Enhancements to TDRA for 60GHz scenarios

Abstract

In a system, apparatus, method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium for implementing time domain resource allocation (TDRA) enhancements for use in a 60 GHz frequency band scenario, a user equipment (UE) device is configured to receive a time domain resource allocation (TDRA) table from a radio access network (RAN) node, the TDRA table including TDRA setting information for at least one multi-slot TDRA, receive an instruction regarding the at least one multi-slot TDRA from the RAN node, receive at least one masked signal indication from the RAN node, the at least one masked signal indication including information corresponding to at least one scheduled transmission slot for the at least one masked signal, determine whether to modify the multi-slot TDRA based on the received at least one masked signal indication, and perform multi-slot communication with the RAN node based on a result of the determination whether to modify the multi-slot TDRA.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] Various exemplary embodiments relate to methods, apparatus, systems, and / or non-transitory computer-readable media for providing time domain resource allocation (TDRA) enhancements for 60 GHz frequency band scenarios for communications between at least one user equipment (UE) device and at least one radio access network (RAN) node. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of Related Art The fifth generation mobile network (5G) standard, called 5G New Radio (NR), is being developed to provide higher capacity, higher reliability, and lower latency communications than the 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard. The 5G NR standard defines two operating frequency bands; for example, Frequency Range (FR) 1, which includes the frequency band below 7.125 GHz, and FR2, which includes the frequency band from 24.25 GHz to 52.6 GHz. In addition, there have been proposals to adapt the 5G standard to use the unlicensed 60 GHz frequency band, which includes the frequency band from 52.6 GHz to 71 GHz. The 60 GHz frequency band may be considered an enhancement of FR2, or a new FR (e.g., FR3). Summary of the Invention

[0003] At least one example embodiment relates to a user equipment (UE) device.

[0004] In at least one example embodiment, a UE device may comprise a memory storing computer-readable instructions; and a processing circuit configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to cause the UE device to: receive a Time Domain Resource Allocation (TDRA) table from a Radio Access Network (RAN) node, the TDRA table including TDRA configuration information for at least one multi-slot TDRA; receive an instruction for the at least one multi-slot TDRA from the RAN node; receive at least one masking signal indication from the RAN node, the at least one masking signal indication including information corresponding to at least one scheduled transmission slot for the at least one masking signal; determine whether to modify the multi-slot TDRA based on the received at least one masking signal indication; and perform multi-slot communication with the RAN node based on a result of the determination of whether to modify the multi-slot TDRA.

[0005] In some example embodiments, the TDRA table may further include a plurality of rows corresponding to individual TDRA configuration information, the individual TDRA configuration information including start and length indicator value (SLIV) information and mapping type information corresponding to individual TDRAs of the respective rows, and at least one row of the plurality of rows including individual TDRAs for at least two consecutive time domain transmission slots, and the UE device may be configured to perform a lookup operation on the TDRA table using the received instruction, the instruction indicating identifying a row of the TDRA table.

[0006] Some example embodiments provide that the TDRA table further includes information related to scheduling of a plurality of Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) transmission slots, a plurality of Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) transmission slots, or both a plurality of PUSCH transmission slots and a plurality of PDSCH transmission slots.

[0007] Some example embodiments propose that the UE device may be further configured to determine whether at least one transmission slot of the multi-slot TDRA overlaps with at least one scheduled transmission slot for the at least one masking signal, and in response to the at least one transmission slot of the multi-slot TDRA overlapping with the at least one scheduled transmission slot for the at least one masking signal, modify the multi-slot TDRA by deleting the overlapping transmission slot of the multi-slot TDRA and deleting a corresponding number of HARQ processes from an end of the multi-slot TDRA.

[0008] Some exemplary embodiments propose that the UE device may be further configured to determine whether, in the at least one scheduled transmission slot, at least one symbol assigned for the at least one mask signal overlaps with at least one symbol indicated by a SLIV of at least one slot of the multi-slot TDRA, and based on a result of the determination of whether the at least one symbol assigned for the at least one mask signal overlaps with the at least one symbol indicated by the SLIV, modify the multi-slot TDRA by changing the at least one symbol indicated by the SLIV of the overlapping multi-slot TDRA.

[0009] Some exemplary embodiments provide that the UE device may be further configured to determine a link direction of the at least one mask signal, and modify the multi-slot TDRA based on the determined link direction of the at least one mask signal colliding with a link direction of at least one slot of the multi-slot TDRA.

[0010] Some example embodiments provide that the UE device may be further configured to receive a replacement TDRA from the RAN node, and modify the multi-slot TDRA using the replacement TDRA based on the result of the determination of whether to modify the multi-slot TDRA.

[0011] Some example embodiments provide that the at least one masked signal indication indicates that at least one of a synchronization signal block (SSB) signal, a physical random access channel (PRACH) signal, a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring signal, a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), a phase tracking reference signal (PTRS), a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) signal, or any combination thereof, is the at least one masked signal.

[0012] Some example embodiments present that the UE device may be further adapted to periodically receive at least one masked signal indication from the RAN node, the at least one masked signal indication including a bitmap, each bit of the bitmap corresponding to a transmission slot or symbol.

[0013] At least one example embodiment may relate to a Radio Access Network (RAN) node.

[0014] In at least one example embodiment, a RAN node may comprise a memory storing computer-readable instructions; and a processing circuit configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to cause the RAN node to: transmit a time domain resource allocation (TDRA) table to at least one user equipment (UE) device, the TDRA table including TDRA configuration information for at least one multi-slot TDRA; transmit an instruction for the at least one multi-slot TDRA to the at least one UE device; transmit at least one mask signal indication to the at least one UE device, the at least one mask signal indication including information corresponding to at least one scheduled transmission slot for the at least one mask signal; and perform multi-slot communication with the at least one UE device based on the at least one multi-slot TDRA and the at least one mask signal indication.

[0015] Some example embodiments provide that the TDRA table further includes information related to scheduling of a plurality of physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmission slots, scheduling of a plurality of physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) transmission slots, or scheduling of both a plurality of PUSCH transmission slots and a plurality of PDSCH transmission slots.

[0016] Some example embodiments provide that the RAN node may be further configured to transmit a replacement TDRA to the at least one UE device and perform multi-slot communication with the at least one UE device using the multi-slot TDRA based on the replacement TDRA.

[0017] Some example embodiments propose that the RAN node may be further adapted to periodically transmit at least one masked signal indication to the at least one UE device, the at least one masked signal indication including a bitmap, each bit of the bitmap corresponding to a transmission slot or symbol.

[0018] At least one example embodiment may relate to a method of operating a UE device.

[0019] In at least one example embodiment, the method may include receiving a Time Domain Resource Allocation (TDRA) table from a Radio Access Network (RAN) node, the TDRA table including TDRA configuration information for at least one multi-slot TDRA; receiving an indication for the at least one multi-slot TDRA from the RAN node; receiving at least one masking signal indication from the RAN node, the at least one masking signal indication including information corresponding to at least one scheduled transmission slot for the at least one masking signal; determining whether to modify the multi-slot TDRA based on the received at least one masking signal indication; and performing multi-slot communication with the RAN node based on a result of the determination of whether to modify the multi-slot TDRA.

[0020] Some exemplary embodiments present that the TDRA table further includes a plurality of rows corresponding to individual TDRA configuration information, the individual TDRA configuration information including start and length indicator value (SLIV) information and mapping type information corresponding to individual TDRAs of each row, at least one row of the plurality of rows including individual TDRAs for at least two consecutive time domain transmission slots, and the method further includes performing a lookup operation on the TDRA table using the received instruction, the instruction identifying a row of the TDRA table.

[0021] Some example embodiments propose that the method may further include determining whether at least one transmission slot of the multi-slot TDRA overlaps with at least one scheduled transmission slot for the at least one masking signal, and in response to the at least one transmission slot of the multi-slot TDRA overlapping with the at least one scheduled transmission slot for the at least one masking signal, deleting the overlapping transmission slot of the multi-slot TDRA and modifying the multi-slot TDRA by deleting a corresponding number of HARQ processes from an end of the multi-slot TDRA.

[0022] Some exemplary embodiments propose that the method may further include: determining whether at least one symbol assigned for the at least one mask signal in the at least one scheduled transmission slot overlaps with at least one symbol indicated by a SLIV of the at least one transmission slot of the multi-slot TDRA; and modifying the multi-slot TDRA by changing the at least one symbol indicated by the SLIV of the overlapping multi-slot TDRA based on a result of determining whether the at least one symbol assigned for the at least one mask signal overlaps with the at least one symbol indicated by the SLIV.

[0023] Some exemplary embodiments suggest that the method may further include determining a link direction of the at least one mask signal; and modifying the multi-slot TDRA based on the determined link direction of the at least one mask signal conflicting with a link direction of at least one slot of the multi-slot TDRA.

[0024] Some example embodiments propose that the method may further include receiving a replacement TDRA from the RAN node and modifying the multi-slot TDRA using the replacement TDRA based on the result of the determination of whether to modify the multi-slot TDRA.

[0025] Some example embodiments present that the method may further include periodically receiving at least one masked signal indication from the RAN node, the at least one masked signal indication including a bitmap, each bit of the bitmap corresponding to a transmission slot or symbol.

[0026] At least one example embodiment may relate to a user equipment (UE) device.

[0027] In at least one exemplary embodiment, the UE device may include means for receiving a Time Domain Resource Allocation (TDRA) table from a Radio Access Network (RAN) node, the TDRA table including TDRA configuration information for at least one multi-slot TDRA; means for receiving an instruction for the at least one multi-slot TDRA from the RAN node; means for receiving at least one masking signal indication from the RAN node, the at least one masking signal indication including information corresponding to at least one scheduled transmission slot for the at least one masking signal; means for determining whether to modify the multi-slot TDRA based on the received at least one masking signal indication; and means for performing multi-slot communication with the RAN node based on a result of the determination of whether to modify the multi-slot TDRA.

[0028] Some example embodiments present that the TDRA table may further include a plurality of rows corresponding to individual TDRA configuration information, the individual TDRA configuration information including start and length indicator value (SLIV) information and mapping type information corresponding to individual TDRAs of the respective rows, at least one row of the plurality of rows including individual TDRAs for at least two consecutive time domain transmission slots, and the UE device may further include means for performing a lookup operation on the TDRA table using the received instruction, the instruction identifying a row of the TDRA table.

[0029] Some example embodiments provide that the TDRA table further includes information related to scheduling of a plurality of Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) transmission slots, scheduling of a plurality of Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) transmission slots, or scheduling of both a plurality of PUSCH transmission slots and a plurality of PDSCH transmission slots.

[0030] Some example embodiments propose that the UE device may further include means for determining whether at least one transmission slot of the multi-slot TDRA overlaps with at least one scheduled transmission slot for the at least one masking signal, and means for modifying the multi-slot TDRA in response to at least one transmission slot of the multi-slot TDRA overlapping with at least one scheduled transmission slot for the at least one masking signal, by deleting the overlapping transmission slot of the multi-slot TDRA and deleting a corresponding number of HARQ processes from an end of the multi-slot TDRA.

[0031] Some example embodiments propose that the UE device may further include: means for determining whether at least one symbol assigned for the at least one mask signal in the at least one scheduled transmission slot overlaps with at least one symbol indicated by a SLIV of at least one slot of the multi-slot TDRA; and means for modifying the multi-slot TDRA by changing the at least one symbol indicated by the SLIV of the overlapping multi-slot TDRA based on a result of the determination of whether the at least one symbol assigned for the at least one mask signal overlaps with the at least one symbol indicated by the SLIV.

[0032] Some exemplary embodiments suggest that the UE device may further include means for determining a link direction of the at least one mask signal, and means for modifying the multi-slot TDRA based on the determined link direction of the at least one mask signal conflicting with a link direction of at least one slot of the multi-slot TDRA.

[0033] Some example embodiments provide that the UE device may further comprise means for receiving a replacement TDRA from the RAN node, and means for modifying the multi-slot TDRA using the replacement TDRA based on a result of the determination of whether to modify the multi-slot TDRA.

[0034] Some example embodiments provide that the at least one masked signal indication indicates that at least one of a synchronization signal block (SSB) signal, a physical random access channel (PRACH) signal, a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring signal, a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), a phase tracking reference signal (PTRS), a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) signal, or any combination thereof, is the at least one masked signal.

[0035] Some example embodiments present that the UE device may further include means for periodically receiving at least one masked signal indication from the RAN node, the at least one masked signal indication including a bitmap, each bit of the bitmap corresponding to a transmission slot or symbol.

[0036] At least one example embodiment may relate to a Radio Access Network (RAN) node.

[0037] In at least one example embodiment, the RAN node may include means for transmitting a time domain resource allocation (TDRA) table to at least one user equipment (UE) device, the TDRA table including TDRA configuration information for at least one multi-slot TDRA; means for transmitting an instruction for the at least one multi-slot TDRA to the at least one UE device; means for transmitting at least one mask signal indication to the at least one UE device, the at least one mask signal indication including information corresponding to at least one scheduled transmission slot for the at least one mask signal; and means for performing multi-slot communication with the at least one UE device based on the at least one multi-slot TDRA and the at least one mask signal indication.

[0038] Some example embodiments propose that the TDRA table may further include related information for scheduling a number of Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) transmission slots, a number of Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) transmission slots, or both a number of PUSCH transmission slots and a number of PDSCH transmission slots.

[0039] Some example embodiments provide that the RAN node may further include means for transmitting a replacement TDRA to the at least one UE device, and means for performing multi-slot communication with the at least one UE device using a multi-slot TDRA based on the replacement TDRA.

[0040] Some example embodiments provide that the RAN node may further include means for periodically transmitting at least one masked signal indication to the at least one UE device, the at least one masked signal indication including a bitmap, each bit of the bitmap corresponding to a transmission slot or symbol. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0041] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more exemplary embodiments and, together with the description, explain these exemplary embodiments. [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates a wireless communication system in accordance with at least one exemplary embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an example RAN node in accordance with at least one example embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of an example UE device in accordance with at least one example embodiment. [Figure 4A] FIG. 4A illustrates an exemplary enhanced TDRA table in accordance with at least one exemplary embodiment. [Figure 4B] FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating an example of a multi-slot TDRA and overlapping mask signal according to some exemplary embodiments. [Figure 4C] FIG. 4C illustrates an example of a multi-slot TDRA and overlapping mask signal according to some exemplary embodiments. [Figure 4D] FIG. 4D illustrates an example of a multi-slot TDRA and overlapping mask signal according to some exemplary embodiments. [Figure 5A]FIG. 5A is an example flow chart illustrating a method of operating a UE device according to some example embodiments. [Figure 5B] FIG. 5B is an example flowchart illustrating a method of operating a UE device according to some example embodiments. [Figure 5C] FIG. 5C is an example flowchart illustrating a method of operating a UE device according to some example embodiments. [Figure 5D] FIG. 5D is an example flowchart illustrating a method of operating a UE device according to some example embodiments. [Figure 5E] FIG. 5E is an example flowchart illustrating a method of operating a UE device according to some example embodiments. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an example flow chart illustrating a method of operating a RAN node in accordance with at least one example embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0042] Various exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which several exemplary embodiments are shown.

[0043] Detailed exemplary embodiments are disclosed herein. However, the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merely representative for purposes of describing the exemplary embodiments. However, the exemplary embodiments may be embodied in many alternative forms and should not be construed as being limited to only the exemplary embodiments set forth herein.

[0044] In this specification, terms such as first, second, etc. may be used to describe various elements, but it should be understood that these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element can be referred to as a second element, and similarly, a second element can be referred to as a first element, without departing from the scope of the example embodiments. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0045] When an element is referred to as being "connected" or "coupled" to another element, it should be understood that the element may be directly connected or coupled to the other element, or there may be intervening elements. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another element, there are no intervening elements. Other language used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted similarly (e.g., "directly between" as opposed to "between," "directly adjacent" as opposed to "adjacent," etc.).

[0046] The terms used herein are for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and are not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It is further understood that as used herein, the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes," and / or "including" specify the presence of stated features, values, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, values, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.

[0047] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions / acts described may be performed out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may in fact be performed substantially simultaneously or may be performed in the reverse order, depending on the functions / acts involved.

[0048] In the following description, specific details are provided to provide a thorough understanding of the exemplary embodiments. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the exemplary embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. For example, systems may be shown in block diagrams in order to avoid obscuring the exemplary embodiments in unnecessary detail. In other instances, well-known processes, structures and techniques may be shown without unnecessary detail in order to avoid obscuring the exemplary embodiments.

[0049] It is also noted that the exemplary embodiments may be described as a process that is depicted as a flowchart, a flow diagram, a data flow diagram, a structure diagram, or a block diagram. Although a flowchart may describe operations as a sequential process, many of the operations may be performed in parallel, simultaneously, or simultaneously. Additionally, the order of operations may be rearranged. A process may terminate when its operations are completed, or may involve additional steps not included in the diagram. A process may correspond to a method, a function, a procedure, a subroutine, a subprogram, etc. When a process corresponds to a function, its termination corresponds to a return of the function to the calling function or to the main function.

[0050] Further, as disclosed herein, the term "memory" may refer to one or more devices for storing data, including random access memory (RAM), magnetic RAM, core memory, and / or other computer readable media for storing information. The term "storage medium" may refer to one or more devices for storing data, including read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic RAM, core memory, magnetic disk storage media, optical storage media, flash memory devices, and / or other computer readable media for storing information. The term "computer readable medium" includes, but is not limited to, portable or fixed storage devices, optical storage devices, wireless channels, and various other media that can store, store, or convey instruction(s) and / or data.

[0051] Furthermore, the exemplary embodiments may be implemented in hardware circuits and / or in combination with hardware (e.g., software executed by hardware, etc.) When implemented in software, firmware, middleware, or microcode, the program code or code segments to perform desired tasks may be stored in a machine or computer readable medium, such as a non-transitory computer storage medium, and loaded into one or more processors to perform the desired tasks.

[0052] A code segment may represent a procedure, a function, a subprogram, a program, a routine, a subroutine, a module, a software package, a class, or any combination of instructions, data structures, or program statements. A code segment may be coupled to another code segment or a hardware circuit by passing information, data, arguments, parameters, or memory contents. The information, arguments, parameters, data, etc. may be passed, forwarded, or transmitted via any suitable means including memory sharing, message passing, token passing, network transmission, etc.

[0053] As used herein, the terms "circuitry" and / or "hardware circuitry" may refer to one or more or all of the following: (a) a hardware-only circuit implementation (such as an implementation in only analog and / or digital circuitry), (b) a combination of hardware circuitry and software (where applicable), (i) a combination of analog and / or digital hardware circuitry and software / firmware, and (ii) a combination of a hardware processor with software (including digital signal processors), software, and memory that work together to cause a device such as a cell phone or server to perform various functions, and (c) a hardware circuit and / or processor, such as a microprocessor or part of a microprocessor, that requires software (e.g., firmware) to operate, but may be absent when software is not necessary for operation, for example, more specific circuitry includes, but is not limited to, a central processing unit (CPU), arithmetic logic unit (ALU), digital signal processor, microcomputer, field programmable gate array (FPGA), system on chip (SoC), programmable logic unit, microprocessor, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc.

[0054] This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of the term in this application, including the claims. As a further example, the term circuitry, as used in this application, also covers merely a hardware circuit or processor (or processors) or a portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) associated software and / or firmware implementation. The term circuitry also covers, for example, a baseband or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device, or a similar integrated circuit in a server, cellular network device, or other computing or network device, if applicable to a particular claim element.

[0055] Although various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are discussed for clarity and convenience in conjunction with the 5G wireless communication standard, the exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto, and one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the exemplary embodiments are applicable to other wireless communication standards, such as the 4G standard, the Wi-Fi standard, future 6G standards, future 7G standards, etc. Additionally, although the exemplary embodiments are discussed with reference to 60 GHz frequency band scenarios (e.g., FR2 and / or FR2 extended scenarios, etc.), for clarity and convenience, the exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto, and the exemplary embodiments are applicable to other frequency bands, such as sub-THz or THz band frequencies.

[0056] Various exemplary embodiments are directed to enhancements to time domain resource allocation (TDRA) for use in 60 GHz frequency band scenarios, and more specifically, to enable support of multiple physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) scheduling and / or multiple physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) scheduling in 60 GHz frequency band scenarios. In the current 5G NR standard, the TDRA table is defined to support only multi-PUSCH scheduling using a single DCI message, not multi-PDSCH scheduling using a single DCI message, e.g., not both scheduling using a single DCI with the ability to schedule both uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) transport blocks (TBs) and multi-PDSCH scheduling (e.g., multi-PUSCH / PDSCH, multi-PxSCH, etc.), where one TB in one link direction is scheduled at a time. As a result, the lack of support for multi-PDSCH scheduling and / or composite multi-PxSCH scheduling increases the excessive amount of signaling messages and / or processing required to allocate multiple DL TBs and / or physical resource blocks (PRBs) to a UE device.

[0057] Therefore, it is desirable to improve the TDRA table to further support multi-PDSCH scheduling using a single DCI message and / or to support both multi-PUSCH and multi-PDSCH scheduling using a single DCI message. Although the exemplary embodiments describe enhancements to the TDRA table in the context of the 60 GHz frequency band, the exemplary embodiments are not so limited and the enhanced TDRA table may be used for other frequency band scenarios, such as FR1 and / or FR2. Furthermore, the TDRA table of at least one exemplary embodiment provides an additional advantage of reducing the amount of memory required to store the TDRA table by reducing the number of TDRA table rows and / or the number of RRC signals required to support non-contiguous slots in the TDRA table.

[0058] 1 illustrates a wireless communication system according to at least one exemplary embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the wireless communication system includes a core network 100, a data network 105, a first radio access network (RAN) node 110, and a first user equipment (UE) device 120, although exemplary embodiments are not so limited and exemplary embodiments may include more or less components. For example, the wireless communication system may include two or more UE devices, two or more RAN nodes, additional base stations, routers, access points, gateways, etc.

[0059] The RAN nodes 110 and / or the UE devices 120 may be connected via a wireless network, such as a cellular radio access network (e.g., a 3G radio access network, a 4G-Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, a 5G-New Wireless (e.g., 5G) wireless network, a WiFi network, etc.). The wireless network may include a core network 100 and / or a data network 105. The RAN nodes 110 may be connected to each other and / or other RAN nodes (not shown), as well as to the core network 100 and / or the data network 105, via wired and / or wireless networks. The core network 100 and the data network 105 may be connected to each other via wired and / or wireless networks. The data network 105 may refer to the Internet, an intranet, a wide area network, etc.

[0060] According to some exemplary embodiments, the RAN node 110 may function as a relay node (e.g., an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node) and may communicate with the UE 120 in combination with at least one base station (and / or access point (AP), router, etc.) (not shown) of the same or a different radio access technology (e.g., WiFi, etc.). In at least one exemplary embodiment, the RAN node 110 functions as an AP / gNB or distributed unit (DU) where base stations (not shown) using a different radio access technology or operating on different frequency resources provide access links (e.g., wireless communication) to the UE device 120, etc., and the base stations connect to the RAN node 110, which facilitates at least one backhaul link to the core network 100, and in other words, functions as an IAB mobile terminal (MT) entity. In an exemplary embodiment of out-band relaying, the RAN node 110 may perform functions related to the UE device 120 described in the following figures. In at least one exemplary embodiment, the RAN node 110 may perform in-band relaying, where the RAN node 110 and the same frequency resources provide both an access link and a backhaul link, etc., to the UE device 120, in other words, the RAN node 110 functions as both an IAB DU and an IAB MT. In these exemplary embodiments, the functions of the UE device 120 described in the following figures will be performed by the UE device, etc.

[0061] The UE device 120 may be a mobile device, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop computer, a wearable device, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, a sensor (e.g., a thermometer, a humidity sensor, a pressure sensor, a motion sensor, an accelerometer, etc.), an actuator, a robotic device, robotics, a drone, a connected medical device, an eHealth device, a smart city related device, a security camera, an autonomous device (e.g., an autonomous vehicle, etc.), a desktop computer, and / or any other type of stationary or portable device capable of operating in accordance with, for example, 5G NR communications standards and / or other wireless communication standard(s). The UE device 120 may be configured to transmit and / or receive data in accordance with strict latency, reliability, and / or accuracy requirements for URLLC communications, TSC communications, etc., although example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0062] The wireless communication system further includes at least one RAN node (e.g., base station, wireless access point, etc.), such as RAN node 110. The RAN node 110 may operate according to an underlying cellular and / or wireless radio access technology (RAT), such as 5G NR, LTE, Wi-Fi, etc. For example, the RAN node 110 may be a 5G gNB node, an LTE eNB node, or an LTE ng-eNB node, etc., but example embodiments are not limited thereto. The RAN node 110 may provide wireless network services to one or more UE devices within a cell service area (e.g., broadcast area, serving area, coverage area, etc.) surrounding the respective physical location of the RAN node, such as cell service area 110A surrounding the RAN node 110. For example, the UE device 120 may be located within the cell service area 110A, connect to the RAN node 110 (e.g., the RAN node that serves the UE device 120), receive broadcast messages, receive paging messages, receive / transmit signaling messages, and / or access a wireless network via the RAN node 110 (e.g., the RAN node that serves the UE device 120), etc., although example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0063] Additionally, the RAN node 110 may be configured to operate in a multi-user (MU) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) mode and / or a massive MIMO (mMIMO) mode, where the RAN node 110 transmits multiple beams (e.g., radio channels, data streams, streams, etc.) in different spatial and / or frequency domains using multiple antennas (e.g., antenna panels, antenna elements, antenna arrays, etc.) and beamforming and / or beamsteering techniques.

[0064] The RAN node 110 may be connected to at least one core network element (not shown) residing in the core network 100, such as, but not limited to, a core network device, a core network server, an access point, a switch, a router, a node, etc., but not limited to, example embodiments. The core network 100 may provide network functions such as, but not limited to, an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), a Session Management Function (SMF), a Policy Control Function (PCF), a Unified Data Management (UDM), a User Plane Function (UPF), an Authentication Server Function (AUSF), an Application Function (AF), and / or a Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF).

[0065] Although certain components of a wireless communication network are illustrated as part of the wireless communication system in FIG. 1, example embodiments are not so limited and the wireless communication network may include components other than those illustrated in FIG. 1 that are necessary, preferable, and / or beneficial to the operation of the underlying network within the wireless communication system, such as access points, switches, routers, nodes, servers, gateways, etc.

[0066] 2 illustrates a block diagram of an example RAN node in accordance with at least one example embodiment. The RAN node in FIG. 2 may correspond to, but is not limited to, the RAN node 110 in FIG. 1.

[0067] 2, the RAN node 2000 may include processing circuitry such as at least one processor 2100, at least one communication bus 2200, memory 2300, at least one core network interface 2400, and / or at least one radio antenna array 2500, although example embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, the core network interface 2400 and the radio antenna array 2500 may be combined into a single network interface, etc., or the RAN node 2000 may include multiple radio antenna arrays, multiple core network interfaces, etc., and / or any combination thereof. The memory 2300 may include various application specific program code including computer executable instructions that may cause the RAN node 2000 to perform one or more methods of example embodiments.

[0068] In at least one exemplary embodiment, the processing circuitry may include at least one processor (and / or processor core, distributed processor, networked processor, etc.), such as at least one processor 2100, which may be configured to control one or more elements of the RAN node 2000, thereby causing the RAN node 2000 to perform various operations. The processing circuitry (e.g., such as at least one processor 2100) is configured to execute processes by retrieving and processing program code (e.g., computer readable instructions) and data from memory 2300, thereby performing purpose-specific control and functionality of the overall RAN node 2000. Once the purpose-specific program instructions are loaded (e.g., into at least one processor 2100), the at least one processor 2100 executes the purpose-specific program instructions, thereby transforming the at least one processor 2100 into a purpose-specific processor.

[0069] In at least one exemplary embodiment, the memory 2300 may be a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and may include random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), and / or permanent mass storage such as a disk drive or solid state drive. Stored in the memory 2300 are program code (i.e., computer readable instructions) associated with the operation of the RAN node 2000, such as the methods described in connection with FIG. 6, the at least one core network interface 2400, and / or the at least one radio antenna array 2500. Such software elements may be loaded from a non-transitory computer readable storage medium separate from the memory 2300 using a drive mechanism (not shown) connected to the RAN node 2000, or via the at least one core network interface 2400, and / or the at least one radio antenna array 2500, etc.

[0070] In at least one exemplary embodiment, the communication bus 2200 may enable communication and data transmission between elements of the RAN node 2000. The bus 2200 may be implemented using a high speed serial bus, a parallel bus, and / or any other suitable communication technology. In accordance with at least one exemplary embodiment, the RAN node 2000 may include multiple communication buses (not shown), such as an address bus, a data bus, etc.

[0071] The RAN node 2000 may operate, for example, as a 4G RAN node, a 5G RAN node, etc., and may be configured to schedule time domain resource allocations (TDRA), for example, orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols, physical resource blocks (PRBs), resource elements, etc., to UE devices connected to the RAN node 2000, although example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0072] For example, the RAN node 2000 may allocate time-frequency resources (e.g., resource blocks having dimensions of time and frequency) of a carrier based on time domain (e.g., time division duplexing) and frequency domain (e.g., frequency division duplexing) operations. In the context of the time domain, the RAN node 2000 allocates a carrier (or sub-bands of the carrier) to one or more UEs (e.g., UEs 120, etc.) connected to the RAN node 2000 for a designated upload (e.g., uplink (UL)) time period and a designated download (e.g., downlink (DL)) time period. When there are multiple UEs connected to the RAN node 2000, the carrier is shared in time such that each UE is scheduled by the RAN node 2000, and the RAN node 2000 allocates each UE its own uplink and / or downlink time. In the context of the frequency domain and / or when performing spatial domain multiplexing of UEs (e.g., MU MIMO, etc.), the RAN node 2000 allocates separate frequency sub-bands of the carrier to the UEs simultaneously served by the RAN node 2000 for uplink and / or downlink transmissions. Data transmission between the UE and the RAN node 2000 may be on a radio frame basis, both in the time and frequency domain context. The smallest resource unit for allocation and / or assignment by the RAN node 2000 to a particular UE device corresponds to a particular downlink / uplink time interval (e.g., one OFDM symbol, one slot, one minislot, one subframe, etc.) and / or a particular downlink / uplink resource block (e.g., 12 adjacent subcarriers, frequency subband, etc.).

[0073] For clarity and consistency, the exemplary embodiments are described as using the time domain, although the exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0074] Additionally, the RAN node 2000 may transmit scheduling information via Physical Downlink Common Channel (PDCCH) information to one or more UE devices located within the cell service area of ​​the RAN node 2000, which may configure the one or more UE devices to transmit (e.g., UL transmissions via Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) information and / or Physical Uplink Shared Channel Information (PUSCH), etc.) and / or receive data packets (e.g., DL transmissions via PDCCH and / or Physical Downlink Shared Channel Information (PDSCH), etc.) to and / or from the RAN node 2000. Additionally, the RAN node 2000 may transmit control messages to the UE devices using Downlink Control Information (DCI) messages via physical (PHY) layer signaling, medium access control (MAC) layer control element (CE) signaling, radio resource control (RRC) signaling, etc., although example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0075] The RAN node 2000 may also include at least one core network interface 2400, and / or at least one radio antenna array 2500, etc. The at least one radio antenna array 2500 may include an array associated with a radio unit (not shown) and may be used to transmit radio signals to at least one UE device, such as UE 120, according to a radio access technology, such as 4G LTE radio signals, 5G NR radio signals, etc. According to some exemplary embodiments, the radio antenna array 2500 may be a single antenna, multiple antennas, etc. For example, the radio antenna array 2500 may be configured as a grid of beams (GoB) that transmits multiple beams in different directions, angles, frequencies, and / or with different delays, etc., although exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0076] The RAN node 2000 may communicate with a core network (e.g., a back-end network, a backhaul network, a backbone network, a data network, etc.) of a wireless communication network via a core network interface 2400. The core network interface 2400 may be a wired and / or wireless network interface and may enable the RAN node 2000 to communicate and / or transmit data to and from network devices on a back-end network, such as a core network gateway (not shown), a data network (e.g., data network 105), such as the Internet, an intranet, a wide area network, a telephone network, a VoIP network, etc.

[0077] 2 depicts an example embodiment of a RAN node 2000, the RAN node is not so limited and may include additional and / or alternative architectures suitable for the purposes demonstrated. For example, the functionality of the RAN node 2000 may be divided among multiple physical, logical, and / or virtual network elements, such as a centralized unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a remote radio head (RRH), and / or a remote radio unit (RRU), but the example embodiment is not so limited. Additionally, the RAN node 2000 may operate in standalone (SA) and / or non-standalone (NSA) modes using interfaces (not shown), such as X2, Xn, etc., between the RAN node 2000 and other RAN nodes of the wireless network, interfaces such as S1, NG, etc., between the RAN node 2000 and a core network (e.g., core network 100), interfaces between network functions of the RAN node 2000 operating in a distributed and / or virtualized RAN mode (not shown), such as F1, E1, etc., and / or interfaces (not shown) between a physical layer (e.g., baseband unit, etc.) and a radio layer (e.g., RRH, core network interface 2400, etc.), such as CPRI, eCPRI, etc., although example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0078] 3 illustrates a block diagram of an example UE device in accordance with at least one example embodiment. The example UE device 3000 of FIG. 3 may correspond to the UE device(s) 120 of FIG. 1, although example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0079] 3, the UE 3000 includes, but is not limited to, at least one processing circuit, such as a processor 3100, at least one communication bus 3200, a memory 3300, a plurality of wireless antennas and / or a wireless antenna panel 3400, at least one position sensor 3500, at least one input / output (I / O) device 3600 (e.g., keyboard, touch screen, mouse, microphone, camera, speaker, etc.), and / or a display panel 3700 (monitor, touch screen, etc.). According to some exemplary embodiments, the UE 3000 may include a greater or lesser number of components, for example, the UE 3000 may also include a battery, one or more additional sensors (e.g., a thermometer, a humidity sensor, a pressure sensor, a motion sensor, an accelerometer, etc.), an actuator, a single wireless antenna and / or a single wireless antenna panel, etc. Additionally, the position sensor 3500, the display panel 3700, and / or the I / O device 3600, etc. of the UE 3000 may be optional.

[0080] In at least one exemplary embodiment, the processing circuitry may include at least one processor (and / or processor core, distributed processor, networked processor, etc.), such as at least one processor 3100, which may be configured to control one or more elements of the UE 3000, thereby causing the UE 3000 to perform various operations. The processing circuitry (e.g., at least one processor 3100, etc.) is configured to execute processes by retrieving and processing program code (e.g., computer readable instructions) and data from the memory 3300, thereby performing purpose-specific control and functionality of the overall UE 3000. When purpose-specific program instructions are loaded into the processing circuitry (e.g., at least one processor 3100, etc.), the at least one processor 3100 executes the purpose-specific program instructions, thereby transforming the at least one processor 3100 into a purpose-specific processor.

[0081] In at least one exemplary embodiment, the memory 3300 may be a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and may include random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), and / or permanent mass storage such as a disk drive or solid state drive. Stored in the memory 3300 are program code (i.e., computer readable instructions) associated with operation of the UE 3000, such as the methods described in connection with FIGS. 5A-5E, the wireless antenna 3400, and / or the position sensor 3500. Such software elements may be loaded from a non-transitory computer readable storage medium separate from the memory 3300 using a drive (not shown) connected to the UE 3000 or via the wireless antenna 3400, etc. Additionally, the memory 3300 may store, but is not limited to, system information, resource block scheduling, TDRA tables, and the like, network configuration information for accessing a wireless network, for communicating with at least one RAN node, such as the RAN node 110, etc.

[0082] In at least one exemplary embodiment, at least one communication bus 3200 can perform communication and data transmission and reception between elements of the UE 3000. The bus 3200 can be implemented using a high speed serial bus, a parallel bus, and / or any other suitable communication technology. In accordance with at least one exemplary embodiment, the UE 3000 can include multiple communication buses (not shown), such as an address bus, a data bus, etc.

[0083] The UE 3000 may also include, but is not limited to, at least one radio antenna panel 3400. The at least one radio antenna panel 3400 includes at least one associated radio unit (not shown) and can be used to transmit radio signals according to at least one desired radio access technology, such as 4G LTE, 5G NR, Wi-Fi, etc. The at least one radio antenna panel 3400 may be located at the same or different physical location as the main body of the UE 3000, may have the same or different orientation, may operate in the same or different frequency bands, may operate according to the same or different radio access technology, etc. According to some exemplary embodiments, the at least one radio antenna panel 3400 may be a single antenna, multiple antennas, etc.

[0084] The UE 3000 may also include at least one position sensor 3500 for calculating an absolute and / or relative position of the UE 3000. The at least one position sensor 3500 may be a GNSS sensor, such as a GPS sensor, a GLONASS sensor, a Galileo sensor, a Beidou sensor, or an inertial motion sensor, such as a gyroscope, an accelerometer, an altimeter, or the like. Additionally, the position sensor 3500 and / or the processor 3100 may determine the current location of the UE 3000 using a cellular network based positioning service, such as a cellular network positioning service (e.g., a Positioning Management Function (LMF) service of a core network), an Assisted GPS (A-GPS) function, or the like. In some exemplary embodiments, the cellular network location services may also include network-based location solutions, such as Downlink Time Difference of Arrival (DL-TDOA), Uplink Time Difference of Arrival (UL-TDOA), Enhanced Cell ID (E-CID), Uplink Angle of Arrival (UL-AoA), Downlink Angle of Departure (DL-AoD), Multi-Cell Round Trip Time (Multi-RTT), etc., or any combination thereof. In some additional exemplary embodiments, the cellular network location solutions may also be performed on the UE side (i.e., in a UE-based mode). However, the exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto, and other location determination techniques may also be used.

[0085] Although FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a UE 3000, the UE device is not so limited and may include additional and / or alternative architectures suitable for the purposes illustrated.

[0086] 4A is a diagram illustrating an example enhanced TDRA table in accordance with at least one exemplary embodiment. FIG. 5A is an example flow chart illustrating a method of operating a UE device using an example enhanced TDRA table in accordance with at least one exemplary embodiment.

[0087] 4A and 5A, in accordance with at least one exemplary embodiment, in operation S5010, a UE device, such as the UE device 120, may receive a TDRA table 4000 from a RAN node (e.g., a gNB node, an ng-eNB node, etc.), such as the RAN node 110, although exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto. The TDRA table 4000 may be used by the UE device 120 to determine a multi-PxSCH scheduling assignment to be used to perform UL and / or DL ​​communications provided by the RAN node 110, etc. However, exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto, for example, the UE device 120 may be configured and / or pre-configured with the TDRA table 4000 or may instead receive at least one configuration signal from the RAN node 110 that triggers the UE device 120 to start using the TDRA table, etc.

[0088] As shown in FIG. 4A, the TDRA table 4000 may include multiple rows (e.g., rows 0-27, etc.) and multiple columns (e.g., columns 1-8, etc.), but example embodiments are not limited thereto, for example, the TDRA table 4000 may include a greater or lesser number of rows and / or columns, etc. Each of the rows of the TDRA table 4000 may correspond to, but is not limited to, at least one multi-slot TDRA TDRA configuration information that may be used, for example, to schedule multi-PUSCH transmission slots and / or schedule multi-PDSCH transmission slots in combination with an instruction from the RAN node 110 to determine the slot at which the corresponding multi-PUSCH and / or multi-PDSCH transmission begins, and each of the columns of the TDRA table 4000 may correspond to, but is not limited to, a different slot (or mini-slot, etc.). As another example, the TDRA table 4000 may include a SLIV value in each cell, and the number of PDSCH / PUSCH slots may be separately indicated using a notification sent by the RAN node 110, but example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0089] Further, in accordance with at least one exemplary embodiment, the TDRA table 4000 may exclude rows corresponding to empty columns, in other words, the TDRA table 4000 does not include rows that include SLIV(s) for which the UE device 120 is not scheduled to transmit and / or receive data, etc., although exemplary embodiments are not limited in this respect.

[0090] Additionally, each of the columns may be associated with a desired (and / or defined) Start and Length Indicator Value (SLIV), including, for example, information indicating consecutive OFDM / DFT-S-OFDM symbols carrying a PDSCH or PUSCH in the corresponding cell, as well as cell mapping type information (e.g., information on whether the cell uses a slot-based or minislot-based mapping type) (not shown), although example embodiments are not limited thereto. According to some example embodiments, individual cells of the TDRA table 4000 may be referred to as individual TDRAs and may correspond to scheduling assignments for either UL and / or DL ​​transmission slots and / or transport blocks corresponding to a multiple PxSCH schedule of the UE device 120, although example embodiments are not limited thereto. Additionally, via the DCI, as shown in Figure 4B, a single HARQ process identifier (ID) field / information element, etc. for the first PDSCH / PUSCH scheduled using the DCI message, and / or other information elements for use with the TDRA table 4000 may be transmitted to the UE device 120, and the UE device 120 increments the HARQ process ID for each subsequent PDSCH / PUSCH scheduled according to the indicated row of the TDRA table 4000, although example embodiments are not limited thereto. The TDRA table 4000 may be used by the UE device 120 to determine time domain resource allocations (e.g., TB scheduling allocations, etc.) for performing UL and / or DL ​​communications with the RAN node 110.

[0091] 4A illustrates a TDRA table having rows for contiguous slot allocations only, example embodiments are not limited thereto, e.g., the rows may also include non-contiguous slot allocations, etc. Additionally, example embodiments are not limited to a single TDRA table, e.g., multiple TDRA tables 4000 (e.g., separate TDRA tables for multi-PUSCH scheduling and multi-PDSCH scheduling, etc.) may be transmitted from the RAN node 110 to the UE device 120.

[0092] In operation S5020, the UE device 120 receives at least one indication of a multi-slot TDRA allocation from the RAN node 110 and uses the multi-slot TDRA indication to perform a lookup operation on the TDRA table 4000 to determine the multi-slot TDRA assigned by the RAN node 110 and corresponding TDRA configuration information (e.g., SLIV and mapping type information, etc.). For example, the UE device 120 may receive a multi-slot TDRA indication indicating that it has been assigned to perform UL or DL ​​communications using row 0 of the TDRA table via a PDCCH, although example embodiments are not limited thereto and other signaling and / or messaging types may be used, such as, for example, to transmit a multi-slot TDRA indication from the RAN node 110 to the UE device 120. As shown in FIG. 4A, row 0 corresponds to a scheduling allocation of eight consecutive slots for UE device 120, with the first slot using a desired (e.g., configured, defined, etc.) SLIV1 value, the second slot using a desired SLIV2 value, through the eighth slot using a desired SLIV8 value, etc., although example embodiments are not limited in this respect, e.g., each column may use any desired SLIV value and / or mapping type value. For example, the SLIV1 value may include that the PDSCH or PUSCH corresponding to the first slot starts at a desired OFDM / Direct Fourier Transform Spread (DFT-S-OFDM) symbol (e.g., symbol #2, etc.) and is of a desired duration (e.g., 10 OFDM / DFT-S-OFDM symbols in duration, etc.), although example embodiments are not limited in this respect. Thus, based on the SLIV1 value, UE device 120 may determine that SLIV1 covers OFDM / DFT-S-OFDM symbols 2 through 11, etc.As a second example, row 27 may correspond to a scheduling assignment of two consecutive slots, with the UE device 120 being scheduled to communicate with the RAN node 110 only during slots 7 and 8 using the SLIV7 and SLIV8 values ​​and their corresponding mapping types, respectively, although example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0093] In operation S5030, the UE device 120 may receive at least one masked signal indication from the RAN node 110 via signaling from the RAN node 110, such as RRC signaling, unicast DCI message(s), and / or a group common physical downlink control channel (GC-PDCCH) message, and the at least one masked signal indication may correspond to at least one masked signal. In at least one exemplary embodiment, the masked signal indication may be received periodically from the RAN node 110, e.g., the masked signal indication may correspond to a periodic signal, and thus the masked signal indication is transmitted periodically by the RAN node 110, etc., but exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto. According to some exemplary embodiments, the masked signal may correspond to a signal that takes priority over scheduled and / or assigned PUSCH and / or PDSCH communications between the UE device 120 and the RAN node 110. For example, the mask signal may correspond to one or more of a synchronization signal block (SSB) signal, a physical random access channel (PRACH) signal, a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) signal, a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), a phase tracking reference signal (PTRS), a periodic (PUCCH) signal, and the like, or any combination thereof, although example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0094] Additionally, the mask signal indication may include and / or indicate information related to the desired (e.g., defined, configured, etc.) OFDM symbol (e.g., symbol, etc.) assigned to the mask signal, the slot to which the mask signal is assigned, the mask signal type, and / or the period of the mask signal, etc., although example embodiments are not limited thereto. Additionally, according to some example embodiments, the mask signal indication may be transmitted with a granularity of a single slot (and / or a single OFDM symbol), e.g., the mask signal indication may be a bitmap having a duration of, e.g., 40 bits, e.g., each bit of the bitmap corresponds to a slot or OFDM symbol, and each bit set as "1" in the bitmap indicates that at least one mask signal is present in the corresponding slot / OFDM symbol and each bit marked as "0" indicates that no mask signal is present, or vice versa, although example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0095] Further, according to some exemplary embodiments, when the mask signal indication is included in the SFI carried on the GC-PDCCH, the mask signal indication may be a symbol included in the SFI designated as a UL symbol or a flexible UL / DL symbol (e.g., a symbol corresponding to a slot that is either a UL slot or a DL slot, etc.) if the corresponding allocation slot is a PDSCH transmission slot, or vice versa, a symbol included in the SFI designated as a DL symbol or a flexible UL / DL symbol if the corresponding allocation slot is a PUSCH transmission slot, etc. Further, according to some exemplary embodiments, the mask function may be triggered via the DCI using a dedicated mask capability signaling bit, although exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto, for example, the mask function may be switched on / off using a DCI message, etc. For example, if the UE device 120 receives a DCI message with a dedicated mask capability signaling bit set, the UE device 120 may enable the multi-PxSCH scheduling functionality according to one or more of the exemplary embodiments, and may revert to the legacy PxSCH functionality if the dedicated mask capability signaling bit is not set, although exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto. Further, according to some exemplary embodiments, the TDRA table 4000 may include some rows that enable multi-PxSCH scheduling functionality according to one or more of the exemplary embodiments, while other rows of the TDRA table 4000 correspond to legacy PxSCH operation, and the TDRA indication may be used to turn on / off the multi-PxSCH scheduling functionality, etc., although the exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0096] In optional operation S5040, the UE device 120 may receive and / or transmit at least one mask signal from and / or to the RAN node 110 during slots specified in the at least one mask signal indicator received in S5030. However, example embodiments are not limited thereto, for example, the UE device 120 may not transmit or receive a mask signal during slots specified in the at least one mask signal indicator, and the slots indicated for the mask signal may be desired slots for use by other UE devices and / or the RAN node 110, etc. For example, the slots designated for the mask signal may be used by other RAN nodes to transmit PRACH, etc. to the RAN node 110, but example embodiments are not limited thereto. According to some example embodiments, the at least one mask signal may be, but is not limited to, a periodic signal. Furthermore, according to some example embodiments, the mask signal may be received via an RRC signal, but is not limited thereto.

[0097] In operation S5050, the UE device 120 may determine whether to modify the initial multi-slot TDRA assigned by the multi-slot TDRA indication (e.g., received in operation S5020) by determining whether there is an overlap and / or collision between the slots and / or symbols of the assigned (e.g., scheduled, assigned, etc.) TDRA and the slots and / or symbols assigned to the masked signal as included in the masked signal indication. The determination and modification of overlaps of multi-slot TDRAs are described in further detail in conjunction with Figures 5B-5E.

[0098] Based on the result of the determination of whether to modify the multi-slot TDRA, in operation S5060, the UE device 120 communicates with the RAN node 110 using the initial (e.g., original) multi-slot TDRA allocation or communicates with the RAN node 110 using the modified multi-slot TDRA allocation.

[0099] 4B is a diagram illustrating a first example of a mask signal superimposed on a multi-slot TDRA in accordance with at least one exemplary embodiment. FIG. 5B is an example flow chart illustrating a method for determining whether to modify an initial multi-slot TDRA in accordance with at least one exemplary embodiment.

[0100] 4B and 5B, according to some exemplary embodiments, in operation S5051A, the UE device 120 may determine whether to modify the initial multi-slot TDRA by determining whether at least one slot of the multi-slot TDRA overlaps (and / or collides) with a scheduled slot of at least one masked signal indicated by a corresponding masked signal indication. As shown in the example scenario of FIG. 4B, it is assumed that the UE device 120 has received a multi-slot TDRA indication indicating that it has been assigned to row 10 of the TDRA table 4000 of FIG. 4A. Furthermore, the UE device 120 may have received a masked signal indication corresponding to the masked signal X indicating that the slot designated for the masked signal X is the slot corresponding to SLIV2 (e.g., corresponding to the slot having HARQ process ID1). In response to the UE device 120 determining that there is an overlap and / or collision between the multi-slot TDRA assignment and the scheduling of the masked signal X, in operation S5061, the UE device 120 may modify the multi-slot TDRA assignment.

[0101] For example, according to at least one exemplary embodiment, the UE device 120 may modify the multi-slot TDRA to perform PxSCH transmission / reception during slots corresponding to SLIV1, SLIV3, and SLIV4, and remove overlapping and / or conflicting slots, e.g., slots corresponding to SLIV2 (e.g., not perform scheduled PUSCH transmission and / or scheduled PDSCH reception), for receiving and / or transmitting a high priority mask signal X during SLIV2, although example embodiments are not limited thereto and other methods of modifying the multi-slot TDRA are described in conjunction with Figures 5A-5E. However, if the result of operation S5051A indicates that there is no overlap and / or collision between the initial multi-slot TDRA assignment and the scheduled slots for the mask signal X, in operation S5062, the UE device 120 continues to use the initial multi-slot TDRA.

[0102] According to some example embodiments, in operation S5051B, the UE device 120 may alternatively determine whether there is an overlap and / or collision between the OFDM symbols assigned in the initial multi-slot TDRA allocation and the OFDM symbols assigned for the mask signal X, and if there is an overlap and / or collision between the OFDM symbols of the initial multi-TDRA allocation and the mask signal X, the UE device 120 may perform operation S5061 and modify the multi-slot TDRA allocation. If there is no overlap and / or collision between the OFDM symbols of the initial multi-TDRA allocation and the mask signal X, the UE device 120 may continue to use the initial TDRA allocation (operation S5062).

[0103] 4C and 4D are diagrams illustrating an example of adding a mask signal overlapping with a multi-slot TDRA according to some exemplary embodiments. FIG 5C is an exemplary flow chart illustrating a first method of modifying an initial multi-TDRA according to some exemplary embodiments.

[0104] 4C, 4D, and 5C, in operation S5031A, the UE device 120 may receive at least one replacement TDRA from the RAN node 110 by RRC signaling, although the exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, the UE device 120 may receive multiple replacement TDRAs before receiving and / or transmitting at least one mask signal (e.g., mask signal A in FIG. 4C, mask signal B in FIG. 4D, etc.), and / or the replacement TDRA may be received before the UE device 120 performs multi-slot UL and / or DL ​​communication with the RAN node 110, although the exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto. Furthermore, according to some exemplary embodiments, the initialized TDRA table 4000 may include, for example, a row including a replacement TDRA, although the exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto. According to some exemplary embodiments, the replacement TDRA may be an individual TDRA (e.g., a TDRA for a single slot, a TDRA for a single OFDM symbol, etc.) that can be used by the UE device 120 to replace individual TDRAs in the initial multi-TDRA that overlap and / or collide with at least one mask signal. As shown in Figures 4C and 4D, the replacement TDRA (e.g., SLIVN and SLIVM) may be shorter than the allocation indicated by the replacing SLIV (e.g., the replacement TDRA may include fewer symbols than the number of symbols assigned to the original individual TDRA). For example, assuming that each individual TDRA in Figures 4C and 4D is assigned 14 OFDM symbols (and / or OFDM / DFT-S-OFDM symbols), the replacement TDRA SLIVN may cover symbols #2 to #13, and the replacement TDRA SLIVM may cover symbols #0 to #11, although exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto.Further, according to some exemplary embodiments, when multiple replacement TDRAs are used, each of the replacement TDRAs may be configured for a particular mask signal type (e.g., each of the replacement TDRAs may correspond to a particular mask signal type, etc.), and the UE device 120 may select a single replacement TDRA from the multiple replacement TDRAs based on the mask signal type indicated in the mask signal indicator, although exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0105] According to another exemplary embodiment, the UE device 120 may select a single replacement TDRA from the multiple replacement TDRAs based on the individual TDRAs overlapping with at least one mask signal, such that the individual replacement TDRA having the longest set of consecutive symbols that does not collide with at least one mask signal is selected as the replacement TDRA. For example, as shown in FIG. 4C, if the mask signal A collides with the second symbol of SLIV2, the UE device 120 selects a replacement TDRA that includes the longest set of consecutive symbols that does not collide with at least one mask signal A, for example, a replacement TDRA SLIVN that covers symbols #2 to #13 (e.g., 12 consecutive symbols), although the exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. As a second example, as shown in FIG. 4D, since the mask signal B may collide with the 13th symbol of SLIV3, the UE device 120 may select a replacement TDRA SLIVM that covers symbols #0 to #11 (e.g., 12 consecutive symbols), although the exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto, and other values ​​and / or lengths of consecutive symbols may be used.

[0106] Returning to Figure 5C, in operation S5052A, after the UE device 120 determines that the initial multi-TDRA overlaps and / or collides with at least one mask signal indication in operations S5051A and / or S5051B of Figure 5B, the UE device 120 may determine whether to modify the initial multi-TDRA using the received at least one replacement TDRA by determining whether the at least one replacement TDRA overlaps and / or collides with at least one mask signal. For example, similar to operations S5051A and S5051B of Figure 5B, the UE device 120 may determine whether at least one slot of the replacement TDRA overlaps and / or collides with a scheduled slot of the at least one mask signal, and / or the UE device 120 may determine whether at least one symbol assigned for the at least one mask signal overlaps and / or collides with a symbol indicated by a SLIV of the at least one slot of the replacement TDRA, although example embodiments are not limited thereto. If the UE device 120 determines that the replacement TDRA (and / or the selected replacement TDRA) does not overlap and / or collide with at least one mask signal, it performs operation S5063 and modifies the initial multi-slot TDRA, such as by replacing the overlapping TDRA with the replacement TDRA (and / or the selected replacement TDRA).

[0107] If the UE device 120 determines that the replacement TDRA (and / or the selected replacement TDRA) overlaps and / or collides with at least one mask signal, the UE device 120 proceeds to operation S5064 and removes and / or deletes the overlapping slots (e.g., removes SLIV2 in FIG. 4C or removes SLIV3 in FIG. 4D) and modifies the multi-slot TDRA by deleting a corresponding number of HARQ processes from the end of the initial multi-slot TDRA. For example, as shown in FIG. 4B, the TB corresponding to the SLIV2 slot is removed by the UE device 120, and the UE device 120 may modify the HARQ process IDs of the slots corresponding to the subsequent SLIVs, e.g., SLIV3 and SLIV4, to use HARQ process IDs 2 and 3, respectively, and delete the HARQ processes from the end of the multi-slot TDRA, although the exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto.

[0108] 5D and 5E are example flow charts illustrating additional methods of modifying an initial multi-TDRA according to some example embodiments. Although FIGs. 5C, 5D, and 5E are shown as separate methods, example embodiments are not limited thereto and one or more of the operations of FIGs. 5C, 5D, and / or 5E, or any combination thereof, may be used together or separately.

[0109] 5D, which illustrates a second method of modifying the initial multi-TDRA based on the link direction of the multi-slot TDRA and the at least one mask signal. According to at least one exemplary embodiment, in operation S5052B, the UE device 120 may determine whether to modify the initial multi-slot TDRA by determining whether the link direction of the at least one mask signal and the link direction of the multi-slot TDRA collide after determining that the initial multi-TDRA overlaps and / or collides with the at least one mask signal indication in operation S5051A and / or S5051B of FIG. 5B. In other words, the UE device 120 compares the link direction of the initial multi-TDRA (e.g., whether the initial multi-TDRA covers UL or DL, whether the initial multi-TDRA is directed to PUSCH or PDSCH, etc.) with the link direction of the at least one mask signal (e.g., whether the mask signal is transmitted from the RAN node 110 to the UE device 120, or whether the mask signal is transmitted from the UE device 120 to the RAN node 110, etc.). If the link directions of the initial multi-TDRA and the at least one masked signal do not collide, then in operation S5063, the UE device 120 modifies the multi-slot TDRA by performing rate matching around the at least one masked signal. The procedure for performing rate matching may be defined by the corresponding RAT protocol (e.g., 5G NR, etc.) or may be performed using known procedures. If the link directions of the initial multi-TDRA and the at least one masked signal overlap and / or collide, in operation S5064, the UE device 120 modifies the multi-slot TDRA by removing and / or deleting the overlapping slots and deleting a corresponding number of HARQ processes from the end of the multi-slot TDRA. The comparison of the link directions as shown in FIG. 5D has the additional advantage of avoiding cross-link interference (e.g., UL<->DL) between the multi-slot PxSCH communication and the at least one masked signal, etc.

[0110] Referring now to FIG. 5E, FIG. 5E illustrates a third method of modifying the initial multi-TDRA based on the result of rate matching of the overlapped slots, which may be an optional sequel to the method of FIG. 5D. According to at least one exemplary embodiment, in operation S5063A, the UE device 120 performs rate matching on the overlapped slots of the initial TDRA. Then, in operation S5063B, the UE device 120 determines whether the coding rate (e.g., information bit rate / total bit rate) of the rate-matched overlapped slots exceeds a desired (e.g., defined, set, etc.) coding rate threshold. For example, the desired coding rate threshold may be set to 0.75, although exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto, and the desired threshold may be set via RRC signaling and / or defined by a radio protocol, etc. If the coding rate of the rate-matched TB does not exceed the desired threshold (e.g., 0.75, etc.), the UE device 120 proceeds to operation S5063C and modifies the initial multi-slot TDRA, such as by using the rate-matched TB. If the coding rate of the rate-matched TB exceeds a desired threshold (e.g., 0.75), the UE device 120 proceeds to operation S5064 and removes and / or deletes the overlapping slots and a corresponding number of HARQ processes from the end of the initial multi-slot TDRA.

[0111] 6 is an exemplary flow chart illustrating a method of operation of a RAN node according to at least one exemplary embodiment. In an operation S6010, the RAN node 110 may transmit a TDRA table to at least one UE device, such as, but not limited to, the UE device 120. In an operation S6020, the RAN node 110 may transmit a multi-slot TDRA indication to the at least one UE device 120. For example, the multi-slot TDRA indication may include an indicator and / or a reference to at least one row of a previously configured TDRA table, thereby signaling and / or causing the UE device 120 to use multi-slot TDRA configuration information associated with that row of the TDRA table, etc., but example embodiments are not limited thereto. In an operation S6030, the RAN node 110 may transmit at least one mask signal indication to the at least one UE device 120, the mask signal indication corresponding to the at least one mask signal, etc. In optional operation S6040, the RAN node 110 may transmit at least one replacement TDRA to at least one UE device 120, although example embodiments are not limited thereto. Additionally, in optional operation S6050, the RAN node 110 may transmit and / or receive at least one mask signal to and / or from at least one UE device, although example embodiments are not limited thereto, e.g., the UE device 120 may not transmit or receive, and the slots indicated for the mask signal may be desired slots used by other UE devices and / or the RAN node 110, etc. For example, the slots designated for the mask signal may be used by other UE devices to transmit a PRACH to the RAN node 110, although example embodiments are not limited thereto.Finally, in operation S6060, the RAN node 110 may perform multi-slot communication, e.g., but not limited to, UL communication and / or DL ​​communication, with at least one UE device 120 based on the multi-slot TDRA and at least one mask signal indication.

[0112] Various exemplary embodiments provide TDRA enhancements by enabling support for multiple physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) scheduling and / or multiple physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) scheduling using a single DCI message. As a result, one or more exemplary embodiments provide improved resource management, such as by reducing the amount of signaling messages and / or processing required to assign multiple PUSCH / PDSCH TBs to a UE device and reducing memory requirements for storing enhanced TDRA tables for use in one or more methods of the exemplary embodiments.

[0113] Examples are described herein to enable any person of ordinary skill in the art to practice the disclosed subject matter, including making and using any devices or systems, and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the subject matter is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. 1. A user equipment (UE) device, comprising: a memory storing computer readable instructions; Executing the computer readable instructions to cause the UE device to: receiving a time domain resource allocation (TDRA) table from a radio access network (RAN) node, the TDRA table including TDRA configuration information for at least one multi-slot TDRA, the TDRA table further including a plurality of rows corresponding to individual TDRA configuration information, the individual TDRA configuration information including start and length indicator value (SLIV) information and mapping type information corresponding to the individual TDRA of each row, at least one row of the plurality of rows including an individual TDRA for at least two consecutive time domain transmission slots, and the TDRA table further including information related to scheduling of a plurality of physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) transmission slots; receiving an indication regarding at least one multi-slot TDRA from the RAN node; performing a lookup operation on the TDRA table using the received instruction, the instruction identifying a row of the TDRA table; receiving at least one masked signal indication from the RAN node, the at least one masked signal indication including information corresponding to at least one scheduled transmission slot for the at least one masked signal; determining whether at least one transmission slot of the multi-slot TDRA overlaps with the at least one scheduled transmission slot for the at least one masking signal; determining whether to modify the multi-slot TDRA based on the received at least one masking signal indication, in response to the at least one transmission slot of the multi-slot TDRA overlapping with the at least one scheduled transmission slot for the at least one masking signal; removing the overlapping transmission slots of the multi-slot TDRA; and removing a corresponding number of HARQ processes from the end of said multi-slot TDRA; determining whether the multi-slot TDRA is corrected by performing multi-slot communication with the RAN node based on a result of the determination of whether to modify the multi-slot TDRA; and a processing circuit configured to cause A UE device comprising:

2. The TDRA table further includes: Scheduling multiple Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) transmission slots; or Scheduling both multiple PUSCH transmission slots and multiple PDSCH transmission slots; The UE device of claim 1 , comprising information relating to:

3. The UE device further comprises: Determine whether at least one symbol allocated for the at least one masking signal in the at least one scheduled transmission slot overlaps with at least one symbol indicated by a SLIV of at least one slot of the multi-slot TDRA; based on a result of the determination of whether the at least one symbol allocated for the at least one mask signal overlaps with the at least one symbol indicated by the SLIV, modifying the multi-slot TDRA by changing the at least one symbol indicated by the SLIV of the overlapping multi-slot TDRA; 3. A UE device according to claim 1 or 2, adapted to:

4. The UE device further comprises: determining a link direction of the at least one mask signal; modifying the multi-slot TDRA based on the determined link direction of the at least one mask signal conflicting with a link direction of at least one slot of the multi-slot TDRA. A UE device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, adapted to:

5. The UE device further comprises: receiving a replacement TDRA from the RAN node; modifying the multi-slot TDRA using the replacement TDRA based on a result of the determination of whether to modify the multi-slot TDRA; A UE device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, adapted to:

6. 6. The UE device of claim 1, wherein the at least one masked signal indication indicates that at least one of a synchronization signal block (SSB) signal, a physical random access channel (PRACH) signal, a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring signal, a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), a phase tracking reference signal (PTRS), a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) signal, or any combination thereof, is the at least one masked signal.

7. The UE device further comprises: adapted to periodically receive the at least one masked signal indication from the RAN node; the at least one masked signal representation comprises a bitmap, each bit of the bitmap corresponding to a transmission slot or symbol; A UE device according to any one of the preceding claims.

8. 1. A radio access network (RAN) node, comprising: a memory storing computer readable instructions; Executing the computer readable instructions to cause the RAN node to: Transmitting a time domain resource allocation (TDRA) table to at least one user equipment (UE) device, the TDRA table including TDRA configuration information for at least one multi-slot TDRA, the TDRA table further including a plurality of rows corresponding to individual TDRA configuration information, the individual TDRA configuration information including start and length indicator value (SLIV) information and mapping type information corresponding to the individual TDRA of each row, at least one row of the plurality of rows including individual TDRAs for at least two consecutive time domain transmission slots, and the TDRA table further including information related to scheduling of a plurality of physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) transmission slots; transmitting an indication regarding at least one multi-slot TDRA to the at least one UE device; transmitting at least one masking signal indication to the at least one UE device, the at least one masking signal indication including information corresponding to at least one scheduled transmission slot for the at least one masking signal; performing multi-slot communication with the at least one UE device based on the at least one multi-slot TDRA and the at least one mask signal indication; and a processing circuit configured to cause A RAN node comprising:

9. The TDRA table further includes: Scheduling multiple Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) transmission slots; or Scheduling both multiple PUSCH transmission slots and multiple PDSCH transmission slots; 10. The RAN node of claim 8, comprising information relating to:

10. The RAN node further comprises: Transmitting a replacement TDRA to the at least one UE device; performing the multi-slot communication with the at least one UE device using the multi-slot TDRA based on the permuted TDRA; 10. The RAN node according to claim 8 or 9, wherein

11. The RAN node further comprises: adapted to periodically transmit the at least one masked signal indication to the at least one UE device; the at least one masked signal representation comprises a bitmap, each bit of the bitmap corresponding to a transmission slot or symbol; 11. A RAN node according to any one of claims 8 to 10.

12. 1. A method of operating a user equipment (UE) device, comprising: receiving a time domain resource allocation (TDRA) table from a radio access network (RAN) node, the TDRA table including TDRA configuration information for at least one multi-slot TDRA, the TDRA table further including a plurality of rows corresponding to individual TDRA configuration information, the individual TDRA configuration information including start and length indicator value (SLIV) information and mapping type information corresponding to the individual TDRA of each row, at least one row of the plurality of rows including an individual TDRA for at least two consecutive time domain transmission slots, and the TDRA table further including information related to scheduling of a plurality of physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) transmission slots; receiving an indication regarding at least one multi-slot TDRA from the RAN node; performing a lookup operation on the TDRA table using the received instruction, the instruction identifying a row of the TDRA table; receiving at least one masked signal indication from the RAN node, the at least one masked signal indication including information corresponding to at least one scheduled transmission slot for the at least one masked signal; determining whether at least one transmission slot of the multi-slot TDRA overlaps with the at least one scheduled transmission slot for the at least one masking signal; determining whether to modify the multi-slot TDRA based on the received at least one masking signal indication, in response to the at least one transmission slot of the multi-slot TDRA overlapping with the at least one scheduled transmission slot for the at least one masking signal; removing the overlapping transmission slots of the multi-slot TDRA; and removing a corresponding number of HARQ processes from the end of said multi-slot TDRA; determining whether the multi-slot TDRA is corrected by performing multi-slot communication with the RAN node based on a result of the determination of whether to modify the multi-slot TDRA; The method includes:

13. The method further comprises: Determining whether at least one symbol allocated for the at least one masking signal in the at least one scheduled transmission slot overlaps with at least one symbol indicated by a SLIV of at least one transmission slot of the multi-slot TDRA; Modifying the multi-slot TDRA by changing the at least one symbol indicated by the SLIV of the overlapping multi-slot TDRA based on the result of the determination of whether the at least one symbol assigned for the at least one mask signal overlaps with the at least one symbol indicated by the SLIV; The method of claim 12, comprising:

14. The method further comprises: determining a link direction of the at least one mask signal; modifying the multi-slot TDRA based on the determined link direction of the at least one mask signal conflicting with a link direction of at least one slot of the multi-slot TDRA; The method of claim 12 or 13, comprising:

15. The method further comprises: receiving a replacement TDRA from the RAN node; modifying the multi-slot TDRA using the replacement TDRA based on a result of the determination of whether to modify the multi-slot TDRA; 15. The method of any one of claims 12 to 14, comprising:

16. The method further comprises: periodically receiving the at least one masked signal indication from the RAN node; the at least one masked signal representation comprises a bitmap, each bit of the bitmap corresponding to a transmission slot or symbol; 16. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 15.

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