RF Requirements and test methodology for receiver processing fragmented carriers

Abstract

This application relates to test equipment, TE (345) for performing conformance testing of a user equipment (UE). The TE determines a reference sensitivity exception which can apply when a UE under test uses a single receiver chain to receive non-contiguous (NC) intra-band sub-blocks in downlink (DL) carrier aggregation (CA). The TE generates a test NC CA signal 364 with a sub-block gap 366 between wanted NC intra-band sub-blocks 365-1, 365-2. An interfering signal 385 is provided in this sub-block gap, optionally generated by a signal generator 355. The TE determines an allowed maximum sensitivity degradation (MSD), which is a function of a power level of the interfering signal (see 335, Fig. 3). The TE adjusts, using the allowed MSD, the power of wanted signals in the NC CA test signal. Based on received error reporting from the UE, a determination is made of whether the UE meets a specified criterion. A UE receives a configuration signal to configure a selected single receiver chain of multiple receiver chains for reception of an NC intra-band CA test signal. The UE receives two component carriers, determines error information and reports this to the TE (see Fig. 3B).

Description

[0001] Examples of embodiments herein relate generally to wireless communications and, more specifically, relate to receiving signals using a single receiver chain for intra-band NC (non-contiguous) DL (downlink) CA (carrier aggregation) operation. BACKGROUND

[0002] Carrier Aggregation (CA) is functionality in radio access networks and user devices which allows operators to combine the capabilities of different cells at distinct frequency allocations to enhance the end user experience. In particular, a user equipment (UE, a typically mobile, wireless user device) can receive multiple downlink (DL) transmissions from a base station (BS) in different frequencies. This can happen effectively in parallel, meaning the UE can receive about double the amount of data for these two DL CA receptions as compared to receiving a single reception.

[0003] In examples, the BS creates transmissions using spaced-apart subblocks, each using a component carrier (CC) or carriers, in a frequency band. That is, for non-contiguous (NC) allocation, the CA could be intra-band, i.e., the CCs belong to the same operating frequency band, but have a gap, or gaps, in frequency in between the CCs. Such a gap may be referred to as a sub-block gap.

[0004] For reception of two sub-blocks, two receiver chains, one for each subblock and corresponding frequency, in a UE may be used. Certain issues may arise when a single receiver chain is used to receive the two sub-blocks.

[0005] A further issue that can arise is that an interfere^s) may be between the sub-blocks, and this interferer can create problems for reception by the UE. Another issue that can arise is due to the near-far problem. This problem occurs when the interfering BS is near the UE for a transmission to another UE, and the serving BS is far from the UE for a transmission to the UE for the CA. BRIEF SUMMARY

[0006] This section is intended to include examples and is not intended to be limiting.

[0007] In an exemplary embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes determining, by test equipment as part of a testing process for a user equipment, reference sensitivity exceptions due to use of a single receiver chain by the user equipment on noncontiguous intra-band sub-blocks in downlink carrier aggregation, including a sub-block gap between the non-contiguous intra-band sub-blocks, as a mapping between an allowed maximum sensitivity degradation and a function of variables relating the allowed maximum sensitivity degradation at least to a power level of an interfering signal in the sub-block gap; adjusting, by the test equipment using at least the mapping, wanted signals in the non-contiguous intra-band sub-blocks for testing the user equipment, wherein the interfering signal is in the sub-block gap; and determining, based on received error reporting from the user equipment, whether the user equipment meets or does not meet a criterion of the testing process.

[0008] An additional exemplary embodiment includes a computer program, comprising instructions for performing the method of the previous paragraph, when the computer program is run on an apparatus. The computer program according to this paragraph, wherein the computer program is a computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium bearing the instructions embodied therein for use with the apparatus. Another example is the computer program according to this paragraph, wherein the program is directly loadable into an internal memory of the apparatus.

[0009] An exemplary apparatus includes one or more processors and one or more memories storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus at least to perform: determining, by test equipment as part of a testing process for a user equipment, reference sensitivity exceptions due to use of a single receiver chain by the user equipment on non-contiguous intra-band sub-blocks in downlink carrier aggregation, including a sub-block gap between the non-contiguous intra-band subblocks, as a mapping between an allowed maximum sensitivity degradation and a function of variables relating the allowed maximum sensitivity degradation at least to a power level of an interfering signal in the sub-block gap; adjusting, by the test equipment using at least the mapping, wanted signals in the non-contiguous intra-band sub-blocks for testing the user equipment, wherein the interfering signal is in the sub-block gap; and determining, based on received error reporting from the user equipment, whether the user equipment meets or does not meet a criterion of the testing process.

[0010] An exemplary computer program product includes a computer-readable storage medium bearing instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: determining, by test equipment as part of a testing process for a user equipment, reference sensitivity exceptions due to use of a single receiver chain by the user equipment on non-contiguous intra-band sub-blocks in downlink carrier aggregation, including a sub-block gap between the non-contiguous intra-band subblocks, as a mapping between an allowed maximum sensitivity degradation and a function of variables relating the allowed maximum sensitivity degradation at least to a power level of an interfering signal in the sub-block gap; adjusting, by the test equipment using at least the mapping, wanted signals in the non-contiguous intra-band sub-blocks for testing the user equipment, wherein the interfering signal is in the sub-block gap; and determining, based on received error reporting from the user equipment, whether the user equipment meets or does not meet a criterion of the testing process.

[0011] In another exemplary embodiment, an apparatus comprises means for: determining, as part of a testing process for a user equipment, reference sensitivity exceptions due to use of a single receiver chain by the user equipment on non-contiguous intra-band sub-blocks in downlink carrier aggregation, including a sub-block gap between the non-contiguous intra-band sub-blocks, as a mapping between an allowed maximum sensitivity degradation and a function of variables relating the allowed maximum sensitivity degradation at least to a power level of an interfering signal in the sub-block gap; adjusting, using at least the mapping, wanted signals in the non-contiguous intra-band sub-blocks for testing the user equipment, wherein the interfering signal is in the sub-block gap; and determining, based on received error reporting from the user equipment, whether the user equipment meets or does not meet a criterion of the testing process. The apparatus may be or comprise test equipment.

[0012] In an exemplary embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes receiving, by a user equipment from a test equipment, configuration for intra-band noncontiguous downlink carrier aggregation operation using a single receiver chain of multiple receiver chains in a receiver; configuring hardware resources, comprising the multiple receiver chains, between bands, for reception of component carriers corresponding to the bands; receiving, by the user equipment, multiple component carriers using the single receiver chain of multiple receiver chains of one or more sets of receiver chains in the receiver; performing, by the user equipment, measurements of received information to determine error information; and reporting the error information via error reporting from the user equipment to the test equipment.

[0013] An additional exemplary embodiment includes a computer program, comprising instructions for performing the method of the previous paragraph, when the computer program is run on an apparatus. The computer program according to this paragraph, wherein the computer program is a computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium bearing the instructions embodied therein for use with the apparatus. Another example is the computer program according to this paragraph, wherein the program is directly loadable into an internal memory of the apparatus.

[0014] An exemplary apparatus includes one or more processors and one or more memories storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus at least to perform: receiving, by a user equipment from a test equipment, configuration for intra-band non-contiguous downlink carrier aggregation operation using a single receiver chain of multiple receiver chains in a receiver; configuring hardware resources, comprising the multiple receiver chains, between bands, for reception of component carriers corresponding to the bands; receiving, by the user equipment, multiple component carriers using the single receiver chain of multiple receiver chains of one or more sets of receiver chains in the receiver; performing, by the user equipment, measurements of received information to determine error information; and reporting the error information via error reporting from the user equipment to the test equipment.

[0015] An exemplary computer program product includes a computer-readable storage medium bearing instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: receiving, by a user equipment from a test equipment, configuration for intra-band non-contiguous downlink carrier aggregation operation using a single receiver chain of multiple receiver chains in a receiver; configuring hardware resources, comprising the multiple receiver chains, between bands, for reception of component carriers corresponding to the bands; receiving, by the user equipment, multiple component carriers using the single receiver chain of multiple receiver chains of one or more sets of receiver chains in the receiver; performing, by the user equipment, measurements of received information to determine error information; and reporting the error information via error reporting from the user equipment to the test equipment.

[0016] In another exemplary embodiment, an apparatus comprises means for: receiving, from a test equipment, configuration for intra-band non-contiguous downlink carrier aggregation operation using a single receiver chain of multiple receiver chains in a receiver; configuring hardware resources, comprising the multiple receiver chains, between bands, for reception of component carriers corresponding to the bands; receiving multiple component carriers using the single receiver chain of multiple receiver chains of one or more sets of receiver chains in the receiver; performing measurements of received information to determine error information; and reporting the error information via error reporting from the apparatus to the test equipment. The apparatus may be or comprise a user equipment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The accompanying drawings use reference numerals, where the same reference numerals may be used to refer to like parts throughout, but parts having the same reference numeral can differ in operation and components. In the attached drawings:

[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates communication using separate Rx chains for different CCs for a near-far problem;

[0019] FIG. 1A illustrates communication using separate Rx chains for different CCs without a near-far problem;

[0020] FIG. 2 is a graph illustrating analogue lowpass filtering vs. (versus) channel BW (CBW);

[0021] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram for a testing process used by a TE (test equipment) for a first alternative that defines and uses relaxed CA requirements as receiver sensitivity relaxations, due to the use of a single Rx chain on fragmented intra-band blocks in the DL CA;

[0022] FIG. 3A illustrates a system for testing that might be used for examples herein;

[0023] FIG. 3B is a flow diagram for a UE for a testing process that is used for the first, second, and third alternatives for relaxed CA requirements as receiver sensitivity relaxations, due to the use of a single Rx chain on fragmented intra-band blocks in the DL CA;

[0024] FIG. 3C is a table for reference sensitivity exceptions and downlink configurations due to 1 Rx for non-contiguous reception in PC3 for DL NR CA FR1;

[0025] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram for a testing process used by a TE for a second alternative that defines and uses relaxed CA requirements as receiver sensitivity relaxations, due to the use of a single Rx chain on fragmented intra-band blocks in the DL CA;

[0026] FIG. 4A illustrates ACS for a single carrier, and FIG. 4B illustrates 1 Rx chain non-contiguous CA sensitivity relaxation;

[0027] FIG. 4C illustrates a Table 7.5A.l-2a: Test parameters for 1 Rx noncontiguous intra-band CA for Alternative 2-1;

[0028] FIG. 4D illustrates a Table 7.5 A. 1-2b: ACS 1 Rx for NR bands for Alternative 2-1;

[0029] FIG. 4E illustrates a Table 7.5A.l-2a: Test parameters for 1 Rx noncontiguous intra-band CA for Alternative 2-2;

[0030] FIG. 4F illustrates a Table 7.5A. l-2b: ACS 1 Rx for NR bands for Alternative 2-2;

[0031] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram for a testing process used by a TE for a third alternative that defines and uses relaxed CA requirements as receiver sensitivity relaxations, due to the use of a single Rx chain on fragmented intra-band blocks in the DL CA;

[0032] FIG. 5 A illustrates IBB for a single carrier, and FIG. 5B illustrates 1 Rx chain non-contiguous CA sensitivity relaxation;

[0033] FIG. 5C illustrates a Table 7.6A.2.3-1: In-band blocking 1 Rx parameters for NR for Alternative 3-1;

[0034] FIG. 5D illustrates a Table 7.6A.2.3-2: In-band blocking 1 Rx for NR bands for Alternative 3-1;

[0035] FIG. 5E illustrates a Table 7.6A.2.3-1: In-band blocking 1 Rx parameters for NR for Alternative 3-1;

[0036] FIG. 5F illustrates a Table 7.6A.2.3-2: In-band blocking 1 Rx for NR bands for Alternative 3-1;

[0037] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of one possible and non-limiting exemplary system in which the exemplary embodiments may be practiced;

[0038] FIG. 7 illustrates a Table 7.3A.0.2.2-1: Intra-band non-contiguous CA with one uplink configuration for reference sensitivity in FDD bands;

[0039] FIG. 8 illustrates a Table 7.3A.0.2.2-2: Reference sensitivity exceptions and downlink configurations due to 1 Rx for non-contiguous reception in PC3 for DL NR CA FR1;

[0040] FIG. 9 illustrates a Table 7.3A.0.7-1: Reference sensitivity exceptions and downlink configurations due to 1 Rx for non-contiguous reception in PC3 for DL NR CA FR1;

[0041] FIG. 10 illustrates a Table 7.3 A. 11.4.1-2: Test Configuration Table for intra-band non-contiguous 2DL CA exceptions;

[0042] FIG. 11 illustrates a Table 7.3 A. 11.4.3-1: Frequency InfoUL-SIB;

[0043] FIG. 12 illustrates a Table 7.3A. M.5-2: Reference sensitivity requirement for intra-band non-contiguous CA;

[0044] FIG. 13 illustrates a Table 7.5A.0.2-1: Test parameters for 1 Rx non contiguous intra-band CA;

[0045] FIG. 14 illustrates a Table 7.5A.0.2-la: ACS 1 Rx for NR bands;

[0046] FIG. 15 illustrates a Table 7.5A.0.2-1: Test parameters for 1 Rx non contiguous intra-band CA;

[0047] FIG. 16 illustrates a Table 7.5A.0.2-la: ACS 1 Rx for NR bands;

[0048] FIG. 17 illustrates a Table 7.5A.1.5-12a: Test parameters for NR 1 Rx intra-band non-contiguous CA with Fdl high <2700 MHz and Ful high< 2700 MHz;

[0049] FIG. 18 illustrates a Table 7.5A.1.5-12b: ACS 1 Rx for NR bands;

[0050] FIG. 19 illustrates a Table 7.5A.1.5-12a: Test parameters for NR 1 Rx intra-band non-contiguous CA with Fdi Wgir'' 2700 MHz and Fit Hgh< 2700 MHz;

[0051] FIG. 20 illustrates a Table 7.5A.1.5-12b: ACS 1 Rx for NR bands;

[0052] FIG. 21 illustrates a Table 7.6A.2.0.2-1: In-band blocking 1 Rx parameters for NR;

[0053] FIG. 22 illustrates a Table 7.6A.2.0.2-2: In-band blocking 1 Rx for NR bands;

[0054] FIG. 23 illustrates a Table 7.6A.2.0.2-1: In-band blocking 1 Rx parameters for NR;

[0055] FIG. 24 illustrates a Table 7.6A.2.0.2-2: In-band blocking 1 Rx for NR bands;

[0056] FIG. 25 illustrates a Table 7.6A.2.0.2-1: In-band blocking 1 Rx parameters for NR;

[0057] FIG. 26 illustrates a Table 7.6A.2.0.2-2: In-band blocking 1 Rx for NR bands;

[0058] FIG. 27 illustrates a Table 7.6A.2.0.2-1: In-band blocking 1 Rx parameters for NR; and

[0059] FIG. 28 illustrates a Table 7.6A.2.0.2-2: In-band blocking 1 Rx for NR bands. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0060] The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. All of the embodiments described in this Detailed Description are exemplary embodiments provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the examples.

[0061] When more than one drawing reference numeral, word, or acronym is used within this description with “ / ”, and in general as used within this description, the “ / ” may be interpreted as “or”, “and”, or “both”. As used herein, “at least one of the following: ” and “at least one of ” and similar wording, where the list of two or more elements are joined by “and” or “or,” mean at least any one of the elements, or at least any two or more of the elements, or at least all the elements.

[0062] As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “has”, “having”, “includes” and / or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, elements, and / or components etc., but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components and / or combinations thereof.

[0063] It is noted that capital and lowercase words or phrases are considered to be the same herein. For instance, the words Slice and slice are the same, as are the phrases Network Repository Function and network repository function.

[0064] Any flow diagram (see FIGS. 3, 4, and 5) or signaling diagram herein is considered to be a logic flow diagram, and illustrates the operation of an exemplary method, results of execution of computer program instructions embodied on a computer readable memory, functions performed by logic implemented in hardware, and / or interconnected means for performing functions in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Block diagrams (such as FIGS. 1, 3A, and 6) also illustrate the operation of an exemplary method, results of execution of computer program instructions embodied on a computer readable memory, functions performed by logic implemented in hardware, and / or interconnected means for performing functions in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. For methods, flow diagrams, and signaling diagrams, the orders of method steps, blocks in the flow, or signaling are not critical and instead are examples.

[0065] There is currently active discussion about handling fragmented intraband blocks for CA (carrier aggregation). See, e.g., RP-233374 (RP-233374, “Fragmented carriers in DL (downlink), A proposal for Rel-19 study item”, RAN plenary #102 (December, 2023)), and RP-233918 (RP-233918, RAN4 chair (Huawei), “Moderator's summary for RAN4 Candidate RF / OTA Topics for Rel-19”, 3GPP TSG RAN #102 (third generation partnership project, Technical Specification Group, Radio Access Network), Edinburgh, Scotland, December 11 - 15, 2023). See also RP-240019. It is noted the RF is radio frequency and OTA is over-the-air. Problems in this area are described now.

[0066] For intra-band NC DL CA (non-contiguous downlink carrier aggregation) operation, current RAN4 requirements are specified based on the assumption that separate Rx chains are used for different CCs, as shown with reference to the following modified figure from 3GPP TR 36.823 VI 1.0.1 (2013-09), see Figure 6.2.3.1-1: Reference receiver architecture. Note that TR is a technical report. Refer to FIG. 1, which illustrates communication using separate Rx chains for different CCs for a near-far problem. The UE has two antennas 28-1 and 28-2 leading to two sets of separate receiver blocks 110-1 and 110-2, these having two corresponding receiver paths with a duplex filter 141 and a diversity filter 142 in each (Rx) 17-1 and 17-2 allowing, them to split and downconvert the input signal from the antennas 28-1 and 28-2 at corresponding sets of receiver chains 140-1 and 140-2, which receive DL intra-band blocks 130-1 and 130-2 by separating the LO (local oscillator) frequencies at the mixers 175 (e.g., each on a corresponding CC, component carrier), and a transmitter chain 150 (in UE 10), as part of a transmitter 18, that forms an UL (uplink) transmission 120. The UL transmission 120 and the DL intra-band blocks 130 are in band A 113, and the DL intra-band blocks 130 are fragmented because there is a gap 115 between the blocks 130. The mixer 175 of the front-end module and the mixer 175 for the diversity module are centered at the corresponding frequencies of the intra-band blocks 130-1 and 130-2. The BS 70-1 is a serving BS for the UE 10 and has a distance 160 that is considered to be far from the UE 10, as compared to the BS 70-2, which is an interfering BS, and has a distance 170 that is considered to be near the UE 10. This is an illustration of a configuration that results in a near-far problem. In this example, the serving BS 70-1 transmits (using radio link 11) the DL intra-band blocks 130-1 and 130-2, and the interfering BS 70-2 transmits the interfering signal (“Int”) 135. The UE 10 transmits the UL transmission 120 using radio link 11. The UE 10 would be affected by the interfering signal 135.

[0067] Using a single Rx chain 140 on fragmented intra-band blocks 130 in the DL CA means the Rx chain 140 needs to handle the potentially large interfering signal(s) 135 between the two DL intra-band blocks 130 due to the near-far problem, when the UE receiver 17 is near the interfering BS 70-2 and its transmitter (not shown) (of another operator) but far from its own serving BS 70-1 and its transmitter (not shown) (from its operator).

[0068] In more detail, using a single RX chain 17-1 or 17-2 means that only the upper down-conversion chains of 140-1U and 140-2U are used. The second, lower downconversion chains of 140-1L and 140-2L are not used for the reception of intra-band blocks 130-1 and 130-2. The UE needs to "stretch” the filters 180 to cover both 130-1 and 130-2 on the single chain 17-1 or 17-2, while using only one LO (local oscillator, not shown) shared between the front-end module 110-1 and the diversity module 110-2. This saves the UE 10 an LO and two receive chains, on in each module. However, the UE 10 now needs to deal with the interference of BS 70-2 since the gap 115 is included in the down-converted signal.

[0069] Note that FIG. 1A illustrates another problem. FIG. 1A illustrates communication using separate Rx chains for different CCs without a near-far problem. In this example, there two BSs 70-1 and 70-2 could be co-sited, for instance.

[0070] The negative impact of the large interfering signal(s) 135 includes receiver blocking when the front-end receiver becomes saturated by the large interfering signal(s), in which case the wanted signals within the two DL intra-band blocks 130 might not be demodulated at the base band due to the heavy signal distortion.

[0071] To avoid receiver blocking, the UE 10 needs to lower the gain at the front-end LNA (Low Noise Amplifier) using AGC (automatic gain control). With the lower gain setting at the front-end LNA (i.e., increase in noise figure), the receiver sensitivity of the UE is negatively affected, since a higher wanted signal power level is needed to achieve the required SINR (signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio) for successful demodulation at the base band.

[0072] Therefore, at least the receiver sensitivity will need to be relaxed to allow the use of a single Rx chain 140 on fragmented intra-band blocks 130 in the DL CA. This may be linked to the attenuation of the analogue low pass filters 180, which are before the ADCs 190, as shown in the receiver architecture of the UE 10. These low pass filters 180 may present around 15dB of attenuation to the adjacent channel interfering signal as suggested in the data of FIG. 2 for the 5 MHz channel bandwidth. FIG. 2 is a graph illustrating analogue lowpass filtering vs. (versus) channel BW (CBW, where BW is bandwidth). The boxes of the wanted and the adjacent channel are only intended for showing their placement frequency-wise. It is the curve 210 that is mentioned in the following that is the expected attenuation at the edge of the channel of the wanted signal (-2dB) and at the center of the adjacent channel (-15dB) That is, the wanted signal of 5 MHz (which is 2.5 MHz at baseband, BB) is at about -2dB of amplitude response, and the CBW of an adjacent 5 MHz channel is about -15dB. The analogue channel filter has a curve 210 where the curve starts at zero dB, has an inflection point at -2.002 dB at 2.5 MHz, which would be the channel edge of a 5MHz channel bandwidth at RF, and a level of 14.71 IdB of attenuation at close to 5 MHz, which would be the center of a 5MHz adjacent channel, and a level of about -30 dB at about 7.5 MHz, which would be the edge of the adjacent channel. If the UE 10 has a relaxation of the receiver sensitivity for in-gap interfering signal approximating the attenuation at the center of the interfering signal bandwidth (in-gap interference between the two DL intra-band blocks 130), there is similar receiver performance of the UE 10 as if the UE was subject to out-of-gap interference (conventional ACS, adjacent channel selectivity, or IBB, in-band blocking, requirements) without this relaxation. In the presented example of a 5MHz wanted signal missing out on the attenuation at the center of the 5MHz adjacent interfering channel, the UE 10 would lack the 15dB (14.71 IdB at the measurement point) of attenuation from the analogue filter, meaning that the lack of the rejection from the analogue filter would worsen by 15dB in receiver sensitivity due to the stronger interferer.

[0073] One problem addressed herein is to find a way that the 3GPP specifications can define requirements that change when a UE must receive under different conditions than what has been agreed upon in existing specification work for noncontiguous CA reception. That is, currently there are different relaxation defined for different cases, but there is no specific requirement defined for the fragmented case. Without the specific requirements, normal (no relaxation) requirements are to apply.

[0074] Another problem is that these relaxed UE capabilities should be informed to the BS and a way to capture these into 3GPP specification would be useful. For instance, a new CA configuration acronym could be used, for example current CA_n66(2A) could be modified into CA_n66(2A*) or CA_n66(2Alrx) or CA n66(2A I) to indicate reduced capabilities apply, when or “lrx” or “1” or some other character of a string is used to distinguish these reduced UE capabilities CA configurations from normal CA configurations and is added into the acronym. Also, a new UE capability indication from the UE to BS could be used in conjunction with the new or old CA acronym to indicate the relaxed UE capabilities. More generally, the TE may configure the UE using a declaration of CA configuration, which indicates to the UE to configure a receiver having multiple (e.g., a set of >1) receiver chains to use a single receiver chain of the set of interconnected receiver chains and to use the single receiver chain for NC DL CA operation for at least two CCs.

[0075] Examples herein provide solutions to at least the problem described above, to define relaxed CA requirements in the RAN4 specification (3GPP TS 38.101-1) and the corresponding test methodology in the RAN5 specification (3GPP TS 38.521-1) to allow the use of a single Rx chain on fragmented intra-band blocks in the DL CA, within the current framework adopted in RAN4 to define the receiver sensitivity relaxations for CA. That is, with the examples herein the amount of receiver chains 140 (see FIG. 1) is brought down (e.g., to 140-1U and 140-2U), so that only one mixer 175 in each in the front-end module 110-1 and in the diversity module 110-2 are used in an example, which “frees-up” a second receiver chain (e.g., 140-1L and 140-2L) for a different component carrier than the intra-band CC.

[0076] Examples propose to define the relaxed CA requirements, with possible implementations in the 3GPP specification, as receiver sensitivity relaxations, due to the use of a single Rx chain on fragmented intra-band blocks in the DL CA. The receiver sensitivity relaxations can be defined with at least one of the following alternatives. Three examples of alternatives are described.

[0077] Alternative 1. Currently, reference sensitivity relaxation for noncontiguous intra-band CA is defined as ARibnc, and this can be also referred to as MSD, i.e., maximum sensitivity degradation. MSD or ARibnc is the relaxation of a wanted signal level compared to a specified REFSENS, which is a number which represents a minimum power level UE needs to able to receive. For a UE to comply with downlink configurations that is disadvantageous in terms of UE channel filtering, the UE should be allowed a relaxed performance in these conditions. It is shown below how this relaxation can be mapped into an MSD value.

[0078] It is noted that the terms relaxation, reference sensitivity exceptions, and MSD are used herein. Regarding these terms, MSD is the relaxation in reference sensitivity, while reference sensitivity exception is another term used in 3GPP TS 38.101-1 for the relaxation.

[0079] This approach concerns FIG. 3, which is a flow diagram for a testing process used by a TE (test equipment) for a first alternative that defines and uses relaxed CA requirements as receiver sensitivity relaxations, due to the use of a single Rx chain on fragmented intra-band blocks in the DL CA. The process begins in block 305, where the TE performs the following as part of a testing process for intra-band NC DL CA operation. In block 307, the TE configures the UE for intra-band NC DL CA operation using a single receiver chain of multiple receiver chains in a receiver, using, e.g., a declaration of CA configuration. The declaration of CA configuration indicates to the UE to configure a receiver having multiple (e.g., a set of >1) receiver chains to use a single receiver chain of the set of interconnected receiver chains and to use the single receiver chain for NC DL CA operation for at least two CCs.

[0080] Alternative 1 proposes (see block 310) to define the reference sensitivity exceptions due to the use of a single Rx chain on fragmented intra-band blocks in the DL CA as a mapping between an allowed MSD and the function of one or more of the following variables: (see block 325) DL operating band D, DL BW T for each (e.g., individual ones) of the component carriers in the fragmented intra-band blocks, BW of the interfering signal(s) in the inter-block gap(s) B, power level Pand location £ of the interfering signal(s) in the inter-block gap(s), i.e., per the following function (see block 330):

[0081] Allowed MSD = f(D, T, B, P, L).

[0082] Note that the component carriers in the fragmented intra-band blocks could each have the same bandwidth T, or each component carrier in the fragmented intra-band blocks could each have a different bandwidth, e.g., Ti and T2. Note also that the reference sensitivity exceptions can be related to REFSENS, which is a number which represents a minimum power level UE needs to able to receive. Thus, MSD or ARib is a relaxation of the wanted signal level compared to a specified REFSENS. In more detail, the MSD is applied to increase the REFSENS, which is the minimum wanted signal power level that the UE shall meet the throughput requirements without any self or external interference and specified separately for each band in clause 7.1 in TS 38.101-1.

[0083] In one embodiment, (see block 335) the allowedMSD in dB is a function of Pin dBm for a particular set of the other variables, i.e., per the following function:

[0084] Allowed MSD = 10 x Icg^lO^-^10 + i) \d, t, B, L, where R in dB is the expected rejection for the interfering signal(s) at the base band depending on B and L, and TV in dBm is the noise floor of the receiver depending on D and T. Noise floor in this context is defined as noise from thermal noise and noise figure, which noise figure is noise produced by circuits in the UE 10.

[0085] The allowedMSD is determined (see block 315) based on the mapping, e.g., relative to the interfering signal power level P according to the expected rejection R for the interfering signal(s) at the base band. The equations above may be used for this determination, and the determined allowedMSD is to be used when the TE creates wanted signals to be communicated to the UE 10. Allowed MSD can be for example be called ARiBNCIRx.

[0086] In block 320, the TE adjusts the wanted signal(s) according at least to the determined MSD. In particular, the TE can adjust wanted signal(s) (e.g., upward) and one may adjust the interfering signal power P (e.g., downward), e.g., to adjust a delta between the two signals to arrive at the MSD (can fix wanted signals and adjust P, or fix P and adjust wanted signals). The TE, in block 323, sets the interfering power level to the power level P. Note that this assumes the TE is able to control the setting of this power level (such as communicating with a signal generator (see FIG. 3A). If the TE cannot control the setting of this power level, then the interfering power level is still set (e.g., by the signal generator or someone controlling the same) to the power level P. The TE determines, in block 325 and based at least on received ACK / NACKs (acknowledgement / negative acknowledgement) from UE, whether UE meets criterion (passes) or does not meet criterion (fails).

[0087] Turning to FIG. 3A, this figure illustrates a measurement system 300 for testing that might be used for examples herein. In this example, see the power versus frequency (f) graph 364, there are two wanted signals 365-1 and 365-2 (each from a CC), separated by a gap 366, where the two wanted signals 365-1 and 365-2 are generated from a TE (also referred to as a TE / SS, test equipment / system simulator, or just SS) 345, which may act as a NodeB (e.g., a BS). For ease of reference, the term TE is used herein, but TE could also be referred to as a TE / SS or SS. A signal generator 355, which creates the interferer, forms (see the power versus frequency graph 384) the in-gap interference 385. These are combined via the isolator 386 (also referred to as a directional coupler and which protects the signal generator 355 from the DUT / UE (device under test / user equipment) uplink signal), the splitter 380, the combiners 380-1, and 380-2 to form (see power versus frequency graph 387) signal where the two wanted signals 365-1 and 365-2 are separated by the in-gap interference 385 that is in the gap 366. The DUT / UE 395 (e.g., a UE 10) receives the signal shown in the graph 387 via physical connections 390-1 and 390-2 and reports information to the TE / SS 345.

[0088] Referring to FIG. 3B, this figure is a flow diagram for a UE for a testing process that is used for the first, second, and third alternatives for relaxed CA requirements as receiver sensitivity relaxations, due to the use of a single Rx chain on fragmented intraband blocks in the DL CA. While this figure is situated while describing Approach 1, this figure is also applicable to Approaches 2 and 3.

[0089] In block 331, the UE receives configuration, via a declaration of CA configuration, from the TE 345 for intra-band NC DL CA operation using a single receiver chain of multiple receiver chains in a receiver. The declaration of CA configuration indicates to the UE to configure a receiver having multiple (e.g., a set of >1) receiver chains to use a single receiver chain of the set of interconnected receiver chains and to use the single receiver chain for NC DL CA operation for at least two CCs. As described in FIG. 1, the UE 10 can have multiple modules 110. The examples herein are for any module 110 with multiple sets of receiver chains 140, where only one receiver chain of a set of multiple receiver chains is used for intra-band NC DL CA operation in examples herein. In block 332, the UE, configures (e.g., semi-statically) hardware resources (i.e., Rx chains) between bands. That is, in response to the reception of the configuration, the UE configures a single receiver chain of multiple receiver chains in a receiver to perform the intra-band NC DL CA operation. In an example, the UE 10 will use only a single receiver chain 140 out of multiple receiver chains 140 for the NC DL CA operation. The configuring is performed to enable the single receiver chain to receive individual component carriers in the different bands.

[0090] It is noted that when more than two CCs are used, it may be possible to perform other tests. For instance, FIG. 1 shows an example where there are two sets 140-1 and 140-2 of receiver chains. If there are three CCs used for testing, the upper receiver chain 140-1U could be used for the NC DL CA operation two CCs, and the upper receiver chain 140-2U could be used for the NC DL CA operation the third CC. Other operations are possible, and the declaration of CA configuration could be modified to encompass these other operations. In general, the techniques herein can be extended to any testing where the number of wanted signals is greater than the number of receiver chains used in the UE to receive those signals. This is illustrated by block 344, described below.

[0091] In block 336, the UE 10 receives (e.g., from the TE 345 and the signal generator 355 as in FIG. 3A) multiple CCs using the single receiver chain of multiple receiver chains in the receiver. In block 340, the UE 10 performs measurements of received information to determine error information (e.g., ACK / NACKs or other error metric(s)), and reports (block 342) the determined error information (e.g., ACK / NACKs) via error reporting to the TE 345.

[0092] In block 344, a number of wanted signals in corresponding component carriers is greater than a number of receiver chains used in the user equipment to receive those signals. The declaration of carrier aggregation configuration indicates to the user equipment to configure the receiver having multiple sets of multiple and interconnected receiver chains to use a single receiver chain of individual sets of interconnected receiver chains and to use the single receiver chains for non-contiguous downlink carrier aggregation operation for the component carriers carrying the wanted signals. The UE performs reception using individual single receiver chains for non-contiguous downlink carrier aggregation operation for the component carriers carrying the wanted signals.

[0093] Alternative 1 may be implemented as follows. Particularly, this alternative can be implemented into 3GPP TS 38.101-1 as follows. An MSD-style requirement is described now.

[0094] For section 7.3A.2.2, “Reference sensitivity power level for Intra-band non-contiguous CA”, the following may be used.

[0095] For intra-band non-contiguous carrier aggregation with one uplink carrier and two or more downlink sub-blocks, throughput of each downlink component carrier shall be >95% of the maximum throughput of the reference measurement channels as specified in Annexes A.2.2 and A.3.2 (with one sided dynamic OCNG Pattern OP.l FDD / TDD (Frequency Division Duplex / Time Division Duplex) for the DL-signal as described in Annex A.5.1.1 / A.5.2.1) and parameters specified in Table 7.3.2-la, Table 7.3.2-lb, Table 7.3.2-2, and Table 7.3A.2.2-1 with the reference sensitivity power level increased by ARbncirx given in Table 7.3 A.2.2-1 for the SCC(s).

[0096] For aggregation of two or more downlink FDD carriers with one uplink carrier the reference sensitivity is defined only for the specific uplink and downlink test points which are specified in Table 7.3A.2.2-1. The requirements apply with all downlink carriers active. Unless given by Table 7.3.2-4, the reference sensitivity requirements shall be verified with the network signaling value \S0l (Table 6.2.3.1-1) configured.

[0097] FIG. 3C is a table for reference sensitivity exceptions and downlink configurations due to 1 Rx for non-contiguous reception in PC3 (power class 3) for DL NR CA FR1. The NR CA downlink configuration in this example is CA_n66(2Al). There are corresponding channel bandwidths for carriers 1 and 2, in-gap interferer information (in MHz), a level for the power of the interference (Pinterferer) in dBm, a level for the MSD (as ARibncrx) in dB, and a bandwidth combination set.

[0098] The relaxation is mapped to certain CA configurations in order not to allow sensitivity relaxation to all cases. This can be done by introducing a new UE capability which is indicated for some CA configurations or a new CA acronym may be added to the specification and is used for cases that are allowed to have the relaxation. The relaxation / MSD (shown in the table as exemplary 15dB and 17dB) can be determined via the approach described above and in FIG. 3.

[0099] Alternative 2. This alternative has two parts, 2-1 and 2-2. This alternative is described in part using FIG. 4, which is a flow diagram for a testing process used by a TE (test equipment) for a second alternative that defines and uses relaxed CA requirements as receiver sensitivity relaxations, due to the use of a single Rx chain on fragmented intra-band blocks in the DL CA. FIG. 4 starts where, in block 405, a TE performs the following as part of a testing process for intra-band NC DL CA operation.

[00100] Currently, the ACS requirements are defined in the RAN4 specification for intra-band NC CA with two cases, one case with a lower interfering signal power level and one case with a higher interfering signal power level, with the wanted signal power level adjusted relative to the interfering signal power level according to the ACS requirement for each intra-band block. It is shown below how to determine the power level of the in-gap interfering signal to be used in the case of adapting the UE requirements using the current ACS requirements as the baseline.

[00101] This alternative comprises block 410, where first block 307 of FIG. 3 is performed. In block 307 of FIG. 307, the TE configures the UE for intra-band NC DL CA operation using a single receiver chain of multiple receiver chains in a receiver, using, e.g., a declaration of CA configuration. The declaration of CA configuration indicates to the UE to configure a receiver having multiple (e.g., a set of >1) receiver chains to use a single receiver chain of the set of interconnected receiver chains and to use the single receiver chain for NC DL CA operation for at least two CCs. In the rest of block 410 of FIG. 4, the TE determines a relaxed ACS requirement using a first signal power level that is due to use of the single receiver chain by a UE on non-contiguous intra-band sub-blocks including one or more sub-block gaps and one or more interferers between the intra-band sub-blocks in a DL CA. In block 415, the TE determines the first signal power level relative to a second signal power level according to the relaxed ACS requirement for individual intra-band sub-blocks. These blocks are described in more detail for Alternatives 2-1 and 2-2.

[00102] Alternative 2-1 proposes to define a new case for the non-contiguous intra-band carrier aggregation requirements, e.g., as ACS requirements with an in-gap interfering signal power level due to the use of a single Rx chain on fragmented intra-band blocks in the DL CA, in which the interfering signal power level P is adjusted (see block 425) relative to the wanted signal power level Waccording to a relaxed ACS requirement A for individual intra-band blocks (e.g., each intra-band block), i.e., see the following equation (see block 430):

[00103] P = f(D,T, W,Af

[00104] In one embodiment, see block 435, P in dBm is a function of IFin dBm for a particular set of the other variables, i.e., through the following function:

[00105] P = 10 X log10 (10^-^^ / 10 - 1) + A + N\D, T, where A in dB is the relaxed ACS requirement, Refsens and N in dBm are the reference sensitivity and noise floor of the receiver depending on D and T. Refsens is a number which represents a minimum power level UE needs to able to receive. Both Refsens and noise floor were explained in Alternative 1. With this equation, the interfering signal power level Pis adjusted relative to the wanted signal power level Waccording to the ACS requirement that is defined (see block 455) as that expected to be achievable without the rejection of the low pass filters 180 for the in-gap interfering signal before the ADCs 190 in FIG. 1.

[00106] Note that A can be obtained as (see block 460):

[00107] A = C - E, where C is the current ACS requirement and E is the expected rejection at the low pass filters 180 (before the ADCs 190 in FIG. I) for the adjacent channel interfering signal using a Rx chain 140 for individual intra-band blocks 130 (e.g., each intra-band block 130) in the DL CA.

[00108] Alternative 2-2 proposes to define a new case for the ACS requirements with a wanted signal power level due to the use of a single Rx chain on fragmented intra-band blocks in the DL CA, in which (see block 440) the wanted signal power level IFis adjusted relative to the interfering signal power level P according to a relaxed ACS requirement A for each intra-band block, i.e., via by the following equation (see block 445):

[00109] W = f(D,T,P,A).

[00110] In one embodiment, see block 450, IFin dBm is a function of Pin dBm for a particular set of the other variables, i.e., via the following function:

[00111] IF = 10 x logK^lO^-") / 10 + 1) + Refsens\D,T, where A in dB is the relaxed ACS requirement, Refsens and N in dBm are the reference sensitivity and noise floor of the receiver depending on D and T as explained in Alternative 1. With this equation the wanted signal power level IF is adjusted relative to the interfering signal power level P according to the ACS requirement A (see block 455) that is expected to be achievable without the rejection of the low pass filters 180 for the in-gap interfering signal before the ADCs 190 in FIG. 1.

[00112] Note that / 4 can be obtained as (see block 460):

[00113] A = C - E, where C is the current ACS requirement and E is the expected rejection at the low pass filters (before the ADCs in the figure above) for the adjacent channel interfering signal using a Rx chain for each intra-band block in the DL CA.

[00114] In block 420, the TE adjusts the wanted signal(s) based at least on one of the first or second signal power levels. For block 423, the TE sets the interfering signal power based on the other of the first or second signal power levels. For instance, if P = f(D, T, W, A) is used (as in block 430), P is the first power level, and W is the second power level. The wanted signals are based on W, the second power level; and the interfering signal power is based on P, the first power level. If W = f (D, T, P, A) is used (as in block 445), W is the first power level, and P is the second power level. The wanted signals are based on W, the first power level; and the interfering signal power is based on P, the second power level. Note that this assumes the TE 345 can set the interfering signal power (e.g., via communication with the signal generator 355). If this is not the case, then the signal generator 355 is made to set the interfering signal power.

[00115] An ACS-style requirement is described now. One rationale for using the ACS as a baseline for the requirements is that the ACS requirements include the impact of the analogue low pass filter as indicated in FIG. 2. The in-gap interfering signal is of increase in power matching the attenuation of the analogue filter at the adjacent channel. The ACS requirements for non-contiguous intra-band DL CA are based on the single carrier requirements. For the ACS case, see FIG. 4A, the analogue filter serves to suppress the adjacent channel interfering signal 470 (shown with the name of “interference”) from saturating the ADC (analog-to-digitai converter) of the receiver. The wanted signal 465 (for a CC) is adjacent to the interfering signal 470, and the analogue filter has a filter characteristic 480 that decreases the power level by the amount equal to the ACS attenuation 475 over the indicated frequency. An analogue filter of FIG. 2 indicates that around 15dB attenuation can be provided. At FIG. 4B, the two CC’s (wanted signals 465-1 and 465-2) are received with an in-gap interfering signal 485 using 1 (one) Rx chain with an analogue filter bandwidth (illustrated by the filter characteristic 495) that covers both carriers (wanted signals 465-1 and 465-2) and the full in-gap interfering signal 485 (shown as in-gap interference) with no attenuation. The attenuation would have been provided at the level in FIG. 4 A, which means the relaxation 490 of the sensitivity requirement of FIG. 4B should be equal to the ACS attenuation 475 of FIG. 4A.

[00116] This alternative can be implemented into 3GPP TS 38.101-1 as follows.

[00117] This part concerns ACS Alternative 2-1, and clause 7.5A.2, Adjacent channel selectivity Intra-band non-contiguous CA.

[00118] For intra-band non-contiguous carrier aggregation with Fdl high <2700 MHz and Ful high <2700 MHz with one uplink carrier and two or more downlink subblocks, each larger than or equal to 5 MHz, the adjacent channel selectivity requirements are defined with the uplink configuration in accordance with Table 7.3A.2.2-1. For this uplink configuration, the UE shall meet the requirements for each sub-block as specified in clauses 7.5 and 7.5A.1 for one component carrier and two component carriers per subblock, respectively. The UE shall fulfil the minimum requirements all values of a single adjacent channel interferer in-gap and out-of-gap up to a -25 dBm interferer power while all downlink carriers are active. For the lower range of test parameters (Case 1), the interferer power Pmterferer shall be set to the maximum of the levels given by the carriers of the respective sub-blocks as specified in Table 7.5-3 and Table 7.5 A. I-2a for one component carrier and two component carriers per sub-block, respectively. The wanted signal power levels for the carriers of each sub-block shall then be adjusted relative to Pmterferer in accordance with the ACS requirement for each sub-block (Table 7.5-1 and Table 7.5A.l-la). FIG. 4C illustrates a Table 7.5A.l-2a: Test parameters for 1 Rx noncontiguous intra-band CA. For the upper range of test parameters (Case 2) for which the interferer power Pmterferer is -25 dBm (Table 7.5-4 and Table 7.5A.l-3a) the wanted signal power levels for the carriers of each sub-block shall be adjusted relative to Pmterferer like for Case 1. [00H9] For UEs indicating [IRx non-contiguous CA] the adjacent channel selectivity requirement with in-gap interferer is defined in Table 7.6A.2.3-1 and Table 7.6A.2.3-2 for one uplink carrier and one component carrier per DL sub-block. FIG. 4D illustrates a Table 7.5A. l-2b: ACS 1 Rx for NR bands.

[00120] Changes with respect to ACS alternative 2-2 are described now. Changes are illustrated to clause 7.5A.2, Adjacent channel selectivity Intra-band noncontiguous CA. For intra-band non-contiguous carrier aggregation with FoLjiigh <2700 MHz and Fn high <2700 MHz with one uplink carrier and two or more downlink subblocks, each larger than or equal to 5 MHz, the adjacent channel selectivity requirements are defined with the uplink configuration in accordance with Table 7.3A.2.2-1. For this uplink configuration, the UE shall meet the requirements for each sub-block as specified in clauses 7.5 and 7.5A.1 for one component carrier and two component carriers per subblock, respectively. The UE shall fulfil the minimum requirements all values of a single adjacent channel interferer in-gap and out-of-gap up to a -25 dBm interferer power while all downlink carriers are active. For the lower range of test parameters (Case 1), the interferer power Pmterferer shall be set to the maximum of the levels given by the carriers of the respective sub-blocks as specified in Table 7.5-3 and Table 7.5A.l-2a (see FIG. 4E, which illustrates a Table 7.5A. 1-2a: Test parameters for 1 Rx non-contiguous intra-band CA) for one component carrier and two component carriers per sub-block, respectively. The wanted signal power levels for the carriers of each sub-block shall then be adjusted relative to Pinterferer in accordance with the ACS requirement for each sub-block (Table 7.5-1 and Table 7.5 A. 1-1 a). For the upper range of test parameters (Case 2) for which the interferer power Pinterferer is -25 dBm (Table 7.5-4 and Table 7.5A.l-3a) the wanted signal power levels for the carriers of each sub-block shall be adjusted relative to Pinterferer like for Case 1. FIG. 4F illustrates a Table 7.5A.l-2b: ACS 1 Rx for NR bands for Alternative 2-2.

[00121] For UEs indicating [IRx non-contiguous CA] the adjacent channel selectivity requirement with in-gap interferer is defined in Table 7.6A.2.3-1 and Table 7.6A.2.3-2 for one uplink carrier and one component carrier per DL sub-block.

[00122] For intra-band non-contiguous carrier aggregation with Fdljow >3300 MHz and Fuljow >3300 MHz with one uplink carrier and two or more downlink subblocks, each larger than or equal to 5 MHz, the adjacent channel selectivity requirements are defined with the uplink configuration in accordance with Table 7.3A.2.2-1. For this uplink configuration, the UE shall meet the requirements for each sub-block as specified in clauses 7.5 and 7.5A.1 for one component carrier and two component carriers per subblock, respectively. The UE shall fulfil the minimum requirements all values of a single adjacent channel interferer in-gap and out-of-gap up to a -25 dBm interferer power while all downlink carriers are active. For the lower range of test parameters (Case 1), the interferer power Pinterferer shall be set to the maximum of the levels given by the carriers of the respective sub-blocks as specified in Table 7.5-5 and Table 7.5A.1-2 for one component carrier and two component carriers per sub-block, respectively. The wanted signal power levels for the carriers of each sub-block shall then be adjusted relative to Pinterferer in accordance with the ACS requirement for each sub-block (Table 7.5-2 and Table 7.5A. 1-1). For the upper range of test parameters (Case 2) for which the interferer power Pinterferer is -25 dBm (Table 7.5-6 and Table 7.5A.1-3) the wanted signal power levels for the carriers of each sub-block shall be adjusted relative to Pinterferer like for Case 1.

[00123] The throughput of each carrier shall be >95 % of the maximum throughput of the reference measurement channels as specified in Annexes A.2.2, A.3.2, and A.3.3 (with one sided dynamic OCNG Pattern OP. 1 FDD / TDD for the DL-signal as described in Annex A.5.1.1 / A.5.2.1).

[00124] Note that X (see the table in FIG. 4E) should be determined as a relaxation to the regular 18.5dB that was replaced by X herein and could be described via an equation described above for Alternative 2. Similar replacements by X in other tables would use equations as described herein for Alternative 2.

[00125] Alternative 3. This alternative also has parts 3-1 and 3-2. This alternative is described in part using FIG. 5, which is a flow diagram for a testing process used by a TE for a third alternative that defines and uses relaxed CA requirements as receiver sensitivity relaxations, due to the use of a single Rx chain on fragmented intraband blocks in the DL CA. In block 505, the TE 345 performs the following as part of a reception process for intra-band NC DL CA operation.

[00126] Currently, the IBB requirements are defined in the RAN4 specification for intra-band NC CA with two cases, one with a lower interfering signal power level and one with a higher interfering signal power level, with the interfering signal power level adjusted relative to the location (frequency location between the two DL blocks of the wanted signal) of the in-gap interfering signal according to the IBB requirement for each intra-band block. It is shown below how to determine the power level of the in-gap interfering signal to be used in the case of adapting the UE requirements using the current IBB requirements as the baseline.

[00127] This alternative comprises block 510, where first block 307 of FIG. 3 is performed. In block 307 of FIG. 3, the TE configures the UE for intra-band NC DL CA operation using a single receiver chain of multiple receiver chains in a receiver, using, e.g., a declaration of CA configuration. The declaration of CA configuration indicates to the UE to configure a receiver having multiple (e.g., a set of >1) receiver chains to use a single receiver chain of the set of interconnected receiver chains and to use the single receiver chain for NC DL CA operation for at least two CCs. In the rest of block 510 of FIG. 5, the TE 345 determines a relaxed IBB requirement using a first signal power level that is due to use of a single receiver chain by the UE 10 on non-contiguous intra-band sub-blocks including one or more sub-block gaps and one or more interferers between the intra-band sub-blocks in a DL CA. The relaxed IBB requirement is one type of relaxed reference sensitivity requirement. In block 515, the TE 345 adjusts the first signal power level relative to a second signal power level according to the relaxed IBB requirement for individual intra-band sub-blocks. These blocks are described in more detail for Alternatives 3-1 and 3-2.

[00128] Alternative 3-1 proposes to define a new case for the IBB requirements with an in-gap interfering signal power level due to the use of a single Rx chain on fragmented intra-band blocks in the DL CA, in which the interfering signal power level P is adjusted (see block 525) relative to the wanted signal power level Waccording to the relaxed IBB requirement / that is (see block 555) expected to be achievable without the rejection of the low pass filters 180 for the in-gap interfering signal before the ADCs 190 in FIG. 1.

[00129] Consider the following equation (see block 530):

[00130] P = f(D,T,L,W,If

[00131] In one embodiment, see block 535, P in dBm is a function of IFin dBm for a particular set of the other variables, i.e., based on this equation and corresponding function:

[00132] P = 10 X log^lO^-^^ / 10 - 1) + I + N\D, T, L. where / in dB is the relaxed IBB requirement depending on L, Ref sens and N in dBm are the reference sensitivity and noise floor of the receiver depending on D, T. With this equation, the interfering signal power level Pis adjusted relative to the wanted signal power level Waccording to the relaxed IBB requirement / that is (see block 555) expected to be achievable without the rejection of the low pass filters 180 for the in-gap interfering signal before the ADCs 190 in FIG. 1.

[00133] Note that I can be expressed as (see block 560):

[00134] I = U — F, where U is a current IBB requirement and F is an expected rejection at the lowpass filters 180 (before the ADCs 190 in FIG. 1) for the in-band interfering signal at (frequency) location L using a Rx chain for individual intra-band blocks (e g., each intra-band block) in the DL CA.

[00135] Another way to define the interfering signal level in an IBB test is to derive the level from an ACS requirement. This is because both ACS and IBB requirements should be defined without a help of lowpass filter see FIGS. 5A and 5B for the IBB. That is, FIG. 5A shows IBB for a single carrier with an analogue filter that blocks part of the interference as IBB attenuation. However, in FIG. 5B, the analogue filter does not block any of the in-gap interference. FIG. 4A is similar to FIG. 5A but for ACS, and FIG. 4B is similar to FIG. 5B but for ACS. We know that in ACS requirement UE can get approximately 15 dB attenuation from filter as shown in FIG. 2. When we deduct this 15 dB from adjacent channel selection requirement (30 dB), we know the ratio of wanted and interferer = ACS - Filter attenuation = ~15 dB. Now in an IBB test, the interferer can then be at absolute power level of Wanted + ACS - Filter attenuation = wanted - ~15 dB. This is marked as P in IBB Alternative 3-1 below.

[00136] Alternative 3-2 proposes to define a new case for the IBB requirements with a wanted signal power level due to the use of a single Rx chain on fragmented intraband blocks in the DL CA, in which (see block 540) the wanted signal power level IPis adjusted relative to the interfering signal power level P according to a relaxed IBB requirement / for individual intra-band block (e.g., each intra-band block), i.e., see the following equation and block 545:

[00137] W = f(D,T,L,P,I).

[00138] In one embodiment, see block 550, IFin dBm is a function of Pin dBm for a particular set of the other variables, i.e., via the following equation and corresponding function:

[00139] W = 10 x log10(10^^-^ / 10 + 1) + Refsens\D,T,L, where I in dB is the relaxed IBB requirement depending on £, Refsens and N in dBm are the reference sensitivity and noise floor of the receiver depending on D ,T. With this equation, the wanted signal power level IPis adjusted relative to the interfering signal power level P according to the IBB requirement / that is expected to be achievable without the rejection of the low pass filters 180 for the in-gap interfering signal before the ADCs 190 in FIG. 1.

[00140] Note, as also stated above, that I can be expressed as:

[00141] I = U - F, where U is the current IBB requirement and F is the expected rejection at the lowpass filters (before the ADCs 190 in FIG. 1) for the in-band interfering signal at£ using a Rx chain for each intra-band block in the DL CA.

[00142] In block 520, the TE 345 adjusts the wanted signal(s) based at least on one of the first or second signal power levels. For block 523, the TE sets the interfering signal power based on the other of the first or second signal power levels. For instance, if P = f(D, T, IF, A) is used (as in block 530), P is the first power level, and W is the second power level. The wanted signals are based on W, the second power level; and the interfering signal power is based on P, the first power level. If W = f (D, T, P, A) is used (as in block 545), W is the first power level, and P is the second power level. The wanted signals are based on W, the first power level; and the interfering signal power is based on P, the second power level. Note that this assumes the TE 345 can set the interfering signal 25 power (e.g., via communication with the signal generator 355). If this is not the case, then the signal generator 355 is made to set the interfering signal power.

[00143] The following examples are possible implementation examples for Alternative 3, including examples from 3GPP TS 38.101-1. First, an in-band blocking -style requirement is described.

[00144] One rationale for using the current in-band blocking requirements as the baseline for the requirements is that the in-band blocking requirements consider a larger distance between the wanted signal and the impact of the analogue lowpass filter on the ingap interfering signal as indicated in FIGS. 5A and 5B. FIG. 5A illustrates IBB for a single carrier, and FIG. 5B illustrates 1 Rx chain non-contiguous CA sensitivity relaxation.

[00145] For the IBB case, see FIG. 5A, the analogue filter serves to suppress the in-band interfering signal 470 (shown with the name of “interference”) from saturating the ADC of the receiver. The wanted signal 465 is separated from the interfering signal 470, and the analogue filter has a filter characteristic 480 that decreases the power level by the amount equal to the IBB attenuation 575 over the indicated frequency. The IBB attenuation 575 is higher than what was described for FIG. 4A, with analogue filter of FIG. 2 and its 15dB attenuation that was provided, because the interfering signal 470 is farther from the starting point of the analogue filter. According to FIG. 2, the IBB attenuation 575 could be, e.g., 30 dB. At FIG. 5B, the two CC’s (wanted signals 465-1 and 465-2) are received with an in-gap interfering signal 485 (referred to as in-gap interference), which is in the finterferer range 595, using 1 (one) Rx chain with an analogue filter bandwidth (illustrated by the filter characteristic 495) that covers both carriers (wanted signals 465-1 and 465-2) and the full in-gap interfering signal 485 with no attenuation. The attenuation would have been provided at the level in FIG. 5 A, which means the relaxation 490 of the sensitivity requirement of FIG. 5B should be equal to the IBB attenuation 575 of FIG. 5 A.

[00146] In terms of possible changes to 3GPP TS 38.101-1, consider the following. First, IBB Alternative 3-1 is addressed. Consider clause 7.6A.2.2, In-band blocking for Intra-band non-contiguous CA.

[00147] For intra-band non-contiguous carrier aggregation with one uplink carrier and two or more downlink sub-blocks, each larger than or equal to 5 MHz, the in-band blocking requirements are defined with the uplink configuration in accordance with Table 7.3 A.2.2-1. For this uplink configuration, the UE shall meet the requirements for each sub-block as specified in clause 7.6.2 and 7.6A.2.1 for one component carrier and two component carriers per sub-block, respectively. The requirements apply for in-gap and out-of-gap interferers while all downlink carriers are active.

[00148] For UEs indicating [IRx non-contiguous CA] the in-band blocking requirement with in-gap interferer is defined in Table 7.6A.2.3-1 (see FIG. 5C, which illustrates a Table 7.6A.2.3-1: In-band blocking 1 Rx parameters for NR), and Table 7.6A.2.3-2 (see FIG. 5D, which illustrates a Table 7.6A.2.3-2: In-band blocking I Rx for NR bands) for one uplink carrier and one component carrier per DL sub-block. Note that Y (see the table in FIG. 5C) should be determined as a relaxation to the regular value in the table that was replaced by Y herein and could be described via an equation described herein for Alternative 3. Similar replacements by Y in other tables would use equations as described herein for Alternative 3.

[00149] IBB Alternative 3-2 is described now. Consider section 7.6A.2.2m In-band blocking for Intra-band non-contiguous CA.

[00150] For intra-band non-contiguous carrier aggregation with one uplink carrier and two or more downlink sub-blocks, each larger than or equal to 5 MHz, the in-band blocking requirements are defined with the uplink configuration in accordance with Table 7.3A.2.2-1. For this uplink configuration, the UE shall meet the requirements for each subblock as specified in clause 7.6.2 and 7.6A.2.1 for one component carrier and two component carriers per sub-block, respectively. The requirements apply for in-gap and out-of-gap interferers while all downlink carriers are active.

[00151] For UEs indicating [IRx non-contiguous CA] the in-band blocking requirement with in-gap interferer is defined in Table 7.6A.2.3-1 and Table 7.6A.2.3-2 for one uplink carrier and one component carrier per DL sub-block. FIG. 5E illustrates a Table 7.6A.2.3-1: In-band blocking 1 Rx parameters for NR for Alternative 3-1. FIG. 5F illustrates a Table 7.6A.2.3-2: In-band blocking 1 Rx for NR bands for Alternative 3-1.

[00152] Turning to FIG. 6, this figure shows a block diagram of one possible and non-limiting example of a measurement system 300, comprising a UE 10, a TE 345, and a signal generator 355.

[00153] In FIG. 6, a user equipment (UE) 10 is in wireless communication for testing via radio link 11 with the TE 345 and via a radio link 611 with the signal generator 355. A UE 10 is a wireless communication device, such as a mobile device, that is configured to access a cellular network. The UE 10 is illustrated with one or more antennas 28. The UE 10 includes one or more processors 13, one or more memories 15, and other circuitry 16. The other circuitry 16 includes one or more receivers (Rx(s)) 17 and one or more transmitters (Tx(s)) 18. As described in FIG. 1, the receiver 17 may include the receiver chains 140 with the low pass filters 180 and the ADCs 190, and the transmitter 18 includes a transmitter chain 190. A program 12 is used to cause the UE 10 to perform the operations described herein. For a UE 10, the other circuitry 16 could include circuitry such as for user interface elements (not shown) like a display.

[00154] The TE 345 may be or emulate a gNB, NodeB (e.g., eNB) or other base station, BS. The TE 345 is illustrated as having one or more antennas 58. The TE 345 includes one or more processors 73, one or more memories 75, and other circuitry 76. The other circuitry 76 includes one or more receivers (Rx(s)) 77 and one or more transmitters (Tx(s)) 78. A program 72 is used to cause the base station 70 to perform the operations described herein.

[00155] The signal generator 355 is illustrated as having one or more antennas 658. The signal generator 355 includes one or more processors 673, one or more memories 675, and other circuitry 676. The other circuitry 676 includes one or more transmitters (Tx(s)) 678. A program 672 is used to cause the signal generator 355 to perform the operations described herein.

[00156] A computer-readable medium 94 is illustrated. The computer-readable medium 94 contains instructions that, when downloaded and installed into the memories 15, 75, or 375 of the corresponding UE 10, TE 345, and / or signal generator 355, and executed by processor(s) 13, 73, or 673, cause the respective device to perform corresponding actions described herein. The computer-readable medium 94 may be implemented many forms, such as via a download from a network, a compact disc, or a memory stick.

[00157] One area where the UE 10 can be used is in a cellular system, where the UE connects to a base station such as gNB. In another example, the UE 10 can communicate with an NTN (non-terrestrial network), where the UE 10 communicates with suitable base stations that may be on satellites in orbit. Such satellite-based architecture may leverage Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO), Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) systems which can collectively provide coverage across altitudes ranging from 36,000 km to 400 km. These satellites can be either stationary or can orbit around the Earth in the form of constellations to provide services.

[00158] The programs 12, 72, and 672 contain instructions stored by corresponding one or more memories 15, 75, or 675. These instructions, when executed by the corresponding one or more processors 13, 73, or 673, cause the corresponding apparatus 10, 345, or 355, to perform the operations described herein. The computer readable memories 15, 75, or 675 are circuitry and may be of any type suitable to the local technical environment and may be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as semiconductor-based memory devices, flash memory, firmware, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory and removable memory. The computer readable memories 15, 75, and 675 may be means for performing storage functions. The processors 13, 73, and 673, are circuitry and may be of any type suitable to the local technical environment. For example, these processors may include one or more of general-purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), processors based on a multicore processor architecture, and may also include specialized circuits such as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application specific circuits (ASICs), signal processing devices and other devices, or combinations of these devices, as non-limiting examples. The processors 13, 73, and 673 may be means for causing their respective apparatus to perform functions, such as those described herein. Particularly, for any apparatus having means to perform functions described herein, the means may include at least one processor, and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the performance of the apparatus.

[00159] In general, the various embodiments of the user equipment 10 can include, but are not limited to, cellular telephones (such as smart phones, mobile phones, cellular phones, voice over Internet Protocol (IP) (VoIP) phones, and / or wireless local loop phones), tablets, portable computers, vehicles or vehicle-mounted devices for, e.g., wireless V2X (vehicle-to-everything) communication, image capture devices such as digital cameras, gaming devices, music storage and playback appliances, Internet appliances (including Internet of Things, loT, devices), loT devices with sensors and / or actuators for, e.g., automation applications, as well as portable units or terminals that incorporate combinations of such functions, laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), laptopmounted equipment (LME), Universal Serial Bus (USB) dongles, smart devices, wireless customer-premises equipment (CPE), an Internet of Things (loT) device, a watch or other wearable, a head-mounted display (HMD), a vehicle, a drone, a medical device and applications (e.g., remote surgery), an industrial device and applications (e.g., a robot and / or other wireless devices operating in an industrial and / or an automated processing chain contexts), a consumer electronics device, a device operating on commercial and / or industrial wireless networks, and the like. That is, the UE 10 could be any end device that may be capable of wireless communication. By way of example rather than limitation, the UE may also be referred to as a communication device, terminal device (MT), a Subscriber Station (SS), a Portable Subscriber Station, a Mobile Station (MS), or an Access Terminal (AT).

[00160] The examples can be implemented into 3GPP TS 38.521-1 as follows:

[00161] For clause 7.3A.0.2.2, Reference sensitivity power level for Intra-band non-contiguous C A, consider the following.

[00162] For intra-band non-contiguous carrier aggregation with one uplink carrier and two or more downlink sub-blocks, throughput of each downlink component carrier shall be / 3= 95% of the maximum throughput of the reference measurement channels as specified in Annexes A.2.2, A.2.3 and A.3.2 (with one sided dynamic OCNG Pattern OP. 1 FDD / TDD for the DL-signal as described in Annex A.5.1.1 / A.5.2.1) and parameters specified in Table 7.3.2.3-1, Table 7.3.2.3-2, and Table 7.3A.0.2.2-1 with the reference sensitivity power level increased by ARIBNC given in Table 7.3A.0.2.2-1 (see FIG. 7, which illustrates a Table 7.3A.0.2.2-1: Intra-band non-contiguous CA with one uplink configuration for reference sensitivity in FDD bands) for the SCC(s).

[00163] For aggregation of two or more downlink FDD carriers with one uplink carrier the reference sensitivity is defined only for the specific uplink and downlink test points which are specified in Table 7.3A.0.2.2-1 and 7.3A.0.2.2-2. The requirements apply with all downlink carriers active. Unless given by Table 7.3.2.3-4, the reference sensitivity requirements shall be verified with the network signalling value NS_01 (Table 6.2.3.3.1-1) configured.

[00164] For UEs indicating [IRx non-contiguous CA] the reference sensitivity is defined only for the specific test points specified in Table 7.3 A.0.2.2-2 for one uplink carrier and one component carrier per DL sub-block. For these test points the reference sensitivity requirement specified in Table 7.3.2.3-1 and Table 7.3.2.3-2 are relaxed by the amount of the corresponding parameter ARibncirx given in Table 7.3A.0.2.2-2 (see FIG. 8, which illustrates a Table 7.3A.0.2.2-2: Reference sensitivity exceptions and downlink configurations due to 1 Rx for non-contiguous reception in PC3 for DL NR CA FR1). This table may apply to Alternative 1, MSD style, and this example uses acronym format CAnX(2Al).

[00165] For clause 7.3A.0.7, Reference sensitivity exceptions and downlink configurations due to 1 Rx for non-contiguous reception in PC3 for DL NR CA FR1, consider the following.

[00166] For UEs indicating [IRx non-contiguous CA] the reference sensitivity is defined only for the specific test points specified in Table 7.3 A.0.7-1 for one uplink carrier and one component carrier per DL sub-block. For these test points the reference sensitivity requirement specified in Table 7.3.2.3-1 and Table 7.3.2.3-2 are relaxed by the amount of the corresponding parameter ARbncw given in Table 7.3A.0.7-1. FIG. 9 illustrates a Table 7.3 A.0.7-1: Reference sensitivity exceptions and downlink configurations due to 1 Rx for non-contiguous reception in PC3 for DL NR CA FR1, and this may apply to Alternative 1, MSD style, and may use acronym format CAnX(2Al). The normative reference for this requirement is TS 38.101-1 [2] clause 7.3.A.

[00167] FIG. 10 illustrates Table 7.3 A. 1 1.4.1-2: Test Configuration Table for intra-band non-contiguous 2DL CA exceptions. The table may be used in the following.

[00168] 1. Connect the SS to the UE antenna connectors as shown in TS 38.508-1 [5] Annex A, Figure A.3.1.1.3 for TE diagram and section A.3.2 for UE diagram. For UEs indicating [IRx non-contiguous CA], connect the SS to the UE antenna connectors as shown in TS 38.508-1 [5] Annex A, Figure A.3.1.4.7 for TE diagram and section A.3.2 for UE diagram.

[00169] 2. The parameter settings for the cell are set up according to TS 38.508-1 [5] subclause 4.4.3.

[00170] 3. Downlink signals for PCC are initially set up according to Annex C.0, C.l, C.2, and C.3.1, and uplink signals according to Annex G.0, G.l, G.2, and G.3.1.

[00171] 4. The UL and Reference Measurement Channel is set according to Tables 7.3A.1 J.4.1-1 and 7.3A.1 J.4.1-2.

[00172] 5. Propagation conditions are set according to Annex B.0.

[00173] 6. Ensure the UE is in State RRC CONNECTED with generic procedure parameters Connectivity NR, Connected without release On, Test Mode On and Test Loop Function On according to TS 38.508-1 [5] clause 4.5. Message contents are defined in clause 7 3A. 1 1.4.3.

[00174] The following involves clause 7.3 A. 11.4.2, Test procedure. An example test procedure includes the following.

[00175] 1. Configure SCC according to Annex C.0, C. 1, C.2 for all downlink physical channels.

[00176] 2. The SS shall configure SCC as per TS 38.508-1 [5] clause 5.5.1. Message contents are defined in clause 7.3A.1 1.1.4.3.

[00177] 3. SS activates SCC by sending the activation MAC CE (Refer TS 38.321

[18] , clauses 5.9, 6.1.3.10). Wait for at least 2 seconds (Refer TS 38.133

[19] , clause 9.3).

[00178] 4. SS transmits PDSCH via PDCCH DCI format 1J for C RNT1 to transmit the DL RMC according to Tables 7.3 A. 1^1.4.1-1 and 7.3 A. 1 1.4.1-2. on both PCC and SCC. The SS sends downlink MAC padding bits on the DL RMC.

[00179] 5 SS sends uplink scheduling information for each UL HARQ process via PDCCH DCI format 01 for C RNTI to schedule the UL RMC according to Table 6.2A. 1.1.4.1-1 on both PCC and SCC. Since the UE has no payload and no loopback data to send the UE sends uplink MAC padding bits on the UL RMC.

[00180] 6 Set the Downlink signal level to the appropriate REFSENS value defined in Table 7.3A. 11.5-1 and 7.3A. 11.5-2 for PC3 CA. Send continuously uplink power control "up" commands in every uplink scheduling information to the UE to ensure the UE transmits PUMAX level for at least the duration of the throughput measurement. Allow at least 200ms starting from the first TPC command in this step for the UE to reach PUMAX level.

[00181] 7. Measure the average throughput for each component carrier for a duration sufficient to achieve statistical significance according to Annex H.2A.

[00182] The following applies to clause 7.3A.11.4.3, Message contents. Message contents are according to TS 38.508-1 [5] subclause 4.6 Table 4.6.3-118 with condition TRANSFORM PRECODER ENABLED and following exception: For test points with “REFSENS CA 3” UL configuration in table 7.3A.11.4.1-1, message exception in table 7.3 A. 11.4.3-1 applies. FIG. 11 illustrates Table 7.3 A. 11.4.3-1: Frequency InfoUL-SIB.

[00183] The following concerns clause 7.3 A. 11.5, Test requirement. For interband carrier aggregation the throughput shall be >95% of the maximum throughput of the reference measurement channels as specified in Annex A.2.2 with parameters specified in Table 7.3 A. 11.5-1 for inter-band PC3 CA, and in Table 7.3 A. 11.5-2 for intra-band con-contiguous CA. The test requirement of configurations for CA operating band including Band n41 also apply for the corresponding CA operating bands with Band n90 replacing Band. FIG. 12 illustrates Table 7.3 A. 11.5-2: Reference sensitivity requirement for intra-band non-contiguous CA.

[00184] This concerns Alternative 2, ACS style. Consider clause 7.5A.0.2, Adjacent channel selectivity Intra-band non-contiguous CA.

[00185] For intra-band non-contiguous carrier aggregation with Fdl high <2700 MHz and Ful high <2700 MHz with one uplink carrier and two or more downlink subblocks, each larger than or equal to 5 MHz, the adjacent channel selectivity requirements are defined with the uplink configuration in accordance with Table 7.3A.0.2.2-1. For this uplink configuration, the UE shall meet the requirements for each sub-block as specified in subclauses 7.5.3 and 7.5A.0.1 for one component carrier and two component carriers per sub-block, respectively. The UE shall fulfil the minimum requirements all values of a single adjacent channel interferer in-gap and out-of-gap up to a -25 dBm interferer power while all downlink carriers are active. For the lower range of test parameters (Case 1), the interferer power Pmterferer shall be set to the maximum of the levels given by the carriers of the respective sub-blocks as specified in Table 7.5.3-3 and Table 7.5A.0.1-2a for one component carrier and two component carriers per sub-block, respectively. The wanted signal power levels for the carriers of each sub-block shall then be adjusted relative to Pmterferer in accordance with the ACS requirement for each sub-block (Table 7.5.3-1 and Table 7.5A.0.1-la). For the upper range of test parameters (Case 2) for which the interferer power Pmterferer is -25 dBm (Table 7.5.3-4 and Table 7.5A.0.1-3a) the wanted signal power levels for the carriers of each sub-block shall be adjusted relative to Pmterferer like for Case 1.

[00186] ACS Alternative 2-1 also may implement the following. For UEs indicating [IRx non-contiguous CA] the adjacent channel selectivity requirement with ingap interferer is defined in Table 7.5A.0.2-1 and Table 7.5 A.0.2-1 a for one uplink carrier and one component carrier per DL sub-block. FIG. 13 illustrates a Table 7.5A.0.2-1: Test parameters for 1 Rx non-contiguous intra-band CA, and FIG. 14 illustrates a Table 7.5A.0.2-la: ACS 1 Rx for NR bands.

[00187] Next, information concerning ACS Alternative 2-2 is presented. FIG. 15 illustrates a Table 7.5A.0.2-1: Test parameters for 1 Rx non-contiguous intra-band CA. FIG. 16 illustrates a Table 7.5 A.0.2-1 a: ACS 1 Rx for NR bands.

[00188] For intra-band non-contiguous carrier aggregation with Fdl low >3300 MHz and Ful low >3300 MHz with one uplink carrier and two or more downlink subblocks, each larger than or equal to 5 MHz, the adjacent channel selectivity requirements are defined with the uplink configuration in accordance with Table 7.3A.0.2.2-1. For this uplink configuration, the UE shall meet the requirements for each sub-block as specified in subclauses 7.5.3 and 7.5A.0.1 for one component carrier and two component carriers per sub-block, respectively. The UE shall fulfil the minimum requirements all values of a single adjacent channel interferer in-gap and out-of-gap up to a -25 dBm interferer power while all downlink carriers are active. For the lower range of test parameters (Case 1), the interferer power Pmterferer shall be set to the maximum of the levels given by the carriers of the respective sub-blocks as specified in Table 7.5.3-3 and Table 7.5A.0.1-2 for one component carrier and two component carriers per sub-block, respectively. The wanted signal power levels for the carriers of each sub-block shall then be adjusted relative to Pmterferer in accordance with the ACS requirement for each sub-block (Table 7.5.3-1 and Table 7.5A.0.1-1). For the upper range of test parameters (Case 2) for which the interferer power Pmterferer is -25 dBm (Table 7.5.3 and Table 7.5A.0.1-3) the wanted signal power levels for the carriers of each sub-block shall be adjusted relative to Pmterferer like for Case 1.

[00189] The throughput of each carrier shall be >95 % of the maximum throughput of the reference measurement channels as specified in Annexes A.2.2, A.2.3, A.3.2, and A.3.3 (with one sided dynamic OCNG Pattern OP.l FDD / TDD for the DL-signal as described in Annex A.5. l.l / A.5.2.1).

[00190] This part concerns clause 7.5A. 1, Adjacent channel selectivity for CA (2DL CA).

[00191] 1. Connect the SS to the UE antenna connectors as shown in TS 38.508-1 [5] Annex A, in Figure A.3.1.4.7 for TE diagram and section A.3.2 for UE diagram. For UEs indicating [IRx non-contiguous CA], connect the SS to the UE antenna connectors as shown in TS 38.508-1 [5] Annex A, Figure A.3.1.4.7 for TE diagram and section A.3.2 for UE diagram.

[00192] 2 The parameter settings for the cell are set up according to TS 38.508- 1 [5] subclause 4.4.3.

[00193] Parts of clause 7.5A.1 are skipped.

[00194] 3.6. Set the Downlink signal level for PCC and SCC to the value as defined in Table 7.5A. 1.5-11 or 7.5A. 1.5-14 as appropriate (Case 1), or Table 7.5A. 1.5-12a for 1RX. Send uplink power control commands to the UE using IdB power step size to ensure that the UE output power measured by the test system is within the Uplink power control window, defined as -MU to -(MU + Uplink power control window size) dB of the target power level in Table 7.5 A. 1.5-11 or Table 7.5 A. 1.5-14 for at least the duration of the Throughput measurement, where:

[00195] - MU is the test system uplink power measurement uncertainty and is specified in Table F. 1.3-1 for the carrier frequency f and the channel bandwidth BW

[00196] - Uplink power control window size = IdB (UE power step size) + 0.7dB (UE power step tolerance) + (Test system relative power measurement uncertainty), where, the UE power step tolerance is specified in TS 38.101-1 [2], Table 6.3.4.3-1 and is 0.7dB for IdB power step size, and the Test system relative power measurement uncertainty is specified for test case 6.3.4.3 in Table F. 1.2-1.

[00197] - For UEs supporting Tx diversity, the transmit power is measured as the sum of the output power from both UE antenna connectors.

[00198] 3 .7. Set the Interferer signal level to the value as defined in Table 7.5A.1.5-11 or 7.5A.1.5-14 as appropriate (Case 1), or Table 7.5A.1.5-12a for 1RX, and frequency below the wanted signal, using a modulated interferer bandwidth as defined in Annex D.

[00199] For NR SCC of intra-band non-contiguous CA with Fdl high <2700 MHz and Ful high <2700 MHz, the throughput measurement derived in test procedure shall be >95% of the maximum throughput of the reference measurement channels as specified in Annexes A.2.2, A.2.3 and A.3.2 with parameters specified in Tables 7.5A.1.5-11, 7.5A.1.5-12 and 7.5A.1.5-12a.

[00200] ACS Alternative 2-1 options are described now. FIG. 17 illustrates a Table 7.5A. 1.5-12a: Test parameters for NR 1 Rx intra-band non-contiguous CA with FDL high <2700 MHz and FUL high <2700 MHz. FIG. 18 illustrates a Table 7.5A. 1.5-12b: ACS 1 Rx for NR bands.

[00201] ACS Alternative 2-2 options are described now. FIG. 19 illustrates a Table 7.5A.1.5-12a: Test parameters for NR 1 Rx intra-band non-contiguous CA with Fdl high <2700 MHz and Ful high <2700 MHz. FIG. 20 illustrates a Table 7.5A.1.5-12b: ACS 1 Rx for NR bands;

[00202] This section discusses clause 7.6A.2.0.2, In-band blocking for Intra-band non-contiguous CA. For intra-band non-contiguous carrier aggregation with one uplink carrier and two or more downlink sub-blocks, each larger than or equal to 5 MHz, the in-band blocking requirements are defined with the uplink configuration in accordance with Table 7.3A.0.3.2-1. For this uplink configuration, the UE shall meet the requirements for each sub-block as specified in subclause 7.6.2 and in this subclause for one component carrier and two component carriers per sub-block, respectively. The requirements apply for in-gap and out-of-gap interferers while all downlink carriers are active.

[00203] [1Rx non-contiguous CA] the in-band blocking requirement with in-gap interferer is defined in Table 7.6A.2.0.2-1 and Table 7.6A.2.0.2-2 for one uplink carrier and one component carrier per DL sub-block. This concerns Alternative 3, IBB style.

[00204] Examples for IBB Alternative 3-1 are illustrated now. FIG. 21 illustrates a Table 7.6A.2.0.2-1: In-band blocking 1 Rx parameters for NR. FIG. 22 illustrates a Table 7.6A.2.0.2-2: In-band blocking 1 Rx for NR bands.

[00205] Examples for IBB Alternative 3-1 are illustrated now. FIG. 23 illustrates a Table 7.6A.2.0.2-1: In-band blocking 1 Rx parameters for NR. FIG. 24 illustrates a Table 7.6A.2.0.2-2: In-band blocking 1 Rx for NR bands.

[00206] For clause 7.6A.2.1.5.2, In-band blocking for Intra-band non-contiguous CA, consider the following. For intra-band non-contiguous carrier aggregation with one uplink carrier and two or more downlink sub-blocks, each larger than or equal to 5 MHz, the in-band blocking requirements are defined with the uplink configuration in accordance with Table 7.3A.0.2.2-1 and Table 7.3A.0.2.2-2 for 1RX. For this uplink configuration, the UE shall meet the requirements for each sub-block as specified in subclause 7.6.2. The requirements apply for in-gap and out-of-gap interferers while all downlink carriers are active.

[00207] [IRx non-contiguous CA] the in-band blocking requirement with in-gap interferer is defined in Table 7.6A.2.0.2-1 and Table 7.6A.2.0.2-2 for one uplink carrier and one component carrier per DL sub-block.

[00208] IBB Alternative 3-1 involves the following table illustrations. FIG. 25 illustrates a Table 7.6A.2.0.2-1: In-band blocking 1 Rx parameters for NR. FIG. 26 illustrates a Table 7.6A.2.0.2-2: In-band blocking 1 Rx for NR bands.

[00209] IBB Alternative 3-2 involves the following table illustrations. FIG. 27 illustrates a Table 7.6A.2.0.2-1: In-band blocking 1 Rx parameters for NR. FIG. 28 illustrates a Table 7.6A.2.0.2-2: In-band blocking 1 Rx for NR bands.

[00210] For the UE which supports inter-band CA configuration in Table 7.3A.3.2.3-1, Pinterferer power defined in Table 7.6A.2.2.5-la and Table 7.6A.2.2.5-2a is increased by the amount given by ARib,c in Table 7.3A.3.2.3-1.

[00211] Without in any way limiting the scope, interpretation, or application of the claims appearing below, a technical effect and / or advantage of one or more of the example embodiments disclosed herein is without the examples herein, a UE supporting this feature will need to meet the current receiver sensitivity requirements, which will make implementation more costly or even infeasible. Another technical effect and / or advantage of one or more of the example embodiments disclosed herein is that operators eventually will be allowed to make a higher C A configuration for a UE, allowing the UE a higher throughput, while the UE is allowed to have relaxed receiver sensitivity to meet the normal receiver requirements, where only 1 RX chain is used. This allows the NW to push more data to the UE, when the UE is in good receive conditions (e.g., negligible near-far problem).

[00212] As used in this application, the term “circuitry” may refer to one or more or all of the following:

[00213] (a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and / or digital circuitry) and

[00214] (b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable): (i) a combination of analog and / or digital hardware circuit(s) with software / firmware and (ii) any portions of hardware processor(s) with software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions) and

[00215] (c) hardware circuit(s) and or processor(s), such as a microprocessors) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation.

[00216] This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

[00217] Embodiments herein may be implemented in software (executed by one or more processors), hardware (e.g., an application specific integrated circuit), or a combination of software and hardware. In an example embodiment, the software (e.g., application logic, an instruction set) is maintained on any one of various conventional computer-readable media. In the context of this document, a “computer-readable medium” may be any media or means that can contain, store, communicate, propagate or transport the instructions for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer, with one example of a computer described and depicted, e.g., in FIG. 6. A computer-readable medium may comprise a computer-readable storage medium (e.g., memories 15, 75, and 95 or other device) that may be any media or means that can contain, store, and / or transport the instructions for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer. A computer-readable storage medium does not comprise propagating signals, and therefore may be considered to be non-transitory The term “non-transitory”, as used herein, is a limitation of the medium itself (i.e., tangible, not a signal) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (e.g., RAM, random access memory, versus ROM, read-only memory).

[00218] If desired, the different functions discussed herein may be performed in a different order and / or concurrently with each other. Furthermore, if desired, one or more of the above-described functions may be optional or may be combined.

[00219] Although various aspects of the invention are set out in the independent claims, other aspects of the invention comprise other combinations of features from the described embodiments and / or the dependent claims with the features of the independent claims, and not solely the combinations explicitly set out in the claims.

[00220] It is also noted herein that while the above describes example embodiments of the invention, these descriptions should not be viewed in a limiting sense. Rather, there are several variations and modifications which may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method, compri sing:determining, by test equipment as part of a testing process for a user equipment, reference sensitivity exceptions due to use of a single receiver chain by the user equipment on non-contiguous intra-band sub-blocks in downlink carrier aggregation, including a sub-block gap between the non-contiguous intra-band sub-blocks, as a mapping between an allowed maximum sensitivity degradation and a function of variables relating the allowed maximum sensitivity degradation at least to a power level of an interfering signal in the sub-block gap;adjusting, by the test equipment using at least the mapping, wanted signals in the non-contiguous intra-band sub-blocks for testing the user equipment, wherein the interfering signal is in the sub-block gap; anddetermining, based on received error reporting from the user equipment, whether the user equipment meets or does not meet a criterion of the testing process.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the variables include one or more of the following: a downlink operating band is D; a downlink bandwidth T for each component carrier of the wanted signals in the intra-band sub-blocks; a bandwidth of the interfering signal is B; the power level of the interfering signal is P; and a location is L of the interfering signal.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the mapping comprises: Allowed MSD = f (D, T, B, P, L), wherein Allowed MSD is the allowed maximum sensitivity degradation and the function is the f(D, T,B,P, L).

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the mapping comprises: Allowed MSD = 10 X log^lO^-*-") / 10 + 1) \D,T,B,L,where R in dB is an expected rejection by the user equipment for the interfering signal at a base band depending on B and L, and N in dBm is a noise floor of the receiver chain depending on D and T.

5. The method according to any of claims 1 to 4, where power levels of the wanted signals are adjusted by the test equipment by raising the power levels of the wanted signals until a difference between the power of the interfering signal in the subblock gap to powers of the wanted signals in the non-contiguous intra-band subblocks arrives at the maximum sensitivity degradation.

6. The method according to any of claims 1 to 4, where the power levels of the wanted signals are fixed by the test equipment and wherein the power of the interfering signal is lowered until a difference between the power of the interfering signal in the sub-block gap to powers of the wanted signals in the non-contiguous intra-band sub-blocks arrives at the maximum sensitivity degradation.

7. The method according to of claims 1 to 6, further comprising sending, by the test equipment to the user equipment, configuration that indicates to the user equipment to configure a receiver having a set of multiple and interconnected receiver chains to use a single receiver chain of the set of interconnected receiver chains and to use the single receiver chain for non-contiguous downlink carrier aggregation operation for at least two component carriers.

8. The method according to claim 7, where a number of wanted signals in corresponding component carriers is greater than a number of receiver chains used in the user equipment to receive those signals, and wherein the configuration indicates to the user equipment to configure the receiver having multiple sets of multiple and interconnected receiver chains to use a single receiver chain of individual sets of interconnected receiver chains and to use the single receiver chains for non-contiguous downlink carrier aggregation operation for the component carriers carrying the wanted signals.

9. A method, comprising:receiving, by a user equipment from a test equipment, configuration for intra-band non-contiguous downlink carrier aggregation operation using a single receiver chain of multiple receiver chains in a receiver;configuring hardware resources, comprising the multiple receiver chains, between bands, for reception of component carriers corresponding to the bands;receiving, by the user equipment, multiple component carriers using the single receiver chain of multiple receiver chains of one or more sets of receiver chains in the receiver;performing, by the user equipment, measurements of received information to determine error information; andreporting the error information via error reporting from the user equipment to the test equipment.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the error information comprises acknowledgement (ACK) or negative-acknowledgement (NACK) information,11. The method according to any of claims 9 or 10, wherein a number of wanted signals in corresponding component carriers is greater than a number of receiver chains used in the user equipment to receive those signals.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the configuration indicates to the user equipment to configure the receiver having multiple sets of multiple and interconnected receiver chains to use a single receiver chain of individual sets of interconnected receiver chains and to use the single receiver chains for noncontiguous downlink carrier aggregation operation for the component carriers carrying the wanted signals, and the receiving, by the user equipment, multiple component carriers comprises performing reception using individual single receiver chains for non-contiguous downlink carrier aggregation operation for the component carriers carrying the wanted signals.

13. An apparatus, comprising means for:determining, as part of a testing process for a user equipment, reference sensitivity exceptions due to use of a single receiver chain by the user equipment on non-contiguous intra-band sub-blocks in downlink carrier aggregation, including a sub-block gap between the non-contiguous intra-band subblocks, as a mapping between an allowed maximum sensitivity degradation and a function of variables relating the allowed maximum sensitivity degradation at least to a power level of an interfering signal in the sub-block gap;adjusting, using at least the mapping, wanted signals in the non-contiguous intra-band sub-blocks for testing the user equipment, wherein the interfering signal is in the sub-block gap; anddetermining, based on received error reporting from the user equipment, whether the user equipment meets or does not meet a criterion of the testing process.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the variables include one or more of the following: a downlink operating band is D; a downlink bandwidth T for each component carrier of the wanted signals in the intra-band sub-blocks; a bandwidth of the interfering signal is B; the power level of the interfering signal is P; and a location is L of the interfering signal.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the mapping comprises: Allowed MSD = f(D, T, B, P, L), wherein Allowed MSD is the allowed maximum sensitivity degradation and the function is the f (D, T, B, P, L).

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the mapping comprises: Allowed MSD = 10 X log10(10<p-fl-w^10 + 1) \D,T,B,L, where R in dB is an expected rejection by the user equipment for the interfering signal at a base band depending on B and L, and N in dBm is a noise floor of the receiver chain depending on D and T.

17. The apparatus according to any of claims 13 to 16, where power levels of the wanted signals are adjusted by the test equipment by raising the power levels of the wanted signals until a difference between the power of the interfering signal in the sub-block gap to powers of the wanted signals in the non-contiguous intra-band sub-blocks arrives at the maximum sensitivity degradation.

18. The apparatus according to any of claims 13 to 16, where the power levels of the wanted signals are fixed by the test equipment and wherein the power of the interfering signal is lowered until a difference between the power of the interfering signal in the sub-block gap to powers of the wanted signals in the non-contiguous intra-band sub-blocks arrives at the maximum sensitivity degradation.

19. The apparatus according to of claims 13 to 18, wherein the means are further configured for sending, to the user equipment, configuration that indicates to the user equipment to configure a receiver having a set of multiple and interconnected receiver chains to use a single receiver chain of the set of interconnected receiver chains and to use the single receiver chain for non-contiguous downlink carrier aggregation operation for at least two component carriers.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, where a number of wanted signals in corresponding component carriers is greater than a number of receiver chains used in the user equipment to receive those signals, and wherein the configuration indicates to the user equipment to configure the receiver having multiple sets of multiple and interconnected receiver chains to use a single receiver chain of individual sets of interconnected receiver chains and to use the single receiver chains for non-contiguous downlink carrier aggregation operation for the component carriers carrying the wanted signals.

21. An apparatus, comprising means for:receiving, from a test equipment, configuration for intra-band non-contiguous downlink carrier aggregation operation using a single receiver chain of multiple receiver chains in a receiver;configuring hardware resources, comprising the multiple receiver chains, between bands, for reception of component carriers corresponding to the bands;receiving multiple component carriers using the single receiver chain of multiple receiver chains of one or more sets of receiver chains in the receiver;performing measurements of received information to determine error information; andreporting the error information via error reporting from the apparatus to the test equipment.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the error information comprises acknowledgement (ACK) or negative-acknowledgement (NACK) information,23. The apparatus according to any of claims 21 or 22, wherein a number of wanted signals in corresponding component carriers is greater than a number of receiver chains used in the apparatus to receive those signals.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the configuration indicates to the apparatus to configure the receiver having multiple sets of multiple and interconnected receiver chains to use a single receiver chain of individual sets of interconnected receiver chains and to use the single receiver chains for noncontiguous downlink carrier aggregation operation for the component carriers carrying the wanted signals, and the receiving multiple component carriers comprises performing reception using individual single receiver chains for noncontiguous downlink carrier aggregation operation for the component carriers carrying the wanted signals.

25. The apparatus of any preceding apparatus claim, wherein the means comprises: at least one processor; andat least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the performance of the apparatus.

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