Method and apparatus for frequency domain resource indication in multi-cell scheduling scenarios

Abstract

[0009] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a UE may receive from a BS a DCI format for scheduling a first set of cells among a second set of cells configured for the UE by the BS, the DCI format including a first field indicating whether one or more cells are scheduled by the DCI format and a second field for indicating a frequency domain resource allocation, the UE may determine RBs assigned to the first set of cells based on the first and second fields, and may receive a downlink transmission from the BS on the assigned RBs if the DCI format schedules a downlink transmission, or may transmit an uplink transmission to the BS on the assigned RBs if the DCI format schedules an uplink transmission.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to wireless communications technologies, and more particularly to frequency domain resource indication in multi-cell scheduling scenarios. [Background technology]

[0002] Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various telecommunication services such as telephony, video, data, messaging, broadcasts, and so on. Wireless communication systems may use multiple access technologies capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing available system resources (e.g., time, frequency, and power). Examples of wireless communication systems may include fourth-generation (4G) systems, such as long-term evolution (LTE) systems, LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) systems, or LTE-A Pro systems, and fifth-generation (5G) systems, sometimes referred to as new radio (NR) systems.

[0003] In a wireless communication system, a base station (BS) and user equipment (UE) may communicate via downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) channels. For example, a UE may monitor a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) in one or more search spaces. The PDCCH may carry downlink control information (DCI), which may schedule an uplink channel, such as a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), or a downlink channel, such as a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH).

[0004] In wireless communication systems, for example, carrier aggregation (CA) techniques may be used to increase data rates. For example, CA techniques may refer to aggregating spectrum resources (e.g., carriers or cells) from the same frequency band or different frequency bands. In a CA scenario, multiple cells may be configured for a UE, and DL or UL channels may be carried on one or more of the multiple cells.

[0005] There is a need to address frequency domain resource allocation for uplink and downlink transmissions scheduled by DCI in CA scenarios. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a user equipment (UE). The UE may include a transceiver and a processor coupled to the transceiver. The processor may be configured to: receive from a BS a DCI format for scheduling a first set of cells among a second set of cells configured for the UE by the BS, the DCI format including a first field indicating whether one or more cells are scheduled by the DCI format and a second field for indicating a frequency-domain resource allocation; determine reference blocks (RBs) assigned on the first set of cells based on the first and second fields; and receive a downlink transmission from the BS on the assigned RBs if the DCI format schedules a downlink transmission, or transmit an uplink transmission to the BS on the assigned RBs if the DCI format schedules an uplink transmission.

[0007] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the size of the first field is equal to 1 bit. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first field indicates a first set of cells, and the size of the first field depends on the number of cells in the second set of cells.

[0008] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the second field indicates a set of interlaces on the bandwidth of a virtual cell formed by aggregating all cells in the second set of cells according to a predefined order.

[0009] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the size of the second field depends on the total number of interlaces on the bandwidth of the virtual cell.

[0010] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the second field includes multiple RB group (RBG)-based indicators, each corresponding to a cell in the second set of cells and indicating an assigned RBG on the corresponding cell.

[0011] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the size of each RBG-based indicator in the RBG-based indicators depends on the resource allocation type for the corresponding cell, the RBG granularity for the corresponding cell, and one of the associated carrier bandwidth of the corresponding cell, the largest bandwidth part (BWP) of the corresponding cell, and the bandwidth of the currently active BWP of the corresponding cell.

[0012] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the RBG-based indicators in the second field are arranged according to a predefined order.

[0013] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the number of downlink or uplink transmissions is equal to the number of cells in the first set of cells.

[0014] Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a user equipment (UE). The UE may include a transceiver and a processor coupled to the transceiver. The processor may be configured to: receive from a BS a DCI format that schedules a first set of cells among a second set of cells configured for the UE by the BS, the DCI format including at least one frequency domain resource assignment (FDRA) field; determine the first set of cells based on the at least one FDRA field; determine assigned RBs on the first set of cells based on the at least one FDRA field; and, if the DCI format schedules a downlink transmission, receive a downlink transmission from the BS on the assigned RBs, or transmit an uplink transmission to the BS on the assigned RBs if the DCI format schedules an uplink transmission.

[0015] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, each FDRA field of the at least one FDRA field corresponds to a cell in the second set of cells and indicates an allocated RB on the corresponding cell.

[0016] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the size of each FDRA field of the at least one FDRA field depends on the resource allocation type for the corresponding cell, the RBG granularity for the corresponding cell, and one of the associated carrier bandwidth of the corresponding cell, the largest bandwidth among the fractional bandwidths (BWPs) of the corresponding cell, or the bandwidth of the currently active BWP of the corresponding cell.

[0017] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the RBG granularity for each cell in the second set of cells is independently configured by the BS. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the resource allocation type for each cell in the second set of cells is independently configured by the BS. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the RBG granularity for different resource allocation types for each cell in the second set of cells is independently configured by the BS.

[0018] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the configured RBG granularity for a cell in the second set of cells depends on one of the cell's associated carrier bandwidth, the largest bandwidth among the cell's fractional bandwidths (BWPs), or the bandwidth of the cell's currently active BWP.

[0019] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, all cells in the second set of cells have the same resource allocation type. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, all cells in the second set of cells have the same RBG granularity, and the RBG granularity depends on the total bandwidth of the second set of cells.

[0020] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the at least one FDRA field includes a single FDRA field, which indicates an assigned RB group (RBG) on a virtual cell formed by aggregating all cells in the second set of cells according to a predefined order.

[0021] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the size of the single FDRA field depends on the total bandwidth of the second set of cells and the RBG granularity for the second set of cells.

[0022] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the number of downlink or uplink transmissions is equal to the number of cells in the first set of cells.

[0023] Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a BS. The BS may include a transceiver and a processor coupled to the transceiver. The processor may be configured to: configure a second set of cells for the UE; transmit to the UE a DCI format for scheduling RBs on the first set of cells among the second set of cells, the DCI format including a first field indicating whether one or more cells are scheduled by the DCI format and a second field for indicating a frequency domain resource allocation, the scheduled RBs being indicated by the first and second fields; and, if the DCI format schedules a downlink transmission, transmit a downlink transmission to the UE on the scheduled RBs, or receive an uplink transmission from the UE on the scheduled RBs if the DCI format schedules an uplink transmission.

[0024] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the size of the first field is equal to 1 bit. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first field indicates a first set of cells, and the size of the first field depends on the number of cells in the second set of cells.

[0025] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the second field indicates a set of interlaces on the bandwidth of a virtual cell formed by aggregating all cells in the second set of cells according to a predefined order.

[0026] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the scheduled RBs are RBs within the intersection of the first set of cells and the set of interlaces.

[0027] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the interlaces are RB-based interlaces, and the total number of RB-based interlaces on the bandwidth of the virtual cell depends on the SCS of the second set of cells, configured by the BS, or the number of RBs between two consecutive RBs of a single interlace on the bandwidth of the virtual cell.

[0028] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the interlaces are RBG-based interlaces, and the total number of RBG-based interlaces on the bandwidth of the virtual cell and the RBG size associated with the RBG-based interlaces are configured by the BS.

[0029] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the size of the second field depends on the total number of interlaces on the bandwidth of the virtual cell.

[0030] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the second field includes a plurality of RBG-based indicators, each indicator corresponding to one cell in the second set of cells and indicating a scheduled RBG on the corresponding cell.

[0031] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the size of each RBG-based indicator in the RBG-based indicators depends on the resource allocation type for the corresponding cell, the RBG granularity for the corresponding cell, and one of the associated carrier bandwidth of the corresponding cell, the largest bandwidth among the BWPs of the corresponding cell, and the bandwidth of the currently active BWPs of the corresponding cell.

[0032] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the processor is further configured to determine an RBG granularity associated with the RBG-based indicator corresponding to each cell in the first set of cells according to the number of cells in the first set of cells.

[0033] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, when the number of cells in the first set of cells is greater than a threshold, the RBG granularity associated with the RBG-based indicator corresponding to each cell in the first set of cells is the RBG granularity for the corresponding cell in the first set of cells. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, when the number of cells in the first set of cells is equal to or less than a threshold, the RBG granularity associated with the RBG-based indicator corresponding to each cell in the first set of cells is equal to or less than the RBG granularity for the corresponding cell in the first set of cells.

[0034] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the RBG-based indicators in the second field are arranged according to a predefined order.

[0035] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the number of downlink or uplink transmissions is equal to the number of cells in the first set of cells.

[0036] Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a BS. The BS may include a transceiver and a processor coupled to the transceiver. The processor may be configured to: configure a second set of cells for the UE; transmit to the UE a DCI format for scheduling RBs on the first set of cells among the second set of cells, the DCI format including at least one FDRA field, the first set of cells and the scheduled RBs indicated by the at least one FDRA field; and, if the DCI format schedules a downlink transmission, transmit a downlink transmission to the UE on the scheduled RBs, or receive an uplink transmission from the UE on the scheduled RBs if the DCI format schedules an uplink transmission.

[0037] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, each FDRA field of the at least one FDRA field corresponds to a cell in the second set of cells and indicates a scheduled RB on the corresponding cell.

[0038] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the size of each FDRA field in the at least one FDRA field depends on the resource allocation type for the corresponding cell, the RBG granularity for the corresponding cell, and one of the associated carrier bandwidth of the corresponding cell, the largest bandwidth among the BWPs of the corresponding cell, or the bandwidth of the currently active BWPs of the corresponding cell.

[0039] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the processor is further configured to, for each cell in the second set of cells, set a corresponding FDRA field of the at least one FDRA field to indicate an inapplicable value if the corresponding cell is not scheduled by the DCI format, or set a corresponding FDRA field of the at least one FDRA field to indicate an applicable value if the corresponding cell is scheduled by the DCI format.

[0040] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the processor is further configured to perform at least one of independently configuring an RBG granularity for each cell in the second set of cells, independently configuring a resource allocation type for each cell in the second set of cells, or independently configuring an RBG granularity for different resource allocation types for each cell in the second set of cells.

[0041] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the configured RBG granularity for a cell in the second set of cells depends on one of the cell's associated carrier bandwidth, the largest bandwidth among the cell's BWPs, or the bandwidth of the cell's currently active BWPs.

[0042] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, all cells in the second set of cells have the same resource allocation type. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, all cells in the second set of cells have the same RBG granularity, and the RBG granularity depends on the total bandwidth of the second set of cells.

[0043] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the at least one FDRA field includes a single FDRA field, which indicates a scheduled RBG on a virtual cell formed by aggregating all cells in the second set of cells according to a predefined order.

[0044] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the size of the single FDRA field depends on the total bandwidth of the second set of cells and the RBG granularity for the second set of cells.

[0045] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the processor is further configured to, for each cell in the second set of cells, set a single FDRA field to indicate neither a full RBG nor a partial RBG on the corresponding cell if the corresponding cell is not scheduled by the DCI format, or set a single FDRA field to indicate at least one full RBG or at least one partial RBG on the corresponding cell if the corresponding cell is scheduled by the DCI format.

[0046] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the number of downlink or uplink transmissions is equal to the number of cells in the first set of cells.

[0047] Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method implemented by a UE, which may include receiving from a BS a DCI format for scheduling a first set of cells among a second set of cells configured for the UE by the BS, where the DCI format includes a first field indicating whether one or more cells are scheduled by the DCI format and a second field for indicating a frequency-domain resource allocation, determining RBs assigned on the first set of cells based on the first and second fields, and receiving a downlink transmission from the BS on the assigned RBs if the DCI format schedules a downlink transmission, or transmitting an uplink transmission to the BS on the assigned RBs if the DCI format schedules an uplink transmission.

[0048] Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method implemented by a UE. The method may include receiving from a BS a DCI format that schedules a first set of cells among a second set of cells configured for the UE by the BS, the DCI format including at least one FDRA field, determining the first set of cells based on the at least one FDRA field, determining assigned RBs on the first set of cells based on the at least one FDRA field, and receiving a downlink transmission from the BS on the assigned RBs if the DCI format schedules a downlink transmission, or transmitting an uplink transmission to the BS on the assigned RBs if the DCI format schedules an uplink transmission.

[0049] Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method implemented by a BS. The method may include: configuring a second set of cells for a UE; transmitting a DCI format to the UE for scheduling RBs on the first set of cells among the second set of cells, the DCI format including a first field indicating whether one or more cells are scheduled by the DCI format and a second field for indicating a frequency-domain resource allocation, the scheduled RBs being indicated by the first and second fields; and transmitting a downlink transmission to the UE on the scheduled RBs if the DCI format schedules a downlink transmission, or receiving an uplink transmission from the UE on the scheduled RBs if the DCI format schedules an uplink transmission.

[0050] Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method implemented by a BS. The method may include configuring a second set of cells for a UE, transmitting a DCI format to the UE for scheduling RBs on the first set of cells among the second set of cells, the DCI format including at least one FDRA field, the first set of cells and the scheduled RBs indicated by the at least one FDRA field, and transmitting a downlink transmission to the UE on the scheduled RBs if the DCI format schedules a downlink transmission, or receiving an uplink transmission from the UE on the scheduled RBs if the DCI format schedules an uplink transmission.

[0051] Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the apparatus may include at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, at least one receiving circuit, at least one transmitting circuit, and at least one processor coupled to the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium, the at least one receiving circuit, and the at least one transmitting circuit, wherein the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium and the computer-executable instructions, using the at least one processor, may be configured to cause the apparatus to perform a method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0052] To describe how the advantages and features of the present disclosure can be obtained, the present disclosure will now be described by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which depict only exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of the present disclosure. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0053] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a DCI format for scheduling multiple transmissions, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a DCI format for scheduling multiple transmissions, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 illustrates an example virtual cell according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of an RB-based interlace structure, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of an RBG-based interlace structure, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 7]1 is a flowchart of an example procedure for wireless communication according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] 1 is a flowchart of an example procedure for wireless communication according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 9] 1 is a flowchart of an example procedure for wireless communication according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] 1 is a flowchart of an example procedure for wireless communication according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 11] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary apparatus according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0054] The detailed description of the accompanying drawings is intended to be considered an illustration of preferred embodiments of the present disclosure and is not intended to represent the only form in which the present disclosure may be practiced. It is to be understood that the same or equivalent function may be accomplished by different embodiments that are intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

[0055] Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments of the present disclosure. Examples of embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. For ease of understanding, the embodiments are provided under specific network architectures and new service scenarios such as 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) 5G (NR) and 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) Release 8. With the development of network architectures and new service scenarios, all embodiments of the present disclosure are also believed to be applicable to similar technical problems. Furthermore, the terms described in the present disclosure may be changed, but this should not affect the principles of the present disclosure.

[0056] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a wireless communication system 100 in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0057] 1, the wireless communication system 100 may include a number of UEs 101 (e.g., UE 101a and UE 101b) and a base station (e.g., BS 102). Although a particular number of UEs 101 and BSs 102 are shown in FIG. 1, it is contemplated that the wireless communication system 100 may include any number of UEs and BSs.

[0058] The UE 101 may include computing devices such as desktop computers, laptop computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), tablet computers, smart televisions (e.g., televisions connected to the Internet), set-top boxes, game consoles, security systems (including security cameras), in-vehicle computers, network devices (e.g., routers, switches, and modems). According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the UE 101 may include a portable wireless communication device, a smartphone, a mobile phone, a flip phone, a device with a subscriber identity module, a personal computer, a selective call receiver, or any other device capable of sending and receiving communication signals over a wireless network. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the UE 101 includes a wearable device such as a smart watch, a fitness band, or an optical head-mounted display. Furthermore, the UE 101 may also be referred to as a subscriber unit, mobile, mobile station, user, terminal, mobile terminal, wireless terminal, fixed terminal, subscriber station, user terminal, or device, or may be described using other terms used in the art. The UE 101 may communicate with the BS 102 via uplink (UL) communication signals.

[0059] The BSs 102 may be distributed throughout a geographic region. In certain embodiments of the present disclosure, the BSs 102 may also be referred to as access points, access terminals, bases, base units, macrocells, Node Bs, evolved Node Bs (eNBs), gNBs, home Node Bs, relay nodes, or devices, or may be described using other terms used in the art. The BSs 102 are generally part of a radio access network, which may include one or more controllers communicatively coupled to one or more corresponding BSs 102. The BSs 102 may communicate with the UEs 101 via downlink (DL) communication signals.

[0060] The wireless communication system 100 may be compatible with any type of network capable of transmitting and receiving wireless communication signals. For example, the wireless communication system 100 may be compatible with a wireless communication network, a cellular network, a time division multiple access (TDMA)-based network, a code division multiple access (CDMA)-based network, an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA)-based network, an LTE network, a 3GPP-based network, a 3GPP 5G network, a satellite communication network, a high altitude platform network, and / or other communication networks.

[0061] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the wireless communication system 100 is compatible with 5G NR, a 3GPP protocol. For example, the BS 102 may transmit data on the DL using an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation scheme, and the UE 101 may transmit data on the UL using a discrete Fourier transform-spread-orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (DFT-S-OFDM) or cyclic prefix-OFDM (CP-OFDM) scheme. However, more generally, the wireless communication system 100 may implement some other public or proprietary communication protocol, such as WiMAX, among other communication protocols.

[0062] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the BS 102 and the UE 101 may communicate using other communication protocols, such as the IEEE 802.11 family of wireless communication protocols. Additionally, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the BS 102 and the UE 101 may communicate over a licensed spectrum, while in some other embodiments, the BS 102 and the UE 101 may communicate over an unlicensed spectrum. This disclosure is not intended to be limited to any particular wireless communication system architecture or protocol implementation.

[0063] Communication technologies (e.g., NR) may support a wide range of spectrum in different frequency ranges. For example, in the 5G Advanced market, spectrum availability is expected to increase, in some cases due to the refarming of bands originally used for networks of previous cellular generations. For example, for some low-frequency bands in frequency range 1 (FR1) (e.g., 410 MHz to 7125 MHz), the available spectrum band tends to be divided and spread into bands with narrower bandwidths. Additionally, for bands in frequency range 2 (FR2) (e.g., 24250 MHz to 52600 MHz) and some bands in FR1, the available spectrum may be wide enough that intra-band multicarrier operation is required.

[0064] To meet different spectrum requirements, it is important to ensure that these divided or spread spectrum bands or spectrum with wider bandwidths are utilized in a more spectrally and power-efficient and flexible manner, thereby resulting in higher throughput and adequate coverage in the network.

[0065] For example, one motivation in this case is to improve spectrum / power efficiency and flexibility with respect to scheduling data across multiple cells, including intra-band and inter-band cells. In some examples, the scheduling mechanism may only allow scheduling a single PUSCH or PDSCH on a single cell per scheduling DCI. When more spread spectrum bands or spectrum with wider bandwidths are available, it is desirable to allow simultaneous scheduling of multiple cells.

[0066] A communication system (e.g., NR) may be designed to support up to 16 component carriers (CCs) in the case of carrier aggregation (CA) and up to 32 CCs in the case of dual connectivity (DC). In some embodiments of the present application, in the case of CA, a DCI format can schedule up to one cell (e.g., carrier) through cross-cell (or cross-carrier) scheduling or self-scheduling. In this case, when the number of cells configured for a UE is large, a large signaling overhead is required for the PDCCH to schedule DL transmissions (e.g., PDSCHs) or UL transmissions (e.g., PUSCHs). To reduce signaling overhead, it is advantageous to schedule multiple PDSCHs or PUSCHs on multiple cells configured for the UE using a single DCI format, which is referred to as multi-cell scheduling in the context of this disclosure. However, a tradeoff between signaling overhead reduction and scheduling limitations must be considered.

[0067] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of a DCI format for scheduling multiple transmissions in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0068] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, multiple CCs (e.g., including but not limited to CCs 231-234 in FIG. 2) may be configured for a UE. It should be understood that the sub-carrier spacings (SCSs) of the cells configured for the UE may be the same or different. Each CC among the multiple CCs may correspond to a respective cell (e.g., serving cell) or carrier of the UE. Each cell (serving cell) may be associated with a (serving) cell index.

[0069] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, instead of scheduling multiple transmissions on multiple cells using separate DCI formats, a BS may transmit a single DCI format to schedule multiple transmissions on multiple cells. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, DCI format 211 may schedule transmissions 221-224 on CCs 231-234, where each CC carries a single transmission.

[0070] In some examples, transmissions 221-224 may be uplink transmissions, e.g., uplink physical data channels such as PUSCH, etc. In some examples, transmissions 221-224 may be downlink transmissions, e.g., downlink physical data channels such as PDSCH, etc.

[0071] In Figure 2, the cell where DCI format 211 is detected (i.e., CC 231) carries one of the scheduled transmissions (e.g., transmission 221). This is called self-scheduling. Other of the scheduled transmissions (e.g., transmissions 222-224) are scheduled on cells different from the cell where DCI format 211 is detected (i.e., CC 231). This is called cross-cell (or cross-carrier) scheduling.

[0072] It should be understood that, while in Figure 2, DCI format 211 schedules multiple transmissions via both self-scheduling and cross-cell scheduling, a DCI format may schedule multiple transmissions via cross-cell scheduling only. Figure 3 shows such an example. It should also be understood that in some other embodiments of the present disclosure, a cell (e.g., a CC) scheduled by a DCI format may carry multiple transmissions (e.g., a PDSCH or a PUSCH).

[0073] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of a DCI format for scheduling multiple transmissions according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0074] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, multiple CCs (e.g., including but not limited to CCs 331-335 in FIG. 3) may be configured for a UE. It should be understood that the subcarrier spacings (SCSs) of the cells configured for the UE may be the same or different. Each CC among the multiple CCs may correspond to a respective cell (e.g., serving cell) or carrier for the UE. Each cell (serving cell) may be associated with a (serving) cell index.

[0075] 3, DCI format 311 may be transmitted on CC 331 and may schedule transmissions on CCs 332-335, where each CC carries a single transmission. In some examples, transmissions 321-324 may be uplink transmissions, e.g., uplink physical data channels such as PUSCH. In some examples, transmissions 321-324 may be downlink transmissions, e.g., downlink physical data channels such as PDSCH.

[0076] When a DCI format schedules a single transmission on a single cell, the DCI format may indicate the allocated frequency domain resources on the scheduled cell for the scheduled transmission. This may not be applicable when a single DCI format schedules multiple transmissions (e.g., multiple PDSCHs or PUSCHs) on multiple cells. For example, because different cells may have different bandwidths, a single frequency domain resource allocation (FDRA) in a single DCI format may not be applicable to multiple scheduled cells because this would cause many scheduling restrictions. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, a separate FDRA field may be used for each of the scheduled cells in the DCI format. However, this would incur a large signaling overhead for the scheduling DCI. Embodiments of the present application propose an improved solution for indicating frequency domain resources for scheduled cells, which may reduce overhead.

[0077] Meanwhile, before detecting a DCI format, the UE needs to know the exact payload size of the DCI format. The number of cells scheduled by a DCI format can be dynamically changed, which affects the DCI payload size. As a result, how to determine the payload size of a DCI format also needs to be resolved.

[0078]

[0023] Details regarding embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated in the following text in combination with the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the solutions of the present disclosure can be applied to both downlink transmissions (e.g., PDSCH) and uplink transmissions (e.g., PUSCH) scheduled by DCI formats.

[0079] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, a BS may configure a set of cells (denoted as cell set #1) that can be used for multi-cell scheduling for a UE. For example, the BS may transmit a DCI to the UE, which may schedule one or more downlink transmissions (e.g., PDSCH) or uplink transmissions (e.g., PUSCH) on one or more cells of cell set #1.

[0080] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, when a single DCI format can schedule multiple cells for downlink or uplink transmission, the scheduled or assigned frequency domain resources (e.g., RBs) on the scheduled cells can be indicated by two fields (indicated by field #A1 and field #A2).

[0081] For example, the DCI format may schedule a set of cells (denoted as cell set #2) in cell set #1. Field #A1 of the DCI format may indicate whether multiple cells are scheduled by the DCI format. For example, field #A1 indicates cell set #2 in cell set #1. The size of field #A1 may depend on the number of cells in cell set #1. For example, assuming cell set #1 includes N cells, field #A1 may be an N-bit bitmap, with each bit in the bitmap corresponding to one cell in cell set #1. For example, a bit value of "0" indicates that the corresponding cell is not scheduled, while a bit value of "1" indicates that the corresponding cell is scheduled, or a bit value of "1" indicates that the corresponding cell is not scheduled, while a bit value of "0" indicates that the corresponding cell is scheduled. In some examples, a UE may be configured with up to four cells for multi-cell scheduling (e.g., N≦4).

[0082] Field #A2 of the DCI format may indicate frequency domain resource allocation for the virtual cell. For example, field #A2 may indicate the allocated RBs for the virtual cell. Various methods may be used to form the virtual cell. For example, the virtual cell may be formed by aggregating all cells in cell set #1 according to a predefined order.

[0083] For example, the cells in cell set #1 may be aggregated according to a predefined order (e.g., ascending or descending) of the cell index or carrier frequency of the cells. The RBs of the virtual cell may be consecutively indexed from the lowest RB of the first cell in the aggregated cells (i.e., the starting RB of the virtual cell) to the highest RB of the last cell in the aggregated cells (i.e., the ending RB of the virtual cell). Alternatively, the RBs of the virtual cell may be consecutively indexed from the highest RB of the last cell in the aggregated cells (i.e., the starting RB of the virtual cell) to the lowest RB of the last cell in the aggregated cells (i.e., the ending RB of the virtual cell).

[0084] For example, a UE is configured with a set of cells (i.e., cell set #1) including CC1, CC2, ..., CCN for multi-cell scheduling via a DCI format, where CC1 includes K1 RBs, CC2 includes K2 RBs, CC3 includes K3 RBs, and CCN is K N Contains RBs, Y = k1+k2+k3+ ... +k N These Y RBs are denoted as RB0, RB1, ..., RB from the lowest RB of the first cell in the bundle to the highest RB of the last cell in the bundle. y-1 can be numbered consecutively.

[0085] 4 illustrates an example virtual cell 430 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. It is assumed that a UE is configured with CCs 431-434 for multi-cell scheduling, and the serving cell index values ​​of CCs 431-434 have the relationship CC431 < CC432 < CC433 < CC434.

[0086] 4, CCs 431-434 are arranged according to the ascending order of their cell indexes and then combined as virtual cell 430. RB 411 indicates the lowest RB of the lowest cell (e.g., CC 431) in virtual cell 430, and RB 412 indicates the highest RB of the highest cell (e.g., CC 434) in virtual cell 430.

[0087] In some examples, the RBs on cell 430 are numbered RB411 (RB0) through RB412 (RB y-1 ) until RB0, RB1, ..., RB y-1 RBs may be consecutively numbered as RB 411, RB 412, RB 413, RB 414, RB 415, RB 416, RB 417, RB 418, RB 419, RB 420, RB 421, RB 422, RB 423, RB 424, RB 425, RB 426, RB 427, RB 428, RB 429, RB 430, RB 431, RB 432, RB 433, RB 434, RB 435, RB 436, RB 437, RB 438, RB 439, RB 440, RB 441, RB 442, RB 443, RB 444, RB 445, RB 446, RB 447, RB 448, RB 449, RB 450, RB 451, RB 452, RB 453, RB 454, RB 455, RB 456, RB 457, RB 458, RB 459, RB 460, RB 461, RB 462, RB 463, RB 464, RB 465, RB 466, RB 467, RB 468, RB 469, RB 470, RB 471, RB 472, RB 473, RB 474, RB 475, RB 476, RB 477, RB 478, RB 479, RB 480, RB 481, RB 4

[0088] In some embodiments, an interlace-based structure may be adopted for a virtual cell. An interlace may be defined as a set of frequency resources (e.g., RBs or RBGs) that are evenly spaced in the frequency domain (e.g., the frequency domain of a virtual cell). For example, an interlace may be defined with respect to the starting RB of the virtual cell (e.g., the RB with the lowest index, such as RB0).

[0089] For example, a virtual cell may include multiple interlaces (denoted as interlace set #1). Field #A2 in the DCI format may indicate a set of interlaces from interlace set #1 (denoted as interlace set #2). That is, field #A2 may indicate interlace set #2 on the bandwidth of the virtual cell. The RBs actually scheduled by the DCI format are the RBs within the intersection of cell set #2 and interlace set #2.

[0090] In some embodiments, an RB-based interlace structure may be adopted. For example, the RB-based interlace structure may be expressed as {RBs p, p+M1, p+2*M1, ...} in a virtual cell, where p is an interlace index and p∈{0, 1, 2, ..., M1-1}, and M1 indicates the total number of RB-based interlaces in the virtual cell. Once the total number of RB-based interlaces on the bandwidth of the virtual cell is determined, the RB-based interlace structure for the virtual cell is determined.

[0091] 5 shows an example of an RB-based interlace structure according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be understood that the structure in FIG. 5 is for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0092] In Figure 5, the bandwidth of the virtual cell may be divided into RBs, and the RBs may be indexed according to various methods as described above. For illustrative purposes, Figure 5 shows only a portion of the RBs included in the bandwidth of the virtual cell (e.g., the RBs indexed 0 to 39 in Figure 5). Those skilled in the art can easily determine the number of RBs included in the bandwidth of the virtual cell based on the carrier bandwidth of cell set #1.

[0093] Assume that the total number of RB-based interlaces in a virtual cell is 10 (e.g., indexed as interlace 0 through interlace 9 in FIG. 5). Each of the 10 interlaces may include RBs that are evenly spaced in the frequency domain. The number of RBs included in each of the 10 interlaces may depend on the bandwidth of the virtual cell. As shown in FIG. 5, interlace 0 may include RB0, RB10, RB20, RB30, etc., interlace 1 may include RB1, RB11, RB21, RB31, etc., and interlace 9 may include RB9, RB19, RB29, RB39, etc.

[0094] Various methods may be used to determine the total number of RB-based interlaces on the bandwidth of a virtual cell.

[0095] For example, the total number of RB-based interlaces in a virtual cell may depend on the SCS of cell set #1. For example, cells in cell set #1 may have the same SCS. For a 15 kHz SCS, the total number of RB-based interlaces in a virtual cell is 10 (e.g., M1 = 10), and for a 30 kHz SCS, the total number of RB-based interlaces in a virtual cell is 5 (e.g., M1 = 5). In some embodiments, when the SCS configuration is higher than 30 kHz, other methods may be used to determine the total number of RB-based interlaces in a virtual cell.

[0096] For example, the total number of RB-based interlaces in a virtual cell may be configured by the BS. For example, the BS may configure the total number of RB-based interlaces (e.g., the value of M1) to the UE via radio resource control (RRC) signaling, and this total number is applicable to the entire cell set #1.

[0097] For example, the total number of RB-based interlaces in a virtual cell may depend on the number of RBs between two consecutive RBs of a single interlace on the bandwidth of the virtual cell. For example, the BS may allocate RBs (MRB The UE may configure the number of RB-based interlaces (denoted as M) to the UE via RRC signaling. The UE may determine the total number of RB-based interlaces in the virtual cell based on the configured information. For example, the value of M may be M RB or M RB Equals a value of +1.

[0098] In some embodiments, an RBG-based interlace structure may be adopted. For example, the RBG-based interlace structure may be expressed as {RBs p*K+j, p*K+j+K*M2, p*K+j+2*K*M2, ...} in a virtual cell, where p denotes the interlace index and p∈{0,1,2, ...,M2-1}, j denotes the RB index in each RBG and j∈{0,1,2, ...,K-1}, K denotes the RBG size (i.e., the number of consecutive RBs in each RBG), and M2 denotes the total number of RBG-based interlaces in the virtual cell. The RB-based interlace structure may be considered as a special case of the RBG-based interlace structure in which the RBG size is 1.

[0099] To determine the RBG-based interlace structure, both the number of RBG-based interlaces and the RBG size are required. In some examples, the two values ​​may be configured via RRC signaling and are applicable to the entire cell set #1.

[0100] 6 shows an example of an RBG-based interlace structure according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be understood that the structure in FIG. 6 is for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0101] In Figure 6, the bandwidth of the virtual cell may be divided into RBs, and the RBs may be indexed according to various methods as described above. For illustrative purposes, Figure 6 shows only a portion of the RBs included in the bandwidth of the virtual cell (e.g., the RBs indexed 0 to 39 in Figure 6). Those skilled in the art can easily determine the number of RBs included in the bandwidth of the virtual cell based on the carrier bandwidth of cell set #1.

[0102] Assume that the total number of RBG-based interlaces in a virtual cell is 10 (e.g., indexed as interlace 0 through interlace 9 in FIG. 6) and the RBG size is 2. Each of the 10 interlaces may include RBGs that are evenly spaced in the frequency domain, where each RBG includes two consecutive RBs. The number of RBs included in each of the 10 interlaces may depend on the bandwidth of the virtual cell. As shown in FIG. 6, interlace 0 may include {RB0, RB1}, {RB20, RB21}, etc., interlace 1 may include {RB2, RB3}, {RB22, RB23}, etc., and interlace 9 may include {RB18, RB19}, {RB38, RB39}, etc.

[0103] The size of Field #A2 may depend on the total number of interlaces on the bandwidth of the virtual cell (denoted as M). For example, the value of M may be realized as M1 or M2 as described above.

[0104] For example, field #A2 may be an M-bit bitmap, with each bit corresponding to one of M interlaces on the bandwidth of the virtual cell. For example, field #A2 may be a resource indication value (RIV) corresponding to the starting interlace index of the scheduled interlace and the number of consecutively scheduled interlaces. For example, field #A2 may be:

[0105]

number

[0106] It may contain bits.

[0107] From the UE's perspective, the RBs scheduled by the DCI format in the frequency domain are the intersection of the cells scheduled by the DCI format indicated by field #A1 and the interlaces scheduled by the DCI format indicated by field #A2. The number of UL or DL ​​transmissions scheduled by the DCI format (e.g., the number of PDSCHs or PUSCHs) may be equal to the number of scheduled cells.

[0108] From the UE's perspective, according to the associated carrier bandwidths of the cells in cell set #1, the UE can determine the total number of RBs of the virtual cell formed by aggregating all cells in cell set #1. The UE can determine the size of field #A1 based on the number of cells in cell set #1 and the size of field #A2 based on the interlace structure. Thus, the UE can determine the payload size of a DCI format capable of scheduling multiple cells. The UE can blindly detect the DCI format based on the payload size. When the UE receives the DCI format, it can first determine the scheduled cell based on field #A1 and the scheduled interlace based on field #A2. Then, the UE can identify the allocated RBs within the intersection of the scheduled cell and the scheduled interlace.

[0109] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, when a single DCI format can schedule multiple cells for downlink or uplink transmission, the scheduled or assigned frequency domain resources (e.g., RBs) on the scheduled cells can be indicated by two fields (shown as field #B1 and field #B2).

[0110] For example, the DCI format may schedule a set of cells (e.g., cell set #2) in cell set #1. Field #B1 of the DCI format may indicate whether one or more cells are scheduled by the DCI format. In some embodiments, field #B1 may indicate whether one or more cells are scheduled by the DCI format. The size of field #B1 may be equal to 1 bit. For example, a bit value of "0" indicates that only a single cell is scheduled, while a bit value of "1" indicates that two or more cells are scheduled, or a bit value of "1" indicates that only a single cell is scheduled, while a bit value of "0" indicates that two or more cells are scheduled. In some embodiments, field #B1 indicates cell set #2 in cell set #1. The size of field #B1 may depend on the number of cells in cell set #1. For example, assuming cell set #1 includes N cells, field #B1 may be an N-bit bitmap, with each bit in the bitmap corresponding to one cell in cell set #1. For example, a bit value of "0" may indicate that the corresponding cell is not scheduled, while a bit value of "1" may indicate that the corresponding cell is scheduled, or a bit value of "1" may indicate that the corresponding cell is not scheduled, while a bit value of "0" may indicate that the corresponding cell is scheduled. In some examples, a UE may be configured with up to four cells for multi-cell scheduling (e.g., N≦4).

[0111] Field #B2 of the DCI format may indicate frequency domain resource allocation. For example, field #B2 may include multiple RBG-based indicators, each corresponding to a cell in cell set #1 and indicating an allocated or scheduled RB (e.g., RBG) on the corresponding cell.

[0112] The RBG-based indicators in field #B2 may be arranged according to a predefined order. For example, the RBG-based indicators in field #B2 may be ordered in ascending (or descending) order of the serving cell index or carrier frequency of the cells in cell set #1. The size (e.g., number of bits) of each indicator in the RBG-based indicators is independently determined based on the resource allocation type for the corresponding cell, the RBG granularity for the corresponding cell, the associated carrier bandwidth of the corresponding cell, the maximum bandwidth among the fractional bandwidths (BWPs) of the corresponding cell, and the bandwidth of the currently active BWP of the corresponding cell. The payload size of the DCI format may be determined based on the total number of bits required for field #B2.

[0113] For example, assume cell set #1 includes CC1, CC2, ..., CCN, and the RBG-based allocation indicator for CC1 requires a C1 bit, the RBG-based allocation indicator for CC2 requires a C2 bit, the RBG-based allocation indicator for CC3 requires a C3 bit, ..., the RBG-based allocation indicator for CCN requires a C N bits, C = C1 + C2 + C3 +,,, + C N Further assuming that these RBG-based C N These indicators are arranged in a predefined order in field #B2 as described above, allowing the size of field #B2 to be equal to C bits.

[0114] For example, for CCi (i∈{1,2, ..., N}), Ci is the resource allocation type when CCi uses resource allocation type 0.

[0115]

number

[0116] or when resource allocation type 1 is used for CCi

[0117]

number

[0118] where Zi denotes the number of RBs of CCi, Pi denotes the RBG granularity for CCi, and the RBG granularity for CCi may be based on the RBG configuration and the associated bandwidth of CCi.

[0119] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the RBG granularity for the FDRA indication for multi-cell scheduling is dynamically interpreted according to the number of cells actually scheduled by the DCI format. For example, according to the number of cells scheduled by the DCI format (e.g., the number of cells in cell set #2 that can be indicated by field #B1 of the DCI format), the RBG granularity associated with the RBG-based indicator in field #B2 of the DCI format may be dynamically interpreted, and may be, for example, the same as or different from the RBG granularity for the corresponding cell.

[0120] For example, if the number of cells in cell set #2 is greater than a threshold, the RBG granularity associated with the RBG-based indicator corresponding to each cell in cell set #2 is the RBG granularity for the corresponding cell in cell set #2. For example, if the number of cells in cell set #2 is equal to or less than a threshold, the RBG granularity associated with the RBG-based indicator corresponding to each cell in cell set #2 is equal to or less than the RBG granularity for the corresponding cell in cell set #2. The threshold can be predefined, for example, in a standard or configured by the BS, for example via RRC.

[0121] For example, assume that the threshold value is equal to 1. When field #B1 indicates that multiple cells in cell set #1 are scheduled by the DCI format, field #B2 may include a C bit, and each RBG-based indicator in field #B2 may correspond to one cell in cell set #1. The RBG granularity associated with the RBG-based indicator corresponding to each cell in cell set #2 is the RBG granularity for the corresponding cell in cell set #2.

[0122] For example, assuming that resource allocation type 0 is used for cell A in cell set #2, the RBG granularity for cell A can be determined based on the following Table 1. It should be understood that Table 1 is for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0123] [Table 1]

[0124] In Table 1, "R" refers to the number of RBs according to one of the associated carrier bandwidth of a cell (e.g., cell A), the largest bandwidth among the BWPs of a cell (e.g., cell A), or the bandwidth of the currently active BWP of a cell (e.g., cell A). "Configuration 1" and "Configuration 2" refer to different RBG configurations. For example, assuming R=35 and configuration 2 are adopted for cell A, according to Table 1, the RBG granularity value for cell A is 4. The RBG granularity value associated with the RBG-based indicator corresponding to cell A may be 4.

[0125] For example, assuming resource allocation type 1 is used for cell A in cell set #2, the RBG granularity for cell A may be equal to a predefined value, e.g., 1. Alternatively, the RBG granularity value for cell A may be configured by the BS and may be one of 1, 2, 4, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, or 32. Other RBG granularity values ​​may also be used.

[0126] The definitions of resource allocation type 0 and resource allocation type 1 can be found in the 3GPP standard documents.

[0127] When field #B1 indicates that only a single cell in cell set #1 is scheduled by the DCI format (i.e., the number of cells actually scheduled is equal to 1), field #B2 may contain C bits, and the first X bits of field #B2 may indicate a finer RBG-based allocation, where X is the number of bits required for the minimum allowed RBG granularity for the corresponding cell that satisfies the condition X≦C (as described above, C indicates the size of field #B2). Various methods may be used to determine the value of X based on the above principles.

[0128] For example, assume that the DCI format schedules a single cell, designated as cell B, and that resource allocation type 0 is used for cell B.

[0129] In some embodiments, X is

[0130]

number

[0131] can be expressed as, where Z B denotes the number of RBs in cell B, and P min teeth,

[0132]

number

[0133] For example, allowable or possible RBG granularity values ​​for a cell may include, but are not limited to, 1, 2, 4, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, and 32. In these embodiments, the RBG granularity associated with the RBG-based indicator corresponding to cell B is P min Refers to...

[0134] In some embodiments, X is

[0135]

number

[0136] can be expressed as, where Z B denotes the number of RBs in cell B, and P B indicates the corresponding RBG granularity for cell B depending on the RBG configuration and associated bandwidth (e.g., the associated carrier bandwidth of cell B, the largest bandwidth among BWPs of cell B, or the bandwidth of the currently active BWP of cell B), and can be determined based on Table 1 above. In these embodiments, the RBG granularity associated with the RBG-based indicator corresponding to cell B is P B Refers to...

[0137] For example, assume that the DCI format schedules a single cell, designated as cell B, and that resource allocation type 1 is used for cell B.

[0138] In some embodiments, X is

[0139]

number

[0140] can be expressed as N RBG,max is P min The maximum number of RBGs on cell B when is adopted, e.g.,

[0141]

number

[0142] indicates Z B denotes the number of RBs in cell B, and P min indicates the minimum allowable RBG granularity for cell B that satisfies X≦C. For example, allowable or possible RBG granularity values ​​may include, but are not limited to, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 32. In these embodiments, the RBG granularity associated with the RBG-based indicator corresponding to cell B is P min Refers to...

[0143] In some embodiments, the number of RBs for a particular cell (e.g., Z for cell B) B ) may be determined based on one of the associated carrier bandwidth of the cell (e.g., cell B), the largest bandwidth among the BWPs of the cell (e.g., cell B), or the bandwidth of the currently active BWP of the cell (e.g., cell B).

[0144] On the UE side, the UE may determine the payload size of the DCI format based on, for example, the size of field #B2 (e.g., C bits). For example, the UE may determine the payload size of the DCI format according to the resource allocation type, the associated bandwidth, and the RBG granularity for each cell in cell set #1. The UE may blindly detect the DCI format based on the predetermined payload size. In response to receiving the DCI format, the UE may check field #B1 to identify the scheduled cell and the actual RBG granularity, and then determine the allocated RBs on each cell in the scheduled cells.

[0145] In some examples, the number of UL or DL ​​transmissions (eg, the number of PDSCHs or PUSCHs) scheduled by a DCI format may be equal to the number of scheduled cells.

[0146] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, when a single DCI format can schedule multiple cells for downlink or uplink transmission, the RBG granularity for each cell in cell set #1 can be independently configured by the BS, e.g., via RRC signaling. For example, the RBG granularity for one cell in cell set #1 can be the same or different from the RBG granularity for another cell in cell set #1.

[0147] The resource allocation type (eg, resource allocation type 0 or resource allocation type 1) for each cell in cell set #1 may be independently configured by the BS, eg, via RRC signaling.

[0148] The RBG granularity for different resource allocation types (e.g., resource allocation type 0 or resource allocation type 1) for each cell in cell set #1 may be independently configured by the BS, e.g., via RRC signaling. For example, for each cell in cell set #1, when resource allocation type 0 is configured for the corresponding cell, the RBG granularity for resource allocation type 0 (shown as RBG granularity #1) may be configured for the corresponding cell. For each cell in cell set #1, when resource allocation type 1 is configured for the corresponding cell, the RBG granularity for resource allocation type 1 (shown as RBG granularity #2) may be configured for the corresponding cell. RBG granularity #1 and RBG granularity #2 may be independently configured. For example, RBG granularity #1 and RBG granularity #2 for a particular cell may be the same or different.

[0149] In some embodiments, allowable or possible RBG granularity values ​​may include, but are not limited to, 1, 2, 4, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, and 32. For example, the BS may configure the RBG granularity for a cell depending on the associated bandwidth of the cell, e.g., depending on one of the associated carrier bandwidth of the cell, the largest bandwidth of the cell's BWPs, or the bandwidth of the cell's currently active BWPs. For example, the larger the associated bandwidth of the cell, the larger the configured RBG granularity.

[0150] The DCI format may include multiple FDRA fields, each corresponding to one cell in cell set #1 and indicating the allocated RBs on the corresponding cell. For example, assuming cell set #1 includes N cells, the DCI format includes N FDRA fields. The size of each FDRA field is determined independently. When the active BWP for a particular cell is changed, the FDRA field size for the cell may not change.

[0151] The size of each FDRA field may depend on the resource allocation type for the corresponding cell, the RBG granularity for the corresponding cell, and one of the associated carrier bandwidth of the corresponding cell, the largest bandwidth among the BWPs of the corresponding cell, or the bandwidth of the currently active BWPs of the corresponding cell.

[0152] Multiple FDRA fields in a DCI format can independently indicate scheduled cells from cell set #1. For example, if the corresponding FDRA field for a particular cell indicates an inapplicable value, this implies that the cell is not scheduled by the DCI format. If the corresponding FDRA field indicates an applicable value, this implies that the cell is scheduled by the DCI format. The number of UL or DL ​​transmissions (e.g., the number of PDSCHs or PUSCHs) scheduled by the DCI format may be equal to the number of scheduled cells. The BS can dynamically schedule any cell or cell combination in cell set #1 using this dynamic indication based on the FDRA field. In this way, the DCI format does not need to include an indicator that specifically indicates the scheduled cell. That is, the scheduled cell in cell set #1 (e.g., cell set #2) can be determined based on multiple FDRA fields.

[0153] In some examples, when resource allocation type 0 is applied to a cell, if the corresponding FDRA field for this cell is set to all "0", it may imply that this cell is not scheduled. Otherwise, this may imply that this cell is scheduled, and the FDRA field may be an RBG-based bitmap indicating the allocated RBs on the scheduled cell. As mentioned above, the RBG granularity for a cell (e.g., RBG granularity #1) may be configured by the BS.

[0154] In some examples, when resource allocation type 1 is applied to a cell, if the corresponding FDRA field for this cell is set to all "1", it may imply that this cell is not scheduled. Otherwise, this may imply that this cell is scheduled, and the FDRA field may be an RBG-based RIV indicating the allocated RBs on the scheduled cell. As mentioned above, the RBG granularity for a cell (e.g., RBG granularity #2) may be configured by the BS.

[0155] By introducing an RBG-based FDRA indication (e.g., an RBG-based bitmap or an RBG-based RIV in the FDRA field), the total size of the FDRA field in the DCI format can be reduced. For example, as described above, allowable or possible RBG granularity values ​​may include, but are not limited to, 1, 2, 4, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, and 32. The larger the RBG granularity, the fewer the number of bits required for the corresponding FDRA field in the DCI format. Therefore, the number of bits required for the FDRA field (e.g., the size of the FDRA field) in the multi-cell scheduling DCI format can be controlled to an appropriate value.

[0156] For example, when resource allocation type 0 is used for cell C in cell set #1, the size of the FDRA field corresponding to cell C in the DCI format may be based on (e.g., may be equal to) the number of RBGs on cell C. This number of RBGs may be

[0157]

number

[0158] where N RBG,C denotes the number of RBGs on cell C, Yc denotes the number of RBs in cell C, and Pc denotes the RBG granularity for cell C.

[0159] When resource allocation type 1 is used for cell C, the size of the FDRA field corresponding to cell C in the DCI format is

[0160]

number

[0161] may be based on (e.g., may be equal to) N RBG,C is the number of RBGs on cell C, and

[0162]

number

[0163] Yc denotes the number of PBs of cell C, and Pc denotes the RBG granularity for cell C.

[0164] In some embodiments, the number of RBs for a particular cell (e.g., Yc for cell C) may be determined based on one of the associated carrier bandwidth of the cell (e.g., cell C), the largest bandwidth among the BWPs of the cell (e.g., cell C), or the bandwidth of the currently active BWP of the cell (e.g., cell C).

[0165] At the UE side, the UE may determine the payload size of the DCI format based on, for example, the sizes of the FDRA fields. For example, the UE may determine the payload size of the DCI format according to the resource allocation type, associated bandwidth, and RBG granularity for each cell in cell set #1. The UE may blindly detect the DCI format based on the predetermined payload size. In response to receiving the DCI format, the UE may check the FDRA field, identify the scheduled cell, and then determine the allocated RBs on each cell in the scheduled cells.

[0166] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, when a single DCI format can schedule multiple cells for downlink or uplink transmission, all cells in cell set #1 may have the same resource allocation type. For example, resource allocation type 0 is configured or predefined for all cells in cell set #1. All cells in cell set #1 may have the same RBG granularity, which may be configured by the BS via, for example, RRC signaling, or may be predefined within a standard. In some embodiments, the RBG granularity for cell set #1 may be configured or predefined depending on the total bandwidth of cell set #1. Allowable or possible RBG granularity values ​​may include, but are not limited to, 1, 2, 4, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 40, 50, and 64.

[0167] All cells in cell set #1 can be bundled to form a virtual cell. The method for forming a virtual cell and the method for indexing RBs on the virtual cell as described in the above embodiments can be applied here.

[0168] For example, a virtual cell can be formed by aggregating all cells in cell set #1 according to a predefined order. For example, the cells in cell set #1 can be aggregated according to a predefined order (e.g., ascending or descending) of their cell indexes or carrier frequencies. The RBs of the virtual cell can be indexed consecutively from the lowest RB of the first cell in the aggregated cells to the highest RB of the last cell in the aggregated cells.

[0169] For example, a UE is configured with a set of cells (i.e., cell set #1) including CC1, CC2, ..., CCN for multi-cell scheduling via a single DCI format, where CC1 includes K1 RBs, CC2 includes K2 RBs, CC3 includes K3 RBs, ..., CCN includes K N Contains RBs, Y = k1+k2+k3+ ... +k N These Y RBs are denoted as RB0, RB1, ..., RB from the lowest RB of the first cell in the bundle to the highest RB of the last cell in the bundle. y-1 An exemplary virtual cell is shown in FIG.

[0170] The DCI format may include a single FDRA field (shown as field #D) indicating assigned or scheduled RBGs on a virtual cell. For example, field #D may be an RBG-based bitmap or an RBG-based RIV. For example, field #D may be an RBG-based bitmap indicating assigned or scheduled RBGs on a virtual cell that can be mapped to at least one complete RBG or at least one partial RBG on at least one cell in cell set #1. When at least one RB of the assigned or scheduled RBGs is located on a cell in cell set #1, this implies that the cell is scheduled by the DCI format. When none of the RBs of the assigned or scheduled RBGs is located on a cell in cell set #1, this implies that the cell is not scheduled by the DCI format. The size of field #D may depend on the total bandwidth of cell set #1 and the RBG granularity for cell set #1. As mentioned above, the cells in cell set #1 may have the same RBG granularity.

[0171] Field #D may jointly indicate the cells scheduled by the DCI format and the scheduled RBs on the scheduled cells. For example, if field #D indicates neither a complete RBG nor a partial RBG on a particular cell in cell set #1, this implies that the cell is not scheduled by the DCI format. If field #D indicates at least one complete RBG or at least one partial RBG on a cell, this implies that the cell is scheduled by the DCI format. If at least one RB of the assigned or scheduled RBGs is located on a cell in cell set #1, this implies that the cell is scheduled by the DCI format. If none of the RBs of the assigned or scheduled RBGs is located on a cell in cell set #1, this implies that the cell is not scheduled by the DCI format. The number of UL or DL ​​transmissions scheduled by the DCI format (e.g., the number of PDSCHs or PUSCHs) may be equal to the number of scheduled cells. The BS can use this dynamic indication based on the FDRA field to dynamically schedule any cell or combination of cells in cell set #1. In this way, the DCI format does not need to include an indicator that specifically indicates the scheduled cell.

[0172] By introducing an RBG-based FDRA indication (eg, an RBG-based bitmap or an RBG-based RIV in the FDRA field), the total size of the FDRA field in the DCI format can be reduced.

[0173] For example, as mentioned above, allowed or possible RBG granularity values ​​may include, but are not limited to, 1, 2, 4, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 40, 50, and 64. The greater the RBG granularity, the fewer the number of bits required for field #D in the DCI format. The number of bits required for the FDRA field in the multi-cell scheduling DCI format (e.g., the size of field #D) can be controlled to an appropriate value.

[0174] For example, the size of field #D of the DCI format may be based on (e.g., equal to) the total number of RBGs on the virtual cell, which may be expressed as:

[0175]

number

[0176] where N RBG denotes the number of RBGs for the virtual cell, Y denotes the total number of RBs in the virtual cell, and P denotes the RBG granularity configured for cell set #1.

[0177] On the UE side, the UE may determine the payload size of the DCI format based on, for example, the size of field #D. For example, the UE may determine the payload size of the DCI format according to the resource allocation type, the bandwidth of cell set #1, and the RBG granularity for cell set #1. The UE may blindly detect the DCI format based on the predetermined payload size. In response to receiving the DCI format, the UE may check field #D to identify scheduled cells and then determine the allocated RBs on each of the scheduled cells.

[0178] 7 illustrates a flowchart of an example procedure 700 for wireless communication according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Details described in all of the above embodiments of the present disclosure are applicable to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7. In some examples, the procedure may be performed by a UE, for example, UE 101 in FIG. 1.

[0179] Referring to FIG. 7, in operation 711, the UE may receive from the BS a DCI format for scheduling a first set of cells (e.g., cell set #2) to a second set of cells (e.g., cell set #1) configured for the UE by the BS, the DCI format including a first field indicating whether one or more cells are scheduled by the DCI format and a second field for indicating frequency domain resource allocation.

[0180] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first field and the second field may be Field #A1 and Field #A2, respectively, as described above. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first field and the second field may be Field #B1 and Field #B2, respectively, as described above.

[0181] At operation 713, the UE may determine allocated RBs on the first set of cells based on the first and second fields. At operation 715, the UE may receive a downlink transmission (e.g., a PDSCH) from the BS on the allocated RBs if the DCI format schedules a downlink transmission, or may send an uplink transmission (e.g., a PUSCH) to the BS on the allocated RBs if the DCI format schedules an uplink transmission.

[0182] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the size of the first field is equal to 1 bit. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first field indicates a first set of cells, and the size of the first field depends on the number of cells in the second set of cells.

[0183] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the number of downlink or uplink transmissions is equal to the number of cells in the first set of cells.

[0184] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the second field indicates a set of interlaces on the bandwidth of a virtual cell formed by aggregating all cells in the second set of cells according to a predefined order.

[0185] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the allocated RBs are RBs within the intersection of the first set of cells and the set of interlaces.

[0186] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the interlaces are RB-based interlaces, and the total number of RB-based interlaces on the bandwidth of the virtual cell depends on the SCS of the second set of cells, configured by the BS, or the number of RBs between two consecutive RBs of a single interlace on the bandwidth of the virtual cell.

[0187] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the interlaces are RBG-based interlaces, and the total number of RBG-based interlaces on the bandwidth of the virtual cell and the RBG size associated with the RBG-based interlaces are configured by the BS.

[0188] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the size of the second field depends on the total number of interlaces on the bandwidth of the virtual cell.

[0189] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the second field includes a plurality of RBG-based indicators, each indicator corresponding to a cell in the second set of cells and indicating an assigned RBG on the corresponding cell.

[0190] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the size of each RBG-based indicator in the RBG-based indicators depends on the resource allocation type for the corresponding cell, the RBG granularity for the corresponding cell, and one of the associated carrier bandwidth of the corresponding cell, the largest bandwidth among the BWPs of the corresponding cell, and the bandwidth of the currently active BWPs of the corresponding cell.

[0191] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the UE may determine an RBG granularity associated with an RBG-based indicator corresponding to each cell in the first set of cells according to the number of cells in the first set of cells.

[0192] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, when the number of cells in the first set of cells is greater than a threshold, the RBG granularity associated with the RBG-based indicator corresponding to each cell in the first set of cells is the RBG granularity for the corresponding cell in the first set of cells. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, when the number of cells in the first set of cells is equal to or less than a threshold, the RBG granularity associated with the RBG-based indicator corresponding to each cell in the first set of cells is equal to or less than the RBG granularity for the corresponding cell in the first set of cells.

[0193] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the RBG-based indicators in the second field are arranged according to a predefined order.

[0194] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the sequence of operations in the exemplary procedure 700 may be changed, and some of the operations in the exemplary procedure 700 may be deleted or modified, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

[0195] 8 illustrates a flowchart of an example procedure 800 for wireless communication according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The details described in all of the above embodiments of the present disclosure are applicable to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8. In some examples, this procedure may be performed by a UE, for example, UE 101 in FIG. 1.

[0196] Referring to FIG. 8, in operation 811, the UE may receive from the BS a DCI format that schedules a first set of cells (e.g., cell set #2) among a second set of cells (e.g., cell set #1) configured for the UE by the BS, where the DCI format includes at least one FDRA field.

[0197] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the at least one FDRA field may be a plurality of FDRA fields as described above. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the at least one FDRA field may be field #D as described above.

[0198] At operation 813, the UE may determine a first set of cells based on the at least one FDRA field. At operation 815, the UE may determine RBs allocated on the first set of cells based on the at least one FDRA field.

[0199] In operation 817, the UE may receive a downlink transmission from the BS on the assigned RBs if the DCI format schedules a downlink transmission (e.g., a PDSCH), or may transmit an uplink transmission to the BS on the assigned RBs if the DCI format schedules an uplink transmission (e.g., a PUSCH).

[0200] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the number of downlink or uplink transmissions is equal to the number of cells in the first set of cells.

[0201] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, each FDRA field in the at least one FDRA field corresponds to one cell in the second set of cells and indicates an allocated RB on the corresponding cell.

[0202] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the size of each FDRA field in the at least one FDRA field depends on the resource allocation type for the corresponding cell, the RBG granularity for the corresponding cell, and one of the associated carrier bandwidth of the corresponding cell, the largest bandwidth among the BWPs of the corresponding cell, or the bandwidth of the currently active BWPs of the corresponding cell.

[0203] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, determining the first set of cells based on the at least one FDRA field includes, for each cell in the second set of cells, determining that the corresponding cell is not scheduled by the DCI format if the corresponding FDRA field of the at least one FDRA field indicates an inapplicable value, or determining that the corresponding cell is scheduled by the DCI format if the corresponding FDRA field of the at least one FDRA field indicates an applicable value.

[0204] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the RBG granularity for each cell in the second set of cells is independently configured by the BS. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the resource allocation type for each cell in the second set of cells is independently configured by the BS. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the RBG granularity for different resource allocation types for each cell in the second set of cells is independently configured by the BS.

[0205] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the configured RBG granularity for a cell in the second set of cells depends on one of the cell's associated carrier bandwidth, the largest bandwidth among the cell's BWPs, or the bandwidth of the cell's currently active BWPs.

[0206] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, all cells in the second set of cells have the same resource allocation type. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, all cells in the second set of cells have the same RBG granularity, which depends on the total bandwidth of the second set of cells.

[0207] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the at least one FDRA field includes a single FDRA field, which indicates an assigned RBG on a virtual cell formed by aggregating all cells in the second set of cells according to a predefined order.

[0208] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the size of the single FDRA field depends on the total bandwidth of the second set of cells and the RBG granularity for the second set of cells.

[0209] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, determining the first set of cells based on the at least one FDRA field includes, for each cell in the second set of cells, determining that the corresponding cell is not scheduled by the DCI format if the single FDRA field indicates neither a full RBG nor a partial RBG on the corresponding cell, or determining that the corresponding cell is scheduled by the DCI format if the single FDRA field indicates at least one full RBG or at least one partial RBG on the corresponding cell.

[0210] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the sequence of operations in the exemplary procedure 800 may be changed, and some of the operations in the exemplary procedure 800 may be deleted or modified, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

[0211] 9 shows a flowchart of an example procedure 900 for wireless communication according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The details described in all of the above embodiments of the present disclosure are applicable to the embodiment shown in FIG. 9. In some examples, this procedure may be performed by a BS, for example, BS 102 in FIG. 1.

[0212] 9, in operation 911, the BS may configure a second set of cells (e.g., cell set #1) for the UE. In operation 913, the BS may transmit a DCI format to the UE for scheduling RBs on the first set of cells (e.g., cell set #2) among the second set of cells. The DCI format indicates a first field indicating whether one or more cells are scheduled by the DCI format and a second field indicating a frequency-domain frequency allocation, where the scheduled RBs are indicated by the first and second fields.

[0213] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first field and the second field may be Field #A1 and Field #A2, respectively, as described above. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first field and the second field may be Field #B1 and Field #B2, respectively, as described above.

[0214] At operation 915, the BS may send a downlink transmission to the UE on the scheduled RB if the DCI format schedules a downlink transmission (e.g., a PDSCH), or receive an uplink transmission from the UE on the scheduled RB if the DCI format schedules an uplink transmission (e.g., a PUSCH).

[0215] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the size of the first field is equal to 1 bit. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first field indicates a first set of cells, and the size of the first field depends on the number of cells in the second set of cells.

[0216] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the number of downlink or uplink transmissions is equal to the number of cells in the first set of cells.

[0217] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the second field indicates a set of interlaces on the bandwidth of a virtual cell formed by aggregating all cells in the second set of cells according to a predefined order.

[0218] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the scheduled RBs are RBs within the intersection of the first set of cells and the set of interlaces.

[0219] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the interlaces are RBG-based interlaces, and the total number of RB-based interlaces on the bandwidth of the virtual cell depends on the SCS of the second set of cells, configured by the BS, or the number of RBs between two consecutive RBs of a single interlace on the bandwidth of the virtual cell.

[0220] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the interlaces are RBG-based interlaces, and the total number of RBG-based interlaces on the bandwidth of the virtual cell and the RBG size associated with the RBG-based interlaces are configured by the BS.

[0221] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the size of the second field depends on the total number of interlaces on the bandwidth of the virtual cell.

[0222] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the second field includes a plurality of RBG-based indicators, each indicator corresponding to one cell in the second set of cells and indicating a scheduled RBG on the corresponding cell.

[0223] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the size of each RBG-based indicator in the RBG-based indicators depends on the resource allocation type for the corresponding cell, the RBG granularity for the corresponding cell, and one of the associated carrier bandwidth of the corresponding cell, the largest bandwidth among the BWPs of the corresponding cell, and the bandwidth of the currently active BWPs of the corresponding cell.

[0224] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the BS may determine an RBG granularity associated with an RBG-based indicator corresponding to each cell in the first set of cells according to the number of cells in the first set of cells.

[0225] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, when the number of cells in the first set of cells is greater than a threshold, the RBG granularity associated with the RBG-based indicator corresponding to each cell in the first set of cells is the RBG granularity for the corresponding cell in the first set of cells. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, when the number of cells in the first set of cells is equal to or less than a threshold, the RBG granularity associated with the RBG-based indicator corresponding to each cell in the first set of cells is equal to or less than the RBG granularity for the corresponding cell in the first set of cells.

[0226] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the RBG-based indicators in the second field are arranged according to a predefined order.

[0227] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the sequence of operations in the exemplary procedure 900 may be changed, and that some of the operations in the exemplary procedure 900 may be deleted or modified, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

[0228] 10 shows a flowchart of an example procedure 1000 for wireless communication according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The details described in all of the above embodiments of the present disclosure are applicable to the embodiment shown in FIG. 10. In some examples, this procedure may be performed by a BS, for example, BS 102 in FIG. 1.

[0229] 10 , in operation 1011, the BS may configure a second set of cells (e.g., cell set #1) for the UE. In operation 1013, the BS may transmit a DCI format to the UE for scheduling RBs on the first set of cells (e.g., cell set #2) among the second set of cells. The DCI format includes at least one FDRA field, where the first set of cells and the scheduled RBs are indicated by the at least one FDRA field.

[0230] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the at least one FDRA field may be a plurality of FDRA fields as described above. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the at least one FDRA field may be field #D as described above.

[0231] At operation 1015, the BS may send a downlink transmission to the UE on the scheduled RB if the DCI format schedules a downlink transmission (e.g., a PDSCH), or may receive an uplink transmission from the UE on the scheduled RB if the DCI format schedules an uplink transmission (e.g., a PUSCH).

[0232] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the number of downlink or uplink transmissions is equal to the number of cells in the first set of cells.

[0233] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, each FDRA field of the at least one FDRA field corresponds to a cell in the second set of cells and indicates a scheduled RB on the corresponding cell.

[0234] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the size of each FDRA field in the at least one FDRA field depends on the resource allocation type for the corresponding cell, the RBG granularity for the corresponding cell, and one of the associated carrier bandwidth of the corresponding cell, the largest bandwidth among the BWPs of the corresponding cell, or the bandwidth of the currently active BWPs of the corresponding cell.

[0235] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the BS may, for each cell in the second set of cells, set a corresponding FDRA field of the at least one FDRA field to indicate an inapplicable value if the corresponding cell is not scheduled by the DCI format, or set a corresponding FDRA field of the at least one FDRA field to indicate an applicable value if the corresponding cell is scheduled by the DCI format.

[0236] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the BS may perform at least one of independently configuring the RBG granularity for each cell in the second set of cells, independently configuring the resource allocation type for each cell in the second set of cells, or independently configuring the RBG granularity for different resource allocation types for each cell in the second set of cells.

[0237] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the configured RBG granularity for a cell in the second set of cells depends on one of the cell's associated carrier bandwidth, the largest bandwidth among the cell's BWPs, or the bandwidth of the cell's currently active BWPs.

[0238] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, all cells in the second set of cells have the same resource allocation type. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, all cells in the second set of cells have the same RBG granularity, which depends on the total bandwidth of the second set of cells.

[0239] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the at least one FDRA field includes a single FDRA field, which indicates an assigned RBG on a virtual cell formed by aggregating all cells in the second set of cells according to a predefined order.

[0240] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the size of the single FDRA field depends on the total bandwidth of the second set of cells and the RBG granularity for the second set of cells.

[0241] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the BS may, for each cell in the second set of cells, set a single FDRA field to indicate neither a full RBG nor a partial RBG on the corresponding cell if the corresponding cell is not scheduled by the DCI format, or set the single FDRA field to indicate at least one full RBG or at least one partial RBG on the corresponding cell if the corresponding cell is scheduled by the DCI format.

[0242] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the sequence of operations in the exemplary procedure 1000 may be changed and some of the operations in the exemplary procedure 1000 may be deleted or modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

[0243] 11 shows a block diagram of an example apparatus 1100 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 11, the apparatus 1100 may include at least one processor 1106 and at least one transceiver 1102 coupled to the processor 1106. The apparatus 1100 may be a UE or a BS.

[0244] In this figure, elements such as at least one transceiver 1102 and processor 1106 are described in the singular, but the plural is contemplated unless expressly stated to be limited to the singular. In some embodiments of the present application, the transceiver 1102 may be divided into two devices, such as a receiving circuit and a transmitting circuit. In some embodiments of the present application, the apparatus 1100 may further include an input device, a memory, and / or other components.

[0245] In some embodiments of the present application, the apparatus 1100 may be a UE. The transceiver 1102 and the processor 1106 may interact with each other to perform the operations related to a UE described in Figures 1-10. In some embodiments of the present application, the apparatus 1100 may be a BS. The transceiver 1102 and the processor 1106 may interact with each other to perform the operations related to a BS described in Figures 1-10.

[0246] In some embodiments of the present application, the apparatus 1100 may further include at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium.

[0247] For example, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, a non-transitory computer-readable medium may have computer-executable instructions stored thereon to cause the processor 1106 to perform the methods related to the UE described above. For example, the computer-executable instructions, when executed, cause the processor 1106, interacting with the transceiver 1102, to perform the operations related to the UE described in FIGS. 1-10.

[0248] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, a non-transitory computer-readable medium may have computer-executable instructions stored thereon to cause the processor 1106 to perform the methods related to the BS described above. For example, the computer-executable instructions, when executed, cause the processor 1106, interacting with the transceiver 1102, to perform the operations related to the BS described in FIGS. 1-10.

[0249] Those skilled in the art will understand that the operations or steps of the methods described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. The software module may reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, a hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. Additionally, in some aspects, the operations or steps of the methods may reside as a piece of code and / or instructions, or any combination of code and / or instructions, or a set of code and / or instructions, on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, which may be incorporated into a computer program product.

[0250] While the present disclosure has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is apparent that numerous alternatives, modifications, and variations may be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, various components of the embodiments may be interchanged, added, or substituted in other embodiments. Also, not all elements of each figure are necessary for the operation of the disclosed embodiments. For example, one skilled in the art of the disclosed embodiments will be enabled to make and use the teachings of the present disclosure by simply using the elements of the independent claims. Accordingly, the embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

[0251] In this document, the use of "comprises" or any other variation thereof is intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, whereby a process, method, article, or apparatus that includes the listed elements not only includes those elements but may also include other elements not expressly listed or inherent in such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element preceded by "a," "an," etc., does not exclude the presence of additional identical elements in a process, method, article, or apparatus that includes the element, without more constraints. Also, the term "another" is defined as at least a second or more. Terms such as "having" are defined herein as "comprising." Phrases such as "A and / or B" or "at least one of A and B" may include any combination of the words listed with that phrase. For example, phrases such as "A and / or" or "at least one of A and B" may include A, B, or both A and B. Phrases such as "first," "second," etc., are used only to clarify embodiments of the present application and are not used to limit the substance of the present application. [Explanation of symbols]

[0252] 100 Wireless Communication System 101a, 101b UE 102 BS 211 DCI format 221~224 Send 231~234 CC 311 DCI format 321~324 Send 331~335 CC 411, 412RB 430 Virtual Cells 431~434 CC 700, 800, 900, 1000 steps 1102 Transceiver 1106 processor

Claims

1. A user equipment (UE), A transceiver; a processor coupled to the transceiver; wherein the processor: receiving, from a base station (BS), a downlink control information (DCI) format for scheduling a first set of cells among a second set of cells configured for the UE by the BS, the DCI format including a first field indicating whether one or more cells are scheduled by the DCI format and a second field for indicating a frequency domain resource allocation; determining resource blocks (RBs) allocated on a first set of the cells based on the first and second fields; and receiving the downlink transmission from the BS on the assigned RBs if the DCI format schedules a downlink transmission, or transmitting the uplink transmission to the BS on the assigned RBs if the DCI format schedules an uplink transmission; The UE is configured to:

2. The size of the first field is equal to 1 bit, or the first field indicates the first set of cells, and the size of the first field depends on the number of cells in the second set of cells; The UE of claim 1 , wherein the second field indicates a set of interlaces on a bandwidth of a virtual cell formed by aggregating all cells in the second set of cells according to a predefined order.

3. 3. The UE of claim 2, wherein the assigned RBs are RBs within an intersection of the first set of cells and the set of interlaces.

4. The interlaces are RB-based interlaces, and the total number of RB-based interlaces on the bandwidth of the virtual cell is or depending on a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of the second set of cells; configured by the BS; or The UE of claim 2 , wherein the number of RBs between two consecutive RBs of a single interlace on the bandwidth of the virtual cell depends on the number of RBs.

5. 3. The UE of claim 2, wherein the interlaces are RB group (RBG)-based interlaces, and a total number of RBG-based interlaces on the bandwidth of the virtual cell and an RBG size associated with the RBG-based interlaces are configured by the BS.

6. 10. The UE of claim 1, wherein the second field includes a plurality of RB group (RBG)-based indicators, each indicator corresponding to a cell in the second set of cells and indicating an assigned RBG on the corresponding cell.

7. 7. The UE of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to determine an RBG granularity associated with an RBG-based indicator corresponding to each cell in the first set of cells according to a number of cells in the first set of cells.

8. if the number of cells in the first set of cells is greater than a threshold, the RBG granularity associated with the RBG-based indicator corresponding to each cell in the first set of cells is the RBG granularity for the corresponding cell in the first set of cells; or 8. The UE of claim 7, wherein when a number of cells in the first set of cells is less than or equal to the threshold, the RBG granularity associated with an RBG-based indicator corresponding to each cell in the first set of cells is less than or equal to an RBG granularity for a corresponding cell in the first set of cells.

9. A user equipment (UE), A transceiver; a processor coupled to the transceiver; wherein the processor: receiving, from a base station (BS), a downlink control information (DCI) format for scheduling a first set of cells among a second set of cells configured for the UE by the base station (BS), the DCI format including at least one frequency domain resource allocation (FDRA) field; determining the first set of cells based on the at least one FDRA field; determining resource blocks (RBs) allocated on the first set of cells based on the at least one FDRA field; receiving the downlink transmission from the BS on the assigned RBs if the DCI format schedules a downlink transmission, or transmitting the uplink transmission to the BS on the assigned RBs if the DCI format schedules an uplink transmission; The UE is configured to:

10. 10. The UE of claim 9, wherein each FDRA field of the at least one FDRA field corresponds to a cell in the second set of cells and indicates an allocated RB on the corresponding cell.

11. Determining the first set of cells based on the at least one FDRA field includes, for each cell in the second set of cells: If a corresponding FDRA field of the at least one FDRA field indicates an inapplicable value, determining that the corresponding cell is not scheduled by the DCI format; or 11. The UE of claim 10, further comprising: determining that the corresponding cell is scheduled by the DCI format if a corresponding FDRA field of the at least one FDRA field indicates an applicable value.

12. the RBG granularity for each cell in the second set of cells is independently configured by the BS; a resource allocation type for each cell in the second set of cells is independently configured by the BS; 10. The UE of claim 9, wherein RBG granularity for different resource allocation types for each cell in the second set of cells is independently configured by the BS.

13. 10. The UE of claim 9, wherein the at least one FDRA field includes a single FDRA field, the FDRA field indicating an assigned RB group (RBG) on a virtual cell formed by aggregating all cells in the second set of cells according to a predefined order.

14. Determining the first set of cells based on the at least one FDRA field includes, for each cell in the second set of cells: If the single FDRA field does not indicate a complete or partial RBG on the corresponding cell, determine that the corresponding cell is not scheduled by the DCI format; or 14. The UE of claim 13, further comprising: determining that a corresponding cell is scheduled by a DCI format if the single FDRA field indicates at least one complete RBG or at least one partial RBG on the corresponding cell.

15. A base station (BS), A transceiver; a processor coupled to the transceiver; wherein the processor: configuring a second set of cells for a user equipment (UE); transmitting to the UE a downlink control information (DCI) format for scheduling resource blocks (RBs) on a first set of cells among a second set of cells, the DCI format including a first field indicating whether one or more cells are scheduled by the DCI format and a second field for indicating a frequency domain resource allocation, the scheduled RBs being indicated by the first and second fields; transmitting the downlink transmission to the UE on the scheduled RB if the DCI format schedules a downlink transmission, or receiving the uplink transmission from the UE on the scheduled RB if the DCI format schedules an uplink transmission; A base station configured to perform the above.

Images