Method and system for bandwidth part switching in a communication system

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method and system for bandwidth part switching in a communication system The disclosure encompasses: receiving, by a transceiver unit [202] at a UE [208], a control message from a network node [210], the control message comprising at least one of a new BWP identifier (ID) different from an active BWP ID, and a protocol deciding parameter; determining, by a determining unit [204] at the UE [208], state of the protocol deciding parameter, the state corresponds to at least one of a first state and a second state; transmitting, by the transceiver unit [202] at the UE [208], an uplink transmission on the active BWP ID in response to determining that the protocol deciding parameter is set to the first state; and switching, by a switching unit [206] at the UE [208], from the active BWP ID to the new BWP ID upon successful transmission of the uplink transmission.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR BANDWIDTH PART SWITCHING IN A COMMUNICATION SYSTEMFIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of wireless communication systems. More particularly, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods and systems for bandwidth part (BWP) switching in a communication system.BACKGROUND

[0002] The following description of related art is intended to provide background information pertaining to the field of the disclosure. This section may include certain aspects of the art that may be related to various features of the present disclosure. However, it should be appreciated that this section be used only to enhance the understanding of the reader with respect to the present disclosure, and not as admissions of prior art.

[0003] Wireless communication technology has rapidly evolved over the past few decades, with each generation bringing significant improvements and advancements. The first generation of wireless communication technology was based on analog technology and offered only voice services. However, with the advent of the second-generation (2G) technology, digital communication and data services became possible, and text messaging was introduced. 3G technology marked the introduction of high-speed internet access, mobile video calling, and location-based services. The fourth-generation (4G) technology revolutionized wireless communication with faster data speeds, better network coverage, and improved security. Currently, the fifth-generation (5G) technology is being deployed, promising even faster data speeds, low latency, and the ability to connect multiple devices simultaneously. With each generation, wireless communication technology has become more advanced, sophisticated, and capable of delivering more services to its users.

[0004] In 4G LTE network, a user equipment (UE) was required to monitor / scan entire bandwidth to check if there is any data scheduled for download. Such scanning of the entire bandwidth would require large energy consumption and lead to faster draining of the UE battery. In 5G or subsequent technologies such as 6G, the UE is configured to monitor only the bandwidth part (BWP) instead of the entire bandwidth. The communication between the UE and the networkthen happens on the BWP configured at the UE. This results in considerable power saving at the UE. Moreover, a UE may be required to switch from one BWP to another. The existing solutions define multiple mechanisms for BWP switching. Some exemplary mechanisms are a radio resource control (RRC)-based mechanism, a media access control address control element (MAC CE) mechanism, a downlink control information (DCI) based mechanism and a timer-based implicit fallback to default BWP mechanism.

[0005] The RRC -based mechanism is more suitable for semi-static cases since processing of RRC messages requires extra time, letting a latency reach ~10 milli second. Due to longer switching latency and signaling overhead, an RRC -based mechanism is used for configuring a BWP set at any stage of call, or for flow adaptation type services (e.g., voice) where the resource allocation is not changing rapidly within the same data session.

[0006] The MAC CE mechanism is used upon initiation of random-access procedure.

[0007] The timer-based implicit fallback to default BWP mechanism is a mechanism designed to mitigate possible DCI errors. If a user equipment (UE) is not explicitly scheduled with a BWP after the timer expires, the UE will automatically switch to the default BWP.

[0008] In DCI based mechanism, a network node that acts as an interface between UE and the network, for example gNodeB, sends a DCI message to the UE. The DCI message comprises the new BWP ID to which UE is expected to switch. Thereafter, the network node switches to the new BWP ID and transmits a scheduling message to UE for enabling data transfer and awaits acknowledgement message of receipt of the scheduling message. In case of discontinued transmission (i.e., UE does not receive DCI message transmitted by network node), the UE does not switch to the new BWP and stays connected via old BWP. In such a scenario, the network node switches back to the old BWP and again transmits the DCI message to the UE and immediately switches to the new BWP and transmits a scheduling message to UE. If the UE still does not receive the DCI message, the cycle is repeated till UE receives the DCI message, switches to the new BWP and sends acknowledgement message to network node via the new BWP. Such a process is resource intensive as network node has to keep switching between old BWP and new BWP and till that time the UE remains non-serviced.

[0009] The control message sent by the network node to the UE with a new BWP ID (different from an active BWP ID used for sending said control message). Thereafter, the network switchesto the new BWP ID without receiving an acknowledgement message from the UE for the control message sent by the network node. After a lapse of certain duration and upon not receiving acknowledgement (discontinued transmission) from the UE via the new BWP ID, the network switches back to the active (old) BWP ID and re-transmits control message. Alternatively, the network and the UE switch to a default BWP ID after a certain duration. All such approaches are resource intensive and increase delay in transition, especially during discontinued transmission situations.

[0010] Thus, there exists an imperative need in the art to overcome the above-stated problems by providing the methods and systems for bandwidth part (BWP) switching in a communication system.SUMMARY

[0011] This section is provided to introduce certain aspects of the present disclosure in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify the key features or the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0012] An aspect of the present disclosure may relate to a method for bandwidth part (BWP) switching in a communication system. The method includes receiving, by a transceiver unit at a user equipment (UE), a control message from a network node, the control message comprising at least one of a new BWP identifier (ID) different from an active BWP ID, and a protocol deciding parameter. Next, the method includes determining, by a determining unit at the UE, state of the protocol deciding parameter, the state corresponds to at least one of a first state and a second state. Next, the method includes transmitting, by the transceiver unit at the UE, an uplink transmission on the active BWP ID in response to determining that the protocol deciding parameter is set to the first state. Thereafter, the method includes switching, by a switching unit at the UE, from the active BWP ID to the new BWP ID upon successful transmission of the uplink transmission.

[0013] In an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the control message is selected from the group consisting of a Downlink Control Information (DCI) message, a Radio Resource Control (RRC) setup message, an RRC re-configuration message, and a MAC Control Element (MAC CE) message.

[0014] In an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the uplink transmission corresponds to at least one of a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmission, and a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback for a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) transmission.

[0015] In an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, wherein in response to determining that the protocol deciding parameter is set to the second state, the method further comprises: switching, by the switching unit, from the active BWP ID to the new BWP ID; and transmitting, by the transceiver unit at the UE, the uplink transmission on the active BWP ID.

[0016] In an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the method further comprises retransmitting, by the network node, the control message to the UE on the active BWP ID until a confirmation message is received from the UE or until a predefined number of attempts are made.

[0017] In an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the network node is a gNodeB (gNB).

[0018] In an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, the method further comprises switching, by the switching unit, the network node from the active BWP ID to the active BWP ID, if the confirmation message is not received within the predefined number of attempts.

[0019] Another aspect of the present disclosure may relate to a system for bandwidth part (BWP) switching in a communication system. The system comprises a transceiver unit configured to receive a control message from a network node, the control message comprising at least one of a new BWP identifier (ID) different from an active BWP ID, and a protocol deciding parameter. The system further comprises a determining unit configured to determine state of the protocol deciding parameter, the state corresponds to at least one of a first state and a second state. The system further comprises the transceiver unit is further configured to transmit an uplink transmission on the active BWP ID in response to determining that the protocol deciding parameter is set to the first state. The system further comprises a switching unit configured to switch from the active BWP ID to the new BWP ID upon successful transmission of the uplink transmission.

[0020] Yet another aspect of the present disclosure may relate to a user equipment (UE). The UE comprising a system comprising: a transceiver unit configured to receive a control message from a network node, the control message comprising at least one of a new BWP identifier (ID) different from an active BWP ID, and a protocol deciding parameter; a determining unit configured to determine state of the protocol deciding parameter, the state corresponds to at least one of a firststate and a second state; the transceiver unit further configured to transmit an uplink transmission on the active BWP ID in response to determining that the protocol deciding parameter is set to the first state; and a switching unit configured to switch from the active BWP ID to the new BWP ID upon successful transmission of the uplink transmission.

[0021] Yet another aspect of the present disclosure may relate to a network node for bandwidth part (BWP) switching in a communication system. The network node comprising: a processor configured to: transmit a control message to a user equipment (UE), the control message comprising at least one of a new BWP identifier (ID) different from an active BWP ID, and a protocol deciding parameter, wherein for BWP switching the process steps comprises: determining state of the protocol deciding parameter, the state corresponds to at least one of a first state and a second state; transmitting an uplink transmission on the active BWP ID in response to determining that the protocol deciding parameter is set to the first state; and switching from the active BWP ID to the new BWP ID upon successful transmission of the uplink transmission.

[0022] Yet another aspect of the present disclosure may relate to a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions for bandwidth part (BWP) switching in a communication system, the instructions include executable code which, when executed by one or more units of a system, causes: a transceiver unit of the system to receive a control message from a network node, the control message comprising at least one of a new BWP identifier (ID) different from an active BWP ID, and a protocol deciding parameter; a determining unit of the system to determine state of the protocol deciding parameter, the state corresponds to at least one of a first state and a second state; the transceiver unit of the system is further configured to transmit an uplink transmission on the active BWP ID in response to determining that the protocol deciding parameter is set to the first state; and a switching unit of the system to switch from the active BWP ID to the new BWP ID upon successful transmission of the uplink transmission.OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0023] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment disclosed herein satisfies are listed herein below.

[0024] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a system and a method for bandwidth part switching.

[0025] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a solution that reduces transition delay during discontinued transmission.

[0026] It is yet another object of the present disclosure to provide a solution that reduces battery consumption at UE.

[0027] It is yet another object of the present disclosure to provide a solution that increases availability of UE for servicing with data.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0028] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the disclosed methods and systems in which like reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the different drawings. Components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Also, the embodiments shown in the figures are not to be construed as limiting the disclosure, but the possible variants of the method and system according to the disclosure are illustrated herein to highlight the advantages of the disclosure. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that disclosure of such drawings includes disclosure of electrical components or circuitry commonly used to implement such components.

[0029] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary block diagram of a computing device upon which the features of the present disclosure may be implemented in accordance with exemplary implementation of the present disclosure.

[0030] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary block diagram of a system for bandwidth part (BWP) switching in a communication system, in accordance with exemplary implementations of the present disclosure.

[0031] FIG. 3 illustrates a method flow diagram for bandwidth part (BWP) switching in a communication system, in accordance with exemplary implementations of the present disclosure.

[0032] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary method flow diagram indicating a process followed at a user equipment for bandwidth part switching, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0033] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary method flow diagram indicating a process followed at a network node for bandwidth part switching, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0034] FIG. 6 illustrates a first exemplary signalling flow diagram to initiate bandwidth part switching, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0035] FIG. 7 illustrates a second exemplary signalling flow diagram to enable bandwidth part switching, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0036] The foregoing shall be more apparent from the following more detailed description of the disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, various specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, that embodiments of the present disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. Several features described hereafter may each be used independently of one another or with any combination of other features. An individual feature may not address any of the problems discussed above or might address only some of the problems discussed above.

[0038] The ensuing description provides exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the disclosure. Rather, the ensuing description of the exemplary embodiments will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing an exemplary embodiment. It should be understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth.

[0039] Specific details are given in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. For example, circuits,systems, processes, and other components may be shown as components in block diagram form in order not to obscure the embodiments in unnecessary detail.

[0040] Also, it is noted that individual embodiments may be described as a process which is depicted as a flowchart, a flow diagram, a data flow diagram, a structure diagram, or a block diagram. Although a flowchart may describe the operations as a sequential process, many of the operations may be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations may be re-arranged. A process is terminated when its operations are completed but could have additional steps not included in a figure.

[0041] The word “exemplary” and / or “demonstrative” is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. For the avoidance of doubt, the subject matter disclosed herein is not limited by such examples. In addition, any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” and / or “demonstrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs, nor is it meant to preclude equivalent exemplary structures and techniques known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “includes,” “has,” “contains,” and other similar words are used in either the detailed description or the claims, such terms are intended to be inclusive — in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as an open transition word — without precluding any additional or other elements.

[0042] As used herein, a “processing unit” or “processor” or “operating processor” includes one or more processors, wherein processor refers to any logic circuitry for processing instructions. A processor may be a general-purpose processor, a special purpose processor, a conventional processor, a digital signal processor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in association with a (Digital Signal Processing) DSP core, a controller, a microcontroller, Application Specific Integrated Circuits, Field Programmable Gate Array circuits, any other type of integrated circuits, etc. The processor may perform signal coding data processing, input / output processing, and / or any other functionality that enables the working of the system according to the present disclosure. More specifically, the processor or processing unit is a hardware processor.

[0043] As used herein, “a user equipment”, “a user device”, “a smart-user-device”, “a smartdevice”, “an electronic device”, “a mobile device”, “a handheld device”, “a wireless communication device”, “a mobile communication device”, “a communication device” may be any electrical, electronic and / or computing device or equipment, capable of implementing the features of the present disclosure. The user equipment / device may include, but is not limited to, amobile phone, smart phone, laptop, a general-purpose computer, desktop, personal digital assistant, tablet computer, wearable device or any other computing device which is capable of implementing the features of the present disclosure. Also, the user device may contain at least one input means configured to receive an input from at least one of a transceiver unit, a processing unit, a storage unit, a detection unit and any other such unit(s) which are required to implement the features of the present disclosure.

[0044] As used herein, “storage unit” or “memory unit” refers to a machine or computer- readable medium including any mechanism for storing information in a form readable by a computer or similar machine. For example, a computer-readable medium includes read-only memory (“ROM”), random access memory (“RAM”), magnetic disk storage media, optical storage media, flash memory devices or other types of machine-accessible storage media. The storage unit stores at least the data that may be required by one or more units of the system to perform their respective functions.

[0045] As used herein “interface” or “user interface refers to a shared boundary across which two or more separate components of a system exchange information or data. The interface may also be referred to a set of rules or protocols that define communication or interaction of one or more modules or one or more units with each other, which also includes the methods, functions, or procedures that may be called.

[0046] All modules, units, components used herein, unless explicitly excluded herein, may be software modules or hardware processors, the processors being a general-purpose processor, a special purpose processor, a conventional processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in association with a DSP core, a controller, a microcontroller, Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC), Field Programmable Gate Array circuits (FPGA), any other type of integrated circuits, etc.

[0047] As used herein the transceiver unit include at least one receiver and at least one transmitter configured respectively for receiving and transmitting data, signals, information or a combination thereof between units / components within the system and / or connected with the system.

[0048] It should be noted that the terms "first", "second", and the like, herein do not denote any order, ranking, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another.

[0049] As used herein, a Bandwidth Part (BWP) refers to a contiguous subset of the overall channel bandwidth, composed of a set of consecutive physical resource blocks (PRBs) within a carrier. In the context of 5G New Radio (NR), a user equipment (UE) can be configured with multiple BWPs, but only one BWP can be active at a time for uplink or downlink transmission. The BWP allows for flexible and efficient use of the available spectrum by enabling different numerologies and resource allocations tailored to specific services or user needs within the same carrier. Each BWP is defined by its bandwidth size, subcarrier spacing, and cyclic prefix, making it a fundamental element in the 5G NR framework for managing radio resources and optimizing network performance.

[0050] As used herein, BWP switching means deactivating the currently active BWP and activating another configured BWP. In time division duplex (TDD), downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) BWPs differ only by the transmission bandwidth and numerology; and they're switched together.

[0051] As used herein, Downlink Control Information (DCI) message refers to a type of control message transmitted by the network to the user equipment (UE) over the Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH). The DCI message contains essential scheduling information that dictates how the UE should handle upcoming transmissions, both in the uplink and downlink. This includes details such as resource allocation, modulation and coding schemes, and the identification of specific bandwidth parts (BWPs) to be used.

[0052] As used herein, a Radio Resource Control (RRC) setup message refers to a signalling message exchanged between the network node (such as a gNodeB) and user equipment (UE) within a wireless communication system. The RRC setup message is part of the RRC protocol, which is responsible for establishing and configuring the RRC connection between the network and the UE. The RRC setup message initiates the setup of the RRC connection, facilitating the transition of the UE from an idle state to a connected state. The RRC setup message includes important parameters and configurations related to the radio resources, such as bandwidth parts (BWPs), security settings, and other communication protocols, enabling the UE to properly communicate with the network and participate in data transmission and reception processes.

[0053] As used herein, scheduling message refers to a control message transmitted by a network node, such as a gNodeB, to user equipment (UE) that contains instructions for resource allocation and management within a communication system. The scheduling message includes information necessary for the UE to execute tasks such as uplink or downlink transmissions, bandwidth part (BWP) switching, and other network operations.

[0054] As used herein, an RRC re-configuration message refers to a type of signalling message within the Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocol used in wireless communication systems to modify the configuration of a user equipment (UE) connection. This message is transmitted by the network, from a gNodeB, to update various parameters related to the UE's radio link, such as changing bandwidth parts (BWPs), adjusting measurement configurations, modifying security settings, or altering quality of service (QoS) parameters. The RRC re-configuration message enables the network to dynamically manage and optimize the UE's connection based on current network conditions, user mobility, and service requirements, ensuring efficient and reliable communication.

[0055] As used herein, TransmitSwitch refers to a parameter included in the control message sent by a network node to user equipment (UE) that determines the sequence of operations during a bandwidth part (BWP) switch. Specifically, TransmitSwitch dictates whether the UE should first transmit data (such as uplink transmission or HARQ feedback) on the current active BWP before switching to a new BWP, or whether the UE should switch directly to the new BWP without any prior transmission. When TransmitSwitch is set to an active state (e.g., 1), the UE will transmit on the active BWP and then switch; if TransmitSwitch is inactive or absent (e.g., 0 or not set), the UE will switch to the new BWP immediately and then perform any necessary transmissions.

[0056] As used herein, DCI 1 1 refers to Downlink Control Information format 1 1, which is a control message used in wireless communication systems, particularly in 5GNew Radio (NR), to schedule downlink transmissions and manage bandwidth part (BWP) switching for user equipment (UE). DCI 1 1 provides information such as the BWP identifier (BWP ID), frequency domain resource allocation, and instructions for the UE to decode and respond to incoming downlink data. It also contains fields to manage Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) feedback, and in some cases, uplink transmission scheduling. DCI 1 1 is essential for dynamic resource allocation and efficient communication between the network node (gNodeB) and the UE, enabling the network to control how and when data is transmitted or received on specific BWPs.

[0057] As used herein, DCI 0 1 refers to a Downlink Control Information (DCI) format used in wireless communication systems for scheduling uplink transmissions. Specifically, DCI 0 1 is used by the network to allocate resources for the Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) or to provide downlink feedback information related to configured grant transmissions. This DCI format contains various fields, including a bandwidth part (BWP) indicator, which informs the user equipment (UE) of the specific BWP to use for the transmission. DCI 0 1 enables efficient resource allocation in scenarios where multiple BWPs are configured, helping optimize the uplink data scheduling process.

[0058] As used herein, a Media Access Control - Control Element (MAC CE) message refers to a type of signalling message used within the Media Access Control (MAC) layer of a wireless communication system to convey control information between a user equipment (UE) and the network. The MAC CE messages facilitates in managing and coordinating various aspects of the radio link, such as scheduling requests, power control adjustments, and bandwidth part (BWP) switching commands. The MAC CE messages are embedded within the MAC protocol data units (PDUs) and can carry instructions that trigger specific actions at the UE, such as initiating a handover, adjusting transmission parameters, or responding to network conditions.

[0059] As discussed in the background section, the current known solutions have several shortcomings such as delay in transition, excess battery consumption of UE, over-utilisation of network node resources and non-availability of UE for data service. The present disclosure aims to overcome the above-mentioned and other existing problems in this field of technology by providing method and system for bandwidth part (BWP) switching in a communication system.

[0060] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0061] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary block diagram of a computing device

[0100] (also referred herein as a computer system

[0100] ) upon which the features of the present disclosure may be implemented in accordance with exemplary implementation of the present disclosure. In an implementation, the computing device

[0100] may also implement a method for bandwidth part (BWP) switching in a communication system utilising the system. In another implementation, the computing device

[0100] itself implements the method for bandwidth part (BWP) switching in a communication system using one or more units configured within the computing device

[0100] ,wherein said one or more units are capable of implementing the features as disclosed in the present disclosure.

[0062] The computing device

[0100] may include a bus

[0102] or other communication mechanism for communicating information, and a processor

[0104] coupled with bus

[0102] for processing information. The processor

[0104] may be, for example, a general purpose microprocessor. The computing device

[0100] may also include a main memory

[0106] , such as a random access memory (RAM), or other dynamic storage device, coupled to the bus

[0102] for storing information and instructions to be executed by the processor

[0104] , The main memory

[0106] also may be used for storing temporary variables or other intermediate information during execution of the instructions to be executed by the processor

[0104] , Such instructions, when stored in non-transitory storage media accessible to the processor

[0104] , render the computing device

[0100] into a special-purpose machine that is customized to perform the operations specified in the instructions. The computing device

[0100] further includes a read only memory (ROM)

[0108] or other static storage device coupled to the bus

[0102] for storing static information and instructions for the processor

[0104] ,

[0063] A storage device

[0110] , such as a magnetic disk, optical disk, or solid-state drive is provided and coupled to the bus

[0102] for storing information and instructions. The computing device

[0100] may be coupled via the bus

[0102] to a display

[0112] , such as a cathode ray tube (CRT), Liquid crystal Display (LCD), Light Emitting Diode (LED) display, Organic LED (OLED) display, etc. for displaying information to a computer user. An input device

[0114] , including alphanumeric and other keys, touch screen input means, etc. may be coupled to the bus

[0102] for communicating information and command selections to the processor

[0104] , Another type of user input device may be a cursor controller

[0116] , such as a mouse, a trackball, or cursor direction keys, for communicating direction information and command selections to the processor

[0104] , and for controlling cursor movement on the display

[0112] , This input device typically has two degrees of freedom in two axes, a first axis (e.g., x) and a second axis (e.g., y), that allow the device to specify positions in a plane.

[0064] The computing device

[0100] may implement the techniques described herein using customized hard-wired logic, one or more ASICs or FPGAs, firmware and / or program logic which in combination with the computing device

[0100] causes or programs the computing device

[0100] to be a special-purpose machine. According to one implementation, the techniques herein are performed by the computing device

[0100] in response to the processor

[0104] executing one or moresequences of one or more instructions contained in the main memory

[0106] , Such instructions may be read into the main memory

[0106] from another storage medium, such as the storage device

[0110] , Execution of the sequences of instructions contained in the main memory

[0106] causes the processor

[0104] to perform the process steps described herein. In alternative implementations of the present disclosure, hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with software instructions.

[0065] The computing device

[0100] also may include a communication interface

[0118] coupled to the bus

[0102] , The communication interface

[0118] provides a two-way data communication coupling to a network link

[0120] that is connected to a local network

[0122] , For example, the communication interface

[0118] may be an integrated services digital network (ISDN) card, cable modem, satellite modem, or a modem to provide a data communication connection to a corresponding type of telephone line. As another example, the communication interface

[0118] may be a local area network (LAN) card to provide a data communication connection to a compatible LAN. Wireless links may also be implemented. In any such implementation, the communication interface

[0118] sends and receives electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals that carry digital data streams representing various types of information.

[0066] The computing device

[0100] can send messages and receive data, including program code, through the network(s), the network link

[0120] and the communication interface

[0118] , In the Internet example, a server

[0130] might transmit a requested code for an application program through the Internet

[0128] , the ISP

[0126] , the local network

[0122] , host

[0124] and the communication interface

[0118] , The received code may be executed by the processor

[0104] as it is received, and / or stored in the storage device

[0110] , or other non-volatile storage for later execution.

[0067] The computing device

[0100] encompasses a wide range of electronic devices capable of processing data and performing computations. Examples of computing device

[0100] include, but are not limited only to, personal computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones, servers, and embedded systems. The devices may operate independently or as part of a network and can perform a variety of tasks such as data storage, retrieval, and analysis. Additionally, computing device

[0100] may include peripheral devices, such as monitors, keyboards, and printers, as well as integrated components within larger electronic systems, showcasing their versatility in various technological applications.

[0068] Referring to FIG. 2, an exemplary block diagram of a system [200a] for bandwidth part (BWP) switching in a communication system

[0200] , is shown, in accordance with the exemplary implementations of the present invention. The communication system

[0200] comprises at least one system [200a], at least one network node

[0210] and at least one user equipment (UE)

[0208] , The system [200a] comprises at least one transceiver unit

[0202] , at least one determining unit

[0204] and at least one switching unit

[0206] , Also, all of the components / units of the communication system

[0200] and system [200a] are assumed to be connected to each other unless otherwise indicated below. As shown in the figures all units shown within the system should also be assumed to be connected to each other. Also, in FIG. 2 only a few units are shown, however, the communication system

[0200] and system [200a] may comprise multiple such units or the system [200a] may comprise any such numbers of said units, as required to implement the features of the present disclosure. Further, in an implementation, the system [200a] may be present in a user device to implement the features of the present disclosure. The system [200a] may be a part of the user device / or may be independent of but in communication with the user device (may also referred herein as a UE

[0208] ). In another implementation, the system [200a] may reside in a server or a network entity. In yet another implementation, the system [200a] may reside partly in the server / network entity and partly in the user device.

[0069] The system [200a] is configured for bandwidth part (BWP) switching in a communication system

[0200] , with the help of the interconnection between the components / units of the communication system

[0200] and system [200a],

[0070] The system [200a] comprises a transceiver unit

[0202] , The transceiver unit

[0202] is configured to receive a control message from a network node

[0210] , the control message comprising at least one of a new BWP identifier (ID) different from an active BWP ID, and a protocol deciding parameter. For example, when the network node

[0210] determines that it is necessary to switch the user equipment (UE)

[0208] from its current active bandwidth part (BWP) to a new BWP, it transmits a control message to the transceiver unit

[0202] , The control message includes a new BWP ID, which specifies the target BWP that the UE

[0208] should activate, and a protocol deciding parameter that dictates how the UE

[0208] should perform the switch.

[0071] The protocol deciding parameter can indicate one of two states: in the first state, the UE

[0208] is instructed to transmit on the current active BWP before making the switch to the new BWP. The network node

[0210] receives the uplink transmission, confirming that the UE

[0208] has correctly received and processed the control message. In the second state, the protocol decidingparameter may instruct the UE

[0208] to switch directly to the new BWP without any prior transmission on the current BWP. For example, the network node

[0210] sends a Downlink Control Information (DCI) message to the UE

[0208] with a new BWP ID and a protocol deciding parameter set to the first state, the UE

[0208] will first complete its uplink transmission on the current BWP before switching to the new BWP as indicated by the BWP ID.

[0072] In order to manage multiple BWP and BWP switching in the communication system such as but not limited to, 5G network system, the transceiver unit

[0202] at a user equipment (UE)

[0208] is configured to receive the control message from the network node

[0210] , such as gNodeB (gNB).

[0073] In an exemplary implementation, the communication system

[0200] may be other than 5G network such as, but not limited to 6G network. In an exemplary implementation, the control message is selected from the group consisting of a Downlink Control Information (DCI) message, a Radio Resource Control (RRC) setup message, an RRC re-configuration message, and a MAC Control Element (MAC CE) message.

[0074] In an exemplary implementation, the DCI message is DCI 0 1 message for uplink communication from the UE

[0208] , In yet another implementation, the DCI message is DCI 1 1 message for downlink communication to the UE

[0208] , Further, the control message may include such as at least one of the new BWP identifier (ID) different from the active BWP ID, and the protocol deciding parameter such as TransmitSwitch. In an implementation, the network node

[0210] is configured to send the control message comprising a new bandwidth part (BWP) ID to the UE

[0208] , wherein the new BWP ID of DCI message is different from an active BWP ID. Here, it is emphasized that the active BWP ID is a BWP ID on which the control message is transmitted by the network node

[0210] ,

[0075] The system [200a] comprises a determining unit

[0204] , The determining unit

[0204] is configured to determine state of the protocol deciding parameter, the state corresponds to at least one of a first state and a second state. The determining unit

[0204] is communicatively coupled with the transceiver unit

[0202] and may receive at least the protocol deciding parameter from the transceiver unit

[0202] , When the transceiver unit

[0202] receives a control message from the network node

[0210] , the determining unit

[0204] analyses the protocol deciding parameter within that message to identify its current state.

[0076] In the first state, the protocol deciding parameter instructs the UE

[0208] to perform an uplink transmission on the currently active BWP before switching to the new BWP. For example, if the determining unit

[0204] identifies that the protocol deciding parameter is set to this first state, it will trigger the transceiver unit

[0202] to complete any scheduled uplink transmission on the active BWP before initiating the switch to the new BWP.

[0077] In the second state, the protocol deciding parameter directs the UE

[0208] to switch directly to the new BWP without any prior transmission on the current BWP. If the determining unit

[0204] recognizes that the protocol deciding parameter is in this second state, it will prompt the transceiver unit

[0202] to immediately switch to the new BWP as indicated by the control message, bypassing any transmission on the active BWP. It would be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that the configuration allows the system [200a] to dynamically manage BWP switching behaviour based on real-time network conditions and requirements, optimizing performance and reducing the likelihood of errors during the transition between bandwidth parts.

[0078] The determining unit

[0204] at the UE

[0208] is configured to determine state of the protocol deciding parameter, such as TransmitSwitch. In an exemplary implementation, the state of the TransmitSwitch corresponds to at least one of the first state and the second state. The first state and second state are used for different transmissions. In an exemplary implementation, value of the first state may be ‘zero’ and value of the second state may be ‘one’ or vice-versa.

[0079] The transceiver unit

[0202] of the system [200a] is further configured to transmit an uplink transmission on the active BWP ID in response to determining that the protocol deciding parameter is set to the first state. After determining the state of the protocol deciding parameter (e.g., TransmitSwitch) such as first state via the determining unit

[0204] , the transceiver unit

[0202] of the system [200a] is configured to transmit the uplink transmission on the active BWP ID before any bandwidth part (BWP) switching occurs. The uplink transmission corresponds to at least one of a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmission, and a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback for a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) transmission. For example, if the user equipment (UE)

[0208] is operating on a specific active BWP and receives a control message from the network node

[0210] with instructions to switch to a new BWP, the transceiver unit

[0202] first checks the protocol deciding parameter. If the parameter is set to the first state, the transceiver unit

[0202] will continue to operate on the current active BWP and complete any scheduled uplink transmissions, such as sending data over the Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) or providing Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) feedback for previouslyreceived downlink data. Subsequently, the network node

[0210] receives the necessary confirmation that the UE

[0208] has successfully processed the control message and completed the required uplink transmission before the BWP switch is executed. It would be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that by handling the uplink transmission on the active BWP ID before switching, the system reduces the risk of communication interruptions and ensures a smooth transition to the new BWP, aligning with the network's scheduling and operational requirements.

[0080] The system [200a] further comprise a switching unit

[0206] , The switching unit

[0206] of the system [200a] is configured to switch from the active BWP ID to the new BWP ID upon successful transmission of the uplink transmission. The switching unit

[0206] is communicatively attached with the transceiver unit

[0202] , After successful transmission of the uplink transmission, such as PUSCH transmission, and HARQ feedback for a PDSCH transmission via the transceiver unit

[0202] , the switching unit

[0206] is configured to switch from the active BWP ID to the new BWP ID. For example, if the user equipment (UE)

[0208] is operating on a specific BWP and has been instructed by the network node

[0210] to switch to a new BWP ID, the transceiver unit

[0202] first completes any necessary uplink transmissions on the active BWP. Once this transmission is successfully completed, such as the UE

[0208] sending a PUSCH message or a HARQ feedback, the switching unit

[0206] receives a signal from the transceiver unit

[0202] indicating that the uplink transmission has been executed.

[0081] Upon receiving the confirmation, the switching unit

[0206] then initiates the switch from the current active BWP ID to the new BWP ID specified in the control message. It would be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that the system's ability to wait for the successful completion of the uplink transmission before switching BWPs helps maintain communication reliability and synchronization between the UE

[0208] and the network node

[0210] , optimizing overall network performance.

[0082] In an implementation, if the determining unit

[0204] determines the state of the protocol deciding parameter (e.g., TransmitSwitch) is set to the second state, the switching unit

[0206] is configured to switch from the active BWP ID to the new BWP ID. Further, in response to this, the transceiver unit

[0202] is configured to transmit the uplink transmission (e.g., PUSCH transmission, and HARQ feedback for a PDSCH transmission) on the active BWP ID. For instance, if the network node

[0210] requires a rapid transition to a new BWP to accommodate urgent communication needs, it will set the protocol deciding parameter to the second state. The switching unit

[0206] immediately switches the UE

[0208] to the new BWP, allowing the transceiver unit

[0202] to conduct the uplink transmission on this new BWP. This approach minimizes delays and ensures that the UE

[0208] operates on the correct BWP for its next task, thereby enhancing overall network efficiency and responsiveness.

[0083] In an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, if the network node

[0210] does not receive any confirmation or acknowledgment from the UE

[0208] , the network node

[0210] is further configured to re-transmit the control message to the UE

[0208] on the active BWP ID until a confirmation message is received or until a predefined number of attempts are made. The number of attempts is pre-configured by network administrator or service provider. Further, the switching unit

[0206] of the system [200a] is further configured to switch the network node

[0210] to the active BWP ID, if the confirmation message is not received within the predefined number of attempts, such as, but not limited to any preconfigured value or five attempts.

[0084] When the network node

[0210] sends a control message to the UE

[0208] , for example, to instruct a switch to a new BWP, it waits for a confirmation message from the UE

[0208] indicating that the control message has been successfully received and processed. Receipt of the confirmation message is essential to ensure that the UE

[0208] is ready to switch to the new BWP and continue operations smoothly. If the network node

[0210] does not receive the expected confirmation message within a predefined timeframe, it triggers a re-transmission of the control message on the active BWP ID.

[0085] The network node

[0210] will continue re-transmitting the control message on the active BWP ID until one of two outcomes is achieved: either the confirmation message is received from the UE

[0208] , or a predefined number of re-transmission attempts have been made. The predefined number of attempts is a safeguard against indefinite re-transmissions, ensuring that the network resources are not overly consumed by repeated attempts to communicate with the UE

[0208] , If the maximum number of attempts is reached without receiving a confirmation, the network may decide to take further corrective actions, such as re-initiating the communication process or switching to an alternative strategy for contacting the UE

[0208] ,

[0086] For example, the network node

[0210] sends a control message instructing the UE

[0208] to switch from its current BWP to a new one. If the UE

[0208] does not send back a confirmation — perhaps due to interference or a brief communication lapse — the network node

[0210] will retransmit the same control message on the current active BWP. This process continues until the network node either receives the necessary confirmation from the UE

[0208] , indicating that theswitch will proceed as planned, or exhausts the predefined number of attempts. This method ensures robust and reliable communication, reducing the likelihood of errors during the BWP switching process.

[0087] Further, in accordance with the present disclosure, it is to be acknowledged that the functionality described for the various the components / units can be implemented interchangeably. While specific embodiments may disclose a particular functionality of these units for clarity, it is recognized that various configurations and combinations thereof are within the scope of the disclosure. The functionality of specific units as disclosed in the disclosure should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure. Consequently, alternative arrangements and substitutions of units, provided they achieve the intended functionality described herein, are considered to be encompassed within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0088] FIG. 3 illustrates a method flow diagram

[0300] for bandwidth part (BWP) switching in a communication system, in accordance with exemplary implementations of the present disclosure. In an implementation the method

[0300] is performed by the system [200a] and communication system

[0200] , Further, in an implementation, the system [200a] may be present in a server device to implement the features of the present disclosure. Also, as shown in FIG. 3, the method

[0300] starts at step

[0302] ,

[0089] At step

[0304] , the method

[0300] implemented by the present disclosure comprises receiving, by a transceiver unit

[0202] at a user equipment (UE)

[0208] , a control message from a network node

[0210] , the control message comprising at least one of a new BWP identifier (ID) different from an active BWP ID, and a protocol deciding parameter. For example, when the network node

[0210] determines that it is necessary to switch the user equipment (UE)

[0208] from its current active bandwidth part (BWP) to a new BWP, it transmits a control message to the transceiver unit

[0202] , The control message includes a new BWP ID, which specifies the target BWP that the UE

[0208] should activate, and a protocol deciding parameter that dictates how the UE

[0208] should perform the switch.

[0090] The protocol deciding parameter can indicate one of two states: in the first state, the UE

[0208] is instructed to transmit on the current active BWP before making the switch to the new BWP. The network node

[0210] receives the uplink transmission, confirming that the UE

[0208] has correctly received and processed the control message. In the second state, the protocol deciding parameter may instruct the UE

[0208] to switch directly to the new BWP without any priortransmission on the current BWP. For example, the network node

[0210] sends a Downlink Control Information (DCI) message to the UE

[0208] with a new BWP ID and a protocol deciding parameter set to the first state, the UE

[0208] will first complete its uplink transmission on the current BWP before switching to the new BWP as indicated by the BWP ID.

[0091] In order to manage multiple BWP and BWP switching in the communication system such as but not limited to, 5G network system, the transceiver unit

[0202] at a user equipment (UE)

[0208] is configured to receive the control message from the network node

[0210] , such as gNodeB (gNB).

[0092] In an exemplary implementation, the communication system

[0200] may be other than 5G network such as, but not limited to 6G network. In an exemplary implementation, the control message is selected from the group consisting of a Downlink Control Information (DCI) message, a Radio Resource Control (RRC) setup message, an RRC re-configuration message, and a MAC Control Element (MAC CE) message.

[0093] In an exemplary implementation, the DCI message is DCI 0 1 message for uplink communication from the UE

[0208] , In yet another implementation, the DCI message is DCI 1 1 message for downlink communication to the UE

[0208] , Further, the control message may include such as at least one of the new BWP identifier (ID) different from the active BWP ID, and the protocol deciding parameter such as TransmitSwitch. In an implementation, the network node

[0210] is configured to send the control message comprising a new bandwidth part (BWP) ID to the UE

[0208] , wherein the new BWP ID of DCI message is different from an active BWP ID. Here, it is emphasized that the active BWP ID is a BWP ID on which the control message is transmitted by the network node

[0210] ,

[0094] Next, at step

[0306] , the method

[0300] implemented by the present disclosure comprises determining, by a determining unit

[0204] at the UE

[0208] , state of the protocol deciding parameter, the state corresponds to at least one of a first state and a second state. The determining unit

[0204] is communicatively coupled with the transceiver unit

[0202] and may receive at least the protocol deciding parameter from the transceiver unit

[0202] , When the transceiver unit

[0202] receives a control message from the network node

[0210] , the determining unit

[0204] analyses the protocol deciding parameter within that message to identify its current state.

[0095] In the first state, the protocol deciding parameter instructs the UE

[0208] to perform an uplink transmission on the currently active BWP before switching to the new BWP. For example, if the determining unit

[0204] identifies that the protocol deciding parameter is set to this first state, it will trigger the transceiver unit

[0202] to complete any scheduled uplink transmission on the active BWP before initiating the switch to the new BWP.

[0096] In the second state, the protocol deciding parameter directs the UE

[0208] to switch directly to the new BWP without any prior transmission on the current BWP. If the determining unit

[0204] recognizes that the protocol deciding parameter is in this second state, it will prompt the transceiver unit

[0202] to immediately switch to the new BWP as indicated by the control message, bypassing any transmission on the active BWP. It would be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that the configuration allows the system [200a] to dynamically manage BWP switching behaviour based on real-time network conditions and requirements, optimizing performance and reducing the likelihood of errors during the transition between bandwidth parts.

[0097] The determining unit

[0204] at the UE

[0208] is configured to determine state of the protocol deciding parameter, such as TransmitSwitch. In an exemplary implementation, the state of the TransmitSwitch corresponds to at least one of the first state and the second state. The first state and second state are used for different transmissions. In an exemplary implementation, value of the first state may be ‘zero’ and value of the second state may be ‘one’ or vice-versa.

[0098] Next, at step

[0308] , the method

[0300] implemented by the present disclosure comprises transmitting, by the transceiver unit

[0202] at the UE

[0208] , an uplink transmission on the active BWP ID in response to determining that the protocol deciding parameter is set to the first state. After determining the state of the protocol deciding parameter (e.g., TransmitSwitch) such as first state via the determining unit

[0204] , the transceiver unit

[0202] of the system [200a] is configured to transmit the uplink transmission on the active BWP ID before any bandwidth part (BWP) switching occurs. The uplink transmission corresponds to at least one of a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmission, and a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback for a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) transmission. For example, if the user equipment (UE)

[0208] is operating on a specific active BWP and receives a control message from the network node

[0210] with instructions to switch to a new BWP, the transceiver unit

[0202] first checks the protocol deciding parameter. If the parameter is set to the first state, the transceiver unit

[0202] will continue to operate on the current active BWP and complete any scheduled uplink transmissions, such as sending data over the Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) or providing HybridAutomatic Repeat Request (HARQ) feedback for previously received downlink data. Subsequently, the network node

[0210] receives the necessary confirmation that the UE

[0208] has successfully processed the control message and completed the required uplink transmission before the BWP switch is executed. It would be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that by handling the uplink transmission on the active BWP ID before switching, the system reduces the risk of communication interruptions and ensures a smooth transition to the new BWP, aligning with the network's scheduling and operational requirements.

[0099] Next, at step

[0310] , the method

[0300] implemented by the present disclosure comprises switching, by a switching unit

[0206] at the UE

[0208] , from the active BWP ID to the new BWP ID upon successful transmission of the uplink transmission. The switching unit

[0206] is communicatively attached with the transceiver unit

[0202] , After successful transmission of the uplink transmission, such as PUSCH transmission, and HARQ feedback for a PDSCH transmission via the transceiver unit

[0202] , the switching unit

[0206] is configured to switch from the active BWP ID to the new BWP ID. For example, if the user equipment (UE)

[0208] is operating on a specific BWP and has been instructed by the network node

[0210] to switch to a new BWP ID, the transceiver unit

[0202] first completes any necessary uplink transmissions on the active BWP. Once this transmission is successfully completed, such as the UE

[0208] sending a PUSCH message or a HARQ feedback, the switching unit

[0206] receives a signal from the transceiver unit

[0202] indicating that the uplink transmission has been executed.

[0100] Upon receiving the confirmation, the switching unit

[0206] then initiates the switch from the current active BWP ID to the new BWP ID specified in the control message. It would be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that the system's ability to wait for the successful completion of the uplink transmission before switching BWPs helps maintain communication reliability and synchronization between the UE

[0208] and the network node

[0210] , optimizing overall network performance.

[0101] In an implementation, further, the determining unit

[0204] of the system [200a] may determine the state of the protocol deciding parameter, such as the second state. In response to determining that the protocol deciding parameter (e.g., TransmitSwitch) is set to the second state, the switching unit

[0206] may switch from the active BWP ID to the new BWP ID. Further, in response to this, the transceiver unit

[0202] may transmit the uplink transmission (e.g., PUSCH transmission, and HARQ feedback for a PDSCH transmission) on the active BWP ID.

[0102] In an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, if the network node

[0210] does not receive any confirmation or acknowledgment from the UE

[0208] , the network node

[0210] is further may re-transmit the control message to the UE

[0208] on the active BWP ID until a confirmation message is received or until a predefined number of attempts are made. The number of attempts is pre-configured by network administrator or service provider. Further, the switching unit

[0206] of the system [200a] is further configured to switch the network node

[0210] to the active BWP ID, if the confirmation message is not received within the predefined number of attempts, such as, but not limited to any preconfigured value or five attempts.

[0103] Thereafter, the method

[0300] terminates at step

[0312] ,

[0104] Referring to FIG. 4, an exemplary method flow diagram

[0400] , for bandwidth part switching by user equipment followed at a user equipment (UE), in accordance with exemplary implementations of the present invention is shown. In an implementation the method

[0400] is performed by the communication system

[0200] , As shown in FIG. 4, the method

[0400] starts at step

[0402] ,

[0105] At step

[0404] , the method

[0400] as disclosed by the present disclosure comprises receiving a control message comprising a new bandwidth part (BWP) ID by a UE

[0208] from a network node

[0210] , wherein the new BWP ID of control message is different from active BWP ID. Here, it is emphasized that the active BWP ID is a BWP ID on which the control message is transmitted by the network node

[0210] , In an implementation, the control message further comprises a protocol deciding parameter, set to 1. In an exemplary implementation, the control message is one or more of a downlink control information (DCI) message or a radio resource control (RRC) setup message or a RRC re-configuration message or MAC CE message. In another implementation, the DCI message is DCI 0 1 message for uplink communication from the UE

[0208] , In yet another implementation, the DCI message is DCI 1 1 message for downlink communication to the UE

[0208] ,

[0106] Next, at step

[0406] , the method

[0400] as disclosed by the present disclosure comprises receiving a scheduling message by the UE

[0208] from the network node

[0210] on the active BWP ID. The scheduling message comprises such as, but not limited to, Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) scheduling message or Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) scheduling message.

[0107] Next, at step

[0408] , the method

[0400] as disclosed by the present disclosure comprise transmitting, by the UE

[0208] to the network node

[0210] , acknowledgement message for receipt of the scheduling message on the active BWP ID.

[0108] Next, at step

[0410] , the method

[0400] as disclosed by the present disclosure comprise switching, by the UE

[0208] , to the new BWP ID of the control message.

[0109] Thereafter, the method

[0400] terminates at step

[0412] ,

[0110] Referring to FIG. 5, an exemplary method flow diagram

[0500] , for bandwidth part switching followed at a network node

[0210] , in accordance with exemplary implementations of the present invention is shown. In an implementation the method

[0500] is performed in the communication system

[0200] , As shown in FIG. 5, the method

[0500] starts at step

[0502] ,[OHl] At step

[0504] , the method

[0500] as disclosed by the present disclosure comprises transmitting a control message comprising a bandwidth part (BWP) ID by a network node

[0210] to a UE

[0208] , wherein BWP ID of the control message is different from an active BWP ID. Here, it is emphasized that the active BWP ID is a BWP ID on which the control message is transmitted by the network node

[0210] , In an implementation, the control message also comprises a protocol deciding parameter, set to 1. In an exemplary implementation, the control message is one or more of a downlink control information (DCI) message or a radio resource control (RRC) setup message or a RRC re-configuration message or MAC CE message. In another implementation, the DCI message is DCI 0 1 message for uplink communication from a user equipment (UE)

[0208] , In yet another implementation, the DCI message is DCI 1 1 message for downlink communication to the UE

[0208] ,

[0112] Next, at step

[0506] , the method

[0500] as disclosed by the present disclosure comprises transmitting a scheduling message by the network node

[0210] to the UE

[0208] , on active BWP ID.

[0113] Next, at step

[0508] , the method

[0500] as disclosed by the present disclosure comprises switching, by network node

[0210] , to new BWP ID if an acknowledgement message is received from UE

[0208] , else re-transmitting the control message and scheduling message by network node

[0210] to the UE

[0208] on the active BWP ID.

[0114] Next, at step

[0510] , the method

[0500] as disclosed by the present disclosure comprises retransmitting control message until acknowledgement message is received by network node

[0210] from the UE

[0208] on active BWP ID or until the process is interrupted after a predefined number of attempts.

[0115] Next, at step

[0512] , the method

[0500] as disclosed by the present disclosure comprises switching to a default or initial BWP ID if acknowledgement message is not received by the network node

[0210] from the UE

[0208] in step

[0510] ,

[0116] Thereafter, the method

[0500] terminates at step

[0514] ,

[0117] FIG. 6 illustrates a first exemplary signalling flow diagram

[0600] to initiate bandwidth part switching, in accordance with exemplary implementations of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 6, gNB

[0602] sends to the UE

[0208] a DCI message comprising a BWP ID and a Transmits witch parameter to initiate the solution as disclosed in the present disclosure. Here, it is emphasized that TransmitSwitch parameter is an implementation of protocol deciding parameter.

[0118] FIG. 7 illustrates a second exemplary signalling flow diagram

[0700] to enable bandwidth part switching in accordance with exemplary implementations of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 7, gNB

[0602] sends DCI message to the UE

[0208] along with a PDSCH message via BWP1. Here, it is emphasized that PDSCH message is an implementation of scheduling message. Thereafter, the UE

[0208] sends a PUCCH (HARQ) message to gNodeB

[0602] via the BWP1. Here, it is emphasized that PUCCH (HARQ) message is an implementation acknowledgement message. Thereafter, the UE

[0208] and gNodeB

[0602] switches to BWP2 from BWP1. Then the gNodeB

[0602] sends a scheduling message to the UE

[0208] via the BWP2.

[0119] Bandwidth Part 1 (BWP1) and Bandwidth Part 2 (BWP2) represent distinct sections of the overall available spectrum in a wireless communication system. Each BWP is defined as a contiguous set of resource blocks within a specific frequency range, and they are used to manage the distribution of spectrum resources more efficiently in dynamic network environments. The use of multiple BWPs allows the network to flexibly allocate bandwidth to user equipment (UE) based on current data demands, network conditions, or power-saving requirements.

[0120] BWP1 refers to the initial bandwidth part that the UE is operating on. This is the active bandwidth part where the UE receives control and scheduling messages from the gNodeB (suchas DCI and PDSCH messages). BWP1 is selected based on the network's configuration for optimal communication, considering factors like traffic type, quality of service (QoS) requirements, and network load. In the exemplary signalling flow described in the figure, the gNodeB sends a scheduling message (DCI) along with a PDSCH message on BWP1, and the UE acknowledges this by sending a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) message, such as a HARQ feedback, on the same BWP1.

[0121] BWP2, on the other hand, represents a different section of the spectrum to which both the UE and the gNodeB switch after the initial exchange of messages on BWP1. BWP2 could be configured for a different purpose, such as providing a wider or narrower bandwidth, adjusting to different QoS requirements, or optimizing power usage. After switching to BWP2, the gNodeB continues to send subsequent scheduling messages to the UE, enabling the continuation of data exchange under the new spectrum configuration. The switch from BWP1 to BWP2 is managed by the control messages exchanged between the gNodeB and the UE, ensuring that both entities are aligned on which part of the spectrum is being used for communication.

[0122] The present disclosure may relate to a user equipment (UE)

[0208] , The UE

[0208] comprising a system comprising: a transceiver unit

[0202] configured to receive a control message from a network node

[0210] , the control message comprising at least one of a new BWP identifier (ID) different from an active BWP ID, and a protocol deciding parameter; a determining unit

[0204] configured to determine state of the protocol deciding parameter, the state corresponds to at least one of a first state and a second state; the transceiver unit

[0202] further configured to transmit an uplink transmission on the active BWP ID in response to determining that the protocol deciding parameter is set to the first state; and a switching unit

[0206] configured to switch from the active BWP ID to the new BWP ID upon successful transmission of the uplink transmission.

[0123] The present disclosure may relate to a network node for bandwidth part (BWP) switching in a communication system. The network node comprising: a processor configured to: transmit a control message to a user equipment (UE)

[0208] , the control message comprising at least one of a new BWP identifier (ID) different from an active BWP ID, and a protocol deciding parameter, wherein for BWP switching the process steps comprises: determining state of the protocol deciding parameter, the state corresponds to at least one of a first state and a second state; transmitting an uplink transmission on the active BWP ID in response to determining that theprotocol deciding parameter is set to the first state; and switching from the active BWP ID to the new BWP ID upon successful transmission of the uplink transmission.

[0124] The present disclosure further discloses a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions for bandwidth part (BWP) switching in a communication system, the instructions include executable code which, when executed by a one or more units of a system, causes: a transceiver unit

[0202] of the system to receive a control message from a network node

[0210] , the control message comprising at least one of a new BWP identifier (ID) different from an active BWP ID, and a protocol deciding parameter; a determining unit

[0204] of the system to determine state of the protocol deciding parameter, the state corresponds to at least one of a first state and a second state; the transceiver unit

[0202] of the system to transmit an uplink transmission on the active BWP ID in response to determining that the protocol deciding parameter is set to the first state; and a switching unit

[0206] of the system to switch from the active BWP ID to the new BWP ID upon successful transmission of the uplink transmission.

[0125] As is evident from the above, the present disclosure provides a technically advanced solution for bandwidth part switching. The invention disclosed by the present disclosure results in reduced transition delay during discontinued transmission, reduced battery consumption at UE, and increased availability of UE for servicing with data.

[0126] While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the disclosed embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made to the embodiments without departing from the principles of the present disclosure. These and other changes in the embodiments of the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art, whereby it is to be understood that the foregoing descriptive matter to be implemented is illustrative and non-limiting.

Claims

I / We Claim:

1. A method for bandwidth part (BWP) switching in a communication system [200], the method comprising: receiving, by a transceiver unit [202] at a user equipment (UE) [208], a control message from a network node [210], the control message comprising at least one of a new BWP identifier (ID) different from an active BWP ID, and a protocol deciding parameter; determining, by a determining unit [204] at the UE [208], state of the protocol deciding parameter, the state corresponds to at least one of a first state and a second state; transmitting, by the transceiver unit [202] at the UE [208], an uplink transmission on the active BWP ID in response to determining that the protocol deciding parameter is set to the first state; and switching, by a switching unit [206] at the UE [208], from the active BWP ID to the new BWP ID upon successful transmission of the uplink transmission.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control message is selected from the group consisting of a Downlink Control Information (DCI) message, a Radio Resource Control (RRC) setup message, an RRC re-configuration message, and a MAC Control Element (MAC CE) message.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the uplink transmission corresponds to at least one of a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmission, and a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback for a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) transmission.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein in response to determining that the protocol deciding parameter is set to the second state, the method further comprises: switching, by the switching unit [206], from the active BWP ID to the new BWP ID; and transmitting, by the transceiver unit [202] at the UE [208], the uplink transmission on the active BWP ID.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising re-transmitting, by the network node [210], the control message to the UE [208] on the active BWP ID until a confirmation message is received from the UE [208] or until a predefined number of attempts are made.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the network node is a gNodeB (gNB).

7. The method as claimed in claims 1 or 5, further comprising switching, by the switching unit [206], from the new BWP ID to the active BWP ID, if the confirmation message is not received within the predefined number of attempts.

8. A system [200a] for bandwidth part (BWP) switching in a communication system [200], the system [200a] comprising: a transceiver unit [202] configured to receive a control message from a network node [210], the control message comprising at least one of a new BWP identifier (ID) different from an active BWP ID, and a protocol deciding parameter; a determining unit [204] configured to determine state of the protocol deciding parameter, the state corresponds to at least one of a first state and a second state; the transceiver unit [202] is further configured to transmit an uplink transmission on the active BWP ID in response to determining that the protocol deciding parameter is set to the first state; and a switching unit [206] configured to switch from the active BWP ID to the new BWP ID upon successful transmission of the uplink transmission.

9. The system [200a] as claimed in claim 8, wherein the control message is selected from the group consisting of a Downlink Control Information (DCI) message, a Radio Resource Control (RRC) setup message, an RRC re-configuration message, and a MAC Control Element (MAC CE) message.

10. The system [200a] as claimed in claim 8, wherein the uplink transmission corresponds to at least one of a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmission, and a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback for a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) transmission.

11. The system [200a] as claimed in claim 8, wherein in response to determining that the protocol deciding parameter is set to the second state: the switching unit [206] is configured to switch from the active BWP ID to the new BWP ID; and the transceiver unit [202] is configured to transmit the uplink transmission on the active BWP ID.

12. The system [200a] as claimed in claim 8, wherein the network node [210] is configured to re-transmit the control message on the active BWP ID until a confirmation message isreceived from a user equipment (UE) [208] or until a predefined number of attempts are made.

13. The system [200a] as claimed in claim 8, wherein the network node [210] is a gNodeB (gNB).

14. The system [200a] as claimed in claims 8 or 12, further comprising switching, by the switching unit [206], from the new BWP ID to the active BWP ID, if the confirmation message is not received within the predefined number of attempts.

15. A user equipment (UE) [208] comprising: a system [200a] comprising: a transceiver unit [202] configured to receive a control message from a network node [210], the control message comprising at least one of a new BWP identifier (ID) different from an active BWP ID, and a protocol deciding parameter; a determining unit [204] configured to determine state of the protocol deciding parameter, the state corresponds to at least one of a first state and a second state; the transceiver unit [202] further configured to transmit an uplink transmission on the active BWP ID in response to determining that the protocol deciding parameter is set to the first state; and a switching unit [206] configured to switch from the active BWP ID to the new BWP ID upon successful transmission of the uplink transmission.

16. The UE [208] as claimed in claim 15, wherein the control message is selected from the group consisting of a Downlink Control Information (DCI) message, a Radio Resource Control (RRC) setup message, an RRC re-configuration message, and a MAC Control Element (MAC CE) message.

17. The UE [208] as claimed in claim 15, wherein the uplink transmission corresponds to at least one of a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmission, and a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback for a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) transmission.

18. The UE [208] as claimed in claim 15, wherein in response to determining that the protocol deciding parameter is set to the second state: the switching unit [206] is configured to switch from the active BWP ID to the new BWP ID; andthe transceiver unit [202] is configured to transmit the uplink transmission on the active BWP ID.

19. The UE [208] as claimed in claim 15, wherein the network node [210] is further configured to re-transmit the control message by to the UE [208] on the active BWP ID until a confirmation message is received or until a predefined number of attempts are made.

20. The UE [208] as claimed in claim 15, wherein the network node [210] is a gNodeB (gNB).

21. The UE [208] as claimed in claims 15 or 19, wherein the switching unit [206] is further configured to switch the active BWP ID, if the confirmation message is not received within the predefined number of attempts.

22. A network node [210] for bandwidth part (BWP) switching in a communication system [200], the network node [210] comprising: a processor configured to: transmit a control message to a user equipment (UE) [208], the control message comprising at least one of a new BWP identifier (ID) different from an active BWP ID, and a protocol deciding parameter, wherein for BWP switching process steps comprises: determining state of the protocol deciding parameter, the state corresponds to at least one of a first state and a second state; transmitting an uplink transmission on the active BWP ID in response to determining that the protocol deciding parameter is set to the first state; and switching from the active BWP ID to the new BWP ID upon successful transmission of the uplink transmission.

23. The network node [210] as claimed in claim 22, wherein the control message is selected from the group consisting of a Downlink Control Information (DCI) message, a Radio Resource Control (RRC) setup message, an RRC re-configuration message, and a MAC Control Element (MAC CE) message.

24. The network node [210] as claimed in claim 22, wherein the uplink transmission corresponds to at least one of a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmission, and a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback for a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) transmission.

25. The network node [210] as claimed in claim 22, wherein in response to determining that the protocol deciding parameter is set to the second state, the network node [210] is configured to: switch from the active BWP ID to the new BWP ID; and transmit the uplink transmission on the active BWP ID.

26. The network node [210] as claimed in claim 22, wherein the network node [210] is further configured to re-transmit the control message to the UE [208] on the active BWP ID until a confirmation message is received or until a predefined number of attempts are made.

27. The network node [210] as claimed in claim 22, wherein the network node [210] is a gNodeB (gNB).

28. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions for bandwidth part (BWP) switching in a communication system, the instructions include executable code which, when executed by a one or more units of a system, causes: a transceiver unit [202] of the system to receive a control message from a network node [210], the control message comprising at least one of a new BWP identifier (ID) different from an active BWP ID, and a protocol deciding parameter; a determining unit [204] of the system to determine state of the protocol deciding parameter, the state corresponds to at least one of a first state and a second state; the transceiver unit [202] of the system to transmit an uplink transmission on the active BWP ID in response to determining that the protocol deciding parameter is set to the first state; and a switching unit [206] of the system to switch from the active BWP ID to the new BWP ID upon successful transmission of the uplink transmission.

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