Spectrum sharing between two radio access technologies (RATs) in wireless communication system

Abstract

When wireless communication is carried out on the basis of radio access technology (RAT) through a frequency band, time-frequency resources which are not occupied may exist on the frequency band. In some embodiments, time-frequency resources not occupied by first RAT-based wireless transmissions may be used for second RAT-based wireless transmissions. For example, a first RAT may wirelessly communicate over a first frequency band, while a second RAT may wirelessly communicate over a second frequency band. The first frequency band and the second frequency band may at least partially overlap in the frequency domain such that the second RAT-based wireless communications on the second frequency band may use time-frequency resources that are not occupied by the first RAT-based wireless transmissions on the first frequency band. In this way, time-frequency resources can be efficiently utilized through the shared spectrum.

Description

[0001] Priority

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 458,473, filed April 11, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present application relates to wireless communications, and more specifically, to spectrum sharing. BACKGROUND

[0004] In some wireless communication systems, electronic devices such as user equipment (UE) wirelessly communicate with a wireless network through one or more transmit-and-receive points (TRPs). A TRP can be a terrestrial TRP (T-TRP) or a non-terrestrial TRP (NT-TRP). For example, a T-TRP can be a fixed base station or a NodeB. For example, an NT-TRP can be a TRP that is capable of moving in space to reposition, such as a TRP installed on a drone, an airplane, and / or a satellite, etc.

[0005] Wireless communication from a UE to a TRP is referred to as uplink communication. Wireless communication from a TRP to a UE is referred to as downlink communication. Both uplink and downlink communication require resources. For example, a UE can wirelessly transmit information to a TRP in uplink communication through a specific frequency (or frequency range) in a specific time period. Frequency and time duration are examples of resources, often referred to as time-frequency resources. For example, resources can also include resources in the spatial domain (e.g., used beams), resources in the power domain (e.g., transmission power), etc.

[0006] A time-frequency resource can include a resource element (RE), a resource block (RB), and / or a resource block group (RBG). An RE is the smallest physical time-frequency resource. In one implementation, an RE can consist of one frequency subcarrier (“subcarrier”) within one orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol. A RB is a group of contiguous frequency resources. In one implementation, a RB can consist of a group of contiguous subcarriers in the frequency domain, e.g., a RB can be defined as 12 contiguous subcarriers in the frequency domain. A RBG is a group of RBs, e.g., a RBG can be defined as 16 contiguous RBs.

[0007] Wireless communications can be transmitted over a frequency band. A frequency band can also be referred to as a frequency spectrum. For example, wireless communications over a frequency band can be wireless communications transmitted over a carrier frequency (herein referred to as a carrier). In certain implementations, a carrier can also be referred to as a component carrier (CC) or a cell. Characteristics of a carrier can include a bandwidth and a reference frequency (e.g., a center frequency) of the carrier. For example, wireless communications over a frequency band can also be wireless communications transmitted over a bandwidth part (BWP). A BWP is a set of contiguous or non-contiguous frequency subcarriers. A carrier can include a BWP and vice versa.

[0008] A radio access technology (RAT) is a basic physical connection technology used for wireless communications in a wireless network. Wireless communications can be considered to be based on a RAT. For example, a RAT can include a third-generation (“3G”) RAT, a long-term evolution (“LTE”) RAT, a fourth-generation (“4G”) RAT, a fifth-generation new radio (“5G NR”) RAT, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. For example, a UE operating on a 5G wireless network employs a 5G NR RAT (or 5G RAT or NR RAT), and wireless communications are based on the 5G NR RAT, e.g., over a frequency band associated with the 5G NR RAT.

[0009] When wireless communications are based on a RAT over a frequency band, there can be time-frequency resources on the frequency band that are not occupied by wireless communications. SUMMARY

[0010] A wireless network can be a multi-RAT network, i.e., a network that supports communications based on different RATs. For example, a multi-RAT network can include one or more TRPs that are capable of communicating with a first UE based on a first RAT and a second UE based on a second RAT. Time-frequency resources that are not occupied by wireless transmissions based on the first RAT can be used for wireless transmissions based on the second RAT. For example, the first RAT can be used for wireless communications over a first frequency band, and the second RAT can be used for wireless communications over a second frequency band. The first frequency band and the second frequency band can at least partially overlap in the frequency domain, such that wireless communications based on the second RAT over the second frequency band can use time-frequency resources that are not occupied by wireless transmissions based on the first RAT over the first frequency band. This brings a technical advantage of efficient utilization of time-frequency resources through sharing of a frequency spectrum, which is particularly important due to the limited nature of time-frequency resources.

[0011] The following is an example. As sixth generation (6G) RAT is deployed, there can still be UEs that communicate using 5G NR RAT. A multi-RAT network can be deployed, with one or more TRPs communicating with 5G capable UEs (referred to as “5G UEs”) based on 5G NR RAT and with 6G capable UEs (referred to as “6G UEs”) based on 6G RAT. Some or all wireless communications based on 5G NR RAT can be on a first frequency band (referred to as “5G frequency band”). Some or all wireless communications based on 6G RAT can be on a second frequency band (referred to as “6G frequency band”). The 6G frequency band can at least partially overlap with the 5G frequency band, such that wireless communications on the 6G frequency band can use time-frequency resources on the 5G frequency band that are not occupied. That is, wireless communications based on 6G RAT can use time-frequency resources on the 6G frequency band that are also on the 5G frequency band (because the 5G frequency band and the 6G frequency band at least partially overlap) and are not used for wireless transmissions based on 5G NR RAT on the 5G frequency band.

[0012] Configuring (e.g., scheduling) wireless communications of a round-trip 6G UE on a 6G band on time-frequency resources that are also on a 5G band at the same time can present technical issues. There are some wireless transmissions on the 5G band that should not be interfered with, which means that wireless communications on the 6G band should not be configured on these time-frequency resources. These time-frequency resources are referred to as forbidden resources, or unavailable resources. For example, time-frequency resources on the 5G band for the following operations can be forbidden: 5G NR RAT-based synchronization, 5G NR RAT-based network access, 5G NR RAT-based control information transmission, and / or 5G NR RAT-based reference signal transmission. For example, in some implementations, it can be forbidden to schedule a 6G UE on time-frequency resources on the 6G band that are used on the 5G band to transmit synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) to 5G UEs. However, some of these forbidden resources can only occupy some resource elements (REs) in one or more resource blocks (RBs). Therefore, to make full use of the spectrum, a 6G UE should be scheduled on the 6G band on a RE-by-RE basis, such that when there is a certain RB that includes both forbidden REs and non-forbidden / unoccupied REs, the non-forbidden / unoccupied REs can be scheduled without scheduling the forbidden REs. However, scheduling a 6G UE on a RE-by-RE basis can result in excessive control overhead. It is necessary and / or desirable (depending on the implementation) to schedule on a RB-by-RB and / or RBG-by-RBG basis. However, if scheduling is performed on a RB-by-RB basis, a 6G UE cannot be scheduled on any RB that includes one or more forbidden resources, even if the RB only includes partially forbidden REs. Similarly, if scheduling is performed on a RBG-by-RBG basis, a 6G UE cannot be scheduled on any RBG that includes one or more forbidden resources, even if the RBG only includes partially forbidden REs and / or RBs. This results in time-frequency resources (e.g., REs) on this 5G band being unoccupied but not used for wireless communications on the 6G band, resulting in a waste of time-frequency resources.

[0013] Thus, in some embodiments, the wireless communication with the round-trip 6G UE on the 6G band can be configured (e.g., scheduled) on time-frequency resources that are also on the 5G band and include unoccupied time-frequency resources and forbidden time-frequency resources. Unoccupied time-frequency resources are time-frequency resources that are not used for 5G NR RAT based wireless transmissions on the 5G band. Forbidden time-frequency resources are time-frequency resources that can or are to be used for 5G NR RAT based wireless transmissions on the 5G band, and need to be avoided from use in order to avoid interference. By configuring (e.g., scheduling) the wireless communication with the round-trip 6G UE on the 6G band on the unoccupied time-frequency resources and the forbidden time-frequency resources, a technical advantage of reduced control overhead can be achieved because the wireless communication can be configured on a RB by RB and / or RBG by RBG basis, rather than a RE by RE basis, while still including RBs and / or RBGs with partial forbidden time-frequency resources to enhance spectrum sharing. Specifically, to achieve the technical advantage of enhanced spectrum sharing, the 6G UE is configured (e.g., scheduled) to communicate on RBs and / or RBGs that include partial forbidden time-frequency resources (e.g., partial forbidden REs), and control signaling is used to provide information to the 6G UE so that the 6G UE can determine which time-frequency resources (e.g., which REs) are forbidden. The 6G UE then communicates on the time-frequency resources as configured, but excludes communicating on the specific time-frequency resources determined to be forbidden (i.e., does not communicate on those resources). Rate matching and / or puncturing can be used to conduct the wireless communication with the round-trip 6G UE on the time-frequency resources on the 6G band other than the forbidden time-frequency resources.

[0014] The following are two examples. In one example, the 6G UE is scheduled on a RB by RB basis on the 6G band. The 6G UE is scheduled on a RB that includes one or more REs used for SSB transmissions on the 5G band. However, the SSB does not occupy all of the REs in the RB. The 6G UE determines the REs used for transmitting the SSB (e.g., using information received from the network), and does not communicate on those REs. In another example, the 6G UE is scheduled on a RBG by RBG basis. The 6G UE is scheduled on one or more RBGs that include one or more REs used for SSB transmissions on the 5G band. However, the SSB does not occupy all of the RBs in the RBG. The 6G UE determines the RBs used for transmitting the SSB (e.g., using information received from the network), and does not communicate on those RBs. In this second example, while indicating to the 6G UE which RBs to avoid using rather than which REs to avoid using can reduce overhead, it can result in partial REs being unoccupied and not used for wireless communication on the 6G band.

[0015] In some embodiments, the network can semi-statically indicate to the 6G UE which time-frequency resources are forbidden, and the network can dynamically indicate that specific forbidden resources are actually not forbidden and unoccupied, but can be used, which is particularly useful in the following case: there is a semi-statically indicated forbidden resource pattern, but in some time period, these forbidden resources are actually not occupied.

[0016] Embodiments are not limited to spectrum sharing between a 6G RAT and a 5G NR RAT. More generally, the wireless communication based on the second RAT can be on unoccupied time-frequency resources associated with the first RAT. Moreover, the wireless communication does not necessarily have to be between a UE and one or more TRPs. The wireless communication can be between two UEs (e.g., sidelink) or two network devices (e.g., two TRPs (e.g., backhaul)).

[0017] In one aspect, a method performed by an apparatus, such as a UE, is provided. The method can include receiving an indication of first time-frequency resources associated with a wireless transmission based on a first RAT (e.g., a 5G NR RAT) on a first frequency band. The method can also include wirelessly communicating based on a second RAT (e.g., a 6G RAT) on a second frequency band. The second frequency band can at least partially overlap the first frequency band in a frequency domain. The wirelessly communicating can be on second time-frequency resources other than the first time-frequency resources. For example, in some embodiments, the wirelessly communicating can include refraining from communicating on the first time-frequency resources by rate matching or puncturing, communicating on the second time-frequency resources other than the first time-frequency resources. In some embodiments, the first frequency band includes at least one of a first carrier or a first BWP. In some embodiments, the second frequency band includes at least one of a second carrier or a second BWP.

[0018] In some embodiments, prior to the wireless communication, the method includes receiving information configuring the apparatus for wireless communication based on the second RAT. The wireless communication is configured on the second time-frequency resources and the first time-frequency resources. However, although the wireless communication is configured on the second time-frequency resources and the first time-frequency resources, the wireless communication includes conducting the wireless communication on the second time-frequency resources excluding the first time-frequency resources, e.g., by rate matching or puncturing to exclude transmissions on the first time-frequency resources. In some embodiments, receiving the information configuring the wireless communication includes receiving scheduling information scheduling the wireless communication, the wireless communication being scheduled on the second time-frequency resources and the first time-frequency resources. In some embodiments, the scheduling information schedules the wireless communication on at least one RB, the at least one RB including first REs on the first time-frequency resources and second REs not on the first time-frequency resources, the wireless communication including conducting the wireless communication on the second REs and not on the first REs. In some embodiments, the scheduling information schedules the wireless communication on a plurality of RBs, at least one of the RBs including at least a portion of the first time-frequency resources, the wireless communication including conducting the wireless communication on the plurality of RBs excluding any RBs including a portion or all of the first time-frequency resources.

[0019] In some embodiments, the first time-frequency resource corresponds to one or more time-frequency locations associated with at least one of: synchronization based on the first RAT, network access based on the first RAT, control information based on the first RAT, or a reference signal based on the first RAT. In some embodiments, the first time-frequency resource corresponds to at least one of: a time-frequency location of one or more synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) of the first RAT; a time-frequency location of one or more control resource sets (CORESETs) of the first RAT; a time-frequency location of one or more channel-state information reference signals (CSI-RSs) of the first RAT; a time-frequency location of one or more sounding reference signals (SRSs) of the first RAT; a time-frequency location of one or more random access channels (RACHs) of the first RAT; or a time-frequency location of one or more control channels of the first RAT. In some embodiments, the first time-frequency resource corresponds to the time-frequency location of one or more SSBs of the first RAT, the indication comprises: (i) a time-domain indication indicating a time location of at least one SSB, and (ii) a frequency-domain indication indicating a frequency location of the at least one SSB. In some embodiments, the time-domain indication comprises an indication of at least one of: a frame timing of the first RAT; a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of the at least one SSB; candidate time-domain locations of the at least one SSB pre-defined for each SCS; a periodicity of the at least one SSB; or a synchronization signal (SS) / physical broadcast channel (PBCH) block transmitted based on the first RAT. In some embodiments, the frequency-domain indication comprises at least one of: a center of the first frequency band; a bandwidth of the first frequency band; an SSB subcarrier offset; a lowest RB location of an SSB after resolving the SSB subcarrier offset; a lowest subcarrier location of an SSB after resolving the SSB subcarrier offset.

[0020] In some embodiments, the indication is a first indication, the first indication also indicating that a third time-frequency resource is also associated with the wireless transmission based on the first RAT, the third time-frequency resource being a subset of the second time-frequency resource and different from the first time-frequency resource. In some embodiments, prior to the wireless communication, the method further comprises: receiving a second indication indicating that the third time-frequency resource is not used for wireless transmission based on the first RAT. The wireless communication on the second time-frequency resource can comprise communicating on the third time-frequency resource. In some embodiments, the first indication is received in semi-static signaling, and the second indication is received in downlink control information (DCI) or medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC control element, MAC-CE). In some embodiments, the wireless communication comprises a first wireless communication based on the second RAT, the method further comprising: receiving information configuring a second subsequent wireless communication based on the second RAT, wherein the second subsequent wireless communication is configured on resources comprising a subset of time-frequency resources, the subset of time-frequency resources also being indicated in the first indication as being associated with the wireless transmission based on the first RAT; performing the subsequent wireless communication, but excluding communicating on the subset of time-frequency resources. In some embodiments, prior to performing the subsequent wireless communication, the method comprises: receiving a further indication indicating that the apparatus is prohibited from performing the subsequent wireless communication on the subset of time-frequency resources. In some embodiments, the further indication is received in DCI or MAC-CE.

[0021] In some embodiments, the second RAT is associated with a first SSB time- frequency location pattern and a second SSB time-frequency location pattern for transmitting SSBs based on the second RAT on the second frequency band. In some embodiments, the method further includes receiving, by the apparatus, an indication of whether the first SSB time-frequency location pattern or the second SSB time-frequency location pattern is currently used. In some embodiments, receiving the indication of whether the first SSB time-frequency location pattern or the second SSB time-frequency location pattern is currently used further includes receiving an indication of at least one of: a frequency location of SSBs, a time location of SSBs, a carrier on which SSBs are located, or a BWP on which SSBs are located. In some embodiments, the indication is received in a paging message. In some embodiments, the apparatus uses a reference signal for coarse synchronization to receive the paging message. In some embodiments, the first SSB time-frequency location pattern includes SSBs transmitted based on the second RAT on the second frequency band, frequency resources used to transmit the SSBs being different from frequency resources used to transmit SSBs based on the first RAT on the first frequency band. In some embodiments, the second SSB time-frequency location pattern includes SSBs transmitted based on the second RAT on the second frequency band, frequency resources used to transmit the SSBs at least partially overlapping with the frequency resources used to transmit SSBs based on the first RAT on the first frequency band, but multiplexed in time. In some embodiments, more SSBs are transmitted in the first SSB time-frequency location pattern than in the second SSB time-frequency location pattern in a given time period.

[0022] In some embodiments, an apparatus to perform any of the methods described above and herein is provided. For example, the apparatus includes at least one processor and a memory storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform any of the methods described above and herein. For example, the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, can cause the apparatus to perform the following operations: receive an indication of a first time-frequency resource associated with a first RAT-based wireless transmission on a first frequency band; and wirelessly communicate based on a second RAT on a second frequency band, where the second frequency band at least partially overlaps the first frequency band in a frequency domain, the wirelessly communicating to be on a second time-frequency resource other than the first time-frequency resource. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a chip, e.g., an integrated circuit (IC) chip. In some embodiments, the apparatus does not execute instructions by a processor to perform the above methods, e.g., the apparatus can include circuitry, e.g., a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a graphical processing unit (GPU), or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), to perform the above methods. More generally, the apparatus can include a module or a means for performing the above methods, e.g., a module or a means for receiving an indication of a first time-frequency resource associated with a first RAT-based wireless transmission on a first frequency band, and a module or a means for wirelessly communicating based on a second RAT on a second frequency band, where the second frequency band at least partially overlaps the first frequency band in a frequency domain, the wirelessly communicating being on a second time-frequency resource other than the first time-frequency resource. In some embodiments, the apparatus can include means for performing the steps of the methods, e.g., the apparatus can include means for receiving an indication of a first time-frequency resource associated with a first RAT-based wireless transmission on a first frequency band, and means for wirelessly communicating based on a second RAT on a second frequency band, where the second frequency band at least partially overlaps the first frequency band in a frequency domain, the wirelessly communicating being on a second time-frequency resource other than the first time-frequency resource.

[0023] In another aspect, a method performed by a device (e.g., a network device such as a TRP) is provided. The method can include transmitting, to an apparatus (e.g., a UE), an indication of first time-frequency resources associated with a first RAT (e.g., a 5G NR RAT)-based wireless transmission on a first frequency band. The method can also include wirelessly communicating with the apparatus based on a second RAT (e.g., a 6G RAT) on a second frequency band. The second frequency band can at least partially overlap the first frequency band in a frequency domain. The wirelessly communicating can be on second time-frequency resources other than the first time-frequency resources. For example, in some embodiments, the wirelessly communicating can include excluding from communicating on the first time-frequency resources by rate matching or puncturing, communicating on the second time-frequency resources other than the first time-frequency resources. In some embodiments, the first frequency band includes at least one of a first carrier or a first BWP. In some embodiments, the second frequency band includes at least one of a second carrier or a second BWP.

[0024] In some embodiments, prior to the wirelessly communicating, the method can include transmitting information configuring the apparatus for the second RAT-based wireless communication, where the wireless communication is configured on the second time-frequency resources and the first time-frequency resources. The wirelessly communicating can include wirelessly communicating on the second time-frequency resources other than the first time-frequency resources. In some embodiments, transmitting the information configuring the wireless communication includes transmitting scheduling information scheduling the wireless communication, the wireless communication being scheduled on the second time-frequency resources and the first time-frequency resources. In some embodiments, the scheduling information schedules the wireless communication on at least one RB, the at least one RB including first REs on the first time-frequency resources and second REs not on the first time-frequency resources, the wireless communication including wirelessly communicating on the second REs and not on the first REs. In some embodiments, the scheduling information schedules the wireless communication on a plurality of RBs, at least one of the RBs including at least a portion of the first time-frequency resources, the wireless communication including wirelessly communicating on the plurality of RBs other than any RBs including a portion or all of the first time-frequency resources.

[0025] In some embodiments, the first time-frequency resources correspond to one or more time-frequency locations associated with at least one of: synchronization based on the first RAT, network access based on the first RAT, control information based on the first RAT, or a reference signal based on the first RAT. In some embodiments, the first time-frequency resources correspond to at least one of: time-frequency locations of one or more synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) of the first RAT; time-frequency locations of one or more control resource sets (CORESETs) of the first RAT; time-frequency locations of one or more channel state information reference signals (CSI-RSs) of the first RAT; time-frequency locations of one or more sounding reference signals (SRSs) of the first RAT; time-frequency locations of one or more random access channels (RACHs) of the first RAT; or time-frequency locations of one or more control channels of the first RAT. In some embodiments, the first time-frequency resources correspond to the time-frequency locations of one or more SSBs of the first RAT, the indication comprises: (i) a time-domain indication indicating a time location of at least one SSB, and (ii) a frequency-domain indication indicating a frequency location of the at least one SSB. In some embodiments, the time-domain indication comprises an indication of at least one of: a frame timing of the first RAT; a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of the at least one SSB; candidate time-domain locations of the at least one SSB pre-defined for each SCS; a periodicity of the at least one SSB; or a synchronization signal (SS) / physical broadcast channel (PBCH) block transmitted based on the first RAT. In some embodiments, the frequency-domain indication comprises at least one of: a center of the first frequency band; a bandwidth of the first frequency band; an SSB subcarrier offset; a lowest RB location of a SSB after resolving the SSB subcarrier offset; a lowest subcarrier location of a SSB after resolving the SSB subcarrier offset.

[0026] In some embodiments, the indication is a first indication, the first indication also indicating that a third time-frequency resource is also associated with the wireless transmission based on the first RAT, the third time-frequency resource being a subset of the second time-frequency resource and different from the first time-frequency resource. In some embodiments, prior to the wireless communication, the method further comprises: transmitting a second indication indicating that the third time-frequency resource is not used for wireless transmission based on the first RAT. In some embodiments, the wireless communication on the second time-frequency resource comprises communication on the third time-frequency resource. In some embodiments, the first indication is transmitted in semi-static signaling, and the second indication is transmitted in downlink control information (DCI) or a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE). In some embodiments, the wireless communication comprises a first wireless communication based on the second RAT, the method further comprising: transmitting information configuring a second subsequent wireless communication based on the second RAT, wherein the second subsequent wireless communication is configured on resources including a subset of time-frequency resources, the subset of time-frequency resources also being indicated in the first indication as being associated with the wireless transmission based on the first RAT; performing the subsequent wireless communication, but excluding communication on the subset of time-frequency resources. In some embodiments, prior to performing the subsequent wireless communication, the method comprises: transmitting a further indication indicating that the apparatus is prohibited from performing the subsequent wireless communication on the subset of time-frequency resources. In some embodiments, the further indication is transmitted in DCI or a MAC-CE.

[0027] In some embodiments, the second RAT is associated with a first SSB time- frequency location pattern and a second SSB time-frequency location pattern for transmitting SSBs based on the second RAT on the second frequency band. In some embodiments, the method further includes transmitting, to the apparatus, an indication of whether the first SSB time-frequency location pattern or the second SSB time-frequency location pattern is currently used. In some embodiments, transmitting the indication of whether the first SSB time-frequency location pattern or the second SSB time-frequency location pattern is currently used further includes transmitting an indication of at least one of: a frequency location of SSBs, a time location of SSBs, a carrier on which SSBs are located, or a BWP on which SSBs are located. In some embodiments, the indication is transmitted in a paging message. In some embodiments, the first SSB time-frequency location pattern includes SSBs transmitted based on the second RAT on the second frequency band, frequency resources used to transmit the SSBs being different from frequency resources used to transmit SSBs based on the first RAT on the first frequency band. In some embodiments, the second SSB time-frequency location pattern includes SSBs transmitted based on the second RAT on the second frequency band, frequency resources used to transmit the SSBs at least partially overlapping with the frequency resources used to transmit SSBs based on the first RAT on the first frequency band, but multiplexed in time. In some embodiments, more SSBs are transmitted in the first SSB time-frequency location pattern than in the second SSB time-frequency location pattern in a given time period.

[0028] In some embodiments, an apparatus is provided that performs any of the methods described above and herein. For example, the apparatus includes at least one processor and a memory storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform any of the methods described above and herein. For example, the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, can cause the apparatus to transmit, to a device, an indication of a first time-frequency resource associated with a first RAT-based wireless transmission on a first frequency band; and wirelessly communicate, with the device, based on a second RAT on a second frequency band, wherein the second frequency band at least partially overlaps the first frequency band in a frequency domain, the wirelessly communicating being on a second time-frequency resource other than the first time-frequency resource. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a chip, e.g., an integrated circuit (IC) chip. In some embodiments, the apparatus does not execute instructions by a processor to perform the above methods, e.g., the apparatus can include circuitry, e.g., a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), to perform the above methods. More generally, the apparatus can include a module or unit to perform the above methods, e.g., a module or unit to transmit, to a device, an indication of a first time-frequency resource associated with a first RAT-based wireless transmission on a first frequency band, and a module or unit to wirelessly communicate, with the device, based on a second RAT on a second frequency band, wherein the second frequency band at least partially overlaps the first frequency band in a frequency domain, the wirelessly communicating being on a second time-frequency resource other than the first time-frequency resource. In some embodiments, the apparatus can include means for performing the steps of the methods, e.g., the apparatus can include means for transmitting, to a device, an indication of a first time-frequency resource associated with a first RAT-based wireless transmission on a first frequency band, and means for wirelessly communicating, with the device, based on a second RAT on a second frequency band, wherein the second frequency band at least partially overlaps the first frequency band in a frequency domain, the wirelessly communicating being on a second time-frequency resource other than the first time-frequency resource.

[0029] According to an aspect of the present application, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, wherein the computer readable storage medium stores instructions that, when executed by a processor in an apparatus, enable the apparatus to perform the above method.

[0030] Technical advantages of some embodiments include reduced control overhead between sharing spectrum between two RATs compared to scheduling on a per-RE basis. Spectrum sharing enables efficient utilization of scarce time-frequency resources, while reduced control overhead enables more time-frequency resources to be dedicated to data transmission. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0031] Various embodiments are described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are meant to be exemplary only and not limiting in any way. In the drawings:

[0032] Figure 1 is a network diagram of an exemplary communication system;

[0033] Figure 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary electronic device;

[0034] Figure 3 is a block diagram of another exemplary electronic device;

[0035] Figure 4 is a block diagram of an exemplary component module;

[0036] Figure 5 shows four carriers on a band provided by one example;

[0037] Figure 6 shows a device and multiple apparatuses provided by one embodiment;

[0038] Figure 7 shows a band for wireless communication provided by one embodiment;

[0039] Figure 8 shows some examples of band overlap;

[0040] Figure 9 shows two bands that partially overlap provided by one embodiment;

[0041] Figure 10 shows six RBs scheduled for wireless communication provided by one example;

[0042] Figure 11 shows forbidden REs within an RB;

[0043] Figure 12 shows a method performed by a device and apparatus provided by one embodiment;

[0044] Figure 13 shows Figure 12 one example of a first time-frequency resource and a second time-frequency resource in the method of

[0045] Figure 14 shows one example of excluding any RBs that include the first time-frequency resource;

[0046] Figures 15 to 19 shows resource release provided by various examples;

[0047] Figure 20 and Figure 21 shows SSB patterns provided by various examples. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] For illustrative purposes, specific example embodiments are explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0049] The methods described herein can be performed in a communication system that implements wireless communication. Thus, an example communication system that includes wireless communication is first described below.

[0050] Example communication system and devices

[0051] Reference Figure 1 , Figure 1 is a simplified schematic illustration of a communication system 100. The communication system 100 includes a radio access network (RAN) 120. The radio access network 120 can be a next generation (e.g., sixth generation (6G) or beyond) radio access network, or a legacy (e.g., 5G, 4G, 3G, or 2G) radio access network. One or more communication electronic devices (EDs) 110a-110j (generally referred to as 110) can be interconnected to each other and / or to one or more network nodes (170a and 170b, generally referred to as 170) in the radio access network 120. A core network 130 can be part of the communication system and can be dependent or independent of the radio access technology used in the communication system 100. In addition, the communication system 100 includes a public switched telephone network (PSTN) 140, the Internet 150, and other networks 160.

[0052] Figure 2 An example communication system 100 is shown. Generally, the communication system 100 enables multiple wireless or wired units to communicate with each other or with other devices. The communication system 100 can have the goal of providing voice, data, video, and / or text content, among other content, through broadcast, multicast, and unicast, among other techniques. The communication system 100 can operate through sharing of resources in a carrier frequency spectrum bandwidth, among other techniques. The communication system 100 can include a terrestrial communication system and / or a non-terrestrial communication system. The communication system 100 can provide a wide variety of communication services and applications (e.g., earth monitoring, remote sensing, passive sensing and positioning, navigation and tracking, autonomous delivery and mobility, among others). The communication system 100 can provide a high level of availability and robustness through joint operation of terrestrial communication systems and non-terrestrial communication systems. For example, integration of non-terrestrial communication systems (or components thereof) into terrestrial communication systems can result in a multi-tiered, heterogeneous network. The heterogeneous network can achieve better overall performance compared to legacy communication networks through efficient multi-link joint operation, more flexible function sharing, and faster physical layer link switching between terrestrial networks and non-terrestrial networks.

[0053] The ground communication system and the non-terrestrial communication system can be subsystems in a communication system. In the illustrated example, the communication system 100 includes electronic devices (EDs) 110a-110d (generally referred to as EDs 110), wireless access networks (RANs) 120a and 120b, a non-terrestrial communication network 120c (which can also be a RAN or a part of a RAN), a core network 130, a public switched telephone network (PSTN) 140, the Internet 150, and other networks 160. The RANs 120a and 120b include respective base stations (BSs) 170a and 170b, which can be generally referred to as terrestrial transmit and receive points (T-TRPs) 170a and 170b. The non-terrestrial communication network 120c includes an access node 120c, which can be generally referred to as a non-terrestrial transmit and receive point (NT-TRP) 172.

[0054] Alternatively or additionally, any of the EDs 110 can be configured to connect with, access, or communicate with any other T-TRPs 170a and 170b, the NT-TRP 172, the Internet 150, the core network 130, the PSTN 140, the other networks 160, or any combination of the above. In some examples, the ED 110a can be configured to perform uplink and / or downlink transmissions with the T-TRP 170a via an interface 190a. In some examples, the EDs 110a, 110b, and 110d can also be configured to directly communicate with each other via one or more sidelink air interfaces 190b. In some examples, the ED 110d can be configured to perform uplink and / or downlink transmissions with the NT-TRP 172 via an interface 190c.

[0055] The air interfaces 190a and 190b can use similar communication techniques, for example, any suitable wireless access technique. For example, the communication system 100 can implement one or more channel access methods in the air interfaces 190a and 190b, for example, code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA), or single-carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA). The air interfaces 190a and 190b can utilize other high-dimensional signal spaces, which can include combinations of orthogonal and / or non-orthogonal dimensions.

[0056] The air interface 190c can enable communication between the ED 110d and one or more NT-TRPs 172 over a wireless link or a simple link. In some examples, the link is a dedicated connection for unicast transmission, a connection for broadcast transmission, or a connection between a group of EDs and one or more NT-TRPs for groupcast transmission.

[0057] The RANs 120a and 120b are in communication with the core network 130 to provide the EDs 110a, 110b, and 110c with access to various services, such as voice, data, and other services. The RANs 120a and 120b and / or the core network 130 can be in direct or indirect communication with one or more other RANs (not shown) that can or can not be of the same

[0058] Figure 3Another example of an ED 110, base station 170 (e.g., 170a and / or 170b) is shown, hereinafter referred to as T-TRP 170 and NT-TRP 172. The ED 110 is used to connect people, objects, machines, etc. The ED 110 can be widely used in various scenarios, such as cellular communication, device-to-device (D2D), vehicle to everything (V2X), peer-to-peer (P2P), machine-to-machine (M2M), machine-type communication (MTC), internet of things (IoT), virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), industrial control, autonomous driving, remote medical treatment, smart grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wear, smart transportation, smart city, unmanned aerial vehicle, robot, remote sensing, passive sensing, positioning, navigation and tracking, autonomous delivery and mobility, etc.

[0059] Each ED 110 represents any suitable end-user device for wireless operation, and can include (or can be referred to as) a user equipment / device (UE), a wireless transmit / receive unit (WTRU), a mobile station, a fixed or mobile subscriber unit, a cellular phone, a station (STA), a machine-type communication (MTC) device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smartphone, a laptop, a computer, a tablet, a wireless sensor, a consumer electronics device, a smartbook, a vehicle, a car, a truck, a bus, a train, or an IoT device, an industrial device, or a means for communicating (e.g., a communication module, a modem, or a chip), etc. Next-generation ED 110 can be referred to using other terms. Each ED 110 connected to the T-TRP 170 and / or the NT-TRP 172 can be dynamically or semi-statically activated (i.e., established, activated, or enabled), deactivated (i.e., released, deactivated, or disabled), and / or configured in response to one or more of connection availability and connection necessity.

[0060] The ED 110 includes a transmitter 201 and a receiver 203 coupled to one or more antennas 204. Only one antenna 204 is shown in the figure. Alternatively, one, some or all of the antennas can be panels. The transmitter 201 and receiver 203 can be integrated, e.g., as a transceiver. The transmitter (or transceiver) is used to modulate data or other content for transmission by at least one antenna 204 or network interface controller (NIC). The receiver (or transceiver) is used to demodulate data or other content received by at least one antenna 204. Each transceiver includes any suitable structure for generating a signal for wireless or wired transmission and / or for processing a signal received via wireless or wired transmission. Each antenna 204 includes any suitable structure for transmitting and / or receiving wireless or wired signals.

[0061] The ED 110 includes at least one memory 208. The memory 208 stores instructions and data used, generated, or collected by the ED 110. For example, the memory 208 could store software

[0062] The ED 110 can also include one or more input / output devices (not shown) or interfaces (e.g., wired interfaces to the Internet 150 in FIG. 1). The input / output devices support interaction Figure 1 with users or other devices, systems, or networks. Each input / output device includes any suitable structure for providing information to or from a user, such as a speaker, microphone, keypad, keyboard, display, or touch screen, including network interface communications.

[0063] ED 110 also includes processor 210 for performing operations related to preparing uplink transmissions to be sent to NT-TRPs 172 and / or T-TRPs 170, operations related to processing downlink transmissions received from NT-TRPs 172 and / or T-TRPs 170, and operations related to processing sidelink transmissions sent to and from other EDs 110. The processing operations related to preparing uplink transmissions to be sent can include operations such as encoding, modulation, transmit beamforming, and generating symbols for transmission. The processing operations related to processing downlink transmissions can include operations such as receive beamforming, demodulation, and decoding of received symbols. According to embodiments, downlink transmissions can be received by receiver 203 using receive beamforming, and processor 210 can extract signaling from the downlink transmissions (e.g., by detecting and / or decoding signaling). One example of signaling can be reference signals transmitted by NT-TRPs 172 and / or T-TRPs 170. In some embodiments, processor 276 implements transmit beamforming and / or receive beamforming according to beam direction indications (e.g., beam angle information (BAI)) received from T-TRPs 170. In some embodiments, processor 210 can perform operations related to network access (e.g., initial access) and / or downlink synchronization, such as operations related to detecting synchronization sequences, decoding and acquiring system information, and the like. In some embodiments, processor 210 can perform channel estimation using reference signals received from NT-TRPs 172 and / or T-TRPs 170 and the like.

[0064] Processor 210 can be part of transmitter 201 and / or part of receiver 203, but not shown in the figure. Memory 208 can be part of processor 210, but not shown in the figure.

[0065] Processor 210, processing components in transmitter 201, and processing components in receiver 203 can be implemented by the same or different one or more processors respectively, which are used to execute instructions stored in a memory (e.g., memory 208). Alternatively, some or all of processor 210, processing components in transmitter 201, and processing components in receiver 203 can be implemented using a programmed field programmable gate array (FPGA), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), among other specialized circuits.

[0066] T-TRP 170 can be referred to using other names in some implementations, such as a base station, a base transceiver station (BTS), a wireless base station, a network node, a network equipment, a network-side device, a transmission / reception node, a NodeB, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB), a home eNodeB, a next generation NodeB (gNB), a transmission point (TP), a site controller, an access point (AP) or a wireless router, a relay, a ground node, a ground network equipment, or a ground base station, a baseband unit (BBU), a remote radio unit (RRU), an active antenna unit (AAU), a remote radio head (RRH), a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a positioning node, etc. T-TRP 170 can be a macro BS, a pico BS, a relay node, a donor node, etc. or a combination thereof. T-TRP 170 can refer to the above devices, or to an apparatus (e.g., a communication module, a modem, or a chip) in the above devices.

[0067] In some embodiments, various parts of T-TRP 170 can be distributed. For example, some of the modules in T-TRP 170 can be remote from a device that houses the antennas of T-TRP 170, and can be coupled to the device that houses the antennas through a communication link (not shown) that is sometimes referred to as front-haul (e.g., common public radio interface (CPRI)). Thus, in some embodiments, the term “T-TRP 170” can also refer to network-side modules that perform processing operations such as determining the location of ED 110, resource allocation (scheduling), message generation, and encoding / decoding, which are not necessarily part of the device that houses the antennas of T-TRP 170. These modules can also be coupled to other T-TRPs. In some embodiments, T-TRP 170 can actually be multiple T-TRPs that work together to serve ED 110 through coordinated multipoint transmission, etc.

[0068] The T-TRP 170 includes at least one transmitter 252 and at least one receiver 254 coupled to one or more antennas 256. Only one antenna 256 is shown in the figure. Alternatively, one, some or all of the antennas can be panels. The transmitter 252 and receiver 254 can be integrated as a transceiver. The T-TRP 170 also includes a processor 260 for performing operations related to preparing downlink transmissions to the ED 110, processing uplink transmissions received from the ED 110, preparing backhaul transmissions to the NT-TRP 172, and processing transmissions received from the NT-TRP 172 over the backhaul. The processing operations related to preparing a downlink or backhaul transmission can include operations such as encoding, modulation, precoding (e.g., MIMO precoding), transmit beamforming, and generating symbols for transmission. The processing operations related to processing received transmissions on the uplink or backhaul can include operations such as receive beamforming, demodulation, and decoding of received symbols. The processor 260 can also perform operations related to network access (e.g., initial access) and / or downlink synchronization, such as generating content of a synchronization signal block (SSB), generating system information, and so on. In some embodiments, the processor 260 also generates beam direction indications, such as BAI, that the scheduler 253 can schedule for transmission. The processor 260 performs other network-side processing operations that can be described herein, such as determining a location of the ED 110, determining a location at which to deploy the NT-TRP 172, and so on. In some embodiments, the processor 260 can generate signaling to configure one or more parameters of the ED 110 and / or one or more parameters of the NT-TRP 172, and so on. Any signaling generated by the processor 260 is transmitted by the transmitter 252. It is noted that “signaling” used herein can alternatively be referred to as control signaling. Dynamic signaling can be transmitted in a control channel such as a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), while static or semi-static higher layer signaling can be included in a data packet transmitted in a data channel such as a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH).

[0069] The scheduler 253 can be coupled to the processor 260. The scheduler 253 can be included within the T-TRP 170 or can operate separately from the T-TRP 170. The scheduler 253 can schedule uplink, downlink, and / or backhaul transmissions, including issuing scheduling grants and / or configuring grant-free (“configured grant”) resources. The T-TRP 170 also includes memory 258 for storing information and data. The memory 258 stores instructions and data used, generated, or collected by the T-TRP 170. For example, the memory 258 can store software

[0070] The processor 260 can be part of the transmitter 252 and / or the receiver 254, but is not shown in the figure. Further, the processor 260 can implement the scheduler 253, but is not shown in the figure. The memory 258 can be part of the processor 260, but is not shown in the figure.

[0071] The processor 260, the scheduler 253, processing components in the transmitter 252, and processing components in the receiver 254 can each be implemented by the same or different one or more processors that execute instructions stored in memory (e.g., the memory 258). Alternatively, some or all of the processor 260, the scheduler 253, processing components in the transmitter 252, and processing components in the receiver 254 can be implemented using special-purpose circuitry, such as FPGA, GPU, or ASIC.

[0072] While the NT-TRP 172 is shown as a drone, this is merely an example. The NT-TRP 172 can be implemented using any suitable non-terrestrial form. Moreover, the NT-TRP 172 can use other names such as non-terrestrial node, non-terrestrial network device, or non-terrestrial base station in some implementations. The NT-TRP 172 includes a transmitter 272 and a receiver 274 coupled to one or more antennas 280. Only one antenna 280 is shown in the figure. Alternatively, one, some or all of the antennas can be panels. The transmitter 272 and receiver 274 can be integrated as a transceiver. The NT-TRP 172 also includes a processor 276 for performing operations related to preparing downlink transmissions to the ED 110, processing uplink transmissions received from the ED 110, preparing backhaul transmissions to the T-TRP 170, and processing transmissions received over the backhaul from the T-TRP 170. The processing operations related to preparing a downlink or backhaul transmission can include operations such as encoding, modulation, precoding (e.g., MIMO precoding), transmit beamforming, and generating symbols for transmission. The processing operations related to processing received transmissions on the uplink or backhaul can include operations such as receive beamforming, demodulation, and decoding of received symbols. In some embodiments, the processor 276 implements transmit beamforming and / or receive beamforming in accordance with beam direction information (e.g., BAI) received from the T-TRP 170. In some embodiments, the processor 276 can generate signaling to configure one or more parameters of the ED 110, and so on. In some embodiments, the NT-TRP 172 implements physical layer processing but not higher layer functionality, e.g., functionality in the medium access control (MAC) layer or the radio link control (RLC) layer. Since this is merely an example, the NT-TRP 172 can also implement higher layer functionality in addition to physical layer processing.

[0073] The NT-TRP 172 also includes a memory 278 for storing information and data. The processor 276 can be part of the transmitter 272 and / or part of the receiver 274, but is not shown in the figure. The memory 278 can be part of the processor 276, but is not shown in the figure.

[0074] The processor 276, processing components in the transmitter 272, and processing components in the receiver 274 can be implemented by the same or different one or more processors respectively, which are used to execute instructions stored in a memory (e.g., the memory 278). Alternatively, some or all of the processor 276, processing components in the transmitter 272, and processing components in the receiver 274 can be implemented using a programmed FPGA, GPU, or ASIC, etc. special-purpose circuit. In some embodiments, the NT-TRP 172 can actually be multiple NT-TRPs that work together to serve the ED 110 by means of coordinated multipoint transmission, etc.

[0075] It is noted that “TRP” as used herein can refer to a T-TRP or an NT-TRP.

[0076] The T-TRP 170, the NT-TRP 172, and / or the ED 110 can include other components, but these components are omitted for clarity.

[0077] One or more steps of the example methods provided herein can be performed by Figure 4 corresponding units or modules provided by the apparatus. Figure 4 Example units or modules in the apparatus (e.g., in the ED 110, in the T-TRP 170, or in the NT-TRP 172) are shown. For example, operations can be controlled by an operating system module. As another example, signals can be transmitted by a transmitting unit or module. Signals can be received by a receiving unit or module. Signals can be processed by a processing unit or module. Some operations / steps can be performed by an artificial intelligence (AI) module or a machine learning (ML) module. The corresponding units or modules can be implemented using hardware, one or more components executing software, or a combination thereof. For example, one or more of the units or modules can be an integrated circuit such as a programmed FPGA, GPU, or ASIC. It is understood that if these modules are implemented using software for execution by a processor, the modules can be retrieved by the processor as needed, individually or collectively, for processing in one or more instances, and the modules themselves can include instructions for further deployment and instantiation.

[0078] Other details about the ED 110, the T-TRP 170, and the NT-TRP 172 are known to those skilled in the art. Therefore, these details are omitted here.

[0079] Control information is discussed herein. Control information can sometimes be referred to as control signaling or signaling. In some cases, control information can be dynamically transmitted, e.g., in a physical layer control channel such as a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) or a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH). One example of dynamically indicated control information is information transmitted in a physical layer control signaling, e.g., uplink control information (UCI) transmitted in a PUCCH, downlink control information (DCI) transmitted in a PDCCH, or sidelink control information (SCI) transmitted in a physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH). Dynamic indication can be an indication in a low layer, e.g., a physical layer / layer 1 signaling, rather than an indication in a high layer (e.g., not an indication in RRC signaling or in a MAC CE). Semi-static indication can be an indication in semi-static signaling. Semi-static signaling used herein can refer to non-dynamic signaling, e.g., high layer signaling (e.g., RRC signaling) and / or a MAC CE. Dynamic signaling used herein can refer to dynamic signaling, e.g., physical layer control signaling transmitted in a physical layer, e.g., DCI transmitted in a PDCCH, UCI transmitted in a PUCCH, or SCI transmitted in a PSCCH.

[0080] Wireless communications can be transmitted over a frequency band. A frequency band can also be referred to as a frequency spectrum. For example, wireless communications over a frequency band can be wireless communications over a carrier frequency (referred to herein as a carrier). In certain implementations, a carrier can also be referred to as a component carrier (CC) or a cell. Characteristics of a carrier can include a bandwidth of the carrier and a reference frequency, e.g., a center frequency or a lowest or highest frequency. For example, wireless communications over a frequency band can also be wireless communications transmitted over a bandwidth part (BWP). A BWP can be defined as a set of contiguous or non-contiguous frequency subcarriers on a carrier or a set of contiguous or non-contiguous frequency subcarriers on multiple carriers or a set of non-contiguous or contiguous frequency subcarriers, which can have one or more carriers. Thus, in some embodiments, a carrier can have one or more BWPs and vice versa, a BWP can have one or more carriers.

[0081] To illustrate, Figure 5Four carriers are shown on the frequency band. The frequency band can include more or fewer carriers, for example, the frequency band can include a bandwidth of a single carrier and be defined thereby. The four carriers are labeled as carriers 332, 334, 336, and 338, respectively. The four carriers are contiguous with each other, except that a guard band 345 is inserted between each pair of adjacent contiguous carriers. Carrier 332 has a 20 MHz bandwidth and is composed of one BWP. Carrier 334 has an 80 MHz bandwidth and is composed of two adjacent contiguous BWPs. The two BWPs each occupy 40 MHz and are identified as BWP 1 and BWP 2, respectively. Carrier 336 has an 80 MHz bandwidth and is composed of one BWP. Carrier 338 has an 80 MHz bandwidth and is composed of four adjacent contiguous BWPs. The four BWPs each occupy 20 MHz and are identified as BWP 1, BWP 2, BWP 3, and BWP 4, respectively. As mentioned above, in other embodiments, a BWP can include one or more carriers. In general, a frequency band can include or be composed of one or more carriers and / or can include or be composed of one or more BWPs, and if a frequency band includes both carriers and BWPs, the BWPs can be included in some or all of the carriers, or the carriers can be included in some or all of the BWPs.

[0082] Figure 6 An apparatus 352 and multiple devices 371 and 372 are shown in an embodiment. Only two devices are shown in the figure, namely devices 371 and 372, but there can be more than two devices. Note that the terms “device” and “apparatus” are merely labels convenient for distinguishing different entities. A device and an apparatus are not necessarily different types of entities, e.g., a device and an apparatus can both be the same type of entity (e.g., they can both be UEs or TRPs).

[0083] In the illustrated embodiment, apparatus 352 is part of network 350 (e.g., functions as an access point of network 350), and thus apparatus 352 can be referred to as a network apparatus. For example, apparatus 352 can be a TRP, e.g., a T-TRP 170 or an NT-TRP 172. Apparatus 352 can actually be implemented by multiple network apparatuses (e.g., multiple TRPs) that communicate with devices 371 and 372, possibly one TRP communicating with device 371 and different TRPs communicating with device 372.

[0084] The network 350 is a multi-RAT network, so the device 352 can communicate with the apparatus 371 based on a first RAT and the apparatus 372 based on a different second RAT. Alternatively, the network need not necessarily be a multi-RAT network, e.g., there can be two different networks, one for each RAT, and the device 352 can span the two different networks, communicating with the apparatus 371 based on the first RAT through the first network and with the apparatus 372 based on the second RAT through the second network.

[0085] In some embodiments, various parts of the device 352 can be distributed. For example, some of the modules in the device 352 can be remote from the device housing the antennas and / or panels of the device 352 and can be coupled to the device housing the antennas / panels through a communication link (not shown). Thus, in some embodiments, the term “device 352” can additionally or alternatively refer to one or more network-side modules (e.g., integrated circuits) performing scheduling, message generation, encoding / decoding, etc. processing operations that are not necessarily part of the device housing the antennas and / or panels of the device 352.

[0086] The device 352 is shown to include a transmitter 354 and a receiver 356, which can be integrated as a transceiver. The transmitter 354 and the receiver 356 are coupled to one or more antennas 358. Only one antenna 358 is shown in the figure. Alternatively, one, some or all of the antennas can be panels. The processor 360 in the device 352 performs (or controls the device 352 to perform) most of the operations described herein as being performed by the device 352, e.g., generating and transmitting an indication of first time-frequency resources associated with first RAT-based wireless transmissions, wirelessly communicating with the apparatus 372 based on a second RAT, rate matching and / or puncturing, configuring (e.g., scheduling) second RAT-based wireless communications of the apparatus 372, etc. Wirelessly communicating with the apparatus 372 can refer to the device 352 transmitting wireless communications to the apparatus 372, or receiving wireless communications from the apparatus 372, or both. Wireless communications involving transmissions by the device 352 to the apparatus 372 can include generating information by arranging information (e.g., data and / or control information) in a message format, encoding the message, modulating, performing beamforming if necessary, etc. Wireless communications involving receiving transmissions from the apparatus 372 can include performing beamforming if necessary, demodulating and decoding the received message, etc.

[0087] The processor 360 can be part of the transmitter 354 and / or part of the receiver 356, but is not shown in the figure. The device 352 also includes a memory 362 to store information, e.g., control information and / or data.

[0088] The processors 360, processing components in the transmitter 354, and processing components in the receiver 356 can be implemented by the same or different one or more processors that are used to execute instructions stored in a memory (e.g., the memory 362). Alternatively, some or all of the processors 360 and / or processing components in the transmitter 354 and / or processing components in the receiver 356 can be implemented using a programmed FPGA, GPU, or ASIC, among other specialized circuits.

[0089] If the device 352 is a T-TRP 170, the transmitter 354 can be or include the transmitter 252, the receiver 356 can be or include the receiver 254, the processor 360 can be or include the processor 260 and can implement the scheduler 253, and the memory 362 can be or include the memory 258. If the device 352 is an NT-TRP 172, the transmitter 354 can be or include the transmitter 272, the receiver 356 can be or include the receiver 274, the processor 360 can be or include the processor 276, and the memory 362 can be or include the memory 278.

[0090] Figure 6 The apparatus 372 is also detailed. The apparatus 372 includes a transmitter 374 and a receiver 376, which can be integrated as a transceiver. The transmitter 374 and the receiver 376 are coupled to one or more antennas 378. Only one antenna 378 is shown in the figure. Alternatively, one, some or all of the antennas can be panels. The processor 380 in the apparatus 372 performs (or controls the apparatus 372 to perform) most of the operations described herein as being performed by the apparatus 372, e.g., receiving an indication of first time-frequency resources associated with a wireless transmission based on a first RAT, wirelessly communicating with the device 352 based on a second RAT, rate matching and / or puncturing, configuring the wireless communication based on the second RAT in accordance with configuration information (e.g., scheduling information) received from the device 352, etc. Wirelessly communicating with the device 352 can refer to the apparatus 372 transmitting wireless communications to the device 352, or receiving wireless communications from the device 352, or both. Wireless communications involving transmissions by the apparatus 372 to the device 352 can include generating information by arranging information (e.g., data and / or control information) in a message format, encoding the message, modulating, performing beamforming if necessary, etc. Wireless communications involving receiving transmissions from the device 352 can include performing beamforming if necessary, demodulating and decoding the received message, etc.

[0091] The processor 380 can be part of a transmitter 374 and / or a receiver 376, but is not shown as such. The apparatus 372 also includes a memory 382 for storing information, e.g., control information and / or data.

[0092] The processor 380, processing components in the transmitter 374, and processing components in the receiver 376 can be implemented by the same or different one or more processors that execute instructions stored in a memory, e.g., the memory 382. Alternatively, some or all of the processor 380 and / or processing components in the transmitter 374 and / or processing components in the receiver 376 can be implemented using programmed FPGAs, GPUs, or ASICs, among other specialized circuits.

[0093] If the apparatus is a UE or other ED 110, the transmitter 374 can be or include the transmitter 201, the receiver 376 can be or include the receiver 203, the processor 380 can be or include the processor 210, and the memory 382 can be or include the memory 208. If the apparatus 372 is an NT-TRP 172, e.g., a drone, the transmitter 374 can be or include the transmitter 272, the receiver 376 can be or include the receiver 274, the processor 380 can be or include the processor 276, and the memory 382 can be or include the memory 278.

[0094] Although Figure 6 The apparatus 371 is not detailed, but can include the same components as the apparatus 372. Also, although Figure 6 The device 352 is shown as a T-TRP, but the device 352 need not be a T-TRP (e.g., can be an NT-TRP), and more generally, the device 352 need not even be a TRP. Also, although Figure 6 The apparatus 372 is shown as a UE served by the network 350, but the apparatus 372 need not be a UE. For example, the device 352 and the apparatus 372 can be two entities that communicate over a sidelink or backhaul. Thus, “device 352” and “apparatus 372” are used more generally herein than to specifically refer to TRPs and UEs.

[0095] Figure 7 A frequency band for wireless communication provided by one embodiment is shown. The device 352 wirelessly communicates with the apparatus 371 over a first frequency band 402 based on a first RAT (e.g., a 5G NR RAT). The device 352 also wirelessly communicates with the apparatus 372 over a different second frequency band 404 based on a second RAT (e.g., a 6G RAT). The two frequency bands at least partially overlap, so there are time-frequency resources 406 that are shared by the first frequency band 402 and the second frequency band 404. The overlapping portion of the two frequency bands is referred to as a shared spectrum. Figure 7This shows that the second frequency band 404 and the first frequency band 402 only partially overlap in the frequency domain. Generally, the second frequency band 404 and the first frequency band 402 at least partially overlap in the frequency domain, but the second frequency band 404 may contain the first frequency band 402, and vice versa, the first frequency band 402 may contain the second frequency band 404, or the two frequency bands may be completely identical. Figure 8 Examples of frequency band overlap are shown, and these examples are not intended to cover all cases. In Example A, the first frequency band 402 and the second frequency band 404 are identical. In Example B, the second frequency band 404 includes the first frequency band 402. In Example C, the second frequency band 404 includes the first frequency band 402, which consists of two discontinuous parts (e.g., two different carriers or BWPs). In Example D, the first frequency band 402 includes the second frequency band 404. Although... Figure 7 and Figure 8 Not shown, but the following situations may exist: for example, if communication on the first frequency band 402 and communication on the second frequency band 404 start and / or end at different times, there are time portions that do not overlap in the frequency domain. The illustrated example only shows times where there is overlap in the time and frequency domains.

[0096] Figure 9 It shows Figure 7 The first frequency band 402 and the second frequency band 404 are configured such that, for generality, these two frequency bands only partially overlap. Generally, these two frequency bands at least partially overlap, but one band may contain the other, or they may be identical. The first frequency band 402 is used for wireless transmission based on a first RAT, and the second frequency band 404 is used for wireless transmission based on a second RAT. There are overlapping (shared) time-frequency resources 406, i.e., shared spectrum, where wireless communication based on the first RAT may exist on the first frequency band 404, or wireless communication based on the second RAT may exist on the second frequency band 404. In some embodiments, the first RAT may have priority, thus allowing free configuration of wireless communication on any overlapping resource 406. Then, wireless communication based on the second RAT on the overlapping resource 406 of the second frequency band 404 only occurs on time-frequency resources not occupied by wireless communication based on the first RAT on the first frequency band 402.

[0097] On the overlapping time-frequency resources 406, there are time-frequency resources 408 reserved for wireless communication based on the first RAT on the first frequency band 402. These time-frequency resources 408 may or may not be actually used for wireless communication based on the first RAT on the first frequency band 402, but to avoid interference, wireless communication based on the second RAT on the second frequency band 404 is prohibited on these time-frequency resources 408. Therefore, the time-frequency resources 408 are called prohibited resources 408.

[0098] Wireless communication can be configured (e.g., scheduled) on overlapping resources 406 (potentially including prohibited resources 408) in the second frequency band 404 based on a second RAT. For example, Figure 10 Six resource blocks (RBs) are shown for wireless communication scheduling based on the second RAT on the second frequency band 404. These RBs are labeled RB 1 through RB 6. RB 2 and RB 3 each include one or more prohibited REs, i.e., a portion of prohibited resource 408. (Reference) Figure 11 The prohibited REs located within the RB are shown as black boxes with white X's. Although the RB configured (e.g., scheduled) for wireless communication includes some prohibited REs, second RAT-based wireless communication on the RB in the second band 404 does not use prohibited REs. Instead, communication is excluded from these prohibited REs (i.e., no communication is conducted on these prohibited REs). For example, rate matching or puncturing can be performed to exclude communication on prohibited REs. Device 352 knows the time-frequency location of the prohibited REs because device 352 configures all wireless communication on both bands 402 and 404, or device 352 can obtain the time-frequency location of the prohibited REs from other network devices (e.g., associated with the first RAT) via backhaul, etc. Therefore, device 352 knows which resources on the first band 402 are unused and prohibited. In this case, device 352 can avoid communicating on prohibited REs. However, device 372 is unaware of the prohibited REs without being informed. Device 372 has been configured (scheduled) to communicate on 6 RBs, even if some of these RBs include prohibited REs, and device 372 will communicate on all REs (including prohibited REs) in the RBs unless it is informed that the RBs are configured to include prohibited REs. Therefore, device 352 informs device 372 of the time-frequency location of prohibited resource 408. At this time, device 372 knows that the RBs include some REs belonging to prohibited resource 408, so device 372 will not communicate on these REs. Device 352 can inform device 372 of the time-frequency location of prohibited resource 408 by sending an indication of the time-frequency location of prohibited resource 408. This indication can be sent in control signaling. The indication can be an explicit indication of the time-frequency location of prohibited resource 408, or (to reduce the amount of information that needs to be transmitted), the indication can consist of information available to device 372 (possibly combined with other information already known to device 372), allowing device 372 to deduce the time-frequency location of prohibited resource 408. After knowing the time-frequency location of the prohibited resource 408, device 372 excludes transmission on the prohibited REs in the RB. Device 372 can use rate matching or puncturing to adapt the number of bits to the result of subtracting the prohibited REs from the number of available time-frequency resources on the 6 RBs.

[0099] Wireless communication of the apparatus 372 is configured on a RB (or RBG) basis, e.g., the apparatus 372 receives DCI that schedules 6 RBs. This saves control signaling overhead compared to configuring wireless communication of the apparatus 372 on a RE basis to schedule the barred REs. Additional control signaling is sent to the apparatus 372 to directly or indirectly indicate the time-frequency locations of the barred resources 408, so the apparatus 372 can exclude communicating on the barred REs within the RBs. However, this additional control signaling to indicate the time-frequency locations of the barred resources 408 is less than the control signaling needed to schedule on a RE basis. For example, if there is a known repeating pattern of the barred resources 408, the indication of the barred resources 408 can be indicated semi-statically only once in advance. Additionally or alternatively, the apparatus 372 can be able to determine the locations of the barred resources 408 using information pre-stored in the apparatus 372, e.g., using information in a lookup table, while using the additional control signaling to only indicate the information missing / needed for the apparatus 372 to determine the exact locations of the barred resources 408.

[0100] In the above example, the spectrum sharing is maximized because the wireless communication is on all unoccupied (non-barred) REs in the RBs, and this is achieved using less control signaling overhead than would be needed to try to schedule the wireless communication on a RE basis.

[0101] Figure 12 A method performed by the device 352 and the apparatus 372 is shown to be provided in an embodiment. In step 452, the device 352 sends, to the apparatus 372, an indication of first time-frequency resources associated with a first RAT based wireless transmission on a first frequency band 402. The first frequency band 402 can comprise a carrier and / or a BWP. The first RAT can be a 5G NR RAT, etc.

[0102] In step 454, the apparatus 372 receives the indication. In step 456, the device 352 and the apparatus 372 wirelessly communicate on a second frequency band 404 based on a second RAT. The second frequency band 404 can comprise a carrier and / or a BWP. The second RAT can be a 6G RAT, etc.

[0103] The second frequency band 404 at least partially overlaps the first frequency band 402 in the frequency domain. The wireless communication is on second time-frequency resources other than the first time-frequency resources.

[0104] Continuing with the previously introduced example, Figure 13 A method performed by the device 352 and the apparatus 372 is shown to be provided in an embodiment. In step 452, the device 352 sends, to the apparatus 372, an indication of first time-frequency resources associated with a first RAT based wireless transmission on a first frequency band 402. The first frequency band 402 can comprise a carrier and / or a BWP. The first RAT can be a 5G NR RAT, etc. Figure 12An example of the first and second time-frequency resources in the method. The first frequency band 402 and the second frequency band 404 at least partially overlap, thereby forming an overlapping time-frequency resource 406. The overlapping time-frequency resource 406 is a shared spectrum. Wireless communication based on the second RAT on the second frequency band 404 occupies 6 RBs. The first time-frequency resource is the prohibited RE (Relay Entities) indicated by a black box with an X. The second time-frequency resource consists of the other REs in the RBs besides the prohibited REs. The second time-frequency resource is shown as shaded in the RBs. Wireless communication takes place on the second time-frequency resource (shaded in the RBs) in addition to the first time-frequency resource (black box with an X).

[0105] exist Figure 12 In some embodiments of the method, the indication of the first time-frequency resource may be indicated by indicating a set of prohibited time-frequency resources, which includes the first time-frequency resource. For example, refer to... Figure 13 The indication sent in step 452 (and received in step 454) may include an indication of the time-frequency location of the prohibited resource 408, wherein the prohibited resource 408 includes a first time-frequency resource.

[0106] exist Figure 12 In some embodiments of the method, the indication of the first time-frequency resource is a direct indication of the time-frequency location of the first time-frequency resource, while in other embodiments, the indication of the first time-frequency resource is indirect. For example, the indication may consist of information available to the device 372 (possibly combined with other information known to the device 372), allowing the device 372 to deduce the time-frequency location of the first time-frequency resource, which saves overhead compared to directly indicating the location of the first time-frequency resource.

[0107] exist Figure 12 In some embodiments of the method, the wireless communication in step 456 is performed by excluding communication on the first time-frequency resource through rate matching and / or puncturing, and communicating on a second time-frequency resource other than the first time-frequency resource.

[0108] Rate matching is achieved by modifying the coding rate to reduce the total number of bits transmitted, thereby matching the number of bits to the second time-frequency resource. For example, refer to Figure 13Although 6 RBs are configured for communicating on the second frequency band 404 based on the second RAT, not all bits configured for transmission on the 6 RBs can be transmitted due to the first time-frequency resources (the forbidden REs in RB 2 and RB 3) being unavailable for transmitting bits. The coding rate can be modified, e.g., through rate matching, to reduce the total number of bits to be transmitted on the 6 RBs so that all bits can be transmitted. The amount of reduction in the total number of bits corresponds to the number of bits that would have been transmitted on the forbidden REs but cannot be transmitted because the REs are forbidden. In one implementation of rate matching, the device 352 determines the modified coding rate and indicates the modified coding rate to the apparatus 372 so that the apparatus 372 can implement the modified coding rate when performing channel encoding (if the apparatus 372 is transmitting) or channel decoding (if the apparatus 372 is receiving).

[0109] Puncturing is achieved by dropping (not transmitting) bits configured for transmission on the first time-frequency resources. For example, referring to Figure 13 Although 6 RBs are configured for communicating on the second frequency band 404 based on the second RAT, not all bits configured for transmission on the 6 RBs can be transmitted due to the first time-frequency resources (the forbidden REs in RB 2 and RB 3) being unavailable for transmitting bits. The bits that would have been transmitted on the forbidden REs in RB 2 and RB 3 can be dropped through puncturing. The transmitting entity (either the device 352 or the apparatus 372, depending on the direction of the wireless communication) drops the bits that would have been transmitted on the forbidden REs in RB 2 and 3 and does not transmit anything on these forbidden REs. The receiving entity (the other one of the device 352 or the apparatus 372, depending on the direction of the wireless communication) does not drop bits, but simply does not receive (or decode) on the forbidden REs and decodes using only the bits received on the second time-frequency resources.

[0110] If puncturing is performed on all first time-frequency resources, there is no need to modify the coding rate, i.e., no additional rate matching needs to be performed; and vice versa. However, in general, rate matching and puncturing can be implemented simultaneously. Regardless, the end result is that transmission on the first time-frequency resources (the forbidden resources in the RBs) is excluded. Whether rate matching or puncturing is to be performed can be pre-configured or pre-defined.

[0111] In Figure 12In some embodiments of the method of 450, the method can further include, before the wireless communication in 456, receiving information configuring (e.g., scheduling) the wireless communication of the device 372 based on the second RAT, wherein the wireless communication is configured (e.g., scheduled) on the second time-frequency resources and the first time-frequency resources. That is, the wireless communication is not configured to avoid using the first time-frequency resources. However, the wireless communication in 456 includes wireless communication on the second time-frequency resources excluding the first time-frequency resources. In this way, the overhead in configuring (e.g., scheduling) the wireless communication can be saved since no configuration (e.g., scheduling) is needed for the first time-frequency resources. For example, referring to Figure 13 the wireless communication is configured (scheduled) on 6 RBs. This configuration can be on a RB-by-RB (or RBG-by-RBG) basis. Thus, all time-frequency resources of the 6 RBs are configured (e.g., scheduled) for the communication, including the first time-frequency resources (black boxes with X) and the second time-frequency resources (shaded portions in the RBs). However, the actual communication in 456 is not on all configured time-frequency resources, but excludes the first time-frequency resources (black boxes with X). Both the device 352 and the device 372 are aware of the time-frequency locations of the first time-frequency resources, and are aware that these resources are forbidden, and thus will not communicate on the first time-frequency resources. In this way, the overhead in configuring (e.g., scheduling) the wireless communication of 456 can be saved since no configuration (e.g., scheduling) is needed on a RE-by-RE basis to avoid using the forbidden REs (black boxes with X). Moreover, the spectrum sharing is enhanced since the non-forbidden REs in RB 2 and RB 3 are used for the wireless communication.

[0112] In some embodiments, the information configuring the wireless communication of 456 is scheduling information, e.g., Figure 13 RB 1 to RB 6 in 450 are scheduled by the device 352. The wireless communication is scheduled on the second time-frequency resources and the first time-frequency resources to save the scheduling overhead, e.g., Figure 13 RB 1 to RB 6 in 450 are scheduled on a RB-by-RB or RBG-by-RBG basis. As used herein, “scheduling” refers to scheduling the communication on any direction (e.g., uplink, downlink, sidelink), the scheduling can be implemented by a grant or implemented by a grant-free, and / or the scheduling can be dynamic (e.g., in a DCI) or semi-static.

[0113] In some embodiments, the scheduling information schedules the wireless communication on at least one RB, the at least one RB includes first REs on the first time-frequency resources and second REs not on the first time-frequency resources, and the wireless communication includes wireless communication on the second REs and not on the first REs. For example, in Figure 13In some embodiments, the scheduling information schedules the wireless communication on 6 RBs. At least one of the RBs includes at least some of the first time-frequency resources. At this point, the wireless communication in step 456 includes wireless communication on the plurality of RBs excluding any RBs that include some or all of the first time-frequency resources. In some embodiments, N RBs out of M symbols can be declared as unavailable (forbidden), where N and M are integers.

[0114] In some embodiments, the scheduling information schedules the wireless communication on a plurality of RBs, at least one of the RBs including at least some of the first time-frequency resources. At this point, the wireless communication in step 456 includes wireless communication on the plurality of RBs excluding any RBs that include some or all of the first time-frequency resources. In some embodiments, N RBs out of M symbols can be declared as unavailable (forbidden), where N and M are integers. Figure 14 One example is shown that excludes any RBs that include the first time-frequency resources. Figure 14 is Figure 13 One variant of, where the wireless communication is scheduled on 6 RBs, possibly even per RBG (e.g., an RBG can include 6 consecutive RBs, and a single RBG can have been scheduled). The first time-frequency resources (forbidden REs) are in RB 2 and RB 3. Thus, communication is excluded on RB 2 and RB 3. The second time-frequency resources (as shown in shading) are RB 1, RB 4, RB 5, and RB 6. The disadvantage is that the spectrum sharing is not optimal, as the forbidden time-frequency resources in RB 2 and RB 3 are not used, which means that these resources are not occupied. In addition, more aggressive rate matching and / or puncturing needs to be employed to limit the communication to RB 1, RB 4, RB 5, and RB 6. However, this can bring the advantage of reducing the overhead in indicating the time-frequency locations of the forbidden resources to the device 372, e.g., there is no need to indicate the time-frequency locations of the forbidden resources 408 at the RE granularity, but only the forbidden RBs, where each forbidden RB includes one or more forbidden REs. For example, the indication can state that N RBs out of M symbols are forbidden, where N and M are integers.

[0115] It is noted that the information configuring the wireless communication in step 456 does not necessarily have to be scheduling information, e.g., Figure 13 RB 1 to RB 6 in does not have to be scheduled by the device 352. More generally, the wireless communication in step 456 can have been configured already, and such configuration itself can not involve scheduling. For example, Figure 13 RB 1 to RB 6 in can be RBs on a control channel configured for a 6G UE to transmit downlink control information or uplink control information. As another example, Figure 13 RB 1 to RB 6 in can be RBs configured for transmission of reference signals. Such configured communication itself can not involve scheduling.

[0116] In some embodiments, the first time-frequency resource corresponds to one or more time-frequency locations associated with at least one of the following: synchronization based on a first RAT, network access based on a first RAT, control information based on a first RAT, or a reference signal based on a first RAT. For example, in some embodiments, the first time-frequency resource corresponds to at least one of the following:

[0117] ● The time-frequency location of one or more synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) of the first RAT, for example, prohibiting resource 408 is the location where the SSB is configured for transmission based on the first RAT on the first frequency band 402; and / or

[0118] ● The time-frequency location of one or more control resource sets (CORESET) of the first RAT, for example, prohibition resource 408 is the location where DCI is configured on the first frequency band 402 based on the first RAT transmission location; and / or

[0119] ● The time-frequency location of one or more Channel State Information Reference Signals (CSI-RS) of the first RAT, for example, prohibiting resource 408 is the location where CSI-RS is configured for transmission based on the first RAT on the first frequency band 402; and / or

[0120] ● The time-frequency location of one or more probe reference signals (SRS) of the first RAT, for example, prohibition resource 408 is the location where the SRS is configured to be transmitted on the first frequency band 402 based on the first RAT; and / or

[0121] ● The time-frequency positions of one or more random access channels (RACHs) of the first RAT, for example, prohibiting the time-frequency positions of one or more RACHs of the first RAT corresponding to resource 408 on the first frequency band 402; and / or

[0122] ● The time-frequency position of one or more control channels of the first RAT, for example, the time-frequency position of one or more control channels (e.g., PUCCH, PDCCH) of the first RAT corresponding to resource 408 on the first frequency band 402.

[0123] The following is provided in Figure 12 Some specific examples of the instructions sent in step 452 and received in step 454. These examples assume that the first RAT (corresponding to the first frequency band 402) is 5G NR and the second RAT (corresponding to the second frequency band 404) is 6G. However, these examples are not limited to 5G NR and 6G.

[0124] Example 1: The first time-frequency resource corresponds to the time-frequency location of one or more SSBs configured for transmission in 5G NR on the first frequency band 402. Figure 12the indication transmitted in step 452 and received in step 454 enables the apparatus 372 to determine the time-frequency locations of the first time-frequency resources (i.e., the time-frequency locations of the one or more SSBs). In this example, the apparatus 372 is a 6G UE, i.e., a UE that communicates based on a 6G RAT. In this example, the device 352 is a 6G TRP, i.e., a TRP that is capable of communicating with a 6G UE based on a 6G RAT. In this example, the first frequency band 402 is a 5G NR carrier, and the second frequency band 404 is a 6G carrier.

[0125] The 6G TRP indicates to the 6G UE the 5G NR SSB configuration in the shared spectrum, i.e., the time-frequency locations of the one or more SSBs configured for transmission in the 5G NR on the first frequency band 402. The 6G TRP indicates to the 6G UE the REs of the 5G NR SSB in the shared spectrum, so that the 6G UE can rate match (and / or puncture) to the 5G NR SSB, e.g., rate match to the REs of the 5G NR SSB to avoid interference between 5G and 6G. There are unused REs in the 5G NR SSB that are partially available. Since the SSB beams are periodically scanned, the total number of available REs is not negligible. The 6G UE can dynamically use these available REs.

[0126] In this example 1, the 6G TRP can indicate to the 6G UE the time-domain locations of the 5G NR SSBs in the shared spectrum, which indication can include one, some, or all of the following parameters (the specific parameters that need to be indicated can vary from implementation to implementation):

[0127] • The frame timing of the 5G NR carrier, e.g., the boundary of the 5G NR frame or half frame. This parameter can need to be indicated if the frame boundaries of 6G and 5G are not aligned.

[0128] • The subcarrier spacing (SCS) of the 5G NR SSB. This SCS can need to be indicated if the candidate SSB locations are a function of the SCS. In one option, the 6G UE can determine the SCS from the frequency band of the shared spectrum according to Table 5.4.3.3-1 (SS raster entries applicable per operating band) in 3GPP TS 38.101-1 V18.0.0. The 6G UE can find the SSB SCS in the shared spectrum frequency band. If there are two available SCSs, the 6G TRP indicates which SCS is used by the 5G NR carrier.

[0129] • The candidate time-domain locations of the 5G NR SSB are pre-defined per 5G NR SSB SCS. As shown in Section 4.1 of the 5G specification 3GPP TS 38.213, for a half frame with SS / PBCH blocks, the first symbol index of a candidate SS / PBCH block can be determined from the SCS of the SS / PBCH block.

[0130] • Periodicity of 5G NR SSB. For example, the periodicity of a 5G NR SSB burst set can be indicated, e.g., 5ms, 10ms, 20ms, 40ms, 80ms, 160ms. In some embodiments, if this parameter is not indicated to the 6G UE, the 6G UE adopts the value 5ms.

[0131] • Actual transmitted 5G NR SS / PBCH blocks. For candidate time-domain locations of 5G NR SSB, the 5G NR SSB can not be transmitted on the 5G carrier. In one option, a bitmap can be used to indicate the actual SS / PBCH block transmission, e.g., where one bit corresponds to one candidate location of SSB. In another option, the indication can take a compressed form (e.g., in case of above 6GHz): group bitmap (8 bits) + intra-group bitmap (8 bits), 64 SSBs are divided into 8 groups, each group has 8 SSBs.

[0132] In this Example 1, the 6G TRP can additionally or alternatively indicate to the 6G UE the frequency-domain location of 5G NR SSB in the shared spectrum.

[0133] One option is to let the 6G TRP directly indicate the 5G NR SSB location in the frequency domain. One way to achieve this goal can be to indicate the Global Synchronization Channel Number (GSCN) of the 5G NR SSB. For example, as shown in TS 38.101-1 v18.0.0, in 5G NR, a global synchronization raster is defined for all frequencies. The frequency location of a synchronization signal (SS) block is defined as SS REF , which corresponds to the GSCN. The parameters of SS REF and GSCN for all frequency ranges are defined in Table 5.4.3.1-1 in TS 38.101-1 v18.0.0, the complete content is shown as follows:

[0134] Table: GSCN parameters of global frequency raster

[0135]

[0136] The GSCN determines the location of resource element RE = #0 (subcarrier #0) of resource block RB #10 of the SS block. Therefore, by GSCN, the 6G UE can determine the exact frequency location of the NR SSB. The 6G TRP can indicate the GSCN, and the 6G UE can determine M and N in the above table accordingly.

[0137] Another way to directly indicate the location of the 5G NR SSB in the frequency domain is to indicate the frequency location of the lowest or highest subcarrier of the 5G NR SSB, for example, by indicating the offset relative to a frequency reference point, where the offset can be RB granularity, subcarrier granularity, or a combination of RB and subcarrier granularity.

[0138] The 6G TRP does not directly indicate the 5G NR SSB location in the frequency domain to the 6G UE. Instead, it indicates one or more parameters that allow the 6G UE to deduce the 5G NR SSB location in the frequency domain. For example, the 6G TRP can indicate 5G NR carrier information in the shared spectrum and indicate the 5G NR SSB location within the 5G NR carrier by indicating one or more parameters that allow the 6G UE to deduce the 5G NR SSB location in the frequency domain. This saves overhead (reducing the number of bits indicated) compared to the 6G TRP directly indicating the 5G NR SSB location in the frequency domain. One, some, or all of the following parameters can be indicated to the 6G UE to allow the 6G UE to deduce the 5G NR SSB location in the frequency domain (the specific parameters to be indicated may vary depending on the implementation):

[0139] ● The center of the 5G NR carrier. For example, the position of the center subcarrier of the 5G NR carrier indicates the offset of the reference point from the center subcarrier of the NR carrier, or the Absolute Radio-Frequency Channel Number (ARFCN) indicating the center of the NR carrier, etc.

[0140] ●5G NR carrier bandwidth.

[0141] ●SSB Subcarrier Offset (k ssb This corresponds to k. ssb (Derived from 3GPP TS 38.213), which is the frequency domain offset between the SSB and the entire resource block grid (in the number of subcarriers), that is, the offset between the SS / PBCH RB edge and the data RB edge.

[0142] ●Analyzing SSB subcarrier offset (k ssb The lowest RB position (or lowest subcarrier position) of the SSB after shifting (i.e., the SSB shifted k in the frequency domain) ssb (Single subcarrier). One option is to indicate the lowest RB index (common RB index or physical RB index), and also the location of common RB 0 or physical RB 0, for example, the reference point of subcarrier 0 of common RB 0 or physical RB 0. Another option is to indicate the lowest frequency location of the SSB, for example, indicating the offset relative to the reference point.

[0143] The time and / or frequency location indication discussed above in connection with this example 1 can be sent from the 6G TRP to the 6G UE through RRC, MAC-CE, or DCI signaling.

[0144] Once the 6G UE is indicated the time-frequency location of one or more SSBs, the 6G UE can rate match around the one or more 5G NR SSBs. One option is RE-level rate matching. That is, the 6G UE can use the REs that are not occupied by the NR SSBs, which can maximize the spectral efficiency. Another option is RB-level rate matching. That is, for an RB in the 6G carrier, if one or more REs are occupied by one or more 5G NR SSBs, then the RB is rate matched by the 6G UE. This option is easy to implement because if one or more REs of an RB are occupied by the NR SSBs, then the entire RB is excluded, but this approach can waste some REs (REs are not used, hence not occupied), thus reducing the spectral efficiency.

[0145] If RB-level rate matching around one or more 5G NR SSBs is implemented in the 6G UE, another method to reduce the overhead to indicate the time-frequency location of the 5G NR SSBs can be employed:

[0146] • Time-domain location of the 5G NR SSBs: same as above.

[0147] • Frequency-domain location of the 5G NR SSBs: indicate the frequency location of the lowest subcarrier or the lowest RB of the 5G NR SSBs, e.g., indicate the RB index of the lowest location of the NR SSBs in the 6G carrier. Indicate the number of RBs occupied by the 5G NR SSBs, e.g., 20 or 21 RBs under the SCS of the 5G NR SSBs. If this indication is not included, the 6G UE can assume the value to be 20 (or 21, depending on what is configured for the 6G UE). Since the SSB occupies 20 or 21 RBs, the 6G TRP only needs to indicate the lowest (starting) RB index and whether it is 20 or 21 RBs. From this, the 6G UE knows the entire SSB. The result is reduced indication overhead (compared to RE-level indication of the SSBs), but the drawback is that the entire RBs are rate matched, even though these RBs only include the partial REs of the SSBs, hence not very efficient from the perspective of spectral sharing.

[0148] In addition to the rate matching in example 1, puncturing can be implemented.

[0149] In Example 1, rate matching or puncturing is performed to exclude resources used for transmitting SSB in 5G NR. This example assumes that the communication between the 6G TRP and the 6G UE is downlink communication, which means that the 6G TRP excludes transmitting on the SSB resources in the downlink (through rate matching and / or puncturing), while the 6G UE receives and decodes the communication on the configured resources except for the SSB resources. However, more generally, if both the 6G UE and the 6G TRP support full duplex, for example, the communication between the 6G UE and the 6G TRP can involve uplink communication.

[0150] Example 2: The first time-frequency resources correspond to part or all of the time-frequency locations of 5G NR CORESET0. CORESET0 is a type of control resource set (CORESET) used to carry the PDCCH / DCI of SIB1. The CORESET (i.e., CORESET0) for the Type0-PDCCH common search space (CSS) set is configured with the number of consecutive resource blocks and the number of consecutive symbols. In this example, the apparatus 372 is a 6G UE, i.e., a UE that communicates based on a 6G RAT. In this example, the device 352 is a 6G TRP, i.e., a TRP that is capable of communicating with a 6G UE based on a 6G RAT. In this example, the first frequency band 402 is a 5G NR carrier, and the second frequency band 404 is a 6G carrier.

[0151] In Figure 12 The indication transmitted in step 452 and received in step 454 enables the 6G UE to determine the time-frequency locations of these first time-frequency resources (i.e., the time-frequency locations of 5G NR CORESET0). Subsequently, the 6G UE can perform rate matching and / or puncturing to exclude communicating on any REs (and / or RBs) occupied by 5G NR CORESET0.

[0152] In a first option, the 6G TRP directly indicates the RBs and symbols of 5G NR CORESET0. The frequency domain location can be indicated by indicating the starting RB of CORESET0 and the length of CORESET0. The time domain location can be indicated by indicating the symbol location of CORESET0 and the periodicity of CORESET0. It is noted that, in the frequency domain, one or more CORESET0s can be indicated to the 6G UE.

[0153] In a second option, the 6G TRP indicates the time-frequency locations of NR SSB blocks and the corresponding CORESET0. The locations of the SSB blocks can be indicated in the manner described in Example 1 above. For the indication of the corresponding CORESET0, one, some, or all of the following information can be indicated (the specific information that needs to be indicated can vary from implementation to implementation):

[0154] • Presence of 5G NR CORESET0. This information can be needed because if the SSB is not the cell-defining SSB in NR, there is no corresponding NR CORESET0.

[0155] • If there is a corresponding CORESET, indicate the frequency domain location of CORESET0. The 6G TRP can indicate the SSB SCS and the PDCCH for SIB1 SCS (note that SIB1, PDCCH for SIB1 and CORESET0 have the same SCS). According to the {SSB, PDCCH} SCS, the 6G UE can find the exact usage table of CORESET0 configuration in Table 13-1 to Table 13-10 in 3GPP TS 38.213 V17.4.0. The configuration index in the exact usage table of CORESET0 configuration can be indicated. According to the index (e.g., the index takes 4 bits), the 6G UE can find the corresponding row in the table, i.e., can get the frequency location of CORESET0 and the duration of CORESET0. It is noted that the configuration index can be regarded as the Information Element (IE) controlResourceSetZero in 3GPP TS 38.331.

[0156] • If there is a corresponding CORESET, indicate the time domain location of CORESET0. The 6G TRP can indicate the SSB SCS and the PDCCH for SIB1 SCS (note that SIB1, PDCCH for SIB1 and CORESET0 have the same SCS). According to the {SSB, PDCCH} SCS, the 6G UE can find the exact usage table of PDCCH monitoring occasions in CORESET0. The time configuration index in the exact usage table can be indicated. According to the index (e.g., the index takes 4 bits), the 6G UE can find the corresponding row in the table, i.e., can get the time domain location (including periodicity) of PDCCH in CORESET0. It is noted that the time configuration index can be regarded as the IE searchSpaceZero in 3GPP TS 38.331.

[0157] Compared with the first option, the above-mentioned second option can have less overhead in terms of the number of bits required to send the time-frequency location of CORESET0 from the 6G TRP to the 6G UE. This can be true, for example, when the 6G TRP has already indicated the information such that the 6G UE can determine the time-frequency location of the 5G NR SSB (Example 1 above). Wherein part of the information can be reused to determine the time-frequency location of CORESET0.

[0158] In some embodiments of Example 2, additionally, the 6G TRP also indicates to the 6G UE the location of the 5G NR common RB 0 or physical RB 0, e.g., the frequency location of subcarrier 0 of the common RB 0 or physical RB 0.

[0159] In Example 2, rate matching or puncturing is performed to exclude resources used for transmission of CORESET 0 in 5G NR. This example assumes that the communication between the 6G TRP and the 6G UE is downlink communication, which means that the 6G TRP excludes transmitting (through rate matching and / or puncturing) on the CORESET 0 resources in the downlink, while the 6G UE receives and decodes the communication on the configured resources except for the CORESET 0 resources. However, more generally, e.g., if both the 6G UE and the 6G TRP support full duplex, the communication between the 6G UE and the 6G TRP can involve uplink communication.

[0160] Example 3: The first time-frequency resources correspond to the time-frequency locations of 5G NR channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS). In this example, the apparatus 372 is a 6G UE, i.e., a UE that communicates based on a 6G RAT. In this example, the device 352 is a 6G TRP, i.e., a TRP that is capable of communicating with a 6G UE based on a 6G RAT. In this example, the first frequency band 402 is a 5G NR carrier, and the second frequency band 404 is a 6G carrier.

[0161] In Figure 12 The indication transmitted in step 452 and received in step 454 enables the 6G UE to determine the time-frequency locations of these first time-frequency resources, i.e., the time-frequency locations of the 5G NR CSI-RS. Subsequently, the 6G UE can perform rate matching and / or puncturing to exclude communicating on any REs (and / or RBs) occupied by the 5G NR CSI-RS.

[0162] The 6G TRP can indicate to the 6G UE the 5G NR carrier information in the shared spectrum, including the center frequency of the 5G NR carrier, the 5G NR carrier bandwidth, and / or the center of the common resource block or PRB 0 and / or the frame timing (e.g., the boundaries of the frame / subframe / slot). This indication can be needed if the time-frequency locations of the 5G NR CSI-RS are based on the 5G NR carrier information.

[0163] The 6G TRP can indicate to the 6G UE the REs occupied by the 5G NR CSI-RS so that the 6G UE can rate match and / or puncture on these REs. To indicate the RE mapping of the CSI-RS resources in time and frequency domain, one, some, or all of the following information can be indicated (where the exact information indicated varies from implementation to implementation):

[0164] • frequencyDomainAllocation, e.g., frequency domain allocation within a physical resource block according to Section 7.4.1.5.3 of TS 38.211.

[0165] • nrofPorts, i.e., number of antenna ports (as different number of ports can have different reference signal locations).

[0166] • firstOFDMSymbolInTimeDomain, e.g., time domain allocation within a physical resource block (PRB). This field indicates the first OFDM symbol in the PRB used for CSI-RS. See Section 7.4.1.5.3 of TS 38.211.

[0167] • firstOFDMSymbolInTimeDomain2, e.g., time domain allocation within a PRB. See Section 7.4.1.5.3 of TS 38.211.

[0168] • cdm-Type, i.e., code division multiplexing (CDM) type (e.g., according to Section 5.2.2.3.1 of TS 38.214) as different CDM types can map to different reference signal locations.

[0169] • density, e.g., CSI-RS resource density measured in REs / port / PRB (see Section 7.4.1.5.3 of TS 38.211).

[0170] • freqBand, e.g., wideband or partial band CSI-RS (see Section 5.2.2.3.1 of TS 38.214). Note: For more details on the above parameters, please refer to IE CSI-RS-ResourceMapping in TS 38.331.

[0171] • CSI-ResourcePeriodicityAndOffset, i.e., periodicity and corresponding offset of periodic and semi-static CSI resource.

[0172] • numerology of NR CSI-RS, including SCS and CP.

[0173] • location of NR common RB 0 or physical RB 0, e.g., frequency location of subcarrier 0 of common RB 0 or physical RB 0 in the NR carrier.

[0174] The 6G TRP can indicate one or more 5G NR CSI-RS resources to the 6G UE for rate matching (and / or puncturing).

[0175] In Example 3, rate matching or puncturing is performed to exclude resources used for transmitting CSI-RS in 5G NR. This example assumes that the communication between the 6G TRP and the 6G UE is downlink communication, which means that the 6G TRP excludes transmitting on the CSI-RS resources in the downlink (through rate matching and / or puncturing), while the 6G UE receives and decodes the communication on the configured resources except for the CSI-RS resources. However, more generally, the communication between the 6G UE and the 6G TRP can involve uplink communication, e.g., if both the 6G UE and the 6G TRP support full duplex.

[0176] Example 4: The first time-frequency resources correspond to the time-frequency locations of the 5G NR CORESET configuration in the shared spectrum. In this example, the apparatus 372 is a 6G UE, i.e., a UE that communicates based on a 6G RAT. In this example, the device 352 is a 6G TRP, i.e., a TRP that is capable of communicating with a 6G UE based on a 6G RAT. In this example, the first frequency band 402 is a 5G NR carrier, and the second frequency band 404 is a 6G carrier.

[0177] In Figure 12 The indication transmitted in step 452 and received in step 454 enables the 6G UE to determine the time-frequency locations of these first time-frequency resources, i.e., the time-frequency locations of the 5G NR CORESET. Subsequently, the 6G UE can perform rate matching and / or puncturing to exclude communicating on any REs (and / or RBs) occupied by the 5G NR CORESET.

[0178] The 6G TRP can indicate to the 6G UE the 5G NR carrier information in the shared spectrum, including the center frequency of the 5G NR carrier, the 5G NR carrier bandwidth, and / or the center of the subcarrier 0 of the common resource block or PRB, and / or the frame timing (e.g., the boundaries of the frame / subframe / slot). This indication can be needed if the time-frequency locations of the 5G NR CORESET are based on the 5G NR carrier information.

[0179] The 6G TRP can indicate to the 6G UE the REs (or symbols and RBs) occupied by the 5G NR CORESET, so that the 6G UE can rate match and / or puncture on these REs (or symbols and RBs). To indicate the mapping of the CSI-RS resources in time and frequency domain, one, some, or all of the following information can be indicated (where the exact information indicated varies from implementation to implementation):

[0180] ●frequencyDomainResources, which are the frequency domain resources of CORESET. For example, using a bitmap, each bit corresponds to a group of 6 RBs.

[0181] ● Duration, for example, the continuous duration of the CORESET (in symbols). 6G UEs may assume that the NR CORESET starts from the first symbol of the NR slot. Note: For more details on the above parameters, please refer to IEControlResourceSet in TS 38.331.

[0182] ● NR CORESET parameter set, including SCS and CP

[0183] ●The location of NR common RB 0 or physical RB 0, for example, the frequency location of subcarrier 0 of common RB 0 or physical RB 0 in the NR carrier.

[0184] The 6G TRP can direct one or more 5G NR CORESET resources to the 6G UE for rate matching (and / or punching).

[0185] In Example 4, rate matching or puncturing is performed to exclude resources used for configuring CORESET in 5G NR. This example assumes that communication between the 6G TRP and the 6G UE is downlink communication, meaning the 6G TRP excludes transmission on CORESET resources in the downlink (through rate matching and / or puncturing), while the 6G UE receives and decodes the communication on configuration resources other than CORESET resources. However, more generally, for example, if both the 6G UE and the 6G TRP support full-duplex, communication between the 6G UE and the 6G TRP may involve uplink communication.

[0186] Example 5: The first time-frequency resource corresponds to the time-frequency position of the 5G NR probe reference signal (SRS) configured in the shared spectrum. In this example, device 372 is a 6G UE, i.e., a UE that communicates based on 6G RAT. In this example, device 352 is a 6GTRP, i.e., a TRP capable of communicating with 6G UEs based on 6G RAT. In this example, the first frequency band 402 is a 5G NR carrier, and the second frequency band 404 is a 6G carrier.

[0187] exist Figure 12 The indication sent in step 452 and received in step 454 enables the 6G UE to determine the time-frequency location of these first time-frequency resources (i.e., the time-frequency location of the 5G NR SRS). Subsequently, the 6G UE can perform rate matching and / or puncturing to exclude communication on any RE (and / or RB) occupied by the 5G NR SRS.

[0188] The 6G TRP can indicate to the 6G UE the 5G NR carrier information in the shared spectrum, including the center frequency of the 5G NR carrier, the 5G NR carrier bandwidth, and / or the center of subcarrier 0 of the common resource block or PRB and / or the frame timing (e.g., the boundary of the frame / subframe / slot). This indication can be needed if the time-frequency location of the 5G NR SRS is based on the 5G NR carrier information.

[0189] The 6G TRP can indicate to the 6G UE the REs occupied by the 5G NR SRS, so that the 6G UE can rate match and / or puncture these REs. To indicate the RE mapping of the SRS resource in time and frequency domain, one, some or all of the following information can be indicated (where the exact information indicated varies from implementation to implementation):

[0190] • nrofSRS-Ports, i.e., the number of SRS ports.

[0191] • transmissionComb, e.g., comb value (2 or 4 or 8) and comb offset (see Section 6.2.1 of TS 38.214).

[0192] • resourceMapping, including startPosition, nrofSymbols, repetitionFactor. For example, the OFDM symbol location of the SRS resource within a slot, including nrofSymbols (number of OFDM symbols), startPosition (value 0 means the last symbol, value 1 means the second last symbol, and so on), and repetitionFactor (see Section 6.2.1 of TS 38.214 and Section 6.4.1.4 in TS 38.211).

[0193] • freqDomainPosition, i.e., the frequency domain location of the SRS.

[0194] • periodicityAndOffset, i.e., the periodicity and slot offset of this SRS resource. Note: For more details on the above parameters, please refer to IE SRS-Resource, SRS-ResourceSet in TS 38.331.

[0195] • numerology of the NR SRS, including SCS and CP.

[0196] • location of the NR common RB 0 or physical RB 0, e.g., the frequency location of subcarrier 0 of the common RB 0 or physical RB 0 in the NR carrier.

[0197] The 6G TRP can indicate one or more 5G NR SRS resources to the 6G UE for rate matching (and / or puncturing).

[0198] In Example 5, rate matching or puncturing is performed to exclude resources configured for SRS in 5G NR. This example assumes that the communication between the 6G TRP and the 6G UE is uplink communication, which means that the 6G UE excludes transmitting on the SRS resources in the uplink (through rate matching and / or puncturing), while the 6G TRP receives and decodes the communication on the configured resources except for the SRS resources. However, more generally, for example, if both the 6G UE and the 6G TRP support full duplex, the communication between the 6G UE and the 6G TRP can involve downlink communication.

[0199] Example 6: The first time-frequency resources correspond to the time-frequency location of a 5G NR physical random access channel (PRACH) configuration in the shared spectrum. In this example, the apparatus 372 is a 6G UE, i.e., a UE that communicates based on a 6G RAT. In this example, the device 352 is a 6G TRP, i.e., a TRP that is capable of communicating with a 6G UE based on a 6G RAT. In this example, the first frequency band 402 is a 5G NR carrier, and the second frequency band 404 is a 6G carrier.

[0200] In Figure 12 The indication transmitted in step 452 and received in step 454 enables the 6G UE to determine the time-frequency location of the first time-frequency resources, i.e., the time-frequency location of the 5G NR PRACH. Subsequently, the 6G UE can perform rate matching and / or puncturing to exclude communicating on any REs (and / or RBs) occupied by the 5G NR PRACH.

[0201] The 6G TRP can indicate to the 6G UE the 5G NR carrier information in the shared spectrum, including the center frequency of the 5G NR carrier, the 5G NR carrier bandwidth, and / or the center of subcarrier 0 of the common resource block or PRB, and / or the frame timing (e.g., the boundaries of the frame / subframe / slot). This indication can be needed if the time-frequency location of the 5G NR PRACH is based on the 5G NR carrier information.

[0202] The 6G TRP can indicate to the 6G UE the REs occupied by the 5G NR PRACH, so that the 6G UE can rate match and / or puncture on these REs. To indicate the RE mapping of the PRACH resources in the time and frequency domains, one, some, or all of the following information can be indicated (where the exact information indicated varies from implementation to implementation):

[0203] • prach-ConfigurationIndex, i.e., PRACH configuration index. See Section 6.3.3.2 of TS 38.211, etc. The index indicates a row in the PRACH configuration table, e.g., Table 6.3.3.2-2. From the indicated row in the table, the 6G UE knows the PRACH time-domain location.

[0204] • msgl-FrequencyStart, e.g., the offset of the minimum PRACH transmission occasion in frequency domain with respect to NR PRB 0. See Section 6.3.3.2 of TS 38.211, etc.

[0205] • msgl-FDM, e.g., the number of PRACH transmission occasions that are FDMed at one point in time. See Section 6.3.3.2 of TS 38.211, etc.

[0206] • the number of RBs expressed in numerology. As shown in Table 6.3.3.2-1 in TS 38.211, the numerology and the number of RBs can be determined according to the length and SCS of PRACH, where the length and SCS of PRACH are determined according to the above prach-ConfigurationIndex. Note: For more details on the above parameters, see IERACH-ConfigGeneric in TS 38.331.

[0207] • the location of NR common RB 0 or physical RB 0, e.g., the frequency location of subcarrier 0 of common RB 0 or physical RB 0 in the NR carrier.

[0208] The 6G TRP can indicate to the 6G UE one or more 5G NR PRACH resources for rate matching (and / or puncturing).

[0209] In Example 6, rate matching or puncturing is performed to exclude resources configured for PRACH in 5G NR. This example assumes that the communication between the 6G TRP and the 6G UE is uplink communication, which means that the 6G UE excludes transmitting on the PRACH resources in the uplink (through rate matching and / or puncturing), while the 6G TRP receives and decodes the communication on the configured resources except for the PRACH resources. However, more generally, e.g., if both the 6G UE and the 6G TRP support full duplex, the communication between the 6G UE and the 6G TRP can involve downlink communication.

[0210] Example 7: The first time-frequency resources correspond to a time-frequency location of a 5G NR Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) configuration in the shared spectrum. In this example, the apparatus 372 is a 6G UE, i.e., a UE that communicates based on a 6G RAT. In this example, the device 352 is a 6G TRP, i.e., a TRP that is capable of communicating with a 6G UE based on a 6G RAT. In this example, the first frequency band 402 is a 5G NR carrier, and the second frequency band 404 is a 6G carrier.

[0211] In Figure 12 the indication transmitted in step 452 and received in step 454 enables the 6G UE to determine the time-frequency location of the first time-frequency resources, i.e., the time-frequency location of the 5G NR PUCCH. Subsequently, the 6G UE can perform rate matching and / or puncturing to exclude communicating on any REs (and / or RBs) occupied by the 5G NR PUCCH.

[0212] According to specific implementations, the time-frequency location of the 5G NR PUCCH can be indicated directly or indirectly.

[0213] In Example 7, rate matching or puncturing is performed to exclude resources configured for a PUCCH in 5G NR. This example assumes that the communication between the 6G TRP and the 6G UE is uplink communication, which means that the 6G UE excludes transmitting on the PUCCH resources in the uplink (through rate matching and / or puncturing), while the 6G TRP receives and decodes the communication on the configured resources excluding the PUCCH resources. However, more generally, the communication between the 6G UE and the 6G TRP can involve downlink communication, e.g., if both the 6G UE and the 6G TRP support full-duplex.

[0214] Examples 1-7 described above are described in the context of 5G NR and 6G. The 6G TRP indicates to the 6G UE the time-frequency location of a 5G NR signal or channel configuration, enabling the 6G UE to rate match and / or puncture on these time-frequency resources, which can improve the spectrum sharing efficiency through the approaches described herein.

[0215] The examples described above are not limited to a specific 5G NR RAT and 6G RAT. For example, in Figure 12In some embodiments of the method, the first time-frequency resource corresponds to the time-frequency position of one or more SSBs of the first RAT. The indication transmitted in step 452 and received in step 454 may include: (i) a time-domain indication indicating the time position of at least one SSB, and / or (ii) a frequency-domain indication indicating the frequency position of at least one SSB. The time-domain indication may include an indication of at least one of the following: the frame timing of the first RAT; the SCS of at least one SSB; a candidate time-domain position of at least one SSB predefined for each SCS; the period of at least one SSB; or an SS / PBCH block transmitted based on the first RAT. The frequency-domain indication may include an indication of at least one of the following: the center of the first frequency band; the bandwidth of the first frequency band; the SSB subcarrier offset; the lowest RB position of the SSB after resolving the SSB subcarrier offset; the lowest subcarrier position of the SSB after resolving the SSB subcarrier offset. This is based on Example 1 above, but unlike Example 1, it is not necessarily limited to the first RAT being 5G NR or the second RAT being 6G.

[0216] Dynamic release of resources is prohibited.

[0217] exist Figure 13 In this method, wireless communication based on the second RAT on the second frequency band 404 (in step 456) is excluded from communication on the first time-frequency resources because these first time-frequency resources are associated with wireless transmissions based on the first RAT on the first frequency band 402. (See reference...) Figure 15 On the overlapping time-frequency resource 406 (shared spectrum), there exists a time-frequency resource 408 reserved for wireless communication based on the first RAT on the first frequency band 402. The time-frequency resource 408 is called the prohibited resource 408. The first time-frequency resource is the prohibited resource 408 within the RB configured for wireless communication based on the second RAT on the second frequency band 404.

[0218] In some embodiments, the prohibited resource 408 is indicated to device 372 in a semi-static manner (e.g., via higher-layer signaling). That is, the indication sent in step 452 (and received in step 454) can be a semi-static indication. This indication can be any indication described in the above embodiments (e.g., Examples 1 to 7 above). Then, in operation, if it is found that the prohibited resource is actually available at some point in time, i.e., it is determined that the prohibited resource is not used for first RAT-based wireless transmissions on the first frequency band 404, device 352 can indicate this to device 372 in DCI or MAC-CE, etc. For example, Figure 12The semi-static indication is shown (upper half of the figure), followed by the dynamic release of the resources 408' (lower half of the figure). The apparatus 372 need not exclude communicating on the released resources 408'. That is, if the apparatus 372 is configured to communicate wirelessly on the second frequency band based on the second RAT, and the wireless communication is configured to take place on resources including the resources 408', the apparatus 372 can communicate on the resources 408'.

[0219] Reference is made to Figure 16 The method of reference, in some embodiments, the indication transmitted in step 452 and received in 454 is a first indication. The first indication can be received in semi-static signaling. The first indication also indicates that a third time-frequency resource is also associated with the wireless transmission based on the first RAT. The third time-frequency resource is a subset of the second time-frequency resource and is different from the first time-frequency resource. Then, before the wireless communication (in step 456), the above method further comprises receiving a second indication. The second indication can be received in DCI (dynamic) or in MAC-CE. The second indication indicates that the third time-frequency resource is not used for the wireless transmission based on the first RAT. The wireless communication on the second time-frequency resource includes communicating on the third time-frequency resource. Figure 12 An example is shown. The wireless communication in step 456 is configured on 9 RBs. RB 2, RB 3, RB 7 and RB 8 include (in step 452) REs indicated as being associated with the wireless transmission based on the first RAT on the first frequency band 402 (i.e. forbidden REs). However, a second indication is received indicating that the resources 408' are not used for the wireless transmission based on the first RAT. Therefore, the wireless communication on the 9 RBs excludes transmitting on the forbidden REs in RB 2 and RB 3, but includes communicating on all REs of RB 7 and RB 8. The first time-frequency resource is the REs shown as black boxes with X in RB 2 and RB 3, the second time-frequency resource is all time-frequency resources in the 9 RBs except the first time-frequency resource, and the third time-frequency resource is the REs shown as 408' in RB 7 and RB 8. The communication takes place on these REs.

[0220] In Figure 12 Some embodiments of the method of reference further comprise that the wireless communication in step 456 is a first wireless communication based on the second RAT. Figure 16 The method of reference can further comprise receiving information configuring a second subsequent wireless communication based on the second RAT. The second subsequent wireless communication is configured on resources including a subset of time-frequency resources that are also indicated in the first indication as being associated with the wireless transmission based on the first RAT, e.g. the subset of time-frequency resources belongs to the forbidden resources 408. The above method can further comprise performing the subsequent wireless communication, but excluding communicating on the subset of time-frequency resources. For example, continuing the example of reference Figure 17 Reference is made toFigure 17 There can be a first wireless communication based on the second RAT configured on RBs 1-9, and a subsequent second wireless communication based on the second RAT configured on RBs 21-25. The subsequent second wireless communication is configured on resources including a subset of time-frequency resources 411 that were indicated in steps 452 / 454 to be associated with wireless transmissions based on the first RAT (i.e., belong to the barred resources 408). Thus, the subsequent second wireless communication on RBs 21-25 is excluded from communicating on time-frequency resources 411 by, for example, rate-matching or puncturing these resources.

[0221] In some embodiments, upon receiving the second indication that the third time-frequency resources are not used for wireless transmissions based on the first RAT, the apparatus 372 can assume that all subsequent barred time-frequency resources are also not used for wireless transmissions based on the first RAT, and the apparatus 372 can communicate on these resources until receiving other indication that these resources are used again for wireless transmissions based on the first RAT. For example, in the example of FIG. 4, the above-described method can include receiving other indication that the apparatus 372 is barred from communicating on the subset of time-frequency resources 411 before communicating the subsequent wireless communication (on RBs 21-25). Otherwise, if no other indication is received, the resources 411 are considered as resources 408', i.e., available for use by the apparatus 372. The other indication can be received in DCI (dynamic) or MAC-CE. Figure 18

[0222] Two options for releasing the barred resources are shown in FIG. 4. The device 352 first semi-statically indicates (e.g., in step 452 of FIG. 4) the barred resources 408, including 408'. These barred resources can be referred to as "candidate rate-matching (or puncturing) resources". The barred resources can be resources that 5G NR SSB, 5G NR CSI-RS, 5G NR CORESET, 5G NR SRS, 5G NR PUCCH, and / or 5G NR PRACH can use, etc. The semi-static indication can be sent in a system information block (SIB), in RRC signaling, or in a MAC CE. Figure 12 Figure 18

[0223] ​​​Subsequently, during operation, device 352 releases the prohibited resource. Releasing a prohibited resource can also be referred to as deactivating the resource. The released prohibited resource is identified using reference numeral 408'. When a resource is released, this indicates that the resource is not being used by the first RAT (e.g., via 5G NR transmission), and therefore device 372 and device 352 can communicate on resource 408' based on the second RAT (e.g., 6G transmission). The release can be dynamic, for example, in DCI. Alternatively, the release can also be semi-static, for example, in MAC CE. Dynamic release can enable dynamic spectrum sharing when the prohibited resource reserved for transmissions based on the first RAT (e.g., 5G transmission) is not actually being used by the first RAT.

[0224] exist Figure 18 In Option 1, when device 372 receives release instruction 432 from device 352, the immediately following prohibited resource 408' is released and used by device 372 and device 352 for wireless communication based on the second RAT. Subsequent prohibited resources are not released, therefore rate matching and / or puncturing are required. Option 1 can be referred to as a "short release". Figure 19 In Option 2, when device 372 receives release instruction 432 from device 352, all prohibited resources 408' are released (and used by device 372 and device 352 for wireless communication based on the second RAT) until another instruction 434 is received to restore the prohibited resources, i.e., again indicating that rate matching and / or puncturing of the prohibited resources is required. The other instruction 434 can be sent in the DCI or in the MAC CE.

[0225] The signal design for a release indication (e.g., indication 432) can be as follows. In one option, a bitmap is used for the release indication, where each bit corresponds to a specific instance of the disabled resource. Figures 15 to 19 An example of a bitmap release indication is shown, applicable to the following scenario: the first RAT is a 5G NR RAT, the second RAT is 6G, and prohibited resource 408 is a time-frequency position reserved for 5G NR SSB transmission. The 6G TRP indicates four prohibited resources 408, which are candidate resources for 5G NR SSB transmission. This indication is transmitted in the SIB, but this is just an example (e.g., it could be replaced with RRC or MAC CE). In operation, a 4-bit bitmap release indication is sent indicating that resource 408' is not occupied because only three 5G NRSSBs are actually needed for transmission. The bitmap in the example is 0100, where 1 indicates that the second SSB position is released. This bitmap could be sent in the DCI or MAC CE, etc. In an alternative option, each instance of a prohibited resource can have a corresponding resource ID, in addition to the bitmap, and the release indication can indicate the ID of each resource being released.

[0226] The above text combined Figure 20 The illustrated embodiments may have advantages in the following situations: a pattern of resource 408 reserved for communication based on the first RAT is indicated to device 372 in advance, and then anomalies (e.g., resource 408') can be indicated to device 372 during operation. This can save signaling overhead compared to continuously and dynamically indicating resource 408 during operation. In some implementations in the context of 5G NR RAT and 6GRAT, the 6G UE can receive a semi-static configuration of candidate prohibited resources, wherein dynamic signaling is used to release a portion of these resources to support dynamic and flexible spectrum sharing between 5G NR and 6G.

[0227] Multiple SSB patterns in shared spectrum

[0228] In some embodiments, the second RAT may be associated with multiple Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) patterns, both of which can be transmitted on overlapping resources 406 in the second frequency band 404. In the following example, the second RAT is associated with a first SSB time-frequency position pattern and a second SSB time-frequency position pattern to transmit SSBs based on the second RAT in the second frequency band. However, in general, more than two different patterns may exist. In some embodiments, if multiple SSB patterns exist, the device 372 sends / receives an indication of which pattern is currently being used. For example, if two SSB patterns exist, the device 372 sends / receives an indication of whether the first SSB time-frequency position pattern or the second SSB time-frequency position pattern is currently being used.

[0229] Figure 20 A first SSB time-frequency location pattern and a second SSB time-frequency location pattern are illustrated in one embodiment. In the first SSB time-frequency location pattern (“Pattern 1”), SSBs (e.g., 6GSSBs) transmitted on the second frequency band 404 based on the second RAT are restricted to BWPs on overlapping time-frequency resources 406, wherein the BWPs do not overlap in the frequency domain with SSBs 408 (e.g., 5G NR SSBs) transmitted on the first frequency band 402 based on the first RAT. That is, the first SSB time-frequency location pattern (“Pattern 1”) includes SSBs transmitted on the second frequency band 404 based on the second RAT, and the frequency resources used to transmit these SSBs are different from the frequency resources used to transmit SSBs on the first frequency band 402 based on the first RAT.

[0230] In the second SSB time-frequency location pattern (“Pattern 2”), the SSBs (e.g., 6G SSBs) transmitted based on the second RAT on the second frequency band 404 at least partially overlap in the frequency domain with the SSBs 408 (e.g., 5G NR SSBs) transmitted based on the first RAT on the first frequency band 402. The SSBs of the second RAT are time-multiplexed with the SSBs of the first RAT, e.g., as shown in FIG. 3B, so as to avoid interference. That is, the second SSB time-frequency location pattern (“Pattern 2”) includes SSBs transmitted based on the second RAT on the second frequency band 404, the frequency resources used to transmit these SSBs at least partially overlap with the frequency resources used to transmit SSBs based on the first RAT on the first frequency band 402, but are time-multiplexed. As a result of the multiplexing, more SSBs of the second RAT are transmitted in a given time period in Pattern 1 than in Pattern 2. Figure 21

[0231] Specific examples of Pattern 1 and Pattern 2 are described below in the case where the first RAT is 5G NR and the second RAT is 6G, so that Pattern 1 and Pattern 2 relate to patterns for transmission of 6G SSBs in the shared spectrum (i.e., the overlapping resources 406):

[0232] • 6G SSB Pattern 1: Within a 5 ms or similar time burst, the number of candidate SSBs is M1, where M1 is a relatively large number. This is because 6G has more SSB beams due to the increased number of antennas. Pattern 1 can be used when the 6G SSBs do not overlap with the 5G SSBs in the frequency domain, so that the entire time burst can be used to transmit 6G SSBs.

[0233] • 6G SSB Pattern 2: Within a 5 ms or similar time burst, the number of candidate SSBs is M2, where M2 < M1. Pattern 2 can be used when the 6G SSBs overlap with the 5G SSBs in the frequency domain, so that only a portion of the time burst can be used to transmit 6G SSBs, as the other portion of the time burst is used to transmit 5G SSBs.

[0234] In general, the SSBs of the 5G RAT and the 6G RAT have different burst time lengths, but can also be the same length, e.g., 5 ms for both 5G and 6G.

[0235] ​When the traffic load of 6G is light, e.g., in the early stage of 6G deployment, the number of 6G UEs is small, the 6G carrier or 6G BWP can occupy a small bandwidth in the shared spectrum, e.g., there is FDM coexistence pattern 1 between 5G NR and 6G, thus there is no overlap in the frequency domain between 6G SSB and 5G NR SSB. SSB pattern 1 can be used for 6G carrier. When the traffic load of 6G is heavy, the 6G carrier or 6G BWP occupies a larger bandwidth in the shared spectrum, e.g., the entire carrier bandwidth of the shared spectrum. In order to obtain the best synchronization performance for 6G UEs, 6G SSB can be located in the center of 6G BWP, which is similar to 5G SSB deployment. This means that pattern 2 is used, i.e., 6G SSB and 5G NR SSB overlap in the frequency domain. SSB pattern 2 is used for 6G carrier. 6G SSB transmission uses a small BW (i.e., SSB pattern 1), which is beneficial for 6G TRP and 6G UE to achieve power saving, but when the traffic load of 6G UE is heavy, SSB pattern 2 is used, because in the scenario of heavy traffic load, the small bandwidth of SSB pattern 1 cannot support too many 6G UEs.

[0236] For example, according to the traffic load of 6G UEs served by 6G TRP, the 6G SSB pattern (e.g., pattern 1 or pattern 2) and / or 6G SSB location can be dynamically updated by 6G TRP. For UEs in power saving mode (e.g., IDLE state), the SSB pattern and / or location can change, so when the UE is woken up, the UE can be indicated the SSB pattern and / or location through a paging signal or the like.

[0237] The following is an example. When the UE is in power saving mode (e.g., IDLE state), the UE operates on a small BWP. For example, the BW of the BWP is much smaller than the BW used for 6G SSB transmission. Subsequently, the UE uses a reference signal (RS) (e.g., tracking RS or CSI-RS) for coarse synchronization and automatic gain control (AGC) setting. Upon receiving a paging, the paging indicates one, part or all of the following information (where the exact information indicated varies by implementation):

[0238] • 6G SSB pattern, e.g., pattern 1 or pattern 2.

[0239] • 6G SSB location, e.g., time location and / or frequency location of the 6G SSB. The time location of the SSB can be indicated by indicating the symbol and / or period of the 6G SSB. The frequency location of the SSB can be indicated by (i) indicating a global synchronization channel number (GSCN); or (ii) indicating an offset relative to a frequency reference point, where the frequency reference point is predefined or configured (from the offset, the UE can know the lowest RB or the highest RB or the center of the 6G SSB); or (iii) some candidate 6G SSB locations in the frequency domain can be predefined or configured, e.g., the candidate locations have indices, the paging can indicate which candidate location is used for 6G SSB transmission, e.g., indicating the location index.

[0240] • Active BWP, e.g., the paging indicates a BWP (to be switched to) where the UE switches to after receiving the paging.

[0241] Figure 20 An example of active BWP related to two SSB patterns for a 6G UE in sleep mode is shown. In pattern 1, the 6G UE has an active BWP 482 in sleep mode, and the paging indicates: 6G SSB location (e.g., by indicating GSCN), 6G SSB pattern, and BWP to be switched to. The active BWP 482 can be much smaller than the 6G SSB, and the 6G UE can use tracking RS or CSI-RS for coarse synchronization and AGC setting. The active BWP 482 of the 6G UE is also illustrated in the context of pattern 2.

[0242] By having the paging indicate the 6G SSB location and the active BWP location, this reduces the blind search overhead for the 6G UE, as the UE does not need to blindly decode the location of the SSB. The 6G UE achieves power saving compared to blind decoding.

[0243] The above examples apply to 6G RAT and 5G NR RAT. In general, there can be multiple SSB time-frequency location patterns based on a second RAT transmitting SSBs on a shared spectrum, where the second RAT is not necessarily 6G. The multiple SSB time-frequency location patterns can include a first time-frequency location pattern (e.g., pattern 1 of Figure 20 and a second time-frequency location pattern (e.g., pattern 2 of Figure 13The apparatus 372 can receive an indication from the device 352 of whether a first SSB time and frequency location pattern or a second SSB time and frequency location pattern is currently used. The indication can additionally or alternatively be at least one of: a frequency location of the SSB, a time location of the SSB, a carrier in which the SSB is located, or a BWP in which the SSB is located, where the SSB is a SSB based on a second RAT transmission. The indication can be received in a paging message. The apparatus 372 can use a reference signal for coarse synchronization in order to receive the paging message.

[0244] Assuming the first RAT and the second RAT described herein are 5G NR RAT and 6G RAT, respectively, by implementing the embodiments herein, the following can be achieved in some embodiments. Dynamic spectrum sharing between 5G NR and 6G can be supported, e.g., a 6G carrier sharing a same frequency band used by a 5G carrier, especially supporting RE-level dynamic spectrum sharing to use all available REs that are not used by 5G UEs. Supporting 5G-6G spectrum sharing can enable a network to deploy 5G and 6G in a same carrier and frequency band, i.e., 5G and 6G can be able to be deployed and share carrier resources simultaneously. Dynamic spectrum sharing between 5G and 6G has an advantage of smooth migration to 6G in the early stage of 6G. Some embodiments herein provide schemes to support 5G NR / 6G dynamic spectrum sharing, including solving the following problems: how to achieve RE-level sharing with minimum indication overhead; for RB symbol-level dynamic spectrum sharing, how to reduce indication overhead (e.g., by two bitmaps, one bitmap for RBs and one bitmap for symbols)? In some embodiments, 5G NR / 6G dynamic spectrum sharing is provided, e.g., a 6G TRP indicates to a 6G UE a configuration of a 5G NR signal or channel configuration (e.g., time and frequency resources that are forbidden), so that the 6G UE can know which REs or which RB symbols are occupied by 5G UEs, i.e., are not available for the 6G UE, which enables the 6G UE to rate match and / or puncture these REs (or RB symbols) to achieve and / or improve spectrum sharing efficiency.

[0245] In some embodiments, (e.g., in Figure 14 In some embodiments, (e.g., in Figure 8In some embodiments, RB symbol level spectrum sharing (or referred to as RB symbol level rate matching / puncturing) can exist, where N RBs in M symbols can be declared as unavailable to 6G physical channels or physical signals, where M and N are integers. Spectrum sharing methods are applicable to any frequency band overlapping situation, which is why the various variants shown are provided. Scenarios can include: (1) 5G carrier and 6G carrier use the same frequency location; (2) there is partial frequency overlap between 5G carrier and 6G carrier; (3) multiple 5G carriers overlap in frequency with 6G carrier. The spectrum sharing methods described herein are applicable to all 3 scenarios (1) to (3) above, supporting semi-static / dynamic frequency division multiplexing (FDM), TDM, or FDM+TDM sharing between 5G and 6G. Figure 8

[0246] In some embodiments, semi-static rate matching resource indication plus dynamic resource release is provided. For example, 6G SIB can indicate candidate forbidden (rate matched / punctured) resources, MAC-CE or DCI indicates whether the candidate forbidden resources are available for 6G UE to use (i.e., forbidden resource release). In some embodiments, UE wake-up procedure in shared carrier is provided, e.g., the two SSB patterns described above, where in some embodiments, the paging indicates: 6G SSB location, 6G SSB pattern, and / or BWP to switch to.

[0247] In some embodiments herein, RE level dynamic spectrum sharing between 5G NR and 6G is provided, where 6G TRP indicates time-frequency resources of 5G NR SSB to 6G UE. The indication can be time domain indication and frequency domain indication. For time domain indication, timing reference point (NR half frame boundary), SCS of NR SSB, periodicity of NR SSB burst set, and / or actually transmitted NR SS / PBCH block can be indicated. For frequency domain indication, global synchronization channel number (GSCN) of 5G NR SSB can be indicated, 5G NR carrier information such as: center of 5G NR carrier, 5G NR carrier BW, k ssb (SS / PBCH RB edge to data RB edge offset) and / or resolving k ssb ​The 6G TRP can indicate the presence of a 5G NR CORESET0 associated with the SSB, e.g., indicating the time-frequency location of the CORESET0 for SIB1: SCS of CORESET0, ControlResourceSetZero (8 bits). The 6G TRP can indicate to the 6G UE the 5G NR CSI-RS resources: periodicity and offset, frequencyDomainAllocation, nrofPorts, firstOFDMSymbolInTimeDomain, cdm-Type, and / or density.

[0248] In some embodiments herein, semi-static indication of forbidden resources plus dynamic release (deactivation) of certain forbidden resources is provided. The 6G SIB / RRC can indicate semi-static forbidden resources. The 6G MAC-CE / DCI can indicate that part of the semi-static forbidden resources are released. In some embodiments, UE wake-up procedure in shared carriers is provided. There can be multiple 6G SSB patterns, which can depend on whether the 6G SSB and 5G NR SSB overlap in frequency. Paging can indicate: 6G SSB location (e.g., GSCN), 6G SSB pattern, and / or BWP to switch to.

[0249] Some specific examples

[0250] The following are some specific examples consistent with the embodiments discussed herein. The following is not intended to be limiting.

[0251] In current networks, 5G New Radio (NR) carriers can share the same spectrum used by LTE carriers. A BS can dynamically allocate time-frequency resources not used by LTE UEs to NR UEs to achieve high spectral efficiency.

[0252] In future 6G deployments, 5G networks and 5G UEs are likely to continue to exist in the initial deployment phase of 6G networks. Therefore, it is crucial to support dynamic spectrum sharing between 5G NR and 6G, e.g., to support 6G carriers sharing the same frequency band used by 5G carriers, especially to support RE-level dynamic spectrum sharing to use all available REs not used by 5G UEs.

[0253] In some embodiments below, a scheme is provided to support 5G-6G spectrum sharing, so that networks can deploy 5G and 6G in the same carrier and frequency band, i.e., 5G and 6G can be deployed simultaneously and share carrier resources. Dynamic spectrum sharing between 5G and 6G in the early stage of 6G has the advantage of smooth migration to 6G.

[0254] The problem and goal are to support NR-6G dynamic spectrum sharing: how to achieve RE-level sharing with minimal indication overhead? For RB-symbol-level DSS, how to reduce the indication overhead (by two bitmaps, one bitmap for RB and one bitmap for symbol) compared to the NR indication scheme?

[0255] The summary is as follows: (1) NR-6G dynamic spectrum sharing: 6G BS indicates the configuration of 5G NR signal or channel configuration to 6G UE, so that 6G UE can rate match these REs to improve spectrum sharing efficiency. (2) Semi-static rate matching resource indication + dynamic RM resource release: 6G SIB indicates candidate RM resources, and MAC-CE / DCI indicates whether the candidate RM resources are available for 6G UE to use (i.e., RM resource release). (3) UE wake-up procedure in a shared carrier: paging indication: 6G SSB location, 6G SSB pattern, BWP to be switched to.

[0256] Embodiment 1:

[0257] Some term definitions:

[0258] RE-level spectrum sharing (or called RE-level rate matching): Part of resource elements (REs) are declared as unavailable for 6G physical channels (e.g., 6G PDSCH, PUSCH) or physical signals (6G reference signals). 6G physical channels rate match or puncture these REs.

[0259] RB-symbol-level spectrum sharing (or called RB-symbol-level rate matching): N RBs in M symbols are declared as unavailable for 6G physical channels or physical signals, where M and N are integers.

[0260] The following NR specifications are for reference: 3GPP TS 38.211 V17.3.0; 3GPP TS 38.212 V17.3.0; 3GPP TS 38.213 V17.3.0; 3GPP TS 38.214 V17.3.0; 3GPP TS 38.331 V17.3.0

[0261] Scenarios: (1) 5G carrier and 6G carrier use the same frequency location; (2) there is partial frequency overlap between 5G carrier and 6G carrier; (3) multiple 5G carriers overlap with 6G carrier in frequency. Note: The methods in this paper may be applicable to all the above 3 cases, supporting semi-static / dynamic FDM, TDM or FDM+TDM sharing between 5G and 6G. Figure 19 Examples of various frequency location scenarios are shown, and it should be noted that only the time part where there is frequency overlap is shown in the figure.

[0262] 6G BS indicates the configuration of 5G NR signal or channel configuration to 6G UE, so 6G UE knows which REs or RB symbols are occupied by 5G UE, i.e., not available for 6G UE. Therefore, 6G UE can rate match these REs, RB symbols, thus achieving spectrum sharing.

[0263] (1) 6G BS indicates NR SSB configuration in shared spectrum to 6G UE: 6G BS indicates the REs for NR SSB in shared spectrum to 6G UE, so 6G UE can rate match NR SSB, e.g., rate match the REs for NR SSB to avoid interference between 5G and 6G. There are some unused REs available in NR SSB. Since SSB beams are periodically scanned, the total number of available REs cannot be ignored. 6G should dynamically use these REs.

[0264] 6G BS indicates the time domain location of NR SSB in shared spectrum to 6G UE, which includes one or more of the following parameters:

[0265] • Frame timing of NR carrier

[0266] o Boundary of NR frame or half frame

[0267] • Subcarrier spacing (SCS) of NR SSB

[0268] o Another option: Determine SCS according to the frequency band of shared spectrum, according to Table 5.4.3.3-1 (SS raster entries applicable per operating band) in 3GPP TS 38.101-1 V18.0.0, 6G UE can find the SCS of SS block in the shared spectrum band. If there are two available SCS, 6G BS indicates which SCS is used by the NR carrier

[0269] • Candidate time domain location of NR SSB is predefined for each NR SSB SCS

[0270] o As shown in Section 4.1 of 5G specification 3GPP TS 38.213, for a half frame with SS / PBCH blocks, the first symbol index of the candidate SS / PBCH block is determined according to the SCS of the SS / PBCH block, for more details, see TS 38.213.

[0271] • Period of NR SSB

[0272] o Period of NR SSB burst set, e.g., 5ms, 10ms, 20ms, 40ms, 80ms, 160ms. If this parameter is not indicated to 6G UE, 6G UE adopts the value 5ms.

[0273] • Actual transmitted NR SS / PBCH blocks

[0274] o For candidate time-domain locations of NR SSB, the NR SSB can not be transmitted over the 5G carrier.

[0275] ■ Option 1: Bitmap is used to indicate actual SS / PBCH block transmission, one bit corresponds to one candidate location of SSB.

[0276] ■ Option 2: The indication is in compressed form (e.g., in case of above 6 GHz): Group bitmap (8 bits) + intra-group bitmap (8 bits), 64 SSBs are divided into 8 groups, each group has 8 SSBs.

[0277] 6G BS indicates to 6G UE the frequency-domain location of NR SSB in the shared spectrum, the indication includes one or more of the following parameters: • Option 1: Directly indicate the NR SSB location

[0278] o Alternative to Option 1 (“Alt-1”): Indicate the Global Synchronization Channel Number (GSCN) of NR SSB

[0279] ■ As shown in TS 38.101-1 v18.0.0, in NR, a global synchronization raster is defined for all frequencies. The frequency location of an SS block is defined as SS REF , whose corresponding number is GSCN. The parameters of SS REF and GSCN in all frequency ranges are shown in Table 5.4.3.1-1.

[0280] ■ The GSCN determines the location of resource element RE = #0 (subcarrier #0) of resource block RB #10 of the SS block. Therefore, through the GSCN, the 6G UE can determine the exact frequency location of the NR SSB

[0281] Table: GSCN parameters of global frequency raster

[0282]

[0283] o Alt-2: Indicate the frequency location of the lowest or highest subcarrier of NR SSB.

[0284] ■ Indicate the offset relative to the frequency reference point, which can be RB granularity or subcarrier granularity or a combination of RB and subcarrier granularity

[0285] • Option 2: Indicate the NR carrier information in the shared spectrum and indicate the NR SSB location in the NR carrier

[0286] o The center of the NR carrier

[0287] ■ The position of the NR carrier center subcarrier indicates the offset of the reference point from the center subcarrier of the NR carrier, or indicates the absolute radio frequency channel number (ARFCN) of the center of the NR carrier, etc.

[0288] ○NR carrier BW

[0289] ○SSB subcarrier offset (k ssb )

[0290] ■ Corresponding to k ssb (See 3GPP TS 38.213), which is the frequency domain offset (in subcarriers) between the SSB and the entire resource block grid, i.e., the offset between the SS / PBCH RB edge and the data RB edge.

[0291] ○Analysis of SSB subcarrier offset (k) ssb The lowest RB position (or lowest subcarrier position) of the SSB after shifting (i.e., the SSB shifted k in the frequency domain) ssb (subcarriers)

[0292] ■Option 1: Indicate the lowest RB index (public RB index or physical RB index)

[0293] ● It also indicates the location of common RB0 or ​​physical RB0, for example, the reference point of subcarrier 0 of common RB0 or ​​physical RB0.

[0294] ■Option 2: Indicates the lowest frequency position of the SSB

[0295] ● For example, indicating the offset relative to a reference point

[0296] The parameter indications for the 6G UE mentioned above can be indicated via RRC, MAC-CE, or DCI signaling.

[0297] After obtaining the time-frequency location of the NR SSB, the 6G UE can perform rate matching on the NR SSB:

[0298] ●Option 1: RE-level rate matching. 6G UEs can use REs not occupied by the NR SSB, thus maximizing spectrum efficiency.

[0299] ● Option 2: RB-level rate matching. For an RB in a 6G carrier, if one or more REs are occupied by the NR SSB, then the RB is rate-matched by the 6G UE. This option is simpler, but it wastes some REs and reduces spectrum efficiency.

[0300] For RB-level rate matching around the NR SSB of a 6G UE, an alternative scheme can be used to indicate the time-frequency location of the NR SSB:

[0301] • Time domain location: same as above

[0302] • Frequency domain location

[0303] o Frequency location of the lowest subcarrier or the lowest RB indicating the NR SSB

[0304] ■ For example, RB index indicating the lowest location of NR SSB in 6G carrier

[0305] o Number of RBs occupied by NR SSB

[0306] ■ For example, 20 or 21 RBs are occupied under the SCS of NR SSB, if not indicated, 6G UE assumes the value as 20 (or 21).

[0307] (2) 6G BS indicates NR CORESET0 configuration in shared spectrum to 6G UE: CORESET0 is a kind of control resource set (CORESET) used to carry PDCCH / DCI of SIB1. The number of continuous resource blocks and the number of continuous symbols are configured for CORESET of Type0-PDCCH CSS set (i.e. CORESET0).

[0308] In addition, 6G BS also indicates the location of NR common RB 0 or physical RB 0, for example, the frequency location of subcarrier 0 of common RB 0 or physical RB 0.

[0309] 6G BS indicates the time-frequency location of CORESET0 to 6G UE, so that 6G UE can rate match the RE (or RB symbol) occupied by 5G.

[0310] • Option 1: BS directly indicates the RB and symbol of NR CORESET0

[0311] o Frequency domain: starting RB of CORESET0, length of CORESET0

[0312] o Time domain: symbol location of CORESET0 and period of CORESET0.

[0313] o Note: On the frequency domain, one or more CORESET0s can be indicated to UE.

[0314] • Option 2: BS indicates the time-frequency location of NR SSB block and the corresponding CORESET0

[0315] o SSB location indication refers to the above scheme

[0316] o For the indication of the corresponding CORESET0, one or more of the following information is configured:

[0317] ■Presence of NR CORESET0

[0318] ●This is because if SSB is not cell-defining SSB in NR, there is no corresponding NR CORESET0

[0319] ■If corresponding CORESET is present, indicate the frequency domain location of CORESET0

[0320] ●BS indicates SSB SCS, PDCCH for SIB1 SCS (Note that SIB1, PDCCH and CORESET0 for SIB1 have the same SCS)

[0321] ○According to {SSB, PDCCH} SCS, 6G UE can find the exact usage table of CORESET0 configuration in Table 13-1 to Table 13-10 in 3GPP TS 38.213 V17.4.0.

[0322] ●Configuration index in the exact usage table of CORESET0 configuration

[0323] ○According to the index (e.g., index takes 4 bits), 6G UE can find the corresponding row of CORESET0 configuration in the table, i.e., can get the frequency location of CORESET0 and the duration of CORESET0

[0324] ○Note: Configuration index can be considered as IE controlResourceSetZero in 3GPP TS 38.331

[0325] ■If corresponding CORESET is present, indicate the time domain location of CORESET0

[0326] ●BS indicates SSB SCS, PDCCH for SIB1 SCS (Note that SIB1, PDCCH and CORESET0 for SIB1 have the same SCS)

[0327] ○According to {SSB, PDCCH} SCS, 6G UE can find the exact usage table of PDCCH monitoring occasion in CORESET0

[0328] ●Time configuration index in the exact usage table

[0329] ○According to the index (e.g., index takes 4 bits), 6G UE can find the corresponding row in the table of PDCCH monitoring occasion for SIB1, i.e., can get the time domain location (including period) of PDCCH in CORESET0

[0330] Note: Time configuration index can be regarded as information element (IE) searchSpaceZero in 3GPP TS 38.331

[0331] (3) 6G BS indicates NR CSI-RS configuration in shared spectrum to 6G UE: 6G BS indicates NR carrier information in shared spectrum to 6G UE, including center frequency of NR carrier, NR carrier bandwidth and / or center of subcarrier 0 of common resource block or PRB and / or frame timing (e.g., boundary of frame / subframe / slot).

[0332] In addition, 6G BS indicates to 6G UE the REs occupied by NR CSI-RS, so that 6G UE can rate match on these REs. In order to indicate the resource element mapping of CSI-RS resource in time and frequency domain, including one or more of the following information:

[0333] • frequencyDomainAllocation

[0334] • Frequency domain allocation within physical resource block according to section 7.4.1.5.3 of TS 38.211

[0335] • nrofPorts

[0336] • Number of ports

[0337] • firstOFDMSymbolInTimeDomain

[0338] • Time domain allocation within physical resource block. This field indicates the first OFDM symbol in the PRB used for CSI-RS. See section 7.4.1.5.3 of TS 38.211.

[0339] • firstOFDMSymbolInTimeDomain2

[0340] • Time domain allocation within physical resource block. See section 7.4.1.5.3 of TS 38.211.

[0341] • cdm-Type

[0342] • CDM type (see section 5.2.2.3.1 of TS 38.214).

[0343] • density

[0344] • CSI-RS resource density measured in RE / ports / PRB (see section 7.4.1.5.3 of TS 38.211).

[0345] • freqBand

[0346] o Wideband or partial-band CSI-RS (see Section 5.2.2.3.1 of TS 38.214).

[0347] • Note: For more details on the above parameters, please refer to IE CSI-RS-ResourceMapping in TS 38.331

[0348] • CSI-ResourcePeriodicityAndOffset

[0349] o Periodicity and corresponding offset of periodic and semi-persistent CSI resource

[0350] • Numerology of NR CSI-RS, including SCS and CP

[0351] • Location of NR common RB 0 or physical RB 0, e.g., frequency location of subcarrier 0 of common RB 0 or physical RB 0 in NR carrier

[0352] The 6G BS can indicate one or more NR CSI-RS resources to the 6G UE for rate matching.

[0353] (3A) The 6G BS indicates NR CORESET configuration in the shared spectrum to the 6G UE: The 6G BS indicates NR carrier information in the shared spectrum to the 6G UE, including the center frequency of the NR carrier, the NR carrier bandwidth, and / or the center of subcarrier 0 of the common resource block or PRB, and / or the frame timing (e.g., the boundary of frame / subframe / slot).

[0354] In addition, the 6G BS indicates the REs (or symbols and RBs) occupied by the NR CORESET to the 6G UE, so that the 6G UE can rate match these REs (or symbols and RBs). In order to indicate the resource element mapping of CORESET in time and frequency domain, the following one or more information is included:

[0355] • frequencyDomainResources

[0356] o Frequency domain resources of CORESET. For example, using a bitmap, each bit corresponds to a set of 6 RBs

[0357] • timeDuration

[0358] o Continuous time duration (in number of symbols) of CORESET

[0359] o The 6G UE assumes that the NR CORESET starts from the first symbol of the NR slot

[0360] • Numerology of NR CORESET, including SCS and CP

[0361] • Note: For more details on the above parameters, please refer to IE ControlResourceSet in TS 38.331

[0362] • Numerology of NR CORESET, including SCS and CP

[0363] • Location of NR common RB 0 or physical RB 0, e.g., frequency location of subcarrier 0 of common RB 0 or physical RB 0 in the NR carrier

[0364] 6G BS can indicate one or multiple NR CORESET resources to 6G UE for rate matching.

[0365] (4) 6G BS indicates NR SRS configuration in shared spectrum to 6G UE: 6G BS indicates NR carrier information in shared spectrum to 6G UE, including center frequency of NR carrier, NR carrier bandwidth, and / or center of subcarrier 0 of common resource block or PRB, and / or frame timing (e.g., boundary of frame / subframe / slot).

[0366] In addition, 6G BS indicates to 6G UE the REs occupied by NR SRS, so that 6G UE can rate match these R. To indicate the resource element mapping of SRS resource in time and frequency domain, including one or more of the following information:

[0367] • nrofSRS-Ports

[0368] o Number of SRS ports.

[0369] • transmissionComb

[0370] o Comb value (2 or 4 or 8) and comb offset (see Section 6.2.1 of TS 38.214).

[0371] • resourceMapping, including startPosition, nrofSymbols, repetitionFactor

[0372] o OFDM symbol position of SRS resource within a slot, including nrofSymbols (number of OFDM symbols), startPosition (value 0 means last symbol, value 1 means second last symbol, and so on), and repetitionFactor (see Section 6.2.1 of TS 38.214 and Section 6.4.1.4 of TS 38.211).

[0373] ●freqDomainPosition

[0374] ○ SRS frequency domain position

[0375] ●periodicityAndOffset

[0376] ○ Period and slot offset of the SRS resource

[0377] ●Note: For more detailed information on the above parameters, please refer to IE SRS-Resource and SRS-ResourceSet in TS 38.331.

[0378] ● The parameter set of NR SRS includes SCS and CP.

[0379] ●The location of NR common RB0 or ​​physical RB0, for example, the frequency position of subcarrier 0 of common RB0 or ​​physical RB0 in the NR carrier.

[0380] A 6G BS can indicate one or more NR SRS resources to a 6G UE for rate matching.

[0381] (5) The 6G BS indicates the NR PRACH configuration in the shared spectrum to the 6G UE: The 6G BS indicates the NR carrier information in the shared spectrum to the 6G UE, including the center frequency of the NR carrier, the NR carrier bandwidth and / or the center and / or frame timing of subcarrier 0 of the common resource block or PRB (e.g., the boundary of the frame / subframe / slot).

[0382] Additionally, the 6G BS indicates the REs occupied by the NR PRACH to the 6G UE, allowing the 6G UE to perform rate matching on these REs. To indicate the resource element mapping of PRACH resources in the time and frequency domains, one or more of the following information are included:

[0383] ●prach-ConfigurationIndex

[0384] ○ PRACH Configuration Index. (See Section 6.3.3.2 of TS 38.211). This index indicates a row in the PRACH configuration table, for example, Table 6.3.3.2-2. Based on the row indicated in the table, the 6G UE knows the PRACH time-domain location.

[0385] ●msg1-FrequencyStart

[0386] ○ The offset of the minimum PRACH transmission timing in the frequency domain relative to NR PRB 0. (See Section 6.3.3.2 of TS 38.211).

[0387] • msg1-FDM

[0388] • Number of PRACH transmission occasions with FDM at one point in time. (See section 6.3.3.2 of TS 38.211).

[0389] • Number of RBs expressed with numerology

[0390] • The numerology and the number of RBs are determined according to the length and SCS of PRACH as shown in Table 6.3.3.2-1 in TS 38.211, where the length and SCS of PRACH are determined according to the above prach-ConfigurationIndex

[0391] • Note: For more details about the above parameters, please refer to IE RACH-ConfigGeneric in TS 38.331

[0392] • The location of NR common RB 0 or physical RB 0, e.g., the frequency location of subcarrier 0 of common RB 0 or physical RB 0 in the NR carrier

[0393] The 6G BS can indicate one or more NR PRACH resources to the 6G UE for rate matching.

[0394] In addition, the 6G BS can also indicate time-frequency resources for NR PUCCH transmission to the 6G UE for rate matching.

[0395] One or more technical advantages / merits of embodiment 1: The 6G BS indicates the configuration of 5G NR signal or channel configuration to the 6G UE, so the 6G UE can rate match these REs to improve the efficiency of spectrum sharing.

[0396] Embodiment 2:

[0397] The 6G BS indicates partial candidate RE resources (candidate RM resources) to the 6G UE for rate matching, and the indication method is shown in embodiment 1.

[0398] Semi-static RM resource + dynamic release: Candidate RM resources (e.g., resources can be used by NR SSB, NR CSI-RS, NR CORESET, NR SRS, NR PUCCH, NR PRACH, etc.) can be indicated by SIB, RRC or MAC-CE. In addition, one candidate RM resource can be released (or deactivated) by MAC-CE or DCI to achieve dynamic sharing. For example, the DCI indicates to the 6G UE that the candidate RM resource is not mapped by the 5G BS / UE, so this resource can be used by the 6G UE, and there is no need to rate match the candidate RM resource. If the 6G UE does not receive the release signaling, the 6G UE assumes that the candidate RM resource is rate matched by default.

[0399] After receiving the release indication of the 6G UE, the UE:

[0400] • Option 1: Rate match the candidate RM resource according to the release indication. For the next transmission on the candidate RM resource, the UE should assume that the RM resource is rate matched by default.

[0401] • Option 2: Rate match the candidate RM resource according to the release indication, the UE assumes that the candidate RM resource is not rate matched in the next transmission. When the UE receives the RM resource activation indication, the UE assumes that the candidate RM resource should be rate matched in the next transmission.

[0402] For the release signal design, it can be:

[0403] • Option 1: By bitmap

[0404] o The bitmap is used for release indication, where one bit corresponds to one candidate RM resource. Here is an example, please refer to Figure 20 . The 6G BS configures 4 candidate RM resources, one of which can be used by the NR SSB. But the NR carrier actually transmits 3 NR SSBs. Therefore, 1 RM resource can be released for the 6G UE. Therefore, the 6G BS uses 4 bits to indicate the release, for example, 0100 indicates that the second candidate RM resource is released and available for the 6G UE.

[0405] • Option 2: Indicate the candidate RM resource ID released

[0406] o Each candidate RM resource is configured with a resource ID. By indicating the ID in the release signal, the 6G UE knows which candidate RM resource is released.

[0407] One or more technical advantages of embodiment 2: semi-statically configure rate matching candidate resources for 6G UEs, dynamically indicate release of part of the RM resources, to support dynamic and flexible spectrum sharing between NR and 6G.

[0408] Embodiment 3:

[0409] In the spectrum shared with 5G NR, 6G carrier can have multiple SSB patterns.

[0410] • 6G SSB pattern 1 (take “pattern 1” of Figure 20 as an example)

[0411] o Within a time burst of 5ms, the number of candidate SSBs is M1, M1 is a relatively large number. This is because 6G has more SSB beams due to the increase in the number of antennas

[0412] o This pattern can be used when 6G SSB does not overlap with 5G SSB in the frequency domain, so all time bursts can be used to transmit 6G SSB

[0413] • 6G SSB pattern 2 (take “pattern 2” of Figure 21 as an example)

[0414] o Within a time burst of 5ms, the number of candidate SSBs is M2, M2 < M1

[0415] o This pattern can be used when 6G SSB overlaps with 5G SSB in the frequency domain, so only part of the time burst can be used to transmit 6G SSB, and part of the time burst can be used by 5G SSB.

[0416] When the traffic load of 6G is light, for example, in the early stage of 6G deployment, the number of 6G UEs is small, and the 6G carrier or 6G BWP can occupy a small bandwidth in the shared spectrum, for example, there is FDM coexistence between NR and 6G, so 6G SSB does not overlap with NR SSB. Therefore, SSB pattern 1 can be used for 6G carrier.

[0417] When the traffic load of 6G is heavy, the 6G carrier or 6G BWP can occupy a large bandwidth in the shared spectrum, for example, the entire carrier bandwidth of the shared spectrum. In order for 6G UEs to obtain the best synchronization performance, 6G SSB can be located in the center of 6G BWP, which is similar to 5G SSB deployment. Therefore, 6G SSB overlaps with NR SSB in the frequency domain. Therefore, SSB pattern 2 can be used for 6G carrier.

[0418] In summary, 6G SSB pattern and / or 6G SSB location can be dynamically updated by BS according to traffic load of 6G, etc. For UE in power saving mode (e.g., idle state), SSB pattern and / or location can change, thus when UE is woken up, SSB pattern and / or location should be indicated to UE through paging signal, etc.

[0419] Below is an example. When UE is in power saving mode (e.g., idle state), UE camps on a small BWP. For example, BW of BWP is much smaller than BW of 6G SSB, thus UE uses RS (e.g., tracking RS, CSI-RS) for coarse synchronization and AGC setting. Upon receiving paging, the paging indicates one or more of the following:

[0420] • 6G SSB pattern

[0421] o e.g., pattern 1 or pattern 2

[0422] • 6G SSB location

[0423] o frequency location of SSB

[0424] Alt-1: global synchronization channel number (GSCN)

[0425] Alt-2: offset relative to a frequency reference point, which is predefined or configured. According to the offset, UE can know the lowest RB or highest RB or center of 6G SSB

[0426] Alt-3: certain 6G SSB candidate location in frequency domain is predefined or configured. For example, candidate location has an index. Paging indicates which candidate location is used for 6G SSB transmission, e.g., indicates the location index.

[0427] o time location of SSB: symbol and / or period of 6G SSB

[0428] • active BWP

[0429] o paging indicates BWP (to be switched to), UE switches to the BWP after receiving the paging.

[0430] See the examples explained in conjunction with ​ above.

[0431] One or more technical advantages / merits of embodiment 3: paging indicates 6G SSB location and active BWP location, reduces UE blind search overhead, realizes UE power saving.

[0432] Some of the points discussed above are summarized as follows:

[0433] • RE-level dynamic spectrum sharing between NR and 6G

[0434] • 6G BS indicates time-frequency resources of NR SSB to 6G UE

[0435] • Time domain: indicates timing reference point (NR half frame boundary), SCS of NR SSB, periodicity of NR SSB burst set, actual transmitted NR SS / PBCH block

[0436] • Frequency domain:

[0437] • Opt-1: indicates global synchronization channel number (GSCN) of NR SSB

[0438] • Opt-2: indicates NR carrier information: center of NR carrier, NR carrier BW, k ssb (SS / PBCH RB edge to data RB edge offset), resolve k ssb lowest RB index of SSB after

[0439] • 6G BS indicates presence of NR CORESET0 associated with SSB

[0440] • Indicates time-frequency location of CORESET0 of SIB1: SCS of CORESET0, ControlResourceSetZero (8 bits)

[0441] • 6G BS indicates NR CSI-RS resources to 6G UE: periodicity and offset, frequencyDomainAllocation, nrofPorts, firstOFDMSymbolInTimeDomain, cdm-Type, density

[0442] • Semi-static RM resources + dynamic release (deactivation) of RM resources

[0443] • 6G SIB / RRC indicates semi-static RM resources

[0444] • 6G MAC-CE / DCI indicates that part of semi-static RM resources are released

[0445] • UE wake-up procedure in shared carrier

[0446] • There is a 6G SSB pattern, which depends on whether 6G SSB and NR SSB overlap in frequency

[0447] • Paging indication: 6G SSB location (e.g., GSCN), 6G SSB pattern, BWP to be switched to

[0448] These methods are performed by an apparatus or device, e.g., by a processor in the apparatus or device executing instructions stored in memory. The instructions, when executed, cause the apparatus or device to perform the methods. Various options and embodiments can be combined in different permutations.

[0449] Conclusions

[0450] It is noted that the expression "at least one of A or B" as used herein can be interchanged with the expression "A and / or B". This expression means that A or B or a list of A and B can be selected. Similarly, "at least one of A, B, or C" as used herein can be interchanged with "A and / or B and / or C" or "A, B, and / or C". This expression means that a list of A or B or C, or A and B, or A and C, or B and C, or all of A, B, and C can be selected. The same principle applies to longer lists of the same format.

[0451] While the application has been described with reference to particular features and embodiments, it will be understood that various modifications and combinations can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the application. The description and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. It is intended that the application not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but will include all modifications and alternatives coming within the scope of the present application. Thus, although the present application and its benefits have been described in detail, it will be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made without departing from the application as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily understand, the application can be practiced with processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods or steps that are different from those described in the specification. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods or steps. Thus, it is intended that the application be practiced otherwise than as specifically described in the present disclosure. Accordingly, this application includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter disclosed above.

[0452] Furthermore, any module, component, or device executing instructions illustrated herein may include or otherwise access one or more non-transitory computer / processor-readable storage media to store information, such as computer / processor-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, and / or other data. A non-exhaustive list of examples of non-transitory computer / processor-readable storage media includes magnetic tape cassettes, magnetic tape, disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, compact disc-only memory (CD-ROM), digital video disc or digital versatile disc (DVD), and Blu-ray disc. TM Optical discs or other optical storage devices; volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology; random access memory (RAM); read-only memory (ROM); electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM); flash memory or other storage technologies. Any of these non-transitory computer / processor-readable storage media may be part of a device or accessible or connected to a device. Any application or module described herein may be implemented using computer / processor-readable / executable instructions that may be stored or otherwise preserved by these non-transitory computer / processor-readable storage media.

Claims

1. A method performed by an apparatus, comprising: receiving an indication of a first time-frequency resource associated with a first radio access technology, RAT, based wireless transmission on a first frequency band; wirelessly communicating based on a second RAT on a second frequency band, wherein the second frequency band at least partially overlaps the first frequency band in a frequency domain, the wireless communication being on a second time-frequency resource other than the first time-frequency resource.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, the wireless communication including excluding communicating on the first time-frequency resource by rate matching or puncturing, the wireless communication being on the second time-frequency resource other than the first time-frequency resource.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, the first frequency band including at least one of a first carrier or a first bandwidth part, BWP, the second frequency band including at least one of a second carrier or a second BWP.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, prior to the wireless communicating, the method comprising: receiving information configuring the apparatus for the second RAT based wireless communication, wherein the wireless communication is configured on the second time-frequency resource and the first time-frequency resource; the wireless communication including the wireless communication on the second time-frequency resource other than the first time-frequency resource.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein, receiving the information configuring the wireless communication includes receiving scheduling information scheduling the wireless communication, the wireless communication being scheduled on the second time-frequency resource and the first time-frequency resource.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, the scheduling information scheduling the wireless communication on at least one resource block, RB, the at least one RB including a first resource element, RE, on the first time-frequency resource and a second RE not on the first time-frequency resource, the wireless communication including the wireless communication on the second RE and not on the first RE.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein, the scheduling information scheduling the wireless communication on a plurality of RBs, at least one of the RBs including at least a portion of the first time-frequency resource, the wireless communication including the wireless communication on the plurality of RBs other than any RB including a portion or all of the first time-frequency resource.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, the first time-frequency resource corresponding to one or more time-frequency locations associated with at least one of: synchronization based on the first RAT, network access based on the first RAT, control information based on the first RAT, or a reference signal based on the first RAT.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein, the first time-frequency resource corresponding to at least one of: a time-frequency location of one or more synchronization signal blocks, SSBs, of the first RAT; a time-frequency location of one or more control resource sets, CORESETs, of the first RAT; a time-frequency location of one or more channel state information reference signals, CSI-RSs, of the first RAT; a time-frequency location of one or more sounding reference signals, SRSs, of the first RAT; a time-frequency location of one or more random access channels, RACHs, of the first RAT; or a time-frequency location of one or more control channels of the first RAT.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein, the first time-frequency resource corresponding to the time-frequency location of one or more SSBs of the first RAT; The indication comprises: (i) a time domain indication indicating a time location of the at least one SSB, and (ii) a frequency domain indication indicating a frequency location of the at least one SSB; The time domain indication comprises an indication of at least one of: a frame timing of the first RAT; a subcarrier spacing, SCS, of the at least one SSB; candidate time domain locations of the at least one SSB being predefined for each SCS; a periodicity of the at least one SSB; or a synchronization signal, SS / physical broadcast channel, PBCH, block transmitted based on the first RAT; The frequency domain indication comprises at least one of: a center of the first frequency range; a bandwidth of the first frequency range; an SSB subcarrier offset; a lowest RB location of the SSB after resolving the SSB subcarrier offset; a lowest subcarrier location of the SSB after resolving the SSB subcarrier offset.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that, The first RAT is a fifth generation, 5G, RAT, and the second RAT is a sixth generation, 6G, RAT.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that, The indication is a first indication, and the first indication also indicates that a third time-frequency resource is also associated with the wireless transmission based on the first RAT, the third time-frequency resource being a subset of the second time-frequency resource and being different from the first time-frequency resource; Before the wireless communication, the method further comprises: receiving a second indication indicating that the third time-frequency resource is not used for wireless transmission based on the first RAT; The wireless communication on the second time-frequency resource comprises communication on the third time-frequency resource.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein, The first indication is received in semi-static signaling, and the second indication is received in downlink control information, DCI, or a medium access control, MAC, control element, MAC-CE.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that, The wireless communication comprises a first wireless communication based on the second RAT, and the method further comprises: receiving information configuring a second subsequent wireless communication based on the second RAT, wherein the second subsequent wireless communication is configured on a resource comprising a subset of time-frequency resources, the subset of time-frequency resources also being indicated in the first indication as being associated with the wireless transmission based on the first RAT; performing the subsequent wireless communication, but excluding communication on the subset of time-frequency resources.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein, Before performing the subsequent wireless communication, the method comprises: receiving a further indication indicating that the apparatus is prohibited from performing the subsequent wireless communication on the subset of time-frequency resources.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein, The further indication is received in DCI or a MAC-CE.

17. The method of any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein, The second RAT is associated with a first SSB time-frequency location pattern and a second SSB time-frequency location pattern for transmitting SSBs based on the second RAT on the second frequency range, and the method further comprises: The apparatus receives an indication of whether the first SSB time-frequency location pattern or the second SSB time-frequency location pattern is currently used.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein, Receiving the indication of whether the first SSB time-frequency location pattern or the second SSB time-frequency location pattern is currently used further comprises receiving an indication of at least one of: a frequency location of an SSB, a time location of an SSB, a carrier on which an SSB is located, or a BWP on which an SSB is located.

19. The method of claim 17 or 18, wherein, The indication is received in a paging message.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: The apparatus performs coarse synchronization using a reference signal to receive the paging message.

21. The method of any one of claims 17-20, wherein, The first SSB time-frequency location pattern includes SSBs transmitted on the second frequency band based on the second RAT, frequency resources used to transmit the SSBs being different from frequency resources used to transmit SSBs on the first frequency band based on the first RAT, The second SSB time-frequency location pattern includes SSBs transmitted on the second frequency band based on the second RAT, frequency resources used to transmit the SSBs at least partially overlapping with the frequency resources used to transmit SSBs on the first frequency band based on the first RAT, but being multiplexed in time.

22. The method of any one of claims 17-21, wherein, In a given time period, more SSBs are transmitted in the first SSB time-frequency location pattern than in the second SSB time-frequency location pattern.

23. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; memory storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform: receive an indication of a first time-frequency resource associated with a first radio access technology, RAT-based wireless transmission on a first frequency band; wirelessly communicate based on a second RAT on a second frequency band, wherein the second frequency band at least partially overlaps the first frequency band in a frequency domain, the wireless communication is to be conducted on a second time-frequency resource other than the first time-frequency resource.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein, the wireless communication is conducted by excluding communication on the first time-frequency resource by rate matching or puncturing, and conducting the wireless communication on the second time-frequency resource other than the first time-frequency resource.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 or 24, wherein, the first frequency band includes at least one of a first carrier or a first bandwidth part, BWP, and the second frequency band includes at least one of a second carrier or a second BWP.

26. The apparatus of any one of claims 23-25, wherein, before the wireless communication, the at least one processor, when executing the instructions, causes the apparatus to perform: receive information configuring the apparatus’s second RAT-based wireless communication, wherein the wireless communication is configured on the second time-frequency resource and the first time-frequency resource; the wireless communication is conducted by conducting the wireless communication on the second time-frequency resource other than the first time-frequency resource.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein, the apparatus is to receive the information configuring the wireless communication by receiving scheduling information scheduling the wireless communication, the wireless communication being scheduled on the second time-frequency resource and the first time-frequency resource.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein, the scheduling information schedules the wireless communication on at least one resource block, RB, the at least one RB including a first resource element, RE, on the first time-frequency resource and a second RE not on the first time-frequency resource, the wireless communication being conducted by conducting the wireless communication on the second RE and not on the first RE.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein, The scheduling information schedules the wireless communication on a plurality of RBs, at least one of the RBs including at least a portion of the first time-frequency resources, the wireless communication being conducted on the plurality of RBs other than any RBs that include a portion or all of the first time-frequency resources.

30. The apparatus of any one of claims 23-29, wherein, The first time-frequency resources correspond to one or more time-frequency locations associated with at least one of: synchronization based on the first RAT, network access based on the first RAT, control information based on the first RAT, or a reference signal based on the first RAT.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein, The first time-frequency resources correspond to at least one of: time-frequency locations of one or more synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) of the first RAT; time-frequency locations of one or more control resource sets (CORESETs) of the first RAT; time-frequency locations of one or more channel state information reference signals (CSI-RSs) of the first RAT; time-frequency locations of one or more sounding reference signals (SRSs) of the first RAT; time-frequency locations of one or more random access channels (RACHs) of the first RAT; or time-frequency locations of one or more control channels of the first RAT.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein, The first time-frequency resources correspond to the time-frequency locations of one or more SSBs of the first RAT; The indication includes: (i) a time-domain indication indicating a time location of at least one SSB, and (ii) a frequency-domain indication indicating a frequency location of the at least one SSB; The time-domain indication includes an indication of at least one of: a frame timing of the first RAT; a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of the at least one SSB; candidate time-domain locations of the at least one SSB pre-defined for each SCS; a periodicity of the at least one SSB; or a synchronization signal (SS) / physical broadcast channel (PBCH) block transmitted based on the first RAT; The frequency-domain indication includes at least one of: a center of the first frequency range; a bandwidth of the first frequency range; an SSB subcarrier offset; a lowest RB location of an SSB after resolving the SSB subcarrier offset; a lowest subcarrier location of an SSB after resolving the SSB subcarrier offset.

33. The apparatus of any one of claims 23-32, wherein, The first RAT is a fifth generation (5G) RAT and the second RAT is a sixth generation (6G) RAT.

34. The apparatus of any one of claims 23-33, wherein, The indication is a first indication, the first indication also indicating that a third time-frequency resource is also associated with the wireless transmission based on the first RAT, the third time-frequency resource being a subset of the second time-frequency resource and different from the first time-frequency resource; Before the wireless communication, the at least one processor executes the instructions to cause the apparatus to: receive a second indication indicating that the third time-frequency resource is not used for wireless transmission based on the first RAT; The wireless communication on the second time-frequency resource includes communication on the third time-frequency resource.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein, The first indication is received in semi-static signaling, and the second indication is received in downlink control information (DCI) or a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE).

36. The apparatus of claim 34 or 35, wherein, The wireless communication includes a first wireless communication based on the second RAT, the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform the following operations: receive information configuring a second subsequent wireless communication based on the second RAT, wherein the second subsequent wireless communication is configured on resources including a subset of time-frequency resources, the subset of time-frequency resources also being indicated in the first indication as being associated with the wireless transmission based on the first RAT; perform the subsequent wireless communication, but exclude performing communication on the subset of time-frequency resources.

37. The device of claim 36, wherein, Before performing the subsequent wireless communication, the at least one processor, when executing the instructions, causes the apparatus to perform the following operation: receive a further indication indicating that the apparatus is prohibited from performing the subsequent wireless communication on the subset of time-frequency resources.

38. The device of claim 37, wherein, The further indication is received in a DCI or a MAC-CE.

39. The apparatus of any one of claims 23-38, wherein, The second RAT is associated with a first SSB time-frequency location pattern and a second SSB time-frequency location pattern for transmitting SSBs based on the second RAT on the second frequency band, the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform the following operations: The apparatus receives an indication of whether the first SSB time-frequency location pattern or the second SSB time-frequency location pattern is currently used.

40. The device of claim 39, wherein, The apparatus is to receive the indication of whether the first SSB time-frequency location pattern or the second SSB time-frequency location pattern is currently used by further receiving an indication of at least one of: a frequency location of SSBs, a time location of SSBs, a carrier on which SSBs are located, or a BWP on which SSBs are located.

41. The apparatus of claim 39 or 40, wherein, The indication is received in a paging message.

42. The device of claim 41, wherein, The apparatus is to use a reference signal for coarse synchronization to receive the paging message.

43. The apparatus of any one of claims 39-42, wherein, The first SSB time-frequency location pattern includes SSBs transmitted based on the second RAT on the second frequency band, frequency resources used for transmitting the SSBs being different from frequency resources used for transmitting SSBs based on the first RAT on the first frequency band, The second SSB time-frequency location pattern includes SSBs transmitted based on the second RAT on the second frequency band, frequency resources used for transmitting the SSBs at least partially overlapping with the frequency resources used for transmitting SSBs based on the first RAT on the first frequency band, but being multiplexed in time.

44. The apparatus of any one of claims 39-43, wherein, In a given time period, more SSBs are transmitted in the first SSB time-frequency location pattern than in the second SSB time-frequency location pattern.

45. A method performed by an apparatus, comprising: sending, to an apparatus, an indication of a first time-frequency resource associated with a wireless transmission based on a first radio access technology (RAT) on a first frequency band; performing, with the apparatus, a wireless communication based on a second RAT on a second frequency band, wherein the second frequency band at least partially overlaps with the first frequency band in a frequency domain, the wireless communication being performed on a second time-frequency resource other than the first time-frequency resource.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein, The wireless communication includes communicating on the second time-frequency resources other than the first time-frequency resources.

47. The method of claim 45 or 46, wherein, The first frequency band includes at least one of a first carrier or a first bandwidth part (BWP), and the second frequency band includes at least one of a second carrier or a second BWP.

48. The method of any one of claims 45-47, wherein, The method includes, prior to the wireless communication: transmitting information configuring wireless communication of the apparatus based on the second RAT, wherein the wireless communication is configured on the second time-frequency resources and the first time-frequency resources; The wireless communication includes communicating on the second time-frequency resources other than the first time-frequency resources.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein, Transmitting the information configuring the wireless communication includes transmitting scheduling information scheduling the wireless communication, the wireless communication being scheduled on the second time-frequency resources and the first time-frequency resources.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein, The scheduling information schedules the wireless communication on at least one resource block (RB), the at least one RB including first resource elements (REs) on the first time-frequency resources and second REs not on the first time-frequency resources, the wireless communication including the wireless communication on the second REs and not on the first REs.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein, The scheduling information schedules the wireless communication on a plurality of RBs, at least one of the RBs including at least part of the first time-frequency resources, the wireless communication including the wireless communication on the plurality of RBs other than any RBs including part or all of the first time-frequency resources.

52. The method of any one of claims 45-51, wherein, The first time-frequency resources correspond to one or more time-frequency locations associated with at least one of: synchronization based on the first RAT, network access based on the first RAT, control information based on the first RAT, or a reference signal based on the first RAT.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein, The first time-frequency resources correspond to at least one of: time-frequency locations of one or more synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) of the first RAT; time-frequency locations of one or more control resource sets (CORESETs) of the first RAT; time-frequency locations of one or more channel state information reference signals (CSI-RSs) of the first RAT; time-frequency locations of one or more sounding reference signals (SRSs) of the first RAT; time-frequency locations of one or more random access channels (RACHs) of the first RAT; or time-frequency locations of one or more control channels of the first RAT.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein, The first time-frequency resources correspond to the time-frequency locations of one or more SSBs of the first RAT. The indication includes: (i) a time-domain indication indicating a time location of at least one SSB, and (ii) a frequency-domain indication indicating a frequency location of the at least one SSB. The time domain indication comprises an indication of at least one of: a frame timing of the first RAT; a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of the at least one SSB; a candidate time domain location of the at least one SSB being predefined for each SCS; a periodicity of the at least one SSB; or a synchronization signal (SS) / physical broadcast channel (PBCH) block transmitted based on the first RAT. The frequency domain indication comprises at least one of: a center of the first frequency band; a bandwidth of the first frequency band; an SSB subcarrier offset; a lowest RB location of the SSB after resolving the SSB subcarrier offset; a lowest subcarrier location of the SSB after resolving the SSB subcarrier offset.

55. The method of any one of claims 45-54, wherein, The first RAT is a fifth generation (5G) RAT, and the second RAT is a sixth generation (6G) RAT.

56. The method of any one of claims 45-55, wherein, The indication is a first indication, and the first indication further indicates that a third time-frequency resource is also associated with the wireless transmission based on the first RAT, the third time-frequency resource being a subset of the second time-frequency resource and being different from the first time-frequency resource. Before the wireless communication, the method further comprises: transmitting a second indication indicating that the third time-frequency resource is not used for wireless transmission based on the first RAT. The wireless communication on the second time-frequency resource comprises communication on the third time-frequency resource.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein, The first indication is transmitted in semi-static signaling, and the second indication is transmitted in downlink control information (DCI) or a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE).

58. The method of claim 56 or 57, wherein, The wireless communication comprises a first wireless communication based on the second RAT, and the method further comprises: transmitting information configuring a second subsequent wireless communication based on the second RAT, wherein the second subsequent wireless communication is configured on a resource comprising a subset of time-frequency resources, the subset of time-frequency resources also being indicated in the first indication as being associated with the wireless transmission based on the first RAT; and performing the subsequent wireless communication, but excluding communication on the subset of time-frequency resources.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein, Before performing the subsequent wireless communication, the method comprises: transmitting a further indication indicating that the apparatus is prohibited from performing the subsequent wireless communication on the subset of time-frequency resources.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein, The further indication is transmitted in DCI or a MAC-CE.

61. The method of any one of claims 45-60, wherein, The second RAT is associated with a first SSB time-frequency location pattern and a second SSB time-frequency location pattern for transmitting SSBs based on the second RAT on the second frequency band, and the method further comprises: transmitting, to the apparatus, an indication of whether the first SSB time-frequency location pattern or the second SSB time-frequency location pattern is currently used.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein, Transmitting the indication of whether the first SSB time-frequency location pattern or the second SSB time-frequency location pattern is currently used further comprises transmitting an indication of at least one of: a frequency location of an SSB, a time location of an SSB, a carrier on which an SSB is located, or a BWP on which an SSB is located.

63. The method of claim 61 or 62, wherein, The indication is transmitted in a paging message.

64. The method of any one of claims 61-63, wherein, the first SSB time-frequency location pattern includes SSBs transmitted on the second frequency band based on the second RAT, frequency resources used to transmit the SSBs are different from frequency resources used to transmit SSBs on the first frequency band based on the first RAT, the second SSB time-frequency location pattern includes SSBs transmitted on the second frequency band based on the second RAT, frequency resources used to transmit the SSBs at least partially overlap with the frequency resources used to transmit SSBs on the first frequency band based on the first RAT, but are multiplexed in time.

65. The method of any one of claims 61-64, wherein, In a given time period, more SSBs are transmitted in the first SSB time-frequency location pattern than in the second SSB time-frequency location pattern.

66. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; memory storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform: sending, to a device, an indication of a first time-frequency resource associated with a first wireless transmission based on a first radio access technology, RAT, on a first frequency band; wirelessly communicating, with the device, based on a second RAT on a second frequency band, wherein the second frequency band at least partially overlaps the first frequency band in a frequency domain, the wireless communication is conducted on a second time-frequency resource other than the first time-frequency resource.

67. The apparatus of claim 66, wherein, the wireless communication is conducted by excluding communication on the first time-frequency resource through rate matching or puncturing, and conducting communication on the second time-frequency resource other than the first time-frequency resource.

68. The apparatus of claim 66 or 67, wherein, the first frequency band includes at least one of a first carrier or a first bandwidth part, BWP, and the second frequency band includes at least one of a second carrier or a second BWP.

69. The apparatus of any one of claims 66-68, wherein, before the wireless communication, the at least one processor, when executing the instructions, causes the apparatus to perform: sending information configuring wireless communication of the device based on the second RAT, wherein the wireless communication is configured on the second time-frequency resource and the first time-frequency resource; the wireless communication is conducted on the second time-frequency resource other than the first time-frequency resource.

70. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein, the apparatus is to send the information configuring the wireless communication by sending scheduling information scheduling the wireless communication, the wireless communication being scheduled on the second time-frequency resource and the first time-frequency resource.

71. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein, the scheduling information schedules the wireless communication on at least one resource block, RB, the at least one RB including a first resource element, RE, on the first time-frequency resource and a second RE not on the first time-frequency resource, the wireless communication being conducted on the second RE and not on the first RE. the scheduling information schedules the wireless communication on at least one resource block, RB, the at least one RB including a first resource element, RE, on the first time-frequency resource and a second RE not on the first time-frequency resource, the wireless communication being conducted on the second RE and not on the first RE.

72. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein, The scheduling information schedules the wireless communication on a plurality of RBs, at least one of the RBs including at least a portion of the first time-frequency resources, the wireless communication being conducted on the plurality of RBs other than any RBs that include a portion or all of the first time-frequency resources.

73. The apparatus of any one of claims 66-72, wherein, The first time-frequency resources correspond to one or more time-frequency locations associated with at least one of: synchronization based on the first RAT, network access based on the first RAT, control information based on the first RAT, or a reference signal based on the first RAT.

74. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein, The first time-frequency resources correspond to at least one of: time-frequency locations of one or more synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) of the first RAT; time-frequency locations of one or more control resource sets (CORESETs) of the first RAT; time-frequency locations of one or more channel state information reference signals (CSI-RSs) of the first RAT; time-frequency locations of one or more sounding reference signals (SRSs) of the first RAT; time-frequency locations of one or more random access channels (RACHs) of the first RAT; or time-frequency locations of one or more control channels of the first RAT.

75. The apparatus of claim 74, wherein, The first time-frequency resources correspond to the time-frequency locations of one or more SSBs of the first RAT; The indication includes: (i) a time-domain indication indicating a time location of at least one SSB, and (ii) a frequency-domain indication indicating a frequency location of the at least one SSB; The time-domain indication includes an indication of at least one of: a frame timing of the first RAT; a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of the at least one SSB; candidate time-domain locations of the at least one SSB pre-defined for each SCS; a periodicity of the at least one SSB; or a synchronization signal (SS) / physical broadcast channel (PBCH) block transmitted based on the first RAT; The frequency-domain indication includes at least one of: a center of the first frequency range; a bandwidth of the first frequency range; an SSB subcarrier offset; a lowest RB location of an SSB after resolving the SSB subcarrier offset; a lowest subcarrier location of an SSB after resolving the SSB subcarrier offset.

76. The apparatus of any one of claims 66-75, wherein, The first RAT is a fifth generation (5G) RAT and the second RAT is a sixth generation (6G) RAT.

77. The apparatus of any one of claims 66-76, wherein, The indication is a first indication, the first indication also indicating that a third time-frequency resource is also associated with the wireless transmission based on the first RAT, the third time-frequency resource being a subset of the second time-frequency resource and different from the first time-frequency resource; Before the wireless communication, the at least one processor executes the instructions to cause the device to: transmit a second indication indicating that the third time-frequency resource is not used for wireless transmission based on the first RAT; The wireless communication on the second time-frequency resource includes communication on the third time-frequency resource.

78. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein, The first indication is transmitted in semi-static signaling and the second indication is transmitted in downlink control information (DCI) or a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE).

79. The apparatus of claim 77 or 78, wherein, The wireless communication includes a first wireless communication based on the second RAT, the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the device to perform the following operations: transmit information configuring a second subsequent wireless communication based on the second RAT, wherein the second subsequent wireless communication is configured on resources including a subset of time-frequency resources that are also indicated in the first indication as being associated with the wireless transmission based on the first RAT; perform the subsequent wireless communication, but exclude performing communication on the subset of time-frequency resources.

80. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein, Before performing the subsequent wireless communication, the at least one processor, when executing the instructions, causes the device to perform the following operation: transmit a further indication indicating that the apparatus is prohibited from performing the subsequent wireless communication on the subset of time-frequency resources.

81. The apparatus of claim 80, wherein, The further indication is transmitted in DCI or MAC-CE.

82. The apparatus of any one of claims 66-81, wherein, The second RAT is associated with a first SSB time-frequency location pattern and a second SSB time-frequency location pattern for transmitting SSBs based on the second RAT on the second frequency band, the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the device to perform the following operations: transmit, to the apparatus, an indication of whether the first SSB time-frequency location pattern or the second SSB time-frequency location pattern is currently used.

83. The apparatus of claim 82, wherein, The device is to transmit the indication of whether the first SSB time-frequency location pattern or the second SSB time-frequency location pattern is currently used by transmitting an indication of at least one of: a frequency location of SSBs, a time location of SSBs, a carrier on which SSBs are located, or a BWP on which SSBs are located.

84. The apparatus of claim 82 or 83, wherein, The indication is transmitted in a paging message.

85. The apparatus of any one of claims 82-84, wherein, The first SSB time-frequency location pattern includes SSBs transmitted based on the second RAT on the second frequency band, frequency resources used for transmitting the SSBs being different from frequency resources used for transmitting SSBs based on the first RAT on the first frequency band, The second SSB time-frequency location pattern includes SSBs transmitted based on the second RAT on the second frequency band, frequency resources used for transmitting the SSBs at least partially overlapping with the frequency resources used for transmitting SSBs based on the first RAT on the first frequency band, but being multiplexed in time.

86. The apparatus of any one of claims 82-85, wherein, In a given time period, more SSBs are transmitted in the first SSB time-frequency location pattern than in the second SSB time-frequency location pattern.

87. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor of a handheld device, cause the handheld device to perform the method of any one of claims 1-22 or 45-65.

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