can significantly reduce the duration of the interruption period 645-a on the first SCell 610-a, which can be attributed to the deactivation of the second SCell 610-b. This reduction in the interruption period 645 achieved by the techniques described herein enables the resumption of wireless communication on the first SCell 610-a in a more timely manner, thereby improving the efficiency and reliability of wireless communication within the wireless communication system (e.g., wireless communication system 100 or 200) and enhancing the overall user experience.

[0173] Figure 7 Examples of process flow 700 supporting techniques for serving cell activation and deactivation using reference signals, according to various aspects of this disclosure, are shown. In some examples, process flow 700 may be implemented by aspects of wireless communication system 100, wireless communication system 200, resource allocation scheme 300, 400, 500, 600, or any combination thereof, or by aspects of wireless communication system 100, wireless communication system 200, resource allocation scheme 300, 400, 500, 600, or any combination thereof. For example, process flow 700 may show UE 115-b receiving an indication that a second serving cell has been activated or deactivated, determining an interruption in wireless communication on the first serving cell, receiving a reference signal on the first serving cell, and restoring wireless communication on the first serving cell based on the received reference signal, as referenced. Figure 1-6 The description, and other aspects.

[0174] Process flow 700 may include UE 115-b, first serving cell 205-c and second serving cell 205-d, which may be as described in reference Figure 1 and 2 Examples of UE 115 and serving cell 205 are described. Specifically, the first serving cell 205-c may include an example of the serving cell 205 that will remain active at UE 115-b, and the second serving cell 205-d may include an example of the serving cell 205 that will be activated or deactivated. In some aspects, the first serving cell 205-c and the second serving cell 205-d may be connected to a single base station 105 of a wireless communication system (e.g., Figure 2 The first serving cell 205-c and the second serving cell 205-d may be associated with (e.g., supported by) different base stations 105, for example, in the context of a dual-connectivity scenario.

[0175] In some examples, the operations shown in process flow 700 can be performed by hardware (e.g., including circuitry, processing blocks, logic components, and other components), code executed by a processor (e.g., software or firmware), or any combination thereof. Alternative examples can be implemented, in which some steps are performed in a different order than described or not at all. In some cases, steps may include additional features not mentioned below, or additional steps may be added.

[0176] At 705, UE 115-b can establish wireless communication with the first serving cell 205-c. In some aspects, UE 115-b can establish wireless communication with the first serving cell 205-c by initiating or otherwise performing an establishment procedure with the first serving cell 205-c. In some aspects, the first serving cell 205-c and the second serving cell 205-d can be associated with the same frequency band (e.g., in-band carrier aggregation). In some aspects, the first serving cell 205-c, the second serving cell 205-d, or both can include a PCell, an SCell, a PSCell of an SCG, or any combination thereof. For example, if the first serving cell 205-c includes a PCell, the second serving cell 205-d can include an SCell. As another example, if the first serving cell 205-c includes an SCell, the second serving cell 205-d can include an additional SCell. Furthermore, if the first serving cell 205-c includes a PSCell of an SCG, the second serving cell 205-c can include an SCell in the SCG.

[0177] In some cases, the first serving cell 205-c, the second serving cell 205-d, or both may be associated with a given radio access technology (such as 5G radio access technology, NR access technology, 4G radio access technology, or LTE radio access technology, or any combination thereof). In some cases, the second serving cell 205-c may be associated with the same or different radio access technology as the one associated with the first serving cell 205-c. For example, if the first serving cell 205-c is associated with 5G or NR access technology, the second serving cell 205-d may be associated with 4G radio access technology, LTE radio access technology, or both. Furthermore, in some cases, the first serving cell 205-c and the second serving cell 205-d may be associated with different frequency bands associated with common radio access technologies. For example, in some cases, both the first serving cell 205-c and the second serving cell 205-d may be associated with NR access technology, where the first serving cell 205-c is associated with the FR1 band of the NR access technology, and the second serving cell 205-d is associated with the FR2 band of the NR access technology.

[0178] At 710, UE 115-b may receive control messages via the first serving cell 205-c, the second serving cell 205-d, or both. In some aspects, the control messages may include an indication of a set of resources that UE 115-b may use to receive reference signals (e.g., temporary reference signals) from a base station via the first serving cell 205-c, the second serving cell 205-c, or both. The resource set may include a time resource set, a frequency resource set, a spatial resource set, or any combination thereof. The control messages may include RRC messages, SIB messages, SSB messages, or any combination thereof. In some aspects, UE 115-b may receive control messages at 710 based on establishing wireless communication with the first serving cell 205-c at 705.

[0179] At 715, UE 115-b can receive DCI messages from the base station via the first serving cell 205-c and / or the second serving cell 205-d. These DCI messages schedule downlink transmissions (e.g., PDSCH transmissions) from the base station to UE 115-b. DCI messages can be transmitted via PDCCH resources. In some aspects, UE 115-b can receive DCI messages at 710 based on establishing wireless communication with the first serving cell 205-c at 705, receiving control messages (e.g., RRC messages, SIB messages, SSB messages) at 710, or any combination thereof.

[0180] In some aspects, the DCI message may include an indication that a reference signal (e.g., a temporary reference signal) associated with the first serving cell 205-c, the second serving cell 205-d, or both has been activated (e.g., triggered, initiated). In this respect, UE115-b may be configured to determine, based on the indication in the DCI message, that UE115-b can monitor reference signals on the first serving cell 205-c, the second serving cell 205-d, or both.

[0181] At 720, UE 115-b can receive an indication for activating or deactivating the second serving cell 205-d from the base station via the first serving cell 205-c and / or the second serving cell 205-d. In some aspects, the indication for activating or deactivating the second serving cell 205-d can be indicated via a MAC-CE message. In some aspects, the base station can send the indication for activating or deactivating the second serving cell 205-d based on a DCI message at 715, and UE 115-b can receive this indication. For example, receiving the DCI message at 715 allows 715 to schedule a PDSCH transmission (e.g., a MAC-CE message) at 720, where the PDSCH transmission includes the indication for activating or deactivating the second serving cell 205-d.

[0182] When an instruction for activating or deactivating the second serving cell 205-d is transmitted via a MAC-CE message, the MAC-CE information may include an indication that a reference signal (e.g., a temporary reference signal) associated with the first serving cell 205-c, the second serving cell 205-d, or both has been activated (e.g., triggered, initiated). In this regard, the DCI message received at 715, the MAC-CE message received at 720, or both may include an indication that a reference signal associated with the first serving cell 205-c and / or the second serving cell 205-d has been activated. When a reference signal associated with both the first serving cell 205-c and the second serving cell 205-d is triggered / activated (e.g., in the case where the second serving cell 205-d is activated), the reference signal associated with the respective serving cell 205 may be activated individually or together (e.g., in series). For example, the DCI message and / or the MAC-CE message may activate a temporary reference signal on both the first and second serving cells 205. As another example, a DCI message can activate a temporary reference signal on the first serving cell 205-c, and a MAC-CE message can activate a temporary reference signal on the second serving cell 205-d (and vice versa).

[0183] At 725, UE 115-b may send a feedback message to the base station via the first serving cell 205-c, the second serving cell 205-d, or both. In some aspects, UE 115-b may send the feedback message to the base station based on (e.g., in response to) receiving an indication for activating or deactivating the second serving cell 205-c. The feedback message may include an ACK message, a NACK message, or both. For example, if the indication includes activation of the second serving cell 205-d, UE 115-b may send an ACK message in response to activation of the second serving cell 205-d. As another example, if the indication includes deactivation of the second serving cell 205-d, UE 115-b may send an ACK message in response to deactivation of the second serving cell 205-d. In this example, UE 115-b and / or the base station may determine that the second serving cell 205-d has been deactivated based on sending / receiving the feedback message at 725.

[0184] At 730, UE 115-b, the base station associated with serving cell 205, or both can identify a period of interruption in wireless communication between UE 115-b and the first serving cell 205-c. However, it is noted here that UE 115-b, the base station, or both are not required to actually identify the interruption period in all cases. In some aspects, UE 115-b and / or the base station can identify the interruption period based on receiving / transmitting an instruction at 720 for activating or deactivating the second serving cell 205-d. Alternatively, UE 115-b and / or the base station can identify the interruption period at 735 based on sending / receiving a feedback message at 725. For example, in some cases, the interruption period in wireless communication between UE 115-b and the first serving cell 205-b can begin based on UE 115-b sending a feedback message at 725. For example, as discussed earlier herein, the interruption period can begin after a specific duration (e.g., 3 ms) following the transmission of the feedback message. In this respect, the transmission of feedback messages can initiate or trigger the start of an interruption period.

[0185] At 735, UE 115-b can determine that a reference signal (e.g., a temporary reference signal) associated with the first serving cell 205-c has been activated. In some aspects, UE 115-b can determine that the reference signal associated with the first serving cell 205-c has been activated based on implicit determination, based on explicit signaling received from the base station, or both. Specifically, UE 115-b can be configured to determine that the reference signal associated with the first serving cell 205-c has been activated based on receiving a DCI message at 710, receiving an indication for activating / deactivating a second serving cell (e.g., a MAC-CE message) at 715, or both.

[0186] For example, if a DCI message is received at 715, a MAC-CE message is received at 720, or both include an indication that a reference signal associated with the first serving cell 205-c has been activated, UE 115-b can determine that the reference signal has been activated based on explicit signaling in the DCI message and / or MAC-CE message. Conversely, UE 115-b can be configured to determine that the reference signal associated with the first serving cell 205-c has been implicitly activated (e.g., in the absence of explicit signaling from the base station). For example, in some cases, UE 115-b can be configured to determine that the reference signal associated with the first serving cell 205-c has been activated based on an indication for activating / deactivating the second serving cell 205-d. In this respect, UE 115-b can be configured to determine that the reference signal associated with the active serving cell 205 (e.g., the first serving cell 205-c) that will remain active has been triggered / activated due to the activation or deactivation of the second serving cell 205-d.

[0187] At 740, UE 115-b can determine that a reference signal (e.g., a temporary reference signal) associated with the second serving cell 205-d has been activated. In some aspects, UE 115-b can determine that the reference signal associated with the second serving cell 205-d has been activated based on implicit determination, based on explicit signaling received from the base station, or both. Specifically, UE 115-b can be configured to determine that the reference signal associated with the second serving cell 205-d has been activated based on receiving a DCI message at 710, receiving an indication for activating / deactivating the second serving cell (e.g., a MAC-CE message) at 715, determining at 740 whether the reference signal associated with the first serving cell 205-c has been activated, or any combination thereof. In some cases, the reference signals associated with the first and second serving cells 205-c and 205-d can be activated individually or together (or indicate to UE 115-b that they are activated). In this regard, any discussion regarding the activation (or determination of whether the reference signal is activated) of the reference signal associated with the first serving cell 205-c at 735 can be regarded as applicable to the determination of whether the reference signal associated with the second serving cell 205-d is activated at 740.

[0188] At 745, UE 115-b may receive a reference signal from the base station via the first serving cell 205-c. In some aspects, UE 115-a may receive the reference signal for a duration following receipt of an instruction to activate / deactivate the second serving cell 205-d and during periods of interruption in wireless communication with the first serving cell 205-c. The reference signal may include, but is not limited to, a temporary reference signal. For example, a temporary reference signal may include a tracking reference signal, a non-zero power CSI-RS configured to track a reference signal, or both. In some aspects, UE 115-b may receive the reference signal at 745 based on receiving a control message at 710, receiving a DCI message at 715 and 720 and / or an instruction to activate / deactivate the second serving cell 205-c, sending a feedback message at 725, identifying an interruption period at 735, determining at 735 that a reference signal associated with the first serving cell 205-c has been activated, or any combination thereof. For example, if a control message is received at 710 including an indication of a set of resources that UE 115-b can use to receive a reference signal, UE 115-b can receive a reference signal at 745 based on (e.g., using, according to) the set of resources indicated in the control message.

[0189] At 750, UE 115-b may determine and / or adjust the AGC associated with the first serving cell 205-c, the tracking associated with the first serving cell 205-c (e.g., time tracking, frequency tracking), or any combination thereof. In some aspects, UE 115-b may determine / adjust the AGC and / or time / frequency tracking during a period of interruption in wireless communication between UE 115-b and the first serving cell 205-c identified at 730. In some aspects, UE 115-b may determine / adjust the AGC and / or tracking associated with the first serving cell 205-c based on a reference signal (e.g., a temporary reference signal) received at 745. For example, the reference signal received at 745 may include an indication of the AGC and / or tracking associated with the first serving cell 205-c.

[0190] At 755, UE 115-b can resume wireless communication with the first serving cell 205-c. In some cases, a reference signal received at 750 can trigger the end of an interruption period, and UE 115-b can resume wireless communication with the first serving cell 205-c based on the end of the interruption period. For example, UE 115-b can determine and / or adjust AGC and / or time / tracking associated with the first serving cell 205-c based on a reference signal (e.g., a temporary reference signal) received at 745. In this example, AGC and / or time / frequency tracking enables UE 115-b to resume wireless communication with the first serving cell 205-c, thereby triggering the end of the interruption period.

[0191] If the instruction received at 720 for activating / deactivating the second serving cell 205-c includes the activation of the second serving cell 205-d, the process flow can continue to 760.

[0192] At 760, UE 115-b may receive additional reference signals from the base station via the second serving cell 205-c. The additional reference signals may include, but are not limited to, temporary reference signals. In some aspects, UE 115-b may receive additional reference signals at 765 based on receiving a control message at 710, receiving DCI messages at 715 and 720 and / or an indication for activating the second serving cell 205-d, sending a feedback message at 725, determining at 740 that a reference signal associated with the second serving cell 205-d has been activated, or any combination thereof. For example, if the control message received at 710 includes an indication of a set of resources that UE 115-b can use to receive reference signals, UE 115-b may receive additional reference signals at 760 based on (e.g., using, according to) the set of resources indicated in the control message.

[0193] In some cases, a common time resource set can be used to receive a reference signal received at 750 via the first serving cell 205-c and an additional reference signal received at 760 via the second serving cell 205-d. For example, base stations associated with serving cells 205-c and 205-d can transmit both the first reference signal at 745 and the additional reference signal at 760 in the same time slot, the same subframe, or both, and UE 115-a can receive both the first reference signal at 745 and the additional reference signal at 760 in the same time slot, the same subframe, or both. Alternatively or additionally, the same characteristics or parameters (including but not limited to SCS) can be used to receive / transmit the reference signals received at 750 and 765 via the first serving cell 205-c and the second serving cell 205-d, respectively. For example, in some cases, the base station can use a common SCS to transmit (and UE 115-b can use a common SCS to receive) a reference signal received at 745 via the first serving cell 205-c and an additional reference signal received at 760 via the second serving cell 205-d. In other cases, the base station can use a different SCS to transmit (and UE 115-b can use a different SCS to receive) a reference signal received at 750 via the first serving cell 205-c and an additional reference signal received at 765 via the second serving cell 205-d.

[0194] At 765, UE 115-b may determine and / or adjust the AGC associated with the second serving cell 205-d, the tracking associated with the second serving cell 205-d (e.g., time tracking, frequency tracking), or any combination thereof. In some aspects, UE 115-b may determine / adjust the AGC and / or tracking associated with the second serving cell 205-d based on additional reference signals (e.g., temporary reference signals) received at 760. For example, the additional reference signals received at 760 may include indications of the AGC and / or tracking associated with the second serving cell 205-d.

[0195] At 770, UE 115-b, the base station, or both can determine that the second serving cell 205-d has been activated, establish wireless communication with the second serving cell 205-d, or both. In some aspects, UE 115-b can determine that the second serving cell 205-d has been activated and / or establish wireless communication with the second serving cell 205-d based on receiving additional reference signals at 760, determining / adjusting AGC and / or tracking associated with the second serving cell 205-d at 765, or any combination thereof. For example, UE 115-b can determine and / or adjust AGC and / or tracking associated with the second serving cell 205-d based on additional reference signals (e.g., temporary reference signals) received at 760. In this example, AGC and / or time / frequency tracking enables UE 115-b to establish wireless communication with the second serving cell 205-d and / or determine that the second serving cell 205-d has been activated.

[0196] The techniques described herein can provide improved wireless communication by reducing the duration of outage periods attributable to the activation / deactivation of other serving cells 205 (e.g., the first serving cell 205-c). Specifically, by receiving a reference signal (e.g., a temporary reference signal) on the first serving cell 205-c that will remain active, UE 115-b can determine and / or adjust information associated with the first serving cell 205-c that will remain active (e.g., AGC, time / frequency tracking). This information determined based on the reference signal can thereby reduce the duration of the outage and enable UE 115-b to resume wireless communication on the first serving cell 205-c. By reducing the duration of outage periods at the serving cell 205 at UE 115-b, the techniques described herein can improve the efficiency and reliability of wireless communication and enhance the overall user experience.

[0197] Figure 8 A block diagram 800 of an apparatus 805 supporting techniques for serving cell activation and deactivation using reference signals, according to various aspects of this disclosure, is shown. Apparatus 805 may be an example of various aspects of UE 115 as described herein. Apparatus 805 may include a receiver 810, a communications manager 815, and a transmitter 820. Apparatus 805 may also include a processor. Each of these components may communicate with each other (e.g., via one or more buses).

[0198] Receiver 810 can receive information such as packets, user data, or control information associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, and information related to techniques for activating and deactivating serving cells using reference signals). This information can be passed to other components of device 805. Receiver 810 can be a reference... Figure 11 Examples of various aspects of the transceiver 1120 are described. The receiver 810 may utilize a single antenna or an array of antennas.

[0199] The communication manager 815 can perform the following operations: when the UE is wirelessly communicating with a first serving cell supported by a base station, receive an instruction for activating or deactivating a second serving cell supported by a base station; receive a reference signal from the base station via the first serving cell after a duration following the receipt of the instruction, wherein the duration is an interruption period for wireless communication with the first serving cell; and resume wireless communication with the first serving cell based on the end of the interruption period upon receipt of the reference signal. The communication manager 815 may be an example of aspects of the communication manager 1110 described herein.

[0200] By including or configuring the communication manager 815 according to the examples described herein, device 805 can support improved techniques for serving cell activation and deactivation. For example, by maintaining the active serving cell 205 (e.g., Figure 2 The service cell 205-a shown is Figure 7 The reference signal is received on the serving cell 205-c shown herein, and the techniques described herein can reduce the amount of signal attributable to other serving cells 205 (e.g., Figure 2 The service cell 205-b shown is Figure 7 The activation or deactivation of serving cell 205-d) shown herein will reduce the duration of the outage period on the active serving cell 205. By reducing the duration of the outage period on the active serving cell 205, the techniques described herein can improve the efficiency and reliability of wireless communication, restore service more promptly, and improve the user experience.

[0201] Based on receiving a temporary reference signal on the serving cell 205 that will remain active, the processor of UE 115 (e.g., the processor of the control receiver 810, communication manager 815, transmitter 820, etc.) can reduce the processing resources used in the cell reselection and / or cell attach procedures. For example, by enabling UE 115 to resume wireless communication with serving cell 205 based on the reception of the reference signal, the techniques described herein can reduce the duration of service interruption for UE 115 during outage periods, which can reduce the power consumption and signaling associated with monitoring SSB messages from the serving cell. By reducing power consumption, the battery life of UE 115 can be improved. Furthermore, by reducing the duration spent by UE 115 during outage periods, service can be quickly re-established at UE 115, thereby improving the user experience.

[0202] The communication manager 815 or its sub-components may be implemented in hardware, processor-executable code (e.g., software or firmware), or any combination thereof. If implemented in processor-executable code, the functionality of the communication manager 815 or its sub-components may be performed by a general-purpose processor, digital signal processor (DSP), application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof, designed to perform the functions described in this disclosure.

[0203] The communication manager 815 or its subcomponents may be physically located at various locations, including being distributed such that some functions are implemented by one or more physical components at different physical locations. In some examples, according to various aspects of this disclosure, the communication manager 815 or its subcomponents may be separate and distinct components. In some examples, according to various aspects of this disclosure, the communication manager 815 or its subcomponents may be combined with one or more other hardware components, including but not limited to input / output (I / O) components, transceivers, network servers, other computing devices, one or more other components described in this disclosure, or combinations thereof.

[0204] Transmitter 820 can transmit signals generated by other components of device 805. In some examples, transmitter 820 can be co-located with receiver 810 in a transceiver module. For example, transmitter 820 can be a reference... Figure 11 Examples of various aspects of the transceiver 1120 are described. The transmitter 820 may utilize a single antenna or an array of antennas.

[0205] Figure 9A block diagram 900 of an apparatus 905 supporting techniques for serving cell activation and deactivation using reference signals, according to various aspects of this disclosure, is shown. Apparatus 905 may be an example of aspects of apparatus 805 or UE 115 as described herein. Apparatus 905 may include a receiver 910, a communications manager 915, and a transmitter 935. Apparatus 905 may also include a processor. Each of these components may communicate with each other (e.g., via one or more buses).

[0206] Receiver 910 can receive information such as packets, user data, or control information associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, and information related to techniques for activating and deactivating serving cells using reference signals). This information can be passed to other components of device 905. Receiver 910 can be a reference... Figure 11 Examples of various aspects of the transceiver 1120 are described. The receiver 910 may utilize a single antenna or an array of antennas.

[0207] Communication manager 915 may be an example of aspects of communication manager 815 as described herein. Communication manager 915 may include serving cell activation / deactivation manager 920, reference signal reception manager 925, and serving cell communication manager 930. Communication manager 915 may be an example of aspects of communication manager 1110 as described herein.

[0208] The serving cell activation / deactivation manager 920 can receive instructions for activating or deactivating a second serving cell supported by a base station when the UE is wirelessly communicating with a first serving cell supported by a base station.

[0209] The reference signal receiver manager 925 can receive a reference signal from the base station via the first serving cell after a duration following the receipt of the instruction, wherein the duration is an interruption period for wireless communication with the first serving cell.

[0210] The serving cell communication manager 930 can resume wireless communication with the first serving cell based on the interruption period ending when a reference signal is received.

[0211] Transmitter 935 can transmit signals generated by other components of device 905. In some examples, transmitter 935 can be co-located with receiver 910 in a transceiver module. For example, transmitter 935 can be a reference... Figure 11 Examples of various aspects of the transceiver 1120 are described. The transmitter 935 may utilize a single antenna or an array of antennas.

[0212] Figure 10A block diagram 1000 of a communication manager 1005 supporting techniques for serving cell activation and deactivation using reference signals, according to various aspects of this disclosure, is shown. The communication manager 1005 may be an example of aspects of the communication manager 815, communication manager 915, or communication manager 1110 described herein. The communication manager 1005 may include a serving cell activation / deactivation manager 1010, a reference signal receiving manager 1015, a serving cell communication manager 1020, a control message receiving manager 1025, and a feedback message sending manager 1030. Each of these modules may communicate directly or indirectly with each other (e.g., via one or more buses).

[0213] The serving cell activation / deactivation manager 1010 can receive instructions for activating or deactivating a second serving cell supported by a base station when the UE is wirelessly communicating with a first serving cell supported by a base station.

[0214] The reference signal receiving manager 1015 can receive a reference signal from a base station via a first serving cell, the reference signal being received after a duration following the receipt of an indication, wherein the duration is an interruption period for wireless communication with the first serving cell. In some examples, the reference signal receiving manager 1015 can determine that a reference signal associated with the first serving cell has been activated based on receiving an indication for activating or deactivating a second serving cell, wherein receiving the reference signal is based on determining that the reference signal has been activated. In some examples, the reference signal receiving manager 1015 can determine that an indication regarding the activation of a reference signal associated with the first serving cell has been received based on receiving a MAC-CE message, wherein receiving the reference signal is based on determining that the reference signal has been activated.

[0215] In some examples, the reference signal reception manager 1015 may receive additional reference signals from the base station via the second serving cell based on receiving an instruction to activate the second serving cell. In some examples, the reference signal reception manager 1015 may determine, during an interruption period and based on the received reference signals, an AGC associated with the first serving cell, a tracking associated with the first serving cell, or both. In some cases, the reference signal, the additional reference signal, or both include a temporary reference signal. In some cases, the temporary reference signal is a tracking reference signal or a non-zero power channel state information reference signal configured as a tracking reference signal. In some cases, the reference signal received via the first serving cell and the additional reference signal received via the second serving cell are received using a common time resource set. In some cases, the reference signal received via the first serving cell and the additional reference signal received via the second serving cell are received using a common subcarrier spacing.

[0216] The serving cell communication manager 1020 can resume wireless communication with the first serving cell based on the interruption period ending upon receipt of a reference signal. In some examples, the serving cell communication manager 1020 can establish wireless communication with the base station via the second serving cell based on receiving an additional reference signal. In some examples, the serving cell communication manager 1020 can determine that the second serving cell has been deactivated based on sending a feedback message. In some examples, the serving cell communication manager 1020 may have both the first and second serving cells comprising SCells. In some examples, the first and second serving cells are in the same frequency band. In some cases, the first serving cell is the PSCell of the SCG, and the second serving cell is the SCell of the SCG.

[0217] In some cases, the first serving cell includes a primary cell, and the second serving cell includes a SCell. In some cases, the first serving cell is associated with a first radio access technology, and the second serving cell is associated with a second radio access technology different from the first radio access technology. In some cases, each of the first and second radio access technologies includes one of NR access technology, 5G radio access technology, LTE radio access technology, or 4G radio access technology. In some cases, the first serving cell is associated with a first frequency band of the first radio access technology, and the second serving cell is associated with a second frequency band of the first radio access technology.

[0218] The control message receiving manager 1025 can receive control messages from the base station, which include indications of a set of resources that the UE can use to receive reference signals, wherein receiving the reference signals is based on the control messages. In some examples, the control message receiving manager 1025 can receive downlink control messages from the base station via a first serving cell, scheduling downlink transmissions from the base station to the UE, wherein receiving an indication for activating or deactivating a second serving cell is based on the downlink control messages. In some examples, the control message receiving manager 1025 can receive an indication via downlink control messages that a reference signal associated with the first serving cell has been activated, wherein receiving the reference signal is based on receiving the indication that the reference signal has been activated. In some examples, the control message receiving manager 1025 can receive from the base station an indication that a reference signal associated with both the first and second serving cells has been activated, wherein receiving the reference signal via the first serving cell, receiving additional reference signals via the second serving cell, or both, is based on receiving the indication that the reference signal has been activated.

[0219] The feedback message sending manager 1030 can send a feedback message to the base station based on receiving an instruction for activating or deactivating a second serving cell, wherein an interruption period begins based on the sending of the feedback message. In some examples, the feedback message sending manager 1030 can send a feedback message to the base station based on receiving an instruction for deactivating a second serving cell.

[0220] Figure 11 A diagram of a system 1100 including device 1105 supporting techniques for serving cell activation and deactivation using reference signals, according to various aspects of this disclosure, is shown. Device 1105 may be an example of device 805, device 905, or UE 115 as described herein, or a component including device 805, device 905, or UE 115. Device 1105 may include components for bidirectional voice and data communication, including components for transmitting and receiving communications, including a communication manager 1110, an I / O controller 1115, a transceiver 1120, an antenna 1125, a memory 1130, and a processor 1140. These components may communicate electronically via one or more buses (e.g., bus 1145).

[0221] The communication manager 1110 can perform the following operations: when the UE is wirelessly communicating with a first serving cell supported by a base station, receive an instruction for activating or deactivating a second serving cell supported by a base station; receive a reference signal from the base station via the first serving cell after a duration following the receipt of the instruction, wherein the duration is an interruption period for wireless communication with the first serving cell; and resume wireless communication with the first serving cell based on the end of the interruption period when the reference signal is received.

[0222] I / O controller 1115 can manage input and output signals for device 1105. I / O controller 1115 can also manage peripheral devices not integrated into device 1105. In some cases, I / O controller 1115 can represent a physical connection or port to an external peripheral device. In some cases, I / O controller 1115 can utilize, for example... This can be an operating system such as a modem, keyboard, mouse, touchscreen, or similar device, or an operating system of the known type. In other cases, the I / O controller 1115 may represent or interact with a modem, keyboard, mouse, touchscreen, or similar device. In some cases, the I / O controller 1115 may be implemented as part of a processor. In some cases, a user may interact with device 1105 via the I / O controller 1115 or via hardware components controlled by the I / O controller 1115.

[0223] Transceiver 1120 can communicate bidirectionally via one or more antennas, wired or wireless links as described above. For example, transceiver 1120 can represent a wireless transceiver and can communicate bidirectionally with another wireless transceiver. Transceiver 1120 may also include a modem for modulating packets and providing the modulated packets to the antenna for transmission, and demodulating packets received from the antenna.

[0224] In some cases, a wireless device may include a single antenna 1125. However, in other cases, the device may have more than one antenna 1125, which are capable of transmitting or receiving multiple wireless transmissions simultaneously.

[0225] Memory 1130 may include random access memory (RAM) and read-only memory (ROM). Memory 1130 may store computer-readable, computer-executable code 1135, which includes instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to perform the various functions described herein. In some cases, in addition to this, memory 1130 may also contain a basic I / O system (BIOS) that controls basic hardware or software operations, such as interaction with peripheral components or devices.

[0226] Processor 1140 may include intelligent hardware devices (e.g., general-purpose processors, DSPs, central processing units (CPUs), microcontrollers, ASICs, FPGAs, programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic components, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof). In some cases, processor 1140 may be configured to use a memory controller to operate a memory array. In other cases, the memory controller may be integrated into processor 1140. Processor 1140 may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in memory (e.g., memory 1130) to cause device 1105 to perform various functions (e.g., functions or tasks supporting techniques for serving cell activation and deactivation using reference signals).

[0227] Code 1135 may include instructions for implementing various aspects of this disclosure, including instructions for supporting wireless communication. Code 1135 may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium (e.g., system memory or other types of memory). In some cases, code 1135 may not be directly executable by processor 1140, but may cause a computer (e.g., when compiled and executed) to perform the functions described herein.

[0228] Figure 12A block diagram 1200 of an apparatus 1205 supporting techniques for serving cell activation and deactivation using reference signals, according to various aspects of this disclosure, is shown. Apparatus 1205 may be an example of various aspects of base station 105 as described herein. Apparatus 1205 may include a receiver 1210, a communication manager 1215, and a transmitter 1220. Apparatus 1205 may also include a processor. Each of these components may communicate with each other (e.g., via one or more buses).

[0229] Receiver 1210 can receive information such as packets, user data, or control information associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, and information related to techniques for activating and deactivating serving cells using reference signals). This information can be passed to other components of device 1205. Receiver 1210 can be a reference... Figure 15 Examples of various aspects of the transceiver 1520 are described. The receiver 1210 may utilize a single antenna or an array of antennas.

[0230] Communication manager 1215 can perform the following operations: when a base station is wirelessly communicating with a UE via a first serving cell supported by the base station, sending an indication to the UE for activating or deactivating a second serving cell supported by the base station; sending a reference signal to the UE via the first serving cell after a duration following the sending of the indication, wherein the duration is an interruption period for wireless communication with the first serving cell; and resuming wireless communication with the UE via the first serving cell based on the end of the interruption period upon receiving the reference signal. Communication manager 1215 may be an example of various aspects of communication manager 1510 described herein.

[0231] By including or configuring the communication manager 1215 according to the examples described herein, device 1505 can support improved techniques for serving cell activation and deactivation. For example, by ensuring that the serving cell 205 remains active (e.g., Figure 2 The service cell 205-a shown is Figure 7 The techniques described herein can reduce the number of reference signals transmitted on serving cell 205-c) as shown in the diagram. Figure 2 The service cell 205-b shown is Figure 7 The activation or deactivation of serving cell 205-d) shown herein will reduce the duration of the outage period on the active serving cell 205. By reducing the duration of the outage period on the active serving cell 205, the techniques described herein can improve the efficiency and reliability of wireless communication, restore service more promptly, and improve the user experience.

[0232] The communication manager 1215 or its sub-components may be implemented in hardware, processor-executable code (e.g., software or firmware), or any combination thereof. If implemented in processor-executable code, the functionality of the communication manager 1215 or its sub-components may be performed by a general-purpose processor, DSP, ASIC, FPGA or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware component, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described in this disclosure.

[0233] The communication manager 1215 or its subcomponents may be physically located in different locations, including being distributed such that some functions are implemented by one or more physical components at different physical locations. In some examples, according to various aspects of this disclosure, the communication manager 1215 or its subcomponents may be separate and distinct components. In some examples, according to various aspects of this disclosure, the communication manager 1215 or its subcomponents may be combined with one or more other hardware components (including, but not limited to, input / output (I / O) components, transceivers, network servers, other computing devices, one or more other components described in this disclosure, or combinations thereof).

[0234] Transmitter 1220 can transmit signals generated by other components of device 1205. In some examples, transmitter 1220 may be co-located with receiver 1210 in a transceiver module. For example, transmitter 1220 may be a reference... Figure 15 Examples of various aspects of the transceiver 1520 are described. The transmitter 1220 may utilize a single antenna or an array of antennas.

[0235] Figure 13 A block diagram 1300 of an apparatus 1305 supporting techniques for serving cell activation and deactivation using reference signals, according to various aspects of this disclosure, is shown. Apparatus 1305 may be an example of aspects of apparatus 1205 or base station 105 as described herein. Apparatus 1305 may include a receiver 1310, a communication manager 1315, and a transmitter 1335. Apparatus 1305 may also include a processor. Each of these components may communicate with each other (e.g., via one or more buses).

[0236] Receiver 1310 can receive information such as packets, user data, or control information associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, and information related to techniques for activating and deactivating serving cells using reference signals). This information can be passed to other components of device 1305. Receiver 1310 can be a reference... Figure 15 Examples of various aspects of the transceiver 1520 are described. The receiver 1310 may utilize a single antenna or an array of antennas.

[0237] Communication manager 1315 may be an example of aspects of communication manager 1215 as described herein. Communication manager 1315 may include control message sending manager 1320, reference signal sending manager 1325, and serving cell communication manager 1330. Communication manager 1315 may be an example of aspects of communication manager 1510 as described herein.

[0238] The control message sending manager 1320 can send an instruction to the UE to activate or deactivate a second serving cell supported by the base station when the base station is wirelessly communicating with the UE via a first serving cell supported by the base station.

[0239] The reference signal transmission manager 1325 can transmit a reference signal to the UE via a first serving cell. The reference signal is transmitted after a duration following a transmission instruction, wherein the duration is an interruption period for wireless communication with the first serving cell.

[0240] The serving cell communication manager 1330 can resume wireless communication with the UE via the first serving cell based on the interruption period ending when a reference signal is received.

[0241] Transmitter 1335 can transmit signals generated by other components of device 1305. In some examples, transmitter 1335 may be co-located with receiver 1310 in a transceiver module. For example, transmitter 1335 may be a reference... Figure 15 Examples of various aspects of the transceiver 1520 are described. The transmitter 1335 may utilize a single antenna or an array of antennas.

[0242] Figure 14 A block diagram 1400 of a communication manager 1405 supporting techniques for serving cell activation and deactivation using reference signals, according to various aspects of this disclosure, is shown. The communication manager 1405 may be an example of aspects of the communication manager 1215, communication manager 1315, or communication manager 1510 described herein. The communication manager 1205 may include a control message sending manager 1410, a reference signal sending manager 1415, a serving cell communication manager 1420, a feedback message receiving manager 1425, and a feedback message sending manager 1430. Each of these modules may communicate with each other directly or indirectly (e.g., via one or more buses).

[0243] The control message sending manager 1410 may send an indication to the UE for activating or deactivating a second serving cell supported by the base station when the base station is wirelessly communicating with the UE via a first serving cell supported by the base station. In some examples, the control message sending manager 1410 may send a control message to the UE including an indication of a set of resources available to the UE for receiving a reference signal, wherein the transmission of the reference signal is based on the control message. In some examples, the control message sending manager 1410 may send a downlink control message to the UE via the first serving cell to schedule downlink transmissions from the base station to the UE, wherein the indication for activating or deactivating the second serving cell may be based on the downlink control message. In some examples, the control message sending manager 1410 may send an indication via a downlink control message that a reference signal associated with the first serving cell has been activated, wherein the transmission of the reference signal is based on the indication that the reference signal has been activated. In some examples, the control message sending manager 1410 may send an indication to the UE that a reference signal associated with the first serving cell and the second serving cell has been activated, wherein the reference signal is sent via the first serving cell, an additional reference signal is sent via the second serving cell, or both are based on sending an indication that the reference signal has been activated. In some cases, the indication for activating or deactivating the second serving cell is sent to the UE via a MAC-CE message.

[0244] Reference signal transmission manager 1415 may transmit a reference signal to the UE via a first serving cell, the reference signal being transmitted after a duration following a transmission indication, wherein the duration is an interruption period for wireless communication with the first serving cell. In some examples, reference signal transmission manager 1415 may transmit additional reference signals to the UE via a second serving cell based on a transmission indication for activating a second serving cell. In some cases, the reference signal, additional reference signal, or both may each include a temporary reference signal. In some cases, the temporary reference signal is a tracking reference signal or a non-zero power channel state information reference signal configured as a tracking reference signal. In some cases, the reference signal transmitted via the first serving cell and the additional reference signal transmitted via the second serving cell are transmitted using a common time resource set. In some cases, the reference signal transmitted via the first serving cell and the additional reference signal transmitted via the second serving cell are transmitted using a common subcarrier spacing. In some cases, the reference signal includes an indication of AGC associated with the first serving cell, an indication of tracking (e.g., time / frequency tracking) associated with the first serving cell, or both.

[0245] The serving cell communication manager 1420 can resume wireless communication with the UE via the first serving cell based on the interruption period ending upon receipt of a reference signal. In some examples, the serving cell communication manager 1420 can establish wireless communication with the UE via a second serving cell based on sending an additional reference signal. In some examples, the serving cell communication manager 1420 can determine that the second serving cell has been deactivated based on receiving a feedback message. In some examples, the serving cell communication manager 1420 may have both the first and second serving cells comprising an SCell. In some examples, the serving cell communication manager 1420 may have the first and second serving cells in the same frequency band. In some cases, the first serving cell is a PSCell of the SCG, and the second serving cell is an SCcell of the SCG.

[0246] In some cases, the first serving cell includes a primary cell, and the second serving cell includes a SCell. In some cases, the first serving cell is associated with a first radio access technology, and the second serving cell is associated with a second radio access technology different from the first radio access technology. In some cases, each of the first and second radio access technologies includes one of NR access technology, 5G radio access technology, LTE radio access technology, or 4G radio access technology. In some cases, the first serving cell is associated with a first frequency band of the first radio access technology, and the second serving cell is associated with a second frequency band of the first radio access technology.

[0247] The feedback message receiving manager 1425 can receive feedback messages from the UE based on sending an instruction to activate or deactivate the second serving cell, wherein the interruption period begins based on the feedback message.

[0248] The feedback message sending manager 1430 can receive feedback messages from the UE based on sending an instruction to deactivate the second serving cell.

[0249] Figure 15A diagram of a system 1500 including a device 1505 supporting techniques for activating and deactivating a serving cell using a reference signal, according to various aspects of this disclosure, is shown. Device 1505 may be an example of device 1205, device 1305, or base station 105 as described herein, or a component including device 1205, device 1305, or base station 105. Device 1505 may include components for bidirectional voice and data communication, including components for transmitting and receiving communications, including a communication manager 1510, a network communication manager 1515, a transceiver 1520, an antenna 1525, a memory 1530, a processor 1540, and an inter-site communication manager 1545. These components may communicate electronically via one or more buses (e.g., bus 1550).

[0250] The communication manager 1510 can perform the following operations: when the base station is wirelessly communicating with the UE via a first serving cell supported by the base station, it sends an instruction to the UE for activating or deactivating a second serving cell supported by the base station; sends a reference signal to the UE via the first serving cell after a duration following the sending of the instruction, wherein the duration is an interruption period for wireless communication with the first serving cell; and resumes wireless communication with the UE via the first serving cell based on the end of the interruption period upon receiving the reference signal.

[0251] The network communication manager 1515 can manage communication with the core network (e.g., via one or more wired backhaul links). For example, the network communication manager 1515 can manage the transmission of data communication to client devices (e.g., one or more UEs 115).

[0252] Transceiver 1520 can communicate bidirectionally via one or more antennas, wired or wireless links as described above. For example, transceiver 1520 can represent a wireless transceiver and can communicate bidirectionally with another wireless transceiver. Transceiver 1520 may also include a modem for modulating packets and providing the modulated packets to the antenna for transmission, and for demodulating packets received from the antenna.

[0253] In some cases, a wireless device may include a single antenna 1525. However, in other cases, the device may have more than one antenna 1525, which are capable of transmitting or receiving multiple wireless transmissions simultaneously.

[0254] Memory 1530 may include RAM, ROM, or a combination thereof. Memory 1530 may store computer-readable code 1535, which includes instructions that, when executed by a processor (e.g., processor 1540), cause the device to perform the various functions described herein. In some cases, in addition to this, memory 1530 may also contain a BIOS, which controls basic hardware or software operations, such as interaction with peripheral components or devices.

[0255] Processor 1540 may include intelligent hardware devices (e.g., general-purpose processors, DSPs, CPUs, microcontrollers, ASICs, FPGAs, programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic components, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof). In some cases, processor 1540 may be configured to operate a memory array using a memory controller. In some cases, the memory controller may be integrated into processor 1540. Processor 1540 may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in memory (e.g., memory 1530) to cause device 1505 to perform various functions (e.g., functions or tasks supporting techniques for serving cell activation and deactivation using reference signals).

[0256] Inter-site communication manager 1545 can manage communication with other base stations 105 and may include a controller or scheduler for cooperating with other base stations 105 to control communication with UE 115. For example, inter-site communication manager 1545 can coordinate the scheduling of transmissions to UE 115 to implement various interference mitigation techniques such as beamforming or joint transmission. In some examples, inter-site communication manager 1545 may provide an X2 interface within LTE / LTE-A wireless communication network technology to facilitate communication between base stations 105.

[0257] Code 1535 may include instructions for implementing various aspects of this disclosure, including instructions for supporting wireless communication. Code 1535 may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium (e.g., system memory or other types of memory). In some cases, code 1535 may not be directly executable by processor 1540, but may cause a computer (e.g., when compiled and executed) to perform the functions described herein.

[0258] Figure 16 A flowchart illustrating a method 1600 for serving cell activation and deactivation using a reference signal, according to various aspects of this disclosure, is shown. Operation of method 1600 can be implemented by a UE 115 or its components as described herein. For example, operation of method 1600 can be implemented by a UE 115 or its components as described herein. Figures 8 to 11The communication manager described below is used for execution. In some examples, the UE can execute a set of instructions to control the UE's functional units to perform the functions described below. Alternatively, the UE can use dedicated hardware to perform aspects of the functions described below.

[0259] At point 1605, when the UE is wirelessly communicating with a first serving cell supported by the base station, the UE may receive an instruction for activating or deactivating a second serving cell supported by the base station. The operation at point 1605 can be performed according to the method described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation at point 1605 may be derived from, as referenced... Figures 8 to 11 The described service cell activation / deactivation manager is used to perform this.

[0260] At 1610, the UE can receive a reference signal from the base station via the first serving cell, the reference signal being received after a duration following the receipt of the indication, wherein the duration is an interruption period for wireless communication with the first serving cell. Operation 1610 can be performed according to the method described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 1610 can be determined by reference to... Figures 8 to 11 The reference signal receiver manager described is used to perform this.

[0261] At point 1615, the UE can resume wireless communication with the first serving cell based on the termination of the interruption period upon receiving a reference signal. The operation at point 1615 can be performed according to the method described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation at point 1615 can be determined by reference as follows. Figures 8 to 11 The described service cell communication manager is used to perform this.

[0262] Figure 17 A flowchart illustrating a method 1700 for serving cell activation and deactivation using a reference signal, according to various aspects of this disclosure, is shown. Operation of method 1700 can be implemented by a UE 115 or its components as described herein. For example, operation of method 1700 can be implemented by a UE 115 or its components as described herein. Figures 8 to 11 The communication manager described below is used for execution. In some examples, the UE can execute a set of instructions to control the UE's functional units to perform the functions described below. Alternatively, the UE can use dedicated hardware to perform aspects of the functions described below.

[0263] At point 1705, the UE can receive downlink control messages from the base station via the first serving cell, scheduling downlink transmissions from the base station to the UE. The operation at point 1705 can be performed according to the method described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation at point 1705 can be determined by referring to... Figures 8 to 11 The described control message receiving manager is used to perform this action.

[0264] At 1710, the UE can receive an indication via downlink control messages that a reference signal associated with the first serving cell has been activated. The operation at 1710 can be performed according to the method described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation at 1710 can be determined by reference to... Figures 8 to 11 The described control message receiving manager is used to perform this action.

[0265] At point 1715, when the UE is wirelessly communicating with a first serving cell supported by a base station, the UE can receive an indication for activating or deactivating a second serving cell supported by the base station, wherein receiving the indication for activating or deactivating the second serving cell is based on downlink control messages. The operation at point 1715 can be performed according to the method described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation at point 1715 can be derived from, as referenced... Figures 8 to 11 The described service cell activation / deactivation manager is used to perform this.

[0266] At 1720, the UE can receive a reference signal from the base station via the first serving cell. This reference signal is received after a duration following the receipt of an indication, where the duration is an interruption period for wireless communication with the first serving cell. The reception of the reference signal is based on receiving an indication that the reference signal has been activated. Operation 1720 can be performed according to the method described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 1720 can be determined by referring to... Figures 8 to 11 The reference signal receiver manager described is used to perform this.

[0267] At 1725, the UE can resume wireless communication with the first serving cell based on the termination of the interruption period upon receiving a reference signal. The operation at 1725 can be performed according to the method described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation at 1725 can be determined by reference as follows. Figures 8 to 11 The described service cell communication manager is used to perform this.

[0268] Figure 18 A flowchart illustrating a method 1800 for serving cell activation and deactivation using a reference signal, according to various aspects of this disclosure, is shown. Operation of method 1800 can be implemented by a UE 115 or its components as described herein. For example, operation of method 1800 can be implemented by a UE 115 or its components as described herein. Figures 8 to 11 The communication manager described below is used for execution. In some examples, the UE can execute a set of instructions to control the UE's functional units to perform the functions described below. Alternatively, the UE can use dedicated hardware to perform aspects of the functions described below.

[0269] At point 1805, when the UE is wirelessly communicating with a first serving cell supported by the base station, the UE may receive an instruction for activating or deactivating a second serving cell supported by the base station. The operation at point 1805 can be performed according to the method described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation at point 1805 may be derived from, as referenced... Figures 8 to 11 The described service cell activation / deactivation manager is used to perform this.

[0270] At 1810, the UE can receive a reference signal from the base station via the first serving cell, the reference signal being received after a duration following the receipt of the indication, wherein the duration is an interruption period for wireless communication with the first serving cell. Operation 1810 can be performed according to the method described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 1810 can be determined by reference to... Figures 8 to 11 The reference signal receiver manager described is used to perform this.

[0271] At point 1815, the UE can resume wireless communication with the first serving cell based on the termination of the interruption period upon receiving a reference signal. The operation at point 1815 can be performed according to the method described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation at point 1815 can be determined by reference as follows. Figures 8 to 11 The described service cell communication manager is used to perform this.

[0272] At point 1820, the UE can receive additional reference signals from the base station via the second serving cell based on receiving an instruction to activate the second serving cell. The operation at point 1820 can be performed according to the method described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation at point 1820 can be determined by reference as follows: Figures 8 to 11 The reference signal receiver manager described is used to perform this.

[0273] At point 1825, the UE can establish wireless communication with the base station via a second serving cell based on receiving additional reference signals. Operation at point 1825 can be performed according to the method described herein. In some examples, aspects of operation at point 1825 can be determined by reference as follows. Figures 8 to 11 The described service cell communication manager is used to perform this.

[0274] Figure 19 A flowchart illustrating a method 1900 for serving cell activation and deactivation using a reference signal, according to various aspects of this disclosure, is shown. Operation of method 1900 can be implemented by a base station 105 or its components as described herein. For example, operation of method 1900 can be implemented by... Figures 12 to 15 The communication manager described below is used to execute this. In some examples, the base station may execute a set of instructions to control the functional units of the base station to perform the functions described below. Alternatively, the base station may use dedicated hardware to perform aspects of the functions described below.

[0275] At point 1905, when the base station wirelessly communicates with the UE via a first serving cell supported by the base station, the base station may send an instruction to the UE to activate or deactivate a second serving cell supported by the base station. Operation 1905 can be performed according to the method described herein. In some examples, aspects of operation 1905 may be derived from, as referenced... Figures 12 to 15 The description refers to the control message sending manager used for execution.

[0276] At point 1910, the base station can transmit a reference signal to the UE via the first serving cell. This reference signal is transmitted after a duration following the transmission indication, where the duration is an interruption period for wireless communication with the first serving cell. Operation at point 1910 can be performed according to the method described herein. In some examples, aspects of operation at point 1910 can be determined by reference to... Figures 12 to 15 The reference signal sending manager is used to execute the description.

[0277] At point 1915, the base station can resume wireless communication with the UE via the first serving cell based on the interruption period ending upon receiving a reference signal. Operation 1915 can be performed according to the method described herein. In some examples, aspects of operation 1915 can be determined by reference to... Figures 12 to 15 The described service cell communication manager is used to perform this.

[0278] The following provides a summary of various aspects of this disclosure:

[0279] Aspect 1: A method for wireless communication at a UE, comprising: when the UE is wirelessly communicating with a first serving cell supported by a base station, receiving an indication for activating or deactivating a second serving cell supported by the base station; receiving a reference signal from the base station via the first serving cell, the reference signal being received after a duration following the receipt of the indication, wherein the duration is an interruption period for the wireless communication with the first serving cell; and resuming the wireless communication with the first serving cell at least in part based on the interruption period ending upon receipt of the reference signal.

[0280] Aspect 2: The method according to aspect 1 further includes: receiving a control message from the base station, the control message including an indication of a set of resources that the UE can use to receive the reference signal, wherein receiving the reference signal is at least partially based on the control message.

[0281] Aspect 3: The method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 2 further includes: receiving a downlink control message from the base station via the first serving cell to schedule downlink transmission from the base station to the UE, wherein receiving the indication for activating or deactivating the second serving cell is at least in part based on the downlink control message.

[0282] Aspect 4: The method according to aspect 3 further includes: receiving, via the downlink control message, an indication that a reference signal associated with the first serving cell has been activated, wherein receiving the reference signal is at least in part based on receiving the indication that the reference signal has been activated.

[0283] Aspect 5: The method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 4 further includes: determining, at least in part, based on receiving the indication for activating or deactivating the second serving cell, that the reference signal associated with the first serving cell has been activated, wherein receiving the reference signal is at least in part based on determining that the reference signal has been activated.

[0284] Aspect 6: The method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 5, wherein the indication for activating or deactivating the second serving cell is received from the base station via a MAC-CE message, the method further comprising: determining, at least in part, based on receiving the MAC-CE message, an indication that a reference signal associated with the first serving cell has been activated, wherein receiving the reference signal is at least in part based on determining that the reference signal has been activated.

[0285] Aspect 7: The method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 6 further includes: sending a feedback message to the base station based at least in part on receiving an instruction for activating or deactivating the second serving cell, wherein the interruption period begins at least in part on sending the feedback message.

[0286] Aspect 8: The method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 7, wherein the indication includes activation of the second serving cell supported by the base station, the method further comprising: receiving additional reference signals from the base station via the second serving cell based at least in part on receiving the indication for activating the second serving cell; and establishing wireless communication with the base station via the second serving cell based at least in part on receiving the additional reference signals.

[0287] Aspect 9: The method according to aspect 8, wherein the reference signal, the additional reference signal, or both include a temporary reference signal.

[0288] Aspect 10: The method according to aspect 9, wherein the temporary reference signal is a tracking reference signal or a non-zero power channel state information reference signal configured as a tracking reference signal.

[0289] Aspect 11: The method according to any one of Aspects 8 to 10, wherein the reference signal received via the first serving cell and the additional reference signal received via the second serving cell are received using a common time resource set.

[0290] Aspect 12: The method according to any one of Aspects 8 to 10, wherein the reference signal received via the first serving cell and the additional reference signal received via the second serving cell are received using a common subcarrier spacing.

[0291] Aspect 13: The method according to any one of Aspects 8 to 12 further includes: receiving from the base station an indication that a reference signal associated with the first serving cell and the second serving cell has been activated, wherein receiving the reference signal via the first serving cell, receiving the additional reference signal via the second serving cell, or both are based at least in part on receiving the indication that the reference signal has been activated.

[0292] Aspect 14: The method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 13, wherein the indication includes deactivation of the second serving cell supported by the base station, the method further comprising: sending a feedback message to the base station at least in part based on receiving the indication for deactivating the second serving cell; and determining, at least in part based on sending the feedback message, that the second serving cell has been deactivated.

[0293] Aspect 15: The method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 14, wherein the first serving cell includes a primary cell and the second serving cell includes a secondary cell.

[0294] Aspect 16: The method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 14, wherein both the first serving cell and the second serving cell include a secondary cell.

[0295] Aspect 17: The method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 16, wherein the first serving cell and the second serving cell are in the same frequency band.

[0296] Aspect 18: The method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 17 further includes: determining, during the interruption period and at least in part based on receiving the reference signal, automatic gain control associated with the first serving cell, tracking associated with the first serving cell, or both.

[0297] Aspect 19: The method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 18, wherein the first serving cell is associated with a first radio access technology, and the second serving cell is associated with a second radio access technology different from the first radio access technology.

[0298] Aspect 20: The method according to aspect 19, wherein each of the first radio access technology and the second radio access technology includes one of New Radio (NR) access technology, fifth-generation (5G) radio access technology, Long Term Evolution (LTE) radio access technology, or fourth-generation (4G) radio access technology.

[0299] Aspect 21: The method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 20, wherein the first serving cell is associated with a first frequency band of the first radio access technology, and the second serving cell is associated with a second frequency band of the first radio access technology.

[0300] Aspect 22: The method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 21, wherein the first serving cell is a primary and secondary cell of a secondary cell group, and the second serving cell is a secondary cell of the secondary cell group.

[0301] Aspect 23: A method for wireless communication at a base station, comprising: when the base station is wirelessly communicating with a UE via a first serving cell supported by the base station, sending to the UE an indication for activating or deactivating a second serving cell supported by the base station; sending to the UE via the first serving cell a reference signal after a duration following the sending of the indication, wherein the duration is an interruption period for the wireless communication with the first serving cell; and resuming the wireless communication with the UE via the first serving cell based at least in part on the interruption period ending upon receipt of the reference signal.

[0302] Aspect 24: The method according to aspect 23 further includes: sending a control message to the UE, the control message including an indication of a set of resources that the UE can use to receive the reference signal, wherein sending the reference signal is at least partially based on the control message.

[0303] Aspect 25: The method according to any one of Aspects 23 to 24 further includes: sending a downlink control message to the UE via the first serving cell to schedule downlink transmission from the base station to the UE, wherein sending the indication for activating or deactivating the second serving cell is at least in part based on the downlink control message.

[0304] Aspect 26: The method according to aspect 25 further includes: sending an indication via the downlink control message that a reference signal associated with the first serving cell has been activated, wherein sending the reference signal is at least in part based on sending the indication that the reference signal has been activated.

[0305] Aspect 27: The method according to any one of Aspects 23 to 26, wherein the indication for activating or deactivating the second serving cell is sent to the UE via a MAC-CE message.

[0306] Aspect 28: The method according to any one of Aspects 23 to 27 further includes: receiving a feedback message from the UE based at least in part on sending an instruction for activating or deactivating the second serving cell, wherein the interruption period begins at least in part based on the feedback message.

[0307] Aspect 29: The method according to any one of Aspects 23 to 28, wherein the indication includes activation of the second serving cell supported by the base station, the method further comprising: transmitting an additional reference signal to the UE via the second serving cell based at least in part on transmitting the indication for activating the second serving cell; and establishing wireless communication with the UE via the second serving cell based at least in part on transmitting the additional reference signal.

[0308] Aspect 30: The method according to aspect 29, wherein the reference signal, the additional reference signal, or both include a temporary reference signal.

[0309] Aspect 31: According to the method of aspect 30, wherein the temporary reference signal is a tracking reference signal or a non-zero power channel state information reference signal configured as a tracking reference signal.

[0310] Aspect 32: The method according to any one of Aspects 29 to 31, wherein the reference signal transmitted via the first serving cell and the additional reference signal transmitted via the second serving cell are transmitted using a common time resource set.

[0311] Aspect 33: The method according to any one of Aspects 29 to 31, wherein the reference signal transmitted via the first serving cell and the additional reference signal transmitted via the second serving cell are transmitted using a common subcarrier spacing.

[0312] Aspect 34: The method according to any one of Aspects 29 to 33 further includes: sending to the UE an indication that a reference signal associated with the first serving cell and the second serving cell has been activated, wherein sending the reference signal via the first serving cell, sending the additional reference signal via the second serving cell, or both are based at least in part on sending the indication that the reference signal has been activated.

[0313] Aspect 35: The method according to any one of Aspects 23 to 34, wherein the indication includes deactivation of the second serving cell supported by the base station, the method further comprising: receiving a feedback message from the UE based at least in part on sending the indication for deactivating the second serving cell; and determining, at least in part on receiving the feedback message, that the second serving cell has been deactivated.

[0314] Aspect 36: The method according to any one of Aspects 23 to 35, wherein the first serving cell includes a primary cell and the second serving cell includes a secondary cell.

[0315] Aspect 37: The method according to any one of Aspects 23 to 35, wherein both the first serving cell and the second serving cell include a secondary cell.

[0316] Aspect 38: The method according to any one of Aspects 23 to 37, wherein the first serving cell and the second serving cell are in the same frequency band.

[0317] Aspect 39: The method according to any one of Aspects 23 to 38, wherein the reference signal includes an indication of automatic gain control associated with the first serving cell, an indication of tracking associated with the first serving cell, or both.

[0318] Aspect 40: The method according to any one of Aspects 23 to 39, wherein the first serving cell is associated with a first radio access technology, and the second serving cell is associated with a second radio access technology different from the first radio access technology.

[0319] Aspect 41: According to the method of aspect 40, each of the first radio access technology and the second radio access technology includes one of New Radio (NR) access technology, fifth-generation (5G) radio access technology, Long Term Evolution (LTE) radio access technology, or fourth-generation (4G) radio access technology.

[0320] Aspect 42: The method according to any one of Aspects 23 to 41, wherein the first serving cell is associated with a first frequency band of the first radio access technology, and the second serving cell is associated with a second frequency band of the first radio access technology.

[0321] Aspect 43: The method according to any one of Aspects 23 to 42, wherein the first serving cell is a primary and secondary cell of a secondary cell group, and the second serving cell is a secondary cell of the secondary cell group.

[0322] Aspect 44: An apparatus for wireless communication at a UE, comprising: a processor; a memory coupled to the processor; and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to perform the method according to any one of aspects 1 to 22.

[0323] Aspect 45: An apparatus for wireless communication at a UE, comprising at least one unit for performing the method according to any one of aspects 1 to 22.

[0324] Aspect 46: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a UE, the code comprising instructions executable by a processor to perform a method according to any one of aspects 1 to 22.

[0325] Aspect 47: An apparatus for wireless communication at a base station, comprising: a processor; a memory coupled to the processor; and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to perform the method according to any one of aspects 23 to 43.

[0326] Aspect 48: An apparatus for wireless communication at a base station, comprising at least one unit for performing the method according to any one of aspects 23 to 43.

[0327] Aspect 49: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a base station, said code including instructions executable by a processor to perform a method according to any one of aspects 23 to 43.

[0328] It should be noted that the methods described in this paper describe possible implementations, and the operations and steps can be rearranged or otherwise modified, and other implementations are possible. Furthermore, aspects from two or more methods can be combined.

[0329] While aspects of LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, or NR systems may be described for illustrative purposes, and the terms LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, or NR may be used extensively in the description, the techniques described herein apply beyond LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, or NR networks. For example, the techniques described can be applied to a variety of other wireless communication systems, such as Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, Flash-OFDM, and other systems and radio technologies not explicitly mentioned herein.

[0330] The information and signals described herein can be represented using any of a variety of different techniques and methods. For example, the data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips mentioned throughout the description may be represented by voltage, current, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, light fields or particles, or any combination thereof.

[0331] The various illustrative blocks and components described herein can be implemented or performed using a general-purpose processor, DSP, ASIC, CPU, FPGA, or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware component, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but alternatively, the processor may be any processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. The processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices (e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors combined with a DSP core, or any other such configuration).

[0332] The functions described herein can be implemented using hardware, software executed by a processor, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented using software executed by a processor, the functions can be stored as one or more instructions or code on or transmitted through a computer-readable medium. Other examples and implementations are within the scope of this disclosure and the appended claims. For example, due to the nature of software, the functions described herein can be implemented using software executed by a processor, hardware, firmware, hardwiring, or any combination of these. Features implementing the functions can also be physically located in various locations, including being distributed such that different parts of the functions are implemented in different physical locations.

[0333] Computer-readable media includes both non-transitory computer storage media and communication media, with communication media encompassing any medium that facilitates the transfer of computer programs from one place to another. Non-transitory storage media can be any available medium accessible by a general-purpose computer or a special-purpose computer. By way of example, and not limitation, non-transitory computer-readable media can include RAM, ROM, electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), flash memory, compressed optical disc (CD) ROM or other optical disc storage, disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other non-transitory medium that can be used to carry or store desired units of program code in the form of instructions or data structures, and accessible by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer, or a general-purpose or special-purpose processor. Furthermore, any connection is appropriately referred to as computer-readable media. For example, if software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, then coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included within the definition of computer-readable media. As used herein, disks and optical discs include CDs, laser discs, optical discs, digital multifunction discs (DVDs), floppy disks, and Blu-ray discs, wherein disks typically copy data magnetically, while optical discs use lasers to copy data optically. The combinations described above are also included within the scope of computer-readable media.

[0334] As used herein (including in the claims), the word "or" in a list of items (e.g., a list of items ending with a phrase such as "at least one of" or "one or more of") indicates an inclusive list, such that a list of at least one of A, B, or C means A or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (i.e., A and B and C). Furthermore, as used herein, the phrase "based on" should not be construed as a reference to a closed set of conditions. For example, an example step described as "based on condition A" could be based on both condition A and condition B without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In other words, as used herein, the phrase "based on" should be interpreted in the same way as the phrase "at least partially based on".

[0335] In the accompanying drawings, similar components or features may have the same reference numerals. Furthermore, various components of the same type can be distinguished by a dash and a second reference numeral following the reference numeral, used to differentiate between similar components. If only the first reference numeral is used in the specification, the description applies to any one of the similar components having the same first reference numeral, without regard to the second reference numeral or other subsequent reference numerals.

[0336] This document describes exemplary configurations in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and does not represent all examples that can be implemented or that are within the scope of the claims. The term "example" as used herein means "serving as an example, instance, or illustration," and not "preferred" or "advantageous over other examples." The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing an understanding of the described techniques. However, these techniques can be implemented without these specific details. In some cases, known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form to avoid obscuring the concepts of the described examples.

[0337] The description herein is provided to enable those skilled in the art to implement or use the present disclosure. Various modifications to the present disclosure will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein can be applied to other variations without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Therefore, the present disclosure is not limited to the examples and designs described herein, but is to be given the broadest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication at a user equipment (UE), comprising: When the UE is wirelessly communicating with a first serving cell supported by a base station, it receives an instruction for activating or deactivating a second serving cell supported by the base station. A reference signal is received from the base station via the first serving cell, the reference signal being received after a duration following the receipt of the indication, wherein the duration is a period of interruption for the wireless communication with the first serving cell; as well as The wireless communication with the first serving cell is resumed at least in part based on the fact that the interruption period ends when the reference signal is received.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: The UE receives a control message from the base station, the control message including an indication of a set of resources that the UE can use to receive the reference signal, wherein receiving the reference signal is at least in part based on the control message.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: The system receives downlink control messages from the base station via the first serving cell to schedule downlink transmissions from the base station to the UE, wherein the receipt of the indication for activating or deactivating the second serving cell is at least in part based on the downlink control messages.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising: The downlink control message receives an indication that a reference signal associated with the first serving cell has been activated, wherein receiving the reference signal is at least in part based on receiving the indication that the reference signal has been activated.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: The determination that a reference signal associated with the first serving cell has been activated is based at least in part on receiving the indication for activating or deactivating the second serving cell, wherein receiving the reference signal is based at least in part on the determination that the reference signal has been activated.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The indication for activating or deactivating the second serving cell is received from the base station via a MAC-CE message, and the method further includes: The determination of an indication that a reference signal associated with the first serving cell has been activated is based at least in part on receiving the MAC-CE message, wherein receiving the reference signal is based at least in part on determining that the reference signal has been activated.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: The feedback message is sent to the base station at least in part based on receiving an instruction to activate or deactivate the second serving cell, wherein the interruption period begins at least in part based on the sending of the feedback message.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The indication includes activation of the second serving cell supported by the base station, and the method further includes: At least in part, receiving additional reference signals from the base station via the second serving cell is based on receiving the instruction for activating the second serving cell; and Wireless communication with the base station is established via the second serving cell, at least in part, based on receiving the additional reference signal.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein, The reference signal, the additional reference signal, or both include a temporary reference signal.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein, The temporary reference signal is a tracking reference signal or a non-zero power channel state information reference signal configured as the tracking reference signal.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein, The reference signal received via the first serving cell and the additional reference signal received via the second serving cell are received using a common time resource set.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein, The reference signal received via the first serving cell and the additional reference signal received via the second serving cell are received using a common subcarrier spacing.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising: The base station receives an indication that a reference signal associated with both the first serving cell and the second serving cell has been activated, wherein receiving the reference signal via the first serving cell, receiving the additional reference signal via the second serving cell, or both are at least in part based on receiving the indication that the reference signal has been activated.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The instruction includes the deactivation of the second serving cell supported by the base station, and the method further includes: Sending a feedback message to the base station based at least in part on receiving the instruction for deactivating the second serving cell; and The determination that the second serving cell has been deactivated is based at least in part on sending the feedback message.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The first serving cell includes a primary cell, and the second serving cell includes a secondary cell.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein: Both the first serving cell and the second serving cell include auxiliary cells.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The first serving cell and the second serving cell are in the same frequency band.

18. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: During the interruption period and at least in part based on receiving the reference signal, automatic gain control associated with the first serving cell, tracking associated with the first serving cell, or both are determined.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The first serving cell is associated with a first radio access technology, and the second serving cell is associated with a second radio access technology different from the first radio access technology.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein, Each of the first radio access technology and the second radio access technology includes one of New Radio (NR) access technology, fifth-generation (5G) radio access technology, Long Term Evolution (LTE) radio access technology, or fourth-generation (4G) radio access technology.

21. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The first serving cell is associated with a first frequency band of the first radio access technology, and the second serving cell is associated with a second frequency band of the first radio access technology.

22. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The first serving cell is the primary and secondary cells of the secondary cell group, and the second serving cell is the secondary cell of the secondary cell group.

23. An apparatus for wireless communication at a user equipment (UE), comprising: processor, Memory coupled to the processor; as well as Instructions, which are stored in the memory and can be executed by the processor, cause the device to perform the following operations: When the UE is wirelessly communicating with a first serving cell supported by a base station, it receives an instruction for activating or deactivating a second serving cell supported by the base station. A reference signal is received from the base station via the first serving cell, the reference signal being received after a duration following the receipt of the indication, wherein the duration is a period of interruption for the wireless communication with the first serving cell; as well as The wireless communication with the first serving cell is resumed at least in part based on the fact that the interruption period ends when the reference signal is received.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein, The instructions can also be executed by the processor to cause the device to perform the following operations: The UE receives a control message from the base station, the control message including an indication of a set of resources that the UE can use to receive the reference signal, wherein receiving the reference signal is at least in part based on the control message.

25. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein, The instructions can also be executed by the processor to cause the device to perform the following operations: The system receives downlink control messages from the base station via the first serving cell to schedule downlink transmissions from the base station to the UE, wherein the receipt of the indication for activating or deactivating the second serving cell is at least in part based on the downlink control messages.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein, The instructions can also be executed by the processor to cause the device to perform the following operations: The downlink control message receives an indication that a reference signal associated with the first serving cell has been activated, wherein receiving the reference signal is at least in part based on receiving the indication that the reference signal has been activated.

27. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein, The instructions can also be executed by the processor to cause the device to perform the following operations: The determination that a reference signal associated with the first serving cell has been activated is based at least in part on receiving the indication for activating or deactivating the second serving cell, wherein receiving the reference signal is based at least in part on the determination that the reference signal has been activated.

28. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein, The indication for activating or deactivating the second serving cell is received from the base station via a MAC-CE message, and the indication that a reference signal associated with the first serving cell has been activated is determined at least in part based on receiving the MAC-CE message, wherein receiving the reference signal is at least in part based on determining that the reference signal has been activated.

29. An apparatus for wireless communication at a user equipment (UE), comprising: A unit for receiving an instruction to activate or deactivate a second serving cell supported by the base station when the UE is wirelessly communicating with a first serving cell supported by the base station; A unit for receiving a reference signal from the base station via the first serving cell, the reference signal being received after a duration following the receipt of the indication, wherein the duration is an interruption period for the wireless communication with the first serving cell; as well as A unit for resuming wireless communication with the first serving cell, at least in part based on the termination of the interruption period upon receipt of the reference signal.

30. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a user equipment (UE), the code comprising instructions executable by a processor to perform the following operations: When the UE is wirelessly communicating with a first serving cell supported by a base station, it receives an instruction for activating or deactivating a second serving cell supported by the base station. A reference signal is received from the base station via the first serving cell, the reference signal being received after a duration following the receipt of the indication, wherein... The duration is the period of interruption for the wireless communication with the first serving cell; as well as The wireless communication with the first serving cell is resumed at least in part based on the fact that the interruption period ends when the reference signal is received.

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