Method for monitoring physical downlink control channel in sub-band full duplex network

Abstract

Techniques related to physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring in a sub-band full duplex network are described herein. A user equipment (UE) determines whether to disable physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring. Based on a result of the determination, the user equipment performs one of the following: (i) disabling PDCCH monitoring when a condition is satisfied; or (ii) performing PDCCH monitoring. In some cases, the condition includes one or more symbols occupied by a control resource set (CORESET) conflicting with the SBFD configuration of the user equipment.

Description

[0001] [Cross-reference to related applications]

[0002] This disclosure is part of a non-provisional application, claiming the benefit of priority to U.S. patent application No. 63 / 371,237, filed on August 12, 2022, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. [Technical field]

[0003] The present disclosure relates generally to mobile communications, and more particularly to a method for physical downlink control channel monitoring in a sub-band full-duplex network. [Background technology]

[0004] Unless otherwise indicated in this section, the approaches described in this section are not prior art to the claims listed below and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.

[0005] In wireless communications, for example in the Third Generation Partnership Project (3 rd In mobile communications under the fifth generation (5G) new radio (NR) specifications of the 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project), in a non-overlapping sub-band full-duplex (SBFD) radio access network (RAN) deployment, the user equipment (UE) operates in half-duplex mode, only transmitting or receiving at a time, while the base station (e.g., gNB) can transmit and receive simultaneously on non-overlapping sub-bands of the carrier. For example, the gNB receives signals from UE#1 and UE#2 on the uplink (UL) subband while transmitting to UE#3 on the downlink (DL) subband. The division of the time slot or symbol into DL and UL subbands can be called the sub-band full-duplex partition format. The periodic pattern of time division duplex (TDD) and SBFD configuration for each time slot / symbol can be called the sub-band full-duplex layout configuration. Traditional UEs only support TDD configuration functions, and their transmission and reception are completely controlled by the scheduling and applied TDD configuration. In contrast, for enhanced UEs, a possible working assumption is that the gNB shares knowledge about the sub-band full-duplex layout.

[0006] The current 3GPP specifications provide flexible solutions for control resource set (CORESET) resource allocation and physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring, which may be applicable to symbols of sub-band full-duplex partitions and other aspects. CORESET frequency domain resource allocation (FDRA) is based on a bitmap of resource block groups consisting of six resource blocks (RBs) per group, thus easily allowing non-contiguous resource allocation. The grid starts from the common RB#0 and the aggregation can be extended to control channel elements (CCEs) at a distance. Up to three CORESETs can be configured and monitored per bandwidth part (BWP). This allows different CORESETs to be configured for sub-band full-duplex and non-sub-band full-duplex time slots / symbols and use them with different search spaces. The time pattern of PDCCH monitoring is defined by the search space, each of which defines a time slot period and offset, time slot duration and symbol bitmap. Up to ten search spaces can be configured per PDCCH-Config.

[0007] Using existing functionality, while PDCCH monitoring of non-contiguous downlink RB groups (including AL16) in slots / symbols of a sub-band full-duplex partition is feasible, flexibility may be limited. Configuring PDCCH monitoring of different CORESETs for sub-band full-duplex and downlink-only slots / symbols would require configuring separate search spaces, possibly for each slot in a periodic sub-band full-duplex partitioning pattern, each with the same slot period but different slot offsets. This would quickly exhaust the maximum number of search spaces that can be configured. Therefore, there is a need to bring increased flexibility to the search space configuration while allowing adaptation to sub-band full-duplex partitions (e.g., a CORESET or search space is associated with a sub-band full-duplex subband). Therefore, a solution for PDCCH monitoring in sub-band full-duplex networks is needed. [Summary of the invention]

[0008] The following summary is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be limiting in any way. That is, the following summary is intended to introduce the concepts, highlights, advantages, and benefits of the novel and non-obvious techniques described herein. Selected embodiments are further described in the detailed description below. Therefore, the following summary is not intended to determine the essential features of the subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to determine the scope of the subject matter.

[0009] The purpose of the present disclosure is to propose solutions or solutions to the problems described herein. More specifically, the various solutions proposed in the present disclosure are believed to provide solutions related to physical downlink control channel monitoring in sub-band full-duplex networks. It is believed that the various proposed solutions implemented according to the present disclosure may solve or otherwise alleviate the above-mentioned problems.

[0010] In one aspect, a method may involve a user equipment determining whether to disable physical downlink control channel monitoring. Based on the result of the determination, the method may involve the user equipment performing one of the following operations: (i) disabling physical downlink control channel monitoring when a condition is met; or (ii) performing physical downlink control channel monitoring. In some cases, the condition may include one or more symbols occupied by a control resource set conflicting with a subband full-duplex configuration of the user equipment.

[0011] In another aspect, a device that can be implemented in a user equipment may include a transceiver and a processor connected to the transceiver. The transceiver may be configured for wireless communication. The processor may determine whether to disable physical downlink control channel monitoring. Based on the result of the determination, the processor may perform one of the following operations: (i) disable physical downlink control channel monitoring when a condition is met; or (ii) perform physical downlink control channel monitoring. In some cases, the condition may include one or more symbols occupied by the control resource set conflicting with the subband full-duplex configuration of the user equipment.

[0012] It is worth noting that although the description provided herein may be in the context of certain wireless access technologies, networks and network topologies such as 5G / NR mobile communications, the proposed concepts, schemes and any variants / derivatives thereof may be implemented in, used for and implemented by other types of wireless access technologies, networks and network topologies, such as and not limited to Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced, LTE-Advanced Pro, Internet of Things (IoT), Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT), Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) and Non-terrestrial Network (NTN) communications. Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the examples described herein.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013] The accompanying drawings contain information for further understanding of the present disclosure and constitute a part of the present disclosure. These drawings show embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, are used to explain the principles of the present disclosure. It is appreciated that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, as some components may be shown out of proportion to the size in actual implementation in order to clearly illustrate the concepts of the present disclosure.

[0014] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating an example network environment in which various proposals of the present disclosure may be implemented.

[0015] Figure 2 is an example scene diagram under a proposed scheme according to the present disclosure.

[0016] Figure 3 is an example scene diagram under a proposed scheme according to the present disclosure.

[0017] Figure 4 is a block diagram of an example communication system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0018] Figure 5 is an example process flow diagram according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Specific implementation method]

[0019] This document discloses detailed embodiments and implementations of the claimed subject matter. However, it should be understood that the disclosed embodiments and implementations are merely exemplary manifestations of the claimed subject matter, which may be implemented in a variety of forms. The present disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be limited to the exemplary embodiments and implementations set forth herein. Instead, these exemplary embodiments and implementations are provided so that the description of the present disclosure is thorough and complete and the scope of the present disclosure is fully conveyed to those skilled in the art. In the following description, details of well-known features and technologies may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the presented embodiments and implementations.

[0020] Overview

[0021] Embodiments according to the present disclosure relate to various technologies, methods, schemes and / or solutions for physical downlink control channel monitoring in a sub-band full-duplex network. According to the present disclosure, many possible solutions can be implemented individually or in combination. That is, although these possible solutions may be described separately, two or more of these possible solutions can be implemented in one or another combination.

[0022] Figure 1 An example network environment 100 is shown in which various solutions and schemes according to the present disclosure may be implemented. Figures 2 to 5 An example of implementing various proposed solutions according to the present disclosure in the network environment 100 is shown. The following description of various proposed solutions refers to Figures 1 to 5 .

[0023] refer to Figure 1, the network environment 100 may involve a user equipment 110 wirelessly communicating with a radio access network 120 (e.g., a 5G new wireless mobile network or other types of networks, such as non-terrestrial networks). The user equipment 110 may be within the coverage of a cell 135 corresponding to a base station or a terrestrial network node 125 (e.g., an eNB, a gNB, or a transceiver point (TRP)) and / or a non-terrestrial network node 128 (e.g., a satellite). The radio access network 120 may be part of a network 130. In the network environment 100, the user equipment 110 and the network 130 (via the terrestrial network node 125 and / or the non-terrestrial network node 128 of the radio access network 120) may implement various schemes related to physical downlink control channel monitoring in a sub-band full-duplex network, as described below. It is worth noting that although various proposed schemes, options, and methods may be described separately, in actual applications, these proposed schemes, options, and methods may be implemented separately or jointly. That is, in some cases, each of one or more proposed schemes, options, and methods may be implemented separately or separately. In other cases, some or all of the proposed schemes, options and approaches may be implemented jointly.

[0024] Figure 2 An example scenario 200 is shown involving frequency domain resource allocation of control resource sets. In the present disclosure, subband full-duplex partitioning (format) refers to the division of resource blocks into subbands. A downlink subband is a resource block or a group of consecutive resource blocks that can be used for downlink transmission in frequency domain resource allocation. An uplink subband is a resource block or a group of consecutive resource blocks that can be used for uplink transmission in frequency domain resource allocation. The subband partitioning format refers to a configuration that specifies all subbands in a downlink or uplink bandwidth portion or on a user equipment channel bandwidth. Scenario 200 is an example of frequency domain resource allocation of control resource sets. In terms of unit size, a control resource set is larger than a control channel element, a control channel element is larger than a resource element bundle, and a resource element bundle is larger than a resource element group.

[0025] Figure 3 An example scenario 300 related to search space is shown. Specifically, scenario 300 is an example of search space symbol pattern, slot periodicity, and slot offset. Some assumptions that may be made by user equipment 110 when performing physical downlink control channel monitoring in radio resource control (RRC) connected mode may include: (1) the control resource set duration is two orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols; (2)

[0026] monitoring-periodicity-PDCCH-slot=5 slots; (3)

[0027] monitoring-offset-PDCCH-slot=1 slot; (4) duration=2 slots; and (5) monitoring-symbols-PDCCH-within-slot=[1,0,0,1,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,0].

[0028] According to a solution proposed in the present disclosure, regarding adaptive disabling of physical downlink control channel monitoring, physical downlink control channel monitoring managed by the control resource set and search space user equipment configuration may be adaptively disabled when a conflict occurs between the subband full-duplex configuration of the user equipment 110 and the symbol occupied by the control resource set. For example, if the user equipment 110 is configured by the network 120 or dynamically indicated by a signal to be in a subband full-duplex partition mode on a group of symbols, and the user equipment 110 is also configured to perform physical downlink control channel monitoring on any symbol overlapping with the group of symbols, then in the event of a conflict with the subband full-duplex configuration of the user equipment 110, the physical downlink control channel candidate may not be monitored on the overlapping symbol. Alternatively, in addition, if a conflict occurs with the subband full-duplex configuration of the user equipment 110 on any symbol occupied by the control resource set, then the physical downlink control channel monitoring may be disabled in the entire control resource set. Under the proposed solution, the meaning of "conflicting with the subband full-duplex configuration of the user equipment 110" may involve one of multiple conditions.

[0029] One condition may be that the sub-band full-duplex partition format does not match the sub-band full-duplex partition format configured for the user equipment 110 - as a new field - within the search space or within the control resource set configured with the search space. For example, in this case, examples of sub-band full-duplex partition formats may include: downlink only, uplink only, or [K resource blocks downlink, L resource blocks uplink, M resource blocks downlink] (where K, L, and M are each positive integers). The new field can configure at most one sub-band full-duplex partition. Alternatively, the new field can configure zero, one, or more sub-band full-duplex partitions.

[0030] Another condition may be that any subband in the subband full-duplex partition format does not match the subband configured for the user equipment 110 - as a new field - with the search space or with the control resource set configured with the search space. The new field may be configured with a maximum of one subband. Alternatively, the new field may be configured with zero, one or more subbands.

[0031] Another condition may be that for each specific physical downlink control channel candidate - in a symbol or in a control resource set - the physical downlink control channel candidate overlaps with any resource element configured as uplink, guard gap, guard interval or time slot format indication as Flexible.

[0032] According to a scheme proposed in the present disclosure, with respect to adaptive selection of control resource sets, each search space may be configured with one or more control resource sets, and a single control resource set may become active on each physical downlink control channel monitoring occasion configured by the search space configuration. Under the proposed scheme, a single control resource set may be configured and become active when all resource elements belonging to the control resource set are configured as downlink according to the time division multiplexing frame format and the subband full-duplex partition mode configured or signaled to the user equipment 110. Alternatively, or additionally, multiple control resource sets may be configured, and one of them may become active when all resource elements belonging to the control resource set are configured as downlink according to the time division multiplexing frame format and the subband full-duplex partition mode configured or signaled to the user equipment 110. For example, the conditions of all control resource sets may be verified in an arbitrary (depending on the implementation) order until one control resource set becomes active. As another example, the control resource sets may have the same duration. Alternatively, the control resource sets may have different durations. Furthermore, under the proposed scheme, if sub-band full-duplex partitioning is not defined in any slot / symbol occupied by a control resource set, a default control resource set may be activated.

[0033] According to a scheme proposed in the present disclosure, with respect to a flexible search space time slot mode, the search space can be configured as a single offset or a list of offsets corresponding to the same periodicity. For example, the parameter monitoringSlotPeriodicityAndOffset can adopt a sequence of offset parameter values. Alternatively, or additionally, a new field can be introduced to hold a bit pattern that can indicate a time slot pattern with a period length equal to the length of the bit pattern. When the parameter bitpattern is configured, it can override the parameter monitoringSlotPeriodicityAndOffset and the parameter duration. When the bit pattern is empty, the parameter monitoringSlotPeriodicityAndOffset and the parameter duration can take effect. Alternatively, or additionally, a new field can be introduced to hold a bit pattern that can indicate a time slot pattern with a period length equal to the length of the bit pattern. When the parameter bitpattern is configured, it can override the parameter monitoringSlotPeriodicityAndOffset. When the bit pattern is empty, the monitoringSlotPeriodicityAndOffset can take effect.

[0034] Exemplary Implementation

[0035] Figure 4An example communication system 400 is shown, which includes at least an example device 410 and an example device 420, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Each of the device 410 and the device 420 can perform various functions to implement the schemes, techniques, processes and methods described herein related to physical downlink control channel monitoring in a sub-band full-duplex network, including various schemes described above regarding various proposed designs, concepts, schemes, systems and methods, including the network environment 100, and the processes described below.

[0036] Each of the devices 410 and 420 may be part of an electronic device, which may be a network device or a user device (e.g., user device 110), such as a portable or mobile device, a wearable device, a vehicle device or a vehicle, a wireless communication device, or a computing device. For example, each of the devices 410 and 420 may be implemented in a smartphone, a smartwatch, a personal digital assistant, an electronic control unit (ECU) in a vehicle, a digital camera, or a computing device, such as a tablet, a laptop, or a notebook computer. Each of the devices 410 and 420 may also be part of a machine-type device, which may be an IoT device, such as a stationary or fixed device, a home device, a roadside unit (RSU), a wired communication device, or a computing device. For example, each of the devices 410 and 420 may be implemented in a smart thermostat, a smart refrigerator, a smart door lock, a wireless speaker, or a home control center. When implemented as a network device, the device 410 and / or the device 420 may be implemented in an eNodeB in an LTE, LTE-Advanced, or LTE-Advanced Pro network or in a gNB or TRP in a 5G network, an NR network, or an IoT network.

[0037] In some embodiments, each of the devices 410 and 420 may be implemented in the form of one or more integrated circuit (IC) chips, such as, but not limited to, one or more single-core processors, one or more multi-core processors, one or more complex instruction set computing (CISC) processors, or one or more reduced instruction set computing (RISC) processors. In the above various schemes, each of the devices 410 and 420 may be implemented as a network device or a user device. Each of the devices 410 and 420 may include Figure 4 At least some of the components shown in the figure, such as processor 412 and processor 422, for example. Device 410 and device 420 may also include one or more other components that are not related to the solution proposed in the present disclosure (for example, an internal power supply, a display device and / or a user interface device), so for the sake of brevity, these components of device 410 and device 420 are not shown in the figure. Figure 4 It is not shown in the figure and is not described below.

[0038] In one aspect, processor 412 and processor 422 can each be implemented in the form of one or more single-core processors, one or more multi-core processors, or one or more complex instruction set computers (CISC) or reduced instruction set computers (RISC) processors. That is, even if the singular term "a processor" is used here to refer to processor 412 and processor 422, according to the present disclosure, each processor 412 and processor 422 may include multiple processors in some embodiments and may include a single processor in other embodiments. In another aspect, each processor 412 and processor 422 can be implemented in the form of hardware (and, optionally, firmware), including electronic components, such as but not limited to one or more transistors, one or more diodes, one or more capacitors, one or more resistors, one or more inductors, one or more memristors and / or one or more variable capacitors, which are configured and arranged according to the specific purposes of the present disclosure. In other words, in at least some embodiments, each processor 412 and processor 422 is a special-purpose machine specially designed, arranged and configured to perform various embodiments of the present disclosure including specific tasks related to PDCCH monitoring in SBFD networks.

[0039] In some embodiments, the device 410 may also include a transceiver 416 connected to the processor 412. The transceiver 416 may be capable of wirelessly transmitting and receiving data. In some embodiments, the transceiver 416 may be capable of wirelessly communicating with different types of wireless networks of different radio access technologies (RATs). In some embodiments, the transceiver 416 may be equipped with multiple antenna ports (not shown), for example, four antenna ports. That is, the transceiver 416 may be equipped with multiple transmit antennas and multiple receive antennas for multiple input multiple output (MIMO) wireless communication. In some embodiments, the device 420 may also include a transceiver 426 connected to the processor 422. The transceiver 426 may include a transceiver capable of wirelessly transmitting and receiving data. In some embodiments, the transceiver 426 may be capable of wirelessly communicating with different types of user equipment / wireless networks of different RATs. In some embodiments, the transceiver 426 may be equipped with multiple antenna ports (not shown), for example, four antenna ports. That is, the transceiver 426 may be equipped with multiple transmit antennas and multiple receive antennas for MIMO wireless communication.

[0040] In some embodiments, the device 410 may also include a memory 414 connected to the processor 412 and accessible by the processor 412 and storing data therein. In some embodiments, the device 420 may also include a memory 424 connected to the processor 422 and accessible by the processor 422 and storing data therein. The memory 414 and the memory 424 may each include a random access memory (RAM) type, such as dynamic RAM (DRAM), static RAM (SRAM), thyristor RAM (T-RAM) and / or zero capacitance RAM (Z-RAM). Alternatively, the memory 414 and the memory 424 may each include a read-only memory (ROM) type, such as mask ROM, programmable ROM (PROM), erasable programmable ROM (EPROM) and / or electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM). Alternatively, the memory 414 and the memory 424 may each include a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) type, such as flash memory, solid-state memory, ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM), magnetoresistive RAM (MRAM) and / or phase change memory.

[0041] Each of the device 410 and the device 420 may be a communication entity capable of communicating with each other using various schemes proposed according to the present disclosure. For illustrative purposes and without limitation, a description of the capabilities of the device 410 as a user device (e.g., user device 110) and the device 420 as a network node (e.g., ground network node 125 or non-ground network node 128) of a network is provided below (e.g., network 130 as a 5G / NR mobile network).

[0042] Under various schemes related to PDCCH monitoring in an SBFD network proposed according to the present disclosure, a processor 412 of a device 410 as or implemented in a user equipment 110 may determine whether to disable PDCCH monitoring. Based on the result of the determination, the processor 412 may: (i) disable PDCCH monitoring through a transceiver 416 when a condition is met; or (ii) perform PDCCH monitoring through the transceiver 416.

[0043] In some embodiments, the condition may involve one or more symbols occupied by the CORESET that conflict with the SBFD configuration of the user equipment. In some embodiments, the conflict with the SBFD configuration of the user equipment may involve the SBFD partition format not matching the SBFD partition format configured in the search space or in the CORESET configured with the search space.

[0044] In some embodiments, the SBFD partition format may include DL only, UL only, or [K RBs DL, L RBs UL, MRBs DL], where K, L, and M are each positive integers. In some embodiments, the configured SBFD partition format may be configured as a new field containing at most one SBFD partition. Alternatively, the configured SBFD partition format may be configured as a new field containing at most zero, one, or more SBFD partitions.

[0045] In some embodiments, a conflict with the SBFD configuration of the user equipment may involve any subband in the SBFD partition format not matching the configured subbands configured in the search space or in the CORESET configured with the search space. In some embodiments, the configured SBFD partition format may be configured as a new field containing at most one subband. Alternatively, the configured SBFD partition format may be configured as a new field containing at most zero, one, or more subbands.

[0046] In some implementations, in response to performing physical downlink control channel monitoring, a physical downlink control channel candidate of the one or more physical downlink control channel candidates may overlap with a resource element configured as uplink or guard interval or guard interval or slot format indication as Flexible.

[0047] In some implementations, the condition may involve: (i) the user equipment is configured or dynamically signals a sub-band full-duplex partition mode on a group of symbols; and (ii) the user equipment is also configured to perform the physical downlink control channel monitoring on one or more symbols overlapping with the group of symbols. In addition, when disabling the physical downlink control channel monitoring, the processor 412 may disable the monitoring of one or more physical downlink control channel candidates on one or more overlapping symbols in response to a conflict between the sub-band full-duplex configuration of the user equipment and the one or more overlapping symbols.

[0048] In some implementations, when disabling physical downlink control channel monitoring, the processor 412 may disable physical downlink control channel monitoring in the entire control resource set in response to a conflict between one or more symbols occupied by the control resource set and the subband full-duplex configuration of the user equipment.

[0049] In some implementations, each of the one or more search spaces in a time slot may be configured with one or more control resource sets. In addition, a single control resource set of the one or more control resource sets may be active on each physical downlink control channel monitoring occasion configured by the search space.

[0050] In certain implementations, the single control resource set may be configured and become active when all resource elements belonging to the single control resource set are configured for downlink according to a time division multiplexing frame format and a sub-band full-duplex partitioning mode configured or signaled to the user equipment.

[0051] In some implementations, the one or more control resource sets may include multiple control resource sets, one of which is configured as the single control resource set, and becomes active when all resource elements belonging to the single control resource set are configured as downlink according to the time division multiplexing frame format and the subband full-duplex partition mode configured or signaled to the user equipment. In some implementations, the condition is verified in any order for all of the multiple control resource sets until one of the multiple control resource sets becomes active. In some implementations, the multiple control resource sets may have the same duration. Alternatively, the multiple control resource sets may have different durations.

[0052] In certain implementations, a default control resource set, which is a single control resource set, may be activated when no sub-band full-duplex partition is defined in any time slot or symbol occupied by one or more control resource sets.

[0053] In some implementations, each of the one or more search spaces in a time slot may be configured with a single offset or a list of offsets corresponding to the same periodicity.

[0054] Exemplary Implementation

[0055] Figure 5 An example process 500 is shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Process 500 may represent one aspect of implementing the various designs, concepts, schemes, systems, and methods presented above, whether in part or in whole, including those related to the above description. More specifically, process 500 may represent one aspect of the proposed concepts and schemes related to physical downlink control channel monitoring in a sub-band full-duplex network. Process 500 may include one or more operations, actions, or functions, as shown in one or more blocks 510, 520, and 530 of the figure. Although shown as discrete blocks, the various blocks of process 500 may be divided into additional blocks, combined into fewer blocks, or eliminated depending on the desired implementation. In addition, the blocks / sub-blocks of process 500 may be arranged in a manner that is consistent with the embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 55. The process 500 may be performed in the order shown, or may be performed in a different order. In addition, one or more blocks / sub-blocks of process 500 may be performed iteratively. Process 500 may be implemented by device 410 and device 420 and variants thereof. For illustrative purposes only and without limiting the scope, process 500 is described below in the context of device 410 as a user device (e.g., user device 110) and device 420 as a communication entity of a network, such as a network node or base station (e.g., ground network node 125 or non-ground network node 128) (e.g., network 130 as a 5G / NR mobile network). Process 500 may start from block 510.

[0056] At 510, process 500 may involve processor 412 of device 410 determining whether to disable physical downlink control channel monitoring. Based on the result of the determination, process 500 may continue from 510 to 520 or 530.

[0057] At 520, process 500 may involve processor 412 disabling, via transceiver 416, physical downlink control channel monitoring in response to a condition being satisfied.

[0058] At 530 , process 500 may involve processor 412 performing physical downlink control channel monitoring via transceiver 416 .

[0059] In some embodiments, the condition may involve one or more symbols occupied by the control resource set colliding with the subband full-duplex configuration of the user equipment. In some embodiments, the conflict with the subband full-duplex configuration of the user equipment may involve the subband full-duplex partition format not matching the configured subband full-duplex partition format, which is configured in the search space or in the control resource set configured with the search space.

[0060] In some embodiments, the sub-band full-duplex partition format may include downlink only, uplink only, or [K resource blocks downlink, L resource blocks uplink, M resource blocks downlink], where K, L, and M are each positive integers. In some embodiments, the configured sub-band full-duplex partition format may be configured as a new field containing at most one sub-band full-duplex partition. Alternatively, the configured sub-band full-duplex partition format may be configured as a new field containing at most zero, one, or more sub-band full-duplex partitions.

[0061] In some embodiments, a conflict with a subband full-duplex configuration of a user equipment may involve any subband in the subband full-duplex partition format not matching a configured subband configured within a search space or configured within a control resource set configured with a search space. In some embodiments, the configured subband full-duplex partition format may be configured as a new field containing at most one subband. Alternatively, the configured subband full-duplex partition format may be configured as a new field containing at most zero, one, or more subbands.

[0062] In certain embodiments, in response to physical downlink control channel monitoring being performed, one or more physical downlink control channel candidates being monitored may overlap with a resource element (RE) configured as uplink (UL) or guard gap or guard interval or slot format indication (SFI) as 'Flexible'.

[0063] In some embodiments, the condition may involve: (i) a user equipment (UE) being configured or dynamically signaling a sub-band full duplex (SBFD) partitioning mode on a set of symbols; and (ii) the user equipment is further configured to perform physical downlink control channel monitoring on one or more symbols overlapping the set of symbols. In addition, in the process of disabling physical downlink control channel monitoring, the process 500 may involve the processor 412 disabling monitoring of one or more physical downlink control channel candidates on one or more overlapping symbols in response to a conflict between the sub-band full duplex configuration of the user equipment and the one or more overlapping symbols.

[0064] In some embodiments, in the process of disabling physical downlink control channel monitoring, process 500 may involve processor 412 disabling physical downlink control channel monitoring in an entire control resource set (CORESET) in response to a conflict between one or more symbols occupied by the control resource set and a subband full-duplex configuration of the user equipment.

[0065] In some embodiments, each of the one or more search spaces in a time slot may be configured with one or more control resource sets. In addition, a single control resource set of the one or more control resource sets may be active on each physical downlink control channel monitoring occasion configured by the search space configuration.

[0066] In certain embodiments, a single control resource set may be configured and become active when all resource elements belonging to the single control resource set are configured for downlink (DL) according to a time division duplex (TDD) frame format and a sub-band full-duplex partitioning mode configured or signaled to a user equipment.

[0067] In some embodiments, the one or more control resource sets may include multiple control resource sets, one of which is configured as a single control resource set that becomes active when all resource elements belonging to the single control resource set are configured as downlink according to the time division multiplexing frame format and the sub-band full-duplex partitioning mode configured or signaled to the user equipment. In some embodiments, the condition may be verified for all multiple control resource sets in any order until one of the multiple control resource sets becomes active. In some embodiments, the multiple control resource sets may have the same duration. Alternatively, the multiple control resource sets may have different durations.

[0068] In certain embodiments, a default control resource set, which is a single control resource set, may be activated when no sub-band full-duplex partition is defined in any time slot or symbol occupied by one or more control resource sets.

[0069] In some embodiments, each of the one or more search spaces in a time slot may be configured with a single offset or a list of offsets corresponding to the same periodicity.

[0070] Additional Notes

[0071] The subject matter described herein sometimes shows different components contained within or connected to different other components. It should be understood that the architectures depicted in this way are only examples, and many other architectures can actually be implemented to achieve the same function. Conceptually, the arrangement of any components to achieve the same function is actually "associated" in order to achieve the desired function. Therefore, any two components combined here to achieve a specific function can be regarded as "associated" with each other in order to achieve the desired function, regardless of the architecture or intermediate components. Similarly, any two components associated in this way can also be regarded as "operably connected" or "operably coupled" to each other to achieve the desired function, and any two components that can be so associated can also be regarded as "operably coupled" to each other to achieve the desired function. Specific examples of operable coupling include, but are not limited to, components that can be physically matched and / or physically interacted and / or components that can be wirelessly interactive and / or wirelessly interactive and / or components that can interact logically and / or components that can interact logically.

[0072] Furthermore, with respect to virtually any plural and / or singular terms used herein, one having technical skill can translate from the plural to the singular and / or from the singular to the plural as appropriate to the context and / or application. Various singular / plural permutations may be expressly listed herein for clarity.

[0073] Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand that, in general, the terms used herein, particularly in the appended claims, such as in the body of the claims, are generally considered to be "open" terms, e.g., the word "comprising" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to," the word "having" should be interpreted as "having at least," the word "includes" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to," etc. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will also understand that if a specific number in an introduced claim recitation is intended, such intent will be explicitly stated in the claim, and in the absence of such a statement, such intent is absent. For example, to aid understanding, the following appended claims may contain the use of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be interpreted to mean that any particular claim that introduces a claim recitation by the indefinite article "a" or "an" is limited to implementations that include one such recitation, even if the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and an indefinite article such as "a" or "an," for example, "a" and / or "an" should be interpreted as "at least one" or "one or more"; the same is true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. Furthermore, even if a particular number in an introduced claim statement is explicitly stated, those skilled in the art will recognize that such a statement should be interpreted to include at least the stated number, e.g., merely stating "two statements," without other modifiers, means at least two statements, or two or more statements. Furthermore, where a convention similar to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is used, such construction is generally intended to be what one with technical skills in the art understands, e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" would include, but is not limited to, systems having only A, only B, only C, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and / or A, B, and C together, etc. Where a convention similar to "at least one of A, B, or C, etc." is used, such construction is generally intended to be what one with technical skills in the art understands, e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, or C" would include, but is not limited to, systems having only A, only B, only C, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and / or A, B, and C together, etc. Those skilled in the art will further understand that almost any disjunctive word and / or phrase in the description, claims, or drawings that presents two or more alternative terms should be understood to contemplate the possibility of including one, either, or both of the terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the possibility of "A" or "B" or "A and B".

[0074] As can be seen from the above, various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein for illustrative purposes, and various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Therefore, the various embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to be limiting, and the true scope and spirit are indicated by the following claims.

Claims

1. A method comprising: Determining, by a processor of the user equipment, whether to disable physical downlink control channel monitoring; as well as Based on the results of this determination, do one of the following: disabling, by the processor, monitoring of the physical downlink control channel when a condition is met; or The physical downlink control channel monitoring is performed by the processor. 2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the condition comprises that one or more symbols occupied by the control resource set conflict with a sub-band full-duplex configuration of the user equipment.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the conflict with the sub-band full-duplex configuration of the user equipment includes a sub-band full-duplex partition format that does not match a configured sub-band full-duplex partition format, and the configured sub-band full-duplex partition format is configured within a search space or in a control resource set configured with a search space.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the sub-band full-duplex partition format includes downlink only, uplink only, or [K resource blocks downlink, L resource blocks uplink, M resource blocks downlink], where K, L, and M are each positive integers. 5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the configured sub-band full-duplex partition format is configured as a new field, containing at most one sub-band full-duplex partition. 6 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the configured sub-band full-duplex partition format is configured as a new field, which contains at most zero, one or more sub-band full-duplex partitions.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the conflict with the subband full-duplex configuration of the user equipment comprises any subband in the subband full-duplex partition format not matching a configured subband, the configured subband being configured within a search space or in a control resource set with a search space.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the configured sub-band full-duplex partition format is configured as a new field, containing at most one sub-band.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the configured sub-band full-duplex partition format is configured as a new field, which contains at most zero, one or more sub-bands.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein: When performing the physical downlink control channel monitoring, a physical downlink control channel candidate among one or more physical downlink control channel candidates being monitored overlaps with a resource element configured as uplink or a guard gap or a guard interval or a slot format indication (SFI) as Flexible.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the condition comprises: The user equipment is configured or dynamically signaled a sub-band full-duplex partitioning mode over a group of symbols; as well as The user equipment is further configured to perform the physical downlink control channel monitoring on one or more symbols overlapping with the group of symbols, and The disabling of physical downlink control channel monitoring includes disabling monitoring of one or more physical downlink control channel candidates on one or more overlapping symbols in response to a conflict between the subband full-duplex configuration of the user equipment and the one or more overlapping symbols.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein: The disabling of physical downlink control channel monitoring includes disabling physical downlink control channel monitoring in the entire control resource set in response to a conflict between one or more symbols occupied by the control resource set and a subband full-duplex configuration of the user equipment.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the one or more search spaces in a time slot is configured with one or more control resource sets, and a single control resource set among the one or more control resource sets is active on the physical downlink control channel monitoring occasion configured by the search space.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the single control resource set is configured and becomes active when all resource elements belonging to the single control resource set are configured as downlink according to a time division multiplexing frame format and a sub-band full-duplex partitioning mode configured or signaled to the user equipment.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more control resource sets include multiple control resource sets, one of the control resource sets is configured as the single control resource set, and becomes active when all resource elements belonging to the single control resource set are configured as downlink according to a time division multiplexing frame format and a sub-band full-duplex partitioning mode configured or signaled to the user equipment.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the condition is verified for all of the plurality of control resource sets in any order until one of the plurality of control resource sets becomes active. The method of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of control resource sets have the same duration. The method of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of control resource sets have different durations.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein a default control resource set as a single control resource set is activated when sub-band full-duplex partitioning is not defined in any time slot or symbol occupied by one or more control resource sets.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more search spaces in a time slot is configured with a single offset or a list of offsets corresponding to the same periodicity.

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