Techniques for communicating with uplink-only cells

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communications. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) may transmit UE capability information indicating a capability of the UE to support communication with an uplink-only cell. The UE may receive, based on transmitting the UE capability information, configuration information corresponding to a carrier aggregation framework including the primary cell and an uplink only cell from a network node associated with the primary cell. The UE may transmit an uplink communication to a network node associated with the uplink-only cell based on the configuration information. Numerous other aspects are also described.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to wireless communications, and to techniques and apparatus for communicating with uplink-only cells. Background Art

[0002] Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide a variety of telecommunication services, such as telephony, video, data, messaging, and broadcasting. Typical wireless communication systems may employ multiple access technologies that can support communication with multiple users by sharing available system resources (e.g., bandwidth, transmit power, etc.). Examples of such multiple access technologies include code division multiple access (CDMA) systems, time division multiple access (TDMA) systems, frequency division multiple access (FDMA) systems, orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) systems, single carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) systems, time division synchronous code division multiple access (TD-SCDMA) systems, and long term evolution (LTE). LTE / LTE-Advanced is a set of enhancements to the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) mobile standard promulgated by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).

[0003] A wireless network may include one or more network nodes that support communications for wireless communication devices, such as user equipment (UE) or multiple UEs. A UE may communicate with a network node via downlink communications and uplink communications. A "downlink" (or "DL") refers to a communication link from a network node to a UE, and an "uplink" (or "UL") refers to a communication link from a UE to a network node. Some wireless networks may support device-to-device communications, such as via a local link (e.g., a side link (SL), a wireless local area network (WLAN) link, and / or a wireless personal area network (WPAN) link, among other examples).

[0004] These multiple access technologies have been adopted in various telecommunication standards to provide a common protocol that enables different UEs to communicate at a city, country, region, or global level. New Radio (NR), which may also be referred to as 5G, is a set of enhancements to the LTE mobile standard promulgated by 3GPP. NR is designed to better support mobile broadband Internet access by using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) (CP-OFDM) with a cyclic prefix (CP) on the downlink, using CP-OFDM or single carrier frequency division multiplexing (SC-FDM) (also known as discrete Fourier transform spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) on the uplink, and supporting beamforming, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna technology, and carrier aggregation to improve spectrum efficiency, reduce costs, improve services, utilize new spectrum, and better integrate with other open standards. Summary of the invention

[0005] Some aspects described herein relate to a method of wireless communication performed by a user equipment (UE). The method may include sending UE capability information indicating the ability of the UE to support communication with an uplink-only cell. The method may include: receiving configuration information corresponding to a carrier aggregation framework including the primary cell and the uplink-only cell from a network node associated with a primary cell based on sending the UE capability information. The method may include: sending an uplink communication to a network node associated with the uplink-only cell based on the configuration information.

[0006] Some aspects described herein relate to a method of wireless communication performed by a network node. The method may include receiving UE capability information indicating a capability of the UE to support communication with an uplink-only cell, wherein the network node is associated with a primary cell. The method may include sending configuration information corresponding to a carrier aggregation framework including the primary cell and the uplink-only cell based on receiving the UE capability information.

[0007] Some aspects described herein relate to a UE for wireless communication. The UE may include a memory and one or more processors coupled to the memory. The one or more processors may be configured to: send UE capability information indicating the UE's ability to support communication with an uplink-only cell. The one or more processors may be configured to: receive configuration information corresponding to a carrier aggregation framework including a primary cell and an uplink-only cell from a network node associated with a primary cell based on sending the UE capability information. The one or more processors may be configured to: send an uplink communication to a network node associated with the uplink-only cell based on the configuration information.

[0008] Some aspects described herein relate to a network node for wireless communications. The network node may include a memory; and one or more processors coupled to the memory. The one or more processors may be configured to: receive UE capability information indicating a capability of the UE to support communications with an uplink-only cell, wherein the network node is associated with a primary cell. The one or more processors may be configured to: send configuration information corresponding to a carrier aggregation framework including the primary cell and the uplink-only cell based on receiving the UE capability information.

[0009] Some aspects described herein relate to a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing an instruction set for wireless communication by a UE. When executed by one or more processors of the UE, the instruction set may cause the UE to: send UE capability information indicating that the UE supports the ability to communicate with an uplink-only cell. When executed by one or more processors of the UE, the instruction set may cause the UE to: receive configuration information corresponding to a carrier aggregation framework including a primary cell and an uplink-only cell from a network node associated with a primary cell based on sending the UE capability information. When executed by one or more processors of the UE, the instruction set may cause the UE to: send uplink communications to a network node associated with an uplink-only cell based on the configuration information.

[0010] Some aspects described herein relate to a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions for wireless communication by a network node. When executed by one or more processors of the network node, the set of instructions may cause the network node to: receive UE capability information indicating that the UE supports the ability to communicate with an uplink-only cell, wherein the network node is associated with a primary cell. When executed by one or more processors of the network node, the set of instructions may cause the network node to: send configuration information corresponding to a carrier aggregation framework including a primary cell and an uplink-only cell based on receiving the UE capability information.

[0011] Some aspects described herein relate to an apparatus for wireless communication. The apparatus may include: means for sending UE capability information indicating the apparatus's ability to support communications with an uplink-only cell. The apparatus may include means for receiving, from a network node associated with a primary cell based on sending the UE capability information, configuration information corresponding to a carrier aggregation framework including the primary cell and an uplink-only cell. The apparatus may include means for sending an uplink communication to a network node associated with the uplink-only cell based on the configuration information.

[0012] Some aspects described herein relate to an apparatus for wireless communication. The apparatus may include means for receiving UE capability information indicating an ability of the UE to support communication with an uplink-only cell, wherein the apparatus is associated with a primary cell. The apparatus may include means for sending configuration information corresponding to a carrier aggregation framework including the primary cell and the uplink-only cell based on receiving the UE capability information.

[0013] The various aspects generally include methods, apparatus, systems, computer program products, non-transitory computer-readable media, user equipment, base stations, network entities, network nodes, wireless communication devices and / or processing systems as fully described herein with reference to the drawings and description and as illustrated in the drawings and description.

[0014] The features and technical advantages of examples according to the present disclosure have been outlined quite extensively above so that the following specific embodiments may be better understood. Additional features and advantages will be described below. The disclosed concepts and specific examples may be easily used as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for achieving the same purpose of the present disclosure. Such equivalent constructions do not depart from the scope of the appended claims. When considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the characteristics of the concepts disclosed herein (both their organization and methods of operation) and the associated advantages will be better understood according to the following description. Each of the figures in the accompanying drawings is provided for the purpose of illustration and description, and not as a definition of the limitations of the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] In order to fully understand the above-mentioned features of the present disclosure, a more specific description of the invention briefly summarized above can be obtained by referring to various aspects (some of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings). However, it should be noted that the accompanying drawings only illustrate certain typical aspects of the present disclosure and are therefore not to be considered as limiting the scope thereof, as the specification may admit of other equally effective aspects. The same reference numerals in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements.

[0016] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless network according to the present disclosure.

[0017] Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of communication between a network node and a user equipment (UE) in a wireless network according to the present disclosure.

[0018] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating an example decomposed base station architecture according to the present disclosure.

[0019] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of communicating with an uplink-only cell according to the present disclosure.

[0020] Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating an example process performed, for example, by a UE according to the present disclosure.

[0021] Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating an example process, for example, performed by a network node, according to the present disclosure.

[0022] Figure 7 is a diagram of an example apparatus for wireless communications according to the present disclosure.

[0023] Figure 8 is a diagram of an example apparatus for wireless communications according to the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The various aspects of the present disclosure are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure can be embodied in many different forms, and should not be construed as being limited to any specific structure or function presented throughout the present disclosure. Instead, these aspects are provided so that the present disclosure will be thorough and complete, and the protection scope of the present disclosure will be fully conveyed to those skilled in the art. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the scope of the present disclosure is intended to cover any aspect of the present disclosure disclosed herein, whether it is implemented independently or in combination with any other aspect of the present disclosure. For example, any number of aspects set forth herein may be used to implement a device or practice method. In addition, the scope of the present disclosure is intended to cover such devices or methods implemented using other structures, functionality, or structures and functionality in addition to or different from the various aspects of the disclosure set forth herein. It should be understood that any aspect of the disclosure disclosed herein may be embodied by one or more elements of the present invention.

[0025] Several aspects of telecommunication systems will now be presented with reference to various devices and techniques. These devices and techniques will be described in the following detailed description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings by various blocks, modules, components, circuits, steps, processes, algorithms, etc. (collectively referred to as "elements"). These elements can be implemented using hardware, software, or a combination thereof. Whether these elements are implemented as hardware or software depends on the specific application and the design constraints imposed on the overall system.

[0026] Although various aspects may be described herein using terms generally associated with 5G or new radio (NR) radio access technology (RAT), various aspects of the present disclosure may be applicable to other RATs, such as 3G RAT, 4G RAT and / or RATs beyond 5G (e.g., 6G).

[0027] Figure 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless network 100 according to the present disclosure. The wireless network 100 may be a 5G (e.g., NR) network or a 4G (e.g., Long Term Evolution (LTE)) network, or may include elements of a 5G (e.g., NR) network or elements of a 4G (e.g., Long Term Evolution (LTE)) network, etc. The wireless network 100 may include one or more network nodes 110 (shown as network node 110a, network node 110b, network node 110c, and network node 110d), user equipment (UE) 120 or multiple UEs 120 (shown as UE 120a, UE 120b, UE 120c, UE 120d, and UE 120e), or other entities. The network node 110 is an example of a network node communicating with the UE 120. As shown in the figure, the network node 110 may include one or more network nodes. For example, the network node 110 may be a converged network node, which means that the converged network node is configured to utilize a radio protocol stack that is physically or logically integrated within a single RAN node (e.g., within a single device or unit). As another example, the network node 110 may be a disaggregated network node (sometimes referred to as a disaggregated base station), which means that the network node 110 is configured to utilize a protocol stack that is physically or logically distributed between two or more nodes (such as one or more central units (CUs), one or more distributed units (DUs), or one or more radio units (RUs)).

[0028] In some examples, the network node 110 is or includes a network node that communicates with the UE 120 via a radio access link, such as an RU. In some examples, the network node 110 is or includes a network node that communicates with other network nodes 110 via a fronthaul link or a midhaul link, such as a DU. In some examples, the network node 110 is or includes a network node that communicates with other network nodes 110 via a midhaul link or communicates with the core network via a backhaul link, such as a CU. In some examples, the network node 110 (such as an aggregated network node 110 or a decomposed network node 110) may include multiple network nodes, such as one or more RUs, one or more CUs, and / or one or more DUs. For example, the network node 110 may include an NR base station, an LTE base station, a Node B, an eNB (e.g., in 4G), a gNB (e.g., in 5G), an access point, a transmit receive point (TRP), a DU, a RU, a CU, a mobility element of a network, a core network node, a network element, a network equipment, a RAN node, or a combination thereof. In some examples, network nodes 110 may be interconnected to each other or to one or more other network nodes 110 in wireless network 100 via various types of fronthaul, midhaul, and / or backhaul interfaces (such as direct physical connections, air interfaces, or virtual networks) using any suitable transport network.

[0029] In some examples, the network node 110 may provide communication coverage for a particular geographic area. In the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the term "cell" may refer to the coverage area of ​​the network node 110 or a network node subsystem serving the coverage area, depending on the context in which the term is used. The network node 110 may provide communication coverage for a macro cell, a pico cell, a femto cell, or another type of cell. A macro cell may cover a relatively large geographic area (e.g., a radius of several thousand meters) and may allow unrestricted access by a UE 120 with a service subscription. A pico cell may cover a relatively small geographic area and may allow unrestricted access by a UE 120 with a service subscription. A femto cell may cover a relatively small geographic area (e.g., a residence) and may allow restricted access by a UE 120 associated with the femto cell (e.g., a UE 120 in a closed subscriber group (CSG)). A network node 110 for a macro cell may be referred to as a macro network node. A network node 110 for a pico cell may be referred to as a pico network node. The network node 110 for a femto cell may be referred to as a femto network node or a home network node. Figure 1 In the example shown in , network node 110a may be a macro network node for macro cell 102a, network node 110b may be a pico network node for pico cell 102b, and network node 110c may be a femto network node for femto cell 102c. A network node may support one or more (e.g., three) cells. In some examples, a cell may not necessarily be stationary, and the geographic area of ​​a cell may move depending on the location of a mobile network node 110 (e.g., a mobile network node).

[0030] In some aspects, the term "base station" or "network node" may refer to an aggregated base station, a decomposed base station, an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node, a relay node, or one or more components thereof. For example, in some aspects, a "base station" or "network node" may refer to a CU, a DU, a RU, a near real-time (near RT) RAN intelligent controller (RIC), or a non-real-time (non-RT) RIC, or a combination thereof. In some aspects, the term "base station" or "network node" may refer to a device configured to perform one or more functions (such as those described herein in conjunction with network node 110). In some aspects, the term "base station" or "network node" may refer to a plurality of devices configured to perform one or more functions. For example, in some distributed systems, each of a certain number of different devices (which may be located in the same geographic location or in different geographic locations) may be configured to perform at least a portion of a function, or to repeat the execution of at least a portion of the function, and the term "base station" or "network node" may refer to any one or more of these different devices. In some aspects, the term "base station" or "network node" may refer to one or more virtual base stations or one or more virtual base station functions. For example, in some aspects, two or more base station functions may be instantiated on a single device. In some aspects, the term "base station" or "network node" may refer to one of the base station functions but not the other. In this way, a single device may include more than one base station.

[0031] The wireless network 100 may include one or more relay stations. A relay station is a network node that receives transmissions of data from an upstream node (e.g., a network node 110 or a UE 120) and transmits transmissions of data to a downstream node (e.g., a UE 120 or a network node 110). A relay station may be a UE 120 that is capable of relaying transmissions for other UEs 120. Figure 1 In the example shown, a network node 110d (e.g., a relay network node) may communicate with a network node 110a (e.g., a macro network node) and a UE 120d to facilitate communications between the network node 110a and the UE 120d. A network node 110 that relays communications may be referred to as a relay station, a relay base station, a relay network node, a relay node, or a relay, among others.

[0032] The wireless network 100 may be a heterogeneous network that includes different types of network nodes 110, such as macro network nodes, pico network nodes, femto network nodes, or relay network nodes. These different types of network nodes 110 may have different transmit power levels, different coverage areas, or different effects on interference in the wireless network 100. For example, a macro network node may have a high transmit power level (e.g., 5 watts to 40 watts), while a pico network node, a femto network node, and a relay network node may have a lower transmit power level (e.g., 0.1 watt to 2 watts).

[0033] The network controller 130 may be coupled to or in communication with a set of network nodes 110 and may provide coordination and control for the network nodes 110. The network controller 130 may communicate with the network nodes 110 via a backhaul communication link or a midhaul communication link. The network nodes 110 may also communicate directly with each other or indirectly via a wireless backhaul communication link or a wired backhaul communication link. In some aspects, the network controller 130 may be or may include a CU or a core network device.

[0034] UE 120 may be dispersed throughout the wireless network 100, and each UE 120 may be stationary or mobile. UE 120 may include, for example, an access terminal, a terminal, a mobile station, or a subscriber unit. UE 120 may be a cellular phone (e.g., a smart phone), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless modem, a wireless communication device, a handheld device, a laptop computer, a cordless phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a tablet device, a camera, a gaming device, a netbook, a smartbook, an ultrabook, a medical device, a biometric device, a wearable device (e.g., a smart watch, smart clothing, smart glasses, a smart wristband, smart jewelry (e.g., a smart ring or a smart bracelet)), an entertainment device (e.g., a music device, a video device, or a satellite radio), an in-vehicle component or sensor, a smart meter / sensor, an industrial manufacturing equipment, a global positioning system device, a UE function of a network node, or any other suitable device configured to communicate via a wireless or wired medium.

[0035] Some UEs 120 may be considered as machine type communication (MTC) or evolved or enhanced machine type communication (eMTC) UEs. MTC UEs or eMTC UEs may include, for example, robots, drones, remote devices, sensors, meters, monitors, or location tags, which may communicate with a network node, another device (e.g., a remote device), or some other entity. Some UEs 120 may be considered as Internet of Things (IoT) devices, or may be implemented as NB-IoT (narrowband IoT) devices. Some UEs 120 may be considered as customer premises equipment. UE 120 may be included inside a housing that houses components of UE 120, such as a processor component or a memory component. In some examples, the processor component and the memory component may be coupled together. For example, a processor component (e.g., one or more processors) and a memory component (e.g., a memory) may be operably coupled, communicatively coupled, electronically coupled, or electrically coupled.

[0036] Generally speaking, any number of wireless networks 100 may be deployed in a given geographic area. Each wireless network 100 may support a specific RAT and may operate on one or more frequencies. RAT may also be referred to as a radio technology or air interface. Frequency may also be referred to as a carrier or frequency channel. Each frequency may support a single RAT in a given geographic area to avoid interference between wireless networks of different RATs. In some cases, NR or 5G RAT networks may be deployed.

[0037] In some examples, two or more UEs 120 (e.g., shown as UE 120a and UE 120e) may communicate directly using one or more sidelink channels (e.g., without using network node 110 as an intermediary to communicate with each other). For example, UE 120 may communicate using peer-to-peer (P2P) communication, device-to-device (D2D) communication, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) protocols (e.g., which may include vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) protocols, vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) protocols, or vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) protocols), or mesh networks. In such examples, UE 120 may perform scheduling operations, resource selection operations, or other operations described elsewhere herein as being performed by network node 110.

[0038] Devices of the wireless network 100 may communicate using an electromagnetic spectrum, which may be subdivided into various categories, bands, or channels by frequency or wavelength. For example, devices of the wireless network 100 may communicate using one or more operating bands. In 5G NR, two initial operating bands have been identified as frequency ranges designated FR1 (410 MHz to 7.125 GHz) and FR2 (24.25 GHz to 52.6 GHz). Although a portion of FR1 is greater than 6 GHz, FR1 is often (interchangeably) referred to as the “below 6 GHz” band in various documents and articles. Similar naming issues sometimes occur with respect to FR2, which is often (interchangeably) referred to as the “millimeter wave” band in documents and articles, although different from the extremely high frequency (EHF) band (30 GHz to 300 GHz) identified as the “millimeter wave” band by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

[0039] Frequencies between FR1 and FR2 are generally referred to as mid-band frequencies. Recent 5G NR research has identified the operating bands for these mid-band frequencies as frequency range designation FR3 (7.125GHz to 24.25GHz). The bands falling within FR3 can inherit FR1 characteristics or FR2 characteristics, and thus the features of FR1 or FR2 can be effectively extended to mid-band frequencies. In addition, higher frequency bands are currently being explored to extend 5G NR operations to more than 52.6GHz. For example, three higher operating bands have been identified as frequency range designations FR4a or FR4-1 (52.6GHz to 71GHz), FR4 (52.6GHz to 114.25GHz) and FR5 (114.25GHz to 300GHz). Each of these higher frequency bands falls within the EHF band.

[0040] With these examples in mind, unless otherwise specifically stated, if the term "sub-6 GHz" is used herein, it may broadly refer to frequencies that may be less than 6 GHz, frequencies that may be within FR1, or frequencies that may include mid-band frequencies. Additionally, unless otherwise specifically stated, if the term "millimeter wave" is used herein, it may broadly refer to frequencies that may include mid-band frequencies, frequencies that may be within FR2, FR4, FR4-a, FR4-1, or FR5, or frequencies that may be within the EHF band. It is contemplated that the frequencies included in these operating bands (e.g., FR1, FR2, FR3, FR4, FR4-a, FR4-1, or FR5) may be modified, and the techniques described herein are applicable to those modified frequency ranges.

[0041] In some aspects, UE 120 may include a communication manager 140. As described in more detail elsewhere herein, the communication manager 140 may send UE capability information indicating the UE's ability to support communications with an uplink-only cell; receive configuration information corresponding to a carrier aggregation framework including the primary cell and the uplink-only cell from a network node associated with the primary cell based on sending the UE capability information; and send uplink communications to the network node associated with the uplink-only cell based on the configuration information. Additionally or alternatively, the communication manager 140 may perform one or more other operations described herein.

[0042] In some aspects, the network node 110 may include a communication manager 150. As described in more detail elsewhere herein, the communication manager 150 may receive UE capability information indicating the ability of the UE to support communication with an uplink-only cell, wherein the network node is associated with a primary cell; and send configuration information corresponding to a carrier aggregation framework including the primary cell and the uplink-only cell based on receiving the UE capability information. Additionally or alternatively, the communication manager 150 may perform one or more other operations described herein.

[0043] As indicated above, Figure 1 are provided as examples. Other examples can be found in the Figure 1 The examples described are different.

[0044] Figure 2 2 is a diagram illustrating an example 200 of a network node 110 communicating with a UE 120 in a wireless network 100 according to the present disclosure. The network node 110 may be equipped with a set of antennas 234a to 234t, such as T antennas (T≥1). The UE 120 may be equipped with a set of antennas 252a to 252r, such as R antennas (R≥1). The network node 110 of example 200 includes one or more radio frequency components, such as an antenna 234 and a modem 254. In some examples, the network node 110 may include an interface, a communication component, or another component that facilitates communication with the UE 120 or another network node. Some network nodes 110 may not include a radio frequency component that facilitates direct communication with the UE 120, such as one or more CUs or one or more DUs.

[0045] At the network node 110, the transmit processor 220 may receive data intended for the UE 120 (or a set of UEs 120) from the data source 212. The transmit processor 220 may use one or more channel quality indicators (CQIs) received from the UE 120 to select one or more modulation and coding schemes (MCSs) for the UE 120. The network node 110 may process (e.g., encode and modulate) the data for the UE 120 using the MCS selected for the UE 120 and may provide data symbols to the UE 120. The transmit processor 220 may process system information (e.g., for semi-static resource partitioning information (SRPI)) and control information (e.g., CQI requests, grants, or upper layer signaling) and provide overhead symbols and control symbols. The transmit processor 220 may generate reference symbols for reference signals (e.g., cell-specific reference signals (CRS) or demodulation reference signals (DMRS)) and synchronization signals (e.g., primary synchronization signals (PSS) or secondary synchronization signals (SSS)). The transmit (TX) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) processor 230 may perform spatial processing (e.g., pre-coding) on ​​data symbols, control symbols, overhead symbols, or reference symbols, where applicable, and may provide a set of output symbol streams (e.g., T output symbol streams) to a corresponding set of modems 232 (e.g., T modems) (shown as modems 232a to 232t). For example, each output symbol stream may be provided to a modulator component (shown as MOD) of the modem 232. Each modem 232 may process a corresponding output symbol stream (e.g., for OFDM) using a corresponding modulator component to obtain an output sample stream. Each modem 232 may also process (e.g., convert to analog, amplify, filter, or up-convert) the output sample stream using a corresponding modulator component to obtain a downlink signal. The modems 232a to 232t may transmit a set of downlink signals (e.g., T downlink signals) via a corresponding set of antennas 234 (e.g., T antennas) (shown as antennas 234a to 234t).

[0046] At the UE 120, a set of antennas 252 (shown as antennas 252a to 252r) may receive downlink signals from the network node 110 or other network nodes 110, and may provide a set of received signals (e.g., R received signals) to a set of modems 254 (e.g., R modems) (shown as modems 254a to 254r). For example, each received signal may be provided to a demodulator component (shown as DEMOD) of the modem 254. Each modem 254 may use a corresponding demodulator component to condition (e.g., filter, amplify, downconvert, or digitize) the received signal to obtain input samples. Each modem 254 may use a demodulator component to further process the input samples (e.g., for OFDM) to obtain received symbols. A MIMO detector 256 may obtain received symbols from the modem 254, may perform MIMO detection on the received symbols where applicable, and may provide detected symbols. The receive processor 258 may process (e.g., demodulate and decode) the detected symbols, may provide decoded data for the UE 120 to the data sink 260, and may provide decoded control information and system information to the controller / processor 280. The term "controller / processor" may refer to one or more controllers, one or more processors, or a combination thereof. The channel processor may determine a reference signal received power (RSRP) parameter, a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) parameter, a reference signal received quality (RSRQ) parameter, or a CQI parameter, among other things. In some examples, one or more components of the UE 120 may be included in the housing 284.

[0047] The network controller 130 may include a communication unit 294, a controller / processor 290, and a memory 292. The network controller 130 may include, for example, one or more devices in a core network. The network controller 130 may communicate with the network node 110 via the communication unit 294.

[0048] One or more antennas (e.g., antennas 234a to 234t or antennas 252a to 252r) may include or may be included in one or more antenna panels, one or more antenna groups, one or more antenna element sets, or one or more antenna arrays, etc. An antenna panel, antenna group, antenna element set, or antenna array may include one or more antenna elements (in a single housing or multiple housings), a coplanar antenna element set, a non-coplanar antenna element set, or coupled to one or more transmit or receive components (such as Figure 2 One or more antenna elements of one or more components).

[0049] Each of the antenna elements may include one or more sub-elements for radiating or receiving radio frequency signals. For example, a single antenna element may include a first sub-element that is cross-polarized with a second sub-element, which can be used to independently transmit cross-polarized signals. The antenna elements may include patch antennas, dipole antennas, or other types of antennas arranged in a linear pattern, a two-dimensional pattern, or another pattern. The spacing between antenna elements may allow signals having a desired wavelength transmitted individually by the antenna elements to interact or interfere (e.g., to form a desired beam). For example, given a desired wavelength or frequency range, the spacing may provide a quarter wavelength, half wavelength, or other fraction of a wavelength of the spacing between adjacent antenna elements to allow interaction or interference of signals transmitted by individual antenna elements within the desired range.

[0050] Antenna elements and / or sub-elements may be used to generate beams. A "beam" may refer to a directional transmission, such as a wireless signal transmitted in the direction of a receiving device. A beam may include a directional signal, a direction associated with the signal, a set of directional resources associated with the signal (e.g., angle of arrival, horizontal direction, vertical direction), and / or a set of parameters indicating one or more aspects of a directional signal, a direction associated with the signal, and / or a set of directional resources associated with the signal.

[0051] As indicated above, antenna elements and / or sub-elements can be used to generate beams. For example, antenna elements can be individually selected or deselected for transmission of a signal (or multiple signals) by controlling the amplitude of one or more corresponding amplifiers. Beamforming includes generating beams using multiple signals on different antenna elements, wherein one or more or all of the multiple signals are shifted in phase relative to each other. The formed beams may carry physical or higher layer reference signals or information. When each of the multiple signals is radiated from the corresponding antenna element, the radiated signals interact, interfere (constructively and destructively) and amplify with each other to form the resulting beam. The shape (such as amplitude, width and / or the presence of side lobes) and direction (such as the angle of the beam relative to the surface of the antenna array) can be dynamically controlled by modifying the phase shift or phase offset of the multiple signals relative to each other.

[0052] Beamforming may be used for communication between a UE and a base station, such as for millimeter wave communication, etc. In this case, the base station may provide the UE with a configuration of a transmit configuration indicator (TCI) state, which respectively indicates beams that may be used by the UE, such as for receiving a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH). The base station may indicate an activated TCI state to the UE, and the UE may use the activated TCI state to select a beam for receiving the PDSCH.

[0053] The beam indication may be or include a TCI state information element, a beam identifier (ID), spatial relationship information, a TCI state ID, a closed loop index, a panel ID, a TRP ID, and / or a sounding reference signal (SRS) set ID, etc. The TCI state information element (referred to herein as TCI state) may indicate information associated with a beam such as a downlink beam. For example, the TCI state information element may indicate a TCI state identifier (e.g., tci-StateID), a quasi-co-location (QCL) type (e.g., qcl-Type1, qcl-Type2, qcl-TypeA, qcl-TypeB, qcl-TypeC, qcl-TypeD, etc.), a cell identifier (e.g., ServCellIndex), a bandwidth part identifier (bwp-Id), a reference signal identifier (such as CSI-RS (e.g., NZP-CSI-RS-ResourceId, SSB-Index, etc.)), etc. The spatial relationship information may similarly indicate information associated with an uplink beam.

[0054] The beam indication may be a joint or separate downlink (DL) / uplink (UL) beam indication in a unified TCI framework. In some cases, the network may use at least UE-specific (unicast) downlink control information (DCI) to indicate a joint or separate DL / UL beam indication from an active TCI state, thereby supporting beam indication based on layer 1 (L1). In some cases, existing DCI formats 1_1 and / or 1_2 may be reused for beam indication. The network may include a support mechanism for the UE to confirm successful decoding of the beam indication. For example, an acknowledgment / negative acknowledgment (ACK / NACK) of a PDSCH scheduled by a DCI carrying a beam indication may also be used as an ACK for the DCI.

[0055] Beam indication may be provided for carrier aggregation (CA) scenarios. In a unified TCI framework, the network may support common TCI state ID updates and activations to provide common QCL information and / or one or more common UL transmit spatial filters across a set of configured component carriers (CCs). This type of beam indication may be applicable to intra-band CA as well as joint DL / UL beam indication and separate DL / UL beam indication. A common TCI state ID may mean that a reference signal (RS) determined according to a TCI state indicated by a common TCI state ID is used to provide a QCL type D indication and determine a UL transmit spatial filter across a set of configured CCs.

[0056] On the uplink, at the UE 120, a transmit processor 264 may receive and process data from a data source 262 and control information from a controller / processor 280 (e.g., for reports including RSRP, RSSI, RSRQ, or CQI). The transmit processor 264 may generate reference symbols for one or more reference signals. The symbols from the transmit processor 264 may be pre-decoded by a TX MIMO processor 266, where applicable, further processed by a modem 254 (e.g., for DFT-s-OFDM or CP-OFDM), and sent to the network node 110. In some examples, the modem 254 of the UE 120 may include a modulator and a demodulator. In some examples, the UE 120 includes a transceiver. The transceiver may include any combination of an antenna 252, a modem 254, a MIMO detector 256, a receive processor 258, a transmit processor 264, or a TX MIMO processor 266. The transceiver may be used by a processor (e.g., the controller / processor 280) and a memory 282 to perform operations described herein (e.g., reference 1). Figures 4 to 8 )Aspects of any of the processes described in the present invention.

[0057] At the network node 110, uplink signals from the UE 120 or other UEs may be received by the antenna 234, processed by the modem 232 (e.g., a demodulator component of the modem 232, shown as DEMOD), detected by the MIMO detector 236 where applicable, and further processed by the receive processor 238 to obtain decoded data and control information transmitted via the UE 120. The receive processor 238 may provide the decoded data to the data sink 239 and provide the decoded control information to the controller / processor 240. The network node 110 may include a communication unit 244 and may communicate with the network controller 130 via the communication unit 244. The network node 110 may include a scheduler 246 to schedule one or more UEs 120 for downlink or uplink communication. In some examples, the modem 232 of the network node 110 may include a modulator and a demodulator. In some examples, the network node 110 includes a transceiver. The transceiver may include any combination of antenna 234, modem 232, MIMO detector 236, receive processor 238, transmit processor 220, or TX MIMO processor 230. The transceiver may be used by a processor (e.g., controller / processor 240) and memory 242 to perform aspects of any of the processes described herein (e.g., reference 200 to FIG. 1 ). Figures 4 to 8 ).

[0058] In some aspects, the controller / processor 280 may be a component of a processing system. A processing system may generally be a system or series of machines or components that receives inputs and processes the inputs to produce a set of outputs that may be communicated to other systems or components, such as the UE 120. For example, the processing system of the UE 120 may be a system that includes various other components or subcomponents of the UE 120.

[0059] The processing system of UE 120 may interface with one or more other components of UE 120, may process information (such as input or signal) received from one or more other components, or may output information to one or more other components. For example, a chip or modem of UE 120 may include: a processing system, a first interface for receiving or obtaining information, and a second interface for outputting, sending, or providing information. In some examples, the first interface may be an interface between a processing system and a receiver of the chip or modem, so that UE 120 may receive information or signal input, and may pass information to the processing system. In some examples, the second interface may be an interface between a processing system and a transmitter of the chip or modem, so that UE 120 may send information output from the chip or modem. A person of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the second interface may also obtain or receive information or signal input, and the first interface may also output, send, or provide information.

[0060] In some aspects, controller / processor 240 may be a component of a processing system. A processing system may generally be a system or series of machines or components that receives inputs and processes the inputs to produce a set of outputs that may be passed to other systems or components, such as network node 110. For example, a processing system of network node 110 may be a system that includes various other components or subcomponents of network node 110.

[0061] The processing system of the network node 110 may interface with one or more other components of the network node 110, may process information (such as input or signal) received from one or more other components, or may output information to one or more other components. For example, a chip or modem of the network node 110 may include: a processing system, a first interface for receiving or obtaining information, and a second interface for outputting, sending, or providing information. In some examples, the first interface may be an interface between a processing system and a receiver of the chip or modem, so that the network node 110 may receive information or signal input, and may pass information to the processing system. In some examples, the second interface may be an interface between a processing system and a transmitter of the chip or modem, so that the network node 110 may send information output from the chip or modem. A person of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the second interface may also obtain or receive information or signal input, and the first interface may also output, send, or provide information.

[0062] The controller / processor 240 of the network node 110, the controller / processor 280 of the UE 120, or Figure 2 Any other component in the UE 120 may perform one or more techniques associated with communicating with an uplink-only cell, as described in more detail elsewhere herein. For example, the controller / processor 240 of the network node 110, the controller / processor 280 of the UE 120, or Figure 2 Any other component (or combination of components) may perform or direct, for example Figure 5 The process of 500 Figure 6 600 and / or operations of other processes as described herein. Memory 242 and memory 282 may store data and program codes for network node 110 and UE 120, respectively. In some examples, memory 242 and memory 282 may include non-transitory computer-readable media storing one or more instructions (e.g., code or program code) for wireless communication. For example, the one or more instructions, when executed by one or more processors of network node 110 or UE 120 (e.g., directly, or after compilation, conversion, or interpretation), may cause the one or more processors, UE 120, or network node 110 to perform or direct, for example, Figure 5 The process of 500 Figure 6 The process 600 and / or operations of other processes as described herein. In some examples, executing instructions may include running instructions, converting instructions, compiling instructions, and / or interpreting instructions, etc.

[0063] In some aspects, the UE 120 includes: a component for sending UE capability information indicating that the UE supports the ability to communicate with an uplink-only cell; a component for receiving configuration information corresponding to a carrier aggregation framework including the primary cell and the uplink-only cell from a network node associated with the primary cell based on sending the UE capability information; and / or a component for sending uplink communications to a network node associated with the uplink-only cell based on the configuration information. The components for the UE 120 to perform the operations described herein may include, for example, one or more of the communication manager 140, the antenna 252, the modem 254, the MIMO detector 256, the receive processor 258, the transmit processor 264, the TX MIMO processor 266, the controller / processor 280, or the memory 282.

[0064] In some aspects, the network node 110 includes: a component for receiving UE capability information indicating the ability of the UE to support communication with an uplink-only cell, wherein the network node is associated with a primary cell; and / or a component for sending configuration information corresponding to a carrier aggregation framework including the primary cell and the uplink-only cell based on receiving the UE capability information. In some aspects, the components for the network node to perform the operations described herein may include, for example, one or more of the communication manager 150, the transmit processor 220, the TX MIMO processor 230, the modem 232, the antenna 234, the MIMO detector 236, the receive processor 238, the controller / processor 240, the memory 242, or the scheduler 246.

[0065] Although Figure 2 The blocks in the 200 and 210 are illustrated as distinct components, but the functionality described above for these blocks may be implemented in a single hardware, software, or combined component or in various combinations of components. For example, the functionality described for the transmit processor 264, the receive processor 258, and / or the TX MIMO processor 266 may be performed by or under the control of the controller / processor 280.

[0066] As indicated above, Figure 2 are provided as examples. Other examples can be found in the Figure 2 The examples described are different.

[0067] The deployment of a communication system (such as a 5G NR system) can be arranged in a variety of ways with various components or components. In a 5G NR system or network, a network node, a network entity, a mobility element of a network, a RAN node, a core network node, a network element, a base station or network equipment can be implemented in an aggregated or decomposed architecture. For example, a base station (such as a node B (NB), an evolved NB (eNB), an NR BS, a 5G NB, an access point (AP), a TRP or a cell, etc.) or one or more units (or one or more components) performing base station functionality can be implemented as an aggregated base station (also referred to as an independent base station or a monolithic base station) or a decomposed base station. "Network entity" or "network node" may refer to a decomposed base station or one or more units of a decomposed base station (such as one or more CUs, one or more DUs, one or more RUs, or a combination thereof).

[0068] An aggregated base station (e.g., an aggregated network node) may be configured to utilize a radio protocol stack that is physically or logically integrated within a single RAN node (e.g., within a single device or unit). A decomposed base station (e.g., a decomposed network node) may be configured to utilize a protocol stack that is physically or logically distributed between two or more units (such as one or more CUs, one or more DUs, or one or more RUs). In some examples, a CU may be implemented within a network node, and one or more DUs may be co-located with the CU, or alternatively, may be geographically or virtually distributed across one or more other network nodes. A DU may be implemented to communicate with one or more RUs. Each of the CU, DU, and RU may also be implemented as a virtual unit, such as a virtual central unit (VCU), a virtual distributed unit (VDU), or a virtual radio unit (VRU), and the like.

[0069] Base station type operations or network designs may take into account the aggregated nature of base station functionality. For example, a decomposed base station may be utilized in an IAB network, an open radio access network (O-RAN (such as a network configuration initiated by the O-RAN Alliance)), or a virtualized radio access network (vRAN, also known as a cloud radio access network (C-RAN)) to facilitate the scaling of a communication system by separating base station functionality into one or more units that can be deployed separately. A decomposed base station may include functionality implemented across two or more units at various physical locations, as well as functionality implemented virtually for at least one unit, which may enable flexibility in network design. Individual units of a decomposed base station may be configured for wired or wireless communication with at least one other unit of the decomposed base station.

[0070] Figure 33 is a diagram illustrating an example decomposed base station architecture 300 according to the present disclosure. The decomposed base station architecture 300 may include a CU 310, which may communicate directly with a core network 320 via a backhaul link, or indirectly with the core network 320 through one or more decomposed control units (such as a near-RT RIC 325 via an E2 link, or a non-RT RIC 315 associated with a service management and orchestration (SMO) framework 305, or both). The CU 310 may communicate with one or more DUs 330 via respective midhaul links, such as via an F1 interface. Each of the DUs 330 may communicate with one or more RUs 340 via respective fronthaul links. Each of the RUs 340 may communicate with one or more UEs 120 via respective radio frequency (RF) access links. In some implementations, a UE 120 may be served simultaneously by multiple RUs 340.

[0071] Each of the units (including CU 310, DU 330, RU 340) and the near-RT RIC 325, non-RT RIC 315, and SMO framework 305 may include or be coupled to one or more interfaces configured to receive or transmit signals, data, or information (collectively referred to as signals) via a wired or wireless transmission medium. Each of the units or an associated processor or controller that provides instructions to one or more communication interfaces of the corresponding unit may be configured to communicate with one or more of the other units via a transmission medium. In some examples, each of the units may include a wired interface and a wireless interface, the wired interface being configured to receive signals or transmit signals to one or more of the other units via a wired transmission medium, and the wireless interface being configured to receive signals or transmit signals to one or more of the other units via a wireless transmission medium, or both.

[0072] In some aspects, CU 310 may host one or more higher layer control functions. Such control functions may include radio resource control (RRC) functions, packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) functions, or service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) functions, etc. Each control function may be implemented using an interface that is configured to communicate signals with other control functions hosted by CU 310. CU 310 may be configured to handle user plane functionality (e.g., central unit-user plane (CU-UP) functionality), control plane functionality (e.g., central unit-control plane (CU-CP) functionality), or a combination thereof. In some specific implementations, CU 310 may be logically split into one or more CU-UP units and one or more CU-CP units. When implemented in an O-RAN configuration, the CU-UP unit may communicate bidirectionally with the CU-CP unit via an interface such as an E1 interface. As needed, CU 310 may be implemented to communicate with DU 330 for network control and signaling.

[0073] Each DU 330 may correspond to a logical unit that includes one or more base station functions for controlling the operation of one or more RUs 340. In some aspects, the DU 330 may host one or more of a radio link control (RLC) layer, a MAC layer, and one or more high physical (PHY) layers, at least in part, according to a functional partition such as that defined by 3GPP. In some aspects, one or more high PHY layers may be implemented by one or more modules for forward error correction (FEC) encoding and decoding, scrambling, modulation and demodulation, etc. In some aspects, the DU 330 may also host one or more low PHY layers, such as one or more modules for fast Fourier transform (FFT), inverse FFT (iFFT), digital beamforming or physical random access channel (PRACH) extraction and filtering, etc. Each layer (which may also be referred to as a module) may be implemented using an interface that is configured to communicate signals with other layers (and modules) hosted by the DU 330 or with control functions hosted by the CU 310.

[0074] Each RU 340 may implement lower layer functionality. In some deployments, the RU 340 controlled by the DU 330 may correspond to a logical node that hosts RF processing functions based on functional splits (e.g., functional splits defined by 3GPP) such as lower layer functional splits, or low PHY layer functions such as performing FFT, performing iFFT, digital beamforming, or PRACH extraction and filtering, etc. In this architecture, each RU 340 may be operated to handle over-the-air (OTA) communications with one or more UEs 120. In some specific implementations, real-time and non-real-time aspects of control plane and user plane communications with the RU 340 may be controlled by the corresponding DU 330. In some scenarios, this configuration may enable each DU 330 and CU 310 to be implemented in a cloud-based RAN architecture such as a vRAN architecture.

[0075] The SMO framework 305 may be configured to support RAN deployment and provisioning of non-virtualized network elements and virtualized network elements. For non-virtualized network elements, the SMO framework 305 may be configured to support the deployment of dedicated physical resources for RAN coverage requirements, which may be managed via an operation and maintenance interface (such as an O1 interface). For virtualized network elements, the SMO framework 305 may be configured to interact with a cloud computing platform (such as an open cloud (O-Cloud) platform 390) to perform network element lifecycle management (such as instantiating virtualized network elements) via a cloud computing platform interface (such as an O2 interface). Such virtualized network elements may include, but are not limited to, CU 310, DU 330, RU 340, non-RT RIC 315, and near-RT RIC 325. In some specific implementations, the SMO framework 305 may communicate with hardware aspects of the 4G RAN (such as an open eNB (O-eNB) 311) via the O1 interface. Additionally, in some implementations, the SMO framework 305 can communicate directly with each of the one or more RUs 340 via a corresponding O1 interface. The SMO framework 305 can also include a non-RT RIC 315 configured to support the functionality of the SMO framework 305.

[0076] The non-RT RIC 315 may be configured to include logic functions that enable non-real-time control and optimization of RAN elements and resources, artificial intelligence / machine learning (AI / ML) workflows including model training and updating, or policy-based guidance of applications / features in the near-RT RIC 325. The non-RT RIC 315 may be coupled to or communicate with the near-RT RIC 325 (such as via an A1 interface). The near-RT RIC 325 may be configured to include logic functions that enable near-real-time control and optimization of RAN elements and resources via data collection and actions through an interface (such as via an E2 interface) that connects one or more CUs 310, one or more DUs 330, or both, and the O-eNB with the near-RT RIC 325.

[0077] In some implementations, in order to generate an AI / ML model to be deployed in the near-RT RIC 325, the non-RT RIC 315 may receive parameters or external enrichment information from an external server. Such information may be utilized by the near-RT RIC 325 and may be received from a non-network data source or from a network function at the SMO framework 305 or the non-RT RIC 315. In some examples, the non-RT RIC 315 or the near-RT RIC 325 may be configured to tune RAN behavior or performance. For example, the non-RT RIC 315 may monitor long-term trends and patterns of performance and employ AI / ML models to perform corrective actions through the SMO framework 305 (such as via reconfiguration of the O1 interface) or via the creation of RAN management policies (such as A1 interface policies).

[0078] As indicated above, Figure 3 are provided as examples. Other examples can be found in the Figure 3 The examples described are different.

[0079] Some regulators define only indoor spectrum (e.g., 2.3 GHz) to avoid interference with other adjacent existing services. If the mobile network operator obtains a license from an existing service, only the indoor spectrum can be used for outdoor communications. In some cases, only the indoor spectrum can be configured as an uplink-only spectrum to mitigate potential interference to adjacent services. For example, a solution based on carrier aggregation can be used to activate an uplink-only cell (e.g., a secondary cell (SCell)). However, in order to do this, multiple parameters and functions associated with an uplink-only cell should be provided to the UE.

[0080] Some aspects of the techniques and devices described herein may facilitate communications with uplink-only cells. In some aspects, for example, a UE may send UE capability information indicating the UE's ability to support communications with uplink-only cells to a network node associated with a PCell. The UE may receive configuration information from a network node associated with the PCell based on sending the UE capability information. The configuration information may correspond to a carrier aggregation framework including a PCell and an uplink-only cell. The UE may send uplink communications to a network node associated with the uplink-only cell based on the configuration information. In this way, some aspects of the techniques described herein may facilitate communications with uplink-only cells, thereby expanding the provision of frequency bands available for communication, which may have a positive impact on network performance and user experience quality.

[0081] Figure 4 4 is a diagram illustrating an example 400 of communicating with an uplink-only cell according to the present disclosure. Figure 4 As shown, UE 402 can communicate with network node 404 and network node 406. In some aspects, UE 402 can be, be similar to, or include Figures 1 to 3 The depicted UE 120 may be, or be included in, the UE. In some aspects, the network node 404 and / or the network node 406 may be, be similar to, or include Figure 1 and Figure 2 The depicted network node 110 and / or Figure 3 One or more components of the decomposed base station architecture depicted in, or are included in the network node and / or the one or more components.

[0082] In some aspects, as shown, the network node 404 may be associated with a PCell 408 and the network node 406 may be associated with an uplink-only cell 410. For example, in some aspects, the network node 404 may provide a PCell 408 and the network node 406 may provide an uplink-only cell 410. The PCell 408 may support uplink and downlink communications. In some aspects, the uplink-only cell may be an SCell.

[0083] As shown by reference numeral 412, network node 404 may send UE capability information, and UE 402 may receive the UE capability information. The UE capability information may indicate the ability of the UE to support communication with an uplink-only cell. As shown by reference numeral 414, network node 404 may send configuration information, and UE 402 may receive the configuration information. Based on the reception and transmission of the UE capability information, respectively, network node 404 may send configuration information, and the UE may receive the configuration information. In some aspects, the configuration information may correspond to a carrier aggregation framework including a primary cell and an uplink-only cell. In some aspects, the carrier aggregation framework may include any number of additional cells (e.g., uplink-only cells and / or cells supporting both uplink and downlink communications).

[0084] In some aspects, the network node 404 may send the configuration information using at least one of an RRC message or a medium access control (MAC) control element (MACCE). In some aspects, the configuration information may indicate a dedicated frequency band number associated only with the uplink-only cell. In some other aspects, the configuration information may indicate a frequency band number associated with the uplink-only cell, wherein the frequency band number is associated with one or more additional cells (e.g., one or more additional cells supporting downlink and uplink communications).

[0085] In some aspects, the configuration information may indicate a frequency band mode. The frequency band mode may include carrier aggregation associated with a PCell and an uplink-only cell. The frequency band associated with carrier aggregation may include a carrier aggregation band associated with uplink and downlink communications or an uplink-only frequency band. In some aspects, the configuration information may include an explicit indication of the frequency band mode. In some other aspects, the configuration information may implicitly indicate the frequency band mode based on at least one of an uplink time slot configuration or a resource scheduling. The uplink time slot configuration may correspond only to an uplink time slot. In some aspects, the configuration information may include a downlink time slot configuration, wherein the resource scheduling corresponds only to an uplink time slot.

[0086] In some aspects, the configuration information may indicate a time division duplex (TDD) frame structure. The TDD frame structure may indicate at least one downlink time slot, at least one special time slot, and at least one uplink time slot. For example, the configuration information may configure the UE 402 to operate in an uplink-only mode, which may include suppressing communications on any downlink symbol in the downlink time slot and at least one special time slot in at least one downlink time slot. In some aspects, the TDD frame structure may indicate only an uplink time slot. In some aspects, the configuration information may indicate a frequency division duplex (FDD) frame structure indicating only an uplink time slot.

[0087] In some aspects, the configuration information may indicate a MAC-based activation configuration associated with an uplink-only cell for activating and / or deactivating communications. The activation delay value associated with the MAC-based activation configuration may be less than the activation delay value of the activation configuration associated with a cell supporting uplink and downlink communications. In some aspects, the configuration information may indicate support for simultaneous uplink communications to an uplink-only cell and one or more other cells. For example, the UE capability information may indicate that the UE supports multiple uplink-only cell communications, and based on the indication, the configuration information may indicate support for simultaneous uplink communications to multiple uplink-only cells. In some aspects, the configuration information may indicate that the uplink-only cell does not support spatial relations. In some aspects, the configuration information may indicate that initial access associated with an uplink-only cell is not supported.

[0088] In some aspects, the uplink-only cell may be associated with a timing advance group (TAG) including at least one additional cell. The at least one additional cell may support uplink and downlink communications. In some aspects, the configuration information may indicate a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) configuration. The HARQ configuration may correspond only to the uplink-only cell. The HARQ configuration may indicate at least one of a HARQ identifier corresponding only to the uplink-only cell or a HARQ process corresponding only to the uplink-only cell.

[0089] As indicated by reference numeral 416, the network node 404 may send a measurement reference signal and the UE 402 may receive the measurement reference signal. The measurement reference signal may be configured for use by the UE 402 to measure one or more metrics associated with communicating with the uplink-only cell. In some aspects, as indicated by reference numeral 418, the network node 406 may send a measurement reference signal and the UE 402 may receive the measurement reference signal. In some aspects, the measurement reference signal may include a path loss reference signal.

[0090] As shown by reference numeral 420, network node 404 may send a scheduled communication, and UE 402 may receive the scheduled communication. As shown by reference numeral 422, network node 406 may send a scheduled communication, and UE 402 may receive the scheduled communication. The scheduled communication may schedule one or more uplink resources associated with the uplink-only cell communication. For example, the scheduled communication may include downlink control information. In some aspects, random access channel (RACH) transmissions may be supported by an uplink-only cell, wherein the downlink RACH message is provided by network node 404. In some aspects, RACH communications may be configured according to cross-carrier scheduling involving network node 404 and network node 406. In some aspects, RACH transmissions may be associated with non-contention-based RACH operations.

[0091] As indicated by reference numeral 424, UE 402 may send uplink communications and network node 406 may receive the uplink communications. Based on the configuration information, UE 402 may send uplink communications and network node 406 may receive the uplink communications.

[0092] As indicated above, Figure 4 are provided as examples. Other examples can be found in the Figure 4 The examples described are different.

[0093] Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating an example process 500 performed, for example, by a UE in accordance with the present disclosure. Example process 500 is an example in which a UE (eg, UE 402) performs operations associated with a technique for communicating with an uplink-only cell.

[0094] like Figure 5 As shown, in some aspects, process 500 may include sending UE capability information indicating the UE's ability to support communications with an uplink-only cell (block 510). Figure 7 The depicted communications manager 708 and / or transmitting component 704) can transmit UE capability information indicating the UE's ability to support communications with uplink-only cells, as described above.

[0095] like Figure 5 As further shown, in some aspects, process 500 may include receiving configuration information corresponding to a carrier aggregation framework including a primary cell and an uplink-only cell from a network node associated with the primary cell based on transmitting the UE capability information (block 520). Figure 7 The depicted communications manager 708 and / or receiving component 702) may receive configuration information corresponding to a carrier aggregation framework including a primary cell and an uplink-only cell from a network node associated with the primary cell based on transmitting the UE capability information, as described above.

[0096] like Figure 5 As further shown, in some aspects, process 500 may include sending an uplink communication to a network node associated with an uplink-only cell based on the configuration information (block 530). Figure 7 The depicted communications manager 708 and / or transmitting component 704) can transmit uplink communications to a network node associated with the uplink-only cell based on the configuration information, as described above.

[0097] Process 500 may include additional aspects, such as any single aspect or any combination of aspects described below and / or in conjunction with one or more other processes described elsewhere herein.

[0098] In a first aspect, the configuration information indicates a dedicated frequency band number associated only with an uplink-only cell. In a second aspect, alone or in combination with the first aspect, the configuration information indicates a frequency band number associated with an uplink-only cell, wherein the frequency band number is associated with one or more additional cells. In a third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first and second aspects, the configuration information indicates a frequency band mode, the frequency band mode comprising carrier aggregation associated with a primary cell and an uplink-only cell, wherein the frequency band associated with the carrier aggregation comprises a carrier aggregation band associated with uplink and downlink communications or an uplink-only frequency band. In a fourth aspect, alone or in combination with the third aspect, the configuration information includes an explicit indication of the frequency band mode. In a fifth aspect, alone or in combination with the third aspect, the configuration information implicitly indicates the frequency band mode based on at least one of an uplink slot configuration or resource scheduling. In a sixth aspect, alone or in combination with the fifth aspect, the uplink slot configuration corresponds only to an uplink slot. In a seventh aspect, alone or in combination with the fifth aspect, the configuration information further includes a downlink timeslot configuration, wherein the resource scheduling corresponds only to an uplink timeslot.

[0099] In an eighth aspect, either alone or in combination with one or more of the first to seventh aspects, the configuration information indicates a TDD frame structure. In a ninth aspect, either alone or in combination with the eighth aspect, the TDD frame structure indicates at least one downlink time slot, at least one special time slot, and at least one uplink time slot. In a tenth aspect, either alone or in combination with the ninth aspect, process 500 includes operating in an uplink-only mode, wherein operating in an uplink-only mode includes suppressing communication on any downlink symbol in a downlink time slot and at least one special time slot in at least one downlink time slot. In an eleventh aspect, either alone or in combination with the eighth aspect, the TDD frame structure indicates only an uplink time slot.

[0100] In the twelfth aspect, either alone or in combination with one or more of the first to eleventh aspects, the configuration information indicates a frequency division duplex frame structure indicating only an uplink time slot. In the thirteenth aspect, either alone or in combination with one or more of the first to twelfth aspects, the uplink-only cell is an SCell. In the fourteenth aspect, either alone or in combination with one or more of the first to thirteenth aspects, the configuration information indicates a MAC-based activation configuration associated with an uplink-only cell for activating and / or deactivating communications. In the fifteenth aspect, either alone or in combination with the fourteenth aspect, an activation delay value associated with a MAC-based activation configuration is less than an activation delay value of an activation configuration associated with a cell supporting uplink and downlink communications.

[0101] In a sixteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first to fourteenth aspects, the configuration information indicates support for simultaneous uplink communication to an uplink-only cell and one or more other cells. In a seventeenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first to sixteenth aspects, the UE capability information indicates that the UE supports communication with multiple uplink-only cells.

[0102] In the eighteenth aspect, either alone or in combination with one or more aspects of the first to seventeenth aspects, the configuration information indicates that the uplink-only cell does not support spatial relations. In the nineteenth aspect, either alone or in combination with one or more aspects of the first to seventeenth aspects, the configuration information indicates that initial access associated with the uplink-only cell is not supported. In the twentieth aspect, either alone or in combination with one or more aspects of the first to nineteenth aspects, the uplink-only cell is associated with a TAG including at least one additional cell, wherein the at least one additional cell supports uplink and downlink communications. In the twenty-first aspect, either alone or in combination with one or more aspects of the first to twentieth aspects, the configuration information indicates a HARQ configuration corresponding only to the uplink-only cell. In the twenty-second aspect, either alone or in combination with the twenty-first aspect, the HARQ configuration indicates at least one of a HARQ identifier corresponding only to the uplink-only cell or a HARQ process corresponding only to the uplink-only cell.

[0103] In a twenty-third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first to twenty-second aspects, receiving the configuration information comprises receiving at least one of an RRC message or a MAC CE. In a twenty-fourth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first to twenty-third aspects, process 500 comprises receiving a measurement reference signal for measuring one or more metrics associated with communicating with an uplink-only cell. In a twenty-fifth aspect, alone or in combination with the twenty-fourth aspect, receiving the measurement reference signal comprises receiving the measurement reference signal from a primary cell or a secondary cell supporting uplink and downlink communications.

[0104] In a twenty-sixth aspect, either alone or in combination with one or more of the first to twenty-fifth aspects, process 500 includes receiving a scheduling communication scheduling one or more uplink resources associated with uplink-only cell communications. In a twenty-seventh aspect, either alone or in combination with the twenty-sixth aspect, receiving the scheduling communication includes receiving the scheduling communication from a primary cell or a secondary cell supporting uplink and downlink communications.

[0105] although Figure 5 An example block diagram of process 500 is shown, but in some aspects, process 500 may include Figure 5The depicted blocks may include additional blocks, fewer blocks, different blocks, or blocks arranged in a different manner. Additionally or alternatively, two or more of the blocks of process 500 may be performed in parallel.

[0106] Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating an example process 600 performed, for example, by a network node in accordance with the present disclosure. Example process 600 is an example in which a network node (eg, network node 404) performs operations associated with a technique for communicating with an uplink-only cell.

[0107] like Figure 6 As shown, in some aspects, process 600 may include receiving UE capability information indicating a capability of the UE to support communications with an uplink-only cell, wherein the network node is associated with a primary cell (block 610). Figure 8 The depicted communications manager 808 and / or receiving component 802) may receive UE capability information indicating the UE's ability to support communications with an uplink-only cell, wherein the network node is associated with a primary cell, as described above.

[0108] like Figure 6 As further shown, in some aspects, process 600 may include sending configuration information corresponding to a carrier aggregation framework including a primary cell and an uplink-only cell based on receiving the UE capability information (block 620). Figure 8 The depicted communications manager 808 and / or transmitting component 804) may transmit configuration information corresponding to a carrier aggregation framework including a primary cell and an uplink-only cell based on receiving the UE capability information, as described above.

[0109] Process 600 may include additional aspects, such as any single aspect or any combination of aspects described below and / or in conjunction with one or more other processes described elsewhere herein.

[0110] In a first aspect, the configuration information indicates a dedicated frequency band number associated only with an uplink-only cell. In a second aspect, alone or in combination with the first aspect, the configuration information indicates a frequency band number associated with an uplink-only cell, wherein the frequency band number is associated with one or more additional cells. In a third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first and second aspects, the configuration information indicates a frequency band mode, the frequency band mode comprising carrier aggregation associated with a primary cell and an uplink-only cell, wherein the frequency band associated with the carrier aggregation comprises a carrier aggregation band associated with uplink and downlink communications or an uplink-only frequency band. In a fourth aspect, alone or in combination with the third aspect, the configuration information includes an explicit indication of the frequency band mode. In a fifth aspect, alone or in combination with the third aspect, the configuration information implicitly indicates the frequency band mode based on at least one of an uplink slot configuration or resource scheduling. In a sixth aspect, alone or in combination with the fifth aspect, the uplink slot configuration corresponds only to an uplink slot. In a seventh aspect, alone or in combination with the fifth aspect, the configuration information further includes a downlink timeslot configuration, wherein the resource scheduling corresponds only to an uplink timeslot.

[0111] In the eighth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more aspects of the first to seventh aspects, the configuration information indicates a TDD frame structure. In the ninth aspect, alone or in combination with the eighth aspect, the TDD frame structure indicates at least one downlink time slot, at least one special time slot and at least one uplink time slot. In the tenth aspect, alone or in combination with the eighth aspect, the TDD frame structure indicates only an uplink time slot. In the eleventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more aspects of the first to tenth aspects, the configuration information indicates an FDD frame structure indicating only an uplink time slot. In the twelfth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more aspects of the first to eleventh aspects, only the uplink cell is an SCell. In the thirteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more aspects of the first to twelfth aspects, the configuration information indicates a MAC-based activation configuration associated with an uplink-only cell for activating and / or deactivating communications. In a fourteenth aspect, alone or in combination with the thirteenth aspect, an activation delay value associated with a MAC-based activation configuration is less than an activation delay value of an activation configuration associated with a cell supporting uplink and downlink communications.

[0112] In the fifteenth aspect, either alone or in combination with one or more of the first to fourteenth aspects, the configuration information indicates support for simultaneous uplink communication to an uplink-only cell and one or more other cells. In the sixteenth aspect, either alone or in combination with one or more of the first to fifteenth aspects, the UE capability information indicates that the UE supports communication with multiple uplink-only cells. In the seventeenth aspect, either alone or in combination with one or more of the first to sixteenth aspects, the configuration information indicates that the uplink-only cell does not support spatial relations. In the eighteenth aspect, either alone or in combination with one or more of the first to seventeenth aspects, the configuration information indicates that initial access associated with an uplink-only cell is not supported. In the nineteenth aspect, either alone or in combination with one or more of the first to eighteenth aspects, the uplink-only cell is associated with a TAG including at least one additional cell, wherein the at least one additional cell supports uplink and downlink communications.

[0113] In the twenty-first aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first to nineteenth aspects, the configuration information indicates a HARQ configuration corresponding only to an uplink-only cell. In the twenty-first aspect, alone or in combination with the twentieth aspect, the HARQ configuration indicates at least one of a HARQ identifier corresponding only to an uplink-only cell or a HARQ process corresponding only to an uplink-only cell.

[0114] In a twenty-second aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of aspects 1 to 21, sending the configuration information comprises sending at least one of an RRC message or a MAC CE. In a twenty-third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of aspects 1 to 22, process 600 comprises sending a measurement reference signal for measuring one or more metrics associated with uplink-only cell communications. In a twenty-fourth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of aspects 1 to 23, process 600 comprises sending a scheduling communication for scheduling one or more uplink resources associated with uplink-only cell communications.

[0115] although Figure 6 An example block diagram of process 600 is shown, but in some aspects, process 600 may include Figure 6 The depicted blocks may include additional blocks, fewer blocks, different blocks, or blocks arranged in a different manner. Additionally or alternatively, two or more of the blocks of process 600 may be performed in parallel.

[0116] Figure 7is a diagram of an example apparatus 700 for wireless communication according to the present disclosure. Apparatus 700 may be a UE, or a UE may include apparatus 700. In some aspects, apparatus 700 includes a receiving component 702 and a transmitting component 704 that may communicate with each other (e.g., via one or more buses and / or one or more other components). As shown, apparatus 700 may communicate with another apparatus 706 (such as a UE, a base station, or another wireless communication device) using receiving component 702 and transmitting component 704. As further shown, apparatus 700 may include a communication manager 708.

[0117] In some aspects, the apparatus 700 may be configured to perform Figure 4 Additionally or alternatively, the apparatus 700 may be configured to perform one or more processes described herein, such as Figure 5 In some aspects, the apparatus 700 and / or Figure 7 One or more of the components shown may include a combination of Figure 2 Additionally or alternatively, Figure 7 One or more of the components shown may be combined with Figure 2 Additionally or alternatively, one or more components in the set of components may be implemented at least in part as software stored in a memory. For example, a component (or a portion of a component) may be implemented as instructions or codes that are stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium and can be executed by a controller or processor to perform the function or operation of the component.

[0118] The receiving component 702 may receive communications from the device 706, such as reference signals, control information, data communications, or combinations thereof. The receiving component 702 may provide the received communications to one or more other components of the device 700. In some aspects, the receiving component 702 may perform signal processing (such as filtering, amplification, demodulation, analog-to-digital conversion, demultiplexing, deinterleaving, demapping, equalization, interference cancellation, or decoding, etc.) on the received communications and may provide the processed signals to one or more other components of the device 700. In some aspects, the receiving component 702 may include combining Figure 2 One or more antennas, modems, demodulators, MIMO detectors, receive processors, controllers / processors, memories, or combinations thereof of a described UE.

[0119] The transmitting component 704 may transmit communications, such as reference signals, control information, data communications, or combinations thereof, to the device 706. In some aspects, one or more other components of the device 700 may generate communications and may provide the generated communications to the transmitting component 704 for transmission to the device 706. In some aspects, the transmitting component 704 may perform signal processing (such as filtering, amplification, modulation, digital-to-analog conversion, multiplexing, interleaving, mapping, or encoding, etc.) on the generated communications and may transmit the processed signals to the device 706. In some aspects, the transmitting component 704 may include combining Figure 2 One or more antennas, modems, modulators, transmit MIMO processors, transmit processors, controllers / processors, memories, or combinations thereof of the described UE. In some aspects, the transmit component 704 can be co-located with the receive component 702 in a transceiver.

[0120] The communication manager 708 and / or the transmitting component 704 may transmit UE capability information indicating the UE's ability to support communications with an uplink-only cell. In some aspects, the communication manager 708 may include in conjunction with Figure 2 One or more antennas, modems, controllers / processors, memories, or combinations thereof of the UE. In some aspects, the communication manager 708 may include a receiving component 702 and / or a sending component 704. In some aspects, the communication manager 708 may be, be similar to, or include Figure 1 and Figure 2 A communications manager 140 is depicted, or included in, the communications manager.

[0121] The communication manager 708 and / or the receiving component 702 may receive configuration information corresponding to a carrier aggregation framework including the primary cell and the uplink-only cell from a network node associated with the primary cell based on sending the UE capability information. The communication manager 708 and / or the sending component 704 may send an uplink communication to the network node associated with the uplink-only cell based on the configuration information.

[0122] The communication manager 708 and / or the transmitting component 704 may operate in an uplink-only mode, wherein operating in the uplink-only mode includes suppressing communication on any downlink symbol in a downlink time slot and at least one special time slot in at least one downlink time slot. The communication manager 708 and / or the receiving component 702 may receive a measurement reference signal for measuring one or more metrics associated with communicating with an uplink-only cell. The communication manager 708 and / or the receiving component 702 may receive a scheduling communication for scheduling one or more uplink resources associated with communicating with an uplink-only cell.

[0123] Figure 7 The number and arrangement of components shown are provided as examples. In practice, there may be Figure 7 The components shown may include additional components, fewer components, different components, or components arranged in a different manner. Figure 7 Two or more components shown may be implemented in a single component, or Figure 7 The single component shown may be implemented as multiple distributed components. Additionally or alternatively, Figure 7 The illustrated set of component(s) may be described as being executable by Figure 7 Another collection of components shown performs one or more functions.

[0124] Figure 8 800 for wireless communication according to the present disclosure. Apparatus 800 may be a network node, or a network node may include apparatus 800. In some aspects, apparatus 800 includes a receiving component 802 and a transmitting component 804 that may communicate with each other (e.g., via one or more buses and / or one or more other components). As shown, apparatus 800 may communicate with another apparatus 806 (such as a UE, a base station, or another wireless communication device) using receiving component 802 and transmitting component 804. As further shown, apparatus 800 may include a communication manager 808.

[0125] In some aspects, the apparatus 800 may be configured to perform Figure 4 Additionally or alternatively, the apparatus 800 may be configured to perform one or more processes described herein, such as Figure 6 The process 600. In some aspects, Figure 8 The device 800 and / or one or more components shown may include a combination of Figure 2 One or more components of the network node. Additionally or alternatively, Figure 8 One or more of the components shown may be combined with Figure 2 Additionally or alternatively, one or more components in the set of components may be implemented at least in part as software stored in a memory. For example, a component (or a portion of a component) may be implemented as instructions or codes that are stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium and can be executed by a controller or processor to perform the function or operation of the component.

[0126] The receiving component 802 may receive communications from the device 806, such as reference signals, control information, data communications, or combinations thereof. The receiving component 802 may provide the received communications to one or more other components of the device 800. In some aspects, the receiving component 802 may perform signal processing (such as filtering, amplification, demodulation, analog-to-digital conversion, demultiplexing, deinterleaving, demapping, equalization, interference cancellation, or decoding, etc.) on the received communications and may provide the processed signals to one or more other components of the device 800. In some aspects, the receiving component 802 may include combining Figure 2 One or more antennas, modems, demodulators, MIMO detectors, receiving processors, controllers / processors, memories or combinations thereof of the network node.

[0127] The transmitting component 804 may transmit communications, such as reference signals, control information, data communications, or combinations thereof, to the device 806. In some aspects, one or more other components of the device 800 may generate communications and may provide the generated communications to the transmitting component 804 for transmission to the device 806. In some aspects, the transmitting component 804 may perform signal processing (such as filtering, amplification, modulation, digital-to-analog conversion, multiplexing, interleaving, mapping, or encoding, etc.) on the generated communications and may transmit the processed signals to the device 806. In some aspects, the transmitting component 804 may include combining Figure 2 One or more antennas, modems, modulators, transmit MIMO processors, transmit processors, controllers / processors, memories, or combinations thereof of the network node. In some aspects, the transmit component 804 can be co-located with the receive component 802 in a transceiver.

[0128] The communication manager 808 and / or the receiving component 802 may receive UE capability information indicating the UE's ability to support communications with an uplink-only cell, wherein the network node is associated with a primary cell. In some aspects, the communication manager 808 may include in conjunction with Figure 2 One or more antennas, modems, controllers / processors, memories, or combinations thereof of the network nodes. In some aspects, the communication manager 808 may include a receiving component 802 and / or a sending component 804. In some aspects, the communication manager 808 may be, be similar to, or include Figure 1 and Figure 2 The communications manager 150 is depicted, or included in, the communications manager.

[0129] The communication manager 808 and / or the transmitting component 804 may transmit configuration information corresponding to a carrier aggregation framework including a primary cell and an uplink-only cell based on the received UE capability information. The communication manager 808 and / or the transmitting component 804 may transmit a measurement reference signal for measuring one or more metrics associated with communicating with the uplink-only cell. The communication manager 808 and / or the transmitting component 804 may transmit a scheduling communication for scheduling one or more uplink resources associated with communicating with the uplink-only cell.

[0130] Figure 8 The number and arrangement of components shown are provided as examples. In practice, there may be Figure 8 The components shown may include additional components, fewer components, different components, or components arranged in a different manner. Figure 8 Two or more components shown may be implemented in a single component, or Figure 8 The single component shown may be implemented as multiple distributed components. Additionally or alternatively, Figure 8 The illustrated set of component(s) may be described as being executable by Figure 8 Another collection of components shown performs one or more functions.

[0131] The following provides an overview of some aspects of the disclosure:

[0132] Aspect 1: A method of wireless communication performed by a user equipment (UE), the method comprising: sending UE capability information indicating the ability of the UE to support communication with an uplink-only cell; receiving configuration information corresponding to a carrier aggregation framework including the primary cell and an uplink-only cell from a network node associated with a primary cell based on sending the UE capability information; and sending uplink communication to a network node associated with the uplink-only cell based on the configuration information.

[0133] Aspect 2: The method according to aspect 1, wherein the configuration information indicates a dedicated frequency band number associated only with the uplink-only cell.

[0134] Aspect 3: The method according to aspect 1, wherein the configuration information indicates a frequency band number associated with the uplink-only cell, wherein the frequency band number is associated with one or more additional cells.

[0135] Aspect 4: A method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 3, wherein the configuration information indicates a frequency band mode, the frequency band mode includes carrier aggregation associated with the primary cell and the uplink-only cell, wherein the frequency band associated with the carrier aggregation includes a carrier aggregation band associated with uplink and downlink communications or an uplink-only frequency band.

[0136] Aspect 5: The method according to aspect 4, wherein the configuration information includes an explicit indication of the frequency band mode.

[0137] Aspect 6: The method according to aspect 4, wherein the configuration information implicitly indicates the frequency band mode based on at least one of uplink time slot configuration or resource scheduling.

[0138] Aspect 7: The method according to aspect 6, wherein the uplink time slot configuration corresponds only to an uplink time slot.

[0139] Aspect 8: The method according to aspect 6, wherein the configuration information further includes a downlink time slot configuration, and wherein the resource scheduling corresponds only to an uplink time slot.

[0140] Aspect 9: The method according to any one of aspects 1 to 8, wherein the configuration information indicates a time division duplex (TDD) frame structure.

[0141] Aspect 10: The method according to aspect 9, wherein the TDD frame structure indicates at least one downlink time slot, at least one special time slot and at least one uplink time slot.

[0142] Aspect 11: The method according to aspect 10 also includes operating in an uplink-only mode, wherein operating in the uplink-only mode includes suppressing communication on any downlink symbol in a downlink time slot in the at least one downlink time slot and the at least one special time slot.

[0143] Aspect 12: The method according to aspect 9, wherein the TDD frame structure indicates only uplink time slots.

[0144] Aspect 13: The method according to any one of aspects 1 to 12, wherein the configuration information indicates a frequency division duplex frame structure indicating only an uplink time slot.

[0145] Aspect 14: The method according to any one of aspects 1 to 13, wherein the uplink-only cell is a secondary cell (SCell).

[0146] Aspect 15: A method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 14, wherein the configuration information indicates a medium access control (MAC)-based activation configuration associated with the uplink-only cell for activating and / or deactivating communications.

[0147] Aspect 16: The method according to aspect 15, wherein the activation delay value associated with the MAC-based activation configuration is less than the activation delay value of the activation configuration associated with the cell supporting uplink and downlink communications.

[0148] Aspect 17: The method according to any one of aspects 1 to 16, wherein the configuration information indicates support for simultaneous uplink communication to the uplink-only cell and one or more other cells.

[0149] Aspect 18: The method according to any one of aspects 1 to 17, wherein the UE capability information indicates that the UE supports communication with multiple uplink-only cells.

[0150] Aspect 19: The method according to any one of aspects 1 to 18, wherein the configuration information indicates that the uplink-only cell does not support spatial relations.

[0151] Aspect 20: The method according to any one of aspects 1 to 19, wherein the configuration information indicates that initial access associated with the uplink-only cell is not supported.

[0152] Aspect 21: A method according to any one of aspects 1 to 20, wherein the uplink-only cell is associated with a timing advance group (TAG) including at least one additional cell, wherein the at least one additional cell supports uplink and downlink communications.

[0153] Aspect 22: The method according to any one of aspects 1 to 21, wherein the configuration information indicates a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) configuration, and the HARQ configuration corresponds only to the uplink-only cell.

[0154] Aspect 23: The method according to aspect 22, wherein the HARQ configuration indicates at least one of a HARQ identifier corresponding only to the uplink-only cell or a HARQ process corresponding only to the uplink-only cell.

[0155] Aspect 24: The method according to any one of aspects 1 to 23, wherein receiving the configuration information comprises receiving at least one of a radio resource control message or a medium access control control element.

[0156] Aspect 25: The method according to any one of aspects 1 to 24, further comprising receiving a measurement reference signal for measuring one or more metrics associated with the uplink-only cell communication.

[0157] Aspect 26: The method according to aspect 25, wherein receiving the measurement reference signal comprises receiving the measurement reference signal from a primary cell or a secondary cell supporting uplink and downlink communications.

[0158] Aspect 27: The method according to any one of aspects 1 to 26 further comprises: receiving a scheduling communication scheduling one or more uplink resources associated with the uplink-only cell communication.

[0159] Aspect 28: The method according to aspect 27, wherein receiving the scheduled communication comprises receiving the scheduled communication from a primary cell or a secondary cell supporting uplink and downlink communications.

[0160] Aspect 29: A method of wireless communication performed by a network node, the method comprising: receiving UE capability information indicating the ability of a user equipment (UE) to support communication with an uplink-only cell, wherein the network node is associated with a primary cell; and sending configuration information corresponding to a carrier aggregation framework including the primary cell and the uplink-only cell based on receiving the UE capability information.

[0161] Aspect 30: The method according to aspect 29, wherein the configuration information indicates a dedicated frequency band number associated only with the uplink-only cell.

[0162] Aspect 31: The method according to aspect 29, wherein the configuration information indicates a frequency band number associated with the uplink-only cell, wherein the frequency band number is associated with one or more additional cells.

[0163] Aspect 32: A method according to any one of Aspects 29 to 31, wherein the configuration information indicates a frequency band mode, the frequency band mode includes carrier aggregation associated with the primary cell and the uplink-only cell, wherein the frequency band associated with the carrier aggregation includes a carrier aggregation band associated with uplink and downlink communications or an uplink-only frequency band.

[0164] Aspect 33: The method according to aspect 32, wherein the configuration information includes an explicit indication of the frequency band mode.

[0165] Aspect 34: The method according to aspect 32, wherein the configuration information implicitly indicates the frequency band mode based on at least one of uplink time slot configuration or resource scheduling.

[0166] Aspect 35: The method according to aspect 34, wherein the uplink time slot configuration corresponds to only uplink time slots.

[0167] Aspect 36: The method according to aspect 34, wherein the configuration information further includes a downlink time slot configuration, and wherein the resource scheduling corresponds only to an uplink time slot.

[0168] Aspect 37: A method according to any one of aspects 29 to 36, wherein the configuration information indicates a time division duplex (TDD) frame structure.

[0169] Aspect 38: The method according to aspect 37, wherein the TDD frame structure indicates at least one downlink time slot, at least one special time slot and at least one uplink time slot.

[0170] Aspect 39: The method according to aspect 37, wherein the TDD frame structure indicates only uplink time slots.

[0171] Aspect 40: The method according to any one of aspects 29 to 39, wherein the configuration information indicates a frequency division duplex frame structure indicating only an uplink time slot.

[0172] Aspect 41: A method according to any one of aspects 29 to 40, wherein the uplink-only cell is a secondary cell (SCell).

[0173] Aspect 42: A method according to any one of Aspects 29 to 41, wherein the configuration information indicates a medium access control (MAC)-based activation configuration associated with the uplink-only cell for activating and / or deactivating communications.

[0174] Aspect 43: The method according to aspect 42, wherein the activation delay value associated with the MAC-based activation configuration is less than the activation delay value of the activation configuration associated with the cell supporting uplink and downlink communications.

[0175] Aspect 44: The method according to any one of aspects 29 to 43, wherein the configuration information indicates support for simultaneous uplink communication to the uplink-only cell and one or more other cells.

[0176] Aspect 45: A method according to any one of aspects 29 to 44, wherein the UE capability information indicates that the UE supports communication with multiple uplink-only cells.

[0177] Aspect 46: A method according to any one of aspects 29 to 45, wherein the configuration information indicates that the uplink-only cell does not support spatial relations.

[0178] Aspect 47: A method according to any one of aspects 29 to 46, wherein the configuration information indicates that initial access associated with the uplink-only cell is not supported.

[0179] Aspect 48: A method according to any one of aspects 29 to 47, wherein the uplink-only cell is associated with a timing advance group (TAG) including at least one additional cell, wherein the at least one additional cell supports uplink and downlink communications.

[0180] Aspect 49: A method according to any one of aspects 29 to 48, wherein the configuration information indicates a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) configuration, and the HARQ configuration corresponds only to the uplink-only cell.

[0181] Aspect 50: The method according to aspect 49, wherein the HARQ configuration indicates at least one of a HARQ identifier corresponding only to the uplink-only cell or a HARQ process corresponding only to the uplink-only cell.

[0182] Aspect 51: The method according to any one of aspects 29 to 50, wherein sending the configuration information comprises sending at least one of a radio resource control message or a medium access control control element.

[0183] Aspect 52: The method according to any one of aspects 29 to 51, further comprising sending a measurement reference signal for measuring one or more metrics associated with the uplink-only cell communication.

[0184] Aspect 53: The method according to any one of aspects 29 to 52 further comprises: sending a scheduling communication scheduling one or more uplink resources associated with the uplink-only cell communication.

[0185] Aspect 54: An apparatus for performing wireless communications at a device, the apparatus comprising: a processor; a memory coupled to the processor; and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to perform one or more of the methods described in Aspects 1 to 28.

[0186] Aspect 55: A device for wireless communication, the device comprising: a memory; and one or more processors, the one or more processors coupled to the memory, the one or more processors configured to execute the method according to one or more of aspects 1 to 28.

[0187] Aspect 56: An apparatus for wireless communication, the apparatus comprising at least one component for performing the method according to one or more of aspects 1 to 28.

[0188] Aspect 57: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication, the code comprising instructions executable by a processor to perform the method according to one or more of aspects 1 to 28.

[0189] Aspect 58: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing an instruction set for wireless communication, the instruction set comprising one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors of a device, cause the device to perform one or more of the methods described in aspects 1 to 28.

[0190] Aspect 59: An apparatus for performing wireless communications at a device, the apparatus comprising: a processor; a memory coupled to the processor; and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to perform a method according to one or more of Aspects 29 to 53.

[0191] Aspect 60: A device for wireless communication, the device comprising: a memory; and one or more processors, the one or more processors coupled to the memory, the one or more processors configured to execute the method according to one or more aspects of aspects 29 to 53.

[0192] Aspect 61: An apparatus for wireless communication, the apparatus comprising at least one component for performing the method according to one or more of aspects 29 to 53.

[0193] Aspect 62: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication, the code comprising instructions executable by a processor to perform the method according to one or more of aspects 29 to 53.

[0194] Aspect 63: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing an instruction set for wireless communication, the instruction set comprising one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors of a device, cause the device to perform a method according to one or more of aspects 29 to 53.

[0195] While the foregoing disclosure provides illustration and description, it is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the aspects to the precise forms disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above disclosure or may be acquired from practice of these aspects.

[0196] As used herein, the term "component" is intended to be broadly interpreted as hardware, firmware, or a combination of hardware and software. As used herein, a processor is implemented in hardware, firmware, or a combination of hardware and software. As used herein, the phrase "based on" is intended to be broadly interpreted as "based at least in part on". As used herein, depending on the context, "satisfying a threshold" may refer to a value greater than a threshold, greater than or equal to a threshold, less than a threshold, less than or equal to a threshold, equal to a threshold, not equal to a threshold, etc. As used herein, a phrase referring to "at least one of" a list of items refers to any combination of these items (including a single member). As an example, "at least one of a, b, or c" is intended to cover: a, b, c, a+b, a+c, b+c, and a+b+c.

[0197] In addition, as used herein, the articles "one" and "a kind of" are intended to include one or more items, and can be used interchangeably with "one or more". In addition, as used herein, the article "said" is intended to include one or more items connected to the article "said", and can be used interchangeably with "one or more". In addition, as used herein, the terms "group" and "group" are intended to include one or more items (e.g., related items, unrelated items, or a combination of related and unrelated items), and can be used interchangeably with "one or more". If only one item is intended to be referred to, the phrase "only one" or similar terms are used. Moreover, as used herein, the terms "having" and similar terms are intended to be open terms that do not limit the elements (e.g., elements "including" A can also contain B) that they modify. In addition, as used herein, the term "or" is intended to be inclusive when used in a sequence, and can be used interchangeably with "and / or", unless otherwise explicitly stated (e.g., in the case of being used in combination with "any one of" or "only one of").

[0198] The various illustrative logics, logic blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithmic processes described in conjunction with the various aspects disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination of both. The interchangeability of hardware and software has been generally described in terms of functionality and is illustrated in the various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and processes described herein. Whether such functionality is implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and the design constraints imposed on the overall system.

[0199] The hardware and data processing apparatus for implementing the various illustrative logic components, logic blocks, modules and circuits described in conjunction with the various aspects disclosed herein may be implemented or executed using a general purpose single-chip or multi-chip processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic component, a discrete hardware component or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, or any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller or state machine. A processor 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. In some aspects, specific processes and methods may be performed by circuits dedicated to a given function.

[0200] In one or more aspects, the functions described may be implemented in hardware, digital electronic circuitry, computer software, firmware, including the structures disclosed in this specification and their structural equivalents, or any combination thereof. Aspects of the subject matter described in this specification may also be implemented as one or more computer programs (e.g., one or more modules of computer program instructions) encoded on computer storage media to be executed by a data processing apparatus or to control the operation of the data processing apparatus.

[0201] If implemented in software, the function may be stored as one or more instructions or codes on a computer-readable medium or sent via a computer-readable medium. The process of the method or algorithm disclosed herein may be implemented in a processor executable software module that may reside on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media include both computer storage media and communication media, and communication media include any medium that can realize the transfer of a computer program from one place to another. Storage media can be any available medium that a computer can access. By way of example and not limitation, such computer-readable media may include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage devices, disk storage devices or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to store the desired program code in the form of an instruction or data structure and can be accessed by a computer. In addition, any connection may be appropriately referred to as a computer-readable medium. Disks and optical disks as used herein include compact disks (CDs), laser disks, optical disks, digital versatile disks (DVDs), floppy disks and blue-ray disks, wherein disks generally reproduce data magnetically, and optical disks reproduce data optically with lasers. The combination of media described herein should also be included in the scope of computer-readable media. Additionally, the operations of a method or algorithm may reside as a code and instruction set, or any combination of code and instruction sets, on a machine-readable medium or computer-readable medium, which may be incorporated into a computer program product.

[0202] Various modifications to the various aspects described in this disclosure may be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Therefore, the claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein, but should be granted the broadest scope consistent with the disclosure, the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

[0203] Additionally, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the terms "upper" and "lower" are sometimes used for ease of describing the drawings and indicate relative positions corresponding to the orientation of the drawings on a correctly oriented page, and may not reflect the correct orientation of any device as implemented.

[0204] Certain features described in this specification in the context of independent aspects may also be implemented in combination in a single aspect. Conversely, various features described in the context of a single aspect may also be implemented in multiple aspects individually or in any suitable sub-combination. In addition, although features may be described as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination may be removed from the combination in some cases, and a claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination, or a variation of a sub-combination.

[0205] Similarly, although operations are depicted in a specific order in the accompanying drawings, this should not be understood as requiring such operations to be performed in the specific order shown or in a sequential order, or to perform all illustrated operations to achieve the desired result. In addition, the accompanying drawings can schematically depict one or more example processes in the form of a flow chart. However, other operations not depicted can be incorporated into the example processes schematically illustrated. For example, one or more additional operations can be performed before, after, simultaneously or between any operations in the illustrated operations. Under certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing are advantageous. In addition, the separation of various system components in the various aspects described should not be understood as requiring such separation in all aspects, and it should be understood that the described program components and systems can generally be integrated together in a single software product or packaged into multiple software products. Additionally, other aspects also fall within the scope of the appended claims. In some cases, the actions recorded in the claims can be performed in different orders and still achieve the desired result.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communication performed by a user equipment (UE), the method comprising: sending UE capability information indicating a capability of the UE to support communication with an uplink-only cell; receiving, based on sending the UE capability information, configuration information corresponding to a carrier aggregation framework including the primary cell and an uplink-only cell from a network node associated with the primary cell; and An uplink communication is sent to a network node associated with the uplink-only cell based on the configuration information. 2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the configuration information indicates a dedicated frequency band number associated only with the uplink-only cell. 3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the configuration information indicates a frequency band number associated with the uplink-only cell, wherein the frequency band number is associated with one or more additional cells.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the configuration information indicates a frequency band mode, the frequency band mode comprising carrier aggregation associated with the primary cell and the uplink-only cell, wherein the frequency band associated with the carrier aggregation comprises a carrier aggregation frequency band associated with uplink and downlink communications or an uplink-only frequency band. The method of claim 4 , wherein the configuration information comprises an explicit indication of the frequency band mode. 6 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein the configuration information implicitly indicates the frequency band mode based on at least one of uplink time slot configuration or resource scheduling. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the uplink time slot configuration corresponds to only uplink time slots.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the configuration information further includes a downlink time slot configuration, wherein the resource scheduling corresponds only to an uplink time slot.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration information indicates a time division duplex (TDD) frame structure.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the TDD frame structure indicates at least one downlink time slot, at least one special time slot, and at least one uplink time slot.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising operating in an uplink-only mode, wherein operating in the uplink-only mode comprises suppressing communication on any downlink symbol in a downlink time slot in the at least one downlink time slot and the at least one special time slot.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the TDD frame structure indicates only an uplink time slot.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the configuration information indicates a frequency division duplex frame structure indicating only an uplink time slot. The method of claim 1 , wherein the uplink-only cell is a secondary cell (SCell).

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the configuration information indicates a medium access control (MAC)-based activation configuration associated with the uplink-only cell for activating and / or deactivating communications, wherein an activation delay value associated with the MAC-based activation configuration is less than an activation delay value of an activation configuration associated with a cell supporting uplink and downlink communications.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration information indicates support for simultaneous uplink communications to the uplink-only cell and one or more other cells.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the UE capability information indicates that the UE supports communication with multiple uplink-only cells.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration information indicates that the uplink-only cell does not support spatial relations.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration information indicates that initial access associated with the uplink-only cell is not supported.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the uplink-only cell is associated with a timing advance group (TAG) that includes at least one additional cell, wherein the at least one additional cell supports uplink and downlink communications.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration information indicates a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) configuration, the HARQ configuration corresponding only to the uplink-only cell, wherein the HARQ configuration indicates at least one of a HARQ identifier corresponding only to the uplink-only cell or a HARQ process corresponding only to the uplink-only cell.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the configuration information comprises receiving at least one of a radio resource control message or a medium access control control element.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a measurement reference signal for measuring one or more metrics associated with communications with the uplink-only cell, wherein receiving the measurement reference signal comprises receiving the measurement reference signal from a primary cell or a secondary cell supporting uplink and downlink communications.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a scheduling communication scheduling one or more uplink resources associated with the uplink-only cell communication, wherein receiving the scheduling communication comprises receiving the scheduling communication from a primary cell or a secondary cell supporting uplink and downlink communications.

25. A user equipment (UE) for wireless communication, the user equipment (UE) comprising: Memory; and one or more processors coupled to the memory and configured to: sending UE capability information indicating a capability of the UE to support communication with an uplink-only cell; receiving, based on sending the UE capability information, configuration information corresponding to a carrier aggregation framework including the primary cell and an uplink-only cell from a network node associated with the primary cell; and An uplink communication is sent to a network node associated with the uplink-only cell based on the configuration information.

26. The UE of claim 25, wherein the configuration information indicates a dedicated frequency band number associated only with the uplink-only cell.

27. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing an instruction set for wireless communication, the instruction set comprising: One or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a user equipment (UE), cause the UE to: sending UE capability information indicating a capability of the UE to support communication with an uplink-only cell; receiving, based on sending the UE capability information, configuration information corresponding to a carrier aggregation framework including the primary cell and an uplink-only cell from a network node associated with the primary cell; and An uplink communication is sent to a network node associated with the uplink-only cell based on the configuration information.

28. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein the configuration information indicates a dedicated frequency band number associated only with the uplink-only cell.

29. An apparatus for wireless communication, the apparatus comprising: means for sending UE capability information indicating the apparatus's ability to support communications with uplink-only cells; means for receiving, from a network node associated with a primary cell, configuration information corresponding to a carrier aggregation framework including the primary cell and an uplink-only cell based on sending the UE capability information; and Means for sending an uplink communication to a network node associated with the uplink-only cell based on the configuration information.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the configuration information indicates a dedicated frequency band number associated only with the uplink-only cell.

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