Frequency hopping for PUSCH repetition in NR-U

Abstract

A wireless communication system and method involving frequency hopping in uplink transmission. A UE may be configured to send a first data subset to a BS on a first frequency band on a first symbol set. The UE may perform listen-before-talk (LBT) during an LBT gap of a second symbol set including a first symbol set between a third symbol set. The UE may use the LBT in the LBT gap to determine the availability of a second frequency subband for a second data subset that is a repetition of the first data subset. The UE may be configured to send a second data subset to the BS on a second frequency band on a third symbol set if the LBT passes. Therefore, embodiments of the present disclosure enable the UE to perform frequency hopping with repetitions across unlicensed frequency subbands.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates generally to wireless communication systems and, more particularly, to frequency hopping for uplink data transmission in unlicensed frequency bands. Background Art

[0002] Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content, such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, etc. These systems may be capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing available system resources (e.g., time, frequency, and power). A wireless multiple-access communication system may include multiple base stations (BSs), each of which simultaneously supports communication for multiple communication devices, which may also be referred to as user equipment (UE).

[0003] To meet the growing demand for extended mobile broadband connectivity, wireless communication technology is evolving from Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology to next generation New Radio (NR) technology, which may be referred to as 5th Generation (5G). NR is designed to operate on a variety of spectrum bands (e.g., from low bands below about 1 gigahertz (GHz) and mid-bands from about 1 GHz to about 6 GHz, to high bands such as millimeter wave (mm wave) bands). NR is also designed to operate across different spectrum types, from licensed spectrum to unlicensed spectrum and shared spectrum. Spectrum sharing enables operators to opportunistically aggregate spectrum to dynamically support high bandwidth services. Spectrum sharing can extend the benefits of NR technology to operating entities that may not have access to licensed spectrum.

[0004] However, in systems implementing spectrum sharing, frequency hopping (e.g., for interleaved and / or non-interleaved waveforms) is not supported across the unlicensed spectrum, which may be used, for example, for retransmissions (e.g., PUSCH retransmissions). However, such frequency hopping may be desirable to introduce frequency hopping in the unlicensed subbands. However, problems arise when addressing listen-before-talk and other unlicensed / spectrum sharing requirements. Summary of the invention

[0005] The following summarizes some aspects of the present disclosure to provide a basic understanding of the technology discussed. This summary is not a general review of all expected features of the present disclosure, and is neither intended to identify key or important elements of all aspects of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to describe the scope of any or all aspects of the present disclosure. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects of the present disclosure in the form of an overview as a preface to a more detailed description presented later.

[0006] For example, in one aspect of the present disclosure, a method of wireless communication according to some embodiments includes: sending, by a first wireless communication device, a first data subset on a first set of symbols in a time domain to a second wireless communication device on a first frequency subband. The method also includes: waiting, by the first wireless communication device before sending the second data subset, for a duration corresponding to a length of the second set of symbols in the time domain as a listen-before-talk (LBT) gap on the second frequency subband. The method also includes: sending, by the first wireless communication device after the waiting, the second data subset to the second wireless communication device on a third set of symbols in the time domain on a second frequency subband, the first frequency subband being different from the second frequency subband.

[0007] In another aspect of the disclosure, a method of wireless communication according to some embodiments includes: receiving, by a first wireless communication device, a first data subset from a second wireless communication device on a first frequency subband on a first set of symbols in a time domain. The method also includes: waiting, by the first wireless communication device, for a duration corresponding to a length of a second set of symbols in the time domain as a listen-before-talk (LBT) gap on a second frequency subband. The method also includes: receiving, by the first wireless communication device, a second data subset from the second wireless communication device on a third set of symbols in the time domain on the second frequency subband after the waiting, the first frequency subband being different from the second frequency subband.

[0008] In another aspect of the present disclosure, a first wireless communication device includes a transceiver configured to transmit a first data subset to a second wireless communication device on a first set of symbols in a time domain on a first frequency subband. The transceiver is further configured to wait for a duration corresponding to a length of the second set of symbols in the time domain as a listen-before-talk (LBT) gap on the second frequency subband before transmitting the second data subset. The transceiver is further configured to transmit the second data subset to the second wireless communication device on a third set of symbols in the time domain on a second frequency subband after the waiting, the first frequency subband being different from the second frequency subband.

[0009] In another aspect of the present disclosure, a first wireless communication device includes a transceiver configured to receive a first data subset from a second wireless communication device on a first frequency subband on a first set of symbols in a time domain. The transceiver is further configured to wait for a duration corresponding to a length of a second set of symbols in the time domain as a listen-before-talk (LBT) gap on a second frequency subband. The transceiver is further configured to receive a second data subset from the second wireless communication device on a third set of symbols in the time domain on the second frequency subband after the waiting, the first frequency subband being different from the second frequency subband.

[0010] In another aspect of the present disclosure, a non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon, the program code comprising: code for causing a first wireless communication device to transmit a first data subset to a second wireless communication device on a first frequency subband on a first set of symbols in a time domain. The program code further comprises: code for causing the first wireless communication device to wait for a duration corresponding to a length of the second set of symbols in the time domain as a listen-before-talk (LBT) gap on the second frequency subband before transmitting the second data subset. The program code further comprises: code for causing the first wireless communication device to transmit the second data subset to the second wireless communication device on a third set of symbols in the time domain on a second frequency subband after the waiting, the first frequency subband being different from the second frequency subband.

[0011] In another aspect of the present disclosure, a non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon, the program code comprising: code for causing a first wireless communication device to receive a first data subset from a second wireless communication device on a first frequency subband on a first set of symbols in a time domain. The program code further comprises: code for causing the first wireless communication device to wait for a duration corresponding to a length of a second set of symbols in the time domain as a listen-before-talk (LBT) gap on a second frequency subband. The program code further comprises: code for causing the first wireless communication device to receive a second data subset from the second wireless communication device on a third set of symbols in the time domain on the second frequency subband after the waiting, the first frequency subband being different from the second frequency subband.

[0012] In another aspect of the present disclosure, a first wireless communication device includes: means for transmitting a first data subset to a second wireless communication device on a first frequency subband on a first set of symbols in a time domain. The first wireless communication device also includes: means for waiting for a duration corresponding to a length of the second set of symbols in the time domain as a listen-before-talk (LBT) gap on the second frequency subband before transmitting the second data subset. The first wireless communication device also includes: means for transmitting the second data subset to the second wireless communication device on a third set of symbols in the time domain on a second frequency subband after the waiting, the first frequency subband being different from the second frequency subband.

[0013] In another aspect of the present disclosure, a first wireless communication device includes: means for receiving a first data subset from a second wireless communication device on a first frequency subband on a first set of symbols in a time domain. The first wireless communication device also includes: means for waiting for a duration corresponding to a length of a second set of symbols in the time domain as a listen-before-talk (LBT) gap on a second frequency subband. The first wireless communication device also includes: means for receiving a second data subset from the second wireless communication device on a third set of symbols in the time domain on the second frequency subband after the waiting, the first frequency subband being different from the second frequency subband.

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

[0015] Figure 1 A wireless communication network according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0016] Figure 2 A transmission frame for a communication network according to aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

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

[0018] Figure 4 is a block diagram of an exemplary base station (BS) in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0019] Figure 5A An exemplary transmission repetition structure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0020] Figure 5B An exemplary transmission repetition structure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0021] Figure 6 An exemplary frequency hopping repetition structure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0022] Fig. 7A An exemplary frequency hopping repetition structure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0023] Figure 7B An exemplary frequency hopping repetition structure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0024] Fig. 8A An exemplary frequency hopping repetition structure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0025] Figure 8B An exemplary frequency hopping repetition structure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0026] Fig. 9A An exemplary frequency hopping repetition structure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0027] Fig. 9B An exemplary frequency hopping repetition structure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0028] Fig. 10A An exemplary frequency hopping repetition structure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0029] Fig. 10B An exemplary frequency hopping repetition structure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0030] Fig.11 An exemplary frequency hopping repetition structure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0031] Fig. 12A An exemplary frequency hopping repetition structure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0032] Fig. 12B An exemplary frequency hopping repetition structure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0033] Fig.13A An exemplary frequency hopping repetition structure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0034] Fig. 13B An exemplary frequency hopping repetition structure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0035] Fig.14A An exemplary frequency hopping repetition structure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0036] Fig. 14B An exemplary frequency hopping repetition structure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0037] Fig.15A An exemplary frequency hopping repetition structure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0038] Fig. 15B An exemplary frequency hopping repetition structure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0039] Fig.16A An exemplary frequency hopping repetition structure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0040] Fig. 16B An exemplary frequency hopping repetition structure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0041] Fig.17 An exemplary protocol diagram for introducing gaps between repetitions in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0042] Fig.18 A flow chart illustrating a method of wireless communication according to aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0043] Fig.19 A flow chart illustrating a method of wireless communication according to aspects of the present disclosure is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] The specific embodiments described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings are intended to be a description of various configurations, rather than being intended to represent the only configuration in which the concepts described herein can be practiced. For the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of various concepts, the specific embodiments include specific details. However, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts can be practiced without these specific details. In some cases, known structures and components are shown in block diagram form to avoid obscuring such concepts.

[0045] In summary, the present disclosure relates to wireless communication systems, also referred to as wireless communication networks. In various embodiments, the techniques and devices may be used for wireless communication networks such as code division multiple access (CDMA) networks, time division multiple access (TDMA) networks, frequency division multiple access (FDMA) networks, orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA) networks, single carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA) networks, LTE networks, GSM networks, 5th generation (5G) or new radio (NR) networks, and other communication networks. As described herein, the terms "network" and "system" may be used interchangeably.

[0046] OFDMA network can realize radio technology such as Evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.16, IEEE802.20, Flash-OFDM, etc. UTRA, E-UTRA and Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) are part of Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS). Specifically, Long Term Evolution (LTE) is a version of UMTS using E-UTRA. UTRA, E-UTRA, GSM, UMTS and LTE are described in documents provided by an organization named "3rd Generation Partnership Project" (3GPP), and cdma2000 is described in documents from an organization named "3rd Generation Partnership Project 2" (3GPP2). These various radio technologies and standards are known or are being developed. For example, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is a collaboration between telecommunication association groups to define a globally applicable third generation (3G) mobile phone specification. 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) is a 3GPP plan to improve the Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) mobile phone standard. 3GPP may define specifications for next generation mobile networks, mobile systems, and mobile devices. The present disclosure relates to the evolution of wireless technologies according to LTE, 4G, 5G, NR and beyond, with shared access to wireless spectrum between networks using some new and different radio access technologies or radio air interfaces.

[0047] Specifically, 5G networks are expected to enable diverse deployments, diverse spectrum, and diverse services and devices using a unified air interface based on OFDM. To achieve these goals, in addition to the development of new radio technologies for 5G NR networks, further enhancements to LTE and LTE-A are also being considered. 5G NR will be able to extend to: (1) provide coverage for the massive Internet of Things (IoT), which has ultra-high density (e.g., ~1M nodes / km) 2(1) provide coverage with ultra-low complexity (e.g., ~10s of bits / second), ultra-low energy (e.g., ~10+ years of battery life), and deep coverage with the ability to reach challenging locations; (2) provide coverage including mission-critical control with strong security for protecting sensitive personal, financial, or confidential information, ultra-high reliability (e.g., ~99.9999% reliability), ultra-low latency (e.g., ~1 millisecond (ms)), and provide coverage to users with a wide range of mobility or lack of mobility; and (3) provide coverage with enhanced mobile broadband, which includes extremely high capacity (e.g., ~10Tbps / km 2 ), extremely high data rates (e.g., multi-Gbps rates, 100+Mbps user experience rates), and deep perception with improved discovery and optimization.

[0048] 5G NR can be implemented using an optimized OFDM-based waveform with scalable numerology and transmission time interval (TTI); with a common flexible structure to efficiently multiplex services and features with dynamic, low-latency time division duplex (TDD) / frequency division duplex (FDD) design; and with improved wireless technologies such as massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), robust millimeter wave (mmWave) transmission, improved channel coding, and device-centric mobility. The scalability of the numerology in 5G NR (among which the scaling of subcarrier spacing) can efficiently address the operation of diverse services across diverse spectrums and diverse deployments. For example, in various outdoor and macro coverage deployments of less than 3GHz FDD / TDD implementations, the subcarrier spacing can appear at 15kHz, for example, on 1, 5, 10, 20MHz with similar bandwidths (BW). For various other outdoor and small cell coverage deployments with TDD greater than 3 GHz, subcarrier spacing may occur at 30 kHz on 80 / 100 MHz BW. For various other indoor broadband implementations using TDD on the unlicensed portion of the 5 GHz band, subcarrier spacing may occur at 60 kHz on 160 MHz BW. Finally, for various deployments that transmit using the mm-wave component at TDD at 28 GHz, subcarrier spacing may occur at 120 kHz on 500 MHz BW.

[0049] 5G NR's scalable digital scheme facilitates scalable TTI for diverse latency and quality of service (QoS) requirements. For example, shorter TTIs can be used for low latency and high reliability, while longer TTIs can be used for higher spectral efficiency. Efficient multiplexing of long and short TTIs allows transmissions to start on symbol boundaries. 5G NR also anticipates a self-contained integrated subframe design with uplink (UL) / downlink (DL) scheduling information, data, and acknowledgment in the same subframe. The self-contained integrated subframe supports communications in unlicensed or contention-based shared spectrum, and can be flexibly configured on a per-cell basis to dynamically switch between UL and DL to meet current business needs. Adaptive UL / DL.

[0050] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to frequency hopping of data transmission on an uplink physical uplink downlink shared channel (PUSCH), particularly frequency hopping performed in an unlicensed band of NR-U. For example, in some embodiments, a UE may send uplink data and upper layer signaling and control information (e.g., HARQ ACK / NACK, precoding matrix indicator (PMI), rank indication (RI)) on a PUSCH channel. The PUSCH includes time and frequency resources scheduled via downlink control information (DCI). In some cases (e.g., such as specified in the Release 16 3GPP specification), a PUSCH transmission instance may not be allowed to cross a timeslot boundary. Therefore, in order to avoid sending a long PUSCH, the UE may send a small PUSCH in several repetitions scheduled by an uplink (UL) grant or RRC in consecutive timeslots. In addition, two different PUSCH repetitions are currently defined, including (i) PUSCH repetition type A (ii) PUSCH repetition type B.

[0051] PUSCH repetition type A divides a long PUSCH into K small repetitions and applies the same symbol allocation on several consecutive time slots (e.g., K consecutive time slots). PUSCH repetition type A can be used to reduce the latency of PUSCH repetitions in the configured grant (CG) resources, where the UE can be configured to send multiple repetitions across consecutive time slots without feedback. PUSCH type A may result in large time gaps between repetitions. PUSCH repetition type B eliminates the time gaps between repetitions and ensures that the configured number of repetitions is performed in consecutive time slots. For example, PUSCH repetition type B can also divide a long PUSCH into K small repetitions, but with different symbol allocations. For example, once the previous repetition ends, the repetition of PUSCH can be sent back to back even if the previous repetition ends before the time slot boundary. Therefore, the nominal repetition can include one or more actual repetitions. For example, the nominal repetition can be split into two actual repetitions, wherein the first actual repetition is back-to-back with the end of the previous repetition, and the second actual repetition starts in the next time slot (e.g., after the end of the first actual repetition at the time slot boundary).

[0052] In addition to PUSCH repetition, frequency hopping may be applied to PUSCH transmissions (e.g., to increase frequency diversity and reduce the effects of radio signal distortion). In PUSCH frequency hopping, PUSCH data may be sent on different frequency bands configured by higher layers. Frequency hopping may be applied in conjunction with PUSCH repetition. For example, for PUSCH repetition type A, one of two frequency hopping modes may be configured: (i) intra-slot hopping, applicable to single-slot and multi-slot PUSCH transmissions, and (ii) inter-slot hopping, applicable to multi-slot PUSCH transmissions. For PUSCH repetition type B, one of two frequency hopping modes may be configured: (i) inter-repetition hopping, and (ii) inter-slot hopping.

[0053] In NR-U, wideband operation of integer multiples of 20 MHz may be supported for multiple serving cells for UL and DL. In the case of wideband operation (e.g., greater than 20 MHz), frequency hopping across multiple non-subbands may further increase frequency diversity. In such a case, the UE may benefit from performing single channel monitoring (e.g., listen before talk (LBT), such as category 2 LBT as an example) across multiple frequency subbands to facilitate hopping across subbands.

[0054] According to various aspects of the present disclosure, LBT gaps are introduced between PUSCH repetitions to allow LBT on the next frequency band (e.g., an unlicensed band) when frequency hopping is performed in a PUSCH repetition scenario. For example, a UE may send data (e.g., data and control signaling) on ​​a PUSCH on different frequency bands. In some cases, a UE may be configured with PUSCH repetition type A for inter-slot and / or intra-slot repetitions. The UE may send different PUSCH type A repetitions in different resource blocks (RBs) in different frequency bands. In some other cases, a UE may be configured with PUSCH type B repetitions for inter-slot and / or inter-repetitions, so that the UE may send different PUSCH type repetitions in different RBs in different frequency bands.

[0055] In some aspects of the present disclosure, the gNB may specify gaps between PUSCH repetitions in different time slots. The UE may use the gaps to perform LBT before sending PUSCH repetitions in different frequency bands (e.g., unlicensed bands). In some other aspects, LBT gaps may be introduced between PUSCH type A repetitions or different hops of PUSCH, and the LBT gaps may be a portion of the PUSCH time domain resources allocated by the start and length indicator (SLIV). In some aspects, the first X symbols (e.g., one, two, three, or other number of symbols) of the time domain resources indicated by the SLIV for the next PUSCH repetition may be used as the LBT gaps. Alternatively, the last X symbols of the time domain resource allocation indicated by the SLIV of the previous PUSCH repetition may be used as the LBT gap for the next PUSCH repetition. These may be used, for example, with PUSCH type A repetitions (such as inter-slot hopping) and / or PUSCH type B repetitions (such as inter-repetition hopping).

[0056] In other aspects, the location of the LBT gap can be determined according to an algorithm useful in a repetition scenario within a type A slot. For example, X symbols can be used as the LBT gap, where the start and end locations of the LBT gap are determined according to the following: the starting symbol S is combined with the length of the repetition (e.g., in units of a number of symbols) divided by 2, and further subtracted from the X symbols of the LBT gap; wherein the location of the LBT gap extends to the value S combined with the length divided by 2, minus one symbol. This can be achieved using the equation (Starting position of LBT gap) to symbol (ending position of LBT gap) is represented by, where S is the starting symbol of PUSCH repetition and L is the length of PUSCH repetition. This may correspond to a case where an LBT gap occurs with the time domain resources allocated for the previous PUSCH repetition. Alternatively, X symbols may be used as LBT gaps, where the positions of the start and end of the LBT gap are determined based on the time domain resources allocated from the symbol Start to symbol where again, S is the starting symbol of the PUSCH repetition and L is the length of the PUSCH repetition. This may correspond to the case where an LBT gap occurs with the time domain resources allocated for the next PUSCH repetition.

[0057] In some other aspects of the present disclosure, for intra-slot repetition scenarios, the LBT gap between PUSCH repetitions at different hops of PUSCH type A may be determined according to different algorithms. In some variants, formulas (such as existing formulas used in 3GPP specifications) may be used to determine the number of symbols used for each hop and the location of the LBT gap. In some variants, the LBT gap may be introduced at the end of the first hop (e.g., occupying one or more symbols of the first portion of the repetition on the first frequency band). In some other variants, the LBT gap may be introduced at the beginning of the second hop (e.g., occupying one or more symbols of the second portion of the repetition on the second frequency band). In some other aspects, the number of symbols used for each hop may be determined using existing formulas after first removing X symbols for the LBT gap. Thus, the total length of the repetition (excluding the X symbols) may be taken and rounded down by 2 to obtain the location of the start of the LBT gap (e.g., at the first hop). This may be expressed as To determine the number of symbols for the first hop, is the length of the PUSCH transmission in the OFDM symbol in the slot (both hops together). The location of the end of the LBT gap can be determined by subtracting the total length of the repetition (excluding X symbols) from X symbols, divided by the floor value of 2. This can be expressed as

[0058] In some other aspects of the present disclosure, an LBT gap is introduced for PUSCH type A with inter-slot hopping or PUSCH repetition type B with inter-repetition hopping or inter-slot hopping. In such aspects, the location of the LBT gap may be determined based on the hopping boundary, rather than being determined according to the SLIV as in some other embodiments. For example, in some variants, the LBT gap may be introduced at the end of the first hop (e.g., occupying one or more symbols of the first repetition on the first frequency band). In some other variants, the LBT gap may be introduced at the beginning of the second hop (e.g., occupying one or more symbols of the second repetition on the second frequency band).

[0059] In some other aspects of the present disclosure, there may be a situation where the hopping boundary may be close enough to the end of the time slot, where a small number of symbols may remain between the LBT gap and the end of the time slot if an LBT gap is introduced. For example, there may be only one symbol left after the LBT gap before the end of the time slot (e.g., when using 15kHz or 30kHz subcarrier spacing, there is a one-symbol LBT gap, or when using 60kHz subcarrier spacing, there is a two-symbol LBT gap). However, it would not be ideal to send the PUSCH with only one symbol. Therefore, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, this situation can be regarded as an error situation between the UE and the BS. In some other embodiments, this situation can include introducing a cyclic prefix (CP) extension (e.g., determined / derived based on the first symbol of the next actual repetition) to fill the single symbol gap before the time slot boundary. In other embodiments, this may include using a new frequency hopping rule that allows frequency hopping if the number of symbols after a hop and before a slot boundary is greater than Y symbols (e.g., Y equals two symbols for 15kHz and 30kHz subcarrier spacing, or Y equals three symbols for 60kHz subcarrier spacing, to name just a few examples). According to such an exemplary rule, in the event that the condition is not met (e.g., the number of symbols after a hop and before a slot boundary would be equal to or less than Y), the UE may determine to send a repetition without hopping on the same frequency band. The UE may determine to hop again at the next repetition (depending on the specified total number of repetitions) by another comparison with the number of remaining symbols and the slot boundary.

[0060] In still other aspects of the present disclosure, a tight LBT gap may be defined for load-based device (LBE) operation. In such a case, a CP extension may be used to maintain the LBT gap. In some examples of a dynamic grant (DG) UL, the UE may apply the CP extension indicated by the UL grant to the first PUSCH repetition. For the next repetition, in some examples, a default CP extension may be used (which may be based on the subcarrier spacing used at the time), while in some other examples, the CP extension may be configured by RRC. In some examples for a configured grant (CG) UL, the UE may randomly select an offset for the first PUSCH repetition. The offset may be randomly selected from an RRC-configured offset set (e.g., a list of possible offsets to be randomly selected from). For the next repetition, in some examples, the UE may use the default CP extension, or alternatively, the CP extension may be configured by RRC.

[0061] Various aspects of the present disclosure may provide several benefits. For example, by introducing LBT gaps between different hops of PUSCH repetitions, a UE may take advantage of frequency hopping of PUSCH repetitions in an unlicensed band. This may result in the UE performing efficient LBT to determine the availability of a frequency subband when hopping to another frequency subband to send PUSCH repetition data. This may increase frequency diversity, which may result in higher data rates, improved capacity, and / or spectral efficiency between the UE and the BS (e.g., on the uplink). This may also be accomplished without adding the complexity and / or cost associated with additional RF chains, which may otherwise be used to accommodate multiple frequency subbands. Therefore, when the effective bandwidth on the uplink increases, thermal and power consumption considerations may be minimally affected. In addition, by using existing configuration messages, backward compatibility is possible while still allowing new UEs to send data on multiple frequency subbands in the manner described herein, and without having to add new configuration information to existing standards.

[0062] The various aspects and features of the present disclosure are further described below. It should be apparent that the teachings herein can be embodied in a variety of forms, and any specific structure, function, or both disclosed herein are representative and non-limiting. Based on the teachings herein, it is understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the aspects disclosed herein can be implemented independently of any other aspects, and two or more of these aspects can be combined in various ways. For example, using any number of aspects set forth herein, a device can be implemented or a method can be practiced. In addition, using other structures, functions, or structures and functions other than or different from one or more aspects of the aspects set forth herein, such a device can be implemented, or such a method can be practiced. For example, a method can be implemented as a part of a system, device, device, and / or as an instruction stored on a computer-readable medium for execution on a processor or computer. In addition, an aspect can include at least one element of a claim.

[0063] Figure 1 A wireless communication network 100 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. The network 100 may be a 5G network. The network 100 includes a plurality of base stations (BSs) 105 and other network entities. The BS 105 may be a station that communicates with the UE 115, and may also be referred to as an evolved Node B (eNB), a next generation eNB (gNB), an access point, etc. Each BS 105 may provide communication coverage for a particular geographic area. In 3GPP, the term "cell" may refer to the particular geographic coverage area of ​​the BS 105 and / or the BS subsystem serving the coverage area, depending on the context in which the term is used.

[0064] BS105 may provide communication coverage for macro cells or small cells (such as pico cells or femto cells) and / or other types of cells. Macro cells typically cover a relatively large geographic area (e.g., a radius of several kilometers) and may allow unrestricted access by UEs with service subscriptions with a network provider. Small cells (such as pico cells) will typically cover a relatively small geographic area and may allow unrestricted access by UEs with service subscriptions with a network provider. Small cells (such as femto cells) will also typically cover a relatively small geographic area (e.g., a residence) and, in addition to unrestricted access, may also provide restricted access by UEs associated with the femto cell (e.g., UEs in a closed subscriber group (CSG), UEs for users in a residence, etc.). A BS for a macro cell may be referred to as a macro BS. A BS for a small cell may be referred to as a small cell BS, a pico BS, a femto BS, or a home BS. In Figure 1In the example shown in , BS105d and 105e may be conventional macro BSs, while BS105a-105c may be macro BSs implemented with one of three-dimensional (3D) MIMO, full-dimensional (FD) MIMO, or massive MIMO. BS105a-105c may utilize its higher-dimensional MIMO capabilities to utilize 3D beamforming in both elevation and azimuth beamforming to increase coverage and capacity. BS105f may be a small cell BS, which may be a home node or a portable access point. BS105 may support one or more (e.g., two, three, four, etc.) cells.

[0065] Network 100 may support synchronous operation or asynchronous operation. For synchronous operation, the BSs may have similar frame timing, and transmissions from different BSs may be approximately aligned in time. For asynchronous operation, the BSs may have different frame timing, and transmissions from different BSs may not be aligned in time.

[0066] UE 115 is scattered throughout the wireless network 100, and each UE 115 can be stationary or mobile. UE 115 can also be referred to as a terminal, a mobile station, a user unit, a station, etc. UE 115 can be a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless modem, a wireless communication device, a handheld device, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a cordless phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, etc. In one aspect, UE 115 can be a device including a universal integrated circuit card (UICC). In another aspect, UE 115 can be a device that does not include a UICC. In some aspects, UE 115 that does not include a UICC can also be referred to as an IoT device or an Internet of Everything (IoE) device. UE 115a-115d is an example of a mobile smart phone type device accessed to the network 100. UE 115 can also be a machine that is specially configured for connected communications (including machine type communications (MTC), enhanced MTC (eMTC), narrowband IoT (NB-IoT), etc.). UE 115e-115k are examples of various machines configured for communication that access network 100. UE 115 may be able to communicate with any type of BS (whether macro BS, small cell, etc.). Figure 1 In the figure, lightning (eg, communication link) indicates wireless transmission between UE 115 and serving BS 105 (which is a BS designated to serve UE 115 on DL and / or UL), or expected transmission between BSs, and backhaul transmission between BSs.

[0067] When operating, BS 105a-105c can use 3D beamforming and coordinated spatial techniques (e.g., coordinated multipoint (CoMP) or multi-connectivity) to serve UEs 115a and 115b. Macro BS 105d can perform backhaul communications with BS 105a-105c and small cell BS 105f. Macro BS 105d can also send multicast services that are subscribed to and received by UEs 115c and 115d. Such multicast services may include mobile TV or streaming video, or may include other services for providing community information, such as weather emergencies or alerts (e.g., Amber Alerts or Gray Alerts).

[0068] The base stations 105 may also communicate with a core network. The core network may provide user authentication, access grant, tracking, Internet Protocol (IP) connectivity, and other access, routing, or mobility functions. At least some of the base stations 105 (e.g., which may be examples of gNBs or access node controllers (ANCs)) may interface with the core network via a backhaul link (e.g., NG-C, NG-U, etc.) and may perform radio configuration and scheduling for communications with the UE 115. In various examples, the BSs 105 may communicate with each other directly or indirectly (e.g., via a core network) via a backhaul link (e.g., X1, X2, etc.), which may be a wired or wireless communication link.

[0069] The network 100 may also support mission-critical communications with ultra-reliable and redundant links for mission-critical devices (e.g., UE 115e, which may be a drone). The redundant communication links with UE 115e may include links from macro BSs 105d and 105e and links from small cell BS 105f. Other machine-type devices, such as UE 115f (e.g., a thermometer), UE 115g (e.g., a smart meter), and UE 115h (e.g., a wearable device), may communicate directly with a BS (such as small cell BS 105f and macro BS 105e) through the network 100, or communicate through the network 100 in a multi-hop configuration by communicating with another user device that relays its information to the network, such as UE 115f transmitting temperature measurement information to the smart meter (UE 115g), which is then reported to the network through the small cell BS 105f. The network 100 may also provide additional network efficiency through dynamic, low-latency TDD / FDD communications (e.g., vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), V2X, C-V2X communications between UE 115i, 115j, or 115k and other UEs 115, and / or vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications between UE 115i, 115j, or 115k and BS 105 (e.g., PC5, etc.)).

[0070] In some implementations, the network 100 communicates using an OFDM-based waveform. An OFDM-based system may divide the system BW into multiple (K) orthogonal subcarriers, which are also commonly referred to as subcarriers, tones, frequency bands, etc. Each subcarrier may be modulated with data. In some cases, the subcarrier spacing between adjacent subcarriers may be fixed, and the total number of subcarriers (K) may depend on the system BW. The system BW may also be divided into subbands. In other cases, the subcarrier spacing and / or the duration of the TTI may be scalable.

[0071] In some aspects, BS 105 may assign or schedule transmission resources (e.g., in the form of time-frequency resource elements (REs)) for downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) transmissions in network 100. DL refers to the transmission direction from BS 105 to UE 115, and UL refers to the transmission direction from UE 115 to BS 105. Communication may be in the form of radio frames. Radio frames may be divided into a plurality of subframes or time slots, e.g., about 10. Each time slot may be further divided into micro-time slots. In FDD mode, simultaneous UL and DL transmissions may occur in different frequency bands. For example, each subframe includes a UL subframe in a UL frequency band and a DL subframe in a DL frequency band. In TDD mode, UL and DL transmissions using the same frequency band occur at different time periods. For example, a subset of subframes in a radio frame (e.g., DL subframes) may be used for DL ​​transmissions, while another subset of subframes in the radio frame (e.g., UL subframes) may be used for UL transmissions.

[0072] DL subframes and UL subframes may be further divided into several regions. For example, each DL or UL subframe may have a predefined region for the transmission of reference signals, control information, and data. A reference signal is a predetermined signal that facilitates communication between BS 105 and UE 115. For example, a reference signal may have a specific pilot pattern or structure, wherein a pilot tone may traverse a working BW or frequency band, and each pilot tone may be located at a predefined time and a predefined frequency. For example, BS 105 may send a cell-specific reference signal (CRS) and / or a channel state information-reference signal (CSI-RS) to enable UE 115 to estimate a DL channel. Similarly, UE 115 may send a sounding reference signal (SRS) to enable BS 105 to estimate an UL channel. Control information may include resource assignments and protocol control. Data may include protocol data and / or operational data. In some aspects, BS 105 and UE 115 may communicate using a self-contained subframe. A self-contained subframe may include a portion for DL ​​communication and a portion for UL communication. A self-contained subframe may be DL-centric or UL-centric. A DL-centric subframe may include a longer duration for DL ​​communications (compared to the duration for UL communications). A UL-centric subframe may include a longer duration for UL communications (compared to the duration for UL communications).

[0073] In some aspects, the network 100 may be an NR network deployed on a licensed spectrum. The BS 105 may send synchronization signals (e.g., PSS and SSS) in the network 100 to facilitate synchronization. The BS 105 may broadcast system information associated with the network 100 (e.g., including a master information block (MIB), remaining minimum system information (e.g., RMSI), and other system information (OSI)) to facilitate initial network access. In some cases, the BS 105 may broadcast the PSS, SSS, and / or MIB on a physical broadcast channel (PBCH) in the form of a synchronization signal block (SSB), and may broadcast the RMSI and / or OSI on a physical downlink shared channel (e.g., PDSCH).

[0074] In some aspects, a UE 115 attempting to access the network 100 may perform an initial cell search by detecting a PSS from the BS 105. The PSS may enable synchronization of period timing and may indicate a physical layer identification value. The UE 115 may then receive the SSS. The SSS may enable radio frame synchronization and may provide a cell identification value that may be combined with the physical layer identification value to identify a cell. The PSS and SSS may be located in the center portion of the carrier or in any suitable frequency within the carrier.

[0075] After receiving the PSS and SSS, the UE 115 may receive the MIB. The MIB may include system information for initial network access and scheduling information for RMSI and / or OSI. After decoding the MIB, the UE 115 may receive the RMSI and / or OSI. The RMSI and / or OSI may include radio resource control (RRC) information related to random access channel (RACH) procedures, paging, control resource set (CORESET) for physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring, physical UL control channel (PUCCH), physical UL shared channel (PUSCH), power control, and SRS.

[0076] After obtaining the MIB, RMSI and / or OSI, the UE 115 may perform a random access procedure to establish a connection with the BS 105. In some examples, the random access procedure may be a four-step random access procedure. For example, the UE 115 may send a random access preamble, and the BS 105 may respond with a random access response. The random access response (RAR) may include a detected random access preamble identifier (ID), timing advance (TA) information, UL authorization, a temporary cell radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI), and / or a fallback indicator corresponding to the random access preamble. Upon receiving the random access response, the UE 115 may send a connection request to the BS 105, and the BS 105 may respond with a connection response. The connection response may indicate contention resolution. In some examples, the random access preamble, the RAR, the connection request, and the connection response may be referred to as message 1 (MSG1), message 2 (MSG2), message 3 (MSG3), and message 4 (MSG4), respectively. In some examples, the random access procedure may be a two-step random access procedure, where the UE 115 may send a random access preamble and a connection request in a single transmission, and the BS 105 may respond by sending a random access response and a connection response in a single transmission.

[0077] After establishing the connection, UE 115 and BS 105 may enter a normal operating state, in which operational data may be exchanged. For example, BS 105 may schedule UE 115 for UL and / or DL ​​communications. BS 105 may send UL and / or DL ​​scheduling grants to UE 115 via PDCCH. Scheduling grants may be sent in the form of DL control information (DCI). BS 105 may send DL communication signals (e.g., carrying data) to UE 115 via PDSCH according to the DL scheduling grant. UE 115 may send UL communication signals to BS 105 via PUSCH and / or PUCCH according to the UL scheduling grant.

[0078] In some aspects, BS105 can communicate with UE 115 using HARQ technology to improve communication reliability, for example, to provide URLLC service. BS105 can schedule UE 115 to perform PDSCH communication by sending DL grant in PDCCH. BS105 can send DL data packets to UE 115 according to the scheduling in PDSCH. DL data packets can be sent in the form of transport blocks (TBs). If UE 115 successfully receives the DL data packet, UE 115 can send HARQ ACK to BS105. On the contrary, if UE 115 fails to successfully receive the DL transmission, UE 115 can send HARQ NACK to BS105. When HARQ NACK is received from UE 115, BS105 can retransmit the DL data packet to UE 115. The retransmission can include the same coded version of the DL data as the initial transmission. Alternatively, the retransmission can include a coded version of the DL data different from the initial transmission. The UE 115 may apply soft combining to combine the coded data received from the initial transmission and the retransmission for decoding.The BS 105 and the UE 115 may also apply HARQ to UL communications using substantially similar mechanisms as DL HARQ.

[0079] In some aspects, the network 100 may operate on a system BW or a component carrier BW. The network 100 may divide the system BW into multiple BWPs (e.g., parts). The BS 105 may dynamically assign the UE 115 to operate on a specific BWP (e.g., a specific part of the system BW). For example, the BS 105 may assign via RRC and / or other signaling. The assigned BWP may be referred to as an active BWP. The UE 115 may monitor the active BWP for signaling information (such as downlink control information and / or RRC signaling and other information) from the BS 105. The BS 105 may schedule the UE 115 to perform UL or DL ​​communications in the active BWP. In some aspects, the BS 105 may assign a pair of BWPs within a component carrier to the UE 115 for UL and DL communications. For example, a BWP pair may include a BWP for UL communications and a BWP for DL ​​communications.

[0080] In some examples (e.g., in a carrier aggregation configuration), a carrier may also have acquisition signaling or control signaling that coordinates operations for other carriers. A carrier may be associated with a frequency channel (e.g., an Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number (EARFCN)) and may be placed according to a channel grid to be discovered by a UE 115. A carrier may operate in a standalone mode, where a UE 115 performs initial acquisition and connection via a carrier, or a carrier may operate in a non-standalone mode, where a different carrier (e.g., of the same or different radio access technology) is used to anchor the connection.

[0081] Each component carrier can be associated with a particular bandwidth of the radio frequency spectrum, and in some examples, the carrier bandwidth can be referred to as the "system bandwidth" of the carrier or wireless communication system 100. For example, the carrier bandwidth can be one of a number of determined bandwidths for a carrier of a particular radio access technology (e.g., 1.4, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 40, or 80 megahertz (MHz)). The devices of the wireless communication system 100 (e.g., base stations 105, UEs 115, or both) can have a hardware configuration that supports communication on a particular carrier bandwidth, or can be configurable to support communication on a set of carrier bandwidths (i.e., carrier aggregation). 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., subband, BWP) or all of the carrier bandwidth.

[0082] The number of aggregated component carriers used for uplink transmissions may be equal to or less than the number of aggregated component carriers used for downlink transmissions to UE 115. In addition, the individual component carriers on the downlink and / or uplink may have different bandwidths from each other, for example, on the uplink, the individual component carrier frequencies aggregated together for uplink transmissions from UE 115 may have different bandwidths from each other. In addition, carrier aggregation may be used with both frequency division duplex (FDD) and time division duplex (TDD) component carriers. In some aggregation scenarios, the component carriers may be adjacent to each other within a frequency band (e.g., intra-band adjacent). In other scenarios, the component carriers may include one or more component carriers that are not adjacent to each other within a frequency band (e.g., intra-band non-adjacent). In other scenarios, the component carriers may include one or more component carriers that are not in the same frequency band as each other (e.g., inter-band non-adjacent).

[0083] In some aspects, network 100 may operate on a shared channel, which may include a shared frequency band and / or an unlicensed frequency band. For example, network 100 may be an NR-U network operating on an unlicensed frequency band. In such aspects, BS105 and UE 115 may be operated by multiple network operation entities. In order to avoid conflicts, BS105 and UE 115 may use a listen-before-talk (LBT) process to monitor transmission opportunities (TXOPs) in a shared channel. TXOP may also be referred to as COT (e.g., channel occupancy time). For example, a transmitting node (e.g., BS105 or UE 115) may perform LBT before transmitting in a channel. When LBT passes, the transmitting node may continue to transmit. When LBT fails, the transmitting node may avoid transmitting in the channel.

[0084] LBT can be based on energy detection (ED) or signal detection. For LBT based on energy detection, when the signal energy measured from the channel is lower than the threshold, LBT results in a pass. On the contrary, when the signal energy measured from the channel exceeds the threshold, LBT results in a failure. LBT may include one, two or more idle channel assessments (CCAs) performed in a continuous time period. For LBT based on signal detection, when a channel reservation signal (e.g., a predetermined preamble signal) is not detected in the channel, LBT results in a pass. In addition, LBT can adopt a variety of modes. The LBT mode can be, for example, Category 4 (CAT4) LBT, Category 2 (CAT2) LBT, or Category 1 (CAT1) LBT. CAT1 LBT is referred to as a non-LBT mode, in which LBT is not performed before transmission. CAT2 LBT refers to LBT without a random backoff period. For example, a transmitting node can determine a channel measurement in a time interval and determine whether the channel is available based on a comparison of the channel measurement with the ED threshold. CAT4 LBT refers to an LBT with a random backoff and a variable contention window (CW). For example, the sending node may draw a random number and back off for a duration within a certain time unit based on the drawn random number.

[0085] In some aspects, UE 115 may send UL data and control signaling (e.g., RRC messages, uplink control information (UCI)) to BS 105 on a PUSCH channel. PUSCH may include several small PUSCH repetitions sent on distributed time and frequency resources. Small PUSCH repetitions may be scheduled by UL grants or RRC signaling in consecutive available time slots. In some aspects, UE 115 may send PUSCH repetitions on multiple frequency bands. In some examples according to embodiments of the present disclosure, UE 115 may perform LBT to sense the availability of channels in multiple frequency bands before starting to transmit data in multiple frequency bands. In some examples, the LBT used in this way may be a CAT2 LBT without a random backoff period. In other examples, another LBT category may be implemented for one or more embodiments of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0086] In some examples, the UE 115 may allocate LBT gaps between different PUSCH repetitions including several time domain symbols to perform LBT on a target frequency band (also referred to herein as a second frequency band or subband) in the gap, and after a successful LBT process, the UE 115 may hop to a different frequency band and send at least one PUSCH repetition in the new frequency band. In some examples, the UE 115 may allocate an LBT gap at the end of the first hop. In some other examples, the UE 115 may allocate an LBT gap at the beginning of the second hop. The UE 115 may use the SLIV indicator to determine the starting symbol and length of the LBT gap. In some other cases, the UE 115 may use a formula to calculate the length and starting symbol of the LBT gap. In some cases, some of the time domain symbols in the gap may be considered invalid for UL transmission. In these cases, the UE 115 may use CP extension to fill the invalid symbols of the LBT gap. In some other scenarios, the UE 115 may be configured by the BS 105 with a dynamic grant or a configured grant for PUSCH repetition, and may use CP extension to maintain the LBT gap (e.g., to meet "tight" gap requirements that may exist in scenarios such as those related to load-based devices, etc.). In these scenarios, the UE 115 may fill a portion of the LBT gap using a default CP extension or a CP extension configured by RRC. Further discussion of these aspects is provided below with respect to other figures herein.

[0087] Figure 2 A radio frame structure 200 is shown in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure. Radio frame structure 200 may be used by a BS (such as BS 105) and a UE (such as UE 115) in a network (such as network 100) for communication. Figure 2, the x-axis represents time in some arbitrary units, and the y-axis represents frequency in some arbitrary units. Transmission frame structure 200 includes radio frame 201. The duration of radio frame 201 can vary according to various aspects. In one example, radio frame 201 can have a duration of approximately 10 milliseconds. Radio frame 201 includes M time slots 202, where M can be any suitable positive integer. In one example, M can be approximately 10.

[0088] Each time slot 202 includes a plurality of subcarriers 204 in frequency and a plurality of symbols 206 in time. The number of subcarriers 204 and / or the number of symbols 206 in a time slot 202 may vary according to various aspects, for example, based on the channel bandwidth, subcarrier spacing (SCS) and / or CP mode. One subcarrier 204 in frequency and one symbol 206 in time form one resource element (RE) 212 for transmission. A resource block (RB) 210 is formed by a plurality of consecutive subcarriers 204 in frequency and one or more consecutive symbols 206 in time. In NR, an RB 210 is defined as twelve consecutive subcarriers 204 in the frequency domain. Although the subcarriers are shown as being close to each other, they may represent frequency bands that are adjacent to each other, spaced apart from each other, and / or may be examples of interleaved allocations of frequency bands. For example, where the frequency bands are interleaved, they may represent discontinuous frequency blocks within the bandwidth, where in some examples, each frequency block is separated by more than 1 MHz. In this manner, power spectral density limitations may be overcome, such as exist in unlicensed frequency bands that may be used in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0089] In one example, a BS (e.g., Figure 1 BS 105 in the example may schedule UEs at the time granularity of time slot 202 or mini-time slot 208 (eg, Figure 1UE 115 in the UE 115) performs UL and / or DL ​​communication. Each time slot 202 can be time-divided into K mini-time slots 208. Each mini-time slot 208 can include one or more symbols 206. The mini-time slots 208 in the time slot 202 can have a variable length. For example, when the time slot 202 includes N symbols 206, the length of the mini-time slot 208 can have a length between one symbol 206 and (N-1) symbols 206. In some aspects, the mini-time slot 208 can have a length of about two symbols 206, about four symbols 206, or about seven symbols 206. In some examples, the BS can schedule the UE at a frequency granularity of a resource block (RB) 210 (e.g., including about 12 subcarriers 204). In some examples, including any embodiment of the present disclosure, frequency resources can be scheduled / allocated to the UE 115 at an interleaved granularity (e.g., corresponding to an RB, such as 10 RBs interleaved together). The total number of resource elements that constitute an RB can be a multiple of 2, 3, or 5. An interlace may be allocated across the entire system bandwidth, or for portions or subbands that do not span the entire bandwidth, or for different bandwidths / ranges (depending on the use case / available bandwidth, etc.), or include multiple different SCSs within the allocation, and / or include different modulation types (such as OFDM and DFT-s-OFDM) simultaneously, etc.

[0090] Figure 3 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary UE 300 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. UE 300 may be UE 115 as discussed above. As shown, UE 300 may include a processor 302, a memory 304, a frequency hopping module 308, a transceiver 310 including a modem subsystem 312 and a radio frequency (RF) unit 314, and one or more antennas 316. These elements may communicate with each other directly or indirectly, for example via one or more buses.

[0091] The processor 302 may include a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a controller, a field programmable gate array (FPGA) device, another hardware device, a firmware device, or any combination thereof configured to perform the operations described herein. The processor 302 may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, for example, a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, a combination of one or more microprocessors and a DSP core, or any other such configuration.

[0092] Memory 304 may include cache memory (e.g., cache memory of processor 302), random access memory (RAM), magnetoresistive RAM (MRAM), read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory, solid-state memory devices, hard disk drives, other forms of volatile and non-volatile memory, or a combination of different types of memory. In one embodiment, memory 304 includes a non-transitory computer-readable medium. Memory 304 may store instructions 306. Instructions 306 may include instructions that, when executed by processor 302, cause processor 302 to perform the operations described herein with reference to UE 115 in conjunction with embodiments of the present disclosure. Instructions 306 may also be referred to as code. The terms "instructions" and "code" should be interpreted broadly to include any type of computer-readable statements. For example, the terms "instructions" and "code" may refer to one or more programs, routines, subroutines, functions, processes, etc. "Instructions" and "code" may include a single computer-readable statement or many computer-readable statements.

[0093] The frequency hopping module 308 may be implemented via hardware, software, or a combination thereof. For example, the frequency hopping module 308 may be implemented as a processor, circuit, and / or instruction 306 stored in the memory 304 and executed by the processor 302.

[0094] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the frequency hopping module 308 may be configured to determine an LBT gap and perform LBT across multiple subbands during the gap to determine the availability of a frequency subband, hop to a different frequency subband based on a result of the LBT, and send PUSCH repetition data across multiple subbands.

[0095] For example, the UE 300 may be configured for both PUSCH repetition type A (e.g., inter-slot, inter-repetition) and PUSCH repetition type B (e.g., inter-gap, inter-repetition) on both licensed and unlicensed frequency bands using the frequency hopping module 308. Alternatively, the UE 300 may be configured for only one of the two repetition types (or other types to which embodiments of the present disclosure developed in the future may also be applied) using the frequency hopping module 308. Embodiments of the present disclosure enable the uplink frequency hopping decision of the UE 300 to take into account channel assessments from LBT performed before sending PUSCH repetitions in multiple frequency bands by the uplink frequency hopping module 308. When the UE 300 receives uplink scheduling information from the BS 105, the frequency hopping module 308 may identify available frequency bands for PUSCH repetitions. This may include allocating gaps to determine the frequency band availability of the frequency band for scheduling PUSCH transmissions.

[0096] For example, the frequency hopping module 308 may apply the LBT gap for a duration previously specified by the BS (e.g., gNB), e.g., via DCI, RRC, or some other signaling mechanism. For example, the frequency hopping module 308 may apply such a gap when PUSCH type A repetitions are implemented. In some other examples, the frequency hopping module 308 may determine the LBT gap based on one or more SLIVs from one or more BSs (e.g., BS 105). The frequency hopping module 308 may introduce the LBT gap between PUSCH type A repetitions or different hops of the PUSCH. In some aspects, the frequency hopping module 308 may use the first X symbols (e.g., one, two, three, or other number of symbols) of the time domain resources indicated by the SLIV for the next PUSCH repetition as the LBT gap. Alternatively, the frequency hopping module 308 may use the last X symbols of the time domain resource allocation indicated by the SLIV of the previous PUSCH repetition as the LBT gap for the next PUSCH repetition. When configured for PUSCH Type A repetitions (such as inter-slot hopping) and / or PUSCH Type B repetitions (such as inter-repetition hopping), the frequency hopping module 308 may use SLIV to make these determinations.

[0097] In other examples, the frequency hopping module 308 can determine the location of the LBT gap based on an algorithm that is useful in a repetition scenario within a type A time slot. For example, the frequency hopping module 308 can use X symbols as the LBT gap. The frequency hopping module 308 can determine the location of the start and end of the LBT gap for such a situation in the following manner: the starting symbol S is combined with the floor of the length of the repetition (e.g., in units of a number of symbols) divided by 2, and further subtracted from the X symbols of the LBT gap; wherein the location of the LBT gap extends to the value S combined with the length divided by 2, minus one symbol. As previously mentioned, for the frequency hopping module 308 to determine the starting location, this can be used using the equation To indicate the starting position of the LBT gap (here Indicates the maximum integer operation, and similar brackets The operation is generally referred to herein), and for the frequency hopping module 308 to determine the end position of the LBT gap, this can be done using the equation In such an example, S may be the starting symbol of a PUSCH repetition, and L may be the length of a PUSCH repetition. This may correspond to a case where an LBT gap occurs with time domain resources allocated for a previous PUSCH repetition.

[0098] Alternatively, continuing with the example where the frequency hopping module 308 determines the location of the start and end of the LBT gap, the frequency hopping module 308 can determine the X symbols of the LBT gap, where the location of the start and end of the LBT gap is based on the symbol Start to symbol where again, S is the starting symbol of the PUSCH repetition and L is the length of the PUSCH repetition. This may correspond to a case where an LBT gap occurs with the time domain resources allocated for the next PUSCH repetition.

[0099] In some other aspects of the present disclosure, for intra-slot repetition scenarios, the frequency hopping module 308 may determine the location and duration of the LBT gap between PUSCH repetitions at different hops of PUSCH type A according to different algorithms. For example, the frequency hopping module 308 may use existing formulas used in the 3GPP specification to determine the number of symbols per hop within a slot, and determine the location of the LBT gap relative to the symbols of each hop based on it. The existing formula for the first hop (e.g., the first part of the repetition) may be, for example, in is the length of the PUSCH transmission in an OFDM symbol in a slot (both hops together). The existing formula for the second hop (e.g., the second part of the repetition) can be, for example In some examples, the frequency hopping module 308 can introduce an LBT gap at the end of a first hop (e.g., occupying one or more symbols of a first portion of a repetition on a first frequency band). In some other variations, an LBT gap can be introduced at the beginning of a second hop (e.g., occupying one or more symbols of a second portion of a repetition on a second frequency band).

[0100] In some other aspects, the frequency hopping module 308 can use existing formulas to determine the number of symbols for each hop after first removing the X symbols for the LBT gap. Therefore, the frequency hopping module 308 can take the total length of the repetition (excluding the X symbols) divided by the floor value of 2 to obtain the location of the start of the LBT gap (e.g., at the first hop). This can be expressed as To determine the number of symbols for the first hop, is the length of the PUSCH transmission in the OFDM symbol in the slot (both hops together). The location of the end of the LBT gap can be determined by subtracting the total length of the repetition (excluding X symbols) from X symbols, divided by the floor value of 2. This can be expressed as

[0101] In some other aspects of the present disclosure, the frequency hopping module 308 may introduce an LBT gap for PUSCH type A with inter-slot hopping or PUSCH repetition type B with inter-repetition hopping or inter-slot hopping. In such aspects, the frequency hopping module 308 may determine the location of the LBT gap based on the hopping boundary, rather than determining the location of the LBT gap based on the SLIV as in some other embodiments. For example, in some variations, the frequency hopping module 308 may introduce (and use) an LBT gap at the end of a first hop (e.g., occupying one or more symbols of a first repetition on a first frequency band). In some other variations, the frequency hopping module may introduce (and use) an LBT gap at the beginning of a second hop (e.g., occupying one or more symbols of a second repetition on a second frequency band).

[0102] There may be a situation where the hopping boundary may be close enough to the end of the time slot, where a small number of symbols may remain between the LBT gap and the end of the time slot if an LBT gap is introduced. For example, there may be only one symbol left after the LBT gap before the end of the time slot (e.g., with a one-symbol LBT gap when using 15kHz or 30kHz subcarrier spacing, or a two-symbol LBT gap when using 60kHz subcarrier spacing). According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, this situation may be considered an error situation between the UE 300 and the BS 105. For example, the frequency hopping module 308 may cause an error message to be sent to the BS 105. The error message may identify the problem to the BS 105. Alternatively or in addition, the error process may include a retransmission at a subsequent time.

[0103] In some other embodiments, this may include the frequency hopping module 308 alternatively introducing a cyclic prefix (CP) extension (e.g., determined / derived based on the first symbol of the next actual repetition) to fill the single symbol gap before the time slot boundary. The frequency hopping module 308 may determine or derive the CP extension based on the first symbol of the next actual repetition. In other embodiments, the frequency hopping module 308 may apply a frequency hopping rule defined between the UE 300 and the BS 105, for example, a frequency hopping rule pre-configured with the UE 300 and / or dynamically updated during operation via a control message from one or more BSs 105. The frequency hopping rule may allow a wave interval after hopping and before the time slot boundary, Y equals two symbols, or for a 60kHz subcarrier spacing, Y equals three symbols). According to such an exemplary rule, in the case where the condition is not met (e.g., the number of symbols after hopping and before the time slot boundary will be equal to or less than Y), the frequency hopping module 308 may determine to send the repetition without hopping on the same frequency band. The frequency hopping module 308 may determine to hop again at the next repetition (depending on the specified total number of repetitions), which may include another comparison with the number of symbols remaining and the slot boundaries with the resulting determination.

[0104] In an example, a tight LBT gap may be defined for load-based equipment (LBE) operation (e.g., when UE 300 is an LBE). In such a case, the frequency hopping module 308 may use a CP extension to maintain the LBT gap for a duration of one or more symbols. For example, in a dynamic authorization environment, the frequency hopping module 308 may apply a CP extension indicated by a UL grant (e.g., previously received at UE 300 from BS 105) to the first PUSCH repetition. For subsequent repetitions, the frequency hopping module 308 may use a default CP extension. The default CP extension may be based on the SCS used at the time (e.g., one symbol is less than 25 μs for a 15 kHz or 30 kHz SCS, or two symbols are less than 15 μs for a 60 kHz SCS). In other examples, the frequency hopping module 308 may use a CP extension configured by RRC. In a configured authorization environment, the frequency hopping module 308 may randomly select an offset for the first PUSCH repetition. The offset may be randomly selected from an RRC configured offset set (e.g., a list of possible offsets to be randomly selected from), e.g., the offset has been previously received by UE 300 and stored in memory. For the next repetition, the frequency hopping module may use a default CP extension, similar to that discussed above with respect to the dynamic grant scenario, or alternatively, the CP extension may be configured by RRC.

[0105] As shown, the transceiver 310 may include a modem subsystem 312 and an RF unit 314. The transceiver 310 may be configured to communicate bidirectionally with other devices, such as the BS 105 and / or another core network element. The modem subsystem 312 may be configured to modulate and / or encode data from the memory 304 and / or the frequency hopping module 308 according to a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) (e.g., a low-density parity check (LDPC) coding scheme, a turbo coding scheme, a convolutional coding scheme, a digital beamforming scheme, etc.) and according to a predetermined frame structure. The RF unit 314 may be configured to process (e.g., perform analog-to-digital conversion or digital-to-analog conversion, etc.) the modulated / encoded data from the modem subsystem 312 (for outbound transmission) or the modulated / encoded data of the transmission originating from another source, such as the UE 115 or the BS 105. The RF unit 314 may also be configured to perform analog beamforming in conjunction with digital beamforming. Although shown as being integrated together in the transceiver 310, the modem subsystem 312 and the RF unit 314 may be separate devices that are coupled together at the UE 300 to enable the UE 300 to communicate with other devices.

[0106] RF unit 314 may provide modulated and / or processed data (e.g., data packets (or more generally, data messages that may include one or more data packets and other information)) to antenna 316 for transmission to one or more other devices. Antenna 316 may also receive data messages sent from other devices. Antenna 316 may provide received data messages for processing and / or demodulation at transceiver 310. Antenna 316 may include multiple antennas with similar or different designs in order to maintain multiple transmission links. RF unit 314 may configure antenna 316.

[0107] In one embodiment, the UE 300 may include multiple transceivers 310 that implement different RATs (e.g., NR and LTE). In one embodiment, the UE 300 may include a single transceiver 310 that implements multiple RATs (e.g., NR and LTE). In one embodiment, the transceiver 310 may include various components, where different combinations of components may implement different RATs.

[0108] Figure 4 4 is a block diagram of an exemplary BS 400 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. BS 400 may be BS 105 as discussed above. As shown, BS 400 may include a processor 402, a memory 404, a frequency hopping module 408, a transceiver 410 including a modem subsystem 412 and an RF unit 414, and one or more antennas 416. These elements may communicate with each other directly or indirectly, for example via one or more buses.

[0109] The processor 402 may have various features as a specialized type of processor. For example, these may include a CPU, a DSP, an ASIC, a controller, an FPGA device, another hardware device, a firmware device, or any combination thereof configured to perform the operations described herein. The processor 402 may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, such as a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, a combination of one or more microprocessors and a DSP core, or any other such configuration.

[0110] Memory 404 may include cache memory (e.g., cache memory of processor 402), RAM, MRAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory, solid-state memory devices, one or more hard disk drives, memristor-based arrays, other forms of volatile and non-volatile memory, or a combination of different types of memory. In some embodiments, memory 404 may include non-transitory computer-readable media. Memory 404 may store instructions 406. Instructions 406 may include instructions that, when executed by processor 402, cause processor 402 to perform the operations described herein. Instructions 406 may also be referred to as code, which may be broadly interpreted as including any type of computer-readable statements, such as those described above with respect to Figure 3 discussed.

[0111] The frequency hopping module 408 may be implemented via hardware, software, or a combination thereof. For example, the frequency hopping module 408 may be implemented as a processor, circuit, and / or instructions 406 stored in the memory 404 and executed by the processor 402.

[0112] The frequency hopping module 408 may be configured to cooperate with other aspects of the BS 400 to schedule the UE 115 for PUSCH repetitions, receive PUSCH repetitions and PUSCH information (eg, type) from the UE 115, assist in soft combining different PUSCH repetitions, and process PUSCH data according to the repetition type.

[0113] For example, the BS 400 may be configured with the frequency hopping module 408 to assist the BS 400 in determining where and when to listen for PUSCH repetitions (particularly in view of the possibility of LBT gaps for the UE 300) and when repetitions may be sent and at which frequency band or bands to send repetitions. Embodiments of the present disclosure enable the BS 400 to process uplink data in different hopping frequencies to consider, for example, sending PUSCH repetitions in multiple frequency bands via the uplink frequency hopping module 408. When the BS 400 receives uplink data from the UE 105, the frequency hopping module 408 may identify the data in different frequency bands. This may include considering the LBT allocated by the UE 115 to determine the frequency band availability of the frequency band for scheduling PUSCH transmissions, including one or more of the aspects discussed above with respect to the frequency hopping module 308 determining where and when to perform LBT operations and at which frequencies to send repetitions.

[0114] As shown, the transceiver 410 may include a modem subsystem 412 and an RF unit 414. The transceiver 410 may be configured to communicate bidirectionally with other devices (such as UE 115 and / or another core network element). The modem subsystem 412 may be configured to modulate and / or encode data according to an MCS (e.g., an LDPC coding scheme, a turbo coding scheme, a convolutional coding scheme, a digital beamforming scheme, etc.). The RF unit 414 may be configured to process (e.g., perform analog-to-digital conversion or digital-to-analog conversion, etc.) the modulated / encoded data from the modem subsystem 412 (for outbound transmission) or the modulated / encoded data of the transmission originating from another source (such as UE 115 or another BS 105). The RF unit 414 may also be configured to perform analog beamforming in conjunction with digital beamforming. Although shown as integrated together in transceiver 410, modem subsystem 412 and / or RF unit 414 may be separate devices that are coupled together at BS 400 to enable BS 400 to communicate with other devices.

[0115] The RF unit 414 may provide modulated and / or processed data (e.g., data packets (or more generally, data messages that may include one or more data packets and other information)) to the antenna 416 for transmission to one or more other devices. This may include, for example, sending an UL scheduling grant in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The antenna 416 may also receive data messages sent from other devices and may provide the received data messages for processing and / or demodulation at the transceiver 410 (e.g., repetitions of a PUSCH sent on one or more frequencies with LBT gaps introduced in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure). The antenna 416 may include multiple antennas of similar design or different designs in order to maintain multiple transmission links.

[0116] In one embodiment, the BS 400 may include multiple transceivers 410 that implement different RATs (e.g., NR and LTE). In one embodiment, the BS 400 may include a single transceiver 410 that implements multiple RATs (e.g., NR and LTE). In one embodiment, the transceiver 410 may include various components, where different combinations of components may implement different RATs.

[0117] Figure 5A Aspects of an exemplary configuration 500 for transmission of PUSCH Type A repetitions are shown. A BS such as BS 400 may configure UE 300 to transmit using a frequency and time allocation such as allocation 500. Figure 5A5. Two adjacent time slots that can be used for PUSCH type A repetitions, namely time slots 503 and 504, are shown in FIG. Time slots 503, 504 include time domain symbols 515. Downlink control information (DCI) 504 sent from BS 400 may indicate to UE 300 via SLIV the starting symbol and length within the time slot of PUSSCH repetitions 509, 513. In configuration 500, the same SLIV may be applied across different time slots 503, 504, such that the positions of repetitions 509, 513 within their respective time slots 503 and 505 are the same in terms of starting symbol and length. More generally, for K repetitions (e.g., greater than 1), the same SLIV information is applied to each repetition in each consecutive time slot in which the repetition is sent.

[0118] Figure 5B Aspects of an exemplary configuration 550 for transmission of PUSCH Type B repetitions are shown.A BS, such as BS 400, may configure UE 300 to transmit using a frequency and time allocation. Figure 5B 550, two adjacent time slots, namely, time slots 553 and 555, are shown. In the example shown, each time slot 553, 555 includes 14 time domain symbols for PUSCH type B repetition. Downlink control information (DCI) 554 sent from BS 400 can indicate the starting symbol and length of PUSCH repetition 559 within the time slot to UE 300 via SLIV. In configuration 550, repetition 557 starts at the starting symbol 557 identified via SLIV in time slot 553, and repetition 561 starts within or across time slots 553 and 555. For example, as shown, repetition 561 starts back-to-back at the end of repetition 559, in which example, repetition 559 occurs at the time slot boundary between time slots 553 and 555. PUSCH type B repetition can cross the time slot boundary between time slots. In addition, PUSCH Type B repetition supports dynamic indication of the number of repetitions, nominal inter-PUSCH frequency hopping, new UL / DL symbol interworking, new SLIV, etc.

[0119] In configuration 550, UE 300 may determine invalid symbols for PUSCH repetitions 559 and 561, for example, based on predefined rules and / or RRC configuration. If the repeated symbol collides with another symbol, such as a semi-static DL symbol or an invalid symbol (e.g., as configured via RRC to be invalid (e.g., only for PUSCH)), the repeated symbol may be determined to be invalid. Once UE 300 determines the invalid symbol, the remaining symbols may be considered as potential symbols for PUSCH repetition transmission.

[0120] If the number of potentially valid symbols for PUSCH repetition type B transmission is greater than zero for a nominal repetition, the PUSCH repetition may include one or more actual repetitions (e.g., potentially around a slot boundary). Each actual repetition may include a contiguous set of all potentially valid symbols that may be used for PUSCH repetition type B transmission within a slot. Thus, in the case where a repetition starts after a previous repetition in the same slot but has a length greater than the remaining time available in the same slot, the repetition is identified as a nominal repetition. It may be split into two actual repetitions—the first actual repetition occupies the remaining valid symbols in the same slot as the previous repetition until the slot boundary. The second actual repetition occupies the first valid symbol in the next slot after the slot boundary. In the case where the actual repetition has only a single symbol, the UE 300 may omit the repetition, and / or may allow the actual repetition in the case where L=1 (i.e., the length of the repetition is one symbol).

[0121] Figure 6 An exemplary frequency hopping repetition structure according to various aspects of the present disclosure is shown. Specifically, Figure 6 Aspects of an exemplary time and frequency resource allocation structure 600 for transmission of PUSCH type A repetitions with inter-slot hopping are shown. The vertical axis represents frequency (eg, two frequency bands 603 and 605). Additionally, the horizontal axis represents time.

[0122] Bands 603 and 605 are Figure 6 603 and 605 are shown overlapping each other, indicating that they constitute different frequency bands. As further shown, frequency bands 603 and 605 occupy the same time slot, although spanning different frequencies in the time-frequency grid. To simplify the discussion, Figure 6 Two frequency bands 603 and 605 are shown in the following figures, and they may represent interleaved frequency bands in some examples. As shown, frequency bands 603 and 605 span two adjacent time slots 611 and 613. Frequency band 603 may also be referred to as frequency band f1, and frequency band 605 may also be referred to as frequency band f2. As shown, in Figure 6 6. In the example of FIG. 6, there are two PUSCH repetitions configured according to PUSCH type A repetitions with inter-slot hopping across the unlicensed band. Therefore, two PUSCH repetitions are shown, namely PUSCH repetition 615 and PUSCH repetition 623. This may correspond to a scenario where BS 400 defines two repetitions for UE 300 to transmit. In other scenarios, more than two repetitions may be defined, but for simplicity of illustration, only two repetitions are shown and discussed herein.

[0123] BS 400 may notify UE 300 of the LBT gap (eg, Figure 6619 in the frequency band 603). UE 300 may then implement, for example, frequency hopping module 308. As shown, UE 300 may send PUSCH repetition 615 in frequency band 605. After sending PUSCH repetition 615, UE 300 may perform LBT during gap 619, which is defined by BS 400 as part of the process of hopping to frequency band 603. If LBT passes, UE 300 sends PUSCH repetition 623 on frequency band 603 at the same symbol start time as used for PUSCH repetition 615.

[0124] Fig. 7A An exemplary frequency hopping repetition structure according to various aspects of the present disclosure is shown. Specifically, Fig. 7A Aspects of an exemplary time and frequency resource allocation 700 for transmission of PUSCH Type A repetitions with inter-slot hopping are shown. Fig. 7A The frequency bands 708 and 709 are included, and various frequency band configurations (such as Figure 2 and / or 6), including interleaved frequency bands. As shown, frequency bands 708 and 709 span two adjacent time slots 703 and 705. As shown, in Fig. 7A 708 and 709. In the example of FIG. 709 , there are two PUSCH repetitions configured according to PUSCH type A repetitions with inter-slot hopping across unlicensed bands 708 and / or 709. Therefore, two PUSCH repetitions are shown, namely PUSCH repetition 711 and PUSCH repetition 719. This may correspond to a scenario where BS 400 defines two repetitions for UE 300 to transmit. In other scenarios, more than two repetitions may be defined, but for simplicity of illustration, only two repetitions are shown and discussed herein.

[0125] exist Fig. 7A In the embodiment of , the first repetition is sent starting at the symbol identified in the SLIV from the BS 400 for a length also identified in the SLIV. This is illustrated with PUSCH repetition 711 sent in frequency subband 709 in time slot 703. In addition, the UE 300 may perform LBT during a gap 715 that occurs after a time slot boundary 717. The UE 300 determines the LBT gap 715 by using the time domain resource allocation / first X symbols of the SLIV for the second and subsequent repetitions (e.g., depending on how many repetitions the SLIV defines). Thus, in Fig. 7A, if the LBT is cleared from the gap 715, the UE 300 sends a PUSCH repetition 719 on the frequency band 708. This is exemplary only; a shorter length may also be defined, in which case the LBT gap will occupy the first time domain resource allocation of the repetition defined in SLIV. The example shown shows that the length L is defined as a PUSCH repetition occupying the entire length of the slot (with the same symbol start time for each repetition according to PUSCH type A repetition with inter-slot hopping).

[0126] Figure 7B An exemplary frequency hopping repetition structure according to various aspects of the present disclosure is shown. Specifically, Figure 7B Aspects of an exemplary time and frequency resource allocation 750 for transmission of PUSCH Type B repetitions with inter-repetition hopping are shown. Figure 7B Bands 758 and 759 are included, and various band configurations may again be represented (e.g., with respect to Figure 2 and / or 6), including interleaved frequency bands. As shown, frequency bands 758 and 759 span two adjacent time slots 753 and 759. As shown, in Figure 7B There are two PUSCH repetitions configured according to PUSCH type B repetitions with inter-repetition hopping across unlicensed bands 758 and / or 759. Therefore, two PUSCH repetitions are shown, namely actual PUSCH repetition 751 and nominal PUSCH repetitions 759-761. Specifically, the nominal PUSCH repetition is composed of actual PUSCH repetition 759 and actual PUSCH repetition 761. This may correspond to a scenario in which BS 400 defines two repetitions for UE 300 to transmit. In other scenarios, more than two repetitions may be defined, but for simplicity of illustration, only two repetitions are shown and discussed herein. Specifically, this shows a scenario in which the second repetition may cross a timeslot boundary 767, so two actual repetitions constitute one nominal repetition.

[0127] exist Figure 7BIn the embodiment of , for the length identified in the SLIV, the first repetition 751 is also sent starting at the symbol identified in the SLIV from the BS 400. This is illustrated with the PUSCH repetition 751 sent in the frequency subband 759 in the time slot 753. In addition, the UE 300 can perform LBT during the gap 757 by using the first X symbols of the time domain resource allocation / SLIV at the hopping boundary 769 for the second and subsequent repetitions (depending on how many repetitions are defined). In addition, according to the type B repetition, the second nominal repetition starts immediately after the first repetition after the LBT gap 757 (i.e., still in the first time slot 753). Therefore, if the LBT is cleared from the gap 757 in the frequency band 758, the UE 300 sends the actual PUSCH repetition 759 in the remaining symbols of the time slot 753 (reaching the time slot boundary 767). The UE 300 continues to send the actual PUSCH repetition 761 on the frequency band 758 at the beginning of the new time slot 755. Again, the length of the repetition may be defined by SLIV, and may assume various values ​​ranging from a few symbols (including 1 symbol in some examples) to the length of a slot.

[0128] Fig. 8A An exemplary frequency hopping repetition structure according to various aspects of the present disclosure is shown. Specifically, Fig. 8A Aspects of an exemplary time and frequency resource allocation 800 for transmission of PUSCH Type A repetitions with inter-slot hopping are shown. Fig. 8A Bands 803 and 807 are included, and various band configurations may again be represented (e.g., regarding Figure 2 and / or 6), including interleaved frequency bands. As shown, frequency bands 80 and 809 span two adjacent time slots 815 and 819. As shown, in Fig. 8A 807. In the example of FIG. 80, there are two PUSCH repetitions configured according to PUSCH type A repetitions with inter-slot hopping across unlicensed bands 803 and / or 807. Therefore, two PUSCH repetitions are shown, namely PUSCH repetition 811 and PUSCH repetition 825. This may correspond to a scenario in which BS 400 defines two repetitions for transmission by UE 300. In other scenarios, more than two repetitions may be defined, but for simplicity of illustration, only two repetitions are shown and discussed herein.

[0129] exist Fig. 8A In the embodiment of the present invention, the first repetition is sent starting at the symbol identified in the SLIV from BS 400, similar to the above description of Fig. 7AAs discussed, this is also similar to the length defined by SLIV. This is illustrated using PUSCH repetition 811 transmitted in frequency band 807 in time slot 815. In addition, UE 300 can perform LBT during gap 821, which coincides with the last symbol 823 of the previous repetition (here, PUSCH repetition 811) occurring before time slot boundary 827. UE 300 determines LBT gap 821 by using the last X symbols of the time domain resource allocation / SLIV for the first repetition. Therefore, in Fig. 8A 821, UE 300 transmits PUSCH repetition 825 on frequency band 803 in time slot 819. This is exemplary only; a shorter length may also be defined, although in such a case the LBT gap will still occupy the last time domain resource allocation of the first repetition, here symbol 823. The illustrated example shows a PUSCH repetition of length L defined as occupying the entire length of the time slot, but as with respect to Fig. 7A As mentioned, other lengths are possible. For example, embodiments in which the last symbol of the previous PUSCH repetition is used may reduce the impact on the PUSCH DMRS.

[0130] Figure 8B An exemplary frequency hopping repetition structure according to various aspects of the present disclosure is shown. Specifically, Figure 8B Aspects of an exemplary time and frequency resource allocation 850 for transmission of PUSCH Type B repetitions with inter-repetition hopping are shown. Figure 8B includes bands 853 and 857, and may again represent various band configurations (such as Figure 2 and / or 6), including interleaved frequency bands. As shown, frequency bands 853 and 859 span two adjacent time slots 855 and 859. As shown, in Figure 8B There are two PUSCH repetitions configured according to PUSCH type B repetitions with inter-repetition hopping across unlicensed bands 853 and / or 857. Therefore, two PUSCH repetitions are shown, namely, actual PUSCH repetition 859 and nominal PUSCH repetitions 817-875. Specifically, the nominal PUSCH repetition is composed of actual PUSCH repetition 871 and actual PUSCH repetition 875. As described with respect to Figure 7B As described in the example of , this may correspond to a scenario where two repetitions are defined, and specifically where one of the repetitions spans a timeslot boundary 879 .

[0131] exist Figure 8BIn the embodiment of , the first repetition 859 is sent starting at the symbol identified in the SLIV from the BS 400 for the length also identified in the SLIV. This is illustrated with the PUSCH repetition 855 sent in the frequency subband 857 in the time slot 855. In addition, the UE 300 can perform LBT during the gap 867 by using the last X symbols of the time domain resource allocation / SLIV for the first repetition (here, the PUSCH repetition 855) that occurs before the hopping boundary 877. The LBT gap 867 can coincide with the last symbol 863 of the previous repetition 855. In addition, according to the type B repetition, the second nominal repetition starts immediately after the first repetition after the LBT gap 867 (i.e., still in the first time slot 855). Therefore, if the LBT is cleared from the gap 867 in the frequency subband 853, the UE 300 sends the actual PUSCH repetition 871 in the remaining symbols of the time slot 855 (reaching the time slot boundary 879). UE 300 continues to send the actual PUSCH repetition 875 on frequency band 853 at the beginning of the new time slot 859. Again, the length of the repetition may be defined by the SLIV.

[0132] Fig. 9A An exemplary frequency hopping repetition structure according to various aspects of the present disclosure is shown. Specifically, Fig. 9A Aspects of an exemplary time and frequency resource allocation 900 for transmission of PUSCH Type A repetitions with intra-slot frequency hopping are shown. Fig. 9A The frequency bands 903 and 907 are included and may again represent various frequency band configurations as discussed with respect to other figures. As shown, the frequency bands 903 and 907 span two adjacent time slots 935 and 939. As shown, in Fig. 9A 907 and 907. Thus, two PUSCH repetitions are shown, namely, repetition 912 in slot 935 and repetition 920 in slot 939. Repetition 912 in slot 935 includes two parts, namely, repetition part 914 on band 907 and repetition part 919 on band 903. Repetition 920 in slot 939 again includes two parts, namely, repetition part 926 on band 907 and repetition part 923 on band 903. This may correspond to a scenario where BS 400 defines two repetitions for UE 300 to transmit. In other scenarios, more than two repetitions may be defined, but for simplicity of illustration, only two repetitions are shown and discussed herein.

[0133] exist Fig. 9AIn the embodiment, the length defined by SLIV is further also utilized to start sending the first repetition 912 at the symbol identified in the SLIV from the BS 400. In the intra-slot repetition hopping scenario, the position of the LBT gap 917 can be determined according to an algorithm. For example, X symbols can be used as the LBT gap 917. The UE 300 can determine the start and end positions of the LBT gap 917 for such a situation based on the S (starting symbol) and L (length) parameters from SLIV. For example, the LBT gap 917 can be determined in the following manner: the starting symbol S is combined with the floor of the length of the repetition (e.g., in units of the number of symbols) divided by 2, and further subtracted from the X symbols of the LBT gap 917; wherein the position of the LBT gap 917 extends to the value S combined with the length divided by 2, minus one symbol. For the starting position, this can be determined using the equation represents (the starting position of the LBT gap 917), and for the ending position of the LBT gap 917, this can be obtained using the equation Indicates. This may correspond to a situation where the LBT gap 917 occurs with time domain resources, i.e., the last X symbols of the time domain resource allocation / SLIV allocated for the first PUSCH repetition part 912 (here, the PUSCH repetition part 914 occurring before the hopping boundary 915). The LBT gap 917 may coincide with the last symbol 921 of the first PUSCH repetition part 914. In addition, according to type A repetition with intra-slot frequency hopping, if the LBT is cleared in frequency band 903, the second PUSCH repetition part (here, the PUSCH repetition part 919 occurring after the hopping boundary 915) starts immediately after the first repetition part 914 in the time slot 935 after the LBT gap 917. Therefore, the UE 300 sends the second PUSCH repetition part 919 in the remaining symbols of the time slot 935 in the frequency band 903, where the end position of the LBT gap 917 is based on the present invention for Fig. 9A Described by the formula.

[0134] The second PUSCH repetition 918 is processed in a similar manner in the subsequent time slot 939. That is, the PUSCH repetition 920 starts at symbol S in the next time slot, where the second PUSCH repetition 920 includes a first PUSCH repetition portion 926 on frequency band 907 and a second PUSCH repetition portion 923 on frequency band 903. The LBT gap 922 position (start and end positions) is again determined according to the same algorithm and may coincide with the last symbol 930 of the first PUSCH repetition portion 926 of the second PUSCH repetition 920. Similarly, for intra-slot frequency hopping, if the LBT is cleared in frequency band 903, the second PUSCH repetition portion 923 occurring after the hopping boundary 918 begins immediately after the first repetition portion 926 in the time slot 939 after the LBT gap 922. Therefore, the UE 300 sends the second PUSCH repetition portion 923 in the remaining symbols of the time slot 939 in frequency band 903, where the end position of the LBT gap 922 is again determined according to the present invention for Fig. 9A Determined by the formula mentioned.

[0135] Fig. 9B An exemplary frequency hopping repetition structure according to various aspects of the present disclosure is shown. Specifically, Fig. 9B Aspects of an exemplary time and frequency resource allocation 950 for transmission of PUSCH Type A repetitions with intra-slot frequency hopping are shown. Fig. 9B The frequency bands 953 and 957 are included and may again represent various frequency band configurations as discussed with respect to other figures. The frequency bands 953 and 957 may span two adjacent time slots 985 and 989. As shown, in Fig. 9B There are two PUSCH repetitions configured according to PUSCH type A repetitions with intra-slot hopping across unlicensed bands 953 and 957. Therefore, two PUSCH repetitions are shown, namely repetition 962 in time slot 985 and repetition 972 in time slot 989. Repetition 962 in time slot 985 includes two parts, namely repetition part 963 on frequency band 957 and repetition part 961 on frequency band 953. Repetition 972 in time slot 989 again includes two parts, namely repetition part 973 on frequency band 957 and repetition part 971 on frequency band 953. This may correspond to a scenario in which two repetitions are defined by BS 400 for UE 300 to transmit. In other scenarios, more than two repetitions may be defined, but for simplicity of illustration, only two repetitions are shown and discussed herein.

[0136] exist Fig. 9BIn the embodiment, the length defined by SLIV is further also utilized to start sending the first repetition 962 at the symbol identified in the SLIV from the BS 400. In the intra-slot repetition hopping scenario, the position of the LBT gap 959 can be determined according to an algorithm. For example, X symbols can be used as the LBT gap 959. The UE 300 can determine the start and end positions of the LBT gap 959 for such a situation based on the S (start symbol) and L (length) parameters from SLIV. For example, the LBT gap 959 can be determined in the following manner: the start symbol S is combined with the length of the repetition (e.g., in units of the number of symbols) divided by 2, which is rounded down as the start of the LBT gap 959. The position of the LBT gap 959 can extend to the value S combined with the length divided by 2, plus X symbols, minus one symbol. For the starting position, this can be determined using the equation represents (the starting position of the LBT gap 959), and for the ending position of the LBT gap 959, this can be obtained using the equation Indicates. This may correspond to a case where the LBT gap 959 occurs with time domain resources, i.e., the first X symbols of the time domain resource allocation / SLIV allocated for the first PUSCH repetition part (here, the PUSCH repetition part 961 occurring after the hopping boundary 967) of the second PUSCH repetition 962. In addition, according to type A repetition with intra-slot frequency hopping, if the LBT is cleared in frequency band 953, the second PUSCH repetition part (here, the PUSCH repetition part 961 occurring after the hopping boundary 967) starts after the first repetition part 963 and the LBT gap 959 in time slot 985. Therefore, the UE 300 sends the second PUSCH repetition part 961 in the remaining symbols of time slot 985 in frequency band 953, where the end position of the LBT gap 959 is based on the present invention for Fig. 9B Described by the formula.

[0137] The second PUSCH repetition 972 is processed in a similar manner in the subsequent time slot 989. That is, the PUSCH repetition 972 starts at symbol S in the next time slot, where the second PUSCH repetition 972 includes a first PUSCH repetition portion 973 on frequency band 957 and a second PUSCH repetition portion 971 on frequency band 953. The LBT gap 969 position (start and end positions) is again determined according to the same algorithm and may coincide with the first symbol of the second PUSCH repetition portion 971 of the second PUSCH repetition 972. Similarly, for intra-slot frequency hopping, if the LBT is cleared in frequency band 953, the second PUSCH repetition portion 971 that occurs after the hopping boundary 977 starts after the first repetition portion 973 and the LBT gap 969 in time slot 989. Therefore, the UE 300 sends the second PUSCH repetition portion 971 in the remaining symbols of the time slot 989 in frequency band 953, where the end position of the LBT gap 969 is again determined according to the present invention for Fig. 9B Determined by the formula mentioned.

[0138] Fig. 10A An exemplary frequency hopping repetition structure according to various aspects of the present disclosure is shown. Specifically, Fig. 10A Aspects of an exemplary time and frequency resource allocation 1000 for transmission of PUSCH Type A repetitions with intra-slot frequency hopping are shown. Fig. 10A The frequency bands 1003 and 1005 are included, which may again represent various frequency band configurations as discussed with respect to other figures. The frequency bands 1003 and 1007 span two adjacent time slots 1031 and 1033. As shown in the figure, Fig. 10A 1005. There are two PUSCH repetitions configured according to PUSCH type A repetitions with intra-slot frequency hopping across unlicensed bands 1003 and 1005. Therefore, two PUSCH repetitions are shown, namely repetition 1021 in slot 1031 and repetition 1029 in slot 1033. Repetition 1021 in slot 985 includes two parts, namely repetition part 963 on band 957 and repetition part 961 on band 953. Repetition 972 in slot 989 again includes two parts, namely repetition part 973 on band 957 and repetition part 971 on band 953. This may correspond to a scenario where BS 400 defines two repetitions for UE 300 to transmit. In other scenarios, more than two repetitions may be defined, but for simplicity of illustration, only two repetitions are shown and discussed herein.

[0139] exist Fig. 10AIn the embodiment of the present invention, the length defined by SLIV is further utilized to start sending the first repetition 1021 at the symbol identified in the SLIV from BS 400. In the repetitive frequency hopping scenario within the time slot, the position of the LBT gap 1017 can be determined according to an algorithm. For example, Fig. 10A Embodiments of the present invention may use existing formulas used in the 3GPP specification to determine the number of symbols per hop, and based thereon determine the location of the LBT gap 1017 relative to the symbols (e.g., portions 1020 and 1019) of each hop in the first PUSCH repetition 1021. The UE 300 may determine the location of the start and end of the LBT gap 1017 based on S (start symbol) from SLIV. The start symbol S may be combined with the length of the total PUSCH repetition 1021 divided by 2 to determine the LBT gap 1017. This may be determined, for example, by the equation To indicate that is the length of the PUSCH transmission in the OFDM symbol in the time slot (two hops together). Thus, the UE 300 determines the number of symbols for the first hop, i.e., the first repetition part 1020. The UE 300 introduces the LBT gap 1017 at the end of the first repetition part 1020, which may correspond to the case where the LBT gap 1017 occurs together with the time domain resources, i.e., the last X symbols of the time domain resource allocation / SLIV allocated for the first PUSCH repetition part (here, the PUSCH repetition part 1020 occurring before the hop boundary 1023) of the first PUSCH repetition 1021. In addition, according to the type A repetition with intra-slot hopping, if the LBT is cleared in the frequency band 1003, the second PUSCH repetition part (here, the PUSCH repetition part 1019 occurring after the hop boundary 1023) starts immediately after the first repetition part 1020 in the time slot 1031 after the LBT gap 1017. The duration of the second repetitive portion 1019 on the frequency band 1003 may be determined by To determine, the time slot boundary 1040 is reached.

[0140] The second PUSCH repetition 1029 is processed in a similar manner in the subsequent time slot 1033. That is, the PUSCH repetition 1029 starts at symbol S in the next time slot, where the second PUSCH repetition 1029 includes the first PUSCH repetition portion 1028 on the frequency band 1005 and the second PUSCH repetition portion 1027 on the frequency band 1003. The LBT gap 1025 position (start and end position) is again determined by first looking at the number of symbols per hop of the second PUSCH repetition 1029, which is determined according to the same algorithm discussed above for the first repetition in the previous time slot. The LBT gap 1025 can coincide with the last symbol of the first PUSCH repetition portion 1028 of the second PUSCH repetition 1029. Again, for intra-slot frequency hopping, if LBT is cleared in frequency band 1003, the second PUSCH repetition portion 1027 occurring after hopping boundary 1035 starts immediately after the first repetition portion 1028 in time slot 1033 after LBT gap 1025. Therefore, UE 300 transmits the second PUSCH repetition portion 1027 in the remaining symbols of time slot 1033 in frequency band 1003, where the duration of the second portion 1027 is again determined by the algorithm used for the second portion 1019 of the first repetition 1021.

[0141] Fig. 10B An exemplary frequency hopping repetition structure according to various aspects of the present disclosure is shown. Specifically, Fig. 10B Aspects of an exemplary time and frequency resource allocation 1050 for transmission of PUSCH Type A repetitions with intra-slot frequency hopping are shown. Fig. 10B The frequency bands 1053 and 1055 are included and may again represent various frequency band configurations as discussed with respect to other figures. The frequency bands 1053 and 1055 may span two adjacent time slots 1081 and 1083. As shown in the figure, Fig. 10B 1053 and 1055. Thus, two PUSCH repetitions are shown, namely, repetition 1059 in slot 1081 and repetition 1069 in slot 1083. Repetition 1059 in slot 1081 includes two parts, namely, repetition part 1061 on band 1055 and repetition part 1065 on band 1053. Repetition 1069 in slot 1083 again includes two parts, namely, repetition part 1071 on band 1055 and repetition part 1077 on band 1053. This may correspond to a scenario in which two repetitions are defined by BS 400 for UE 300 to transmit. In other scenarios, more than two repetitions may be defined, but for simplicity of illustration, only two repetitions are shown and discussed herein.

[0142] exist Fig. 10B In the embodiment of the present invention, the length defined by SLIV is further utilized to start sending the first repetition 1059 at the symbol identified in the SLIV from BS 400. In the intra-slot repetition frequency hopping scenario, the position of the LBT gap 1063 can be determined according to an algorithm. For example, Fig. 10B Embodiments of the present invention may use existing formulas used in the 3GPP specification to determine the number of symbols per hop (e.g., regarding Fig. 10A ), and based on it, the position of the LBT gap 1063 relative to each hopped symbol (e.g., parts 1061 and 1065) in the first PUSCH repetition 1059 is determined. This algorithmic approach is similar to Fig. 10A , except that instead of introducing the LBT gap 1063 at the end of the first repetition part 1061, the UE 300 introduces the LBT gap 1063 at the first X symbols of the second PUSCH repetition part (here, the PUSCH repetition part 1065 occurring after the hopping boundary 1067) of the first PUSCH repetition 1059. In addition, according to the type A repetition with intra-slot frequency hopping, if the LBT is cleared in the frequency band 1053, the second PUSCH repetition part (here, the PUSCH repetition part 1065 occurring after the hopping boundary 1067) starts after the first repetition part 1061 and the LBT gap 1063 in the time slot 1081. Therefore, the UE 300 performs the operation according to the type A repetition with intra-slot frequency hopping. Fig. 10A The second PUSCH repetition part 1065 is sent within the duration of the symbol determined by the same algorithm for the second repetition part (here 1065), reaching the time slot boundary 1085.

[0143] The second PUSCH repetition 1069 is processed in a similar manner in the subsequent time slot 1083. That is, the PUSCH repetition 1069 starts at symbol S in the next time slot, where the second PUSCH repetition 1069 includes a first PUSCH repetition portion 1071 on frequency band 1055 and a second PUSCH repetition portion 1077 on frequency band 1053. The LBT gap 1075 position is again determined by first looking at the number of symbols per hop of the second PUSCH repetition 1069, which is determined according to the same algorithm discussed above with respect to the first repetition in the previous time slot (e.g., as discussed with respect to Fig. 10A1075). The LBT gap 1075 may be the first X symbols of the second PUSCH repetition portion (here, the PUSCH repetition portion 1077 occurring after the hopping boundary 1073) of the second PUSCH repetition 1069. Again, for intra-slot frequency hopping, if LBT is cleared in the frequency band 1503, the second PUSCH repetition portion 1077 occurring after the hopping boundary 1073 begins after the first repetition portion 1071 in the time slot 1083 after the LBT gap 1075. Therefore, the UE 300 may be in accordance with Fig. 10A The second PUSCH repetition part 1077 is sent within the duration of the symbol determined by the same algorithm for the second repetition part (here 1077).

[0144] Fig.11 An exemplary frequency hopping repetition structure according to various aspects of the present disclosure is shown. Specifically, Fig.11 Aspects of an exemplary time and frequency resource allocation 1100 for transmission of PUSCH Type A repetitions with intra-slot frequency hopping are shown. Fig.11 Frequency bands 1103 and 1107 are included, and various frequency band configurations as discussed with respect to other figures may again be represented. Frequency bands 1103 and 1107 span two adjacent time slots 1109 and 1111. Again, although two repetitions are shown, a total of one repetition in each time slot, there may be additional repetitions in other time slots (discussed here focusing on only two time slots). Therefore, the hopping may span the unlicensed frequency bands 1103 and 1107. Two PUSCH repetitions 1113 and 1125 are shown, one repetition in each time slot. PUSCH repetition 1113 includes two parts, namely, a repetition portion 1115 on frequency band 1107 and a repetition portion 1119 on frequency band 1103. PUSCH repetition 1125 in time slot 1111 includes two parts, namely, a repetition portion 1127 on frequency band 1107 and a repetition portion 1131 on frequency band 1103.

[0145] After first removing the X symbols for LBT gap 1117, UE 300 can use existing formulas to determine the number of symbols for each hop (i.e., for each repeating portion of repetition 1113). To do this, UE 300 can take the total length of repetition 1113 (excluding the X symbols) divided by the floor value of 2 to obtain the location of the start of LBT gap 1117. This can be expressed as To determine the number of symbols of the first repetition portion 1115, where is the length of the PUSCH transmission in the OFDM symbol in the slot (both repetitions together). The position of the end of the LBT gap 1117 can be determined by subtracting the total length of the repetition (excluding X symbols) from the X symbol, divided by the floor value of 2. This can be expressed as Thus, the LBT gap 1117 may occur after the transition boundary 1118 , but between the first repeating portion 1115 and the second repeating portion 1119 .

[0146] In addition, according to the type A repetition with intra-slot hopping, if LBT is cleared in frequency band 1103, the second PUSCH repetition part (here, the PUSCH repetition part 1119 occurring after the frequency hopping boundary 1118) starts immediately after the first repetition part 1115 and the LBT gap 1118 in the time slot 1109. Therefore, the UE 300 transmits the second PUSCH repetition part 1119 on the frequency band 1103, reaching the time slot boundary 1133. This method may be beneficial because it may have no impact on the PUSCH DMRS because, in some examples, the PUSCH DMRS is determined based on the PUSCH length of each hop (e.g., PUSCH repetition part).

[0147] The location of the LBT gap 1129 in the second time slot 1111 may be determined in a similar manner with respect to the second repetition 1125 and the constituent repetition portions 1127 and 1131. The number of symbols of the LBT gap 1129 may be removed prior to determining the lengths of the first repetition portion 1127 and the second repetition portion 1131. Similarly, if the LBT is cleared from the LBT gap 1129 on the frequency band 1103, transmission of the second repetition portion 1131 will occur.

[0148] Now go to Fig. 12A , shows an exemplary hopping repetition structure according to various aspects of the present disclosure. Specifically, Fig. 12A Aspects of an exemplary time and frequency resource allocation 1200 for transmission of PUSCH type repetitions are shown. For example, the time and frequency resource allocation 1200 can be applied to type A repetitions with inter-slot hopping. In this example, frequency bands 1203 and 1205 are shown. These frequency bands span two adjacent time slots 1231 and 1233. Two PUSCH repetitions 1211 and 1223 are shown. UE 300 can send PUSCH repetition 1211 on frequency subband 1205 and perform LBT during gap 1217.

[0149] UE 300 may determine the location of LBT gap 1217 based on hopping boundary 1219 (which may correspond to the slot boundary between slots 1231 and 1233). Therefore, after identifying hopping boundary 1219, UE 300 may introduce LBT gap 1217 as the last symbol at the end of the first PUSCH repetition 1211 in slot 1231. This may correspond to the last symbol 1215 of the first PUSCH repetition 1211. In some examples, the number of symbols used for LBT gap 1217 may be one symbol in the case of an SCS of 15 kHz or 30 kHz, and may be two symbols in the case of an SCS of 60 kHz (just as some examples). If LBT is cleared from gap 1217 for band 1203, UE 300 sends PUSCH repetition 1223 on band 1203 in the next slot 1233.

[0150] Fig. 12B Aspects of an exemplary time and frequency resource allocation 1250 for transmission of PUSCH repetition type A with inter-slot hopping are shown. Fig. 12A and 12B The difference is that instead of Fig. 12B The LBT gap is positioned before the transition boundary 1291 (at the end of the previous repetition), Fig. 12B , LBT gap 1257 is placed after hopping boundary 1291. Therefore, the first repetition 1251 is sent on band 1205 in time slot 1281, UE 300 hops to band 1203, performs LBT at LBT gap 1259, and if the LBT passes, UE 300 sends the second repetition 1253 on band 1203 in time slot 1283. Similar LBT gap symbol lengths can be applied to SCS sizes, as described above with respect to Fig. 12A discussed.

[0151] Fig.13A Aspects of an exemplary time and frequency resource allocation 1300 for transmission of PUSCH repetition type B with inter-repetition hopping are shown. Fig.13A and 12A The difference between Fig.13A involves type B inter-slot repetition, while Fig. 12AType A inter-slot repetitions are involved. The frequency bands 1303 and 1307 span two adjacent time slots 1331 and 1333. As shown, there are two PUSCH repetitions configured according to PUSCH type B repetitions with inter-repetition hopping across the unlicensed frequency bands 1303 and / or 1307. Therefore, two PUSCH repetitions are shown, namely, actual PUSCH repetition 1309 and nominal PUSCH repetitions 1321-1325. Specifically, the nominal PUSCH repetition is composed of actual PUSCH repetition 1321 and actual PUSCH repetition 1325. This may correspond to a scenario where two repetitions are defined and one of the repetitions spans a time slot boundary 1311.

[0152] exist Fig.13A In the embodiment of , the first repetition 1309 is sent in frequency band 1307 in time slot 1331. UE 300 can perform LBT during gap 1317 by using the last X symbols for the first repetition (here, PUSCH repetition 1309), which occurs before the hop boundary 1327. In addition, according to type B repetition, the second nominal repetition starts immediately after the first repetition after the LBT gap 1317 (i.e., still in the first time slot 1331). Therefore, if LBT is cleared from gap 1317 in frequency band 1303, UE 300 sends actual PUSCH repetition 1321 in the remaining symbols of time slot 1331 (reaching time slot boundary 1311). UE 300 continues to send actual PUSCH repetition 1325 on frequency band 1303 at the beginning of the new time slot 1333. Similar LBT gap symbol lengths can be applied to SCS sizes, as described above with respect to Fig. 12A discussed.

[0153] Fig. 13B Aspects of an exemplary time and frequency resource allocation 1350 for transmission of PUSCH repetition type B with inter-repetition hopping are shown. Fig.13A and 13B The difference is that instead of Fig. 13B The LBT gap is positioned before the hop boundary 1377 and the LBT gap 1367 is positioned at the beginning of the new repetition after the hop boundary 1377. Thus, the first repetition 1359 is sent on band 1357 in slot 1381, UE 300 hops to band 1353, performs LBT at LBT gap 1367, and if the LBT passes, UE 300 sends nominal repetitions 1371-1385 on band 1353, starting in slot 1381 (with actual repetition 1371) and ending in slot 1383 (with actual repetition 1385). Similar LBT gap symbol lengths may apply to the SCS size, as described above with respect to Fig. 12A discussed.

[0154] Fig.14A Aspects of an exemplary time and frequency resource allocation 1400 for transmission of PUSCH repetition type B with inter-slot hopping are shown. Configuration 1400 includes frequency bands 1403 and 1407 spanning two adjacent time slots 1431 and 1433. As shown, there are two PUSCH repetitions configured according to PUSCH type B repetitions with inter-slot hopping spanning unlicensed bands 1403 and / or 1407. Thus, two PUSCH repetitions are shown, namely, actual PUSCH repetition 1409 and nominal PUSCH repetitions 1411-1425. Specifically, the nominal PUSCH repetition is composed of actual PUSCH repetition 1411 and actual PUSCH repetition 1425. This may correspond to a scenario where two repetitions are defined and one of the repetitions spans a time slot boundary 1423.

[0155] exist Fig.14A In the embodiment of , the first repetition 1409 is sent in the frequency band 1407 in the time slot 1431. The UE 300 can perform LBT during the gap 1421 by using the last X symbols for the first repetition (here, the PUSCH repetition 1409), which occurs before the hopping boundary 1423 (in the type B inter-slot repetition, the hopping boundary 1423 coincides with the time slot boundary). In addition, according to the type B repetition, the second nominal repetition starts immediately after the first repetition (i.e., still in the first time slot 1431). However, the LBT gap 1421 does not occur until the frequency hopping occurs at the time slot boundary instead of the start of the second nominal repetition. Therefore, the UE 300 sends the actual PUSCH repetition 1411 in the remaining symbols of the time slot 1431 (reaching the time slot boundary 1423) while still on the frequency band 1407.

[0156] At the time slot boundary, UE 300 hops to frequency band 1 304. Fig.14A In the embodiment, LBT is performed using the last X symbols at the end of the slot (in the middle of the second nominal repetition) before the slot boundary / hop boundary 1423. If LBT is cleared from the gap 1421 in the band 1403, the UE 300 continues to send the actual PUSCH repetition 1425 on the band 1403 at the beginning of the new slot 1433. Similar LBT gap symbol lengths can be applied to the SCS size, as described above with respect to Fig. 12A discussed.

[0157] Fig. 14B Aspects of an exemplary time and frequency resource allocation 1450 for transmission of PUSCH repetition type B with inter-slot hopping are shown. Fig.14A and 14BThe difference between is that instead of positioning the LBT gap 1465 of 14B before the slot / hop boundary 1463, the UE 300 places the LBT gap 1465 at the beginning of the new slot. Therefore, the first repetition 1459 is sent on band 1457 in slot 1481, the actual repetition 1461 at the nominal repetition 1461-1467 is sent on band 1457 still in slot 1481, and the UE 300 hops to band 1453. The UE 300 performs LBT at the LBT gap 1465, and if the LBT passes, the UE 300 starts sending the actual repetition 1467 in slot 1483. Configuration 1450 includes two adjacent slots 1481 and 1483. Similar LBT gap symbol lengths can apply to the SCS size, as described above with respect to Fig. 12A discussed.

[0158] There may be situations where the hopping boundary may be close enough to the end of the slot, where a small number of symbols may remain between the LBT gap and the end of the slot if an LBT gap is introduced (e.g., in PUSCH repetition type B with inter-repetition hopping). For example, there may be only one symbol left after the LBT gap before the end of the slot (e.g., with a one-symbol LBT gap when using 15kHz or 30kHz subcarrier spacing, or a two-symbol LBT gap when using 60kHz subcarrier spacing). This situation may be considered an error situation between the UE 300 and the BS 400, which in some examples may include sending an error message to the BS 400. In other examples, no response / error message may be sent, and the BS 400 may interpret the lack of a message itself as an error indication. Alternatively or in addition, the error process may include a retransmission at a subsequent time.

[0159] In other embodiments, the device may be configured to allow for situations where the hopping boundary is close to the end of the time slot. Fig.15A Aspects of an exemplary time and frequency resource allocation 1500 for transmission of PUSCH repetition type B with inter-repetition hopping with hopping boundaries close to slot boundaries are shown. Configuration 1500 includes frequency bands 1503 and 1507 spanning two adjacent slots 1531 and 1533. As shown, there are four PUSCH repetitions configured according to PUSCH type B repetitions with inter-repetition hopping spanning frequency bands 1507 and 1503. In this example, four PUSCH repetitions are shown—actual repetition 1509, nominal repetitions 1513-1515, actual repetition 1535, and actual repetition 1523. Nominal repetitions 1513-1515 span slot boundary 1541.

[0160] In configuration 1500, in the case where there is a single symbol between the LBT gap and the slot boundary, the UE 300 may be configured to introduce a cyclic prefix (CP) to fill the single symbol gap before the slot boundary. Fig.15A 1531, the first actual repetition 1509 is all within time slot 1531, so UE 300 sends repetition 1509 on frequency band 1507. Typically, the next repetition will start immediately after the end of the previous repetition. But here, the introduction of LBT gap 1511 after hopping boundary 1525 leaves only one symbol 1526 before time slot boundary 1541. Therefore, repetition 1515 has not yet started, but instead is filled with CP extension, which can be derived or otherwise determined based on the first symbol of the next actual repetition. In this example, if LBT is cleared on frequency band 1503 in LBT gap 1511, repetition 1515 starts at new time slot 1533.

[0161] Another hop boundary 1509 occurs at the end of repetition 1515. UE 300 hops to band 1507 again, performs LBT at LBT gap 1527 on band 1507 before starting the next repetition 1535, and transmits repetition 1535 if LBT passes. As shown, this repetition 1535 is not at the end of slot 1533, where there is only one symbol between LBT gap 1527 and the slot boundary, and therefore CP extension is not required. Then, UE 300 hops to band 1503 again at hop boundary 1529, performs LBT at LBT gap 1521 on band 1503 before starting the next repetition 1523, and transmits repetition 1523 if LBT passes. Again, this does not violate the slot boundary, so CP extension is still not required.

[0162] Fig. 15B Aspects of an exemplary time and frequency resource allocation 1550 for transmission of PUSCH repetition type B with inter-repetition hopping are shown. Fig. 15BAgain, a case is shown with regard to inter-repetition hopping, but a new hopping rule may be applied. The hopping rule may allow hopping if the number of symbols after a hop and before a slot boundary is greater than Y symbols (e.g., Y equals two symbols for 15kHz and 30kHz subcarrier spacing, or Y equals three symbols for 60kHz subcarrier spacing, to name just a few examples). According to such an exemplary rule, in the event that the condition is not met (e.g., the number of symbols after a hop and before a slot boundary would be equal to or less than Y), the UE 300 may determine to send the repetition without hopping on the same frequency band. The UE may determine to hop again at the next repetition (depending on the specified total number of repetitions), which may include another comparison with the remaining number of symbols and the slot boundary to the resulting determination.

[0163] Configuration 1550 includes frequency bands 1553 and 1557 spanning two adjacent time slots 1581 and 1583 to illustrate this example. Fig.15A In the example, Fig. 15B Four repetitions configured according to the repetition and hopping types are shown again. The four repetitions include actual repetition 1559, nominal repetitions 1561-1563, actual repetition 1565, and actual repetition 1567.

[0164] In this configuration, UE 300 sends the first repetition 1559 in slot 1581 because it does not reach a slot boundary. However, at hop boundary 1572 (i.e., the end of the previous repetition), UE 300 determines whether the next repetition crosses a slot boundary 1591, and if so, whether the number of symbols after hop boundary 1572 is greater than Y number of symbols (e.g., Y equals two symbols for 15kHz and 30kHz SCS, or Y equals three symbols for 60kHz SCS). Fig. 15B In the example in , the nominal repetitions 1561-1563 include the actual repetition 1561 before the slot boundary 1591. Since there are only two symbols as part of the actual repetition 1561 (which is less than 2 symbols for 15kHz / 30kHz SCS and 3 symbols for 60kHz SCS), the rule is not satisfied. Therefore, UE 300 determines not to hop to frequency band 1553 at hop boundary 1572. Therefore, no LBT gap is introduced at hop boundary 1572. Instead, the nominal repetitions 1561-1563 remain on frequency band 1557 for the duration of their transmission.

[0165] After completing the actual repetition 1563 transmission in time slot 1583, UE 300 then hops to band 1553 at hop boundary 1575. This is because the entire repetition 1565 does not reach the time slot boundary. Therefore, UE 300 performs LBT at LBT gap 1573 on band 1553, and if LBT passes, UE 300 sends repetition 1565 on band 1553. At hop boundary 1579, at the end of repetition 1565 transmission, UE 300 hops back to band 1557. Again, repetition 1567 does not reach the time slot boundary, so UE 300 does not check against the rules. Instead, UE 300 performs LBT at LBT gap 1577 on band 1557, and if LBT passes, UE 300 sends repetition 1567 on band 1557. In some examples, candidate hopping boundaries at each hop can be determined based on existing frequency hopping rules.

[0166] In some examples, UE 300 may be a load-based device (LBE) that uses tight gaps generated for certain LBT types. In such cases, CP extension may be used to maintain gaps (e.g., for portions of a given symbol that use tight LBT that does not fill the entire symbol). This may apply to dynamic grant (DG) cases and / or configured grant (CG) cases.

[0167] For example, Fig.16A Aspects of an exemplary time and frequency resource allocation 1600 for transmission of PUSCH repetitions for LBE with DG UL are shown. Configuration 1600 includes frequency bands 1603 and 1607 spanning two adjacent time slots 1631 and 1633. As shown, configuration 1600 includes actual PUSCH repetitions 1609 and nominal PUSCH repetitions 1611-1613. Nominal PUSCH repetitions 1611-1613 span time slot boundaries 1619, with actual repetition 1611 at the end of time slot 1631 and actual repetition 1613 at the beginning of time slot 1633. Each PUSCH repetition may be preceded by a CP extension.

[0168] exist Fig.16A16, the first PUSCH repetition 1609 on band 1607 is preceded by a CP extension 1621. The CP extension 1621 may have been previously indicated by an UL grant from BS 400, which UE 300 applies before the first PUSCH repetition 1609. UE 300 then sends PUSCH repetition 1609 on band 1607 and hops to band 1603 at hopping boundary 1617. UE 300 performs LBT at LBT 1615, but the LBT is compact enough not to require the entire symbol it occupies. Therefore, before starting the actual PUSCH repetition 1611 transmission in slot 1631, UE 300 applies CP extension 1616 for the rest of the symbol.

[0169] In some examples, the CP extension 1616 may be defined using a default definition, for example, calculated by C1*symbol length-25μs (to give a numerical example), where C1=1 for 15KHz and 30kHz SCS, and C1=2 for 60kHz SCS (just as a few examples). Alternatively, the CP extension 1616 may be configured by RRC. Either way, the UE 300 applies the CP extension 1616 for the remainder of the symbol, and begins sending PUSCH repetitions 1611 toward the slot boundary 1619 if LBT is passed on band 1603. At the beginning of slot 1633, the UE 300 continues transmission using PUSCH repetitions 1613, thereby completing the transmission of the nominal repetition across the slot boundary 1619, while achieving CP extension in the DG UL scenario.

[0170] In other cases, LBE can be implemented in CG UL scenarios. Fig. 16B It is shown in Fig. 16B Aspects of an exemplary time and frequency resource allocation 1600 for transmission of PUSCH repetitions for load based equipment (LBE) with CG UL are shown. Configuration 1650 includes frequency bands 1653 and 1657 spanning two adjacent time slots 1681 and 1683. Fig.16A The examples in Fig. 16B The difference between the examples in is that the offset of the CP extension 1671 before the first PUSCH repetition 1659 can be randomly selected by the UE 300 (rather than configured from the UL grant). The UE 300 can randomly select an offset from a set of offset options (e.g., 16μs, 25μs, 43μs, 52μs, 61μs, 72μs, as examples of possible offsets to be randomly selected from) previously configured via control signaling (e.g., RRC signaling). Similar to Fig.16A For example, subsequent CP extension applied after a tight LBT gap can be applied based on a default definition or RRC configuration.

[0171] For example, after an offset of a randomly selected CP extension 1671, the UE 300 may send a first PUSCH repetition 1659 on band 1657. At the end of repetition 1659, the UE 300 may hop to band 1653 at hopping boundary 1661. The UE 300 performs LBT at LBT 1662, but the LBT is compact enough not to require the entire symbol it occupies. Therefore, if the LBT passes, the UE 300 applies CP extension 1663 for the remainder of the symbol before starting the actual PUSCH repetition 1665. The UE 300 then completes the nominal repetition with the actual PUSCH repetition 1667 at the next slot 1683.

[0172] Now go to Fig.17 , shows an exemplary protocol diagram 1700 for introducing gaps between repetitions according to some aspects of the present disclosure. The first device 1702 may be a UE, such as UE 115 or UE 300. The second device 1704 may be a BS, such as BS 105 or BS 400. Figure 3 The components of the UE 300 discussed above may be used to perform the functions of the communication protocol diagram 1700. Figure 4 The components of BS 400 discussed above are used to perform the functions of communication protocol diagram 1700. Features of communication protocol diagram 1700 may be implemented using, for example, Figure 5A-16B The time and frequency resource allocation in and / or below in Fig.18 or the method described in 19.

[0173] At action 1703, the first device 1702 sends a first data subset to the second device 1704 on a first frequency subband. The first data subset can be sent on a first set of symbols in the time domain. The second device 1704 can process the first data subset and detect the first set of symbols or buffer the data until a repetition of the data is received at a subsequent time and / or frequency (e.g., performing soft combining of the received data before decoding). In some examples, the first device 1702 can send the first data subset in PUSCH repetition type A or B.

[0174] At action 1707, the first device 102 waits for a second set of symbols in the time domain. This is also referred to herein as an LBT gap, which the first device 1702 uses as an opportunity to perform LBT to sense the availability of a second frequency band (different from the first frequency band on which action 1703 occurs). The LBT gap in this action can be configured in terms of location and duration as described herein (e.g., with respect to the above description). Figure 5A-16B and / or below Figure 18-19 ) is defined by any embodiment of the present invention.

[0175] At action 1709, the first device 1702 sends a second data subset to the second device 1704 on a third set of symbols in the time domain on a second frequency band. This corresponds to the case where the LBT passes. If the LBT does not pass, the first device 1702 may not send a repetition, send a repetition on the same frequency band as the first repetition, or perform another LBT on the same second frequency band, or perform LBT on a different frequency band. The second device 1704 may detect the third set of symbols and process the second data subset upon reception. The second device 1704 may soft combine the information before decoding.

[0176] Fig.18 A flowchart 1800 of a method for wireless communication according to some aspects of the present disclosure is shown. The method 1800 may be performed by a UE such as UE 115 or UE 300. Aspects of the method 1800 may utilize one or more components (such as processor 302, memory 304, frequency hopping module 308, transceiver 310, modem 312, and one or more antennas 316) to perform the steps of the method 1800. As shown, the method 1800 includes a plurality of enumerated steps, but the aspects of the method 1800 may include additional steps before, after, and between the enumerated steps. In some aspects, one or more of the enumerated steps may be omitted or performed in a different order.

[0177] At block 1802, the UE 300 transmits a first data set on a first data subset on a first frequency subband on a first set of symbols in the time domain to a second wireless communication device. The first data subset may include uplink data and control information. The first data subset may be transmitted according to PUSCH repetition type A or type B. In some examples, the number of symbols in the first data subset may be dynamically indicated using SLIV (which may further be applied across K consecutive time slots).

[0178] At block 1804, UE 300 determines a hopping boundary for repetitions of the first data subset. In some examples, the hopping boundary may be a time slot boundary. In some other examples, the hopping boundary may be different from a time slot boundary. Figure 5A-16B Examples of determining transition boundaries are described.

[0179] At decision block 1806, the UE 300 may determine whether the number of hopping symbols before the slot boundary is less than X. In some examples, X may be 2 symbols for 15 kHz and 30 kHz, or 3 symbols for 60 kHz. In either example, with the introduction of an LBT gap at the hopping boundary before the slot boundary, there may be only one valid symbol left before the slot boundary. Instead of attempting to send PUSCH on this one symbol, embodiments of the present disclosure may determine whether to add a CP extension and start the next repetition at the start of a new slot.

[0180] If less than X symbols remain, as determined at decision block 1806, the method 1800 proceeds to decision block 1808. At decision block 1808, the UE 300 may determine whether it is configured to handle the situation where less than X symbols remain before the slot boundary. If the UE 300 is not configured to handle this situation, the method 1800 may proceed to block 1810, where the UE 300 treats the situation as an error situation. In this way, the method may return to the next iteration for processing.

[0181] Returning to decision block 1808, if the UE 300 can handle the situation with less than X symbols, the method 1800 proceeds to decision block 1812. At decision block 1812, the UE 300 may determine whether it has been configured with the new hopping rule. If the UE 300 is configured for the rule, the method 1800 proceeds to decision block 1814.

[0182] At decision block 1814, the UE 300 may determine whether the number of hopping symbols before the slot boundary is greater than X. This may occur, for example, if the method 1800 proceeds from decision block 1806 (determining whether there are less than X symbols before the end of the slot) to decision block 1826 instead of block 1808. In some examples, for 15 kHz and 30 kHz, X may be 2 symbols, and for 60 kHz, X may be 3 symbols.

[0183] If the UE 300 determines at decision block 1814 that there are no more than X symbols before the end of the time slot, the method 1800 proceeds to block 1816. At block 1816, the UE 300 waits for the next hop repetition before determining to hop. Alternatively, the UE 300 will send the upcoming repetition on the same frequency band as the first repetition. The method 1800 then returns to block 1804 and continues as discussed above and further below.

[0184] Returning to decision block 1814, if there are more than X symbols before the end of the slot, the method 1800 proceeds to decision block 1808. At decision block 1818, the UE 300 may determine whether the LBT gap is before or after the transition. If the LBT is before the transition, the method 1800 proceeds to block 1820.

[0185] At block 1820, the UE 300 waits for an LBT gap on the second set of symbols (before hopping). The second set of symbols may allow the UE 300 to determine availability of the second frequency subband for transmitting the third set of symbols in the second frequency subband.

[0186] At block 1822, if the LBT passes, the UE 300 hops to a second frequency sub-band. Although shown as occurring after the LBT gap, the hop to the next frequency sub-band may occur before or after the LBT interval itself.

[0187] The method 1800 proceeds from block 1822 to block 1824. At block 1824, the UE 300 transmits a second data subset on a second frequency subband on a third set of symbols. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the second data subset may be transmitted on PUSCH repetition type A or type B. This corresponds to the case where LBT is passed at block 1822.

[0188] Returning now to decision block 1806 , where there are no fewer than X symbols before the end of the time slot, method 1800 may proceed to decision block 1826 .

[0189] At decision block 1826, UE 300 may determine whether it has been configured with the new hopping rule. If UE 300 is configured for the rule, method 1800 proceeds from decision block 1826 to decision block 1814 and proceeds as described above and further below. Alternatively, if UE 300 determines that it has not been configured according to the new rule, method 1800 proceeds to decision block 1818 after decision block 1814 to proceed as described above and further below.

[0190] Returning to decision block 1812 , alternatively, if the UE 300 determines that it has not been configured with new hopping rules, the method 1800 proceeds to block 1828 .

[0191] At block 1828, the UE 300 adds a CP extension after the LBT gap (eg, as introduced in the discussion herein). From there, the method 1800 proceeds after block 1814 and as discussed above and further below.

[0192] Returning now to decision block 1818 , if the UE 300 determines that an LBT gap will be after a jump, the method 1800 proceeds to decision block 1830 .

[0193] At decision block 1830, the UE 300 may determine whether the LBT gap is a short LBT gap, such as would occur if the UE 300 is a LBE.

[0194] If the UE 300 is not a LBE and the LBT gap is not a short LBT gap, the method 1800 proceeds to box 1832.

[0195] At block 1832, UE 300 hops to a second frequency subband, similar to that discussed above with respect to block 1822, but before LBT occurs.

[0196] At block 1834, the UE 300 waits for a second set of symbols over the LBT gap, e.g., as discussed above with respect to block 1820. From block 1834, the method 1800 proceeds to block 1824, as already discussed.

[0197] Returning to decision box 1830, if UE 300 is a LBE and the LBT gap is a short LBT gap, method 1800 proceeds to box 1836.

[0198] At block 1836, the UE 300 hops to the second frequency subband. This may occur after CP extension has been applied prior to the first repetition.

[0199] At block 1838, the UE 300 waits for an LBT gap (e.g., a short LBT gap) to determine the availability of a channel in the second frequency subband, similar to block 1820 or 1834 discussed above. From block 1838, the method 1800 may proceed to block 1824 to send a second data subset (e.g., the next PUSCH repetition). The method 1800 may continue the same or similar process over time, using the LBT gap to facilitate frequency hopping across unlicensed subbands.

[0200] Fig.19A flowchart 1900 of a method for wireless communication according to some aspects of the present disclosure is shown. The method 1900 may be performed by a BS such as BS 105 or BS 400. Aspects of the method 1900 may utilize one or more components (such as processor 402, memory 404, frequency hopping module 408, transceiver 410, modem 412, and one or more antennas 416) to perform the steps of the method 1900. As shown, the method 1900 includes a plurality of enumerated steps, but the aspects of the method 1900 may include additional steps before, after, and between the enumerated steps. In some aspects, one or more of the enumerated steps may be omitted or performed in a different order.

[0201] At block 1902, BS 400 receives a first data set from a first wireless communication device (e.g., UE 300) on a first frequency subband on a first set of symbols in the time domain. The first data subset may include uplink data and control information. The first data subset may be received on PUSCH repetition type A or type B.

[0202] At block 1904, BS 400 determines a hopping boundary for repetitions of the first data subset. In some examples, the hopping boundary may be a time slot boundary. In some other examples, the hopping boundary may be different from a time slot boundary. Figure 5A-16B An example of determining hopping boundaries is described. This may be useful so that the BS 400 can predict when and on what frequency subband the UE 300 may send PUSCH data.

[0203] At decision block 1906, BS 400 may determine whether the number of hopping symbols before the slot boundary is less than X, similar to the above description of Fig.18 As discussed in box 1806 in.

[0204] If less than X symbols remain, as determined at decision block 1906, method 1900 proceeds to decision block 1908. At decision block 1908, BS 400 may determine whether UE 300 is configured to handle the situation where there are less than X symbols remaining before a slot boundary. If not, method 1900 may proceed to block 1910, where the situation is handled as an error situation. In this way, the method may return to the next iteration for processing.

[0205] Returning to decision block 1908, if the UE 300 is able to handle the situation with less than X symbols, the method 1900 proceeds to decision block 1912. At decision block 1912, the BS 400 may determine whether the UE 300 has been configured with the new hopping rule. If the UE 300 is configured for the rule, the method 1900 proceeds to decision block 1914.

[0206] At decision block 1914, BS 400 may determine whether the number of hopping symbols before the slot boundary is greater than X. This may occur, for example, if method 1900 proceeds from decision block 1906 (determining whether there are less than X symbols before the end of the slot) to decision block 1926 instead of block 1908. In some examples, X may be 2 symbols for 15 kHz and 30 kHz, and 3 symbols for 60 kHz.

[0207] If BS 400 determines at decision block 1914 that there are no more than X symbols before the end of the time slot, then method 1900 proceeds to block 1916. At block 1916, BS 400 waits for the next hop repetition before determining to monitor for repetitions after a hop. Alternatively, BS 400 will monitor / receive the upcoming repetition on the same frequency band as the first repetition. Then, method 1900 returns to block 1904 and continues as discussed above and further below.

[0208] Returning to decision block 1914, if there are more than X symbols before the end of the time slot, the method 1900 proceeds to decision block 1918. At decision block 1918, BS 400 may determine whether the LBT gap is before or after the transition. If the LBT is before the transition, the method 1900 proceeds to block 1920.

[0209] At block 1920, BS 400 waits for an LBT gap on the second set of symbols (before the transition) before monitoring for repeated data.

[0210] At block 1922, if the LBT passes, the BS 400 switches to monitoring a second frequency subband for transmission of repetitive data from the UE 300. Although shown as occurring after the LBT gap, the hopping to the next frequency subband may occur before or after the LBT interval itself.

[0211] From block 1922, method 1900 proceeds to block 1924. At block 1924, BS 400 receives a second data subset on a second frequency subband on a third set of symbols. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the second data subset may be sent on PUSCH repetition type A or type B. This corresponds to the case where LBT is passed at block 1922.

[0212] Returning now to decision block 1906 , where there are no fewer than X symbols before the end of the time slot, method 1900 may proceed to decision block 1926 .

[0213] At decision block 1926, BS 400 may determine whether UE 300 has been configured with the new hopping rule. If UE 300 is configured for the rule, method 1900 proceeds from decision block 1926 to decision block 1914 and proceeds as described above and further below. Alternatively, if BS 400 determines that UE 300 has not been configured according to the new rule, method 1900 proceeds to decision block 1918 after decision block 1914 to proceed as described above and further below.

[0214] Returning to decision block 1912 , alternatively, if BS 400 determines that UE 300 has not been configured with new hopping rules, method 1900 proceeds to block 1928 .

[0215] At block 1928, BS 400 locates / wait for CP extension that UE 300 has applied after the LBT gap (eg, as introduced in the discussion herein). From there, method 1900 proceeds after block 1814 and as discussed above and further below.

[0216] Now returning to decision box 1918, if BS 400 determines that an LBT gap will be after a transition, method 1900 proceeds to decision box 1930.

[0217] At decision block 1930, BS 400 may determine whether the LBT gap is a short LBT gap, such as would occur if UE 300 is a LBE.

[0218] If the UE 300 is not a LBE and the LBT gap is not a short LBT gap, the method 1900 proceeds to box 1932.

[0219] At block 1932, BS 400 switches to monitoring the second frequency sub-band, similar to that discussed above with respect to block 1922, but before LBT occurs.

[0220] At block 1934, BS 400 waits for a second set of symbols over the LBT gap, e.g., as discussed above with respect to block 1920. From block 1934, method 1900 proceeds to block 1924, as already discussed.

[0221] Returning to decision box 1930, if UE 300 is a LBE and the LBT gap is a short LBT gap, method 1900 proceeds to box 1936.

[0222] At block 1936, BS 400 switches to monitoring the second frequency sub-band. This may occur after CP extension has been applied prior to the first repetition.

[0223] At block 1938, BS 400 waits for an LBT gap (e.g., a short LBT gap) to determine the availability of a channel in the second frequency subband, similar to block 1920 or 1934 discussed above. From block 1938, method 1900 may proceed to block 1924 to receive a second data subset (e.g., the next PUSCH repetition) from UE 300.

[0224] At block 1940, BS 400 may soft combine the first and second data subsets (eg, repetitions of the same PUSCH data) and continue decoding and other processing. Method 1900 may continue the same or similar process over time, using LBT gaps to facilitate frequency hopping across unlicensed subbands.

[0225] The various illustrative blocks and modules described in conjunction with the disclosure herein may be implemented or executed using a general purpose processor, a DSP, an ASIC, an FPGA or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in an alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. The processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices (e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, a combination of one or more microprocessors and a DSP core, or any other such configuration).

[0226] The functions described herein can be implemented in hardware, software executed by a processor, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software executed by a processor, these functions can be stored as one or more instructions or codes on a computer-readable medium or transmitted on a computer-readable medium. Other examples and implementation methods are within the scope of the present disclosure and the appended claims. For example, due to the nature of software, the functions described above can be implemented using software executed by a processor, hardware, firmware, hard wiring, or a combination of any of these items. The features used to implement the functions can also be physically located at various locations, including being distributed so that the parts of the functions are implemented at different physical locations. In addition, as used herein (including in the claims), as used 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"), "or" indicates an inclusive list, so that, for example, a list of [at least one of A, B, or C] means: A, or B, or C, or AB, or AC, or BC, or ABC (i.e., A and B and C).

[0227] Additional embodiments of the present disclosure include:

[0228] 1. A method of wireless communication, comprising: sending, by a first wireless communication device, a first data subset on a first symbol set in a time domain to a second wireless communication device on a first frequency subband; waiting, by the first wireless communication device before sending the second data subset, for a duration corresponding to a length of the second symbol set in the time domain as a listen-before-talk (LBT) gap on the second frequency subband; and sending, by the first wireless communication device after the waiting, the second data subset on a third symbol set in the time domain to the second wireless communication device on a second frequency subband, the first frequency subband being different from the second frequency subband.

[0229] 2. The method of clause 1, wherein the second data subset is a repetition of the first data subset. 3. The method of clause 1, wherein the first set of symbols is sent in a first time slot and the third set of symbols is sent in a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot, the method further comprising: receiving, by the first wireless communication device, an identification of the LBT gap from the second wireless communication device.

[0230] 4. The method of clause 1, wherein the second set of symbols comprises the beginning of the third set of symbols in the time domain. 5. The method of clause 4, wherein the second set of symbols is identified based on an assignment of a start and length indicator value (SLIV) from the second wireless communication device. 6. The method of clause 5, further comprising: hopping to the second frequency sub-band by the first wireless communication device during a first time slot; transmitting, by the first wireless communication device, a first portion of the second data subset in the first time slot after the LBT gap; and transmitting, by the first wireless communication device, a second portion of the second data subset in a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot. 7. The method of clause 5, further comprising: hopping to the second frequency sub-band by the first wireless communication device at the end of transmitting the first data subset in the first time slot; and transmitting, by the first wireless communication device, a second portion of the second data subset in a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot after the LBT gap. 8. A method according to clause 5, wherein the first set of symbols in the time domain is located in a first time slot, and the SLIV includes a starting symbol indication and a length indication, and the method further includes: the waiting is performed by the first wireless communication device, and the waiting starts at a first time domain position in the first time slot and ends at a second time position, wherein the first time domain position is based on the starting symbol identifier plus a maximum integer not greater than the length indication divided by two, and the second time domain position is based on the starting symbol identifier plus a maximum integer not greater than the length indication divided by two, plus the size of the second symbol set minus one. 9. A method according to clause 5, wherein the first symbol set and the third symbol set in the time domain are located in a first time slot, and the method further comprises: determining, by the first wireless communication device, a first number of symbols for the first symbol set based on a maximum integer not greater than a combined length of the first data subset and the second data subset together divided by two; determining, by the first wireless communication device, a second number of symbols for the third symbol set based on the combined length minus a maximum integer not greater than the combined length divided by two; and performing, by the first wireless communication device, the waiting based on the first number of symbols and the second number of symbols, the waiting starting at a time domain position at the beginning of the third symbol set.10. A method according to clause 5, wherein the first symbol set and the third symbol set in the time domain are located in a first time slot, and the method further includes: determining, by the first wireless communication device, a modified length by subtracting the length of the second symbol set from the combined length of the first data subset and the second data subset; determining, by the first wireless communication device, a first number of symbols for the first symbol set based on a maximum integer not greater than the modified length divided by two; determining, by the first wireless communication device, a second number of symbols for the third symbol set based on the modified length minus the length of the second symbol set, and further minus a maximum integer not greater than the modified length divided by two; and performing, by the first wireless communication device, the waiting based on the first number of symbols and the second number of symbols, the waiting starting at a time domain position between the first symbol set and the third symbol set.

[0231] 11. The method of clause 4, further comprising: determining, by the first wireless communication device, a hop boundary between the first frequency sub-band and the second frequency sub-band; and hopping, by the first wireless communication device, to the second frequency sub-band. 12. The method of clause 11, wherein the hop boundary comprises an end of a time slot, the method further comprising: performing, by the first wireless communication device, the wait for the second set of symbols at a beginning of the third set of symbols after the hop boundary. 13. The method of clause 11, wherein the hop boundary comprises a time position before a boundary of a time slot, the method further comprising: performing, by the first wireless communication device, the wait for the second set of symbols at a beginning of the third set of symbols after the hop boundary. 14. The method of clause 11, wherein the hop boundary comprises an end of a first time slot, the method further comprising: transmitting, by the first wireless communication device, a first portion of the second data subset in the first time slot; performing, by the first wireless communication device, the wait for the second set of symbols at a beginning of the second time slot after the hop boundary; and transmitting, by the first wireless communication device, a second portion of the second data subset in the second time slot.

[0232] 15. The method of clause 1, wherein the second set of symbols comprises an end of the first set of symbols in the time domain. 16. The method of clause 15, wherein the second set of symbols is identified based on an assignment of a start and length indicator value (SLIV) from the second wireless communication device. 17. The method of clause 16, further comprising: hopping to the second frequency subband at an end of transmitting the first data subset in a first time slot by the first wireless communication device; transmitting a first portion of the second data subset in the first time slot after the LBT gap by the first wireless communication device; and transmitting a second portion of the second data subset in a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot by the first wireless communication device. 18. The method of clause 16, further comprising: hopping to the second frequency subband at an end of the first time slot after the LBT gap by the first wireless communication device; and transmitting the second data subset at a beginning of a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot by the first wireless communication device after the LBT gap. 19. A method according to clause 16, wherein the first set of symbols in the time domain is located in a first time slot, and the SLIV includes a starting symbol indication and a length indication, and the method further includes: the waiting is performed by the first wireless communication device, and the waiting starts at a first time domain position in the first time slot and ends at a second time position, wherein the first time domain position is based on the starting symbol identifier plus a maximum integer not greater than the length indication divided by two, minus the size of the second symbol set, and the second time domain position is based on the starting symbol identifier plus a maximum integer not greater than the length indication divided by two, minus one. 20. The method of clause 16, wherein the first set of symbols and the third set of symbols in the time domain are located in a first time slot, the method further comprising: determining, by the first wireless communication device, a first number of symbols for the first set of symbols based on a maximum integer not greater than a combined length of the first data subset and the second data subset together divided by two; determining, by the first wireless communication device, a second number of symbols for the third set of symbols based on the combined length minus a maximum integer not greater than the combined length divided by two; and performing, by the first wireless communication device, the waiting based on the first number of symbols and the second number of symbols, the waiting beginning at a time domain location at the end of the first set of symbols. 21. The method of clause 15, further comprising: determining, by the first wireless communication device, a hopping boundary between the first frequency subband and the second frequency subband; and hopping, by the first wireless communication device, to the second frequency subband at the hopping boundary.22. The method of clause 21, wherein the hop boundary comprises an end of a time slot, the method further comprising: performing, by the first wireless communication device, the wait for the second set of symbols at the end of the first set of symbols before the hop boundary. 23. The method of clause 21, wherein the hop boundary comprises a time position before a boundary of a time slot, the method further comprising: performing, by the first wireless communication device, the wait for the second set of symbols at the end of the first set of symbols before the hop boundary. 24. The method of clause 21, wherein the hop boundary comprises an end of a first time slot, the method further comprising: transmitting, by the first wireless communication device, a first portion of the second data subset in the first time slot; performing, by the first wireless communication device, the wait for the second set of symbols at the end of the first time slot before the hop boundary; and transmitting, by the first wireless communication device, a second portion of the second data subset in the second time slot.

[0233] 25. The method of clause 1, wherein the transmitting the second data subset further comprises: determining, by the first wireless communication device, whether a length of the third set of symbols after the LBT gap before a slot boundary is greater than two symbols for a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of 15 kHz or 30 kHz, or greater than three symbols for a 60 kHz SCS. 26. The method of clause 25, wherein the transmitting further comprises: replacing, by the first wireless communication device, an error message with the second data subset to indicate an error condition in response to the length of the third set of symbols being equal to or less than two symbols for the 15 kHz or 30 kHz SCS, or equal to or less than three symbols for the 60 kHz SCS. 27. The method of clause 25, further comprising: introducing, by the first wireless communication device, a cyclic prefix (CP) extension before the hop boundary in response to the length of the third set of symbols being equal to or less than two symbols for the 15 kHz or 30 kHz SCS, or equal to or less than three symbols for the 60 kHz SCS. 28. The method according to clause 25 further includes: in response to the length of the third symbol set being equal to or less than two symbols for the 15kHz or 30kHz SCS, or being equal to or less than three symbols for the 60kHz SCS, the first wireless communication device returns to the frequency subband instead of the second frequency subband to send the second data subset; and in response to the length of the third symbol set being greater than two symbols for the 15kHz or 30kHz SCS, or greater than three symbols for the 60kHz SCS, the first wireless communication device continues to send the second data subset on the second frequency subband.

[0234] 29. The method of clause 1, further comprising: receiving, by the first wireless communication device, a dynamic grant of uplink (UL) resources for transmitting the first data subset and the second data subset from the second wireless communication device; applying, by the first wireless communication device, a first cyclic prefix (CP) extension before transmitting the first data subset based on the dynamic grant of the UL resources; and applying, by the first wireless communication device, a second CP extension after the LBT gap and before transmitting the second data subset based on a default configuration. 30. The method of clause 29, wherein the default configuration comprises a default value multiplied by a symbol length minus a duration of the LBT gap. 31. The method of clause 30, wherein the default value comprises a value of one for a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of 15 kHz or 30 kHz, or a value of two for an SCS of 60 kHz.

[0235] 32. The method according to clause 1 also includes: receiving, by the first wireless communication device, a dynamic grant of uplink (UL) resources for sending the first data subset and the second data subset from the second wireless communication device; applying, by the first wireless communication device, a first cyclic prefix (CP) extension before sending the first data subset based on the dynamic grant of the UL resources; and applying, by the first wireless communication device, a second CP extension after the LBT gap and before sending the second data subset based on a radio resource control (RRC) configuration.

[0236] 33. The method of clause 1, further comprising: randomly selecting, by the first wireless communication device, a time offset for applying a first cyclic prefix (CP) extension in response to the transmitting the first data subset being in accordance with a configured authorized communication scheme; applying, by the first wireless communication device, the first cyclic prefix (CP) extension having the randomly selected time offset prior to transmitting the first data subset; and applying, by the first wireless communication device, a second CP extension after the LBT gap and prior to transmitting the second data subset based on a default configuration. 34. The method of clause 33, wherein the default configuration comprises a default value multiplied by a symbol length minus a duration of the LBT gap. 35. The method of clause 34, wherein the default value comprises a value of one for a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of 15 kHz or 30 kHz, or a value of two for an SCS of 60 kHz.

[0237] 36. The method according to clause 1 also includes: randomly selecting a time offset for applying a first cyclic prefix (CP) extension by the first wireless communication device in response to the sending of the first data subset being according to a configured authorized communication scheme; applying the first cyclic prefix (CP) extension with the randomly selected time offset before sending the first data subset by the first wireless communication device; and applying a second CP extension by the first wireless communication device after the LBT gap and before sending the second data subset based on a radio resource control (RRC) configuration.

[0238] 37. A method of wireless communication, comprising: receiving, by a first wireless communication device, a first data subset from a second wireless communication device on a first frequency subband on a first symbol set in a time domain; waiting, by the first wireless communication device, for a duration corresponding to a length of a second symbol set in the time domain as a listen-before-talk (LBT) gap on a second frequency subband; and receiving, by the first wireless communication device after the waiting, a second data subset from the second wireless communication device on a third symbol set in the time domain on the second frequency subband, wherein the first frequency subband is different from the second frequency subband.

[0239] 38. The method of clause 37, wherein the second data subset is a repetition of the first data subset, the method further comprising: soft combining, by the first wireless communication device, the first data subset and the second data subset; and decoding, by the first wireless communication device, the soft combined data. 39. The method of clause 37, wherein the first set of symbols is received in a first time slot and the third set of symbols is received in a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot, the method further comprising: determining, by the first wireless communication device, the LBT gap; and sending, by the first wireless communication device, an identification of the determined LBT gap to the second wireless communication device.

[0240] 40. The method of clause 37, wherein the second set of symbols comprises the beginning of the third set of symbols in the time domain. 41. The method of clause 40, further comprising: transmitting, by the first wireless communication device to the second wireless communication device, a start and length indicator value (SLIV) comprising an assignment, wherein the second set of symbols is identified according to the assignment. 42. The method of clause 41, further comprising: switching, by the first wireless communication device, to monitor the second frequency sub-band during a first time slot; receiving, by the first wireless communication device, a first portion of the second data subset in the first time slot after the LBT gap; and receiving, by the first wireless communication device, a second portion of the second data subset in a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot. 43. The method of clause 41, further comprising: switching, by the first wireless communication device, to monitor the second frequency sub-band at the end of transmitting the first data subset in the first time slot; and receiving, by the first wireless communication device, the second data subset in a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot after the LBT gap. 44. A method according to clause 41, wherein the first set of symbols in the time domain is located in a first time slot, and the SLIV includes a starting symbol indication and a length indication, and the method further includes: the waiting is performed by the first wireless communication device, and the waiting starts at a first time domain position in the first time slot and ends at a second time position, wherein the first time domain position is based on the starting symbol identifier plus a maximum integer not greater than the length indication divided by two, and the second time domain position is based on the starting symbol identifier plus a maximum integer not greater than the length indication divided by two, plus the size of the second symbol set minus one. 45. A method according to clause 41, wherein the first symbol set and the third symbol set in the time domain are located in a first time slot, and the method further comprises: determining, by the first wireless communication device, a first number of symbols for the first symbol set based on a maximum integer not greater than the combined length of the first data subset and the second data subset together divided by two; determining, by the first wireless communication device, a second number of symbols for the third symbol set based on the combined length minus a maximum integer not greater than the combined length divided by two; and performing, by the first wireless communication device, the waiting based on the first number of symbols and the second number of symbols, the waiting starting at a time domain position at the beginning of the third symbol set.46. ​​The method of clause 41, wherein the first set of symbols and the third set of symbols in the time domain are located in a first time slot, the method further comprising: determining, by the first wireless communication device, a modified length by subtracting the length of the second set of symbols from the combined length of the first data subset and the second data subset; determining, by the first wireless communication device, a first number of symbols for the first set of symbols based on a maximum integer not greater than the modified length divided by two; determining, by the first wireless communication device, a second number of symbols for the third set of symbols based on the modified length minus the length of the second set of symbols, further minus a maximum integer not greater than the modified length divided by two; and performing, by the first wireless communication device, the waiting based on the first number of symbols and the second number of symbols, the waiting starting at a time domain location between the first set of symbols and the third set of symbols. 47. The method of clause 40, further comprising: determining, by the first wireless communication device, a hopping boundary between the first frequency subband and the second frequency subband; and switching, by the first wireless communication device, to monitor the second frequency subband. 48. The method of clause 47, wherein the hop boundary comprises an end of a time slot, the method further comprising: performing, by the first wireless communication device, the wait for the second set of symbols at the beginning of the third set of symbols after the hop boundary. 49. The method of clause 47, wherein the hop boundary comprises a time position before a boundary of a time slot, the method further comprising: performing, by the first wireless communication device, the wait for the second set of symbols at the beginning of the third set of symbols after the hop boundary. 50. The method of clause 47, wherein the hop boundary comprises an end of a first time slot, the method further comprising: receiving, by the first wireless communication device, a first portion of the second data subset in the first time slot; performing, by the first wireless communication device, the wait for the second set of symbols at the beginning of the second time slot after the hop boundary; and receiving, by the first wireless communication device, a second portion of the second data subset in the second time slot.

[0241] 51. The method of clause 37, wherein the second set of symbols comprises an end of the first set of symbols in the time domain. 52. The method of clause 51, wherein the second set of symbols is identified based on an assignment of a start and length indicator value (SLIV) from the second wireless communication device. 53. The method of clause 52, further comprising: switching, by the first wireless communication device, to monitor the second frequency sub-band at an end of transmitting the first data subset in a first time slot; receiving, by the first wireless communication device, a first portion of the second data subset in the first time slot after the LBT gap; and receiving, by the first wireless communication device, a second portion of the second data subset in a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot. 54. The method of clause 52, further comprising: switching, by the first wireless communication device, to monitor the second frequency sub-band at an end of the first time slot after the LBT gap; and receiving, by the first wireless communication device, the second data subset at a beginning of a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot after the LBT gap. 55. A method according to clause 52, wherein the first set of symbols in the time domain is located in a first time slot, and the SLIV includes a starting symbol indication and a length indication, and the method further includes: the waiting is performed by the first wireless communication device, and the waiting starts at a first time domain position in the first time slot and ends at a second time position, wherein the first time domain position is based on the starting symbol identifier plus a maximum integer not greater than the length indication divided by two, minus the size of the second symbol set, and the second time domain position is based on the starting symbol identifier plus a maximum integer not greater than the length indication divided by two, minus one. 56. The method of clause 52, wherein the first set of symbols and the third set of symbols in the time domain are located in a first time slot, the method further comprising: determining, by the first wireless communication device, a first number of symbols for the first set of symbols based on a maximum integer not greater than a combined length of the first data subset and the second data subset together divided by two; determining, by the first wireless communication device, a second number of symbols for the third set of symbols based on the combined length minus a maximum integer not greater than the combined length divided by two; and performing, by the first wireless communication device, the waiting based on the first number of symbols and the second number of symbols, the waiting beginning at a time domain location at the end of the first set of symbols. 57. The method of clause 51, further comprising: determining, by the first wireless communication device, a hopping boundary between the first frequency subband and the second frequency subband; and switching, by the first wireless communication device, to monitor the second frequency subband at the hopping boundary.58. The method of clause 57, wherein the hop boundary comprises an end of a time slot, the method further comprising: performing, by the first wireless communication device, the wait for the second set of symbols at the end of the first set of symbols before the hop boundary. 59. The method of clause 57, wherein the hop boundary comprises a time position before a boundary of a time slot, the method further comprising: performing, by the first wireless communication device, the wait for the second set of symbols at the end of the first set of symbols before the hop boundary. 60. The method of clause 57, wherein the hop boundary comprises an end of a first time slot, the method further comprising: receiving, by the first wireless communication device, a first portion of the second data subset in the first time slot; performing, by the first wireless communication device, the wait for the second set of symbols at the end of the first time slot before the hop boundary; and receiving, by the first wireless communication device, a second portion of the second data subset in the second time slot.

[0242] 61. The method of clause 37, wherein the receiving the second data subset further comprises: determining, by the first wireless communication device, whether a length of the third set of symbols after the LBT gap before a slot boundary is greater than two symbols for a 15 kHz or 30 kHz subcarrier spacing (SCS), or greater than three symbols for a 60 kHz SCS. 62. The method of clause 61, wherein the receiving further comprises: receiving, by the first wireless communication device, an error message as the second data subset to indicate an error condition in response to the length of the third set of symbols being equal to or less than two symbols for the 15 kHz or 30 kHz SCS, or equal to or less than three symbols for the 60 kHz SCS. 63. The method of clause 61, further comprising: locating, by the first wireless communication device, a cyclic prefix (CP) extension before the hop boundary in response to the length of the third set of symbols being equal to or less than two symbols for the 15 kHz or 30 kHz SCS, or equal to or less than three symbols for the 60 kHz SCS. 64. The method according to clause 61 also includes: in response to the length of the third symbol set being equal to or less than two symbols for the 15kHz or 30kHz SCS, or being equal to or less than three symbols for the 60kHz SCS, the first wireless communication device continues to monitor the frequency subband instead of the second frequency subband to receive the second data subset; and in response to the length of the third symbol set being greater than two symbols for the 15kHz or 30kHz SCS, or greater than three symbols for the 60kHz SCS, the first wireless communication device switches to monitoring the second data subset on the second frequency subband.

[0243] 65. The method of clause 37, further comprising: sending, by the first wireless communication device to the second wireless communication device, a dynamic grant of uplink (UL) resources for the transmission of the first data subset and the second data subset; locating, by the first wireless communication device, a first cyclic prefix (CP) extension prior to receiving the first data subset based on the dynamic grant of the UL resources; and locating, by the first wireless communication device, a second CP extension after the LBT gap and prior to receiving the second data subset based on a default configuration. 66. The method of clause 65, wherein the default configuration comprises a default value multiplied by a symbol length minus a duration of the LBT gap. 67. The method of clause 66, wherein the default value comprises a value of one for a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of 15 kHz or 30 kHz, or a value of two for an SCS of 60 kHz.

[0244] 68. The method according to clause 37 also includes: sending, by the first wireless communication device, a dynamic grant of uplink (UL) resources for the transmission of the first data subset and the second data subset to the second wireless communication device; locating, by the first wireless communication device, a first cyclic prefix (CP) extension before receiving the first data subset based on the dynamic grant of the UL resources; and locating, by the first wireless communication device, a second CP extension after the LBT gap and before receiving the second data subset based on a radio resource control (RRC) configuration.

[0245] 69. The method of clause 37, further comprising: monitoring, by the first wireless communication device, the first data subset according to a randomly selected time offset for applying a first cyclic prefix (CP) extension in response to the transmission of the first data subset being according to a configured authorized communication scheme; locating, by the first wireless communication device, the first cyclic prefix (CP) extension having the randomly selected time offset prior to receiving the first data subset; and locating, by the first wireless communication device, a second CP extension after the LBT gap and prior to receiving the second data subset based on a default configuration. 70. The method of clause 69, wherein the default configuration comprises a default value multiplied by a symbol length minus a duration of the LBT gap.

[0246] 71. A method as described in clause 70, wherein the default value comprises a value of one for a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of 15 kHz or 30 kHz, or a value of two for an SCS of 60 kHz.

[0247] 72. The method according to clause 37 further includes: monitoring, by the first wireless communication device, the first data subset according to a randomly selected time offset for applying a first cyclic prefix (CP) extension in response to the receiving of the first data subset being according to a configured authorized communication scheme; locating, by the first wireless communication device, the first cyclic prefix (CP) extension having the randomly selected time offset before receiving the first data subset; and locating, by the first wireless communication device based on a radio resource control (RRC) configuration, a second CP extension after the LBT gap and before receiving the second data subset.

[0248] 147. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon, the program code comprising: code for causing a first wireless communication device to send a first data subset to a second wireless communication device on a first frequency subband on a first symbol set in a time domain; code for causing the first wireless communication device to wait for a duration corresponding to a length of the second symbol set in the time domain as a listen-before-talk (LBT) gap on the second frequency subband before sending the second data subset; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to send the second data subset to the second wireless communication device on a second frequency subband on a third symbol set in the time domain after the waiting, the first frequency subband being different from the second frequency subband.

[0249] 148. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 147, wherein the second data subset is a repetition of the first data subset. 149. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 147, wherein the first set of symbols is sent in a first time slot and the third set of symbols is sent in a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot, and the program code further comprises code for causing the first wireless communication device to receive an identification of the LBT slot from the second wireless communication device.

[0250] 150. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 147, wherein the second set of symbols comprises the beginning of the third set of symbols in the time domain. 151. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 150, wherein the second set of symbols is identified based on an assignment of a start and length indicator value (SLIV) from the second wireless communication device. 152. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 151, wherein the program code further comprises: code for causing the first wireless communication device to hop to the second frequency subband during a first time slot; code for causing the first wireless communication device to transmit a first portion of the second data subset in the first time slot after the LBT gap; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to transmit a second portion of the second data subset in a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot. 153. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 151, the program code further comprising: code for causing the first wireless communication device to hop to the second frequency subband at an end of transmitting the first data subset in a first time slot; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to transmit the second data subset in a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot after the LBT gap. 154. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 151, wherein the first set of symbols in the time domain is in a first time slot, and the SLIV comprises a start symbol indication and a length indication, the program code further comprising: code for causing the first wireless communication device to perform the wait, the wait starting at a first time domain position within the first time slot and ending at a second time position, wherein the first time domain position is based on the start symbol indication plus a maximum integer not greater than the length indication divided by two, and the second time domain position is based on the start symbol indication plus a maximum integer not greater than the length indication divided by two, plus the size of the second set of symbols minus one. 155. A non-transitory computer-readable medium according to clause 151, wherein the first symbol set and the third symbol set in the time domain are located in a first time slot, and the program code further includes: code for causing the first wireless communication device to determine a first number of symbols for the first symbol set based on a maximum integer not greater than the combined length of the first data subset and the second data subset together divided by two; code for causing the first wireless communication device to determine a second number of symbols for the third symbol set based on the combined length minus a maximum integer not greater than the combined length divided by two; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to perform the waiting based on the first number of symbols and the second number of symbols, the waiting starting at a time domain position at the beginning of the third symbol set.156. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 151, wherein the first set of symbols and the third set of symbols in the time domain are in a first time slot, the program code further comprising: code for causing the first wireless communication device to determine a modified length by subtracting the length of the second set of symbols from the combined length of the first data subset and the second data subset; code for causing the first wireless communication device to determine a first number of symbols for the first set of symbols based on a maximum integer not greater than the modified length divided by two; code for causing the first wireless communication device to determine a second number of symbols for the third set of symbols based on the modified length minus the length of the second set of symbols, further minus a maximum integer not greater than the modified length divided by two; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to perform the wait based on the first number of symbols and the second number of symbols, the wait starting at a time domain location between the first set of symbols and the third set of symbols. 157. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 150, the program code further comprising: code for causing the first wireless communication device to determine a hop boundary between the first frequency sub-band and the second frequency sub-band; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to hop to the second frequency sub-band. 158. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 157, wherein the hop boundary comprises an end of a time slot, the program code further comprising: code for causing the first wireless communication device to perform the wait for the second set of symbols at the beginning of the third set of symbols after the hop boundary. 159. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 157, wherein the hop boundary comprises a time position before a boundary of a time slot, the program code further comprising: code for causing the first wireless communication device to perform the wait for the second set of symbols at the beginning of the third set of symbols after the hop boundary. 160. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 157, wherein the hop boundary comprises an end of a first time slot, the program code further comprising: code for causing the first wireless communication device to transmit a first portion of the second data subset in the first time slot; code for causing the first wireless communication device to perform the wait for the second set of symbols at the beginning of the second time slot after the hop boundary; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to transmit a second portion of the second data subset in the second time slot.

[0251] 161. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 147, wherein the second set of symbols comprises an end of the first set of symbols in the time domain. 162. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 161, wherein the second set of symbols is identified based on an assignment of a start and length indicator value (SLIV) from the second wireless communication device. 163. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 162, wherein the program code further comprises: code for causing the first wireless communication device to hop to the second frequency subband at an end of transmitting the first data subset in a first time slot; code for causing the first wireless communication device to transmit a first portion of the second data subset in the first time slot after the LBT gap; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to transmit a second portion of the second data subset in a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot. 164. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 162, the program code further comprising: code for causing the first wireless communication device to transition to the second frequency subband at an end of a first time slot after the LBT gap; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to transmit the second data subset at a beginning of a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot after the LBT gap. 165. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 162, wherein the first set of symbols in the time domain is in a first time slot, and the SLIV comprises a start symbol indication and a length indication, the program code further comprising: code for causing the first wireless communication device to perform the wait, the wait starting at a first time domain position within the first time slot and ending at a second time position, wherein the first time domain position is based on the start symbol indication plus a maximum integer not greater than the length indication divided by two, minus a size of the second set of symbols, and the second time domain position is based on the start symbol indication plus a maximum integer not greater than the length indication divided by two, minus one. 166. A non-transitory computer-readable medium according to clause 162, wherein the first symbol set and the third symbol set in the time domain are located in a first time slot, and the program code further includes: code for causing the first wireless communication device to determine a first number of symbols for the first symbol set based on a maximum integer not greater than the combined length of the first data subset and the second data subset together divided by two; code for causing the first wireless communication device to determine a second number of symbols for the third symbol set based on the combined length minus a maximum integer not greater than the combined length divided by two; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to perform the waiting based on the first number of symbols and the second number of symbols, the waiting starting at a time domain position at the end of the first symbol set.167. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 161, the program code further comprising: code for causing the first wireless communication device to determine a hop boundary between the first frequency sub-band and the second frequency sub-band; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to hop to the second frequency sub-band at the hop boundary. 168. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 167, wherein the hop boundary comprises an end of a time slot, the program code further comprising: code for causing the first wireless communication device to perform the wait for the second set of symbols at the end of the first set of symbols before the hop boundary. 169. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 167, wherein the hop boundary comprises a time position before a boundary of a time slot, the program code further comprising: code for causing the first wireless communication device to perform the wait for the second set of symbols at the end of the first set of symbols before the hop boundary. 170. A non-transitory computer-readable medium according to clause 167, wherein the hop boundary comprises the end of a first time slot, and the program code further comprises: code for causing the first wireless communication device to send a first portion of the second data subset in the first time slot; code for causing the first wireless communication device to perform the wait for the second set of symbols at the end of the first time slot before the hop boundary; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to send a second portion of the second data subset in the second time slot.

[0252] 171. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 147, wherein the code for causing the first wireless communication device to transmit the second data subset further comprises: code for causing the first wireless communication device to determine whether the length of the third set of symbols after the LBT gap before a slot boundary is greater than two symbols for a 15kHz or 30kHz subcarrier spacing (SCS), or greater than three symbols for a 60kHz SCS. 172. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 171, wherein the code for causing the first wireless communication device to transmit the second data subset further comprises: code for causing the first wireless communication device to replace an error message with the second data subset to indicate an error condition in response to the length of the third set of symbols being equal to or less than two symbols for the 15kHz or 30kHz SCS, or equal to or less than three symbols for the 60kHz SCS. 173. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 171, the program code further comprising: code for causing the first wireless communication device to introduce a cyclic prefix (CP) extension before the hop boundary in response to the length of the third symbol set being equal to or less than two symbols for the 15kHz or 30kHz SCS, or equal to or less than three symbols for the 60kHz SCS. 174. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 171, the program code further comprising: code for causing the first wireless communication device to return to the frequency subband instead of the second frequency subband to transmit the second data subset in response to the length of the third symbol set being equal to or less than two symbols for the 15kHz or 30kHz SCS, or equal to or less than three symbols for the 60kHz SCS; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to continue transmitting the second data subset on the second frequency subband in response to the length of the third symbol set being greater than two symbols for the 15kHz or 30kHz SCS, or greater than three symbols for the 60kHz SCS.

[0253] 175. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 147, the program code further comprising: code for causing the first wireless communication device to receive from the second wireless communication device a dynamic grant of uplink (UL) resources for transmitting the first data subset and the second data subset; code for causing the first wireless communication device to apply a first cyclic prefix (CP) extension before transmitting the first data subset based on the dynamic grant of the UL resources; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to apply a second CP extension after the LBT gap and before transmitting the second data subset based on a default configuration. 176. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 175, wherein the default configuration comprises a default value multiplied by a symbol length minus a duration of the LBT gap. 177. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 176, wherein the default value comprises a value of one for a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of 15 kHz or 30 kHz, or a value of two for an SCS of 60 kHz.

[0254] 178. According to the non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 147, the program code also includes: code for causing the first wireless communication device to receive a dynamic authorization for uplink (UL) resources for sending the first data subset and the second data subset from the second wireless communication device; code for causing the first wireless communication device to apply a first cyclic prefix (CP) extension before sending the first data subset based on the dynamic authorization for the UL resources; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to apply a second CP extension after the LBT gap and before sending the second data subset based on a radio resource control (RRC) configuration.

[0255] 179. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 147, the program code further comprising: code for causing the first wireless communication device to randomly select a time offset for applying a first cyclic prefix (CP) extension in response to the transmitting the first data subset being in accordance with a configured authorized communication scheme; code for causing the first wireless communication device to apply the first cyclic prefix (CP) extension having the randomly selected time offset prior to transmitting the first data subset; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to apply a second CP extension after the LBT gap and prior to transmitting the second data subset based on a default configuration. 180. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 179, wherein the default configuration comprises a default value multiplied by a symbol length minus a duration of the LBT gap. 181. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 180, wherein the default value comprises a value of one for a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of 15 kHz or 30 kHz, or a value of two for an SCS of 60 kHz.

[0256] 182. According to the non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 147, the program code also includes: code for causing the first wireless communication device to randomly select a time offset for applying a first cyclic prefix (CP) extension in response to the sending of the first data subset being in accordance with a configured authorized communication scheme; code for causing the first wireless communication device to apply the first cyclic prefix (CP) extension with the randomly selected time offset before sending the first data subset; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to apply a second CP extension after the LBT gap and before sending the second data subset based on a radio resource control (RRC) configuration.

[0257] 183. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon, the program code comprising: code for causing a first wireless communication device to receive a first data subset from a second wireless communication device on a first frequency subband on a first symbol set in a time domain; code for causing the first wireless communication device to wait for a duration corresponding to a length of a second symbol set in the time domain as a listen-before-talk (LBT) gap on a second frequency subband; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to receive a second data subset from the second wireless communication device on a third symbol set in the time domain after the waiting, the first frequency subband being different from the second frequency subband.

[0258] 184. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 183, wherein the second data subset is a repetition of the first data subset, the program code further comprising: code for causing the first wireless communication device to soft combine the first data subset and the second data subset; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to decode the soft combined data. 185. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 183, wherein the first set of symbols is received in a first time slot and the third set of symbols is received in a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot, the program code further comprising: code for causing the first wireless communication device to determine the LBT gap; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to send an identification of the determined LBT gap to the second wireless communication device.

[0259] 186. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 183, wherein the second set of symbols comprises a start of the third set of symbols in the time domain. 187. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 186, the program code further comprising: code for causing the first wireless communication device to send a start and length indicator value (SLIV) comprising an allocation to the second wireless communication device, wherein the second set of symbols is identified based on the allocation. 188. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 187, the program code further comprising: code for causing the first wireless communication device to switch to monitoring the second frequency sub-band during a first time slot; code for causing the first wireless communication device to receive a first portion of the second data subset in the first time slot after the LBT gap; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to receive a second portion of the second data subset in a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot. 189. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 187, the program code further comprising: code for causing the first wireless communication device to switch to monitoring the second frequency subband at the end of transmitting the first data subset in a first time slot; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to receive the second data subset in a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot after the LBT gap. 190. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 187, wherein the first set of symbols in the time domain is in a first time slot, and the SLIV comprises a start symbol indication and a length indication, the program code further comprising: code for causing the first wireless communication device to perform the wait, the wait starting at a first time domain position within the first time slot and ending at a second time position, wherein the first time domain position is based on the start symbol indication plus a maximum integer not greater than the length indication divided by two, and the second time domain position is based on the start symbol indication plus a maximum integer not greater than the length indication divided by two, plus the size of the second set of symbols minus one.191. A non-transitory computer-readable medium according to clause 187, wherein the first symbol set and the third symbol set in the time domain are located in a first time slot, and the program code further includes: code for causing the first wireless communication device to determine a first number of symbols for the first symbol set based on a maximum integer not greater than the combined length of the first data subset and the second data subset together divided by two; code for causing the first wireless communication device to determine a second number of symbols for the third symbol set based on the combined length minus a maximum integer not greater than the combined length divided by two; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to perform the waiting based on the first number of symbols and the second number of symbols, the waiting starting at a time domain position at the beginning of the third symbol set. 192. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 187, wherein the first set of symbols and the third set of symbols in the time domain are in a first time slot, the program code further comprising: code for causing the first wireless communication device to determine a modified length by subtracting the length of the second set of symbols from the combined length of the first data subset and the second data subset; code for causing the first wireless communication device to determine a first number of symbols for the first set of symbols based on a maximum integer not greater than the modified length divided by two; code for causing the first wireless communication device to determine a second number of symbols for the third set of symbols based on the modified length minus the length of the second set of symbols, further minus a maximum integer not greater than the modified length divided by two; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to perform the wait based on the first number of symbols and the second number of symbols, the wait starting at a time domain location between the first set of symbols and the third set of symbols. 193. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 186, the program code further comprising: code for causing the first wireless communication device to determine a hop boundary between the first frequency sub-band and the second frequency sub-band; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to switch to monitoring the second frequency sub-band. 194. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 193, wherein the hop boundary comprises an end of a time slot, the program code further comprising: code for causing the first wireless communication device to perform the wait for the second set of symbols at the beginning of the third set of symbols after the hop boundary. 195. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 193, wherein the hop boundary comprises a time position before a boundary of a time slot, the program code further comprising: code for causing the first wireless communication device to perform the wait for the second set of symbols at the beginning of the third set of symbols after the hop boundary.196. A non-transitory computer-readable medium according to clause 47, wherein the hop boundary comprises the end of a first time slot, and the program code further comprises: code for causing the first wireless communication device to receive a first portion of the second data subset in the first time slot; code for causing the first wireless communication device to perform the wait for the second set of symbols at the beginning of the second time slot after the hop boundary; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to receive a second portion of the second data subset in the second time slot.

[0260] 197. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 193, wherein the second set of symbols comprises an end of the first set of symbols in the time domain. 198. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 197, wherein the second set of symbols is identified based on an assignment of a start and length indicator value (SLIV) from the second wireless communication device. 199. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 198, wherein the program code further comprises: code for causing the first wireless communication device to switch to monitoring the second frequency subband at the end of transmitting the first data subset in a first time slot; code for causing the first wireless communication device to receive a first portion of the second data subset in the first time slot after the LBT gap; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to receive a second portion of the second data subset in a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot. 200. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 198, the program code further comprising: code for causing the first wireless communication device to switch to monitoring the second frequency subband at an end of a first time slot after the LBT gap; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to receive the second data subset at a beginning of a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot after the LBT gap. 201. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 198, wherein the first set of symbols in the time domain is in a first time slot, and the SLIV comprises a start symbol indication and a length indication, the program code further comprising: code for causing the first wireless communication device to perform the wait, the wait starting at a first time domain position within the first time slot and ending at a second time position, wherein the first time domain position is based on the start symbol indication plus a maximum integer not greater than the length indication divided by two, minus a size of the second set of symbols, and the second time domain position is based on the start symbol indication plus a maximum integer not greater than the length indication divided by two, minus one. 202. A non-transitory computer-readable medium according to clause 198, wherein the first symbol set and the third symbol set in the time domain are located in a first time slot, and the program code further includes: code for causing the first wireless communication device to determine a first number of symbols for the first symbol set based on a maximum integer not greater than the combined length of the first data subset and the second data subset together divided by two; code for causing the first wireless communication device to determine a second number of symbols for the third symbol set based on the combined length minus a maximum integer not greater than the combined length divided by two; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to perform the waiting based on the first number of symbols and the second number of symbols, the waiting starting at a time domain position at the end of the first symbol set.203. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 197, the program code further comprising: code for causing the first wireless communication device to determine a hopping boundary between the first frequency sub-band and the second frequency sub-band; and

[0261] 204. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 203, wherein the hop boundary comprises an end of a time slot, the program code further comprising: code for causing the first wireless communication device to perform the wait for the second set of symbols at the end of the first set of symbols before the hop boundary. 205. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 203, wherein the hop boundary comprises a time position before a boundary of a time slot, the program code further comprising: code for causing the first wireless communication device to perform the wait for the second set of symbols at the end of the first set of symbols before the hop boundary. 206. A non-transitory computer-readable medium according to clause 203, wherein the hop boundary includes the end of a first time slot, and the program code further includes: code for causing the first wireless communication device to receive a first portion of the second data subset in the first time slot; code for causing the first wireless communication device to perform the wait for the second symbol set at the end of the first time slot before the hop boundary; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to receive a second portion of the second data subset in the second time slot.

[0262] 207. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 183, wherein the code for causing the first wireless communication device to receive the second data subset further comprises: code for causing the first wireless communication device to determine whether the length of the third set of symbols after the LBT gap before a slot boundary is greater than two symbols for a 15kHz or 30kHz subcarrier spacing (SCS), or greater than three symbols for a 60kHz SCS. 208. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 207, wherein the code for causing the first wireless communication device to receive the second data subset further comprises: code for causing the first wireless communication device to receive an error message as the second data subset to indicate an error condition in response to the length of the third set of symbols being equal to or less than two symbols for the 15kHz or 30kHz SCS, or equal to or less than three symbols for the 60kHz SCS. 209. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 207, the program code further comprising: code for causing the first wireless communication device to locate a cyclic prefix (CP) extension before the hop boundary in response to the length of the third symbol set being equal to or less than two symbols for the 15kHz or 30kHz SCS, or equal to or less than three symbols for the 60kHz SCS. 210. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 207, the program code further comprising: code for causing the first wireless communication device to maintain monitoring the frequency subband instead of the second frequency subband to receive the second data subset in response to the length of the third symbol set being equal to or less than two symbols for the 15kHz or 30kHz SCS, or equal to or less than three symbols for the 60kHz SCS, and code for causing the first wireless communication device to switch to monitoring the second data subset on the second frequency subband in response to the length of the third symbol set being greater than two symbols for the 15kHz or 30kHz SCS, or greater than three symbols for the 60kHz SCS.

[0263] 211. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 183, the program code further comprising: code for causing the first wireless communication device to send to the second wireless communication device a dynamic grant of uplink (UL) resources for the transmission of the first data subset and the second data subset; code for causing the first wireless communication device to locate a first cyclic prefix (CP) extension prior to receiving the first data subset based on the dynamic grant of the UL resources; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to locate a second CP extension after the LBT gap and prior to receiving the second data subset based on a default configuration. 212. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 211, wherein the default configuration comprises a default value multiplied by a symbol length minus a duration of the LBT gap. 213. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 212, wherein the default value comprises a value of one for a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of 15 kHz or 30 kHz, or a value of two for an SCS of 60 kHz.

[0264] 214. According to the non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 183, the program code also includes: code for causing the first wireless communication device to send a dynamic grant of uplink (UL) resources for the transmission of the first data subset and the second data subset to the second wireless communication device; code for causing the first wireless communication device to locate a first cyclic prefix (CP) extension before receiving the first data subset based on the dynamic grant of the UL resources; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to locate a second CP extension after the LBT gap and before receiving the second data subset based on a radio resource control (RRC) configuration.

[0265] 215. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 183, the program code further comprising: code for causing the first wireless communication device to monitor the first data subset according to a randomly selected time offset for applying a first cyclic prefix (CP) extension in response to the transmission of the first data subset being according to a configured authorized communication scheme; code for causing the first wireless communication device to locate the first cyclic prefix (CP) extension having the randomly selected time offset prior to receiving the first data subset; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to locate a second CP extension after the LBT gap and prior to receiving the second data subset based on a default configuration. 216. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 215, wherein the default configuration comprises a default value multiplied by a symbol length minus a duration of the LBT gap. 217. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 216, wherein the default value comprises a value of one for a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of 15 kHz or 30 kHz, or a value of two for an SCS of 60 kHz.

[0266] 218. According to the non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 183, the program code also includes: code for causing the first wireless communication device to monitor the first data subset according to a randomly selected time offset for applying a first cyclic prefix (CP) extension in response to the receiving the first data subset being according to a configured authorized communication scheme; code for causing the first wireless communication device to locate the first cyclic prefix (CP) extension having the randomly selected time offset before receiving the first data subset; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to locate a second CP extension after the LBT gap and before receiving the second data subset based on a radio resource control (RRC) configuration.

[0267] 219. A first wireless communication device, comprising: a unit for sending a first data subset to a second wireless communication device on a first frequency subband on a first symbol set in a time domain; a unit for waiting for a duration corresponding to the length of the second symbol set in the time domain as a listen-before-talk (LBT) gap on the second frequency subband before sending the second data subset; and a unit for sending the second data subset to the second wireless communication device on a second frequency subband on a third symbol set in the time domain after the waiting, wherein the first frequency subband is different from the second frequency subband.

[0268] 220. A first wireless communication device as recited in clause 19, wherein the second data subset is a repetition of the first data subset. 221. A first wireless communication device as recited in clause 219, wherein the first set of symbols is transmitted in a first time slot and the third set of symbols is transmitted in a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot, further comprising: means for receiving an identification of the LBT slot from the second wireless communication device.

[0269] 222. A first wireless communication device according to clause 219, wherein the second set of symbols comprises the beginning of the third set of symbols in the time domain. 223. A first wireless communication device according to clause 222, wherein the second set of symbols is identified based on an assignment of a start and length indicator value (SLIV) from the second wireless communication device. 224. A first wireless communication device according to clause 223, further comprising: means for hopping to the second frequency subband during a first time slot; means for transmitting a first portion of the second data subset in the first time slot after the LBT gap; and means for transmitting a second portion of the second data subset in a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot. 225. A first wireless communication device according to clause 223, further comprising: means for hopping to the second frequency subband at the end of transmitting the first data subset in the first time slot; and means for transmitting the second data subset in a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot after the LBT gap. 226. A first wireless communication device according to clause 223, wherein the first set of symbols in the time domain is located in a first time slot, and the SLIV includes a starting symbol indication and a length indication, and further includes: a unit for performing the waiting, wherein the waiting starts at a first time domain position in the first time slot and ends at a second time position, wherein the first time domain position is based on the starting symbol identifier plus a maximum integer not greater than the length indication divided by two, and the second time domain position is based on the starting symbol identifier plus a maximum integer not greater than the length indication divided by two, plus the size of the second symbol set minus one. 227. A first wireless communication device according to clause 223, wherein the first symbol set and the third symbol set in the time domain are located in a first time slot, and further comprising: a unit for determining the number of first symbols for the first symbol set based on a maximum integer not greater than the combined length of the first data subset and the second data subset together divided by two; a unit for determining the number of second symbols for the third symbol set based on the combined length minus a maximum integer not greater than the combined length divided by two; and a unit for performing the waiting based on the first symbol number and the second symbol number, the waiting starting at a time domain position at the beginning of the third symbol set.228. A first wireless communication device as recited in clause 223, wherein the first set of symbols and the third set of symbols in the time domain are in a first time slot, further comprising: means for determining a modified length by subtracting the length of the second set of symbols from the combined length of the first data subset and the second data subset; means for determining a first number of symbols for the first set of symbols based on a maximum integer not greater than the modified length divided by two; means for determining a second number of symbols for the third set of symbols based on the modified length minus the length of the second set of symbols, further minus a maximum integer not greater than the modified length divided by two; and means for performing the wait based on the first number of symbols and the second number of symbols, the wait beginning at a time domain location between the first set of symbols and the third set of symbols. 229. A first wireless communication device as recited in clause 222, further comprising: means for determining a hopping boundary between the first frequency subband and the second frequency subband; and means for hopping to the second frequency subband. 230. A first wireless communication device according to clause 229, wherein the hop boundary comprises an end of a time slot, further comprising: means for performing the wait for the second set of symbols at a beginning of the third set of symbols after the hop boundary. 231. A first wireless communication device according to clause 229, wherein the hop boundary comprises a time position before a boundary of a time slot, further comprising: means for performing the wait for the second set of symbols at a beginning of the third set of symbols after the hop boundary. 232. A first wireless communication device according to clause 229, wherein the hop boundary comprises an end of a first time slot, further comprising: means for sending a first portion of the second data subset in the first time slot; means for performing the wait for the second set of symbols at a beginning of the second time slot after the hop boundary; and means for sending a second portion of the second data subset in the second time slot.

[0270] 233. A first wireless communication device according to clause 219, wherein the second set of symbols comprises an end of the first set of symbols in the time domain. 234. A first wireless communication device according to clause 233, wherein the second set of symbols is identified based on an assignment of a start and length indicator value (SLIV) from the second wireless communication device. 235. A first wireless communication device according to clause 234, further comprising: means for hopping to the second frequency subband at an end of transmitting the first data subset in a first time slot; means for transmitting a first portion of the second data subset in the first time slot after the LBT gap; and means for transmitting a second portion of the second data subset in a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot. 236. A first wireless communication device according to clause 234, further comprising: means for hopping to the second frequency subband at an end of the first time slot after the LBT gap; and means for transmitting the second data subset at a beginning of a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot after the LBT gap. 237. A first wireless communication device according to clause 234, wherein the first set of symbols in the time domain is located in a first time slot, and the SLIV includes a starting symbol indication and a length indication, and further includes: a unit for performing the waiting, wherein the waiting starts at a first time domain position in the first time slot and ends at a second time position, wherein the first time domain position is based on the starting symbol identifier plus a maximum integer not greater than the length indication divided by two, minus the size of the second symbol set, and the second time domain position is based on the starting symbol identifier plus a maximum integer not greater than the length indication divided by two, minus one. 238. A first wireless communication device as described in clause 234, wherein the first set of symbols and the third set of symbols in the time domain are located in a first time slot, further comprising: means for determining a first number of symbols for the first set of symbols based on a maximum integer not greater than a combined length of the first data subset and the second data subset together divided by two; means for determining a second number of symbols for the third set of symbols based on the combined length minus a maximum integer not greater than the combined length divided by two; and means for performing the waiting based on the first number of symbols and the second number of symbols, the waiting starting at a time domain location at the end of the first set of symbols. 239. A first wireless communication device as described in clause 233, further comprising: means for determining a hopping boundary between the first frequency subband and the second frequency subband; and means for hopping to the second frequency subband at the hopping boundary.240. A first wireless communication device according to clause 239, wherein the hop boundary comprises an end of a time slot, further comprising: means for performing the wait for the second set of symbols at the end of the first set of symbols before the hop boundary. 241. A first wireless communication device according to clause 239, wherein the hop boundary comprises a time position before a boundary of a time slot, further comprising: means for performing the wait for the second set of symbols at the end of the first set of symbols before the hop boundary. 242. A first wireless communication device according to clause 239, wherein the hop boundary comprises an end of a first time slot, further comprising: means for sending a first portion of the second data subset in the first time slot; means for performing the wait for the second set of symbols at the end of the first time slot before the hop boundary; and means for sending a second portion of the second data subset in the second time slot.

[0271] 243. A first wireless communication device according to clause 219, wherein the means for transmitting the second data subset further comprises means for determining whether a length of the third set of symbols after the LBT gap before a slot boundary is greater than two symbols for a 15kHz or 30kHz subcarrier spacing (SCS) or greater than three symbols for a 60kHz SCS. 244. A first wireless communication device according to clause 243, wherein the means for transmitting further comprises means for replacing an error message with the second data subset to indicate an error condition in response to the length of the third set of symbols being equal to or less than two symbols for the 15kHz or 30kHz SCS or equal to or less than three symbols for the 60kHz SCS. 245. A first wireless communication device according to clause 243, further comprising means for introducing a cyclic prefix (CP) extension before the hop boundary in response to the length of the third set of symbols being equal to or less than two symbols for the 15kHz or 30kHz SCS or equal to or less than three symbols for the 60kHz SCS. 246. The first wireless communication device according to clause 243 further includes: a unit for returning to the frequency subband instead of the second frequency subband to send the second data subset in response to the length of the third symbol set being equal to or less than two symbols for the 15kHz or 30kHz SCS, or being equal to or less than three symbols for the 60kHz SCS; and a unit for continuing to send the second data subset on the second frequency subband in response to the length of the third symbol set being greater than two symbols for the 15kHz or 30kHz SCS, or being greater than three symbols for the 60kHz SCS.

[0272] 247. The first wireless communication device of clause 219, further comprising: means for receiving, from the second wireless communication device, a dynamic grant of uplink (UL) resources for transmitting the first data subset and the second data subset; means for applying a first cyclic prefix (CP) extension before transmitting the first data subset based on the dynamic grant of the UL resources; and means for applying a second CP extension after the LBT gap and before transmitting the second data subset based on a default configuration. 248. The first wireless communication device of clause 247, wherein the default configuration comprises a default value multiplied by a symbol length minus a duration of the LBT gap. 249. The first wireless communication device of clause 248, wherein the default value comprises a value of one for a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of 15 kHz or 30 kHz, or a value of two for an SCS of 60 kHz.

[0273] 250. The first wireless communication device according to clause 219 further includes: a unit for receiving a dynamic grant of uplink (UL) resources for sending the first data subset and the second data subset from the second wireless communication device; a unit for applying a first cyclic prefix (CP) extension before sending the first data subset based on the dynamic grant of the UL resources; and a unit for applying a second CP extension after the LBT gap and before sending the second data subset based on a radio resource control (RRC) configuration.

[0274] 251. A first wireless communication device according to clause 219, further comprising: means for randomly selecting a time offset for applying a first cyclic prefix (CP) extension in response to the transmitting the first data subset being in accordance with a configured authorized communication scheme; means for applying the first cyclic prefix (CP) extension having the randomly selected time offset prior to transmitting the first data subset; and means for applying a second CP extension after the LBT gap and prior to transmitting the second data subset based on a default configuration. 252. A first wireless communication device according to clause 251, wherein the default configuration comprises a default value multiplied by a symbol length minus a duration of the LBT gap. 253. A first wireless communication device according to clause 252, wherein the default value comprises a value of one for a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of 15 kHz or 30 kHz, or a value of two for an SCS of 60 kHz.

[0275] 254. The first wireless communication device according to clause 219 further includes: a unit for randomly selecting a time offset for applying a first cyclic prefix (CP) extension in response to the sending of the first data subset being according to a configured authorized communication scheme; a unit for applying the first cyclic prefix (CP) extension with the randomly selected time offset before sending the first data subset; and a unit for applying a second CP extension after the LBT gap and before sending the second data subset based on a radio resource control (RRC) configuration.

[0276] 255. A first wireless communication device, comprising: means for receiving a first data subset from a second wireless communication device on a first frequency subband on a first set of symbols in a time domain; means for waiting for a duration corresponding to a length of a second set of symbols in the time domain as a listen-before-talk (LBT) gap on a second frequency subband; and means for receiving a second data subset from the second wireless communication device on a third set of symbols in the time domain after the waiting on the second frequency subband, the first frequency subband being different from the second frequency subband. 256. A first wireless communication device according to clause 255, wherein the second data subset is a repetition of the first data subset, further comprising: means for soft combining the first data subset and the second data subset; and means for decoding, by the first wireless communication device, the soft combined data. 257. A first wireless communication device according to clause 255, wherein the first set of symbols is received in a first time slot and the third set of symbols is received in a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot, further comprising: means for determining the LBT gap; and means for sending an identification of the determined LBT gap to the second wireless communication device. 258. A first wireless communication device according to clause 255, wherein the second set of symbols comprises a start of the third set of symbols in the time domain. 259. A first wireless communication device according to clause 258, further comprising: means for sending a start and length indicator value (SLIV) comprising an allocation to the second wireless communication device, wherein the second set of symbols is identified according to the allocation. 260. A first wireless communication device according to clause 259, further comprising: means for switching to monitoring the second frequency subband during the first time slot; means for receiving a first portion of the second data subset in the first time slot after the LBT gap; and means for receiving a second portion of the second data subset in a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot. 261. The first wireless communication device according to clause 259 further includes: a unit for switching to monitoring the second frequency subband at the end of sending the first data subset in the first time slot; and a unit for receiving the second data subset in a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot after the LBT gap.262. A first wireless communication device according to clause 259, wherein the first set of symbols in the time domain is located in a first time slot, and the SLIV includes a starting symbol indication and a length indication, and further includes: a unit for performing the waiting, wherein the waiting starts at a first time domain position in the first time slot and ends at a second time position, wherein the first time domain position is based on the starting symbol identifier plus a maximum integer not greater than the length indication divided by two, and the second time domain position is based on the starting symbol identifier plus a maximum integer not greater than the length indication divided by two, plus the size of the second symbol set minus one. 263. A first wireless communication device according to clause 259, wherein the first symbol set and the third symbol set in the time domain are located in a first time slot, and further comprising: a unit for determining the number of first symbols for the first symbol set based on a maximum integer not greater than the combined length of the first data subset and the second data subset together divided by two; a unit for determining the number of second symbols for the third symbol set based on the combined length minus a maximum integer not greater than the combined length divided by two; and a unit for performing the waiting based on the first symbol number and the second symbol number, the waiting starting at a time domain position at the beginning of the third symbol set. 264. A first wireless communication device according to clause 259, wherein the first set of symbols and the third set of symbols in the time domain are located in a first time slot, further comprising: means for determining a modified length by subtracting the length of the second set of symbols from the combined length of the first data subset and the second data subset; means for determining a first number of symbols for the first set of symbols based on a maximum integer not greater than the modified length divided by two; means for determining a second number of symbols for the third set of symbols based on the modified length minus the length of the second set of symbols, further minus a maximum integer not greater than the modified length divided by two; and means for performing the waiting based on the first number of symbols and the second number of symbols, the waiting starting at a time domain position between the first set of symbols and the third set of symbols. 265. A first wireless communication device according to clause 258, further comprising: means for determining a hopping boundary between the first frequency subband and the second frequency subband; and

[0277] means for switching to monitoring the second frequency subband. 266. The first wireless communication device of clause 265, wherein the hop boundary comprises an end of a time slot, further comprising: means for performing the wait for the second set of symbols at the beginning of the third set of symbols after the hop boundary. 267. The first wireless communication device of clause 265, wherein the hop boundary comprises a time position before a boundary of a time slot, further comprising: means for performing the wait for the second set of symbols at the beginning of the third set of symbols after the hop boundary. 268. The first wireless communication device of clause 265, wherein the hop boundary comprises an end of a first time slot, further comprising: means for receiving a first portion of the second data subset in the first time slot; means for performing the wait for the second set of symbols at the beginning of the second time slot after the hop boundary; and means for receiving a second portion of the second data subset in the second time slot.

[0278] 269. A first wireless communication device according to clause 255, wherein the second set of symbols comprises an end of the first set of symbols in the time domain. 270. A first wireless communication device according to clause 269, wherein the second set of symbols is identified based on an assignment of a start and length indicator value (SLIV) from the second wireless communication device. 271. A first wireless communication device according to clause 270, further comprising: means for switching to monitoring the second frequency subband at an end of transmitting the first data subset in a first time slot; means for receiving a first portion of the second data subset in the first time slot after the LBT gap; and means for receiving a second portion of the second data subset in a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot. 272. A first wireless communication device according to clause 270, further comprising: means for switching to monitoring the second frequency subband at an end of the first time slot after the LBT gap; and means for receiving the second data subset at a beginning of a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot after the LBT gap. 273. A first wireless communication device according to clause 270, wherein the first set of symbols in the time domain is located in a first time slot, and the SLIV includes a starting symbol indication and a length indication, and further includes: a unit for performing the waiting, wherein the waiting starts at a first time domain position in the first time slot and ends at a second time position, wherein the first time domain position is based on the starting symbol identifier plus a maximum integer not greater than the length indication divided by two, minus the size of the second symbol set, and the second time domain position is based on the starting symbol identifier plus a maximum integer not greater than the length indication divided by two, minus one. 274. A first wireless communication device as recited in clause 270, wherein the first set of symbols and the third set of symbols in the time domain are in a first time slot, further comprising: means for determining a first number of symbols for the first set of symbols based on a maximum integer not greater than a combined length of the first data subset and the second data subset together divided by two; means for determining a second number of symbols for the third set of symbols based on the combined length minus a maximum integer not greater than the combined length divided by two; and means for performing the wait based on the first number of symbols and the second number of symbols, the wait beginning at a time domain location at the end of the first set of symbols. 275. A first wireless communication device as recited in clause 269, further comprising: means for determining a hop boundary between the first frequency subband and the second frequency subband; and means for switching to monitoring the second frequency subband at the hop boundary.276. A first wireless communication device according to clause 275, wherein the hop boundary comprises an end of a time slot, further comprising: means for performing the wait for the second set of symbols at the end of the first set of symbols before the hop boundary. 277. A first wireless communication device according to clause 275, wherein the hop boundary comprises a time position before a boundary of a time slot, further comprising: means for performing the wait for the second set of symbols at the end of the first set of symbols before the hop boundary. 278. A first wireless communication device according to clause 275, wherein the hop boundary comprises an end of a first time slot, further comprising: means for receiving a first portion of the second data subset in the first time slot; means for performing the wait for the second set of symbols at the end of the first time slot before the hop boundary; and means for receiving a second portion of the second data subset in the second time slot.

[0279] 279. The first wireless communication device of clause 255, wherein the means for receiving the second data subset further comprises means for determining whether a length of the third set of symbols after the LBT gap before a slot boundary is greater than two symbols for a 15 kHz or 30 kHz subcarrier spacing (SCS) or greater than three symbols for a 60 kHz SCS. 280. The first wireless communication device of clause 279, wherein the means for receiving further comprises means for receiving an error message as the second data subset to indicate an error condition in response to the length of the third set of symbols being equal to or less than two symbols for the 15 kHz or 30 kHz SCS or equal to or less than three symbols for the 60 kHz SCS. 281. The first wireless communication device of clause 279, further comprising means for locating a cyclic prefix (CP) extension before the hop boundary in response to the length of the third set of symbols being equal to or less than two symbols for the 15 kHz or 30 kHz SCS or equal to or less than three symbols for the 60 kHz SCS. 282. The first wireless communication device according to clause 279 further includes: a unit for keeping monitoring the frequency subband instead of the second frequency subband to receive the second data subset in response to the length of the third symbol set being equal to or less than two symbols for the 15kHz or 30kHz SCS, or being equal to or less than three symbols for the 60kHz SCS; and a unit for switching to monitoring the second data subset on the second frequency subband in response to the length of the third symbol set being greater than two symbols for the 15kHz or 30kHz SCS, or being greater than three symbols for the 60kHz SCS.

[0280] 283. The first wireless communication device of clause 255, further comprising: means for sending to the second wireless communication device a dynamic grant of uplink (UL) resources for the transmission of the first data subset and the second data subset; means for locating a first cyclic prefix (CP) extension prior to receiving the first data subset based on the dynamic grant of the UL resources; and means for locating a second CP extension after the LBT gap and prior to receiving the second data subset based on a default configuration. 284. The first wireless communication device of clause 283, wherein the default configuration comprises a default value multiplied by a symbol length minus a duration of the LBT gap. 285. The first wireless communication device of clause 284, wherein the default value comprises a value of one for a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of 15 kHz or 30 kHz, or a value of two for an SCS of 60 kHz.

[0281] 286. The first wireless communication device according to clause 255 further includes: a unit for sending a dynamic grant of uplink (UL) resources for the transmission of the first data subset and the second data subset to the second wireless communication device; a unit for locating a first cyclic prefix (CP) extension before receiving the first data subset based on the dynamic grant of the UL resources; and a unit for locating a second CP extension after the LBT gap and before receiving the second data subset based on a radio resource control (RRC) configuration.

[0282] 287. The first wireless communication device of clause 255, further comprising: means for monitoring the first data subset according to a randomly selected time offset for applying a first cyclic prefix (CP) extension in response to the transmission of the first data subset being according to a configured authorized communication scheme; means for locating the first cyclic prefix (CP) extension having the randomly selected time offset prior to receiving the first data subset; and means for locating a second CP extension after the LBT gap and prior to receiving the second data subset based on a default configuration. 288. The first wireless communication device of clause 287, wherein the default configuration comprises a default value multiplied by a symbol length minus a duration of the LBT gap. 289. The first wireless communication device of clause 288, wherein the default value comprises a value of one for a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of 15 kHz or 30 kHz, or a value of two for an SCS of 60 kHz.

[0283] 290. The first wireless communication device according to clause 255 further includes: a unit for monitoring the first data subset according to a randomly selected time offset for applying a first cyclic prefix (CP) extension in response to the receiving of the first data subset being according to a configured authorized communication scheme; a unit for locating the first cyclic prefix (CP) extension having the randomly selected time offset before receiving the first data subset; and a unit for locating a second CP extension after the LBT gap and before receiving the second data subset based on a radio resource control (RRC) configuration.

[0284] As those skilled in the art will appreciate by now, and depending on the specific application at hand, many modifications, substitutions and variations may be made in and to the materials, devices, configurations and methods of use of the apparatus of the present disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. In view of this, the scope of the present disclosure should not be limited to the scope of the specific embodiments shown and described herein (as they are by way of some examples thereof), but should be fully equivalent to the scope of the claims appended hereto and their functional equivalents.

Claims

1. A first wireless communication device, include: A transceiver configured to: transmitting a first subset of data on a first frequency subband on a first set of symbols in the time domain to a second wireless communication device; waiting for a duration corresponding to the length of a second set of symbols in the time domain as a listen-before-talk (LBT) gap on a second frequency subband before sending a second subset of data, wherein the second frequency subband occupies the same time slot as the first frequency subband; and sending the second data subset to the second wireless communication device on the second frequency sub-band on a third set of symbols in the time domain after the waiting, the first frequency sub-band being different from the second frequency sub-band, The second data subset is a repetition of the first data subset.

2. The first wireless communication device according to claim 1, in, The first set of symbols is sent in a first time slot, and the third set of symbols is sent in a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot, and the transceiver is further configured to: An identification of the LBT gap is received from the second wireless communication device.

3. The first wireless communication device according to claim 1, in, The second set of symbols includes the beginning of the third set of symbols in the time domain.

4. The first wireless communication device according to claim 3, in, The second set of symbols is identified based on an assignment of a start and length indicator value (SLIV) from the second wireless communication device.

5. The first wireless communication device according to claim 4, in, The transceiver is further configured to: hopping to the second frequency sub-band during a first time slot; sending a first portion of the second data subset in the first time slot after the LBT gap; as well as A second portion of the second subset of data is transmitted in a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot.

6. The first wireless communication device according to claim 4, in, The transceiver is further configured to: hopping to the second frequency sub-band at the end of transmitting the first data subset in the first time slot; and The second data subset is sent in a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot after the LBT gap.

7. The first wireless communication device according to claim 4, in, The first set of symbols in the time domain is located in a first time slot, and the SLIV includes a start symbol indication and a length indication, and the transceiver is further configured to: performing the waiting, the waiting starting at a first time domain position within the first time slot and ending at a second time position, The first time domain position is based on the starting symbol identifier plus a maximum integer not greater than the length indication divided by two, and the second time domain position is based on the starting symbol identifier plus a maximum integer not greater than the length indication divided by two, plus the size of the second symbol set minus one.

8. The first wireless communication device according to claim 4, in, The first symbol set and the third symbol set in the time domain are located in a first time slot, further comprising: A processor configured to: determining a first number of symbols for the first set of symbols based on a maximum integer no greater than a combined length of the first subset of data and the second subset of data together divided by two; and determining a second number of symbols for the third set of symbols based on the combined length minus a maximum integer no greater than the combined length divided by two, The transceiver is further configured to: perform the waiting based on the first number of symbols and the second number of symbols, and the waiting starts at a time domain position at the beginning of the third symbol set.

9. The first wireless communication device according to claim 4, in, The first symbol set and the third symbol set in the time domain are located in a first time slot, further comprising: A processor configured to: subtracting a length of the second set of symbols from a combined length of the first subset of data and the second subset of data to determine a modified length; determining a first number of symbols for the first set of symbols based on a maximum integer no greater than the modified length divided by two; determining a second number of symbols for the third set of symbols based on the modified length minus the length of the second set of symbols, further minus a maximum integer no greater than the modified length divided by two, The transceiver is further configured to: perform the waiting based on the first number of symbols and the second number of symbols, and the waiting starts at a time domain position between the first symbol set and the third symbol set.

10. The first wireless communication device according to claim 3, further comprising: include: a processor configured to: determine a hopping boundary between the first frequency sub-band and the second frequency sub-band, The transceiver is further configured to: jump to the second frequency sub-band.

11. The first wireless communication device according to claim 10, in, The hopping boundary includes the end of a time slot, and the transceiver is further configured to: The waiting for the second set of symbols is performed at a beginning of the third set of symbols after the hopping boundary.

12. The first wireless communication device according to claim 10, in, The hopping boundary includes a time position before a boundary of a time slot, and the transceiver is further configured to: The waiting for the second set of symbols is performed at a beginning of the third set of symbols after the hopping boundary.

13. The first wireless communication device according to claim 10, in, The hopping boundary includes an end of a first time slot, and the transceiver is further configured to: transmitting a first portion of the second subset of data in the first time slot; performing said waiting for said second set of symbols at a beginning of a second time slot after said hopping boundary; as well as A second portion of the second subset of data is transmitted in the second time slot.

14. The first wireless communication device according to claim 1, in, The second set of symbols comprises an end of the first set of symbols in the time domain.

15. The first wireless communication device according to claim 14, in, The second set of symbols is identified based on an assignment of a start and length indicator value (SLIV) from the second wireless communication device.

16. The first wireless communication device according to claim 15, in, The transceiver is further configured to: hopping to the second frequency sub-band at an end of sending the first data subset in the first time slot; sending a first portion of the second data subset in the first time slot after the LBT gap; as well as A second portion of the second subset of data is transmitted in a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot.

17. The first wireless communication device according to claim 15, in, The transceiver is further configured to: hopping to the second frequency sub-band at an end of a first time slot after the LBT gap; and The second data subset is sent at the beginning of a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot after the LBT gap.

18. The first wireless communication device according to claim 15, in, The first set of symbols in the time domain is located in a first time slot, and the SLIV includes a start symbol indication and a length indication, and the transceiver is further configured to: performing the waiting, the waiting starting at a first time domain position within the first time slot and ending at a second time position, The first time domain position is based on the starting symbol identifier plus a maximum integer not greater than the length indication divided by two, minus the size of the second symbol set, and the second time domain position is based on the starting symbol identifier plus a maximum integer not greater than the length indication divided by two, minus one.

19. The first wireless communication device according to claim 15, in, The first symbol set and the third symbol set in the time domain are located in a first time slot, further comprising: A processor configured to: determining a first number of symbols for the first set of symbols based on a maximum integer no greater than a combined length of the first subset of data and the second subset of data together divided by two; and determining a second number of symbols for the third set of symbols based on the combined length minus a maximum integer no greater than the combined length divided by two, The transceiver is further configured to: perform the waiting based on the first number of symbols and the second number of symbols, and the waiting starts at a time domain position at the end of the first symbol set.

20. The first wireless communication device according to claim 14, further comprising: include: a processor configured to: determine a hopping boundary between the first frequency sub-band and the second frequency sub-band, The transceiver is further configured to: jump to the second frequency sub-band at the jump boundary.

21. The first wireless communication device according to claim 20, in, The hopping boundary includes the end of a time slot, and the transceiver is further configured to: The waiting for the second set of symbols is performed at the end of the first set of symbols before the hopping boundary.

22. The first wireless communication device according to claim 20, in, The hopping boundary includes a time position before a boundary of a time slot, and the transceiver is further configured to: The waiting for the second set of symbols is performed at the end of the first set of symbols before the hopping boundary.

23. The first wireless communication device according to claim 20, in, The hopping boundary includes an end of a first time slot, and the transceiver is further configured to: transmitting a first portion of the second subset of data in the first time slot; performing said waiting for said second set of symbols at an end of said first time slot before said hopping boundary; as well as A second portion of the second data subset is transmitted in a second time slot.

24. The first wireless communication device according to claim 1, further comprising: include: A processor configured to: for transmission of the second data subset, determine whether the length of the third symbol set after the LBT gap before the time slot boundary is greater than two symbols for a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of 15kHz or 30kHz, or greater than three symbols for an SCS of 60kHz.

25. The first wireless communication device according to claim 24, in, The transceiver is further configured to: For the transmission of the second data subset, in response to the length of the third set of symbols being equal to or less than two symbols for the 15kHz or 30kHz SCS, or equal to or less than three symbols for the 60kHz SCS, an error message is replaced with the second data subset to indicate an error condition.

26. The first wireless communication device according to claim 24, further comprising: include: A processor configured to introduce a cyclic prefix (CP) extension before a hopping boundary in response to the length of the third set of symbols being equal to or less than two symbols for the 15kHz or 30kHz SCS, or equal to or less than three symbols for the 60kHz SCS.

27. The first wireless communication device according to claim 24, in, The processor is further configured to: causing the transceiver to return to the frequency sub-band instead of the second frequency sub-band to transmit the second data subset in response to the length of the third set of symbols being equal to or less than two symbols for the 15 kHz or 30 kHz SCS or equal to or less than three symbols for the 60 kHz SCS; as well as The transceiver is caused to continue the transmission of the second data subset on the second frequency sub-band in response to the length of the third set of symbols being greater than two symbols for the 15kHz or 30kHz SCS, or greater than three symbols for the 60kHz SCS.

28. The first wireless communication device according to claim 1, in: The transceiver is further configured to: receive, from the second wireless communication device, a dynamic grant of uplink (UL) resources for transmitting the first subset of data and the second subset of data; and The first wireless communication device also includes a processor configured to: applying a first cyclic prefix (CP) extension prior to transmission of the first subset of data based on the dynamic grant of the UL resources; and A second CP extension is applied after the LBT gap and before transmission of the second data subset based on a default configuration.

29. The first wireless communication device according to claim 28, in, The default configuration includes a default value multiplied by the symbol length minus the duration of the LBT gap.

30. The first wireless communication device according to claim 29, in, The default value comprises a value of one for a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of 15 kHz or 30 kHz, or a value of two for an SCS of 60 kHz.

31. The first wireless communication device according to claim 1, in: The transceiver is further configured to: receive, from the second wireless communication device, a dynamic grant of uplink (UL) resources for transmitting the first subset of data and the second subset of data; and The first wireless communication device also includes a processor configured to: applying a first cyclic prefix (CP) extension prior to transmission of the first subset of data based on the dynamic grant of the UL resources; as well as A second CP extension is applied by the first wireless communication device based on a radio resource control (RRC) configuration after the LBT gap and before transmission of the second data subset.

32. The first wireless communication device of claim 1 , further comprising a processor configured to: randomly selecting a time offset for applying a first cyclic prefix (CP) extension in response to transmission of the first subset of data being in accordance with a configured granted communication scheme; applying said first cyclic prefix (CP) extension with said randomly selected time offset prior to said transmission of said first subset of data; as well as A second CP extension is applied after the LBT gap and before transmission of the second data subset based on a default configuration.

33. The first wireless communication device according to claim 32, in, The default configuration includes a default value multiplied by the symbol length minus the duration of the LBT gap.

34. The first wireless communication device according to claim 33, in, The default value comprises a value of one for a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of 15 kHz or 30 kHz, or a value of two for an SCS of 60 kHz.

35. The first wireless communication device according to claim 1, further comprising: include: randomly selecting, by the first wireless communication device, a time offset for applying a first cyclic prefix (CP) extension in response to the transmitting the first subset of data being in accordance with a configured authorized communication scheme; applying, by the first wireless communication device, the first cyclic prefix (CP) extension with the randomly selected time offset prior to transmitting the first subset of data; as well as A second CP extension is applied by the first wireless communication device after the LBT gap and before the sending of the second data subset based on a radio resource control (RRC) configuration.

36. The first wireless communication device according to claim 1, in, The first wireless communication device comprises a user equipment, and the second wireless communication device comprises a base station.

37. A first wireless communication device, include: A transceiver, the transceiver being configured to: receiving a first subset of data from a second wireless communication device on a first frequency subband on a first set of symbols in the time domain; waiting for a duration corresponding to a length of a second set of symbols in the time domain as a listen-before-talk (LBT) gap on a second frequency subband, wherein the second frequency subband occupies the same time slot as the first frequency subband; and After the waiting, a second data subset is received from the second wireless communication device on the second frequency subband on a third set of symbols in the time domain, the first frequency subband being different from the second frequency subband, wherein the second data subset is a repetition of the first data subset.

38. The first wireless communication device of claim 37, further comprising a processor configured to: soft combining the first data subset and the second data subset; and The soft combined data is decoded.

39. The first wireless communication device according to claim 37, in, The first set of symbols is received in a first time slot, and the third set of symbols is received in a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot, further comprising: a processor configured to: determine the LBT gap, Wherein, the transceiver is further configured as: An identifier of the determined LBT gap is sent to the second wireless communication device.

40. The first wireless communication device according to claim 37, in, The second set of symbols includes the beginning of the third set of symbols in the time domain.

41. The first wireless communication device according to claim 40, in, The transceiver is further configured to: A start and length indicator value (SLIV) including an assignment is sent to the second wireless communication device, wherein the second set of symbols is identified based on the assignment.

42. The first wireless communication device according to claim 41, further comprising: include: a processor configured to: switch to monitoring the second frequency sub-band during a first time slot, wherein the transceiver is further configured to: receiving a first portion of the second data subset in the first time slot after the LBT gap; and A second portion of the second subset of data is received in a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot.

43. The first wireless communication device according to claim 41, further comprising: include: a processor configured to switch to monitoring the second frequency sub-band at the end of transmitting the first data subset in a first time slot, The transceiver is further configured to: receive the second data subset in a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot after the LBT gap.

44. The first wireless communication device according to claim 41, in, The first set of symbols in the time domain is located in a first time slot, and the SLIV includes a start symbol indication and a length indication, and the transceiver is further configured to: performing the waiting, the waiting starting at a first time domain position within the first time slot and ending at a second time position, The first time domain position is based on the starting symbol identifier plus a maximum integer not greater than the length indication divided by two, and the second time domain position is based on the starting symbol identifier plus a maximum integer not greater than the length indication divided by two, plus the size of the second symbol set minus one.

45. The first wireless communication device according to claim 41, in, The first symbol set and the third symbol set in the time domain are located in a first time slot, further comprising: A processor configured to: determining a first number of symbols for the first set of symbols based on a maximum integer no greater than a combined length of the first subset of data and the second subset of data together divided by two; and determining a second number of symbols for the third set of symbols based on the combined length minus a maximum integer no greater than the combined length divided by two, The transceiver is further configured to: perform the waiting based on the first number of symbols and the second number of symbols, and the waiting starts at a time domain position at the beginning of the third symbol set.

46. ​​The first wireless communication device according to claim 41, in, The first symbol set and the third symbol set in the time domain are located in a first time slot, further comprising: A processor configured to: removing a length of the second set of symbols from a combined length of the first subset of data and the second subset of data to determine a modified length; determining a first number of symbols for the first set of symbols based on a maximum integer no greater than the modified length divided by two; and determining a second number of symbols for the third set of symbols based on the modified length minus the length of the second set of symbols, further minus a maximum integer no greater than the modified length divided by two, The transceiver is further configured to: perform the waiting based on the first number of symbols and the second number of symbols, and the waiting starts at a time domain position between the first symbol set and the third symbol set.

47. The first wireless communication device of claim 40, further comprising a processor configured to: determining a hopping boundary between the first frequency sub-band and the second frequency sub-band; and Switching is performed to monitor the second frequency sub-band.

48. The first wireless communication device according to claim 47, in, The hopping boundary includes the end of a time slot, and the transceiver is further configured to: The waiting for the second set of symbols is performed at the beginning of the third set of symbols after the hopping boundary.

49. The first wireless communication device according to claim 47, in, The hopping boundary includes a time position before a boundary of a time slot, and the transceiver is further configured to: The waiting for the second set of symbols is performed at the beginning of the third set of symbols after the hopping boundary.

50. The first wireless communication device according to claim 47, in, The hopping boundary includes an end of a first time slot, and the transceiver is further configured to: receiving a first portion of the second subset of data in the first time slot; performing said waiting for said second set of symbols at said beginning of a second time slot after said hopping boundary; as well as A second portion of the second subset of data is received in the second time slot.

51. The first wireless communication device according to claim 37, in, The second set of symbols comprises an end of the first set of symbols in the time domain.

52. The first wireless communication device according to claim 51, in, The second set of symbols is identified based on an assignment of a start and length indicator value (SLIV) from the second wireless communication device.

53. The first wireless communication device according to claim 52, further comprising: include: a processor configured to switch to monitoring the second frequency sub-band at the end of transmitting the first data subset in a first time slot, Wherein, the transceiver is further configured as: receiving a first portion of the second data subset in the first time slot after the LBT gap; and A second portion of the second subset of data is received in a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot.

54. The first wireless communication device according to claim 52, further comprising: include: a processor configured to: switch to monitoring the second frequency sub-band at an end of a first time slot after the LBT gap, The transceiver is further configured to: receive the second data subset at the beginning of a second time slot adjacent to the first time slot after the LBT gap.

55. The first wireless communication device according to claim 52, in, The first set of symbols in the time domain is located in a first time slot, and the SLIV includes a start symbol indication and a length indication, and the transceiver is further configured to: performing the waiting, the waiting starting at a first time domain position within the first time slot and ending at a second time position, The first time domain position is based on the starting symbol identifier plus a maximum integer not greater than the length indication divided by two, minus the size of the second symbol set, and the second time domain position is based on the starting symbol identifier plus a maximum integer not greater than the length indication divided by two, minus one.

56. The first wireless communication device according to claim 52, in, The first symbol set and the third symbol set in the time domain are located in a first time slot, further comprising: A processor configured to: determining a first number of symbols for the first set of symbols based on a maximum integer no greater than a combined length of the first subset of data and the second subset of data together divided by two; and determining a second number of symbols for the third set of symbols based on the combined length minus a maximum integer no greater than the combined length divided by two, The transceiver is further configured to: perform the waiting based on the first number of symbols and the second number of symbols, and the waiting starts at a time domain position at the end of the first symbol set.

57. The first wireless communication device of claim 51 , further comprising a processor configured to: determining a hopping boundary between the first frequency sub-band and the second frequency sub-band; and Switching to monitoring the second frequency sub-band is performed at the hopping boundary.

58. The first wireless communication device according to claim 57, in, The hopping boundary includes the end of a time slot, and the transceiver is further configured to: The waiting for the second set of symbols is performed at the end of the first set of symbols before the hopping boundary.

59. The first wireless communication device according to claim 57, in, The hopping boundary includes a time position before a boundary of a time slot, and the transceiver is further configured to: The waiting for the second set of symbols is performed at the end of the first set of symbols before the hopping boundary.

60. The first wireless communication device according to claim 57, in, The hopping boundary includes an end of a first time slot, and the transceiver is further configured to: receiving a first portion of the second subset of data in the first time slot; performing said waiting for said second set of symbols at an end of said first time slot before said hopping boundary; as well as A second portion of the second subset of data is received in a second time slot.

61. The first wireless communication device according to claim 37, further comprising: include: A processor configured to determine, as part of the reception of the second data subset, whether the length of the third set of symbols after the LBT gap before the time slot boundary is greater than two symbols for a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of 15 kHz or 30 kHz, or greater than three symbols for an SCS of 60 kHz.

62. The first wireless communication device according to claim 61, in, The transceiver is further configured to: As part of the receiving of the second data subset, in response to the length of the third set of symbols being equal to or less than two symbols for the 15kHz or 30kHz SCS, or equal to or less than three symbols for the 60kHz SCS, an error message is received as the second data subset to indicate an error condition.

63. The first wireless communication device according to claim 61, in, The processor is further configured to: In response to the length of the third set of symbols being equal to or less than two symbols for the 15 kHz or 30 kHz SCS, or equal to or less than three symbols for the 60 kHz SCS, a cyclic prefix (CP) extension is positioned before a hopping boundary.

64. The first wireless communication device according to claim 61, in, The processor is further configured to: responsive to the length of the third set of symbols being equal to or less than two symbols for the 15 kHz or 30 kHz SCS or equal to or less than three symbols for the 60 kHz SCS, maintaining monitoring the frequency sub-band instead of the second frequency sub-band to receive the second data subset; and Responsive to the length of the third set of symbols being greater than two symbols for the 15 kHz or 30 kHz SCS, or greater than three symbols for the 60 kHz SCS, switching to monitoring the second data subset on the second frequency subband.

65. The first wireless communication device of claim 37, in: The transceiver is further configured to: send a dynamic grant of uplink (UL) resources for transmission of the first data subset and the second data subset to the second wireless communication device; and The first wireless communication device also includes a processor configured to: locating a first cyclic prefix (CP) extension prior to reception of the first subset of data based on the dynamic grant of the UL resources; and A second CP extension is positioned after the LBT gap and before reception of the second data subset based on a default configuration.

66. The first wireless communication device according to claim 65, in, The default configuration includes a default value multiplied by the symbol length minus the duration of the LBT gap.

67. The first wireless communication device according to claim 66, in, The default value comprises a value of one for a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of 15 kHz or 30 kHz, or a value of two for an SCS of 60 kHz.

68. The first wireless communication device according to claim 37, in: The transceiver is further configured to: send a dynamic grant of uplink (UL) resources for transmission of the first data subset and the second data subset to the second wireless communication device; and The first wireless communication device also includes a processor configured to: locating a first cyclic prefix (CP) extension prior to reception of the first subset of data based on the dynamic grant of the UL resources; and A second CP extension is positioned after the LBT gap and before reception of the second data subset based on a radio resource control (RRC) configuration.

69. The first wireless communication device according to claim 37, in: The transceiver is further configured to: in response to transmission of the first data subset being in accordance with a configured authorized communication scheme, monitor the first data subset according to a randomly selected time offset for applying a first cyclic prefix (CP) extension; and The first wireless communication device also includes a processor configured to: locating the first cyclic prefix (CP) extension having the randomly selected time offset prior to reception of the first data subset; and A second CP extension is positioned after the LBT gap and before reception of the second data subset based on a default configuration.

70. The first wireless communication device according to claim 69, in, The default configuration includes a default value multiplied by the symbol length minus the duration of the LBT gap.

71. The first wireless communication device according to claim 70, in, The default value comprises a value of one for a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of 15 kHz or 30 kHz, or a value of two for an SCS of 60 kHz.

72. The first wireless communication device of claim 37, in: The transceiver is further configured to: in response to reception of the first data subset being in accordance with a configured authorized communication scheme, monitor the first data subset according to a randomly selected time offset for applying a first cyclic prefix (CP) extension; and The first wireless communication device also includes a processor configured to: locating the first cyclic prefix (CP) extension having the randomly selected time offset prior to receipt of the first data subset; as well as A second CP extension is positioned after the LBT gap and before reception of the second data subset based on a radio resource control (RRC) configuration.

73. The first wireless communication device according to claim 37, in, The first wireless communication device comprises a base station, and the second wireless communication device comprises a user equipment.

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