Adaptive guard band and maximum transmission bandwidth

Abstract

The first embodiment of the invention relates to a first apparatus, 110, wherein the first apparatus obtains information related to a configured guard band and / or a configured maximum transmission bandwidth to be used by the first apparatus. The information comprising at least one of the following: capability-related information of the first apparatus related to guard band and transmission bandwidth, a first configuration indicating the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth configured to the first apparatus, or a second configuration indicating at least one parameter associated with the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth to be used by the first apparatus. The first apparatus determines the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth based at least in part on the information. The first apparatus further determines, based at least in part on the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth, a maximum transmit output power and / or a power boost factor to be used for a transmission from the first apparatus to a second apparatus, 120. The first apparatus may be a terminal device, and the second apparatus may be a network device.

Description

[0002] Several methods could be applied for maximum power reduction (MPR), such as, using of appropriate filtering techniques that are properly designed and calibrated, or adjusting the transmit power levels to strike a balance between coverage and interference, or implementing advanced signal processing techniques like digital pre-distortion (DPD) that help to mitigate non-linear distortions, or optimizing the antenna placement and so on.

[0003] Further MPR reduction work has been approved to be further studied. One motivation for this work is generally relaxing requirements for user equipment (UE) that have such frequency allocation that makes meeting the requirements less important, e.g., inner allocation, UE channel bandwidth within base station (BS) channel bandwidth. Another motivation is lower complexity UEs such as reduced capability (RedCap) UEs that may not be able to meet all the current requirements. Such UEs would need to be operated so that they always have allocation allowing relaxed requirements, e.g., the UE channel bandwidth is within base station channel bandwidth. SUMMARY

[0004] In a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a first apparatus. The first apparatus comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus to: obtain information related to a configured guard band and / or a configured maximum transmission bandwidth to be used by the first apparatus, the information comprising at least one of the following: capability-related information of the first apparatus related to guard band and transmission bandwidth, a first configuration indicating the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth configured to the first apparatus, or a second configuration indicating at least one parameter associated with the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth to be used by the first apparatus; determine, the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth based at least in part on the information; and determine, based at least in part on the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth, a maximum transmit output power and / or a power boost factor to be used for a transmission from the first apparatus to a second apparatus.

[0005] In a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a second apparatus. The second apparatus comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the second apparatus to: determine information related to a configured guard band and / or a configured maximum transmission bandwidth to be used by the first apparatus, the information comprising at least one of the following: a first configuration indicating the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth configured to the first apparatus, or a second configuration indicating at least one parameter associated with the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth to be used by the first apparatus; transmit, to the first apparatus, the information related to the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth.

[0006] In a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method. The method comprises: obtaining information related to a configured guard band and / or a configured maximum transmission bandwidth to be used by the first apparatus, the information comprising at least one of the following: capability-related information of the first apparatus related to guard band and transmission bandwidth, a first configuration indicating the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth configured to the first apparatus, or a second configuration indicating at least one parameter associated with the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth to be used by the first apparatus; determining, the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth based at least in part on the information; and determining, based at least in part on the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth, a maximum transmit output power and / or a power boost factor to be used for a transmission from the first apparatus to a second apparatus.

[0007] In a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method. The method comprises: determining information related to a configured guard band and / or a configured maximum transmission bandwidth to be used by the first apparatus, the information comprising at least one of the following: a first configuration indicating the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth configured to the first apparatus, or a second configuration indicating at least one parameter associated with the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth to be used by the first apparatus; transmitting, to the first apparatus, the information related to the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth.

[0008] In a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a first apparatus. The first apparatus comprises means for obtaining information related to a configured guard band and / or a configured maximum transmission bandwidth to be used by the first apparatus, the information comprising at least one of the following: means for capability-related information of the first apparatus related to guard band and transmission bandwidth, means for a first configuration indicating the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth configured to the first apparatus, or means for a second configuration indicating at least one parameter associated with the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth to be used by the first apparatus; means for determining, the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth based at least in part on the information; and means for determining, based at least in part on the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth, a maximum transmit output power and / or a power boost factor to be used for a transmission from the first apparatus to a second apparatus.

[0009] In a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a second apparatus. The second apparatus comprises means for determining information related to a configured guard band and / or a configured maximum transmission bandwidth to be used by the first apparatus, the information comprising at least one of the following: means for a first configuration indicating the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth configured to the first apparatus, or means for a second configuration indicating at least one parameter associated with the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth to be used by the first apparatus; means for transmitting, to the first apparatus, the information related to the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth.

[0010] In a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium comprises instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method according to the third aspect.

[0011] In an eighth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium comprises instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method according to the fourth aspect.

[0012] It is to be understood that the Summary section is not intended to identify key or essential features of embodiments of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure will become easily comprehensible through the following description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Some example embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, where:

[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates an example block of main RF requirements for in-band and out-of-band;

[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates an example block of UE physical resource block (PRB) utilization;

[0016] FIG. 3 A illustrates a diagram of gating factor for different number of continuous allocated RB length vs RB allocation starting index;

[0017] FIG. 3B illustrates a diagram of daily physical radio block usage per site;

[0018] FIG. 4 illustrates an example communication environment in which example embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented;

[0019] FIG. 5 A illustrates an example signalling flow of communication in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0020] FIG. 5B illustrates an example comparison between the resource utilization of the legacy solution and the proposed solution;

[0021] FIG. 6 illustrates an example signalling flow of communication in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0022] FIG. 7 illustrates histograms of ACLRs in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0023] FIG. 8 illustrates an example flowchart of a method implemented at a first apparatus according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0024] FIG. 9 illustrates an example flowchart of a method implemented at a second apparatus according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0025] FIG. 10 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a device that is suitable for implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0026] FIG. 11 illustrates a block diagram of an example computer readable medium in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0027] Throughout the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals represent the same or similar element. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Principle of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to some example embodiments. It is to be understood that these embodiments are described only for the purpose of illustration and help those skilled in the art to understand and implement the present disclosure, without suggesting any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure. Embodiments described herein can be implemented in various manners other than the ones described below.

[0029] In the following description and claims, unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skills in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

[0030] References in the present disclosure to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” and the like indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but it is not necessary that every embodiment includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

[0031] It shall be understood that although the terms “first,” “second” and the like may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments. As used herein, the term “and / or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the listed terms.

[0032] 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.

[0033] As used herein, unless stated explicitly, performing a step “in response to A” does not indicate that the step is performed immediately after “A” occurs and one or more intervening steps may be included.

[0034] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. 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.

[0035] As used in this application, the term “circuitry” may refer to one or more or all of the following: (a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and / or digital circuitry) and (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 (c) hardware circuit(s) and or processor(s), such as a microprocessor(s) 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.

[0036] 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 5 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 10 network device, or other computing or network device.

[0037] As used herein, the term “communication network” refers to a network following any suitable communication standards, such as New Radio (NR), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA), Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) and so on. 15 Furthermore, the communications between a terminal device and a network device in the communication network may be performed according to any suitable generation communication protocols, including, but not limited to, the first generation (1G), the second generation (2G), 2.5G, 2.75G, the third generation (3G), the fourth generation (4G), 4.5G, the fifth generation (5G) and the sixth generation (6G) communication protocols, and / or any other protocols either currently known or to be developed in the future. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied in various communication systems. Given the rapid development in communications, there will of course also be future type communication technologies and systems with which the present disclosure may be embodied. It should not be seen as limiting the scope of the present disclosure to only the aforementioned system.

[0038] As used herein, the term “network device” refers to a node in a communication network via which a terminal device accesses the network and receives services therefrom. The network device may refer to a base station (BS) or an access point (AP), for example, a node B (NodeB or NB), an evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB), an NR NB (also referred to as a gNB), a Remote Radio Unit (RRU), a radio header (RH), a remote radio head (RRH), a relay, an Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) node, a low power node such as a femto, a pico, a non-terrestrial network (NTN) or non-ground network device such as a satellite network device, a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite and a geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) satellite, an aircraft network device, and so forth, depending on the applied terminology and technology. In some example embodiments, radio access network (RAN) split architecture comprises a Centralized Unit (CU) and a Distributed Unit (DU) at an IAB donor node. An IAB node comprises a Mobile Terminal (IAB-MT) part that behaves like a UE toward the parent node, and a DU part of an IAB node behaves like a base station toward the next-hop IAB node.

[0039] The term “terminal device” refers to any end device that may be capable of wireless communication. By way of example rather than limitation, a terminal device may also be referred to as a communication device, user equipment (UE), a Subscriber Station (SS), a Portable Subscriber Station, a Mobile Station (MS), or an Access Terminal (AT). The terminal device may include, but not limited to, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, voice over IP (VoIP) phones, wireless local loop phones, a tablet, a wearable terminal device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), portable computers, desktop computer, image capture terminal devices such as digital cameras, gaming terminal devices, music storage and playback appliances, vehicle-mounted wireless terminal devices, wireless endpoints, mobile stations, laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), laptop-mounted equipment (LME), USB dongles, smart devices, wireless customerpremises 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. The terminal device may also correspond to a Mobile Termination (MT) part of an IAB node (e.g., a relay node). In the following description, the terms “terminal device”, “communication device”, “terminal”, “user equipment” and “UE” may be used interchangeably.

[0040] As used herein, the term “resource,” “transmission resource,” “resource block,” “physical resource block” (PRB), “uplink resource,” or “downlink resource” may refer to any resource for performing a communication, for example, a communication between a terminal device and a network device, such as a resource in time domain, a resource in frequency domain, a resource in space domain, a resource in code domain, or any other resource enabling a communication, and the like.

[0041] Generally speaking, the minimum of UE maximum output power or the lower bound of UE maximum output power depends on the MPR and so on. UE is allowed to reduce the maximum output power for example due to higher order modulations and transmit bandwidth configurations, to satisfy RF requirements.

[0042] UE determines power amplifier (PA) output backoff (OBO) in order to satisfy RF requirements for a given configuration (WF / RB allocation / modulation and so on). Specifically, it required to meet UE PA OBO <= MPR for the corresponding configuration, where UE maximum output power depends on the used PA OBO.

[0043] Example of MPR tables for general case (e.g., single carrier or uplink (UL) transmission) are defined according to TS 38.101-1. Part of the MPR tables are reproduced as below. Table Maximum power reduction (MPR) for power class 3 Modulation MPR (dB) Edge RB allocations Outer RB allocations Inner RB allocations DFT-s-OFDM Pi / 2 BPSK <3.5* < 1.21 <0.2* <0.52-3 < 0.52 02-4 Pi / 2 BPSK w Pi / 2 BPSK DMRS <0.52’3 02 o2-4 QPSK < 1 05 16 QAM <2 < 1 64 QAM <2.5 256 QAM <4.5 CP-OFDM QPSK <3 < 1.5 16 QAM <3 <2 64 QAM <3.5 256 QAM <6.5 NOTE 1: Applicable for UE operating in TDD mode with Pi / 2 BPSK modulation and UE indicates support for UE capability powerBoostmg-piZBPSK and if the IE powerBoostPi2BPSK is set to 1 and 40 % or less slots in radio frame are used for UL transmission for bands n40, n41, n77, n78 and n79. The reference power of 0 dB MPR is 26 dBm. NOTE 2: Applicable for conditions where note 1 does not apply. NOTE 3: For 3 MHz channel bandwidth the Pi / 2 BPSK edge allocation MPR is 1 dB NOTE 4: For a UE indicating support for UE capability [pmverBoostRell8] or [powerBoostTSRell8] and if the IE [powerBoostPi2BPSKRell 61 is set to 1, the reference power is increased by [APpowerBoost - APpowerciass] NOTE 5: For a UE indicating support for UE capability \pcrwerBoostRell8] or [powerBoostTSRell8] and if the IE [powerBooslQPSKRell8] is set to 1, the reference power is increased by [APpowerBoost - APpowerdass] Table Maximum power reduction (MPR) for power class 2 Modulation MPR (dB) Edge RB allocations Outer RB allocations Inner RB allocations DFT-s-OFDM Pi / 2 BPSK <3.5 <0.5 01 QPSK <3.5 < 1 02 16 QAM <3.5 <2 < 1 64 QAM <3.5 <2.5 256 QAM <4.5 CP-OFDM QPSK <3.5 <3 < 1.5 16 QAM <3.5 <3 <2 64 QAM <3.5 256 QAM < 6.5 NOTE 1: Applicable for a UE indicating support for UE capability [powerBoostRell 8] or [powerBoostRell 8TS] and if the IE [powerBoostPi2BPSKRell8] is set to 1. The reference power is increased by [APpowerBoost- APpowerciass] NOTE 2: Applicable for a UE indicating support for UE capability [powerBoostRell 8] or [powerBoostRell 8TS] and if the IE [powerBoostQPSKRell8] is set to 1. The reference power is increased by [APpowerBoost- APpowerciass] 5

[0044] MPR tables have been defined as a maximum power reduction compared to defined power class, where UE still meets all RF requirements. Typically, it depends on e.g., modulation, waveform, allocation etc., that which radio frequency (RF) requirement is limiting or gating the performance, i.e., which requirement is prioritized when sweeping the power level. 10

[0045] The main limiting or gating factor leading the current OBO / MPR and the corresponding maximum output power is related to at least one of the following RF requirements defined in TS 38.101: error vector magnitude (EVM), in-band emission io (IBE), occupied bandwidth (OBW), adjacent channel leakage ratio (ACLR), spectrum emission mask (SEM), spurious emissions (Spur), additional spurious emissions (for A-MPR in specific new radio, NR, band).

[0046] Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which illustrates an example block 100 of main RF requirements for in-band and out-of-band. Some example RF requirements are further discussed as below and more details of RF requirements for FR1 may be found in TS 38.101-1 and the corresponding definitions for other FRs / cases can be found in TS 38.101-2 / other.

[0047] Occupied bandwidth (OBW) is defined as the bandwidth containing 99 % of the total integrated mean power of the transmitted spectrum on the assigned channel. The occupied bandwidth for all transmission bandwidth configurations (Resources Blocks) shall be less than the channel bandwidth specified in below Table. Table Occupied channel bandwidth NR channel bandwidth (MHz) 3. 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 Occupied channel bandwidth (MHz) Same as NR channel bandwidth

[0048] The out of band emissions are unwanted emissions immediately outside the assigned channel bandwidth resulting from the modulation process and non-linearity in the transmitter but excluding spurious emissions. This out of band emission limit is specified in terms of a spectrum emission mask and an adjacent channel leakage power ratio.

[0049] The spectrum emission mask of the UE applies to frequencies ((Af00B) starting from the ± edge of the assigned NR channel bandwidth. For frequencies offset greater than(Af ob, the spurious requirements are applicable.

[0050] The adjacent channel leakage power ratio (ACLR) is the ratio of the filtered mean power centered on the assigned channel frequency to the filtered mean power centered on an adjacent channel frequency. To improve measurement accuracy, sensitivity and efficiency, the resolution bandwidth may be smaller than the measurement bandwidth. When the resolution bandwidth is smaller than the measurement bandwidth, the result should be integrated over the measurement bandwidth in order to obtain the equivalent noise bandwidth of the measurement bandwidth.

[0051] NR ACLR (NRACLR) is the ratio of the filtered mean power centered on the assigned NR channel frequency to the filtered mean power centered on an adjacent NR channel frequency at nominal channel spacing.

[0052] The assigned NR channel power and adjacent NR channel power are measured with rectangular filters with measurement bandwidths specified in below Table. Tabic NR ACLR measurement bandwidth Channel bandwidth (MHz) 3,5,10,15.20,25,30,35,40.45,50 60,70,80,90,100 REFSCS (kHz) 15 30 NRACLR measurement bandwidth (MHz) MBW=REF^SCS*(12*Nrb+1) / 1000 NOTE : “Nrb” in the formula is the maximum transmission bandwidth configuration as defined in Table Maximum transmission bandwidth configuration N Nrb.

[0053] If the measured adjacent channel power is greater than ^50 dBm then the NRaclr shall be higher than the value specified in below Table. Table NR ACLR requirement Power class 1 Power class 1.5 Power class 2 Power class 3 NRACLR 37 dB 31dB 31 dB 30 dB

[0054] When the IE \powerBoostPi2BPSKRe / J8] or \powerBoostQPSKRelJ8] is set to 1 for a UE supporting the capability of \powerBoostRell8} or capability of \powerBoostTSRell8], for power class 2 UE, the ACLR requirement of PC2 applies. For power class 3 UE, the ACLR requirement of PC3 applies.

[0055] The maximum transmission bandwidth configuration NRB for each UE channel bandwidth and subcarrier spacing is specified in below Table. Table Maximum transmission bandwidth configuration Nrb scs (kHz) 3 MHz 5 MHz 10 15 MHz 20 MHz 25 MHz 30 35 MHz 40 MHz 45 MHz 50 60 MHz 70 MHz 80 MHz 90 100 Nrb Nrb Nrb Nrb Nrb Nrb Nrb Nrb Nrb Nrb Nrb Nrb Nrb Nrb Nrb Nrb 15 15 25 52 79 106 133 160 188 216 242 270 N / A N / A N / A N / A N / A 30 N / A 11 24 38 51 65 78 92 106 119 133 162 189 217 245 273 60 N / A N / A 11 18 24 31 38 44 51 58 65 79 93 107 121 135

[0056] The minimum guardband for each UE channel bandwidth and SCS is specified in below Table. Table Minimum guardband for each UE channel bandwidth and SCS (kHz) SCS (kHz) 3 MHz 5 MHz 10 MHz 15 MHz 20 MHz 25 MHz 30 35 MHz 40 MHz 45 MHz 50 60 MHz 70 MHz 80 MHz 90 MHz 100 MHz 15 142.5 242.5 312.5 382.5 452.5 522.5 592.5 572.5 552.5 712.5 692.5 N / A N / A N / A N / A N / A 30 N / A 505 665 645 805 785 945 925 905 1065 1045 825 965 925 885 845 60 N / A N / A 1010 990 1330 1310 1290 1630 1610 1590 1570 1530 1490 1450 1410 1370

[0057] The minimum guard band have been calculated using the following equation: GBchannei = (BWchannei x 1000 (kHz) - Nrb x SCS x 12) / 2 - SCS / 2, where Nrb are from Table Maximum transmission bandwidth configuration NRB and GBchannei expressed in kHz.

[0058] Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which illustrates an example block 200 of UE physical resource block (PRB) utilization. In the example of FIG. 2, the number of RBs configured in any channel bandwidth shall ensure that the minimum guardband specified in this clause is met.

[0059] Several methods could be applied for maximum power reduction (MPR), such as, using of appropriate filtering techniques that are properly designed and calibrated, or adjusting the transmit power levels to strike a balance between coverage and interference, or implementing advanced signal processing techniques like digital pre-distortion (DPD) that help to mitigate non-linear distortions, or optimizing the antenna placement and so on.

[0060] Further MPR reduction work has been approved to be further studied. One motivation for this work is generally relaxing requirements for user equipment (UE) that have such frequency allocation that makes meeting the requirements less important e.g. inner allocation, UE channel bandwidth within base station (BS) channel bandwidth. Another motivation is lower complexity UEs such as RedCap UEs that may not be able to meet all the current requirements. Such UEs would need to be operated so that they always have allocation allowing relaxed requirements e.g. the UE channel bandwidth is within base station channel bandwidth.

[0061] Power boosting and MPR reduction are agreed to be further studied in release 19, which is made up of two parts: power boosting or MPR reduction for single carrier for power class 2 (PC2) and power class 3 (PC3), and MPR reduction for intra-band UL carrier aggregation (CA) configurations.

[0062] Firstly, in the Rel-18 coverage enhancement work item (WI), the power boosting and / or MPR reduction for PC2 and PC3 with quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) were specified, which is mainly for the inner region of a single UL carrier. The further power enhancement is restricted by out-of-band emission requirements, e.g., ACLR requirement. It is observed that emission requirements could be relaxed under the conditions where no co-existence issue is caused especially for the deployment of two adjacent frequency blocks. Thus, there is additional room to enhance the Tx power further.

[0063] The UL coverage enhancement is one of key enablers for 5G-advanced. Except for the above area of UL CA / dual connectivity (DC) with PCI.5, another enhancement direction is to further increase the Tx power for PC2 and PC3 for the single carrier transmission, which have been and will be widely used in the future. It is reasonable that both RedCap and non-RedCap UE should be taken into account.

[0064] Secondly, it was observed that a large margin exists between the current MPR requirements and the measured power back-off for intra-band CA for both frequency range 1 (FR1) and frequency range 2 (FR2). The MPR is defined mainly based on the configuration of band combination rather than based on the active UL CCs scheduled. The transmission power capability for UL CA or DC is not fully utilized compared to the single CC transmission. So, it is proposed to revisit and improve the MPR definition for the NR intra-band UL CA or DC.

[0065] Particularly, the current MPR for intra-band non-contiguous UL CA is defined based on the assumption of single PA and that one Tx branch can support the noncontiguous frequency blocks with separation less than 100MHz. Under such condition, the applied MPR value is larger than that of corresponding non-CA case, which would significantly reduce the coverage for intra-band non-contiguous UL CA.

[0066] Some objectives on power boosting and / or MPR reduction are illustrated in below table. Specify power domain enhancement, e.g., MPR reduction for NR single carrier and NR intra-band UL CA Study the scenarios, and if feasible, specify the power domain enhancement, e.g., MPR reduction, for PC2 and PC3 with applicable ACLR / SEM / spurious emission modification with BS indication for NR FR1 on a single UL carrier Include the following scenarios: when there is no adjacent in-band / out-of-band co-existence issue when a UE uses a narrower channel bandwidth within a wider BS bandwidth Include both (e)RedCap UE (only PC3) and non-RedCap UE Limited to QSPK and 16QAM Specify MPR applicability based on the UL CCs with activated cells for NR intra-band UL CA configuration Include both intra-band UL contiguous CA and intra-band non-contiguous UL CA for FR1 Include intra-band UL contiguous CA and intra-band DL contiguous CA with single UL for FR2 MPR requirement is not applicable until the SCell is activated Necessary signaling to support the above objectives 5

[0067] Information element (IE) ServingCellConfig may be used by the NW to configure related parameters to the UE. An example IE ServingCellConfig is illustrated in below table. 10

[0068] Reference is now made to FIG. 3A, which illustrates a diagram 300A of gating factor for different number of continuous allocated RB length vs RB allocation starting index. It can be seen from FIG. 3 A, out-of-band emissions (i.e., ACLR / SEM) and IBE are the main gating factors (especially for lower order modulations such as QPSK / 16 QAM and EVM may be a gating factor more for higher order modulation as 256 QAM), leading for higher MPR and OBO for outer and inner respectively, and thus lower maximum transmit power.

[0069] Release 19 currently is focusing on MPR enhancements for the following scenarios: when there is no adjacent in-band / out-of-band co-existence issue, and when a UE uses a narrower channel bandwidth within a wider BS bandwidth.

[0070] Example scenarios also may comprise: Scenario 1-1: Scenario with no adjacent in-band / out-of-band co-existence issue (single operator); Scenario 1-2: Scenario with no adjacent in-band / out-of-band co-existence issue (adjacent operators); Scenario 2: Narrower UE channel BW within wider BS bandwidth.

[0071] Further, Scenario 1-1 and scenario 2 may be prioritized for initial study of power domain enhancements for single carrier in terms of relaxed requirements, and scenario 1-2 will be studied after scenario 1-1 and scenario 2.

[0072] Reference is now made to FIG. 3B, which illustrates a diagram 300B of daily physical radio block usage per site. As can be seen in FIG. 3B, being below a medium UL load is the case for most base stations during most of the time per day. In view of this, NW may better exploit its spectrum resources for more energy efficient native design.

[0073] According to above discussion, how to allow higher UE transmit power and lower MPR mainly for outer / edge RB allocation where the out-of-band emission related factors are gating the performance needs to be further discussed.

[0074] In present disclosure targets for energy efficient native design enabling a higher user experienced throughput and better coverage, by providing means for flexible and configurable / adaptive guard band and maximum transmission bandwidth that allows to reach higher transmit power (i.e., smaller MPR). In this way, a higher transmit power is achieved by easier handling of the out-of-band emissions by the UEs.

[0075] It should be noted that, the proposed solution here is not limited for spectrum sharing operation or FR1, and can be also for a configurable inter-cell or inter-carrier(e.g., if multiple carriers are within one cell) guardband. Example Environment

[0076] FIG. 4 illustrates an example communication environment 400 in which example embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented. The communication environment 400 may include a first apparatus 410 and a second apparatus 420. A serving area provided by the second apparatus 420 is called a cell. Further, the second apparatus 420 can provide one or more cells, as cell 430 illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0077] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 410 may be comprised in a terminal device / apparatus and the second apparatus 420 may be comprised in a network device / apparatus serving the terminal device / apparatus.

[0078] In the following, for the purpose of illustration, some example embodiments are described with the first apparatus 410 operating as a terminal apparatus and the second apparatus 420 operating as a network apparatus. However, in some example embodiments, operations described in connection with a terminal apparatus may be implemented at a network apparatus or other apparatus, and operations described in connection with a network apparatus may be implemented at a terminal apparatus or other apparatus.

[0079] In some example embodiments, if the first apparatus 410 is a terminal apparatus and the second apparatus 420 is a network apparatus, a link from the second apparatus 420 to the first apparatus 410 is referred to as a downlink (DL), and a link from the first apparatus 410 to the second apparatus 420 is referred to as an uplink (UL). In DL, the second apparatus 420 is a transmitting (TX) apparatus (or a transmitter) and the first apparatus 410 is a receiving (RX) apparatus (or a receiver). In UL, the first apparatus 410 is a TX apparatus (or a transmitter) and the second apparatus 420 is a RX apparatus (or a receiver).

[0080] Communications in the communication environment 400 may be implemented according to any proper communication protocol(s), comprising, but not limited to, cellular communication protocols of the first generation (1G), the second generation (2G), the third generation (3G), the fourth generation (4G), the fifth generation (5G), the sixth generation (6G), and the like, wireless local network communication protocols such as Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 and the like, and / or any other protocols currently known or to be developed in the future. Moreover, the communication may utilize any proper wireless communication technology, comprising but not limited to: Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Duplex (FDD), Time Division Duplex (TDD), Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple (OFDM), Discrete Fourier Transform spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) and / or any other technologies currently known or to be developed in the future. Work Principle and Example Signalling for Communication

[0081] Reference is now made to FIG. 5A, which illustrates a signalling flow 500 of communication in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purposes of discussion, the signalling flow 500 will be discussed with reference to FIG. 4, for example, by using the first apparatus 410 and the second apparatus 420.

[0082] It is to be understood that the operations at the first apparatus 410 and the second apparatus 420 should be coordinated. In other words, the second apparatus 420 and the first apparatus 410 should have common understanding about configurations, parameters and so on. Such common understanding may be implemented by any suitable interactions between the second apparatus 420 and the first apparatus or both the second apparatus 420 and the first apparatus 410 applying the same rule / policy.

[0083] In the following, although some operations are described from a perspective of the first apparatus, it is to be understood that the corresponding operations should be performed by the second apparatus 420. Similarly, although some operations are described from a perspective of the second apparatus 420, it is to be understood that the corresponding operations should be performed by the first apparatus. Merely for brevity, some of the same or similar contents are omitted here.

[0084] Merely for a better understanding, in the example of FIG. 5A, the first apparatus 410 may be operated as a terminal apparatus and the second apparatus 420 may be operated as a network apparatus.

[0085] As for the first apparatus, in operation, the first apparatus 410 obtains (580) information related to a configured guard band and / or a configured maximum transmission bandwidth to be used by the first apparatus 410. It should be noted that in the legacy solution, the guard band and / or the maximum transmission bandwidth are not configurable.

[0086] According to some example embodiments of the present disclosure, the information comprises capability-related information of the first apparatus 410 related to guard band and transmission bandwidth. Alternatively, or in addition, the information comprises a first configuration indicating the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth configured to the first apparatus 410. Alternatively, or in addition, the information comprises a second configuration indicating at least one parameter associated with the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth to be used by the first apparatus 410.

[0087] In particular, the configured guard band is larger than a pre-defined minimum guard band and the configured maximum transmission bandwidth is smaller than a predefined maximum transmission bandwidth.

[0088] In the legacy solution, such as the (intra-cell)-Guard Band from rel-16, it is only for operation with shared spectrum channel access for FR1. The proposed solution here is not limited for spectrum sharing operation or FR1, and can be also for a configurable inter-cell or inter-carrier(e.g., if multiple carriers are within one cell) guardband. In addition, the guard band definition here is tied to UE channel BW that could be smaller or equal to BS channel BW or ServingCell BW. Moreover, the solution here requires that UE determines the maximum transmit output power or power boost based on the determined guardband configuration( e.g., smaller MPR value than the nominal MPR table could be specified for at least one GB size wherein UE should respect the smaller MPR limit determined based on GB (i.e., OBO<= MPRenhanced<MPRnominai).

[0089] For a better understanding of the difference between the proposed solution discussed herein and the legacy solution, reference is now made to FIG. 5B, illustrates an example comparison 500B between the resource utilization of the legacy solution and the proposed solution.

[0090] It should be noted that inner rectangles or bandwidth related parameters in FIG. 5B are subsets of the outer ones. Each inner rectangle or bandwidth related parameter is smaller than or equal to any of its superset bandwidth. As one example, UE allocated RB < UE BWP <Maximum configured transmission BW <UE channel BW <BS channel BW.

[0091] As illustrated in FIG. 5B, according to the proposed solution discussed herein, the configured GB is larger than the GB in the legacy solution, while the maximum configured transmission bandwidth (also called as the configured maximum transmission bandwidth) is smaller than the maximum transmission bandwidth in the legacy solution.

[0092] In some example embodiments, the configured guard band may be one of the following: a symmetrical two-side guard band, an asymmetrical two-side guard band, or a one-side guard band.

[0093] Next, the first apparatus 410 determines (535) the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth based at least in part on the above information. Then, the first apparatus 410 determines (540), based at least in part on the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth, a maximum transmit output power and / or a power boost factor to be used for a transmission from the first apparatus 410 to the second apparatus 420. After that, the first apparatus 410 may communicate (555) with the second apparatus 420 accordingly.

[0094] In some example embodiments, whether to apply the information is conditionally. In some embodiments, the information related to the guard band and / or the transmission bandwidth may be applicable to one of the following: • all of the transmissions from the first apparatus 410 to the second apparatus 420, • single carrier transmissions, • a transmission associated specific modulation, or • transmissions excluding intra-band contiguous carrier aggregation (CA).

[0095] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 410 is a reduced capability (RedCap) apparatus and the capability-related information may comprise at least one of the following: a specific maximum transmission bandwidth defined for RedCap apparatus, or a specific (minimum) guard band defined for RedCap apparatus. Alternatively, in some example embodiments, the first apparatus 410 is other low capability devices (e g., loT and the likes) or for legacy devices in power saving or high power capability mode, and the capability-related information may comprise related maximum transmission bandwidth / (minimum) guard band specific for such devices.

[0096] In some example embodiments, the first configuration comprises: an indication of a minimum guard band configured to the first apparatus 410 (e.g., the minimum guard band is deduced based on SCS configuration and UE CBW and the minimum guard band is indicated by related indication implicitly), and a respective adjustment factor (such as, a scaling factor / rule or an offset) applied to the minimum guard band to determine the confiugured guard band.

[0097] In some example embodiments, the at least one parameter indicated by the second configuration comprises at least one of the following: • a maximum transmission bandwidth configured to the first apparatus 410, • a channel bandwidth of the first apparatus 410, • a channel bandwidth configured to the first apparatus 410, • a bandwidth part (BWP) configured to the first apparatus 410, • a subcarrier spacing (SCS) configured to the first apparatus 410, or • an adjustment factor for determining the guard band and / or the transmission bandwidth.

[0098] In some example embodiments, the first and / or the second configuration may be received from the second apparatus 420. As illustrated in FIG. 5 A, the first apparatus 410 may receive (530-2) the first and / or the second configuration.

[0099] Accordingly, as illustrated in the second apparatus 420 determines (525) the information comprising the first configuration and / or the second configuration indicating at least one parameter associated with the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth to be used by the first apparatus 410. Then the second apparatus 420 transmit (530-1) the information (i.e., the first configuration and the second configuration) related to the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth.

[0100] In some example embodiments, the first and / or the second configuration is configured with respect to one of the following: a specific cell, a specific group of first apparatus 410es, or a specific first apparatus 410.

[0101] In some example embodiments, the first and / or the second configuration may be comprised in one of the following: a master information block (MIB), a system information block (SIB), a radio resource control (RRC) signaling, downlink control information (DCI) or a MAC CE.

[0102] For a better understanding, some example specific embodiments are discussed as below. In some example embodiments, UE obtains guard band configuration (i.e., the above information). UE may obtain the (explicit) guard band configuration from NW, or may determine it (additionally or alternatively implicitly) based on at least one of: • UE capability (e.g. limited power / complexity UE such as RedCap may have predefined NRB (<= NRBmax) and guard band (>=GBmin)); • Other received configuration(s) (e.g., configuration of maximum transmission BW, UE channel BW, BWP, SCS, etc ); • For NW indicated guard band configuration, as example, • there may be multiple pre-defined minimum guard band configurations and NW can indicate one of them; • alternatively, scaling rules for GBmin or related parameter(s) is used.

[0103] Still refer to FIG. 5A, the first apparatus 410 may transmit (505-1) a first indication used for requesting the first and / or the second configuration to the second apparatus 420, and the second apparatus 420 may receive 505-2 the first indication accordingly.

[0104] Further, in order to ensure the second apparatus 420 may determine more proper first and / or second configuration, the first apparatus 410 may provide capability-related information to the second apparatus 420. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 5A, the first apparatus 410 may obtain (515) capability-related information of the first apparatus 410 and transmits (520-1) the capability-related information of the first apparatus 410 to the second apparatus 420. The second apparatus 420 may receive (520-2) the capability-related information accordingly.

[0105] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus 420 may determine the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth further based on the capability-related information.

[0106] In some example embodiments, the capability-related information may comprise at least one of the following: • the first apparatus 410 supporting a configurable guard band, • at least one guard band supported or preferred by the first apparatus 410, or • at least one maximum transmission bandwidth supported or preferred by the first apparatus 410.

[0107] In the following, example embodiments about how to determine the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth will be discussed. It should be noted that below example embodiments are applicable for both the first apparatus 410 and the second apparatus 420.

[0108] In some example embodiments, the adjustment factor may be determined based on a parameter value and a second mapping table between the parameter and an adjustment factor, as below table. adjustment factor (GB^ra or scaling factor) NRBconfigured first value NRBconfigured A second value A< NRBconfigured <= B third value B< NRBconfigured C fourth value NRBconfigured >C

[0109] In some example embodiments, the adjustment factor may be comprised in the pre-defined set of adjustment factors.

[0110] In some example embodiments, the configured guard band may be determined based on a parameter value and a first mapping table between the parameter and a guard band. As illustrated in below table, GBconfigured (or other parameter used to determine GBconfigured) is determined based on a mapping table with configuration (e.g., CBW, SCS GBconfigured) (GB configuration is tied to other configuration(s)): GBconfigured (or other parameter used to determine GBconfigured) NRBconfigured first value NRBconfigured <= A second value A< NRBconfigured <= B third value B< NRBconfigured <= C fourth value NRBconfigured >C

[0111] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 410 / the second apparatus 420 may determine the configured maximum transmission bandwidth based at least in part on the adjustment factor and the configured maximum transmission bandwidth, and may further determine the configured guard band based on the configured maximum transmission bandwidth.

[0112] For a better understanding, some example specific embodiments are discussed as below.

[0113] In one embodiment, there are scaling rules with pre-defined scaling values to determine the configured GB by UE and gNB.

[0114] In one embodiment, NW may indicate the configured guard band (GBeonfigured) as absolute value(s) or relative to minimum guard band (GBmin) which is pre-defined with pre-defined scaling rules, or using a mapping table between a configuration (e.g., CBW, SCS, NRBconfigured) and an indicative value of configured GB.

[0115] Alternatively, or additionally, the scaling rules may be applied to the maximum transmission BW NRBmax to deduce NRBConfigured (e.g., NRBconfigured <NRBmax) then GBeonfigured is deduced. As example, for a given configured SCS / channel BW (CBW) (or BWchannei), the configured NRB and GB are determined for example as follows: NRBconfigured = floor(NRBmax * Scaling Factor} BBcon^igUred — (BWchannei * 1000 (kHz) - NRBconfigured * SCS * 12) / 2 - SCS / 2.

[0116] In some example embodiments, the ScalingFactor is comprised in a pre-defined set (e.g., 95%, 90%, 75%, 50%, etc.) and NRBmax is pre-defined.

[0117] The GBtc°ot1^igured on both sides is two times the above GBeonfigured. The total part could be divided equally on both sides for symmetrical GB or not.

[0118] Alternatively, or additionally, GBc°%figured = 2*GBmin + GBextra where GBextra is an additional GB and GBmin is the 5G NR legacy one-sided GB.

[0119] Alternatively, or additionally, GB^°^igured = 2*GBmin * ScalingFactor where ScalingFactor is an adjustment factor and GBmin is the 5G NR legacy one-sided GB.

[0120] In some example embodiments, whether the first apparatus 410 is allowed to apply the configurable guard band may be configured by the second apparatus 420. As illustrated in FIG. 5 A, the second apparatus 420 may transmit (510-1) a second indication used for enabling a configurable guard band at the first apparatus 410, and the first apparatus 410 may receive (510-2) the second indication accordingly.

[0121] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 410 may determine a measurement bandwidth based at least in part on the determined guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth.

[0122] As one example embodiments, a measurement BW (MBW) for ACLR measurement would be based on NRBconfigured or GBCOnfigured instead of NRBmax (e.g., legacy MBW for FR1 defined in 38.101-l“Table 6.5.2.4.1-1: NR ACLR measurement bandwidth” is fixed based on maximum transmission bandwidth NRBmax). As example for FR1, MBW would be: MBWconfigured = REFSCS * (12 * NRBconfigured + 1) / 1000, or MBW a = BW, ,-GBtotal iilJvvconfigured channel unconfigured*

[0123] In some example embodiments, REFSCS is in KHz and divided by 1000 to calculate MBW in MHz and the other related parameters may using same unit (e.g., kHz / MHz).

[0124] It shou be noted that the sum of maximum configured transmission BW (depends on NRB configured and SCS) and the configured guard bands may be restricted to be less than or equal to channel BW. The channel BW could be maintained as 5GNR legacy, or additional CBW can be defined. Further, the number of allocated RBs should be less than Or equal NRBconfigured-

[0125] Additionally ,or alternatively, in some example embodiments, UE may be configured with both NRBconfigured and NRBmax and based on this UE knows the guard band can be obtained as above (BW channel is determined based on NRBmax).

[0126] In some example embodiments, UE channel bandwidth may be signalled as maximum transmission bandwidth (number of RBs). Legacy signalling only allows predefined values. If values other than in the table are configured then the UE may interpret that there is guard band and guard band size is difference of closest larger tabled value and the signalled value divided by 2 for symmetrical GB or not for one sided GB, or other split of this total GB for non-symmetrical GB.

[0127] In some example embodiments, UE may signal the additional channel bandwidths of the UE (in addition to the pre-defined value) to the NW. In this event, only supported values and the pre-defined values may be allowed in signalling.

[0128] In some example embodiments, UE may determine the maximum transmit output power (Pcmax) at least partially based on the OBO / MPR associated with the determined configured GB, wherein the applied OBO <= MPR upper bound which is predefined. It may define smaller MPR upper bound for larger GB configuration compared to the legacy MPR with legacy CBW and GB.

[0129] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 410 may transmit (545-1) the determined maximum transmit output power and / or the determined power boost factor to the second apparatus 420.

[0130] As one example embodiment, UE may report an indicative value for the determined maximum configured power to NW / gNB (e.g., indicate Pcmax or power boost factor with configured GB).

[0131] In some example embodiments, UE may report capability for configurable GB and may include indicative value of the list of supported GBs.

[0132] In some example embodiments, UE may indicate its supported or preferred NRB(s) and GB(s) for higher transmit power (if it is per UE).

[0133] In some example embodiments, NW may indicate such configuration(s) in MIB / SIB if per cell for all UEs, or RRC / MAC / DCI if per UE or UE group (only for UE in poor coverage or power saving only for RedCap / IoT low battery legacy UEs).

[0134] In some example embodiments, UE can be calibrated / prepared earlier for the suitable output backoff (pre-defined NRB or scaling factors).

[0135] In some example embodiments, it can be preferably per cell suitable for Standalone (SA) 6G energy efficient native design for all 6G UEs.

[0136] In some example embodiments, if it is per UE, UE may request guard band relaxation / scaling and / or indicate the supported scaling factor / configured GB or NRB.

[0137] In some example embodiments, UE may indicate the power boost or Pcmax for at least one configured GB or NRB.

[0138] In some example embodiments, gNB can use the information in the GB for advanced Rx, e.g., DPoD where the OOB non-linearity are considered for better compensation of PA distortion.

[0139] In some example embodiments, gNB can activate a mode where UE is allowed to use conditionally the additional GB (additional GB= GBconfigured - legacy GBmin). For example, in order to insert tones for PAPR reduction (e.g. tone reservation or FDSS-SE) if coverage / power limited UE, etc.

[0140] In some example embodiments, one GB configuration could be applicable for all UL transmissions if defined per cell or restricted for pre-defined cases, e.g.: • only for single carrier transmissions • only for specific modulation orders, e.g., lower-order modulations • all UL excluding intra-band contiguous CA with single PA architecture to avoid negative MPR impact due to larger GB. • another scaling value could be defined for specific cases (e.g., intra-band CA) where a larger NRB or scaling factor >1 can be used so that the adjacent carriers become closer (e.g., near zero GB) and may lead to better CA MPR.

[0141] Still refer to FIG. 5A, in some example embodiments, the second apparatus 420 may apply the information in the configured guard band for compensating a power amplifier distortion.

[0142] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus 420 may schedule (550), based at least in part on the guard band and / or the transmission bandwidth, a transmission from the first apparatus 410 to the second apparatus 420.

[0143] Reference is now made to FIG. 6, which illustrates an example signalling flow 600 of communication in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0144] In operation, UE may optionally indicate UE capability (e.g., configurable guard band, or size of the guard band(s), and gNB determines the guard band configuration. In addition, gNB may utilize e.g., UE specific information from UE capability.

[0145] Next, gNB configures guard band either implicitly or explicitly, i.e., gNB transmits the guard band configuration to the UE. In some example embodiments, the guard band may be explicitly indicated, e.g., in PRBs. Alternatively, in some other example embodiments, the guard band configuration may be e.g., BW, SCS or other parameters, based on these parameters UE may implicitly determine the guard band. At Step 4: UE determines the guard band based on the obtained information (e.g. based on the received NW configuration and / or UE capability).

[0146] In the following, gNB schedules UE(s), by considering the configured guard band. As for the UE, UE transmits uplink transmissions (e.g. data or control) in configured BW at least based on the configured guard band.

[0147] Reference is now made to FIG. 7, which illustrates histograms 700 of ACLRs in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The histogram (a) is associated with the implementation of the present disclosure, while the histogram (b) is associated with the implementation of the legacy system. Example (a) of FIG. 7 is associated with the proposed solution with configured GB, Example (b) of FIG. 7 is associated with a legacy system, where both systems are using same PUSCH configurations and RF devices (i e., PA OBO, LO center frequency, filter etc.,)

[0148] The following result highlights the potential OBO and MPR reduction, and thus higher transmit power where the out-of-band emissions were leading larger OBO for legacy UE and legacy guard band.

[0149] In this example, the same PA and RF devices (i.e., same PA OBO, filter, local oscillator center frequency centered in CBW, etc.) are maintained like legacy with the same channel BW. The number of allocated NRB for legacy system and the proposed solution is the same for fair comparison (i.e., NRBaiiocated <= NRBCOnfigured), where the legacy system needs to satisfy RF requirements with the legacy GB, while the proposed solution with adaptive GB may use a larger GB within same channel BW. In this example, PUSCH with QPSK, 15 KHz subcarrier spacing, 10MHz channel BW (i.e., NRBmax legacy=52 RB), and NRBCOnfigured =46 RB and thus 6 RBs are the extra GB (assumed symmetric with 3 RBs on each side, i.e., one sided GB is total G GBmin + GBextra divided by two), and PUSCH NRBaiiocated for both cases is set to the maximum (i.e., 46 RB). Power class 2 and its corresponding ACLR limit in the specs of 31 dB is considered.

[0150] According to the above processes, a higher UE transmit power and power boost potential for cyclic prefix (CP)-orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) / discrete fourier transform (DFT)-s-OFDM all or most modulation in all FRs is enabled. Further, a higher user experienced throughput and / or coverage may be achieved due to a higher transmit power, a higher flexibility and better spectrum exploitation for energy efficient native design (load depending on guard configuration^ it can be deactivated for high load and / or activated only for reduced / low capability devices, where more NRB are needed).

[0151] In addition, due to lower OBO / MPR where UE PA operates with higher PA efficiency, and faster transmission with this higher power (i.e., faster switch to power saving mode as universal data transceiver, uDTx), a higher UE power saving may be achieved. It also enables a potential gNB Rx complexity / processing reduction due to less UL NRBs utilization without impacting overall cell capacity, thanks for higher transmit power that enables larger MCS.

[0152] Similar with the legacy process, a same gNB Rx chain processing is performed on all UL received signals, and thus no additional gNB blocks is introduced and there is no needs for advancing the gNB Rx. Example method

[0153] FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of an example method 800 implemented at a first apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 800 will be described from the perspective of the first apparatus 410 in FIG. 4.

[0154] At block 810, the first apparatus obtains information related to a configured guard band and / or a configured maximum transmission bandwidth to be used by the first apparatus, the information comprising at least one of the following: capability-related information of the first apparatus related to guard band and transmission bandwidth, a first configuration indicating the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth configured to the first apparatus, or a second configuration indicating at least one parameter associated with the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth to be used by the first apparatus.

[0155] At block 820, the first apparatus determines, the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth based at least in part on the information.

[0156] At block 830, the first apparatus determines, based at least in part on the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth, a maximum transmit output power and / or a power boost factor to be used for a transmission from the first apparatus to a second apparatus.

[0157] In some example embodiments, the configured guard band is larger than a predefined minimum guard band and the configured maximum transmission bandwidth is smaller than a pre-defined maximum transmission bandwidth.

[0158] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus is a reduced capability (RedCap) apparatus and the capability-related information comprises at least one of the following: a specific maximum transmission bandwidth defined for RedCap apparatus, or a specific guard band defined for RedCap apparatus.

[0159] In some example embodiments, the first configuration comprises: an indication of a minimum guard band configured to the first apparatus, and a respective adjustment factor applied to the minimum guard band to determine the confiugured guard band.

[0160] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus may receive the first and / or the second configuration from the second apparatus.

[0161] In some example embodiments, the at least one parameter comprises at least one of the following: a maximum transmission bandwidth configured to the first apparatus, a channel bandwidth of the first apparatus, a channel bandwidth configured to the first apparatus, a bandwidth part (BWP) configured to the first apparatus, a subcarrier spacing (SCS) configured to the first apparatus, or an adjustment factor for determining the guard band and / or the transmission bandwidth.

[0162] In some example embodiments, the configured guard band is determined based on a parameter value and a first mapping table between the parameter and a guard band, or the adjustment factor is determined based on a parameter value and a second mapping table between the parameter and an adjustment factor.

[0163] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus may determine the configured maximum transmission bandwidth based at least in part on the adjustment factor and the configured maximum transmission bandwidth; and determining the configured guard band based on the configured maximum transmission bandwidth.

[0164] In some example embodiments, the adjustment factor is comprised in the predefined set of adjustment factors.

[0165] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus may determine a measurement bandwidth based at least in part on the determined guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth.

[0166] In some example embodiments, the configured guard band is one of the following: a symmetrical two-side guard band, an asymmetrical two-side guard band, or a one-side guard band.

[0167] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus may transmit, to the second apparatus, capability-related information of the first apparatus comprising at least one of the following: thing first apparatus supporting a configurable guard band, at least one guard band supported or preferred by the first apparatus, or at least one maximum transmission bandwidth supported or preferred by the first apparatus.

[0168] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus may transmit, to the second apparatus, a first indication used for requesting the first and / or the second configuration; and / or receiving, from the second apparatus, a second indication used for enabling a configurable guard band at the first apparatus.

[0169] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus may transmit the determined maximum transmit output power and / or the determined power boost factor to the second apparatus.

[0170] In some example embodiments, the first and / or the second configuration is configured with respect to one of the following: a specific cell, a specific group of first apparatuses, or a specific first apparatus.

[0171] In some example embodiments, the first and / or the second configuration is comprised in one of the following: a master information block (MIB), a system information block (SIB), a radio resource control (RRC) signaling, downlink control information (DCI) or a medium access control control element (MAC CE).

[0172] In some example embodiments, the information related to the guard band and / or the transmission bandwidth is applicable to one of the following: all of the transmissions from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, single carrier transmissions, a transmission associated specific modulation, or transmissions excluding intra-band contiguous carrier aggregation (CA).

[0173] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus is a terminal device, and the second apparatus is a network device.

[0174] FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of an example method 800 implemented at a second apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 800 will be described from the perspective of the second apparatus 420 in FIG. 4.

[0175] At block 810, the second apparatus determines information related to a configured guard band and / or a configured maximum transmission bandwidth to be used by the first apparatus, the information comprising at least one of the following: a first configuration indicating the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth configured to the first apparatus, or a second configuration indicating at least one parameter associated with the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth to be used by the first apparatus.

[0176] At block 820, the second apparatus transmit, to the first apparatus, the information related to the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth.

[0177] In some example embodiments, the configured guard band is larger than a predefined minimum guard band and the configured maximum transmission bandwidth is smaller than a pre-defined maximum transmission bandwidth.

[0178] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus is a reduced capability (RedCap) apparatus and the capability-related information comprises at least one of the following: a specific maximum transmission bandwidth defined for RedCap apparatus, or a specific guard band defined for RedCap apparatus.

[0179] In some example embodiments, the first configuration comprises: an indication of a minimum guard band configured to the first apparatus, and a respective adjustment factor applied to the minimum guard band to determine the confiugured guard band.

[0180] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus may transmit the first and / or the second configuration from the second apparatus.

[0181] In some example embodiments, the at least one parameter comprises at least one of the following: a maximum transmission bandwidth configured to the first apparatus, a channel bandwidth of the first apparatus, a channel bandwidth configured to the first apparatus, a bandwidth part (BWP) configured to the first apparatus, a subcarrier spacing (SCS) configured to the first apparatus, or an adjustment factor for determining the guard band and / or the transmission bandwidth.

[0182] In some example embodiments, the configured guard band is determined based on a parameter value and a first mapping table between the parameter and a guard band, or the adjustment factor is determined based on a parameter value and a second mapping table between the parameter and an adjustment factor.

[0183] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus may determine the configured maximum transmission bandwidth based at least in part on the adjustment factor and the configured maximum transmission bandwidth; and determining the configured guard band based on the configured maximum transmission bandwidth.

[0184] In some example embodiments, the adjustment factor is comprised in the predefined set of adjustment factors.

[0185] In some example embodiments, the configured guard band is one of the following: a symmetrical two-side guard band, an asymmetrical two-side guard band, or a one-side guard band.

[0186] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus may receive, from the first apparatus, capability-related information of the first apparatus related to guard band and transmission bandwidth; and determining the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth further based on the capability-related information.

[0187] In some example embodiments, the capability-related information comprises at least one of the following: the first apparatus supporting a configurable guard band, at least one guard band supported or preferred by the first apparatus, or at least one maximum transmission bandwidth supported or preferred by the first apparatus.

[0188] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus may receive, from the first apparatus, a first indication used for requesting the first and / or the second configuration; and / or transmit, to the first apparatus, a second indication used for enabling a configurable guard band at the first apparatus.

[0189] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus may receive, from the first apparatus, a maximum transmit output power and / or the power boost factor determined by the first apparatus based at least in part on the guard band and / or the transmission bandwidth.

[0190] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus may apply the information in the configured guard band for compensating a power amplifier distortion.

[0191] In some example embodiments, the first and / or the second configuration is configured with respect to one of the following: a specific cell, a specific group of first apparatuses, or a specific first apparatus.

[0192] In some example embodiments, the first and / or the second configuration is comprised in one of the following: a master information block (MIB), a system information block (SIB), a radio resource control (RRC) signaling, downlink control information (DCI) or a medium access control control element (MAC CE).

[0193] In some example embodiments, the information related to the guard band and / or the transmission bandwidth is applicable to one of the following: all of the transmissions from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, single carrier transmissions, a transmission associated specific modulation, or transmissions excluding intra-band contiguous carrier aggregation (CA).

[0194] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus may schedule, based at least in part on the guard band and / or the transmission bandwidth, a transmission from the first apparatus to the second apparatus.

[0195] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus is a terminal device, and the second apparatus is a network device. Example Apparatus, Device and Medium

[0196] In some example embodiments, a first apparatus capable of performing any of the method 800 (for example, the first apparatus in FIG. 4) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 800. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The first apparatus may be implemented as or included in the first apparatus in FIG. 4.

[0197] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus comprises means for obtaining information related to a configured guard band and / or a configured maximum transmission bandwidth to be used by the first apparatus, the information comprising at least one of the following: capability-related information of the first apparatus related to guard band and transmission bandwidth, means for a first configuration indicating the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth configured to the first apparatus, or a second configuration indicating at least one parameter associated with the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth to be used by the first apparatus; means for determining, the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth based at least in part on the information; and means for determining, based at least in part on the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth, a maximum transmit output power and / or a power boost factor to be used for a transmission from the first apparatus to a second apparatus.

[0198] In some example embodiments, the configured guard band is larger than a predefined minimum guard band and the configured maximum transmission bandwidth is smaller than a pre-defined maximum transmission bandwidth.

[0199] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus is a reduced capability (RedCap) apparatus and the capability-related information comprises at least one of the following: a specific maximum transmission bandwidth defined for RedCap apparatus, or a specific guard band defined for RedCap apparatus.

[0200] In some example embodiments, the first configuration comprises: an indication of a minimum guard band configured to the first apparatus, and a respective adjustment factor applied to the minimum guard band to determine the confiugured guard band.

[0201] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for receiving the first and / or the second configuration from the second apparatus.

[0202] In some example embodiments, the at least one parameter comprises at least one of the following: a maximum transmission bandwidth configured to the first apparatus, a channel bandwidth of the first apparatus, a channel bandwidth configured to the first apparatus, a bandwidth part (BWP) configured to the first apparatus, a subcarrier spacing (SCS) configured to the first apparatus, or an adjustment factor for determining the guard band and / or the transmission bandwidth.

[0203] In some example embodiments, the configured guard band is determined based on a parameter value and a first mapping table between the parameter and a guard band, or the adjustment factor is determined based on a parameter value and a second mapping table between the parameter and an adjustment factor.

[0204] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for determining the configured maximum transmission bandwidth based at least in part on the adjustment factor and the configured maximum transmission bandwidth; and means for determining the configured guard band based on the configured maximum transmission bandwidth.

[0205] In some example embodiments, the adjustment factor is comprised in the predefined set of adjustment factors.

[0206] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for determining a measurement bandwidth based at least in part on the determined guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth.

[0207] In some example embodiments, the configured guard band is one of the following: a symmetrical two-side guard band, an asymmetrical two-side guard band, or a one-side guard band.

[0208] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for transmitting, to the second apparatus, capability-related information of the first apparatus comprising at least one of the following: means for thing first apparatus supporting a configurable guard band, at least one guard band supported or preferred by the first apparatus, or at least one maximum transmission bandwidth supported or preferred by the first apparatus.

[0209] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for transmitting, to the second apparatus, a first indication used for requesting the first and / or the second configuration; and / or means for receiving, from the second apparatus, a second indication used for enabling a configurable guard band at the first apparatus.

[0210] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for transmitting the determined maximum transmit output power and / or the determined power boost factor to the second apparatus.

[0211] In some example embodiments, the first and / or the second configuration is configured with respect to one of the following: a specific cell, a specific group of first apparatuses, or a specific first apparatus.

[0212] In some example embodiments, the first and / or the second configuration is comprised in one of the following: a master information block (MIB), a system information block (SIB), a radio resource control (RRC) signaling, downlink control information (DCI) or a medium access control control element (MAC CE).

[0213] In some example embodiments, the information related to the guard band and / or the transmission bandwidth is applicable to one of the following: all of the transmissions from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, single carrier transmissions, a transmission associated specific modulation, or transmissions excluding intra-band contiguous carrier aggregation (CA).

[0214] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus is a terminal device, and the second apparatus is a network device.

[0215] In some example embodiments, a second apparatus capable of performing any of the method 800 (for example, the second apparatus 420 in FIG. 4) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 800. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The second apparatus may be implemented as or included in the second apparatus 420 in FIG. 4.

[0216] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus comprises means for determining information related to a configured guard band and / or a configured maximum transmission bandwidth to be used by the first apparatus, the information comprising at least one of the following: means for a first configuration indicating the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth configured to the first apparatus, or means for a second configuration indicating at least one parameter associated with the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth to be used by the first apparatus; means for transmitting, to the first apparatus, the information related to the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth.

[0217] In some example embodiments, the configured guard band is larger than a predefined minimum guard band and the configured maximum transmission bandwidth is smaller than a pre-defined maximum transmission bandwidth.

[0218] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus is a reduced capability (RedCap) apparatus and the capability-related information comprises at least one of the following: a specific maximum transmission bandwidth defined for RedCap apparatus, or a specific guard band defined for RedCap apparatus.

[0219] In some example embodiments, the first configuration comprises: an indication of a minimum guard band configured to the first apparatus, and a respective adjustment factor applied to the minimum guard band to determine the confiugured guard band.

[0220] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises: means for transmitting the first and / or the second configuration from the second apparatus.

[0221] In some example embodiments, the at least one parameter comprises at least one of the following: a maximum transmission bandwidth configured to the first apparatus, a channel bandwidth of the first apparatus, a channel bandwidth configured to the first apparatus, a bandwidth part (BWP) configured to the first apparatus, a subcarrier spacing (SCS) configured to the first apparatus, or an adjustment factor for determining the guard band and / or the transmission bandwidth.

[0222] In some example embodiments, the configured guard band is determined based on a parameter value and a first mapping table between the parameter and a guard band, or the adjustment factor is determined based on a parameter value and a second mapping table between the parameter and an adjustment factor.

[0223] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises: means for determining the configured maximum transmission bandwidth based at least in part on the adjustment factor and the configured maximum transmission bandwidth; and means for determining the configured guard band based on the configured maximum transmission bandwidth.

[0224] In some example embodiments, the adjustment factor is comprised in the predefined set of adjustment factors.

[0225] In some example embodiments, the configured guard band is one of the following: a symmetrical two-side guard band, an asymmetrical two-side guard band, or a one-side guard band.

[0226] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises: means for receiving, from the first apparatus, capability-related information of the first apparatus related to guard band and transmission bandwidth; and means for determining the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth further based on the capability-related information.

[0227] In some example embodiments, the capability-related information comprises at least one of the following: the first apparatus supporting a configurable guard band, at least one guard band supported or preferred by the first apparatus, or at least one maximum transmission bandwidth supported or preferred by the first apparatus.

[0228] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises: means for receiving, from the first apparatus, a first indication used for requesting the first and / or the second configuration; and / or means for transmitting , to the first apparatus, a second indication used for enabling a configurable guard band at the first apparatus.

[0229] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises: means for receiving, from the first apparatus, a maximum transmit output power and / or the power boost factor determined by the first apparatus based at least in part on the guard band and / or the transmission bandwidth.

[0230] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises: means for applying the information in the configured guard band for compensating a power amplifier distortion.

[0231] In some example embodiments, the first and / or the second configuration is configured with respect to one of the following: a specific cell, a specific group of first apparatuses, or a specific first apparatus.

[0232] In some example embodiments, the first and / or the second configuration is comprised in one of the following: a master information block (MIB), a system information block (SIB), a radio resource control (RRC) signaling, downlink control information (DCI) or a medium access control control element (MAC CE).

[0233] In some example embodiments, the information related to the guard band and / or the transmission bandwidth is applicable to one of the following: all of the transmissions from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, single carrier transmissions, a transmission associated specific modulation, or transmissions excluding intra-band contiguous carrier aggregation (CA).

[0234] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises: means for scheduling, based at least in part on the guard band and / or the transmission bandwidth, a transmission from the first apparatus to the second apparatus.

[0235] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus is a terminal device, and the second apparatus is a network device.

[0236] FIG. 10 is a simplified block diagram of a device 1000 that is suitable for implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure. The device 1000 may be provided to implement a communication device, for example, the first apparatus 410 and the second apparatus 420 in FIG. 4. As shown, the device 1000 includes one or more processors 1010, one or more memories 1020 coupled to the processor 1010, and one or more communication modules 1040 coupled to the processor 1010.

[0237] The communication module 1040 is for bidirectional communications. The communication module 1040 has one or more communication interfaces to facilitate communication with one or more other modules or devices. The communication interfaces may represent any interface that is necessary for communication with other network elements. In some example embodiments, the communication module 1040 may include at least one antenna.

[0238] The processor 1010 may be of any type suitable to the local technical network and may include one or more of the following: general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and processors based on multicore processor architecture, as non-limiting examples. The device 1000 may have multiple processors, such as an application specific integrated circuit chip that is slaved in time to a clock which synchronizes the main processor.

[0239] The memory 1020 may include one or more non-volatile memories and one or more volatile memories. Examples of the non-volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a Read Only Memory (ROM) 1024, an electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM), a flash memory, a hard disk, a compact disc (CD), a digital video disk (DVD), an optical disk, a laser disk, and other magnetic storage and / or optical storage. Examples of the volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a random-access memory (RAM) 1022 and other volatile memories that will not last in the power-down duration.

[0240] A computer program 1030 includes computer executable instructions that are executed by the associated processor 1010. The instructions of the program 1030 may include instructions for performing operations / acts of some example embodiments of the present disclosure. The program 1030 may be stored in the memory, e.g., the ROM 1024. The processor 1010 may perform any suitable actions and processing by loading the program 1030 into the RAM 1022.

[0241] The example embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented by means of the program 1030 so that the device 1000 may perform any process of the disclosure as discussed with reference to FIG. 4 to FIG. 9. The example embodiments of the present disclosure may also be implemented by hardware or by a combination of software and hardware.

[0242] In some example embodiments, the program 1030 may be tangibly contained in a computer readable medium which may be included in the device 1000 (such as in the memory 1020) or other storage devices that are accessible by the device 1000. The device 1000 may load the program 1030 from the computer readable medium to the RAM 1022 for execution. In some example embodiments, the computer readable medium may include any types of non-transitory storage medium, such as ROM, EPROM, a flash memory, a hard disk, CD, DVD, and the like. 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 vs. ROM).

[0243] FIG. II shows an example of the computer readable medium 1100 which may be in form of CD, DVD or other optical storage disk. The computer readable medium 1100 has the program 1030 stored thereon.

[0244] Generally, various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic or any combination thereof. Some aspects may be implemented in hardware, and other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device. Although various aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated and described as block diagrams, flowcharts, or using some other pictorial representations, it is to be understood that the block, apparatus, system, technique or method described herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

[0245] Some example embodiments of the present disclosure also provide at least one computer program product tangibly stored on a computer readable medium, such as a non-transitory computer readable medium. The computer program product includes computerexecutable instructions, such as those included in program modules, being executed in a device on a target physical or virtual processor, to carry out any of the methods as described above. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, libraries, objects, classes, components, data structures, or the like that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The functionality of the program modules may be combined or split between program modules as desired in various embodiments. Machine-executable instructions for program modules may be executed within a local or distributed device. In a distributed device, program modules may be located in both local and remote storage media.

[0246] Program code for carrying out methods of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. The program code may be provided to a processor or controller of a general-purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus, such that the program code, when executed by the processor or controller, cause the functions / operations specified in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams to be implemented. The program code may execute entirely on a machine, partly on the machine, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the machine and partly on a remote machine or entirely on the remote machine or server.

[0247] In the context of the present disclosure, the computer program code or related data may be carried by any suitable carrier to enable the device, apparatus or processor to perform various processes and operations as described above. Examples of the carrier include a signal, computer readable medium, and the like.

[0248] The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable medium may include but not limited to an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples of the computer readable storage medium would include an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

[0249] Further, although operations are depicted in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Likewise, although several specific implementation details are contained in the above discussions, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the present disclosure, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular embodiments. Unless explicitly stated, certain features that are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, unless explicitly stated, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented in a plurality of embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

[0250] Although the present disclosure has been described in languages specific to structural features and / or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the present disclosure defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims or any of the below embodiments.

[0251] Embodiment 1: A second apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the second apparatus to: determine information related to a configured guard band and / or a configured maximum transmission bandwidth to be used by the first apparatus, the information comprising at least one of the following: a first configuration indicating the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth configured to the first apparatus, or a second configuration indicating at least one parameter associated with the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth to be used by the first apparatus; transmit the information related to the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth to the first apparatus.

[0252] Embodiment 2: The second apparatus of embodiment 1, wherein the first apparatus is a reduced capability (RedCap) apparatus and the capability-related information comprises at least one of the following: a specific maximum transmission bandwidth defined for RedCap apparatus, or a specific guard band defined for RedCap apparatus.

[0253] Embodiment 3: The second apparatus of embodiment 1 or 2, wherein the first configuration comprises: an indication of a minimum guard band configured to the first apparatus, and a respective adjustment factor applied to the minimum guard band to determine confiugured the guard band.

[0254] Embodiment 4: The second apparatus of embodiment 1 or 2, wherein the second apparatus is caused to: transmit the first and / or the second configuration from the second apparatus.

[0255] Embodiment 5: The second apparatus of any of embodiments 1 to 3, wherein the at least one parameter comprises at least one of the following: a maximum transmission bandwidth configured to the first apparatus,a channel bandwidth of the first apparatus, a channel bandwidth configured to the first apparatus, a bandwidth part (BWP) configured to the first apparatus, a subcarrier spacing (SCS) configured to the first apparatus, or an adjustment factor for determining the guard band and / or the transmission bandwidth.

[0256] Embodiment 6: The second apparatus of embodiments 5, wherein, the configured guard band is determined based on a parameter value and a first mapping table between the parameter and a guard band, or the adjustment factor is determined based on a parameter value and a second mapping table between the parameter and an adjustment factor.

[0257] Embodiment 7: The second apparatus of embodiment 5, wherein the second apparatus is caused to: determine the configured maximum transmission bandwidth based at least in part on the adjustment factor and the configured maximum transmission bandwidth; and determine the configured guard band based on the configured maximum transmission bandwidth.

[0258] Embodiment 8: The second apparatus of embodiment 5, wherein the adjustment factor is comprised in the pre-defined set of adjustment factors.

[0259] Embodiment 9: The second apparatus of any of embodiments 1 to 8, wherein the configured guard band is one of the following: a symmetrical two-side guard band, an asymmetrical two-side guard band, or a one-side guard band.

[0260] Embodiment 10: The second apparatus of any of embodiments 1 to 9, wherein the second apparatus is further caused to: receive, from the first apparatus, capability-related information of the first apparatus related to guard band and transmission bandwidth; and determine the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth further based on the capability-related information.

[0261] Embodiment 11: The second apparatus of embodiment 10, wherein the capability-related information comprises at least one of the following: the first apparatus supporting a configurable guard band, at least one guard band supported or preferred by the first apparatus, or at least one maximum transmission bandwidth supported or preferred by the first apparatus.

[0262] Embodiment 12: The second apparatus of any of embodiments 1 to 11, wherein the second apparatus is further caused to: receive, from the first apparatus, a first indication used for requesting the first and / or the second configuration; and / or transmit, to the first apparatus, a second indication used for enabling a configurable guard band at the first apparatus.

[0263] Embodiment 13: The second apparatus of any of embodiments 1 to 12, wherein the second apparatus is further caused to: receive, from the first apparatus, a maximum transmit output power and / or the power boost factor determined by the first apparatus based at least in part on the guard band and / or the transmission bandwidth.

[0264] Embodiment 14: The second apparatus of any of embodiments 1 to 13, wherein the second apparatus is further caused to: apply the information in the configured guard band for compensating a power amplifier distortion.

[0265] Embodiment 15: The second apparatus of any of embodiments 1 to 14, wherein the first and / or the second configuration is configured with respect to one of the following: a specific cell, a specific group of first apparatuses, or a specific first apparatus.

[0266] Embodiment 16: The second apparatus of any of embodiments 1 to 15, wherein the first and / or the second configuration is comprised in one of the following: a master information block (MIB), a system information block (SIB), a radio resource control (RRC) signaling, downlink control information (DCI) or a medium access control control element (MAC CE).

[0267] Embodiment 17: The second apparatus of any of embodiments 1 to 16, wherein the information related to the guard band and / or the transmission bandwidth is applicable to one of the following: all of the transmissions from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, single carrier transmissions, a transmission associated specific modulation, or transmissions excluding intra-band contiguous carrier aggregation (CA).

[0268] Embodiment 18: The second apparatus of any of embodiments 1 to 37, wherein the second apparatus is further caused to: schedule, based at least in part on the guard band and / or the transmission bandwidth, a transmission from the first apparatus to the second apparatus.

[0269] Embodiment 19: The second apparatus of any of embodiments 1 to 18, wherein the configured guard band is larger than a pre-defined minimum guard band and the configured maximum transmission bandwidth is smaller than a pre-defined maximum transmission bandwidth.

[0270] Embodiment 20: The second apparatus of any of embodiments 11 to 19, wherein the first apparatus is a terminal device, and the second apparatus is a network device.

[0271] Embodiment 21: A method comprising: obtaining information related to a configured guard band and / or a configured maximum transmission bandwidth to be used by the first apparatus, the information comprising at least one of the following: capability-related information of the first apparatus related to guard band and transmission bandwidth, a first configuration indicating the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth configured to the first apparatus, or a second configuration indicating at least one parameter associated with the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth to be used by the first apparatus; and determining, the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth based at least in part on the information; determining, based at least in part on the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth, a maximum transmit output power and / or a power boost factor to be used for a transmission from the first apparatus to a second apparatus.

[0272] Embodiment 22: A method comprising: determining information related to a configured guard band and / or a configured maximum transmission bandwidth to be used by the first apparatus, the information comprising at least one of the following: a first configuration indicating the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth configured to the first apparatus, or a second configuration indicating at least one parameter associated with the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth to be used by the first apparatus; and transmitting, to the first apparatus, the information related to the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth.

[0273] Embodiment 23: A first apparatus comprising: means for obtaining information related to a configured guard band and / or a configured maximum transmission bandwidth to be used by the first apparatus, the information comprising at least one of the following: capability-related information of the first apparatus related to guard band and transmission bandwidth, a first configuration indicating the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth configured to the first apparatus, or a second configuration indicating at least one parameter associated with the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth to be used by the first apparatus; means for determining, the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth based at least in part on the information; and means for determining, based at least in part on the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth, a maximum transmit output power and / or a power boost factor to be used for a transmission from the first apparatus to a second apparatus.

[0274] Embodiment 24: A second apparatus comprising: means for determining information related to a configured guard band and / or a configured maximum transmission bandwidth to be used by the first apparatus, the information comprising at least one of the following: a first configuration indicating the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth configured to the first apparatus, or a second configuration indicating at least one parameter associated with the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth to be used by the first apparatus; and means for transmitting, to the first apparatus, the information related to the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth. 5

[0275] Embodiment 25: A computer readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus at least to perform the method of embodiment 21 or 22.

Claims

1. A first apparatus comprising:at least one processor; andat least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus to:obtain information related to a configured guard band and / or a configured maximum transmission bandwidth to be used by the first apparatus, the information comprising at least one of the following:capability-related information of the first apparatus related to guard band and transmission bandwidth,a first configuration indicating the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth configured to the first apparatus, ora second configuration indicating at least one parameter associated with the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth to be used by the first apparatus;determine, the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth based at least in part on the information; anddetermine, based at least in part on the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth, a maximum transmit output power and / or a power boost factor to be used for a transmission from the first apparatus to a second apparatus.

2. The first apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first apparatus is a reduced capability (RedCap) apparatus and the capability-related information comprises at least one of the following:a specific maximum transmission bandwidth defined for RedCap apparatus, ora specific guard band defined for RedCap apparatus.

3. The first apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first configuration comprises:an indication of a minimum guard band configured to the first apparatus, anda respective adjustment factor applied to the minimum guard band to determine the confiugured guard band.

4. The first apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first apparatus is caused to: receive the first and / or the second configuration from the second apparatus.

5. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the at least one parameter comprises at least one of the following:a maximum transmission bandwidth configured to the first apparatus,a channel bandwidth of the first apparatus,a channel bandwidth configured to the first apparatus,a bandwidth part (BWP) configured to the first apparatus,a subcarrier spacing (SCS) configured to the first apparatus, oran adjustment factor for determining the guard band and / or the transmission bandwidth.

6. The first apparatus of claim 5, wherein,the configured guard band is determined based on a parameter value and a first mapping table between the parameter and a guard band, orthe adjustment factor is determined based on a parameter value and a second mapping table between the parameter and an adjustment factor.

7. The first apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first apparatus is caused to:determine the configured maximum transmission bandwidth based at least in part on the adjustment factor and the configured maximum transmission bandwidth; anddetermine the configured guard band based on the configured maximum transmission bandwidth.

8. The first apparatus of claim 5, wherein the adjustment factor is comprised in the predefined set of adjustment factors.

9. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first apparatus is caused to: determine a measurement bandwidth based at least in part on the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth.

10. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the configured guard band is one of the following:a symmetrical two-side guard band,an asymmetrical two-side guard band, or a one-side guard band.

11. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the first apparatus is further caused to:transmit, to the second apparatus, capability-related information of the first apparatus comprising at least one of the following:the first apparatus supporting a configurable guard band,at least one guard band supported or preferred by the first apparatus, orat least one maximum transmission bandwidth supported or preferred by the first apparatus.

12. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the first apparatus is further caused to:transmit, to the second apparatus, a first indication used for requesting the first and / or the second configuration; and / orreceive, from the second apparatus, a second indication used for enabling a configurable guard band at the first apparatus.

13. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the first apparatus is further caused to:transmit the determined maximum transmit output power and / or the determined power boost factor to the second apparatus.

14. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 13, wherein the first and / or the second configuration is configured with respect to one of the following: a specific cell, a specific group of first apparatuses, or a specific first apparatus.

15. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 14, wherein the first and / or the second configuration is comprised in one of the following: a master information block (MIB), a system information block (SIB), a radio resource control (RRC) signaling, downlink control information (DC1) or a medium access control control element (MAC CE).

16. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 15, wherein the information related to the guard band and / or the transmission bandwidth is applicable to one of the following:all of the transmissions from the first apparatus to the second apparatus,single carrier transmissions,a transmission associated specific modulation, ortransmissions excluding intra-band contiguous carrier aggregation (CA).

17. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 16, wherein the configured guard band is larger than a pre-defined minimum guard band and the configured maximum transmission bandwidth is smaller than a pre-defined maximum transmission bandwidth.

18. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 17, wherein the first apparatus is a terminal device, and the second apparatus is a network device.

19. A second apparatus comprising:at least one processor; andat least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the second apparatus to:determine information related to a configured guard band and / or a configured maximum transmission bandwidth to be used by the first apparatus, the information comprising at least one of the following:a first configuration indicating the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth configured to the first apparatus, ora second configuration indicating at least one parameter associated with the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth to be used by the first apparatus;transmit the information related to the configured guard band and / or the configured maximum transmission bandwidth to the first apparatus.

20. The second apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first apparatus is a reduced capability (RedCap) apparatus and the capability-related information comprises at least one of the following:a specific maximum transmission bandwidth defined for RedCap apparatus, ora specific guard band defined for RedCap apparatus.

21. The second apparatus of claim 19 or 20, wherein the first configuration comprises: an indication of a minimum guard band configured to the first apparatus, anda respective adjustment factor applied to the minimum guard band to determine confiugured the guard band.

22. The second apparatus of claim 19 or 20, wherein the second apparatus is caused to: transmit the first and / or the second configuration from the second apparatus.

23. The second apparatus of any of claims 19 to 22, wherein the at least one parameter comprises at least one of the following:a maximum transmission bandwidth configured to the first apparatus,a channel bandwidth of the first apparatus,a channel bandwidth configured to the first apparatus,a bandwidth part (BWP) configured to the first apparatus,a subcarrier spacing (SCS) configured to the first apparatus, oran adjustment factor for determining the guard band and / or the transmission bandwidth.

24. The second apparatus of claim 23, wherein,the configured guard band is determined based on a parameter value and a first mapping table between the parameter and a guard band, orthe adjustment factor is determined based on a parameter value and a second mapping table between the parameter and an adjustment factor.

25. The second apparatus of claim 23, wherein the second apparatus is caused to:determine the configured maximum transmission bandwidth based at least in part on the adjustment factor and the configured maximum transmission bandwidth; anddetermine the configured guard band based on the configured maximum transmission bandwidth.

Images