Uplink transmission switching

Abstract

The invention relates to a user equipment (UE) configured to receive, from a base station, a first indication indicative of an uplink transmission switching pattern, wherein the uplink transmission sw

Description

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

[0001] Various example embodiments relate to apparatuses and methods relating to uplink transmission switching. BACKGROUND

[0002] Uplink transmission (TX) switching was starting to be standardised in 3GPP Release-16 where the intention was to be able to transmit messages over two frequency bands using a single TX chain of a user equipment (UE). The UE may not be capable of transmitting simultaneously over the two frequency bands. Therefore, the UE may perform an uplink TX switch from one frequency band to the other. This switch introduces a delay during which the UE may temporarily be unable to transmit over either frequency band.

[0003] In 3GPP Release-18, extensions to the uplink TX switching capabilities were added such that the UE can indicate a need for uplink TX switching when configured with carrier aggregation utilising three or four frequency bands. It is assumed that if the UE needs uplink TX switching for two frequency bands, it is also needed for the third and fourth frequency band. This behaviour is defined in TS 38.214 Section 6.1.6.2.

[0004] It would be desirable to further improve and extend the uplink TX switching mechanism. BRIEF SUMMARY

[0005] The scope of protection sought for various example embodiments of the invention is set out by the independent claims. The example embodiments and features, if any, described in this specification that do not fall under the scope of the independent claims are to be interpreted as examples useful for understanding various embodiments of the invention.

[0006] According to various, but not necessarily all, example embodiments of the invention there is provided an apparatus, comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that when executed by the at least one processor cause the apparatus at least to perform: receiving, from a base station, a first indication indicative of an uplink transmission switching pattern, wherein the uplink transmission switching pattern indicates switching between at least two frequency bands for uplink transmissions of the apparatus; receiving, from the base station, a second indication indicative of at least one frequency band of the at least two frequency bands for carrying uplink control information; receiving, from the base station, a third indication indicative of a timing for a transmission of uplink control information to the base station; determining resources for the transmission of the uplink control information based on the first indication indicative of the uplink transmission switching pattern, the second indication indicative of the at least one frequency band, and the third indication indicative of the timing for the transmission of the uplink control information; and transmitting, to the base station, the uplink control information using the determined resources.

[0007] According to various, but not necessarily all, example embodiments of the invention there is provided an apparatus, comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that when executed by the at least one processor cause the apparatus at least to perform: transmitting, to the user equipment, a first indication indicative of an uplink transmission switching pattern, wherein the uplink transmission switching pattern indicates switching between at least two frequency bands for uplink transmissions of a user equipment; transmitting, to the user equipment, a second indication indicative of at least one frequency band of the at least two frequency bands for carrying uplink control information; allocating resources for a transmission of uplink control information, wherein the resources are determined based on the uplink transmission switching pattern and the at least one frequency band; and transmitting, to the user equipment, a third indication indicative of a timing of the resources for the transmission of the uplink control information.

[0008] According to various, but not necessarily all, example embodiments of the invention there is provided a method, comprising: receiving, from a base station, a first indication indicative of an uplink transmission switching pattern, wherein the uplink transmission switching pattern indicates switching between at least two frequency bands for uplink transmissions of a user equipment; receiving, from the base station, a second indication indicative of at least one frequency band of the at least two frequency bands for carrying uplink control information; receiving, from the base station, a third indication indicative of a timing for a transmission of uplink control information to the base station by the user equipment; determining resources for the transmission of the uplink control information based on the first indication indicative of the uplink transmission switching pattern, the second indication indicative of the at least one frequency band, and the third indication indicative of the timing for the transmission of the uplink control information; and transmitting, to the base station, the uplink control information using the determined resources.

[0009] According to various, but not necessarily all, example embodiments of the invention there is provided a method, comprising: transmitting, to a user equipment, a first indication indicative of an uplink transmission switching pattern, wherein the uplink transmission switching pattern indicates switching between at least two frequency bands for uplink transmissions of the user equipment; transmitting, to the user equipment, a second indication indicative of at least one frequency band of the at least two frequency bands for carrying uplink control information; allocating resources for a transmission of uplink control information, wherein the resources are determined based on the uplink transmission switching pattern and the at least one frequency band; and transmitting, to the user equipment, a third indication indicative of a timing of the resources for the transmission of the uplink control information.

[0010] Further particular and preferred aspects are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. Features of the dependent claims may be combined with features of the independent claims as appropriate, and in combinations other than those explicitly set out in the claims.

[0011] Where an apparatus feature is described as being operable to provide a function, it will be appreciated that this includes an apparatus feature which provides that function or which is adapted or configured to provide that function. BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0012] Some example embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates a flow diagram of a method according to an example embodiment;

[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates switching patterns according to example embodiments;

[0015] FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram of a method according to an example embodiment;

[0016] FIG. 4 illustrates steps in a method according to an example embodiment;

[0017] FIG. 5 illustrates steps in a method according to an example embodiment; and

[0018] FIG. 6 illustrates apparatus according to an example embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Before discussing the example embodiments in any more detail, first an overview will be provided.

[0020] A user equipment (UE) may be configured to transmit uplink signals over at least two frequency bands. However, the apparatus may not be able to transmit simultaneously over the at least two frequency bands. Therefore, the apparatus may perform uplink TX switching between the at least two frequency bands enabling the apparatus to transmit uplink signals using each frequency band of the at least two frequency bands at different points in time. It is noted that the frequency bands may also be referred to as carriers or cells herein.

[0021] The base station may configure the UE with an uplink TX switching pattern which indicates the resources assigned for uplink transmissions, i.e., it indicates which frequency band is available at a given point in time for transmission of uplink signals. The switching pattern therefore determines when uplink transmission switching should be performed at the apparatus. Performing a switch comprises retuning the UE to transmit in a different desired frequency band. The UE may, as a part of the UL TX switching framework, send an indication to the base station that the UE needs time to make this switch. During this time, the UE may not be able to send any transmissions over the TX chain being retuned.

[0022] Typically, the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) for uplink control information transmissions only uses a single frequency band. This can lead to additional switches when uplink control information is scheduled to be transmitted. For example, for each transmission of UCI, a UE arranged to transmit in a frequency band not used for UCI transmissions may have to switch to the frequency band allocated for UCI transmissions. As a result, there is a risk of degrading the performance and efficiency of the uplink transmissions which contradicts the initial intention of implementing uplink transmission switching.

[0023] To mitigate the risk of performing unnecessary switches and to help the network manage resources efficiently, embodiments propose a mechanism for managing transmission of uplink control information (UCI) and by extension the switches made by the UE. Specifically, embodiments propose that the base station sends an indication of the switching pattern and an indication of one or more frequency bands that can be used for uplink control information. Based on the switching pattern indicating which resources are available for uplink transmissions and the one or more indicated frequency bands for UCI transmissions, both the UE and the base station can determine the resources available for transmission of uplink control information. The base station may allocate resources from the available resources for a transmission of UCI. The base station may send an indication of an allocated timing for the transmission of the UCI to the UE such that the UE is able to determine which frequency band to use for a particular UCI transmission. In this way, PUCCH behaviour may be controlled by the network to be compliant with an uplink TX switching pattern and potentially to reduce the number of switching occasions.

[0024] In some embodiments, there are at least two frequency bands for UCI transmissions. This may increase the flexibility of the timing for uplink control information transmissions, increase the amount of uplink control information which can be sent, and / or allow the base station to schedule UCI transmissions such that the number of required uplink transmission switches by the apparatus is reduced.

[0025] Fig. 1 shows a flow diagram according to an example embodiment.

[0026] In step 1, the user equipment UE sends its capability to perform uplink TX switching with frequency band combinations to the base station NB. In some example embodiments, the frequency band combinations comprise at least two frequency bands for uplink signals transmitted by a single transmission chain of the user equipment.

[0027] In step 2, the base station NB sends an RRC-configuration message to the UE for establishing a connection between the UE and the base station NB. The RRC-configuration message may include information such as a measurement configuration.

[0028] In step 3, the UE may send a mobility measurement result report to the base station NB. Step 3 is optional and, in some example embodiments, the subsequent steps of the flow diagram may be performed without any measurement report being sent by the UE.

[0029] In step 4, the base station NB sends a carrier aggregation configuration message to the UE. The carrier aggregation configuration is based on the frequency band combinations received from the UE in step 1 such that the carrier aggregation is within the capabilities of the UE.

[0030] In step 5, the UE sends frequency band combinations needing UL TX switching to the base station NB.

[0031] In step 6, the base station sends a first indication indicative of a UL TX switching pattern to the UE. The uplink transmission switching pattern indicates switching between at least two frequency bands for uplink transmissions of the UE and indicates the resources assigned for uplink transmissions, i.e., the switching pattern indicates which frequency band is available at any given time for transmission of uplink signals. The switching pattern therefore determines when uplink transmission switching is required by the UE. Exemplary switching patterns according to embodiments are shown in Fig. 2 and are discussed in more detail below.

[0032] In some example embodiments, the base station determines the uplink transmission switching pattern for the UE. The switching pattern may be specific to the UE or may be one of a number of preset switching patterns.

[0033] In step 7, the base station NB sends a second indication indicative of at least one frequency band for carrying UCI transmissions of the at least two frequency bands for carrying uplink signals. In this way, the base station can inform the UE of the frequency bands for UCI transmissions. The second indication may comprise one or more physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) indicators. The second indication may be transmitted within a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) configuration message such as within a PDSCH-Config RRC IE.

[0034] In some example embodiments, the base station determines the at least one frequency band for carrying UCI transmissions.

[0035] In some example embodiments, the at least one frequency band for carrying UCI transmissions comprises two or more frequency bands. Conventionally, uplink control information is transmitted over a single frequency band. Increasing the number of frequency bands which can carry uplink control information may provide additional opportunities to transmit uplink control information which may: increase the flexibility of the timing for uplink control information transmissions, increase the amount of uplink control information which can be sent, and / or allow the base station to schedule UCI transmissions such that the number of required uplink transmission switches by the apparatus is reduced.

[0036] It will be appreciated that the information transmitted in steps 1 and 5 may be sent together in a single transmission. For example, the UE may indicate the need for UL TX switching when the UE is reporting its capability to transmit using different frequency bands. Similarly, it will be appreciated that the information transmitted in any of steps 4, 6 and 7 may be sent together in a single transmission. For example, an indication of the carrier aggregation, an indication of the switching pattern and an indication of the at least one frequency band for carrying UCI may be sent together to the UE. In some example embodiments, transmitting the first indication and transmitting the second indication comprises either a single transmission or a separate transmission of the first indication and the second indication.

[0037] In step 8, the base station NB determines that there is new data to be transmitted to the UE. For example, the new data may be sent to the UE in a PDSCH transmission associated with a HARQ process. In this case, the UCI to be transmitted by the UE may also relate to the HARQ process, such as a HARQ-ACK. It will be appreciated that, in some example embodiments, the base station may implement the subsequent steps of the flow diagram without having determined that there is new data to be transmitted to the UE. Additionally or alternatively, the base station may determine in step 8 that there is a UCI transmission to be transmitted by the UE.

[0038] In step 9, which may be carried out before step 8, the base station NB determines a sub-pattern for the UCI based on the uplink transmission switching pattern and the at least one frequency band for carrying UCI transmissions. The sub pattern indicates the resources for transmission of uplink control information and shown by the stars in Fig. 2 (discussed in more detail below).

[0039] In step 10, the base station is configured to allocate resources for a transmission of UCI by the user equipment based on the uplink transmission switching pattern and the at least one frequency band for UCI transmissions. Specifically, the base station NB may select a timing for the transmission of the UCI and a frequency band for the transmission of the UCI may then be inferred from the sub-pattern determined in step 9.

[0040] In some example embodiments, step 10 is performed in response to the optional step of the base station determining that there is a UCI transmission to be transmitted by the UE in step 8.

[0041] In step 11, the base station NB sends a downlink transmission to the UE comprising a third indication indicative of the timing allocated for the transmission of the UCI. The UE may determine the timing for the UCI transmission from the third indication. The downlink transmission may be a PDSCH transmission containing the new data to be transmitted to the UE determined in step 8.

[0042] In some example embodiments, the third indication may comprise an uplink control information timing indicator, such as a K1 indicator indicating one or more time slots for a PUCCH transmission that contains HARQ-ACK information. The UCI timing indicator may allow the user equipment to determine the time slot for the transmission of the UCI in relation to the timing of a downlink transmission that triggers the UCI transmission, e.g., a PDSCH to be acknowledged may act as a timing reference. In other words, the UCI timing indicator, such as K1, is transmitted with a PDSCH transmission containing the indicator and represents a timing offset relative to the PDSCH transmission. The timing offset determines the time slot allocated for the transmission of the UCI. Therefore, once received, the UE must apply the timing offset to the time of the received PDSCH transmission to determine the time slot for the transmission of the UCI. This process is discussed further in relation to Fig. 2 below. In NR, the third indication may comprise a PDSCH-to-HARQ feedback timing indicator. In some example embodiments, the third indication comprises an indication of at least one of the following for the transmission of the UCI: at least one time slot, at least one symbol, and at least one sub-time slot.

[0043] In some example embodiments, when step 8 is omitted such that there is no determination of new data to be transmitted to the UE, the third indication indicative of a timing of the resources for the transmission of the UCI may be sent to the UE in a dedicated transmission.

[0044] It is noted that no indication of the frequency band for the transmission of the UCI is sent to the user equipment. Instead, as discussed below, the user equipment uses knowledge of the switching pattern, the at least one frequency band for UCI transmissions, and the third indication of the time slot for the UCI transmission to determine which frequency band to use for the transmission of the UCI.

[0045] In step 12, the UE determines the sub-pattern based on the uplink transmission switching pattern and the at least one frequency band for UCI transmissions like step 9 performed by the base station.

[0046] In step 13, the UE determines the resources for the transmission of the UCI based on the first indication indicative of the uplink transmissions switching pattern, the second indication indicative of the at least one frequency band for carrying UCI, and the third indication indicative of the allocated timing for the transmission of the UCI. Specifically, from the indication of the timing, the UE uses the sub-pattern determined in step 12 to determine the frequency band for the transmission of the UCI.

[0047] In step 14, the UE transmits, to the base station NB, the UCI transmission using the resources. The base station having allocated the resources for the transmission of the UCI receives the UCI transmission over the resources.

[0048] In some example embodiments, the UE is further configured to determine if the resources allocated by the base station match the sub-pattern. If the resources do not conform to the sub-pattern, the UE may refrain from transmitting the uplink control information transmission using the resources.

[0049] In some example embodiments, the uplink transmission switching pattern indicates uplink transmission switching durations when the UE is to perform uplink transmission switches. The UE may determine based on the uplink transmission switching pattern, whether the allocated resources overlap an uplink transmission switching duration. If there is an overlap between the allocated resources and the uplink transmission switching duration, the UE may refrain from transmitting the uplink control information. Alternatively, the UE may autonomously reschedule the uplink transmission switching duration. The UE may reschedule the switching duration to occur during a resource block allocated for downlink signals. In this way, the entire time slot allocated for the UCI transmission may be made available. In some example embodiments, the UE may proceed to transmit the uplink control information using the allocated resources without rescheduling the uplink transmission switching duration, i.e., the UE performs a best-effort transmission of the UCI using the allocated resources. However, due to the overlap with the switching duration, the UE may not be able to transmit for a time period during the allocated resources such that some of the uplink control information may be omitted.

[0050] Fig. 2 shows two exemplary switching patterns according to example embodiments. In each example, there are three frequency bands available for uplink transmissions by the UE, namely, Carrier 1, Carrier 2 and Carrier 3. Carrier 1 and Carrier 2 are time division duplex (TDD) bands whereas Carrier 3 is a frequency division duplex (FDD) band. The green resource blocks 22 are for downlink signals and the blue resource blocks 24 are for uplink signals. In these examples, each frequency band is assigned a priority, Carrier 0 being the highest priority and Carrier 2 being the lowest priority. A higher priority frequency band will be allocated for carrying uplink transmissions over a lower priority frequency band. This results in a UL TX switching pattern shown along the bottom of each graph which indicates the frequency band for uplink signals at any given time slot.

[0051] The stars represent the resources which can be used for transmissions of UCI, i.e, the sub-pattern. The sub-pattern can be determined based on knowledge of the switching pattern (which indicates the resources for uplink signals) and knowledge of the at least one frequency band for carrying UCI.

[0052] It will be appreciated that the uplink transmission switching pattern may explicitly specify the resources for transmissions of uplink control information, i.e., the resources indicated by the stars in Fig. 2. In other words, in addition to indicating resources for uplink transmissions, the switching pattern may indicate which of those resources can be used for uplink control information transmissions. In this instance, the sub-pattern is explicitly indicated by the switching pattern. This may obviate the need for steps 7, 9 and 12 in Fig. 1. By comparison, conventional UL TX switching patterns only differentiate between uplink and downlink resources.

[0053] The top graph of Fig. 2 shows an example embodiment in which UCI transmissions are only configured on one frequency band, Carrier 0. Therefore, in this 10 case, the second indication of the at least one frequency band for carrying uplink control information provided to the UE in step 7 of Fig. 1 would comprise an indication of Carrier 0. The bottom graph of Fig. 2 shows an example embodiment in which UCI transmissions are configured on two carriers, Carrier 0 and Carrier 2. Therefore, the second indication of the at least one frequency band for carrying uplink control information provided to the UE in step 7 of Fig. 1 would comprise an indication of Carrier 0 and Carrier 2. It will be appreciated that the UE may be configured to perform UL TX switching between two or more frequency bands. It will also be appreciated that UCI transmissions may be configured on one or more frequency bands of the two or more frequency bands which the UE can switch between.

[0054] With reference to step 11 of Fig. 1, Fig. 2 shows several K1 indicators (acting as third indications in this instance) being received in a downlink resource block (indicated by the tail of the respective arrows). When K1=0, this indicates to the UE to transmit the UCI transmission on the next available UCI transmission slot (indicated by the next star in the sub-pattern). When K1=1, this indicates to the UE to transmit the UCI transmission on the second available UCI transmission slot. The heads of the arrows in Fig. 2 show the time slot indicated by the respective K1 indicator. It can be seen that the time difference between receiving the K1 indicators at the tails of the arrows to sending the UCI transmission at the heads of the arrows is on average smaller when there are two frequency bands for UCI transmissions (bottom graph) compared to when there is only one frequency band for UCI transmissions (top graph) because there are more opportunities for sending the UCI transmissions.

[0055] In some example embodiments, the uplink transmission switching pattern is associated with a first transmission chain of the user equipment. The base station may determine a second uplink transmission switching pattern associated with a second transmission chain of the user equipment. The second uplink transmission switching pattern may not contain any resources for uplink control information. In this way, the first transmission chain is configured to send the uplink control information of the UE whilst the second transmission chain of the UE does not send any uplink control information. This configuration may avoid the UE performing an uplink transmission switch on both transmission chains for the purpose of sending uplink control information. It can also simplify the scheduling of uplink control information by the network because only one of the transmission chains of the UE is configured for sending uplink control information.

[0056] In some example embodiments, the uplink transmission switching pattern indicates uplink transmission switching durations (not shown in Fig. 2) indicating when the user equipment is to perform uplink transmission switches. Note that the switching duration is the time the act of switching the transmitter from one frequency band to another takes. During the switching duration, the UE may not be able to transmit using the transmitter being retuned so it is an undesired artefact of the delay the hardware requires. The switching durations are a fraction of a time slot. For example, a switching duration may be 35ps, 140ps or 210ps. In some example embodiments, the user equipment may determine, based on the uplink transmission switching pattern, whether the allocated resources overlap an uplink transmission switching duration of the user equipment. If so, the UE may autonomously reschedule the switching duration. The UE may reschedule the switching duration to occur during a resource block for downlink signals such that the UCI transmission may be sent over the full duration of the allocated time slot. Alternatively, the UE may determine not to send the UCI transmission. In some example embodiments, the UE may proceed to transmit the uplink control information using the allocated resources without rescheduling the uplink transmission switching duration, i.e., the UE performs a best-effort transmission of the UCI using the resources.

[0057] Fig. 3 shows a flow diagram according to an example embodiment. Steps 1 to 10 and 16 are similar to steps 1 to 10 and 14 of Fig. 1, respectively. For brevity, only the differences between Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 will be discussed.

[0058] In step 11, the base station NB determines a need to overrule the resources determined in step 10 which were based on the switching pattern and the at least one frequency band for carrying UCI. In other words, the base station may determine that the resources for UCI transmissions indicated by the sub-pattern should not be used and may decide to overrule them. This may be, for example, because using another frequency band may improve the reliability of the transmission of the UCI. Another reason for overruling might be to create capacity on a particular frequency band for other UE traffic.

[0059] In step 12, in response to determining the need to overrule the resources, the base station NB allocates updated resources for the transmission of the UCI which do not match the sub-pattern determined in step 9. That is to say, for an updated timing for the transmission of the UCI, the updated frequency band does not match a frequency band which would be determined using the sub-pattern.

[0060] In step 13, in addition to the third indication indicative of the time slot, the base station sends a fourth indication indicative of the frequency band of the updated resources to the user equipment for the transmission of the UCI. It will be appreciated that the third indication and the fourth indication may be sent in the same or in different transmissions.

[0061] In this way, the base station may provide an explicit indication of a frequency band in the fourth indication for the user equipment to use for the transmission of the UCI. The user equipment may use this frequency band even though it contradicts the frequency band which would be determined using the sub-pattern. As a result, the base station may overrule the switching pattern.

[0062] In some example embodiments, the base station is further configured to determine if a predetermined user equipment time processing budget is satisfied based on the timing for the transmission of the UCI and a time for transmitting the third indication to the user equipment. The predetermined user equipment time processing budget indicates how long the user equipment requires for processing after receiving the third indication indicative of the time slot before the user equipment is capable of performing the transmission of the UCI. If the predetermined user equipment time processing budget is not satisfied, the base station allocates updated resources for the transmission of the UCI. In this way, the third indication transmitted to the user equipment may be indicative of a timing of the updated resources which give the user equipment adequate time to process the information received from the base station. Note that determining whether a user equipment time processing budget is satisfied may relate to the originally selected resources or reselected resources (whether they have been reselected due to previous breaches of the time processing budget or reselected as part of an overruling of the switching pattern).

[0063] In some example embodiments, the base station determines, based on the uplink transmission switching pattern, whether a user equipment will perform an uplink transmission switch for the uplink control information transmission using the allocated resources. If the user equipment will not need to perform an uplink transmission switch, the predetermined user equipment time processing budget comprises a first predetermined user equipment time processing budget. If the user equipment will need to perform an uplink transmission switch, the predetermined user equipment time processing budget comprises a second predetermined user equipment time processing budget, the second predetermined user equipment time processing budget being 13 longer than the first predetermined user equipment time processing budget. In this way, the base station may ensure sufficient time is given to the UE between receiving the indication of the time slot and the time slot itself for a switch to be performed.

[0064] In some example embodiments, the difference between the first and second time processing budget may be a predetermined length of time. In some example embodiments, the time difference between the first and second time processing budgets may be determined based on the capability of the user equipment, e.g., how long it takes for the user equipment to perform an uplink transmission switch. Therefore, the length of time may be UE specific or the time difference may be the same regardless of the UE.

[0065] In steps 14 and 15, the UE determines the resources for the transmission of the UCI on the basis of the third and fourth indications. In step 16, the UE transmits the transmission of the UCI using the determined resources despite the frequency band not conforming with the original sub-pattern.

[0066] In some example embodiments, two or more of the first indication, the second indication, the third indication and the fourth indication are provided by one indication sent to the user equipment. In some example embodiments, the first and the second indications are provided by one indication sent to the user equipment. In some example embodiments, the first, second and third indication are provided by one indication sent to the user equipment. For example, the indication may comprise a number or index associated with parameters in a list of preset configurations. In this way, some or all of the necessary parameters for the transmission of the UCI can be provided to the UE in a single transmission.

[0067] FIG. 4 illustrates steps in a method according to an example embodiment. The method may be performed by an apparatus such as a user equipment.

[0068] Step S10 comprises receiving, from a base station, a first indication indicative of an uplink transmission switching pattern, the uplink transmission switching pattern indicating switching between at least two frequency bands for uplink transmissions of a UE.

[0069] Step S200 comprises receiving, from the base station, a second indication indicative of at least one frequency band of the at least two frequency bands for carrying uplink control information.

[0070] Step S300 comprises receiving, from the base station, a third indication indicative of a timing for a transmission of uplink control information to the base station by the UE.

[0071] Step S400 comprises determining resources for the transmission of the uplink control information based on the first indication indicative of the uplink transmission switching pattern, the second indication indicative of the at least one frequency band, and the third indication indicative of the timing for the transmission of the uplink control information.

[0072] Step S500 comprises transmitting, to the base station, the uplink control information using the resources.

[0073] Fig. 5 illustrates steps in a method according to an example embodiment. The method may be performed by an apparatus such as a base station.

[0074] Step S100 comprises transmitting, to a user equipment, a first indication indicative of an uplink transmission switching pattern, the uplink transmission switching pattern indicating switching between at least two frequency bands for uplink transmissions of the user equipment.

[0075] Step S200 comprises transmitting, to the user equipment, a second indication indicative of at least one frequency band of the at least two frequency bands for carrying uplink control information.

[0076] Step S300 comprises allocating resources for a transmission of uplink control information, wherein the resources are determined based on the uplink transmission switching pattern and the at least one frequency band.

[0077] Step S400 comprises transmitting, to the user equipment, a third indication indicative of a timing of the resources for the transmission of the uplink control information.

[0078] Fig. 6 illustrates an exemplary system comprising apparatuses according to example embodiments of the invention in a wireless communication network. The apparatus may be configured to carry out the methods and actions according to example embodiments disclosed herein. The system includes a user equipment 410 and a network entity 420 comprising a base station. The user equipment 410 may be 15 within a geographic cell provided and controlled by the network entity 420 such that the network entity 420 can transmit signals to the user equipment 410 and vice versa.

[0079] The user equipment 410 comprises at least one memory 412 which may store instructions executable by at least one processor 411 of the user equipment 411. The user equipment 411 may comprise a transceiver 413 for transmission and reception of radio signals. The user equipment refers to any mobile end or terminal device that may be capable of wireless communication. By way of example rather than limitation, user equipment UE may also be referred to as a communication device, a terminal device, a Mobile Station (MS). The user equipment may include, but is not limited to, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a tablet, a wearable terminal device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), vehicle-mounted wireless terminal devices, smart devices etc.

[0080] The network node 420 comprises at least one memory 422 which may store instructions executable by at least one processor 421 of the network node 420. The network node 420 may comprise a transceiver 423 for transmission and reception of radio signals. The network node may refer to at least one of the following non-limiting examples: an access node, a base station, a gNodeB and an eNodeB.

[0081] It will be appreciated that the user equipment 410 and the network node 420 may comprise any other suitable means or circuitry configured to perform the steps of methods according to example embodiments disclosed herein.

[0082] Further aspects and example embodiments of the invention are described using alternative wording below.

[0083] Uplink TX switching in 5G NR is based on the principle that the UE switching occasions (switching durations) are defined on the scheduling on the implicated cells (frequency bands), and defines in detail the UE behavior when the UE is to execute the uplink TX switching.

[0084] This means that the UE is in a situation where it must conduct uplink TX switching to follow scheduling or intended usage of the uplink physical channels and reference signals including: PUSCH, PUCCH (of all UCI types), CG, SRS and PRACH.

[0085] A target with UL TX switching has been from the very beginning to utilize the TDD band as much as possible, when a shared set of TX ports are available, which means that when the TDD band is in DL, the TX ports are switched to another band which can have UL active. This in contrast to ‘full’ UL CA that requires the UE to have twice the transmit chains (2-band UL CA) to be able to transmit on the two uplinks at the same time.

[0086] The challenge with PUCCH transmissions is that they typically occur on a single cell, meaning that additional UL TX switches can occur when UCI is to be transmitted (unless PUSCH is scheduled), which can risk degrading the performance and intention with UL TX switching.

[0087] A solution to reduce the number of switches and make it easier for the network to minimize / manage the number of switches is to configure the UE with an explicit switching pattern. Such a pattern constrains the UE on which bands (and chains) it should be active and at which point in time. How PUCCH behavior should then be adapted to be compliant with a UL TX switching pattern is, however, not clear.

[0088] In an aspect of the invention, there is proposed a framework for how PUCCH should work when the UE is configured with an uplink TX switching pattern. A proposed example embodiment works as follows: • The UE signals its capability of I the need for uplink TX switching of at least one set of band combinations which are constrained by uplink TX switching capabilities which is also signaled with the constrained band combination (as opposed to being able to do ‘full’ UL CA with simultaneous transmission on the band. Such constraints can for example be by switchedUL or dualUL (generalizable to simultaneous UL for more than two bands). • The UE is configured for uplink TX switching, which includes o A band combination o At least one switching pattern o A switching pattern for additional TX chains (if available) o A switching gap configuration (maybe implicit, depending on how the switching pattern is constructed) o A downlink interruption pattern indication • The gNB may configure one or more UCI band e.g. in PDSCH-Config. o When this is the case, the UE will interpret K1: The number of transmit opportunities (e.g. slots available for UL transmission) of the superset of transmission opportunities of the bands where the UCI can be transmitted. o Note’. UCI band can be indicated as in legacy behavior, that is, by the PUCCH cell ID in PDSCH-Config and if that is not configured, then by SpCell. • The UE being configured for UCI using UL TX switching, which involves: o The UE (and network) computing a sub-pattern of UCI carriers based on the indicated UCI bands and the configured UL TX switching patterns. o Interpretating the PDSCH to UCI slot indicator K1 according to the sub-pattern, and determining the cell to be used for UCI by counting K1 relative to this with K1 definition: The number of transmit opportunities (e.g. slots available for UL transmission) of the band where the UCI is to be transmitted o Note’. The PUCCH resource indicator from 5G NR can be reused. • The UE transmitting UCI on the identified carrier (frequency band) derived based on K1 and the sub-pattern. o When the UE determines that the UCI band has changed, e.g. due to a pattern change or K1 overruling, the UE will be ensured to have additional PDSCH processing time e.g. by introducing d-swttch int0 the PDSCH processing timeline requirements. • Note: Considering PUCCH multiplexing on PUSCH, that is solved by the UL TX switching pattern, as this dictates which cells are active, meaning that the UCI content will only be transmitted to cells which are also marked active, and is managed by the base station, such as a gNB.

[0089] Advantages of the proposed example embodiment include: • Simple for the base station (e.g., a gNB) to select a UCI transmission slot occurrence that is compliant with the UL TX switching pattern. • No immediate need to reconfigure K1 vector values (as compared to a legacy K1 interpretation in slot indices).

[0090] In an example embodiment, including UCI carrier overruling and processing time, the gNB can indicate, in a DCI, whether the legacy interpretation of K1 should be adapted instead. This information maybe provided as part of the K1 vector independently for each entry.

[0091] When this is done, it might occur that the UE may need slightly increase preparation time when the PUCCH is to be transmitted on another carrier than it originally might have had to if there was no switch taking place prior to the PUCCH (following the switching pattern). For example, different to legacy UCI behavior, embodiments may allow the gNB to indicate to the UE that the UCI content can be transmitted to one of a set of cells (for example Carrier 0 or carrier 1), which is done by the multiple UCI band indications in e.g. PDSCH-Config, and the timing indicator K1. Normally the PDSCH to UCI band is a semi-static relation. • The additional PDSCH processing time budget could be specified as a component in the UE processing time budget equation, where the component is set to zero if there is no switch and to a non-zero value if there is a switch. An example implementation on 5G PDSCH processing time budget after which the UE needs to be able to transmit the HARQ-ACK with the introduction of dswitcfl • dswitch= [additional processing time budget] if a HARQ-ACK is to be transmitted on a different UL carrier as the most recent UL transmission before the HARQ-ACK transmission and the HARQ-ACK transmission causes an UL Tx Switch. Otherwise dswitcfl = 0.

[0092] In some example embodiments, a legacy K1 interpretation is utilized, but the UE is still expected to comply with the UL TX switching pattern, i.e., not to switch if the pattern does not dictate to do so. In this case, the gNB is responsible for selecting K1 timings that will not cause trouble for the UE, but the UE may implement a check logic if the cell indicated for UCI transmission by K1 is also marked to be active by the UL TX switching pattern. If the UE determines that the band is not active, the UE may then drop the UCI transmission.

[0093] In some example embodiments, a dedicated K1 vector (a list of K1 values, from which the one to use is selected by the DCI that schedules the PDSCH and triggers the HARQ-ACK transmission) is configured to be used when UL TX switching is configured (in 5G NR this is configured by specs (for fallback DCI formats) and by the RRC IE dl-DataToUL-ACK). In this way, the values of K1 can be specifically designed to optimally work with the UL TX switching pattern.

[0094] In some example embodiments, the UCI band is indicated specifically for different PDSCH priorities (further extending the PLICCH band indication in PDSCH-Config or having PDSCH-Config for different priorities). In this way, high priority PDSCH can have one PDSCH to PUCCH mapping (and K1 set) from the low priority PDSCH.

[0095] When different PDSCH / UCI priorities are configured this means that more than one PUCCH-Config can be present, one per priority. A PUCCH-Config can be configured with sub-slot configuration, hence that affects the K1 interpretation. In that case, the switching pattern checks needs to consider also sub-slots, meaning that checks of compliance with the UL TX switching pattern needs to be done in a symbol level for the slots where the PUCCH on a sub-slot is to be transmitted.

[0096] In some example embodiments, the gNB may configure a separate UL TX switching pattern per port and configure which switching pattern (or port) to use for UCI transmissions. This is useful when the gNB wants to control which port is mapped to the UCI transmission. As only a single port is needed for PUCCH transmission, a situation where the UE does not need to switch both UL TX ports for PUCCH transmission, it can be useful for the gNB to be aware that only one of the ports is switched.

[0097] In some example embodiments, in one embodiment the PUCCH resource indicated via the PUCCH resource set and the PUCCH resource indicator (PRI), when it is overlapping a switching duration configured along the UL TX switching pattern, the PUCCH is dropped.

[0098] In another embodiment instead of dropping, the UE will first try to alter the switching gap occasion, e.g. from “on target carrier” to “on source carrier”, in a configured order, until a switching gap placement that is not conflicting with the PUCCH resource is found.

[0099] According to various, but not necessarily all, example embodiments of the invention there is provided an apparatus, comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that when executed by the at least one processor cause the apparatus at least to perform: receiving, from a base station, a first indication indicative of an uplink transmission switching pattern, wherein the uplink transmission switching pattern indicates switching between at least two frequency bands for uplink transmissions of the apparatus; receiving, from the base station, a second indication indicative of at least one frequency band of the at least two frequency bands for carrying uplink control information; receiving, from the base station, a third indication indicative of a timing for a transmission of uplink control information to the base station; determining resources for the transmission of the uplink control information based on the first indication indicative of the uplink transmission switching pattern, the second indication indicative of the at least one frequency band, and the third indication indicative of the timing for the transmission of the uplink control information; and transmitting, to the base station, the uplink control information using the determined resources.

[0100] The apparatus, which may be, for example, a user equipment (UE), is configured to transmit uplink signals over the at least two frequency bands. However, the apparatus may not be able to transmit simultaneously over the at least two frequency bands simultaneously. Therefore, the apparatus may perform uplink TX switching between the at least two frequency bands enabling the apparatus to transmit uplink signals using each frequency band of the at least two frequency bands at different points in time. By comparison, full carrier aggregation in which the apparatus can transmit uplink signals over more than one frequency band simultaneously would require multiple TX chains in the apparatus. Note that frequency bands may also be referred to as carriers or cells.

[0101] The network may configure the apparatus with an uplink TX switching pattern (sometimes referred to as a switching pattern) which indicates the resources assigned for uplink transmissions, i.e., it indicates which frequency band is available at which times for uplink transmissions. The uplink transmissions may be, for example, PUSCH transmissions, SRS transmissions, and / or PRACH transmissions. The switching pattern therefore determines when uplink transmission switching (sometimes referred to as switching) will be performed at the apparatus. Performing a switch comprises a reconfiguration of the apparatus to transmit in a different desired frequency band. Performing a switch of active uplink (UL) carrier at the apparatus does not require reconfiguration with the network. That is to say, if the apparatus is currently configured to transmit over a first UL carrier at a first time but is expected to transmit over a second UL carrier at a later time, it is up to the apparatus to have switched from the first to the second UL carrier in due time. The apparatus may, as a part of the UL TX switching framework, send an indication to the base station that the apparatus needs time (a switching gap / duration) to make this switch.

[0102] Typically, the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) for uplink control information transmissions only uses a single frequency band. This can lead to additional switches when uplink control information is scheduled to be transmitted. As a result, there is a risk of degrading the performance and efficiency of the uplink transmissions which contradicts the initial intention of implementing uplink transmission switching.

[0103] To mitigate the risk of performing unnecessary switches and to help the network manage resources efficiently, embodiments propose a mechanism for managing transmission of uplink control information (UCI) and by extension the switches made by the apparatus. Specifically, embodiments propose that the base station sends, to the apparatus, an indication of one or more frequency bands that can be used for UCI transmissions. Based on the switching pattern and the indication of the frequency bands for uplink control information transmissions, both the apparatus and the base station can determine the resources available for transmission of uplink control information. Once an indication of a time slot is received by the apparatus from the base station for a transmission of UCI, the apparatus is able to determine which frequency band to use for that transmission based on the resources available for UCI transmissions and the indication of the timing of the transmission of the UCI. In this way, PUCCH behaviour may be controlled by the network to be compliant with an uplink TX switching pattern and potentially to reduce the number of switching occasions.

[0104] Note that uplink (UL) refers to signals transmitted from the apparatus, such as a user equipment, to the base station and downlink refers to signals transmitted from the base station to the apparatus, such as a user equipment.

[0105] In some example embodiments, the at least two frequency bands are for uplink signals transmitted by a single transmission chain of the apparatus.

[0106] In some example embodiments, the resources comprise a frequency band of the at least one frequency band and the timing for the transmission of the uplink control information. The resources for the UCI transmission may comprise one or more physical resource blocks.

[0107] In some example embodiments, the apparatus is further caused to perform: determining a sub-pattern based on the first indication indicative of the uplink transmission switching pattern and the second indication indicative of the at least one frequency band, the sub-pattern indicating resources for uplink control information transmissions; wherein the determining the resources for the transmission of the uplink control information is based on the sub-pattern.

[0108] The apparatus may determine the sub-pattern before or after receiving the third indication indicative of the time slot.

[0109] In some example embodiments, the third indication indicative of the timing is transmitted as part of a downlink transmission.

[0110] In some example embodiments, the third indication comprises an indication of at least one of the following for the transmission of the uplink control information: at least one time slot, at least one symbol, and at least one sub-time slot.

[0111] In some example embodiments, the second indication indicative of the at least one frequency band comprises at least one physical uplink control channel, PUCCH, indicator.

[0112] In some example embodiments, the second indication indicative of the at least one frequency band is received within a physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH, configuration message.

[0113] In some example embodiments, the PDSCH configuration message comprises a PDSCH-Config radio resource control (RRC) information element (IE).

[0114] In some example embodiments, the uplink transmission switching pattern indicates resources for uplink control information transmissions.

[0115] Conventionally, the switching pattern only differentiates between uplink and downlink resources and does not specify resources for UCI transmissions. In this embodiment, in addition to indicating resources for uplink transmissions such as PLISCH transmissions, SRS transmissions and PRACH transmissions, the switching pattern may also indicate which resources can be used for uplink control information transmissions. In this instance, the sub-pattern may be indicated by the switching pattern.

[0116] In some example embodiments, the at least one frequency band comprises two or more frequency bands. In some example embodiments, the at least one frequency band comprises only one frequency band.

[0117] Conventionally, uplink control information is transmitted over a single frequency band of the at least two frequency bands used by the apparatus for uplink transmission switching. Increasing the number of frequency bands which can carry uplink control information may provide additional opportunities to transmit uplink control information which may: increase the flexibility of the timing for uplink control information transmissions, increase the amount of uplink control information which can be sent, and / or allow the base station to schedule UCI transmissions such that the number of required uplink transmission switches by the apparatus is reduced.

[0118] In some example embodiments, the apparatus is further caused to perform: receiving, from the base station, a fourth indication indicative of a frequency band for the transmission of the uplink control information, wherein the frequency band indicated by the fourth indication does not match a frequency band determined for the transmission of the uplink control information based on the first indication indicative of the uplink transmission switching pattern, the second indication indicative of the at least one frequency band, and the third indication indicative of the timing for the transmission of the uplink control information; wherein the resources comprise the frequency band indicated by the fourth indication and the timing for the transmission of the uplink control information.

[0119] In this way, the base station may provide an explicit indication of a frequency band for the transmission of the uplink control information which overrules the frequency band which would be determined based on the switching pattern, i.e., the frequency bands do not match. As a result, the base station may overrule the switching pattern.

[0120] In some example embodiments, the fourth indication is received in the same message as the third indication.

[0121] In other example embodiments, the apparatus is further caused to perform: determining if the resources indicated by the base station match the sub-pattern; and, if not, refraining from transmitting the uplink control information transmission using the resources.

[0122] In this case, the apparatus may be configured to ignore any resources if they do not match the frequency band derived from the switching pattern and the timing for the transmission of the UCI.

[0123] In some example embodiments, the uplink transmission switching pattern indicates uplink transmission switching durations when the apparatus is to perform uplink transmission switches; and wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform: determining, based on the uplink transmission switching pattern, whether the resources overlap an uplink transmission switching duration; and, if the resources overlap the uplink transmission switching duration, performing at least one of the following: refraining from transmitting the uplink control information, rescheduling the uplink transmission switching duration, and transmitting the uplink control information using the resources without rescheduling the uplink transmission switching duration.

[0124] Uplink transmission switching durations may be referred to as switching durations. In this case, the switching pattern indicates when the switching durations should occur. When the switching duration overlaps the resources for the transmission of the uplink control information, the apparatus may not transmit the UCI using the resources. In some example embodiments, the apparatus may reschedule the switching duration such that it does not overlap with the resources for the transmission of the uplink control information. In this case, the apparatus can transmit the UCI using the resources. In some example embodiments, the apparatus may perform a besteffort transmission of the UCI using the resources. However, due to the overlap with the switching duration, the apparatus some of the uplink control information may be omitted. It will be appreciated that, in some example embodiments, the switching pattern does not indicate the switching durations.

[0125] In some example embodiments, changing a scheduled switching duration is performed autonomously by the apparatus. In some example embodiments, changing a scheduled switching duration is controlled by the network. In some example embodiments, rescheduling the time of the uplink transmission switching duration comprises scheduling the uplink transmission switching duration during a time slot allocated for downlink signalling according to the switching pattern. In this way, the time slot allocated for the UCI transmission is made available.

[0126] In some example embodiments, the apparatus comprises a user equipment

[0127] According to various, but not necessarily all, example embodiments of the invention there is provided an apparatus comprising: means for receiving, from a base station, a first indication indicative of an uplink transmission switching pattern, wherein the uplink transmission switching pattern indicates switching between at least two frequency bands for uplink transmissions of the apparatus; means for receiving, from the base station, a second indication indicative of at least one frequency band of the at least two frequency bands for carrying uplink control information; means for receiving, from the base station, a third indication indicative of a timing for a transmission of uplink control information to the base station; means for determining resources for the transmission of the uplink control information based on the first indication indicative of the uplink transmission switching pattern, the second indication indicative of the at least one frequency band, and the third indication indicative of the timing for the transmission of the uplink control information; and means for transmitting, to the base station, the uplink control information using the determined resources.

[0128] The means may perform the optional features set out in relation to the apparatus mentioned above.

[0129] The processor, memory, and example algorithms, encoded as instructions, program, or code, may be the means for providing or causing the performance of the operation.

[0130] According to various, but not necessarily all, example embodiments of the invention there is provided an apparatus comprising: circuitry configured to perform receiving, from a base station, a first indication indicative of an uplink transmission switching pattern, wherein the uplink transmission switching pattern indicates switching between at least two frequency bands for uplink transmissions of the apparatus; circuitry configured to perform receiving, from the base station, a second indication indicative of at least one frequency band of the at least two frequency bands for carrying uplink control information; circuitry configured to perform receiving, from the base station, a third indication indicative of a timing for a transmission of uplink control information to the base station; circuitry configured to perform determining resources for the transmission of the uplink control information based on the first indication indicative of the uplink transmission switching pattern, the second indication indicative of the at least one frequency band, and the third indication indicative of the timing for the transmission of the uplink control information; and circuitry configured to perform transmitting, to the base station, the uplink control information using the determined resources.

[0131] The circuitry may be configured perform the optional features set out in relation to the apparatus mentioned above.

[0132] According to various, but not necessarily all, example embodiments of the invention there is provided an apparatus, comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that when executed by the at least one processor cause the apparatus at least to perform: transmitting, to the user equipment, a first indication indicative of an uplink transmission switching pattern, wherein the uplink transmission switching pattern indicates switching between at least two frequency bands for uplink transmissions of a user equipment; transmitting, to the user equipment, a second indication indicative of at least one frequency band of the at least two frequency bands for carrying uplink control information; allocating resources for a transmission of uplink control information, wherein the resources are determined based on the uplink transmission switching pattern and the at least one frequency band; and transmitting, to the user equipment, a third indication indicative of a timing of the resources for the transmission of the uplink control information.

[0133] The apparatus, which may be, for example, a user equipment (UE), is configured to transmit uplink signals over the at least two frequency bands. However, the apparatus may not be able to transmit simultaneously over the at least two frequency bands simultaneously. Therefore, the apparatus may perform uplink TX switching between the at least two frequency bands enabling the apparatus to transmit uplink signals using each frequency band of the at least two frequency bands at different points in time. By comparison, full carrier aggregation in which the apparatus can transmit uplink signals over more than one frequency band simultaneously would require multiple TX chains in the apparatus.

[0134] The apparatus, which may be a base station, may configure the user equipment with an uplink TX switching pattern which indicates the resources assigned for uplink transmissions, i.e., it indicates which frequency band is available at which times for transmission of uplink signals. The uplink transmissions may be, for example, PUSCH transmissions, SRS transmissions, and / or PRACH transmissions. The switching pattern therefore determines when uplink transmission switching should be performed at the user equipment.

[0135] Typically, the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) for uplink control information transmissions only uses a single frequency band. This can lead to additional switches when uplink control information is scheduled to be transmitted. As a result, there is a risk of degrading the performance and efficiency of the uplink transmissions which contradicts the initial intention of implementing uplink transmission switching.

[0136] To mitigate the risk of performing unnecessary switches and to help the apparatus manage resources efficiently, embodiments propose a mechanism for managing transmission of uplink control information (UCI) and by extension the switches made by the user equipment. Specifically, embodiments propose that the apparatus sends an indication of one or more frequency bands that can be used for uplink control information to the user equipment. Based on the switching pattern and the indication of the frequency bands for uplink control information, both the apparatus and the user equipment can determine the resources available for transmission of uplink control information. The apparatus may then allocate resources appropriately for a transmission of UCI. The base station may allocate resources for the transmission of the UCI based on the UCI content size. Once the indication of the timing for the transmission of the UCI is received by the user equipment from the apparatus, the user equipment is able to determine which frequency band to use for that UCI transmission based on the resources available for transmission of UCI and the indication of the timing for the transmission of the UCI. In this way, PUCCH behaviour may be controlled by the base station to be compliant with an uplink TX switching pattern and potentially to reduce the number of switching occasions.

[0137] Note that uplink (UL) refers to signals transmitted from the user equipment to the apparatus, such as a base station, and downlink refers to signals transmitted from the apparatus, such as a base station, to the user equipment.

[0138] In some example embodiments, transmitting the first indication and transmitting the third indication comprises either a single transmission or a separate transmission of the first indication and the second indication.

[0139] In some example embodiments, the apparatus is further caused to perform: determining the uplink transmission switching pattern. In some example embodiments, the apparatus is further caused to perform: determining the at least one frequency band. In some example embodiments, the apparatus is further caused to perform: determining that the transmission of the uplink control information is to be transmitted by the user equipment; and allocating the resources for the transmission of the uplink control information in response to determining that the transmission of the uplink control information is to be transmitted by the user equipment.

[0140] In some example embodiments, the at least two frequency bands are for uplink signals transmitted by a single transmission chain of the user equipment.

[0141] In some example embodiments, the resources comprise a frequency band of the at least one frequency band and the time slot. The resources for the UCI transmission may comprise one or more physical resource blocks.

[0142] In some example embodiments, the apparatus is further caused to perform: determining a sub-pattern based on the uplink transmission switching pattern and the at least one frequency band, the sub-pattern indicating resources for transmission of uplink control information; wherein the allocating of the resources for the transmission of the uplink control information is based on the sub-pattern.

[0143] In some example embodiments, no indication of the frequency band for the uplink control information transmission is transmitted to the user equipment by the apparatus. Instead, the equipment uses knowledge of the switching pattern and of the at least one frequency band for UCI transmissions to determine which frequency band to use for the uplink control information transmission based on the received indication of the time slot.

[0144] In some example embodiments, the third indication indicative of the time slot is transmitted as part of a downlink transmission.

[0145] In some example embodiments, the time slot is an uplink control information timing indicator.

[0146] In some example embodiments, the third indication comprises a K1 indicator. There is no immediate need to reconfigure legacy K1 vector values in embodiments of the invention. K1 may be selected from a list of predetermined K1 values. In some example embodiments, the predetermined K1 values may be specifically designed to work with the uplink transmission switching pattern.

[0147] In some example embodiments, the uplink control information timing indicator is PDSCH-to-HARQ feedback timing indicator.

[0148] In some example embodiments, the third indication comprises an index indicator to a parameter such as dl-DataTolIL-ACK (RRC IE) (sometimes referred to as PDSCH to DLACK).

[0149] The UCI timing indicator may allow the user equipment to determine the time slot for the UCI transmission in relation to the timing of a downlink transmission that triggers the UCI transmission, i.e., a PDSCH to be acknowledged may act as a timing reference.

[0150] In some example embodiments, the second indication indicative of the at least one frequency band comprises an indication for at least one frequency band for PUCCH.

[0151] In some example embodiments, the second indication indicative of the at least one frequency band is transmitted within a physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH, configuration message.

[0152] In some example embodiments, the PDSCH configuration message comprises a PDSCH-Config RRC IE.

[0153] In some example embodiments, the uplink transmission switching pattern indicates resources for transmission of uplink control information.

[0154] In other words, in addition to indicating resources for uplink transmissions, the switching pattern may as standard indicate which of those resources can be used for uplink control information. In this instance, the sub-pattern is specified by the switching pattern. By comparison, existing switching patterns only differentiate between uplink and downlink resources.

[0155] In some example embodiments, the at least one frequency band comprises two or more frequency bands.

[0156] Conventionally, uplink control information is transmitted over a single frequency band of the at least two frequency bands used by the user equipment for uplink transmission switching. Increasing the number of frequency bands which can carry uplink control information may provide additional opportunities to transmit uplink control information which may: increase the flexibility of the timing for uplink control information transmissions, increase the amount of uplink control information which can be sent, and / or allow the apparatus to schedule UCI transmissions such that the number of required uplink transmission switches by the user equipment is reduced.

[0157] In some example embodiments, the apparatus is further caused to perform: determining a need to overrule the resources; in response to determining the need to overrule the resources, allocating updated resources, the updated resources comprising a frequency band which does not match a frequency band determined for the uplink control information transmission based on the uplink transmission switching pattern, the at least one frequency band, and a timing of the updated resources; and transmitting, to the user equipment, a fourth indication indicative of the frequency band of the updated resources.

[0158] In this case, the term ‘overrule’ refers to the apparatus selecting resources which do not match the resources indicated by the switching pattern and the at least one frequency band for carrying uplink control information, i.e., the resources do not match the sub-pattern. In this way, the apparatus can instruct the user equipment to temporarily use resources other than those preconfigured for uplink control information. When this occurs, in addition to the indication of the time slot, the user equipment will need an indication of the frequency band to use for the uplink control information transmission.

[0159] In some example embodiments, the fourth indication is transmitted in the same message as the third indication.

[0160] In some example embodiments, the apparatus is further caused to perform: determining if a predetermined user equipment time processing budget is satisfied based on the timing for the transmission of the uplink control information and a time for transmitting the third indication to the user equipment, wherein the predetermined user equipment time processing budget indicates how long the user equipment requires for processing after receiving the third indication indicative of the time slot before the user equipment is capable of performing the transmission of the uplink control information; and if the predetermined user equipment time processing budget is not satisfied, allocating updated resources for the transmission of the uplink control information.

[0161] In this way, the third indication transmitted to the user equipment may be indicative of a timing of the updated resources rather than of the resources which do not give the user equipment adequate time to process the information received from the apparatus.

[0162] It is noted that determining whether a user equipment time processing budget is satisfied may relate to the originally selected resources or reselected resources (whether they have been reselected due to previous breaches of the time processing budget or reselected as part of an overruling of the switching pattern).

[0163] In some example embodiments, the apparatus is further caused to perform: determining, based on the uplink transmission switching pattern, whether a user equipment will perform an uplink transmission switch for the uplink control information transmission using the resources; if the user equipment will not need to perform an uplink transmission switch, the predetermined user equipment time processing budget comprises a first predetermined user equipment time processing budget; and if the user equipment will need to perform an uplink transmission switch, the predetermined user equipment time processing budget comprises a second predetermined user equipment time processing budget, the second predetermined user equipment time processing budget being longer than the first predetermined user equipment time processing budget.

[0164] In this way, even if the UE needs to perform a switch, embodiments may ensure sufficient time is given to the UE between receiving the indication of the time slot and the time slot itself.

[0165] In some example embodiments, the difference between the first and second processing budget may be a predetermined length of time. In some example embodiments, the time difference between the first and second processing budgets may be determined based on the capability of the user equipment, e.g., how long it takes for the user equipment to perform an uplink transmission switch. In this way, the length of time may be UE specific. In other example embodiments, the time difference may be the same regardless of the UE.

[0166] In some example embodiments, the uplink transmission switching pattern is associated with a first transmission chain of the user equipment; and the apparatus is further caused to perform: determining a second uplink transmission switching pattern associated with a second transmission chain of the user equipment, wherein the second uplink transmission switching pattern does not contain any resources for uplink control information.

[0167] In this way, the first transmission chain is configured to send the uplink control information of the UE whilst the second transmission chain of the UE does not send any uplink control information. This may avoid the UE performing an uplink transmission switch on both transmission chains for the purpose of sending uplink control information. It can also simplify scheduling of uplink control information by the network because only one of the transmission chains of the UE is configured for sending uplink control information.

[0168] In some example embodiments, the uplink transmission switching pattern indicates uplink transmission switching durations indicating when the user equipment is to perform uplink transmission switches. In some example embodiments, the apparatus is further caused to perform: determining, based on the uplink transmission switching pattern, whether the resources overlap an uplink transmission switching duration of the user equipment; and, if so, performing one of the following: instruct the user equipment to reschedule the uplink transmission switching duration. In other example embodiments, the user equipment may be configured to autonomously reschedule the switching duration in this scenario. In some example embodiments, the user equipment may be configured to transmit the uplink control information using the allocated resources without rescheduling the uplink transmission switching duration.

[0169] The switching duration is the time the act of switching the transmitter from one frequency band to another takes. During the switching duration the network assumes that communication with the user equipment is not feasible. This in turn means that it is 33 an undesired artefact of the delay the hardware requires. In this instance, the switching pattern factors in any required switching durations. If a switching duration overlaps with the uplink control information transmission then the uplink control information may not be transmitted. In some embodiments, the UE performs a best-effort transmission of the UCI using the resources. However, due to the overlap with the switching duration, some of the uplink control information may be omitted.

[0170] In some example embodiments, the apparatus is further caused to perform: receiving, from the user equipment, the uplink control information transmission on the resources.

[0171] In some example embodiments, the apparatus comprises a base station.

[0172] According to various, but not necessarily all, example embodiments of the invention there is provided an apparatus comprising: means for transmitting, to the user equipment, a first indication indicative of an uplink transmission switching pattern, wherein the uplink transmission switching pattern indicates switching between at least two frequency bands for uplink transmissions of a user equipment; means for transmitting, to the user equipment, a second indication indicative of at least one frequency band of the at least two frequency bands for carrying uplink control information; means for allocating resources for a transmission of uplink control information, wherein the resources are determined based on the uplink transmission switching pattern and the at least one frequency band; and means for transmitting, to the user equipment, a third indication indicative of a timing of the resources for the transmission of the uplink control information.

[0173] The means may perform the optional features set out in relation to the apparatus mentioned above.

[0174] The processor, memory, and example algorithms, encoded as instructions, program, or code, may be the means for providing or causing the performance of the operation.

[0175] According to various, but not necessarily all, example embodiments of the invention there is provided an apparatus comprising: circuitry configured to perform transmitting, to the user equipment, a first indication indicative of an uplink transmission switching pattern, wherein the uplink transmission switching pattern indicates switching between at least two frequency bands for uplink transmissions of a user equipment; circuitry configured to perform transmitting, to the user equipment, a second indication indicative of at least one frequency band of the at least two frequency bands for carrying uplink control information; circuitry configured to perform allocating resources for a transmission of uplink control information, wherein the resources are determined based on the uplink transmission switching pattern and the at least one frequency band; and circuitry configured to perform transmitting, to the user equipment, a third indication indicative of a timing of the resources for the transmission of the uplink control information.

[0176] The circuitry may be configured perform the optional features set out in relation to the apparatus mentioned above.

[0177] According to various, but not necessarily all, example embodiments of the invention there is provided a method, comprising: receiving, from a base station, a first indication indicative of an uplink transmission switching pattern, wherein the uplink transmission switching pattern indicates switching between at least two frequency bands for uplink transmissions of a user equipment; receiving, from the base station, a second indication indicative of at least one frequency band of the at least two frequency bands for carrying uplink control information; receiving, from the base station, a third indication indicative of a timing for a transmission of uplink control information to the base station by the user equipment; determining resources for the transmission of the uplink control information based on the first indication indicative of the uplink transmission switching pattern, the second indication indicative of the at least one frequency band, and the third indication indicative of the timing for the transmission of the uplink control information; and transmitting, to the base station, the uplink control information using the determined resources.

[0178] In some example embodiments, the resources comprise a frequency band of the at least one frequency band and the timing for the transmission of the uplink control information.

[0179] In some example embodiments, the method further comprises determining a sub-pattern based on the first indication indicative of the uplink transmission switching pattern and the second indication indicative of the at least one frequency band, the sub-pattern indicating resources for uplink control information transmissions; wherein the determining the resources for the transmission of the uplink control information is based on the sub-pattern.

[0180] In some example embodiments, the third indication comprises an indication of at least one of the following for the transmission of the uplink control information: at least one time slot, at least one symbol, and at least one sub-time slot.

[0181] In some example embodiments, the second indication indicative of the at least one frequency band is received within a physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH, configuration message.

[0182] In some example embodiments, the uplink transmission switching pattern indicates resources for uplink control information transmissions.

[0183] In some example embodiments, the at least one frequency band comprises two or more frequency bands.

[0184] In some example embodiments, the method further comprises: receiving, from the base station, a fourth indication indicative of a frequency band for the transmission of the uplink control information, wherein the frequency band indicated by the fourth indication does not match a frequency band determined for the transmission of the uplink control information based on the first indication indicative of the uplink transmission switching pattern, the second indication indicative of the at least one frequency band, and the third indication indicative of the timing for the transmission of the uplink control information; wherein the resources comprise the frequency band indicated by the fourth indication and the timing for the transmission of the uplink control information.

[0185] In some example embodiments, the uplink transmission switching pattern indicates uplink transmission switching durations when the apparatus is to perform uplink transmission switches; and wherein the method further comprises: determining, based on the uplink transmission switching pattern, whether the resources overlap an uplink transmission switching duration; and, if the resources overlap the uplink transmission switching duration, performing at least one of the following: refraining from transmitting the uplink control information, rescheduling the uplink transmission switching duration, and transmitting the uplink control information using the resources without rescheduling the uplink transmission switching duration.

[0186] In some example embodiments, the method is performed by an apparatus such as a user equipment.

[0187] According to various, but not necessarily all, example embodiments of the invention there is provided a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: receiving, from a base station, a first indication indicative of an uplink transmission switching pattern, wherein the uplink transmission switching pattern indicates switching between at least two frequency bands for uplink transmissions of a user equipment; receiving, from the base station, a second indication indicative of at least one frequency band of the at least two frequency bands for carrying uplink control information; receiving, from the base station, a third indication indicative of a timing for a transmission of uplink control information to the base station by the user equipment; determining resources for the transmission of the uplink control information based on the first indication indicative of the uplink transmission switching pattern, the second indication indicative of the at least one frequency band, and the third indication indicative of the timing for the transmission of the uplink control information; and transmitting, to the base station, the uplink control information using the determined resources.

[0188] The instructions may be for performing the optional features set out in relation to the method mentioned above.

[0189] According to various, but not necessarily all, example embodiments of the invention there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing at least the following: receiving, from a base station, a first indication indicative of an uplink transmission switching pattern, wherein the uplink transmission switching pattern indicates switching between at least two frequency bands for uplink transmissions of a user equipment; receiving, from the base station, a second indication indicative of at least one frequency band of the at least two frequency bands for carrying uplink control information; receiving, from the base station, a third indication indicative of a timing for a transmission of uplink control information to the base station by the user equipment; determining resources for the transmission of the uplink control information based on the first indication indicative of the uplink transmission switching pattern, the second indication indicative of the at least one frequency band, and the third indication indicative of the timing for the transmission of the uplink control information; and transmitting, to the base station, the uplink control information using the determined resources.

[0190] The instructions may be for performing the optional features set out in relation to the method mentioned above.

[0191] According to various, but not necessarily all, example embodiments of the invention there is provided a method, comprising: transmitting, to a user equipment, a first indication indicative of an uplink transmission switching pattern, wherein the uplink transmission switching pattern indicates switching between at least two frequency bands for uplink transmissions of the user equipment; transmitting, to the user equipment, a second indication indicative of at least one frequency band of the at least two frequency bands for carrying uplink control information; allocating resources for a transmission of uplink control information, wherein the resources are determined based on the uplink transmission switching pattern and the at least one frequency band; and transmitting, to the user equipment, a third indication indicative of a timing of the resources for the transmission of the uplink control information.

[0192] In some example embodiments, the resources comprise a frequency band of the at least one frequency band and the timing for the transmission of the uplink control information.

[0193] In some example embodiments, the method further comprises: determining a sub-pattern based on the uplink transmission switching pattern and the at least one frequency band, the sub-pattern indicating resources for uplink control information transmissions; wherein the allocating the resources for the transmission of the uplink control information is based on the sub-pattern.

[0194] In some example embodiments, the third indication comprises an indication of at least one of the following for the transmission of the uplink control information: at least one time slot, at least one symbol, and at least one sub-time slot

[0195] In some example embodiments, the second indication indicative of the at least one frequency band is transmitted within a physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH, configuration message.

[0196] In some example embodiments, the uplink transmission switching pattern indicates resources for uplink control information transmissions.

[0197] In some example embodiments, the at least one frequency band comprises two or more frequency bands.

[0198] In some example embodiments, the method further comprises: determining a need to overrule the resources; in response to determining the need to overrule the resources, allocating updated resources, the updated resources comprising a frequency band which does not match a frequency band determined for the transmission of the uplink control information based on the uplink transmission switching pattern, the at least one frequency band, and a timing of the updated resources; and transmitting, to the user equipment, a fourth indication indicative of the frequency band of the updated resources.

[0199] In some example embodiments, the method further comprises: determining if a predetermined user equipment time processing budget is satisfied based on the timing for the transmission of the uplink control information and a time for transmitting the third indication to the user equipment, wherein the predetermined user equipment time processing budget indicates how long the user equipment requires for processing after receiving the third indication indicative of the timing of the transmission of the uplink control information before the user equipment is capable of performing the transmission of the uplink control information; and if the predetermined user equipment time processing budget is not satisfied, allocating updated resources for the transmission of the uplink control information.

[0200] In some example embodiments, the method further comprises: determining, based on the uplink transmission switching pattern, whether a user equipment will perform an uplink transmission switch for the transmission of the uplink control information using the resources; if the user equipment will not need to perform an uplink transmission switch, the predetermined user equipment time processing budget comprises a first predetermined user equipment time processing budget; and if the user equipment will need to perform an uplink transmission switch, the predetermined user equipment time processing budget comprises a second predetermined user equipment time processing budget, the second predetermined user equipment time processing budget being longer than the first predetermined user equipment time processing budget.

[0201] In some example embodiments, the uplink transmission switching pattern is associated with a first transmission chain of the user equipment; and the apparatus is further caused to perform: determining a second uplink transmission switching pattern associated with a second transmission chain of the user equipment, wherein the second uplink transmission switching pattern does not contain any resources for uplink control information.

[0202] In some example embodiments, the method is performed by an apparatus such as a base station.

[0203] According to various, but not necessarily all, example embodiments of the invention there is provided a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: transmitting, to a user equipment, a first indication indicative of an uplink transmission switching pattern, wherein the uplink transmission switching pattern indicates switching between at least two frequency bands for uplink transmissions of the user equipment; transmitting, to the user equipment, a second indication indicative of at least one frequency band of the at least two frequency bands for carrying uplink control information; allocating resources for a transmission of uplink control information, wherein the resources are determined based on the uplink transmission switching pattern and the at least one frequency band; and transmitting, to the user equipment, a third indication indicative of a timing of the resources for the transmission of the uplink control information.

[0204] The instructions may be for performing the optional features set out in relation to the method mentioned above.

[0205] According to various, but not necessarily all, example embodiments of the invention there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing at least the following: transmitting, to a user equipment, a first indication indicative of an uplink transmission switching pattern, wherein the uplink transmission switching pattern indicates switching between at least two frequency bands for uplink transmissions of the user equipment; transmitting, to the user equipment, a second indication indicative of at least one frequency band of the at least two frequency bands for carrying uplink control information; allocating resources for a transmission of uplink control information, wherein the resources are determined based on the uplink transmission switching pattern and the at least one frequency band; and transmitting, to the user equipment, a third indication indicative of a timing of the resources for the transmission of the uplink control information.

[0206] A person of skill in the art would readily recognize that steps of various abovedescribed methods can be performed by programmed computers. Herein, some embodiments are also intended to cover program storage devices, e.g., digital data storage media, which are machine or computer readable and encode machineexecutable or computer-executable programs of instructions, wherein said instructions perform some or all of the steps of said above-described methods. The program storage devices may be, e.g., digital memories, magnetic storage media such as a magnetic disks and magnetic tapes, hard drives, or optically readable digital data storage media. The embodiments are also intended to cover computers programmed to perform said steps of the above-described methods. The tern 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).

[0207] 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.

[0208] This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

[0209] 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.

[0210] The ordering of method steps set out above may not be critical or fixed and the exact ordering of the steps may be varied as appropriate.

[0211] Although example embodiments of the present invention have been described in the preceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it should be appreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed.

[0212] Features described in the preceding description may be used in combinations other than the combinations explicitly described.

[0213] Although functions have been described with reference to certain features, those functions may be performable by other features whether described or not.

[0214] Although features have been described with reference to certain embodiments, 5 those features may also be present in other embodiments whether described or not

[0215] Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination 10 of features hereinbefore referred to and / or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon. List Of Abbreviations BW Bandwidth CA Carrier Aggregation DL Downlink 5 FDD Frequency Division Duplex HARQ Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request NW Network PCell Primary Serving Cell PRB Physical Resource Block 10 PLICCH Physical Uplink Control Channel PUSCH Physical Uplink Shared Channel UE User Equipment UL Uplink SCell Secondary Serving Cell 15 SINR Signal to noise and interference ratio SRS Sounding Reference Signal TDD Time division duplex

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:at least one processor; andat least one memory storing instructions that when executed by the at least one processor cause the apparatus at least to perform:receiving, from a base station, a first indication indicative of an uplink transmission switching pattern, wherein the uplink transmission switching pattern indicates switching between at least two frequency bands for uplink transmissions of the apparatus;receiving, from the base station, a second indication indicative of at least one frequency band of the at least two frequency bands for carrying uplink control information;receiving, from the base station, a third indication indicative of a timing for a transmission of uplink control information to the base station;determining resources for the transmission of the uplink control information based on the first indication indicative of the uplink transmission switching pattern, the second indication indicative of the at least one frequency band, and the third indication indicative of the timing for the transmission of the uplink control information; andtransmitting, to the base station, the uplink control information using the determined resources.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the resources comprise a frequency band of the at least one frequency band and the timing for the transmission of the uplink control information.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:determining a sub-pattern based on the first indication indicative of the uplink transmission switching pattern and the second indication indicative of the at least one frequency band, the sub-pattern indicating resources for uplink control information transmissions; whereinthe determining the resources for the transmission of the uplink control information is based on the sub-pattern.

4. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the third indication comprises an indication of at least one of the following for the transmission of the uplinkcontrol information: at least one time slot, at least one symbol, and at least one subtime slot.

5. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the second indication indicative of the at least one frequency band is received within a physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH, configuration message.

6. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the uplink transmission switching pattern indicates resources for uplink control information transmissions.

7. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one frequency band comprises two or more frequency bands.

8. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:receiving, from the base station, a fourth indication indicative of a frequency band for the transmission of the uplink control information, wherein the frequency band indicated by the fourth indication does not match a frequency band determined for the transmission of the uplink control information based on the first indication indicative of the uplink transmission switching pattern, the second indication indicative of the at least one frequency band, and the third indication indicative of the timing for the transmission of the uplink control information; whereinthe resources comprise the frequency band indicated by the fourth indication and the timing for the transmission of the uplink control information.

9. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the uplink transmission switching pattern indicates uplink transmission switching durations when the apparatus is to perform uplink transmission switches; and wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:determining, based on the uplink transmission switching pattern, whether the resources overlap an uplink transmission switching duration; and, if the resources overlap the uplink transmission switching duration, performing at least one of the following:refraining from transmitting the uplink control information, rescheduling the uplink transmission switching duration, and transmitting the uplink control information using the resources without rescheduling the uplink transmission switching duration.

10. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus comprises a user equipment.

11. An apparatus, comprising:at least one processor; andat least one memory storing instructions that when executed by the at least one processor cause the apparatus at least to perform:transmitting, to the user equipment, a first indication indicative of an uplink transmission switching pattern, wherein the uplink transmission switching pattern indicates switching between at least two frequency bands for uplink transmissions of a user equipment;transmitting, to the user equipment, a second indication indicative of at least one frequency band of the at least two frequency bands for carrying uplink control information;allocating resources for a transmission of uplink control information, wherein the resources are determined based on the uplink transmission switching pattern and the at least one frequency band; andtransmitting, to the user equipment, a third indication indicative of a timing of the resources for the transmission of the uplink control information.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the resources comprise a frequency band of the at least one frequency band and the timing for the transmission of the uplink control information.

13. An apparatus according to claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:determining a sub-pattern based on the uplink transmission switching pattern and the at least one frequency band, the sub-pattern indicating resources for uplink control information transmissions; whereinthe allocating the resources for the transmission of the uplink control information is based on the sub-pattern.

14. An apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the third indication comprises an indication of at least one of the following for the transmission of the uplink control information: at least one time slot, at least one symbol, and at least one sub-time slot.

15. An apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the second indication indicative of the at least one frequency band is transmitted within a physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH, configuration message.

16. An apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein the uplink transmission switching pattern indicates resources for uplink control information transmissions.

17. An apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 16, wherein the at least one frequency band comprises two or more frequency bands.

18. An apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 17, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:determining a need to overrule the resources;in response to determining the need to overrule the resources, allocating updated resources, the updated resources comprising a frequency band which does not match a frequency band determined for the transmission of the uplink control information based on the uplink transmission switching pattern, the at least one frequency band, and a timing of the updated resources; andtransmitting, to the user equipment, a fourth indication indicative of the frequency band of the updated resources.

19. An apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 18, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:determining if a predetermined user equipment time processing budget is satisfied based on the timing for the transmission of the uplink control information and a time for transmitting the third indication to the user equipment,wherein the predetermined user equipment time processing budget indicates how long the user equipment requires for processing after receiving the third indication indicative of the timing of the transmission of the uplink control information before the user equipment is capable of performing the transmission of the uplink control information; andif the predetermined user equipment time processing budget is not satisfied, allocating updated resources for the transmission of the uplink control information.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:determining, based on the uplink transmission switching pattern, whether a user equipment will perform an uplink transmission switch for the transmission of the uplink control information using the resources;if the user equipment will not need to perform an uplink transmission switch, the predetermined user equipment time processing budget comprises a first predetermined user equipment time processing budget; andif the user equipment will need to perform an uplink transmission switch, the predetermined user equipment time processing budget comprises a second predetermined user equipment time processing budget, the second predetermined user equipment time processing budget being longer than the first predetermined user equipment time processing budget.

21. An apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 20, wherein the uplink transmission switching pattern is associated with a first transmission chain of the user equipment; and the apparatus is further caused to perform:determining a second uplink transmission switching pattern associated with a second transmission chain of the user equipment, wherein the second uplink transmission switching pattern does not contain any resources for uplink control information.

22. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus comprises a base station.

23. A method, comprising:receiving, from a base station, a first indication indicative of an uplink transmission switching pattern, wherein the uplink transmission switching pattern indicates switching between at least two frequency bands for uplink transmissions of a user equipment;receiving, from the base station, a second indication indicative of at least one frequency band of the at least two frequency bands for carrying uplink control information;receiving, from the base station, a third indication indicative of a timing for a transmission of uplink control information to the base station by the user equipment;determining resources for the transmission of the uplink control information based on the first indication indicative of the uplink transmission switching pattern, thesecond indication indicative of the at least one frequency band, and the third indication indicative of the timing for the transmission of the uplink control information; andtransmitting, to the base station, the uplink control information using the determined resources.

24. A method, comprising:transmitting, to a user equipment, a first indication indicative of an uplink transmission switching pattern, wherein the uplink transmission switching pattern indicates switching between at least two frequency bands for uplink transmissions of the user equipment;transmitting, to the user equipment, a second indication indicative of at least one frequency band of the at least two frequency bands for carrying uplink control information;allocating resources for a transmission of uplink control information, wherein the resources are determined based on the uplink transmission switching pattern and the at least one frequency band; andtransmitting, to the user equipment, a third indication indicative of a timing of the resources for the transmission of the uplink control information.

25. A computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform the method of claim 23 or claim 24.Application No: GB2412980.1 Examiner: Gareth GriffithsClaims searched: 1-25Date of search: 11 February 2025Patents Act 1977: Search Report under Section 17Documents considered to be relevant:Category Relevant to claims Identity of document and passage or figure of particular relevance X 1-25 US9642140 B2 (NG BOON L00NG) see figures 8, 9 and associated description X 1-25 EP4170946 Al (PANASONIC) paragraphs 91, 95, 97 X 1-25 US2024 / 089963 Al (DALAH) paragraphs 12, 27, 28 v A 1-25 EP4125233 Al (PANASONIC) paragraphs 44, 52, 53, 75, 77, 79, 82 X 1-25 WO2022 / 206932 Al (ESSEN) see figure 7 and associated descriptionCategories:X Document indicating lack of novelty or inventive step A Document indicating technological background and / or state of the art. Y Document indicating lack of inventive step if p Document published on or after the declared priority date but combined with one or more other documents of same category. before the filing date of this invention. & Member of the same patent family E Patent document published on or after, but with priority date earlier than, the filing date of this application.Field of Search:Search of GB, EP. WO &US patent documents classified in the following areas of the UKCX :Worldwide search of patent documents classified in the following areas of the IPCThe following online and other databases have been used in the preparation of this search reportSEARCH-PATENTInternational Classification:Subclass Subgroup Valid From H04W 0072 / 23 01 / 01 / 2023 H04W 0072 / 21 01 / 01 / 2023 H04W 0072 / 512 01 / 01 / 2023

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