FR2 Type 1 UL Gap Configuration in a Dynamic TDD System

Abstract

Systems and methods for implementing uplink (UL) gaps to facilitate user equipment (UE) calibration are disclosed herein. The UE determines one or more slot patterns of a slot configuration that are repeated during time division duplex (TDD) communication with a base station. The UE determines a UL gap periodicity (defining a period covering an integer number of repetitions of the slot configuration). The UE then performs UE calibration during one or more semi-persistently configured UL slots of the period of the UL gap periodicity that corresponds to a UL indication in one or more of a slot format indication (SFI) downlink control information (DCI) for a common configuration, a dedicated configuration, and / or a slot pattern(s) of the slot configuration. A method for identifying a particular semi-persistently configured UL slot of a period used for a UL gap is also described. The UL slot indication from the dynamic DCI is not used for UL gap purposes.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application generally relates to a wireless communication system including a time division duplex (TDD) communication implementing an uplink (UL) gap in which user equipment (UE) calibration can be performed.

Background Art

[0002] Wireless mobile communication technologies use various standards and protocols to transmit data between a base station and a wireless communication device. Wireless communication system standards and protocols can include, for example, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE) (e.g., 4G), 3GPP New Radio (NR) (e.g., 5G), and the IEEE 802.11 standard for wireless local area network (WLAN) (commonly known as Wi-Fi (registered trademark) to industry groups).

[0003] As contemplated by 3GPP, different wireless communication system standards and protocols can use various radio access networks (RANs) to communicate between a base station of the RAN (commonly called a RAN node, network node, or simply a node) and a wireless communication device known as a user equipment (UE). 3GPP RAN can include, for example, a global system for mobile communications (GSM), enhanced data rates for GSM evolution (EDGE) RAN (GERAN), universal terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN), evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN), and / or next generation radio access network (NG-RAN).

[0004] Each RAN can perform communication between a base station and a UE using one or more radio access technologies (RATs). For example, GERAN implements GSM and / or EDGE RAT, UTRAN implements a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS) RAT, or other 3GPP RAT, E-UTRAN implements an LTE RAT (sometimes simply referred to as LTE), and NG-RAN implements an NR RAT (also sometimes referred to as 5G RAT, 5G NR RAT, or simply NR in this specification). In a specific deployment, E-UTRAN can also implement an NR RAT. In a specific deployment, NG-RAN can also implement an LTE RAT.

[0005] The base station used by the RAN can correspond to that RAN. An example of an E-UTRAN base station is an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN) Node B (commonly also referred to as an evolved Node B, enhanced Node B, eNode B, or eNB). An example of an NG-RAN base station is a next-generation Node B (sometimes referred to as Node B or gNB).

[0006] The RAN provides communication services with external entities via a connection to the core network (CN). For example, E-UTRAN can utilize an evolved packet core (EPC), and NG-RAN can utilize a 5G core network (5GC).

[0007] The frequency bands of 5G NR can be divided into two or more different frequency ranges. For example, Frequency Range 1 (FR1) may include frequency bands operating at sub-6 GHz frequencies, some of which may be used according to previous specifications and have the potential to be extended to cover new frequency bands providing 410 MHz to 7125 MHz. Frequency Range 2 (FR2) may include frequency bands in the 24.25 GHz to 52.6 GHz range. The millimeter wave (mmWave) range bands of FR2 may have a smaller range than the bands of FR1, but the available bandwidth is potentially wider. It is understood by those skilled in the art that these provided frequency ranges may vary from time to time or by region.

[0008] To easily identify the consideration of any particular element or act, the most significant digit(s) of the reference number refer to the figure number in which the element was first introduced.

Brief Description of the Drawings

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] Various embodiments are described with respect to a UE. However, the reference to the UE is provided merely for illustration. Exemplary embodiments may be used with any electronic component, and any electronic component can establish a connection to a network and is composed of hardware, software, and / or firmware for exchanging information and data with the network. Therefore, the UE described herein is used to represent any suitable electronic component.

[0027] The expansion of FR2 coverage in a wireless communication system to improve coverage, signal quality, and / or UE performance is an object of interest motivated by the desire for (at least) increased power efficiency and / or overall system throughput. In some UEs operating on FR2, various FR2 expansions may rely on and / or benefit from the use of UL gaps. A UL gap may represent one or more UL slots in which UL transmission is not actually performed by the UE (or at least the power of such UL transmission is significantly reduced). Then, during this UL gap, the UE may perform calibration and / or measurements wirelessly and / or through the internal loop of the UE.

[0028] In a first example of UE calibration using a UL gap, the UL gap can be used in the UE to measure and calibrate a power amplifier (PA) used in the UE. For example, the UL gap can be used to perform periodic measurements of PA characteristics so that the UE can make appropriate adjustments over time.

[0029] In a second example of UE calibration using a UL gap, the UL gap can be additionally (or alternatively) used to perform transceiver calibration. For example, occasional (re)calibration of the UE's transceiver can be used to account for runtime impairment profile changes due to temperature variations in the UE. This transceiver calibration can help achieve maximized beamforming gain of the UE's antenna array so that FR2 performance can be improved.

[0030] In a third example of UE calibration using a UL gap, the UL gap can be additionally (or alternatively) used in the UE to perform transmit (Tx) power management. It may be desirable for the UE to adaptively adjust the Tx power, for example, to maximize UL coverage and / or throughput (or UL efficiency), while still meeting all regulatory requirements regarding the power of such transmissions. The corresponding determination of the Tx power used / available to the UE can be influenced / partially determined by the UE considering environmental factors (such as interference from other transmissions in the area, etc.). Thus, the UL gap can be used by the UE to measure such environmental factors so that the UE can more accurately calibrate its own Tx power.

[0031] It is contemplated that other examples of UE calibration that can be additionally (or alternatively) performed during one or more UL gaps may occur to those skilled in the art. In such cases, it is expected that the UL gaps disclosed herein can also be used for such calibration examples.

[0032] Each of the foregoing examples of UE calibration may implement a scheme in which the UE transmits a calibration signal (either wirelessly to the base station or on an internal loop of the UE between the UE's Tx component and the receive (Rx) component) and receives a return calibration signal. This process may use hardware for UL transmission. Thus, for any UL transmission not associated with the UE, the calibration process that should have been transmitted during the time when calibration is being performed may be interrupted / affected. As described herein, UL transmissions that do not include part of the UE calibration process may sometimes be referred to herein as normal UE transmissions.

[0033] The provision of known UL gaps allocates time resources for which such interruptions to normal UL transmissions (due to UE calibration) are expected / known to occur, thereby facilitating scheduling within the wireless communication system. Thus, systems and methods for predictably providing / using such UL gaps may be beneficial.

[0034] The UL gap can be understood to be a "Type 1" UL gap. A Type 1 UL gap can be a UL gap that is known to (and / or determinable by) the UE and used by the UE without first receiving an explicit permission for the UL gap from a base station of a wireless communication system. During a Type 1 UL gap, all UE radio frequency (RF) requirements can apply. In the case of a Type 1 UL gap, it can be beneficial to ensure that the configuration of the UL gap is determined based on interdependent factors, targeting a good balance of gains from UE calibration considering power management maximum power reduction (P-MPR). For example, there can be a trade-off between UL gap overhead and Tx power gain. The slots used for UL gap slots are used for body proximity sensing (BPS) sensing, so there can be a corresponding UL throughput loss associated with this use. For example, assume that x% of the UL resources are used for sensing. In such a case, if no Tx power gain is obtained, an x% throughput loss may be seen. On the other hand, by the use of the UL gap described, the UE may ultimately be able to transmit at a higher Tx power (through the remaining UL slots not used for the UL gap), achieving better coverage and higher UL throughput.

[0035] In some embodiments, it is contemplated that the UE may be able to signal to the base station that it is using / can use a UL gap as disclosed herein. In some embodiments, it is further contemplated that the base station may be able to signal to the UE that the base station expects the UE to use a UL gap as disclosed herein.

[0036] NR provides a time division duplex (TDD) configuration schema through which one or more slots (e.g., symbols of one or more of those slots) can be configured. Within each configured slot, each symbol can be formatted for uplink (UL), downlink (DL), or as a flexible symbol. A flexible symbol can be a symbol that can be used as either UL or DL (e.g., according to subsequent configuration / indication for that symbol). Thus, a slot can be configured as a UL slot (e.g., all symbols of the slot are UL symbols), a DL slot (e.g., all symbols of the slot are DL symbols), a flexible slot (e.g., all symbols of the slot are flexible symbols), or a special slot (e.g., the symbols of the slot are a mixture of symbol types).

[0037] In some cases, NR TDD is configured using dynamic scheduling. In dynamic scheduling, the amount and nature of the slots used by a UE (e.g., the nature of the symbols of those slots) are dynamically configured on demand by a base station using dynamic downlink control information (DCI) in the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH).

[0038] In some cases, NR TDD is configured using semi-persistent (SP) configuration techniques. The SP configuration of the amount and nature of the slots used by a UE can be reused by the UE over time, e.g., until an updated SP configuration arrives at the UE and until it does arrive.

[0039] The SP configuration can be a multi-part hierarchical configuration used to configure one or more slot patterns of the slot configuration used in TDD communication. In the case of the first hierarchical part of the SP configuration, the UE may provide (e.g., in the "tdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationCommon" information element) a common configuration indicating one or more slot patterns used by the UE as part of the slot configuration used during TDD communication. The common configuration may be applicable to all UEs sharing the same serving cell of the UE in question. The common configuration may be sent to the UE via the base station's System Information Block (SIB) (e.g., SIB1) and / or via dedicated RRC signaling. The common configuration may indicate the location of any uplink, downlink, flexible, and / or special slots within the configured slot pattern(s). Further, the common configuration may also indicate the location of any uplink symbol, downlink symbol, or flexible symbol within any special slot of the configured slot pattern(s). Thus, at the level of the first hierarchical part, the placement of all symbols of all slots within the slot pattern(s) can be fully determined (subject to possible further adjustment as described below). The common configuration, as used herein, may be in the form of configuration information.

[0040] In the case of the second hierarchical part of the SP configuration, the UE may be given a dedicated configuration (e.g., in the "tdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationDedicated" information element) for each of one or more of the slot pattern(s) used by the UE as part of the slot configuration used during TDD communication. The dedicated configuration may be unique to the UE (e.g., not necessarily the same as any other dedicated configuration that may be provided to other UEs of the serving cell). The dedicated configuration may be transmitted to the UE via dedicated RRC signaling. The dedicated configuration may indicate whether any flexible slot / symbol (such as that configured by the first hierarchical part of the SP configuration) should be used instead as an uplink / downlink slot / symbol in the corresponding slot pattern. The dedicated configuration may be in the form of configuration information as used herein.

[0041] In the case of the third hierarchical part of the SP configuration, the UE may receive a Slot Format Indication (SFI) DCI indicating the slot format of one or more slots of one or more slot patterns (singular or plural) used by the UE as part of the slot configuration used during TDD communication (e.g., in the group common DCI of format 2_0 scrambled by the SFI Radio Network Temporary Identifier (SFI-RNTI)). Such indicated slot formats may indicate (individually) for each symbol in the corresponding slot for downlink, uplink, or flexible use, and may be communicated according to a predetermined table of possible slot formats indicated by the SFI DCI. Thus, for any such slot so configured by the SFI DCI, any flexible symbols that still exist after the configuration of that slot by the first hierarchical part (and, if implemented, the second hierarchical part) may be changed to uplink symbols or downlink symbols to match the slot format for that slot from the SFI DCI. It should be noted that this process may not change any symbols previously configured as UL or DL symbols according to the first hierarchical part (or, if implemented, by the second hierarchical part). The SFI DCI may be in the form of configuration information as used herein.

[0042] Further details regarding the SP configuration described herein can be found in 3GPP TS 38.213 (version 16.6.0, June 2021), section 11.1, "Slot Configuration", which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0043] FIG. 1A shows a slot configuration 102 used during TDD communication according to one embodiment. The slot configuration 102 includes a first slot pattern 104. As shown, the first slot pattern 104 is a pattern of three downlink slots, followed by a special slot, followed by an uplink slot. The first slot pattern 104 may be configured according to a first hierarchical part of the SP configuration (e.g., received in SIB and / or RRC configuration information from a base station). For example, the first slot pattern 104 may be arranged according to a common configuration for the first slot pattern 104 (as seen, for example, in the "tdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationCommon" information element).

[0044] The slot indication described herein may be, for example, an indication in information (e.g., configuration information and / or DCI) that specifies a slot format for a slot of a slot configuration. Thus, it can be said that the slot configuration 102 is composed of slots corresponding to the slot indication in the common configuration (such a slot indication is reflected in the first slot pattern 104 according to the common configuration). For example, as shown, the slot configuration 102 may be composed of DL slots 106 and UL slots 108, each corresponding to the UL slot indication of the common configuration (and following the first slot pattern 104 of the common configuration), along with other slots.

[0045] The length (in time) of the first slot pattern 104 may be provided in the configuration information for the first slot pattern 104 (e.g., as the "dl-UL-TransmissionPeriodicity" parameter) and may be shown herein as P. As shown, in the embodiments of FIGS. 1A and 1B, since the slot configuration 102 has the same extent as the first slot pattern 104, the length of the slot configuration 102 may be understood by the UE to be P.

[0046] Figure 1B shows the use of slot configuration 102 for performing TDD communication 110 using a UL gap, according to one embodiment. As shown, TDD communication 110 proceeds according to the repetition of slot configuration 102 (which is composed of the first slot pattern 104). The repetition of the slot configuration 102 shown in TDD communication 110 can be initialized, in some embodiments, such that the first symbol of length P for each repetition of the slot configuration 102 is the first symbol within an even-numbered radio frame.

[0047] The UE may determine the UL gap periodicity. For example, in some cases, the base station may signal the UL gap periodicity to the UE, enabling the UE to make this determination directly based on the signaled value. The signaled value may be the amount of time corresponding to the number of repetitions of the slot configuration of length P in a single UL gap periodicity (denoted as N herein). In other words, the base station can signal the value of the UL gap periodicity (equal to NP) for which the UE makes a direct determination accordingly. In other cases, the UE may determine the UL gap periodicity based on an understanding of the length of slot configuration 102. In such cases, the base station can signal to the UE the number of repetitions of the slot configuration in a single UL gap periodicity (e.g., signal the value of N to the UE), and then the UE can calculate the UL gap periodicity using the formula NP.

[0048] In either case, the UL gap periodicity can be equal to NP. In the embodiments of FIGS. 1A and 1B, the periods 116a, 116b, and 116c of the UL gap periodicity (shown in FIG. 1B) are of length NP.

[0049] Furthermore, the UE may be able to identify one (or more) of the locations within periods 116a, 116b, and 116c in the TDD communication 110. These locations may be UE-specific (e.g., a first UE may be configured to use different locations within the periods in the TDD communication 110 than a second UE that also uses the TDD communication 110). The base station may control these locations for each UE by providing an offset value to the UE. This behavior may enable the base station to coordinate multiple UEs using the TDD communication 110 (e.g., such that one UE may perform normal UL while a second UE is performing UE calibration). This offset value corresponds to the location at which the UE should consider the period of the TDD communication 110 to start. Next, when the UE determines the UL gap periodicity (as described above), the UE can use the formula (SFN×10 + SubFN) mod (UL gap periodicity) = offset to locate the start subframe of one of the periods 116a, 116b, and 116c, where UL gap periodicity = NP (as described above), SFN is the system frame number, and SubFN is the subframe within that system frame.

[0050] The UE can further determine the value of the UL gap length. In some embodiments, the UL gap length may be determined according to an indication of the UL gap length given to the UE by the base station.

[0051] The UL gap length may, in some embodiments of the present specification, correspond to the number of semi - permanently configured UL slots in the period of the UL gap periodicity to be used for UE calibration purposes. Thus, as used herein, a reference to a semi - permanently configured UL slot in the period of the UL gap periodicity may be understood to refer to the number of UL slots in the period (e.g., up to the UL gap length) configured according to the SP configuration for the slot configuration repeated in that period.

[0052] In the embodiment of FIG. 1B, the UE has determined that the UL gap length is equal to 4. Accordingly, during each period 116a, 116b, and 116c of UL gap periodicity, four semi - permanently configured UL slots are used for UE calibration purposes according to the UL gap. Each of these is indicated by a "G" (corresponding to the fact that the UE uses such a UL slot as a UL gap for UE calibration) instead of a "U" (which could correspond to the UE's use of a slot for normal UL transmission). For example, in FIG. 1B, the first semi - permanently configured UL slot 112a, the second semi - permanently configured UL slot 112b, the third semi - permanently configured UL slot 112c, and the fourth semi - permanently configured UL slot 112d (indicated as "G") within period 116b can be used for UE calibration, while UL slots within period 116b that are not used for UE calibration (such as UL slot 118) remain available for normal UL transmission.

[0053] In some cases, the UL gap length may correspond to the first number of such semi - permanently configured UL slots in a period. As used herein, a reference to the first semi - permanently configured UL slot in a period of UL gap periodicity can be understood to refer to the first (e.g., the first) number of UL slots in a period (e.g., up to the UL gap length) configured according to the SP configuration for the slot configuration that is repeated in that period.

[0054] FIG. 1B shows the use of a UL gap according to a UE's determination, (partially) according to the first semi - permanently configured UL slots in a period, in relation to the semi - permanently configured UL slots 112a - 112d in period 116b of UL gap periodicity. As shown, each of the first semi - permanently configured UL slot 112a, the second semi - permanently configured UL slot 112b, the third semi - permanently configured UL slot 112c, and the fourth semi - permanently configured UL slot 112d is the first semi - permanently configured UL slot in period 116b.

[0055] Furthermore, as can be seen, each of the first semi - persistently configured UL slot 112a, the second semi - persistently configured UL slot 112b, the third semi - persistently configured UL slot 112c, and the fourth semi - persistently configured UL slot 112d corresponds to the first slot pattern 104 in that these slots are indicated for UL according to the use of the first slot pattern 104 within the repetition of the slot configuration 102 in the TDD communication 110. Further, since the first slot pattern 104 is arranged according to a common configuration, it can be understood that each of the first semi - persistently configured UL slot 112a, the second semi - persistently configured UL slot 112b, the third semi - persistently configured UL slot 112c, and the fourth semi - persistently configured UL slot 112d corresponds to a UL slot indication from the common configuration used to generate the first slot pattern 104 according to the SP configuration.

[0056] Finally, each period of the UL gap periodicity of the TDD communication 110 may use the same configuration as the period 116b (in accordance with the use of the first semi - persistently configured UL slot for the UL gap). This is shown with reference to the UL slot 120 of the period 116a (which is a UL slot for normal UL transmission assuming that four semi - persistently configured UL slots for UE calibration have occurred previously during the period 116a), and the fifth semi - persistently configured UL slot 114a (which can be the first of the four first semi - persistently configured UL slots of the period 116c used for UE calibration instead of normal UL transmission).

[0057] FIG. 2A shows a slot configuration 202 used during TDD communication according to one embodiment. The slot configuration 202 includes a first slot pattern 204 and a second slot pattern 206. As shown, the first slot pattern 204 is a pattern of three downlink slots, followed by a special slot, followed by an uplink slot, and the second slot pattern 206 is a pattern of two downlink slots, followed by two special slots, followed by an uplink slot. The first slot pattern 204 and the second slot pattern 206 may be configured according to a first hierarchical part of the SP configuration (e.g., received in RRC configuration information from a base station). For example, each of the first slot pattern 204 and the second slot pattern 206 may be arranged according to a common configuration for an individual slot pattern in the "tdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationCommon" information element.

[0058] Furthermore, it can be said that the slot configuration 202 is composed of slots corresponding to slot indications in the common configuration (such slot indications are reflected in the first slot pattern 204 and the second slot pattern 206 according to the common configuration). For example, as shown, the slot configuration 202 may be composed of, among other slots, a first downlink DL slot 208 corresponding to the DL slot indication in the common configuration (and according to the first slot pattern 204 of the common configuration), and a special slot 210 corresponding to the special slot indication in the common configuration (and according to the second slot pattern 206 of the common configuration).

[0059] The length (in time) of the first slot pattern 204 can be provided in the configuration information for the first slot pattern 204 (e.g., as the "dl-UL-TransmissionPeriodicity" parameter), and can be denoted as P herein. Further, the length (in time) of the second slot pattern 206 can be provided in the configuration information for the second slot pattern 206 (e.g., as the "dl-UL-TransmissionPeriodicity" parameter), and can be denoted as P 2 as herein. As shown, in the embodiments of FIGS. 2A and 2B, since the slot configuration 202 has the same spread as the combination of the first slot pattern 204 and the second slot pattern 206, the length of the slot configuration 102 is thus, by the UE, the sum of the length of the first slot pattern 204 and the length of the second slot pattern 206, i.e., P + P 2 which can be understood to be.

[0060] FIG. 2B shows the use of a slot configuration 202 for performing TDD communication 212 using UL gaps, according to one embodiment. As shown, the TDD communication 212 proceeds according to the repetition of the slot configuration 202 (composed of the first slot pattern 204 and the second slot pattern 206). The repetition of the slot configuration 202 shown in the TDD communication 212 can, in some embodiments, be initialized such that the first symbol of 20 / (P + P 2 ) for each repetition of the slot configuration 202 is the first symbol within an even-numbered radio frame.

[0061] The UE can determine the UL gap periodicity. For example, in some cases, the base station can signal the UL gap periodicity to the UE, enabling the UE to make this determination directly based on the signaled value. The signaled value can be the amount of time corresponding to the number of repetitions (denoted as N) of the slot configuration of length P + P 2 in a single UL gap periodicity. In other words, the base station is (N(P + P 2) equal to) the UL gap periodicity value can be directly signaled to the UE. In other cases, the UE may determine the UL gap periodicity based on an understanding of the length of slot configuration 102. In such a case, the base station can signal to the UE the number of repetitions of the slot configuration in a single UL gap periodicity (e.g., signaling the value of N to the UE), and then the UE can use the formula N(P + P 2 ) to calculate the UL gap periodicity.

[0062] In either case, the UL gap periodicity can be equal to N(P + P 2 ). In the embodiments of FIGS. 2A and 2B, the periods 218a, 218b, and 218c (shown in FIG. 2B) of the UL gap periodicity are of length N(P + P 2 ).

[0063] Furthermore, the UE can identify the location(s) of one or more of the periods 218a, 218b, and 218c within the TDD communication 212 using the offset value provided to the UE by the base station as described above. In such a case, when the UE also determines the UL gap periodicity, the UE can use the formula (SFN × 10 + SubFN) mod (UL gap periodicity) = offset to locate the start subframe of one of the periods 116a, 116b, and 116c, where the UL gap periodicity = N(P + P 2 )(as described above), SFN is the system frame number, and SubFN is the subframe within that system frame.

[0064] The UE may further determine the value of the UL gap length (e.g., according to the indication of the UL gap length given to the UE by the base station). In the embodiment of FIG. 2B, the UE has determined that the UL gap length is equal to 2. Thus, during each of the periods 218a, 218b, and 218c of the UL gap periodicity, two semi - persistently configured UL slots are used for UE calibration purposes according to the UL gap. These are indicated as "G" instead of "U" (which may correspond to the use of slots by the UE for normal UL transmission), noting that this corresponds to the fact that the UE uses each such UL slot as a UL gap for UE calibration. For example, in FIG. 2B, the first semi - persistently configured UL slot 214a and the second semi - persistently configured UL slot 214b (indicated as "G") may be used for UE calibration, while the UL slots (such as UL slot 220) within the period 116b that are not used for UE calibration remain available for normal UL transmission.

[0065] FIG. 2B shows the use, according to the determination by the UE, of a UL gap following the first semi - persistently configured UL slot of the period, in relation to the two semi - persistently configured UL slots 214a and 214b of the period 218b of the UL gap periodicity. As shown, each of the first semi - persistently configured UL slot 214a and the second semi - persistently configured UL slot 214b is the first semi - persistently configured UL slot of the period 218b.

[0066] Furthermore, as can be seen, the first semi - persistently configured UL slot 214a corresponds to the first slot pattern 204 in that this slot is indicated for UL according to the use of the first slot pattern 204 within the repetition of the slot configuration 202 in the TDD communication 212. Further, since the first slot pattern 204 is arranged according to a common configuration, it can be understood that the first semi - persistently configured UL slot 214a corresponds to the UL slot indication from the common configuration used to generate the first slot pattern 204 according to the SP configuration.

[0067] Furthermore, as can be seen, the second semi - persistently configured UL slot 214b corresponds to the second slot pattern 206 in that this slot is indicated for UL according to the use of the second slot pattern 206 within the repetition of the slot configuration 202 in TDD communication 212. Further, since the second slot pattern 206 is arranged according to a common configuration, it can be understood that the second semi - persistently configured UL slot 214b corresponds to a UL slot indication from the common configuration used to generate the second slot pattern 206 according to the SP configuration.

[0068] Finally, each period of UL gap periodicity may use the same configuration as period 218b (in accordance with the use of the first semi - persistently configured UL slot of the period for the UL gap). This is shown with reference to UL slot 222 of period 218a (which is a UL slot for normal UL transmission assuming that two semi - persistently configured UL slots for UE calibration have occurred previously during period 218a), and the third semi - persistently configured UL slot 216a and the fourth semi - persistently configured UL slot 216b (which may be the two first semi - persistently configured UL slots of period 218c used for UE calibration instead of normal UL transmission).

[0069] FIG. 3A shows a slot configuration 302 used during TDD communication according to an embodiment. The slot configuration 302 includes a first slot pattern 304. As shown, the first slot pattern 304 is a pattern of 4 downlink slots, followed by a special slot, followed by a flexible slot, followed by a special slot, followed by 3 uplink slots. The first slot pattern 304 may be configured according to a configuration provided corresponding to a first hierarchical part and a second hierarchical part, according to the first hierarchical part and the second hierarchical part of the SP configuration (e.g., received in SIB and / or RRC configuration information from a base station). For example, the common configuration 306 may be arranged according to the "tdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationCommon" information element. The dedicated configuration 308 may be arranged according to the "tdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationDedicated" information element corresponding to the first slot pattern 304. As described above, the dedicated configuration 308 indicates any slot / symbol that should be a flexible slot / symbol in the first slot pattern 304 other than the slots / symbols provided in the common configuration 306. Thus, the first slot pattern 304 reaches 310 through the use of the dedicated configuration 308 to further specify the flexible symbols / slots of the common configuration 306 in the manner shown.

[0070] The slot configuration 302 can be composed of slots corresponding to slot indications in one of the common configuration 306 and the dedicated configuration 308 respectively. For example, the slot configuration 302 can be composed of a special slot 312 and a UL slot 314 (as shown in the figure, together with other slots). The special slot 312 corresponds to the special slot indication 316 of the dedicated configuration 308 for the same position (as indicated by the upward arrow from the special slot 312 pointing to the special slot indication of the dedicated configuration 308), while the UL slot 314 corresponds to the UL slot indication 318 in the common configuration 306 found at the same position (as indicated by the upward arrow from the UL slot 314 pointing to the UL slot indication of the common configuration 306).

[0071] The length (in time) of the first slot pattern 304 can be provided in the configuration information for the first slot pattern 304 (for example, as the "dl - UL - TransmissionPeriodicity" parameter) and can be denoted as P in this specification. As shown in the figure, in the embodiments of FIGS. 3A and 3B, since the slot configuration 302 has the same extent as the first slot pattern 304, the length of the slot configuration 302 may be understood as P by the UE.

[0072] FIG. 3B shows the use of the slot configuration 302 for performing TDD communication 320 using a UL gap according to an embodiment. As shown, the TDD communication 320 proceeds according to the repetition of the slot configuration 302 (which is composed of the first slot pattern 304).

[0073] The embodiments of FIGS. 3A and 3B use a slot configuration 302 having the same spread as a single slot pattern (the first slot pattern 304). Thus, the embodiments of FIGS. 3A and 3B may be similar in many respects to the embodiments of FIGS. 1A and 1B that share the same characteristics. Thus, for example, the repetition of the slot configuration 302 shown in TDD communication 320 may be initialized such that the first symbol of each repetition 20 / P of the slot configuration 302 is the first symbol within an even-numbered radio frame, the UE may determine a UL gap periodicity that is a multiple of the first slot pattern 304 (shown herein as NP), and the UE may use the received offset and the formula (SFN×10 + SubFN) mod (UL gap periodicity) = offset (where UL gap periodicity = NP) to identify one (or more) of the locations of the periods 326a, 326b, and / or 326c of the UL gap periodicity.

[0074] The UE may also determine the UL gap length (e.g., according to an indication of the UL gap length made to the UE by the base station). In the embodiment of FIG. 3B, the UE determines that the UL gap length is equal to 2. Thus, during each of the periods 326a, 326b, and 326c of the UL gap periodicity, two semi-permanently configured UL slots are used for UE calibration purposes according to the UL gap. It should be noted that these are indicated as "G" (corresponding to the fact that the UE uses each such UL slot as a UL gap for UE calibration) instead of "U" (which may correspond to the use of a slot by the UE for normal UL transmission). For example, in FIG. 3B, the first semi-permanently configured UL slot 322a and the second semi-permanently configured UL slot 322b (indicated as "G") may be used for UE calibration, but the UL slots (such as UL slot 328 and UL slot 334) within the period 326b that are not used for UE calibration remain available for normal UL transmission.

[0075] Figure 3B shows the use, according to the determination by the UE, of a UL gap by a (partially) first semi - persistently configured UL slot of a UL gap periodicity period 326b, in relation to two semi - persistently configured UL slots 322a and 322b. As shown, each of the first semi - persistently configured UL slot 322a and the second semi - persistently configured UL slot 322b is the first semi - persistently configured UL slot of the period 326b.

[0076] Furthermore, as can be seen, each of the first semi - persistently configured UL slot 322a and the second semi - persistently configured UL slot 322b corresponds to a first slot pattern 304 in that these slots are indicated for UL according to the use of the first slot pattern 304 within the repetition of the slot configuration 302 in TDD communication 320. Also, (referring back to the dedicated configuration 308 in FIG. 3A), it can be seen that each of the first semi - persistently configured UL slot 322a and the second semi - persistently configured UL slot 322b corresponds to a UL slot indication from the dedicated configuration 308 used to generate the first slot pattern 304 according to the SP configuration.

[0077] Instead of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, for example, if the dedicated configuration 308 included only a single UL indication (e.g., within the last symbol specified), the slot configuration 302 would end with only (not three but) two UL symbols finally. In such a case, the first semi - persistently configured UL slot 322a would instead be a flexible slot, and the UL slot 334 would be used as the second (of two) first semi - persistently configured UL slots (corresponding to the illustrated corresponding UL indication in the common configuration 306 instead of any UL indication in the dedicated configuration 308).

[0078] Returning to the embodiments of FIGS. 3A and 3B, each period of UL gap periodicity may use the same configuration as period 326b (in accordance with the use of the first semi - permanently configured UL slot of the period for the UL gap). This is shown with reference to UL slot 332 of period 326a (which is a UL slot for normal UL transmission, assuming that two semi - permanently configured UL slots for UE calibration occurred previously during period 326a), and the third semi - permanently configured UL slot 324a and the fourth semi - permanently configured UL slot 324b (which may be the two first semi - permanently configured UL slots of period 326c used for UE calibration instead of normal UL transmission) and UL slot 330 (which is the UL slot of period 326c for normal UL transmission).

[0079] One of ordinary skill in the art will understand, by the benefits of this disclosure, that the use of slot patterns configured according to the first - tier and second - tier portions of the SP configuration (examples of which are presented in relation to the embodiments of FIGS. 3A and 3B) may be extended to embodiments that include two or more configured slot patterns (similar to what is presented in relation to the embodiments of FIGS. 2A and 2B herein). For example, the slot configuration may correspond to a first slot pattern of length P and a second slot pattern of length P 2 and give the slot configuration a length of P + P 2 and it is possible for one (or both) of such slot patterns to be configured according to the first - tier and second - tier portions of the SP configuration. In such a case, the repetition of such a slot configuration may be initialized such that the first symbol of the first symbol of all 20 / (P + P 2 ) repetitions of the slot configuration is the first symbol within an even - numbered radio frame, and the UE may use the first slot pattern and the second slot pattern (N(P + P 2) is a multiple of (shown as), and thus may determine UL gap periodicity including repetition of the slot configuration. The UE can identify one (or more) of these periods of the UL gap periodicity by using the received offset and the formula (SFN×10 + SubFN) mod (UL gap periodicity) = offset, but UL gap periodicity = N(P + P 2 ) is associated with.

[0080] Then, as described herein, the first semi - persistently configured UL slot of such a period can be used for UE calibration. The number of these semi - persistently configured UL slots may be equal to the UL gap length. Further, these semi - persistently configured UL slots may correspond to the slots indicated for UL in one or more of the first slot pattern and the second slot pattern. Thus, it may also be understood that each of these semi - persistently configured UL slots corresponds, as required, to the UL slot indication in the common configuration for each slot pattern or, if provided in relation to the slot pattern, optionally in the dedicated configuration for the individual slot pattern.

[0081] FIG. 4A shows a slot configuration 402 used during TDD communication according to one embodiment. The slot configuration 402 includes a first slot pattern 404. As shown, the first slot pattern 404 is a pattern of 3 downlink slots, followed by a special slot, followed by 2 flexible slots, and followed by 4 uplink slots.

[0082] The first slot pattern 404 may be determined according to the use of the SIB / RRC slot configuration 406 in combination with the SFI DCI 408. The SIB / RRC slot configuration 406 may be determined according to the common (and optionally dedicated) configuration provided corresponding to the second hierarchical part in the first hierarchical part of the SP configuration, according to the first hierarchical part of the SP configuration (and optionally by the second hierarchical part) (for example, since these may be received in the SIB and / or RRC configuration information from the base station). For example, the SIB / RRC slot configuration 406 may be configured according to the "tdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationCommon" information element (and optionally the "tdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationDedicated" information element) corresponding to the first slot pattern 404.

[0083] Next, the UE may receive the SFI DCI 408. In such a case, the first slot pattern 404 of the slot configuration 406 reaches 410 through the use of the SFI DCI 408 to further specify the flexible symbols / slots of the SIB / RRC slot configuration 402 in the manner shown. For example, the SFI DCI 408 may create a UL slot indication 416 corresponding to the location of the second special slot, configured by the SIB / RRC slot configuration 406, indicating that the UL slot 412 of the slot configuration 402 should instead have the slot format of all uplink symbols. This can follow the SlotFormatCombination element in the DCI configured for all UL symbols. Making the change to that slot as indicated by the SFI DCI 408 results in the first slot pattern 404.

[0084] The slot configuration 402 can be said to be composed of slots each corresponding to a slot of the SIB / RRC slot configuration 406 or a slot indication within the SFI DCI 408. For example, the slot configuration 402 can be composed of UL slots 412 and 414 (along with other slots as shown). UL slot 412 corresponds to the UL slot indication of the SFI DCI 408 for the same position (as indicated by the arrow upwards from the UL slot indication 416 pointing to the UL slot indication 416 of the SFI DCI 408), and UL slot 414 corresponds to the UL slot of the SIB / RRC slot configuration 406 found at the same position (as indicated by the arrow upwards from the UL slot 414 pointing to the UL slot 418 of the SIB / RRC slot configuration 406).

[0085] The length (in time) of the first slot pattern 404 can be provided in the configuration information for the first slot pattern 404 (e.g., as the "dl-UL-TransmissionPeriodicity" parameter) and can be denoted as P herein. As shown, in the embodiments of FIGS. 4A and 4B, since the slot configuration 402 has the same extent as the first slot pattern 404, the length of the slot configuration 402 may be understood by the UE to be P.

[0086] FIG. 4B shows the use of the slot configuration 402 for performing TDD communication 420 using UL gaps according to one embodiment. As shown, the TDD communication 420 proceeds according to the repetition of the slot configuration 402 (which is composed of the first slot pattern 404).

[0087] The embodiments of FIGS. 4A and 4B use a slot configuration 402 having the same spread as a single slot pattern (the first slot pattern 404). Thus, the embodiments of FIGS. 4A and 4B may be similar in many respects to the embodiments of FIGS. 1A and 1B that share the same characteristics. Thus, for example, the repetition of the slot configuration 402 shown in TDD communication 420 may be initialized such that the first symbol of each repetition 20 / P of the slot configuration 402 is the first symbol within an even-numbered radio frame, and the UE may determine a UL gap periodicity that is a multiple of the first slot pattern 404 (shown as NP), and the UE may use the received offset and the formula (SFN×10 + SubFN) mod (UL gap periodicity) = offset (where UL gap periodicity = NP) to identify one (or more) of the locations of the UL gap periodicity periods 426a, 426b, and / or 426c.

[0088] The UE may also determine the UL gap length (e.g., in accordance with an indication of the UL gap length made to the UE by the base station). In the embodiment of FIG. 4B, the UE determines that the UL gap length is equal to 3. Thus, during each period 426a, 426b, and 426c of the UL gap periodicity, three UL slots are used for UE calibration purposes in accordance with the UL gap. It should be noted that these are indicated as "G" (corresponding to the fact that the UE uses each such UL slot as a UL gap for UE calibration) instead of "U" (which may correspond to the use of the slot by the UE for normal UL transmission). For example, in FIG. 4B, the first semi-permanently configured UL slot 422a, the second semi-permanently configured UL slot 422b, and the third semi-permanently configured UL slot 422c (indicated as "G") may be used for UE calibration, while the UL slots (such as UL slot 428) within the period 426b that are not used for UE calibration and are indicated as "U" remain available for normal UL transmission.

[0089] Figure 4B shows the use, according to the determination by the UE, of the UL gap by the first semi - persistently configured UL slot of the period, in relation to three semi - persistently configured UL slots 422a, 422b, and 422c of the UL gap period 426b. As shown, each of the first semi - persistently configured UL slot 422a, the second semi - persistently configured UL slot 422b, and the third semi - persistently configured UL slot 422c is the first semi - persistently configured UL slot of the period 426b.

[0090] Furthermore, as can be seen, each of the first semi - persistently configured UL slot 422a, the second semi - persistently configured UL slot 422b, and the third semi - persistently configured UL slot 422c corresponds to the first slot pattern 404 in that these slots are shown for UL according to the use of the first slot pattern 404 within the repetition of the slot configuration 402 in the TDD communication 420 according to the SP configuration. Also, (referring back to the SFI DCI 408 in Figure 4A), the first semi - persistently configured UL slot 422a corresponds to the UL slot indication from the SFI DCI 408 used to generate the first slot pattern 404 according to the SP configuration, while the second semi - persistently configured UL slot 422b and the third semi - persistently configured UL slot 422c instead correspond to the SIB / RRC slot configuration 406 (for example, each corresponding to one of the common configuration and (possibly) dedicated configuration underlying the SIB / RRC slot configuration 406).

[0091] Finally, each period of the UL gap periodicity may use the same configuration as period 426b (in accordance with the use of the first semi - persistently configured UL slot of the period for the UL gap). This is shown with reference to UL slot 432 of period 426a (which is a UL slot for normal UL transmission assuming that a semi - persistently configured UL slot for UE calibration has occurred previously during period 426a), the fourth semi - persistently configured UL slot 424a, the fifth semi - persistently configured UL slot 424b, and the sixth semi - persistently configured UL slot 424c (which may be the three first semi - persistently configured UL slots of period 426c used for UE calibration instead of normal UL transmission), and UL slot 430 (which is the UL slot of period 426c for normal UL transmission).

[0092] Those skilled in the art will understand, by the grace of the present disclosure, that the used slot pattern configured according to the first hierarchical part, optionally the second hierarchical part, and the third hierarchical part of the SP configuration (examples of which are presented in relation to the embodiments of FIGS. 4A and 4B) can be extended to embodiments that include two or more configured slot patterns (similar to the content presented in relation to the embodiments of FIGS. 2A and 2B herein). For example, the slot configuration corresponds to a first slot pattern of length P and a second slot pattern of length P 2 and gives a length P + P to the slot configuration, and it is possible that one (or both) of such slot patterns is configured according to the first hierarchical part, optionally the second hierarchical part, and the third hierarchical part of the SP configuration. In such a case, the repetition of such a slot configuration may be initialized such that the first symbol of the first symbol of all 20 / (P + P 2 ) repetitions of the slot configuration is the first symbol in an even - numbered radio frame, and the UE may use the first slot pattern and the second slot pattern (N(P + P 2 ) 2) shown as), and thus may determine UL gap periodicity including repetition of the slot configuration. The UE may identify one (or more) of these periods of the UL gap periodicity by using the received offset and the formula (SFN×10 + SubFN) mod (UL gap periodicity) = offset, but UL gap periodicity = N(P + P 2 ) is associated with.

[0093] Then, as described herein, the first semi - persistently configured UL slot of such a period may be used for UE calibration. The number of these semi - persistently configured UL slots may be equal to the UL gap length. Further, these semi - persistently configured UL slots may correspond to the slots indicated for UL in one or more of the first slot pattern and the second slot pattern. Each of these semi - persistently configured UL slots may correspond to one of the UL slot indications in the common configuration for the individual slot pattern, in the dedicated configuration for the individual slot pattern (if such is provided in relation to the slot pattern), or in the SFI DCI (if such is provided in relation to the slot pattern) according to the SP configuration.

[0094] FIG. 5A shows a slot configuration 502 used during TDD communication according to one embodiment. The slot configuration 502 includes a first slot pattern 504. As shown, the first slot pattern 504 is such that a special slot follows one downlink slot, followed by three uplink slots. The first slot pattern 504 may be configured, for example, according to the SP configuration method as described above.

[0095] The length (in time) of the first slot pattern 504 may be provided in the configuration information for the first slot pattern 504 (e.g., as the "dl-UL-TransmissionPeriodicity" parameter), and may be denoted as P herein. As shown, in the embodiments of FIGS. 5A to 5D, since the slot configuration 502 has the same extent as the first slot pattern 504, the length of the slot configuration 502 may be understood by the UE to be P.

[0096] As described herein, each of FIGS. 5B to 5D can use the elements shown in FIG. 5A. Accordingly, the embodiments of FIGS. 5B, 5C, and 5D each use a slot configuration 502 having the same extent as a single slot pattern (the first slot pattern 504). Accordingly, the embodiments of FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C may each be similar in many respects to the embodiments of FIGS. 1A and 1B that share the same characteristics. Thus, for example, the repetition of the slot configuration 502 shown for the TDD communication in each of these figures may be initialized such that the first symbol for each repetition 20 / P of the slot configuration 502 is the first symbol within an even-numbered radio frame, and the UE may determine a UL gap periodicity that is a multiple of the first slot pattern 504 (denoted as NP herein), and the UE may use the received offset and the formula (SFN×10 + SubFN) mod (UL gap periodicity) = offset (where UL gap periodicity = NP) to identify one (or more) of the locations of the UL gap periodicity periods shown in these figures.

[0097] The UE may also determine the UL gap length (e.g., according to an indication of the UL gap length given to the UE by the base station). In the embodiments of FIGS. 5B, 5C, and 5D, the UE has determined that the UL gap length is equal to 4. Accordingly, during each period of the UL gap periodicity, four semi-permanently configured UL slots are used for UE calibration purposes.

[0098] However, in the embodiments of FIGS. 5B, 5C, and 5D, the UL slots used for the UL gap are not (necessarily) the first semi - permanently configured slots of the corresponding period of UL gap periodicity as in FIGS. 1B, 2B, 3B, and 4B (although there can be overlap). Instead, in the embodiments of FIGS. 5B, 5C, and 5D, the UE uses one or more sets of the first semi - permanently configured UL slots of each iteration of the slot configuration used by the period of UL gap periodicity. As used herein, a reference to the first semi - permanently configured UL slots of an iteration of the slot configuration used by the period of UL gap periodicity can be understood to refer to the initial (e.g., first) number of UL slots of that iteration of the slot configuration (configured according to the SP configuration) used by the period of UL gap periodicity. Thus, in each of FIGS. 5B, 5C, and 5D, for the UL gap, the UE uses the number m of the (maximum) first semi - permanently configured UL slots of the iteration of the slot configuration of the period of UL gap periodicity and, if necessary, repeats this use in subsequent iterations of the slot configuration within that period until the total number of UL slots so used equals the UL gap length. This behavior can represent "discontinuous UL slot usage" for UE calibration. Thus, FIG. 5B can be understood to be one possible embodiment of discontinuous UL slot usage using elements from FIG. 5A, FIG. 5C can be understood to be a second possible embodiment of discontinuous UL slot usage using elements from FIG. 5A, and FIG. 5D can be understood to be a third possible embodiment of discontinuous UL slot usage using elements from FIG. 5A.

[0099] FIG. 5B shows the use of a slot configuration 502 for performing TDD communication 510 using a UL gap, according to one embodiment. As shown, the TDD communication 510 proceeds according to an iteration of the slot configuration 502 (composed of a first slot pattern 504).

[0100] The use of the m number of the first semi - persistently configured UL slots of the slot configuration repetition during the UL gap periodicity period is (partially) shown in FIG. 5B in relation to four semi - persistently configured UL slots 512a, 512b, 512c, and 512d of a period 516b corresponding to the UL gap periodicity, where m = 1. It should be noted that the first semi - persistently configured UL slot 512a, the second semi - persistently configured UL slot 512b, the third semi - persistently configured UL slot 512c, and the fourth semi - persistently configured UL slot 512d are each indicated by "G" (corresponding to the fact that the UE uses each of such UL slots as a UL gap for UE calibration) instead of "U" (which may correspond to the use of the slot by the UE for normal UL transmission). Further, as shown, the UL slots within the period 516b that are not these semi - persistently configured UL slots (such as UL slot 518) indicated by "U" remain available for normal UL transmission.

[0101] As can be seen, each of the first semi - persistently configured UL slot 512a, the second semi - persistently configured UL slot 512b, the third semi - persistently configured UL slot 512c, and the fourth semi - persistently configured UL slot 512d corresponds to a first slot pattern 504 in that these slots are indicated for UL according to the use of the first slot pattern 504 within the repetition of the slot configuration 502 in the TDD communication 510. Further, each of the first semi - persistently configured UL slot 512a, the second semi - persistently configured UL slot 512b, the third semi - persistently configured UL slot 512c, and the fourth semi - persistently configured UL slot 512d may correspond to a common configuration, a dedicated configuration, or a UL slot indication of SFI DCI according to the SP configuration (as described above).

[0102] In the embodiment of FIG. 5B, the UE uses one first semi-persistent UL slot (at most) (corresponding to m = 1) in each repetition of the slot configuration 502 during the UL gap period 516b until reaching a UL gap length of 4. For example, as shown, the first semi-persistently configured UL slot 512a is the first semi-persistent UL slot of the first repetition of the slot configuration 502 in the period 516b, the second semi-persistently configured UL slot 512b is the first semi-persistent UL slot of the second repetition of the slot configuration 502 in the period 516b, the third semi-persistently configured UL slot 512c is the first semi-persistent UL slot of the third repetition of the slot configuration 502 in the period 516a, and the fourth semi-persistently configured UL slot 512d is the first semi-persistent UL slot of the fourth repetition of the slot configuration 502 in the period 516b.

[0103] Finally, each period of the UL gap periodicity in FIG. 5B may use the same arrangement as the period 516b. This is shown with reference to the UL slot 520 of the period 516a (which is a UL slot for normal UL transmission assuming that four semi-persistently configured UL slots for UE calibration have occurred previously during the period 516a), and the fifth semi-persistently configured UL slot 514a (which may be the first semi-persistent UL slot of the repetition of the slot configuration 502 in the period 516c used for UE calibration instead of normal UL transmission), and the UL slot 522 of the period 516c (which is the UL slot of the period 516c for normal UL transmission).

[0104] FIG. 5C shows the use of the slot configuration 502 for performing TDD communication 524 using a UL gap according to an embodiment. As shown, the TDD communication 524 proceeds according to the repetition of the slot configuration 502 (which is composed of the first slot pattern 504).

[0105] The use of the number m of the first semi - persistently configured UL slots of the repetition of the slot configuration during the UL gap periodicity period is related to (and partially shown in) FIGS. 5C for four semi - persistently configured UL slots 526a, 526b, 526c, and 526d of the period 530b corresponding to the UL gap periodicity, where m = 2. It should be noted that the first semi - persistently configured UL slot 526a, the second semi - persistently configured UL slot 526b, the third semi - persistently configured UL slot 526c, and the fourth semi - persistently configured UL slot 526d are each indicated by "G" (corresponding to the fact that the UE uses each such UL slot as a UL gap for UE calibration) instead of "U" (which could correspond to the use of the slot by the UE for normal UL transmission). Further, as shown, the UL slots within the period 530b that are not these semi - persistently configured UL slots (such as UL slot 532) and are indicated by "U" remain available for normal UL transmission.

[0106] As can be seen, each of the first semi - persistently configured UL slot 526a, the second semi - persistently configured UL slot 526b, the third semi - persistently configured UL slot 526c, and the fourth semi - persistently configured UL slot 526d corresponds to the first slot pattern 504 in that these slots are indicated for UL according to the use of the first slot pattern 504 within the repetition of the slot configuration 502 in the TDD communication 524. Further, each of the first semi - persistently configured UL slot 526a, the second semi - persistently configured UL slot 526b, the third semi - persistently configured UL slot 526c, and the fourth semi - persistently configured UL slot 526d can correspond to a common configuration, a dedicated configuration, or a UL slot indication of SFI DCI according to the SP configuration (as previously explained).

[0107] In the embodiment of FIG. 5C, the UE uses the first two semi-persistent UL slots (up to (corresponding to m = 2)) of each repetition of the slot configuration 502 in the UL gap period 530b until it reaches a UL gap length of 4. For example, as shown, the first semi-persistently configured UL slot 526a and the second semi-persistently configured UL slot 526b are the first semi-persistent UL slots of the first repetition of the slot configuration 502 in the period 530b, and the third semi-persistently configured UL slot 526c and the fourth semi-persistently configured UL slot 526d are the first semi-persistent UL slots of the second repetition of the slot configuration 502 in the period 530b.

[0108] Finally, each period of the UL gap periodicity may use the same configuration as the period 530b. This is shown with reference to the UL slot 534 of the period 530a (which is a UL slot for normal UL transmission, assuming that four semi-persistently configured UL slots for UE calibration have occurred previously during the period 530a), the fifth semi-persistently configured UL slot 528a and the sixth semi-persistently configured UL slot 528b (which may each be the first semi-persistent UL slots of the first repetition of the slot configuration 502 in the period 530c used for UE calibration instead of normal UL transmission), and the UL slot 536 of the period 530c (which is the UL slot of the period 530c for normal UL transmission).

[0109] FIG. 5D shows the use of the slot configuration 502 for performing TDD communication 538 using a UL gap, according to one embodiment. As shown, the TDD communication 538 proceeds according to the repetition of the slot configuration 502 (which is composed of the first slot pattern 504).

[0110] The use of m, which is the number of the first semi - persistently configured UL slots of the repetition of the slot configuration during the UL gap period, is related to (and partially shown in) FIG. 5D for four semi - persistently configured UL slots 540a, 540b, 540c, and 540d of a period 544b corresponding to the UL gap period, where m = 3. It should be noted that the first semi - persistently configured UL slot 540a, the second semi - persistently configured UL slot 540b, the third semi - persistently configured UL slot 540c, and the fourth semi - persistently configured UL slot 540d are each indicated with a "G" (corresponding to the fact that the UE uses each such UL slot as a UL gap for UE calibration) instead of a "U" (which could correspond to the use of the slot by the UE for normal UL transmission). Further, as shown in the figure, the UL slots within the period 530b that are not these semi - persistently configured UL slots (such as UL slot 546) and are indicated with a "U" remain available for normal UL transmission.

[0111] As can be seen, each of the first semi - persistently configured UL slot 540a, the second semi - persistently configured UL slot 540b, the third semi - persistently configured UL slot 540c, and the fourth semi - persistently configured UL slot 540d corresponds to the first slot pattern 504 in that these slots are indicated for UL according to the use of the first slot pattern 504 within the repetition of the slot configuration 502 in TDD communication 538. Further, each of the first semi - persistently configured UL slot 540a, the second semi - persistently configured UL slot 540b, the third semi - persistently configured UL slot 540c, and the fourth semi - persistently configured UL slot 540d can correspond to a common configuration, a dedicated configuration, or a UL slot indication of SFI DCI according to the SP configuration (as previously explained).

[0112] In the embodiment of FIG. 5D, the UE uses the first three semi-persistent UL slots (up to) (corresponding to m = 3) in each repetition of the slot configuration 502 during the UL gap period 530b until reaching a UL gap length of 4. For example, as shown, the first semi-persistently configured UL slot 540a, the second semi-persistently configured UL slot 540b, and the third semi-persistently configured UL slot 540c are the first semi-persistent UL slots of the first repetition of the slot configuration 502 in period 544b, and the fourth semi-persistently configured UL slot 540d is the first semi-persistent UL slot of the second repetition of the slot configuration 502 in period 544b (since using the fourth semi-persistently configured UL slot 540d reaches a UL gap length of 4, only one such slot is used in the second repetition).

[0113] Finally, each period of UL gap periodicity may use the same configuration as period 544b. This is shown with reference to the UL slot 548 in period 544a (which is a UL slot for normal UL transmission assuming that four semi-persistently configured UL slots for UE calibration occurred previously during period 544a), and the fifth semi-persistently configured UL slot 542a, the sixth semi-persistently configured UL slot 542b, and the seventh semi-persistently configured UL slot 542c in period 544c (each of which may be the first semi-persistent UL slot of the first repetition of the slot configuration 502 in period 544c used for UE calibration instead of normal UL transmission).

[0114] In embodiments implementing discontinuous UL slot usage (such as those shown in FIGS. 5B, 5C, and 5D, etc.), the given number m of the first semi-persistent UL slots of the applicable repetitions of the slot configuration 502 used by period 516b may follow the pre-configuration of the UE. In other embodiments, m may instead be signaled to the UE by the base station.

[0115] Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the value of m in such embodiments should be maintained within certain constraints. For example, the value of m should be less than the UL gap length, and it will be appreciated that the value of m should be less than or equal to the number of UL slots semi - persistently configured within the period of UL gap periodicity.

[0116] One of ordinary skill in the art, with the benefit of this disclosure, will understand that the use of the slot patterns described in FIGS. 5A - 5D can be extended to embodiments that include two or more configured slot patterns (similar to the content presented in connection with the embodiments of FIGS. 2A and 2B herein). For example, the slot configuration can correspond to a first slot pattern of length P and a second slot pattern of length P 2 and provide a slot configuration of length P + P corresponding to the SP configuration. In such a case, the repetition of such a slot configuration may be initialized such that the first symbol of the first symbol of all 20 / (P + P 2 ) repetitions of the slot configuration is the first symbol within an even - numbered radio frame, and the UE may determine the UL gap periodicity including repetitions of the slot configuration as a multiple of the first slot pattern and the second slot pattern (shown as N(P + P 2 )) and thus the UE may identify one (or more) of these periods of the UL gap periodicity by using the received offset and the formula (SFN×10 + SubFN) mod (UL gap periodicity)=offset, where the UL gap periodicity = N(P + P 2 ). 2 ) is involved.

[0117] Next, as described herein, the first semi - persistently configured UL slot of the repetition of the slot configuration within a period can be used for UE calibration. The number of these semi - persistently configured UL slots may be equal to the UL gap length. Further, these semi - persistently configured UL slots may correspond to the slots indicated for UL in one or more of the first slot pattern and the second slot pattern. For example, if the value of m exceeds the number of semi - persistently configured UL slots of the repetition of the slot configuration corresponding to the first slot pattern, the use of the (first) semi - persistent UL slots of that repetition of the slot configuration corresponding to the second slot pattern may be used to reach m. The semi - persistently configured UL slots may also each be understood to correspond to a UL slot indication in a common configuration for each individual slot pattern, optionally in a dedicated configuration for each individual slot pattern (if such is provided in relation to the slot pattern), or optionally, as appropriate, to an SFI DCI according to the SP configuration.

[0118] Figures 1A - 5B illustrate embodiments using slot configurations determined by the SP configuration method. It is also contemplated that one or more of the slot configurations described in relation to Figures 1A - 5B may be further temporarily changed by the base station within TDD communication via the use of dynamic DCI (e.g., dynamic scheduling DCI).

[0119] In the case of dynamic DCI, for example, when the UE is not configured by / with the SlotFormatIndicator element and is configured according to a common configuration (and a dedicated configuration if used), and the UE receives a corresponding indication by DCI format 1_0, DCI format 1_1, or DCI format 0_1 between flexible symbols configured in this way, the UE can receive a physical downlink control channel (PDSCH) or a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) in the flexible symbols of the slot. Alternatively, in such a case, when the UE receives a corresponding indication by DCI format 0_0, DCI format 0_1, DCI format 1_0, DCI format 1_1, or DCI format 2_3, the UE can receive a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), a physical random access channel (PRACH), or a sounding reference signal (SRS) in the flexible symbols of the slot. Such an example of dynamic DCI can operate to dynamically configure a slot for UL use according to the UL slot indication found in the dynamic DCI.

[0120] FIG. 6A shows a slot configuration 602 used during TDD communication according to an embodiment. The slot configuration 602 includes a first slot pattern 604. As shown, the first slot pattern 604 is such that three downlink slots are followed by a special slot, then two flexible slots, then a special slot, and then three uplink slots.

[0121] The slot configuration 602 can be determined according to the SP configuration method (as described, for example, with respect to the embodiments disclosed in FIGS. 1A to 5B). For example, the slot configuration 602 can be determined according to a first hierarchical part and, optionally, by a second hierarchical part of the SP configuration (since these can be received, for example, in the SIB and / or RRC configuration information from the base station) and, optionally, by a third hierarchical part of the SP configuration (since this can be received in the SFI DCI).

[0122] Next, the UE may receive dynamic DCI 606. In such a case, the modified slot configuration 608 is determined through the use of dynamic DCI 606 to further specify the flexible symbols / slots of slot configuration 602 (or, in other embodiments, to override one or more symbols / slots of slot configuration 602). For example, dynamic DCI 606 may create a UL slot indication 614 corresponding to the location of a second special slot as configured by slot configuration 602, indicating that the UL slot 610 of the modified slot configuration 608 should instead have the slot format of all uplink symbols. Making the change to that slot as indicated by dynamic DCI 606 results in the modified slot configuration 608.

[0123] Slot configuration 602 can be said to be composed of slots (like the slot configurations described above). The modified slot configuration 608 can also be said to be composed of slots each corresponding to the slots of slot configuration 602 or the slot indications within dynamic DCI 606. For example, the modified slot configuration 608 can be composed of UL slot 610 and UL slot 612 (along with other slots as shown). As shown, UL slot 610 corresponds to the UL slot indication of dynamic DCI 606 for that same position (as indicated by the upward arrow from UL slot 610 of dynamic DCI 606 to UL slot indication 614), and UL slot 612 corresponds to the UL slot of slot configuration 602 for that same position (as indicated by the upward arrow from UL slot 612 of slot configuration 602 to UL slot 616).

[0124] The length (in time) of the first slot pattern 604 may be provided in the configuration information for the first slot pattern 604 (e.g., as the “dl-UL-TransmissionPeriodicity” parameter) and may be denoted herein as P. As illustrated, in the embodiments of FIGS. 6A and 6B, the slot configuration 602 (and thus the modified slot configuration 608) has the same extent as the first slot pattern 604, so the length of the slot configuration 602 (and the modified slot configuration 608) may also be understood by the UE to be P.

[0125] FIG. 6B shows the use of the slot configuration 602 for performing TDD communication 618 using UL gaps, according to one embodiment. As shown, the TDD communication 618 proceeds according to the repetition of the slot configuration 602 (which is composed of the first slot pattern 604).

[0126] The embodiments of FIGS. 6A and 6B use a slot configuration 602 that has the same extent as a single slot pattern (the first slot pattern 604). Thus, the embodiments of FIGS. 6A and 6B may be similar in many respects to the embodiments of FIGS. 1A and 1B that share the same characteristics. Thus, for example, the repetition of the slot configuration 602 / modified slot configuration 608 shown for the TDD communication 618 may be initialized such that the first symbol of each repetition of the slot configuration 602 / modified slot configuration 608 is the first symbol within an even-numbered radio frame, the UE may determine a UL gap periodicity that is a multiple of the first slot pattern 604 (denoted as NP), and the UE may identify one (or more) of the locations of the periods 624a, 624b, and / or 624c of the UL gap periodicity by using the received offset and the formula (SFN×10 + SubFN) mod (UL gap periodicity)=offset, where UL gap periodicity = NP.

[0127] The UE may also determine the UL gap length (e.g., according to an indication of the UL gap length given to the UE by the base station). In the embodiment of FIG. 6B, the UE determines that the UL gap length is equal to 3. Thus, during each period 624a, 624b, and 624c of the UL gap periodicity, three semi - persistently configured UL slots are used for UE calibration purposes according to the UL gap. These are indicated as "G" instead of "U" (which may correspond to the use of slots by the UE for normal UL transmission), noting that this corresponds to the fact that the UE uses each such UL slot as a UL gap for UE calibration. For example, in FIG. 6B, the first semi - persistently configured UL slot 620a, the second semi - persistently configured UL slot 620b, and the third semi - persistently configured UL slot 620c (indicated as "G") may be used for UE calibration, while the UL slots (such as UL slot 626 and UL slot 628) within period 624b, which are indicated as "U" and not used for UE calibration, remain available for normal UL transmission.

[0128] FIG. 6B shows the use of the UL gap by semi - persistently configured UL slots for a period (partially) in relation to the three first semi - persistently configured UL slots 620a, 620b, and 620c of the UL gap periodicity period 624b. (Referring back to the SFI DCI408 in FIG. 4A), it can be seen that the first semi - persistently configured UL slots 620a, 620b, and 620c of period 624b do not correspond to the UL slot indication from the dynamic DCI606 used to generate the modified slot configuration 608 (e.g., the semi - persistently configured UL slots 620a, 620b, and 620c of 624b do not include UL slots corresponding to the UL slot indication from the dynamic DCI606). Instead, each of the first semi - persistently configured UL slot 620a, the second semi - persistently configured UL slot 620b, and the third semi - persistently configured UL slot 620c corresponds to a UL slot provided according to the (original) slot configuration 602 generated according to the SP configuration method.

[0129] Furthermore, as can be seen, each of the first semi - persistently configured UL slot 620a, the second semi - persistently configured UL slot 620b, and the third semi - persistently configured UL slot 620c corresponds to the first slot pattern 604 in that these slots are indicated for UL according to the use of the first slot pattern 604 within the repetition of the slot configuration 602 in TDD communication 618.

[0130] By thus ignoring the UL slot indication from the dynamic DCI 606, the undesirable network impacts that might otherwise occur can be minimized. For example, as a result of the base station requesting data from a delay - sensitive UE, the base station might send the UE a dynamic DCI 606 with the illustrated UL slot indication 614. In such a case, if the UL slot 626 resulting from period 624b is interrupted to perform UE calibration (instead of using that slot to transmit normal delay - sensitive data), data that is sensitive to delay might arrive at the base station late.

[0131] Note that due to the temporary nature of the dynamic DCI configuration, the previous and / or subsequent repetitions of the slot configuration within period 624b can be performed according to the original slot configuration 602 rather than the modified slot configuration 608. This is shown, for example, with reference to the special slot 630 of period 624b (which is not a UL slot as in the case where the corresponding repetition matches the modified slot configuration 608).

[0132] Furthermore, periods of UL gap periodicity that are not affected by dynamic DCI changes, such as period 624a and period 624c, may use the UL gap corresponding to the (original) slot configuration 602. This is shown by special slot 634 and UL slot 636 in period 624a (assuming that three semi - permanently configured UL slots for UE calibration occurred previously during period 624a, which are UL slots for normal UL transmission), and special slot 632 and the fourth semi - permanently configured UL slot 622a, the fifth semi - permanently configured UL slot 622b, and the sixth semi - permanently configured UL slot 622c in period 624c (which may be the first three semi - permanently configured UL slots in period 624c used for UE calibration instead of normal UL transmission).

[0133] The embodiment of FIG. 6B assumes the use of a UL gap by the first semi - permanently configured UL slot of a period. However, the details described in relation to FIG. 6B are considered applicable (as described in relation to FIGS. 5A - 5D) also in the case of the use of a UL gap by the first semi - permanently configured UL slot of the repetition of the slot configuration in that period.

[0134] Those skilled in the art will understand, by the grace of the present disclosure, that a used slot pattern configured according to the first - tier portion, optionally the second - tier portion, and optionally the third - tier portion of the SP configuration and further modified according to dynamic DCI (examples of which are presented in relation to the embodiments of FIGS. 6A and 6B) can be extended to embodiments including two or more configured slot patterns (similar to the content presented in relation to the embodiments of FIGS. 2A and 2B herein). For example, if the slot configuration corresponds to a first slot pattern of length P and a second slot pattern of length P 2 and the slot configuration has a length of P + P 2is provided such that one (or both) of such slot patterns can be configured according to a first hierarchical part, optionally a second hierarchical part, and a third hierarchical part of the SP configuration. In such a case, the repetition of such slot configuration may be initialized such that the first symbol of all 20 / (P + P 2 ) repetitions of the slot configuration is the first symbol in an even-numbered radio frame, and the UE may determine the UL gap periodicity that is a multiple of the first slot pattern and the second slot pattern (denoted as N(P + P 2 )) and thus includes repetitions of the slot configuration. The UE may identify one (or more) of these periods of the UL gap periodicity by using the received offset and the formula (SFN × 10 + SubFN) mod (UL gap periodicity) = offset, where the UL gap periodicity = N(P + P 2 ).

[0135] Then, as described herein, such semi - permanently configured UL slots can be used for UE calibration. The number of semi - permanently configured UL slots may be equal to the UL gap length. Further, the semi - permanently configured UL slots may correspond to the slots indicated for UL in one or more of the first slot pattern and the second slot pattern. Each of the semi - permanently configured UL slots may correspond to one of the UL slot indications in a common configuration for an individual slot pattern, in a dedicated configuration for an individual slot pattern (if such is provided in relation to the slot pattern), or in SFI DCI (if such is provided in relation to the slot pattern) according to the SP configuration. Further, any (temporary) slot of the first or second pattern corresponding to the UL slot indication from any subsequent dynamic DCI that (temporarily) affects the first or second slot pattern may then be excluded from use for UL gap / UE calibration purposes (e.g., not considered a semi - permanently configured UL slot).

[0136] FIG. 7 shows a method 700 of a UE according to an embodiment. The method 700 includes determining (702) a first slot pattern of a slot configuration used during TDD communication using configuration information from a base station. The TDD communication can be communication with the base station.

[0137] The method 700 further includes determining (704) a UL gap periodicity, where the period of the UL gap periodicity includes repetitions of the slot configuration during TDD communication.

[0138] The method 700 further includes performing UE calibration (706) in one or more semi - persistently configured UL slots of the period, where the number of one or more semi - persistently configured UL slots is equal to the UL gap length, and a first UL slot of the one or more semi - persistently configured UL slots corresponds to the first slot pattern.

[0139] In some embodiments of the method 700, the one or more semi - persistently configured UL slots are the first semi - persistently configured UL slots of the period.

[0140] In some embodiments of the method 700, the one or more semi - persistently configured UL slots are the first semi - persistently configured UL slots of the repetition of the slot configuration.

[0141] In some embodiments of the method 700, using the configuration information to determine a second slot pattern of the slot configuration, where a second UL slot of the one or more semi - persistently configured UL slots corresponds to the second slot pattern.

[0142] In some embodiments of the method 700, the UL gap periodicity is a multiple of the length of the slot configuration.

[0143] In some embodiments, method 700 further includes receiving, from a base station, a number of repetitions of a slot configuration of UL gap periodicity, and determining the UL gap periodicity further includes multiplying the number of repetitions by a length of the slot configuration. In some of these embodiments, the length of the slot configuration is equal to a length of a first slot pattern. In some of these embodiments, the length of the slot configuration is equal to a sum of a length of a first slot pattern and a length of a second slot pattern of the slot configuration.

[0144] In some embodiments of method 700, the configuration information includes a common configuration for all UEs of a serving cell of the UE indicating a first slot pattern, and the first UL slot corresponds to a first UL slot indication performed in the common configuration. In some of these embodiments, the common configuration indicates a second slot pattern of the slot configuration, and a second UL slot of one or more semi - persistently configured UL slots corresponds to a second UL slot indication and the second slot pattern performed in the common configuration.

[0145] In some embodiments of method 700, the configuration information includes a first dedicated configuration for a first slot pattern that is specific to the UE, and the first UL slot corresponds to a first UL slot indication performed in the first dedicated configuration. In some of these embodiments, the configuration information includes a second dedicated configuration for a second slot pattern of the slot configuration, and a second UL slot of one or more semi - persistently configured UL slots corresponds to a second UL slot indication performed in the second dedicated configuration.

[0146] In some embodiments of method 700, the first slot pattern is further determined using the first SFI DCI received from the base station, and the first UL slot corresponds to the first UL slot indication made in the first SFI DCI. In some of these embodiments, the second slot pattern of the slot configuration is determined using the second SFI DCI received from the base station, and the second UL slot of the one or more semi - persistently configured UL slots corresponds to the second UL slot indication made in the second SFI DCI.

[0147] In some embodiments of method 700, the one or more semi - persistently configured UL slots do not include a UL slot corresponding to a UL slot indication made by dynamic DCI.

[0148] In some embodiments of method 700, the UL gap length is indicated to the UE by the base station.

[0149] Embodiments contemplated herein include an apparatus comprising means for performing one or more elements of method 700. This apparatus can be, for example, a UE apparatus (such as the wireless device 902, a UE described herein).

[0150] Embodiments contemplated herein can include one or more non - transitory computer - readable media including instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of an electronic device, cause the electronic device to perform one or more elements of method 700. This non - transitory computer - readable media can be, for example, the memory of a UE (such as the memory 906 of the wireless device 902, a UE as described herein).

[0151] Embodiments contemplated herein include an apparatus comprising logic, module, or circuitry for performing one or more elements of method 700. This apparatus can be, for example, a UE apparatus (such as the wireless device 902, a UE described herein).

[0152] Embodiments contemplated herein include an apparatus comprising one or more processors and one or more computer-readable media including instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to execute one or more elements of method 700. The apparatus can be, for example, a UE device (such as wireless device 902 which is a UE described herein).

[0153] Embodiments contemplated herein include signals described in or related to one or more elements of method 700.

[0154] Embodiments contemplated herein include a computer program or computer program product including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to execute one or more elements of method 700. The processor can be a UE processor (such as processor(s) 904 of wireless device 902 which is a UE described herein). These instructions can be located, for example, within the processor and / or on a UE memory (such as memory 906 of wireless device 902 which is a UE as described herein).

[0155] FIG. 8 shows an exemplary architecture of a wireless communication system 800 according to embodiments disclosed herein. The following description is provided with respect to an exemplary wireless communication system 800 that operates in conjunction with LTE system standards and / or 5G or NR system standards as provided by 3GPP technical specifications.

[0156] As shown by FIG. 8, wireless communication system 800 includes UEs 802 and 804 (although any number of UEs can be used). In this example, UEs 802 and 804 are shown as smartphones (e.g., handheld touchscreen mobile computing devices capable of connecting to one or more cellular networks), but can also include any mobile or non-mobile computing device configured for wireless communication.

[0157] UE802 and UE804 may be configured to communicatively couple with RAN806. In an embodiment, RAN806 may be an NG-RAN, E-UTRAN, etc. UE802 and UE804 utilize a connection (or channel) with RAN806 (shown as connection 808 and connection 810, respectively), each of which comprises a physical communication interface. RAN806 may include one or more base stations, such as base station 812 and base station 814, that enable connection 808 and connection 810.

[0158] In this example, connection 808 and connection 810 are air interfaces for enabling such communicative coupling and may correspond to the RAT(s) used by RAN806, such as LTE and / or NR, for example.

[0159] In some embodiments, UE802 and UE804 may also be able to directly exchange communication data via sidelink interface 816. UE804 is configured to access an access point (shown as AP818) via connection 820, as illustrated. As an example, connection 820 may include a local wireless connection, such as a connection that conforms to any IEEE 702.11 protocol, and AP 818 may include a Wi-Fi® router. In this example, AP818 may be connected to another network (such as the Internet) without going through CN824.

[0160] In an embodiment, the UEs 802 and 804 can be configured to communicate with each other or with the base stations 812 and / or 814 using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) communication signals via multi-carrier communication channels according to various communication technologies, and these various communication technologies can be, for example, orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) communication technology (for example, for downlink communication), or single carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) communication technology (for example, for uplink and ProSe or sidelink communication), but are not limited thereto, and the scope of the embodiment is not limited in this regard. The OFDM signal can include a plurality of orthogonal sub-carriers.

[0161] In some embodiments, all or part of the base station 812 or the base station 814 can be implemented as one or more software entities executed on a server computer as part of a virtual network. Additionally, or in other embodiments, the base stations 812 and 814 can be configured to communicate with each other via the interface 822. In an embodiment where the wireless communication system 800 is an LTE system (for example, when the CN 824 is an EPC), the interface 822 can be an X2 interface. The X2 interface can be defined between two or more base stations (such as two or more eNBs, etc.) connected to the EPC and / or between two eNBs connected to the EPC. In an embodiment where the wireless communication system 800 is an NR system (for example, when the CN 824 is a 5GC), the interface 822 can be an Xn interface. The Xn interface is defined between two or more base stations (such as two or more gNBs, etc.) connected to the 5GC, between the base station 812 (such as a gNB) connected to the 5GC and an eNB, and / or between two eNBs connected to the 5GC (for example, the CN 824).

[0162] RAN806 is shown to be communicatively coupled to CN824. CN824 may comprise one or more network elements 826 configured to provide various data and telecommunications services to customers / subscribers (e.g., users of UE802 and UE804) connected to CN824 via RAN806. The components of CN824 may be implemented on a single physical device or separate physical devices, including components for reading and executing instructions from a machine-readable medium or computer-readable medium (e.g., a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium).

[0163] In an embodiment, CN824 may be an EPC, and RAN806 may be connected to CN824 via an S1 interface 828. In an embodiment, the S1 interface 828 may be split into two parts: an S1 user plane (S1-U) interface for carrying traffic data between base station 812 or base station 814 and a serving gateway (S-GW), and an S1-MME interface which is a signaling interface between base station 812 or base station 814 and a mobility management entity (MME).

[0164] In an embodiment, CN824 may be a 5GC, and RAN806 may be connected to CN824 via an NG interface 828. In an embodiment, the NG interface 828 can be split into two parts: an NG user plane (NG-U) interface for carrying traffic data between base station 812 or base station 814 and a user plane function (UPF), and an S1 control plane (NG-C) interface which is a signaling interface between base station 812 or base station 814 and an access and mobility management function (AMF).

[0165] In general, the application server 830 can be an element that provides an application using an Internet Protocol (IP) bearer resource (e.g., packet switched data service) with the CN824. The application server 830 can also be configured to support one or more communication services (e.g., VoIP session, group communication session, etc.) for the UEs 802 and 804 via the CN824. The application server 830 may communicate with the CN824 via the IP communication interface 832.

[0166] FIG. 9 shows a system 900 for performing signaling 934 between a wireless device 902 and a network device 918 according to an embodiment disclosed herein. The system 900 can be a part of a wireless communication system as described herein. The wireless device 902 can be, for example, a UE of a wireless communication system. The network device 918 can be, for example, a base station (e.g., eNB or gNB) of a wireless communication system.

[0167] The wireless device 902 may include one or more processors 904. The processor(s) 904 can execute instructions so that various operations of the wireless device 902 are performed as described herein. The processor 904 can include, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a controller, a field programmable gate array (FPGA) device, another hardware device, a firmware device, or one or more baseband processors implemented using any combination thereof configured to perform the operations described herein.

[0168] Wireless device 902 may include a memory 906. The memory 906 may be a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores instructions 908 (which may include instructions being executed by a processor(s) 904). The instructions 908 may also be referred to as program code or a computer program. The memory 906 may also store data used by the processor(s) 904 and results calculated by the processor(s) 904.

[0169] Wireless device 902 may include one or more transceiver(s) 910 that use an antenna 912 of wireless device 902 to facilitate signaling (e.g., signaling 934) to and / or from wireless device 902 with other devices (e.g., network device 918) according to a corresponding RAT.

[0170] Wireless device 902 may include one or more antennas 912 (e.g., one, two, four, or more). In embodiments having multiple antennas 912 (singular or plural), wireless device 902 may utilize the spatial diversity of such multiple antennas 912 to transmit and / or receive multiple different data streams on the same time and frequency resources. This behavior may be referred to as, for example, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) behavior (referring to the multiple antennas used in each of the transmitting and receiving devices enabling this mode). MIMO transmission by wireless device 902 may be achieved according to precoding (or digital beamforming) applied in wireless device 902 that multiplexes data streams across antennas 912 according to known or assumed channel characteristics such that each data stream is received at a desired location in the spatial domain (e.g., the location of the receiver associated with that data stream) with an appropriate signal strength relative to other streams. Some embodiments may use single-user MIMO (SU-MIMO) methods (where all data streams are directed to a single receiver) and / or multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) methods (where individual data streams may be directed to individual (different) receivers at different locations in the spatial domain).

[0171] In some embodiments having multiple antennas, wireless device 902 may implement analog beamforming techniques, whereby the phase of the signals sent by antennas 912 is adjusted relatively so that the (joint) transmission by antennas 912 can be directed (which may be referred to as beam steering).

[0172] Wireless device 902 may include one or more interfaces 914. The interface(s) 914 may be used to provide an input to or an output from the wireless device 902. For example, the wireless device 902, which is a UE, may include interfaces 914 such as a microphone, a speaker, a touch screen, buttons, etc. to enable input to and / or output from the UE by a user of the UE. Other interfaces of such a UE may be composed of a transmitter, a receiver, and other circuitry (e.g., other than the transceiver 910 / antenna 912 already described) that enables communication between the UE and other devices and may operate according to known protocols (e.g., Wi-Fi®, Bluetooth®, etc.).

[0173] Wireless device 902 may include a UL gap module 916. The UL gap module 916 may be implemented via hardware, software, or a combination thereof. For example, the UL gap module 916 may be implemented as instructions 908 stored in the processor, circuitry, and / or memory 906 and executed by the processor 904. In some examples, the UL gap module 916 may be integrated within the processor(s) 904 and / or transceiver(s) 910. For example, the UL gap module 916 may be implemented by a combination of a software component (e.g., executed by a DSP or a general-purpose processor) within the processor 904 or transceiver 910 and a hardware component (e.g., logic gates and circuitry).

[0174] The UL gap module 916 can be used for various aspects of the present disclosure, such as the aspects of FIGS. 1A-6B. For example, the UL gap module 916 determines one or more slot patterns of a slot configuration used by a UE during TDD communication, determines a UL gap periodicity (such as determined for the length(s) of one or more slot patterns of the slot configuration), and may be configured to instruct the UE to perform UE calibration in one or more semi - permanently configured UL slots of a period (such as a period having a number equal to the gap length), where each of the semi - permanently configured UL slots corresponds to one of the slot patterns (such as corresponding to a common configuration, a dedicated configuration, or a UL slot indication of one of the SFI DCIs for the corresponding slot pattern).

[0175] The network device 918 can include one or more processors 920. The processor(s) 920 can execute instructions so that various operations of the network device 918 are performed as described herein. The processor 904 can include, for example, one or more baseband processors implemented using a CPU, a DSP, an ASIC, a controller, an FPGA device, another hardware device, a firmware device, or any combination thereof configured to perform the operations described herein.

[0176] The network device 918 can include a memory 922. The memory 922 can be a non - transitory computer - readable storage medium that stores instructions 924 (which can include instructions being executed by the processor(s) 920). The instructions 924 may also be referred to as program code or a computer program. The memory 922 can also store data used by the processor(s) 920 and results calculated by the processor(s) 920.

[0177] The network device 918 may include one or more transceivers 926 that include RF transmitter and / or receiver circuitry that uses the antenna 928 of the network device 918 to facilitate signaling (e.g., signaling 934) to and / or from the network device 918 with other devices (e.g., wireless device 902) according to the corresponding RAT.

[0178] The network device 918 may include one or more antennas 928 (e.g., one, two, four, or more). In embodiments having multiple antennas 928, the network device 918 may perform MIMO, digital beamforming, analog beamforming, beam steering, etc., as described.

[0179] The network device 918 may include one or more interfaces 930. The interface 930 may be used to provide an input to or an output from the network device 918. For example, the network device 918, which is a base station, enables the base station to communicate with other devices within the core network and / or enables the base station to communicate with an external network, computer, database, etc., for the purposes of operating, managing, and maintaining the transmitter, receiver, and other equipment operably connected to the base station. The interface 930 may include other circuitry (e.g., other than the transceivers 926 / antennas 928 already described).

[0180] The network device 918 can include a UL gap module 932. The UL gap module 932 can be implemented via hardware, software, or a combination thereof. For example, the UL gap module 932 can be implemented as instructions 924 stored in a processor, circuitry, and / or memory 922 and executed by a processor 920. In some examples, the UL gap module 932 can be integrated within the processor(s) 920 and / or transceiver(s) 926. For example, the UL gap module 932 can be implemented by a combination of software components (e.g., executed by a DSP or a general-purpose processor) within the processor 920 or transceiver 926 and hardware components (e.g., logic gates and circuitry).

[0181] The UL gap module 932 can be used for various aspects of the present disclosure, such as the aspects of FIGS. 1A - 6B. For example, the UL gap module 932 can be configured to cause the network device 918 to indicate to the UE whether to use UL gap determination in the manner described herein and / or whether the network device 918 anticipates that the UE will use such determination. The UL gap module 932 can also, in some embodiments, cause the network device 918 to provide the UL gap length to the UE. The UL gap module 932 can also, in some embodiments, cause the network device 918 to provide an offset value (for determining the location of the UL gap periodicity period) to the UE. The UL gap module 932 can also, in certain embodiments, cause the network device 918 to provide the number m of the first semi - permanently configured UL slots of the repetition of the slot configuration of the UL gap periodicity period to the UE. Further, the UL gap module 932 can cause the network device 918 to determine a common configuration, a dedicated configuration, and / or an SFI DCI indication to the UE in view of the anticipation that the UE is using UL gap length determination, for example, as described herein.

[0182] For one or more embodiments, at least one of the components described in one or more of the foregoing figures can be configured to perform one or more operations, techniques, processes, and / or methods as described herein. For example, the baseband processor described above in connection with one or more of the figures herein may be configured to operate in accordance with one or more of the examples described herein. As another example, the circuitry associated with a UE, base station, network element, etc. as described above in connection with one or more of the foregoing figures can be configured to operate in accordance with one or more of the embodiments described herein.

[0183] Any of the above embodiments can be combined with any other embodiment (or combination of embodiments), unless otherwise specified. The foregoing description of one or more implementations provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the scope of the embodiments to the exact forms disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or can be acquired from practice of the various embodiments.

[0184] Embodiments and implementations of the systems and methods described herein can include various operations that can be embodied in machine-executable instructions executed by a computer system. The computer system may include one or more general-purpose or special-purpose computers (or other electronic devices). The computer system may include hardware components that include specific logic for performing the operations, or may include a combination of hardware, software, and / or firmware.

[0185] It should be recognized that the systems described herein include descriptions of specific embodiments. These embodiments can be combined into a single system, partially combined with other systems, divided into multiple systems, or otherwise divided or combined. Additionally, it is contemplated that the parameters, attributes, aspects, etc. of one embodiment can be used in another embodiment. The parameters, attributes, aspects are described in one or more embodiments for clarity only, and it is recognized that the parameters, attributes, aspects, etc. can be combined with or substituted for the parameters, attributes, etc. of another embodiment unless specifically disclaimed herein.

[0186] The use of personal information should be well understood to comply with privacy policies and practices generally recognized as meeting or exceeding industry or government requirements for maintaining user privacy. In particular, personal information data should be managed and handled to minimize the risk of unintended or unauthorized access or use, and the nature of the authorized use should be clearly shown to the user.

[0187] Although the foregoing has been described in some detail for clarity, it will be apparent that certain changes and modifications can be made without departing from the principles. Note that there are many alternative ways to implement both the processes and apparatuses described herein. Accordingly, the embodiments should be regarded as illustrative and not restrictive, and the description is not limited to the details given herein but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A method for a user equipment (UE) to perform time-division duplex (TDD) communication with a base station, comprising: determining, using configuration information from the base station, a first slot pattern of a slot configuration to be used during the TDD communication; determining an uplink (UL) gap periodicity, wherein a period of the UL gap periodicity includes repetitions of the slot configuration during the TDD communication; performing UE calibration in one or more semi-persistently configured UL slots within the period, wherein a number of the one or more semi-persistently configured UL slots is equal to a UL gap length, the one or more semi-persistently configured UL slots do not include UL slots corresponding to UL slot indications performed by dynamic downlink control information (DCI), and a first UL slot of the one or more semi-persistently configured UL slots corresponds to the first slot pattern; A method comprising the above.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more semi-persistently configured UL slots are the first semi-persistently configured UL slots of the period.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more semi-persistently configured UL slots are the first semi-persistently configured UL slots of the repetition of the slot configuration.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining, using the configuration information, a second slot pattern of the slot configuration, wherein a second UL slot among the one or more semi-persistently configured UL slots corresponds to the second slot pattern.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the UL gap periodicity is a multiple of a length of the slot configuration.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving, from the base station, a number of repetitions of the slot configuration of the UL gap periodicity, wherein determining the UL gap periodicity includes multiplying a length of the slot configuration by the number of repetitions.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the length of the slot configuration is equal to a length of the first slot pattern.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the length of the slot configuration is equal to a sum of a length of the first slot pattern and a length of a second slot pattern of the slot configuration.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the configuration information includes a common configuration for all UEs of the serving cell of the UE indicating the first slot pattern, and the first UL slot corresponds to a first UL slot indication performed in the common configuration.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the common configuration indicates a second slot pattern of the slot configuration, and the second UL slot of the one or more semi - permanently configured UL slots corresponds to a second UL slot indication and the second slot pattern performed in the common configuration.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the configuration information includes a first dedicated configuration for the first slot pattern that is specific to the UE, and the first UL slot corresponds to a first UL slot indication performed in the first dedicated configuration.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the configuration information includes a second dedicated configuration for the second slot pattern of the slot configuration, and the second UL slot of the one or more semi - permanently configured UL slots corresponds to a second UL slot indication performed in the second dedicated configuration.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the UL gap length is indicated to the UE by the base station.

14. An apparatus of a user equipment (UE) that performs time - division duplex (TDD) communication with a base station, comprising: one or more processors; a memory storing instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: determine a first slot pattern of a slot configuration to be used during the TDD communication using configuration information from the base station; determine a UL gap periodicity, wherein a period of the UL gap periodicity includes repetitions of the slot configuration during the TDD communication. One or more semi - permanently configured UL slots during the above - mentioned period, wherein the number of the one or more semi - permanently configured UL slots is equal to the UL gap length, and the one or more semi - permanently configured UL slots do not include UL slots corresponding to UL slot indications performed by dynamic downlink control information (DCI), and the first UL slot of the one or more semi - permanently configured UL slots corresponds to the first slot pattern, and in the one or more semi - permanently configured UL slots, the UE is configured to perform UE calibration.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the one or more semi - permanently configured UL slots are the first semi - permanently configured UL slots of the period.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the one or more semi - permanently configured UL slots are the first semi - permanently configured UL slots of the first iteration of the slot configuration.

17. When the instructions are executed by the one or more processors, the one or more processors are further configured to use the configuration information to determine a second slot pattern of the slot configuration, wherein the second UL slot among the one or more semi - permanently configured UL slots corresponds to the second slot pattern, and the UE is configured accordingly. The apparatus according to claim 14.

18. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the UL gap periodicity is a multiple of the length of the slot configuration.

19. When the instructions are executed by the one or more processors, the one or more processors are further configured to cause the UE to receive, from the base station, the number of iterations of the slot configuration of the UL gap periodicity, and the UE determines the UL gap periodicity by multiplying the length of the slot configuration by the number of iterations. The apparatus according to claim 14.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the length of the slot configuration is equal to the length of the first slot pattern.

21. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the length of the slot configuration is equal to the sum of the length of the first slot pattern and the length of the second slot pattern of the slot configuration.

22. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the UL gap length is indicated to the UE by the base station.

23. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by a processor of a UE to perform time-division duplex (TDD) communication with a base station, cause the UE to determine a first slot pattern of a slot configuration to be used during the TDD communication using configuration information from the base station, determine an uplink (UL) gap periodicity, the period of the UL gap periodicity including repetitions of the slot configuration during the TDD communication, perform UE calibration in one or more semi-persistently configured UL slots of the period, the number of the one or more semi-persistently configured UL slots being equal to a UL gap length, the one or more semi-persistently configured UL slots not including a UL slot corresponding to a UL slot indication performed by dynamic downlink control information (DCI), and a first UL slot of the one or more semi-persistently configured UL slots corresponding to the first slot pattern. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

24. The configuration information includes a common configuration for all UEs of a serving cell of the UE indicating the first slot pattern, and the first UL slot corresponds to a first UL slot indication performed in the common configuration. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 23.

25. The common configuration indicates a second slot pattern of the slot configuration, and a second UL slot of the one or more semi-persistently configured UL slots corresponds to a second UL slot indication performed in the common configuration and the second slot pattern. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 24.

26. The configuration information includes a first dedicated configuration for the first slot pattern that is specific to the UE, and the first UL slot corresponds to a first UL slot indication performed in the first dedicated configuration. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 23.

27. The configuration information includes a second dedicated configuration for a second slot pattern of the slot configuration, and a second UL slot among the one or more semi - permanently configured UL slots corresponds to a second UL slot indication performed in the second dedicated configuration. The non - transitory computer - readable storage medium according to claim 26.

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