Techniques for wireless communication using multiple cyclic prefix types

Abstract

To provide a method and a device for wireless communications using multiple cyclic prefix (CP) types.SOLUTION: A method for receiving communications with different CP types in a wireless communication system includes receiving a first communication according to a first timeline based on a first CP type, and receiving a second communication according to a second timeline based on a second CP type. The second communication is multiplexed with the first communication in the same slot.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Claims of Priority This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 629,355, entitled "TECHNIQUES FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS USING MULTIPLE CYCLIC PREFIX TYPES," filed on February 12, 2018, and U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 271,254, entitled "TECHNIQUES FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS USING MULTIPLE CYCLIC PREFIX TYPES," filed on February 8, 2019, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0002] Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication systems, and more particularly, to the use of cyclic prefix (CP) in wireless communications.

Background Art

[0003] Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, and the like. These systems can be multi-connection systems capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing available system resources (e.g., time, frequency, and power). Examples of such multi-connection systems include code division multiple access (CDMA) systems, time division multiple access (TDMA) systems, frequency division multiple access (FDMA) systems, orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) systems, and single carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) systems.

[0004] These multi-connectivity technologies are adopted in various telecommunications standards to provide a common protocol that enables different wireless devices to communicate at the urban, national, regional, and even global scale. For example, the fifth-generation (5G) wireless communication technology (sometimes referred to as 5G New Radio (5G NR)) is envisioned to extend and support a variety of use cases and applications related to current mobile network generations. In one aspect, 5G communication technology can include extended mobile broadband that addresses human-centric use cases for accessing multimedia content, services, and data, ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC) with some specifications regarding latency and reliability, and massive machine-type communication that can enable the transmission of a very large number of connected devices and relatively small amounts of information that are not affected by latency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0005] However, as the demand for mobile broadband access continues to increase, further improvements beyond 5G communication technology may be desirable.

MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS

[0006] The following presents a simplified overview of such aspects in order to provide a basic understanding of one or more aspects. This overview is not an exhaustive overview of all contemplated aspects, nor does it identify the main or important elements of all aspects, nor does it describe the scope of any or all aspects. Its sole purpose is to present, in a simplified form, some concepts of one or more aspects as a prelude to the more detailed description presented later.

[0007] According to an example, a method for wireless communication is provided. The method includes receiving a first communication according to a first timeline, where the first timeline is based on a first cyclic prefix (CP) type; receiving a second communication according to a second timeline, where the second timeline is based on a second CP type and the second communication is multiplexed with the first communication in the same slot; decoding the first communication based on a first length of the first CP type; and decoding the second communication based on a second length of the second CP type.

[0008] In another example, an apparatus for wireless communication is provided, including a transceiver, a memory configured to store instructions, and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory. The one or more processors are configured to receive a first communication according to a first timeline, where the first timeline is based on a first CP type; receive a second communication according to a second timeline, where the second timeline is based on a second CP type and the second communication is multiplexed with the first communication in the same slot; decode the first communication based on a first length of the first CP type; and decode the second communication based on a second length of the second CP type.

[0009] According to an example, an apparatus for wireless communication is provided, including means for receiving a first communication according to a first timeline, where the first timeline is based on a first CP type; means for receiving a second communication according to a second timeline, where the second timeline is based on a second CP type and the second communication is multiplexed with the first communication in the same slot; means for decoding the first communication based on a first length of the first CP type; and means for decoding the second communication based on a second length of the second CP type.

[0010] In another example, a computer-readable medium is provided that includes code executable by one or more processors for wireless communication. The code includes code for receiving a first communication according to a first timeline, where the first timeline is based on a first CP type, code for receiving a second communication according to a second timeline, where the second timeline is based on a second CP type and the second communication is multiplexed with the first communication in the same slot, code for decoding the first communication based on a first length of the first CP type, and code for decoding the second communication based on a second length of the second CP type.

[0011] In another example, a method for wireless communication is provided. The method includes multiplexing, within a slot, a first communication based on a first CP type and a second communication based on a second CP type, and transmitting, within the slot, the first communication based on a first timeline and the second communication based on a second timeline.

[0012] In another example, an apparatus for wireless communication is provided that includes a transceiver, a memory configured to store instructions, and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory. The one or more processors are configured to multiplex, within a slot, a first communication based on a first CP type and a second communication based on a second CP type, and to transmit, within the slot, the first communication based on a first timeline and the second communication based on a second timeline.

[0013] In another example, an apparatus for wireless communication is provided that includes means for multiplexing, within a slot, a first communication based on a first CP type and a second communication based on a second CP type, and means for transmitting, within the slot, the first communication based on a first timeline and the second communication based on a second timeline.

[0014] In another example, a computer-readable medium is provided that includes code executable by one or more processors for wireless communication. This code includes code for multiplexing a first communication based on a first CP type and a second communication based on a second CP type within a slot, and code for transmitting the first communication based on a first timeline and the second communication based on a second timeline within the slot.

[0015] For the achievement of the related purposes described above, one or more aspects have the features that are fully described below and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following description and the accompanying drawings detail some exemplary features of one or more aspects. However, these features represent only some of the various ways in which the principles of the various aspects can be utilized, and this description is intended to cover all such aspects and their equivalents.

[0016] The disclosed aspects will be described below in the context of the accompanying drawings provided for purposes of illustration and not limitation, with like reference numerals indicating like elements.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

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Figure 5

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Figure 8

Figure 9

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] Next, various aspects will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, for the purpose of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of one or more aspects. However, it will be apparent that such aspects may be practiced without these specific details.

[0019] The described features generally relate to support for multiple cyclic prefix (CP) types in wireless communication. As described, nodes in a wireless network, such as a 5th generation (5G) new radio (NR) configured network, can be configured to have different CP types for different links, different signals transmitted over different links, etc. In one example, a node may be configured to communicate (e.g., transmit or receive) a signal using one or more other nodes that use different CP types for each of at least two signals, and using different CP types can result in different timelines for communication. For example, a base station may transmit one or more broadcast signals using normal CP, and one or more unicast signals using extended CP may be multiplexed with the one or more broadcast signals. In this example, a user equipment (UE) or other node may receive one or more broadcast signals and / or unicast signals, and the signals may be multiplexed (e.g., within a given slot), each of which may use a different CP type. In one example, the slot format configuration for normal CP and extended CP communication may be adjusted to provide a desired level of consistency to minimize colliding communication directions (e.g., uplink versus downlink) between symbols in a slot.

[0020] For example, an NR UE may be semi-statically configured with a unique numerology (e.g., numerology may refer to CP overhead and / or subcarrier spacing (SCS)), and NR can support extended CP for at least 60 kilohertz (kHz) SCS. In this configuration, for example, one slot may include 12 orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols. NR can also support normal CP where one slot may include 14 OFDM symbols. Further, in NR, the uplink and downlink may be configured to have different CP types (e.g., normal or extended CP). Additional configurations for using CP may be desired.

[0021] Furthermore, the slot format configuration for wireless networks such as 5G NR can be semi-static and group-specific. Each slot may include a plurality of symbols, and each symbol can be configured for either downlink, uplink, or flexible communication. A slot configured for flexible communication can be dynamically reconfigured as downlink or uplink in a dynamic and / or UE-specific manner (e.g., by using a group-common physical downlink control channel (GC-PDCCH) to dynamically configure flexible symbols). Additionally, for example, the CP type or length (e.g., normal CP, extended CP, etc.) configuration can be semi-static and UE-specific, and different CP types can be associated with different timelines (e.g., different numbers of symbols in slots of the same length, where the timeline can correspond to the number of symbols in a slot, the corresponding duration for a symbol or slot, etc.). In one specific example, some signals such as the primary synchronization signal (PSS), secondary synchronization signal (SSS), multicast physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), etc. can be configured to use normal CP, and other unicast transmissions can be configured to have extended CP in the same slot. As a result, normal CP and extended CP communications can be multiplexed in the same slot. The normal CP slot format can be based on the use of a first number of OFDM symbols (e.g., 14) per slot, and the extended CP slot format can be based on the use of a second number of OFDM symbols (e.g., 12) per slot, resulting in different communication timelines per slot.

[0022] Aspects described herein relate to multiplexing of normal CP and extended CP communications, where the multiplexing may include adapting a slot format to be used with one CP type based on a slot format defined for another CP type, and the slot format may be based on different timelines. Adapting the slot format using the concepts described herein can reduce or minimize transmission direction collisions between symbols of the slot formats that occur at the same or similar times. In one example, a network node can derive a slot format for one CP type based on a slot format for another CP type and / or based on the associated timeline of the CP type. In another example, a network node (e.g., a base station) can configure another network node (e.g., a UE) with the slot formats to be used for each CP type (e.g., by specifying in the configuration an indicator representing the slot format, such as a slot format indicator (SFI)), and the slot formats can exhibit a certain level of consistency among the types of symbols configured in the slot. In either case, the network node can thus be configured to communicate multiplexed signals based on different CP types and / or associated with different corresponding timelines, while reducing communication direction collisions between symbols on multiple timelines.

[0023] The features described are presented in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 1-7.

[0024] As used in this application, the terms "component", "module", "system", etc., include, but are not limited to, computer-related entities such as hardware, firmware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or software in execution. For example, a component may be, but is not limited to, a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable file, an execution thread, a program, and / or a computer. As an example, both an application running on a computing device and the computing device can be components. One or more components may be present within a process and / or execution thread, one component may be localized on one computer, and / or may be distributed between two or more computers. In addition, these components can be executed from various computer-readable media storing various data structures. Components can communicate by, among other things, following a signal having one or more data packets such as data from one component that interacts with another component in a local system, a distributed system, and / or interacts with other systems via a network such as the Internet, with a local process and / or a remote process.

[0025] The techniques described herein may be used for various wireless communication systems such as CDMA, TDMA, FDMA, OFDMA, SC-FDMA, and other systems. The terms "system" and "network" may often be used interchangeably. CDMA systems may implement wireless technologies such as CDMA2000, Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA), etc. CDMA2000 covers the IS-2000, IS-95, and IS-856 standards. IS-2000 Release 0 and A are generally referred to as CDMA2000 1X, 1X, etc. IS-856 (TIA-856) is generally referred to as CDMA2000 1xEV-DO, High Rate Packet Data (HRPD), etc. UTRA includes Wideband CDMA (WCDMA (registered trademark)) and other variants of CDMA. TDMA systems may implement wireless technologies such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) for mobile communications. OFDMA systems may implement wireless technologies such as Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), Evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), IEEE802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE802.20, Flash-OFDM (trademark), etc. UTRA and E-UTRA are part of the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS). 3GPP (registered trademark) Long Term Evolution (LTE) and LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) are new releases of UMTS that use E-UTRA. UTRA, E-UTRA, UMTS, LTE, LTE-A, and GSM are described in documents from a group called the "3rd Generation Partnership Project" (3GPP (registered trademark)). CDMA2000 and UMB are described in documents from a group called the "3rd Generation Partnership Project 2" (3GPP2). The techniques described herein may be used for the above-described systems and wireless technologies, as well as other systems and wireless technologies including cellular (e.g., LTE) communication over a shared radio frequency spectrum band.However, the following description explains the LTE / LTE-A system for illustrative purposes, and LTE terms are used in many of the following descriptions. However, this technique is applicable beyond LTE / LTE-A application examples (for example, to 5G networks or other next-generation communication systems).

[0026] The following description provides examples and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or examples set forth in the claims. Changes may be made to the functions and configurations of the elements described without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Various examples may, as appropriate, omit, substitute, or add various procedures or components. For example, the methods described may be performed in an order different from that described, and various steps may be added, omitted, or combined. Also, the features described with respect to some examples may be combined in other examples.

[0027] Various aspects or features are presented with respect to a system that can include several devices, components, modules, etc. It should be understood and appreciated that various systems can include additional devices, components, modules, etc., and / or may not include all of the devices, components, modules, etc. described with respect to the figures. Combinations of these techniques may also be used.

[0028] FIG. 1 shows an example of a wireless communication system 100 according to various aspects of the present disclosure. The wireless communication system 100 may include one or more base stations 105, one or more UEs 115, and a core network 130. The core network 130 may provide user authentication, access authorization, tracking, Internet Protocol (IP) connectivity, and other access, routing, or mobility functions. The base station 105 may interface with the core network 130 through a backhaul link 132 (e.g., S1, etc.). The base station 105 may perform radio configuration and scheduling for communication with the UE 115 or may operate under the control of a base station controller (not shown). In various examples, the base stations 105 may communicate with each other either directly or indirectly (e.g., through the core network 130) via a backhaul link 134 (e.g., X2, etc.) that may be a wired communication link or a wireless communication link.

[0029] The base station 105 may wirelessly communicate with the UE 115 via one or more base station antennas. Each of the base stations 105 may provide communication coverage to a respective geographic coverage area 110. In some examples, the base station 105 may be referred to by a network entity, a base transceiver station, a radio base station, an access point, a radio transceiver, a Node B, an evolved Node B (eNB), a home Node B, a home eNB, a gNB (e.g., in 5G NR), or some other suitable term. The geographic coverage area 110 for the base station 105 may be divided into sectors (not shown) that make up only a portion of the coverage area. The wireless communication system 100 may include different types of base stations 105 (e.g., macrocell base stations or small cell base stations). There may be overlapping geographic coverage areas 110 for different technologies.

[0030] In some examples, wireless communication system 100 may be or may include a Long Term Evolution (LTE) or Long Term Evolution-Advanced (LTE-A) network. Wireless communication system 100 may also be a next-generation network such as a 5G wireless communication network. In an LTE / LTE-A network, terms such as evolved Node B (eNB) (e.g., or gNB in a 5G network) may generally be used to represent base station 105, and the term UE may generally be used to represent UE 115. Wireless communication system 100 may be a heterogeneous LTE / LTE-A network where different types of eNBs provide coverage in various geographical areas. For example, each eNB or base station 105 may provide communication coverage to a macrocell, a small cell, or other types of cells. The term "cell" may be a 3GPP (registered trademark) term used to represent, depending on the context, a base station, a carrier or component carrier associated with the base station, or the coverage area of a carrier or base station (e.g., a sector, etc.).

[0031] A macrocell can cover a relatively large geographical area (e.g., several kilometers in radius) and enable unrestricted access by UEs 115 subscribed to the network provider's service.

[0032] A small cell can include a low-power base station that operates in the same or a different (e.g., licensed, unlicensed, etc.) frequency band as a macro cell. According to various examples, small cells can include picocells, femtocells, and microcells. A picocell can, for example, cover a small geographic area and enable unrestricted access by a UE 115 subscribed to the services of a network provider. A femtocell can also cover a small geographic area (e.g., a home) and provide restricted access by a UE 115 associated with the femtocell (e.g., a UE 115 in a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG), a UE 115 for a user within the home, etc.). The eNB for a macro cell may be referred to as a macro eNB, gNB, etc. The eNB for a small cell may be referred to as a small cell eNB, pico eNB, femto eNB, or home eNB. An eNB can support one or more (e.g., two, three, four, etc.) cells (e.g., component carriers).

[0033] A communication network that can be adapted to some of the various examples disclosed may be a packet-based network that operates according to a hierarchical protocol stack, and the data in the user plane may be based on IP. The Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer can provide header compression, encryption, integrity protection, etc. of IP packets. The Radio Link Control (RLC) layer can perform packet segmentation and reassembly to communicate through logical channels. The Medium Access Control (MAC) layer can perform prioritization and multiplexing of logical channels to transport channels. The MAC layer can also use Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) to perform retransmissions in the MAC layer to improve link efficiency. In the control plane, the Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocol layer can establish, configure, and maintain the RRC connection between the UE 115 and the base station 105. The RRC protocol layer can also be used for the core network 130 support of radio bearers for user plane data. In the Physical (PHY) layer, the transport channel can be mapped to the physical channel.

[0034] UE 115 may be distributed throughout the wireless communication system 100, and each UE 115 can be fixed or mobile. UE 115 may also include a mobile station, a subscriber station, a mobile unit, a subscriber unit, a wireless unit, a remote unit, a mobile device, a wireless device, a wireless communication device, a remote device, a mobile subscriber station, an access terminal, a mobile terminal, a wireless terminal, a remote terminal, a handset, a user agent, a mobile client, a client, or any other suitable term, or may be so called by those skilled in the art. UE 115 can be a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless modem, a wireless communication device, a handheld device, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a cordless phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, an entertainment device, a vehicle component, etc. The UE can communicate with various types of base stations and network devices, including macro eNB, small cell eNB, relay base stations, etc.

[0035] The communication link 125 shown in the wireless communication system 100 can carry UL transmissions from the UE 115 to the base station 105 or downlink (DL) transmissions from the base station 105 to the UE 115. Downlink transmissions may also be referred to as forward link transmissions, and uplink transmissions may also be referred to as reverse link transmissions. Each communication link 125 may include one or more carriers, and each carrier may be a signal composed of a plurality of sub-carriers (e.g., waveform signals of different frequencies) modulated according to various wireless technologies described above. Each modulated signal may be transmitted on a different sub-carrier and may carry control information (e.g., reference signals, control channels, etc.), overhead information, user data, etc. The communication link 125 can transmit two-way communication using frequency division duplexing (FDD) operation (e.g., using paired spectrum resources) or time division duplexing (TDD) operation (e.g., using unpaired spectrum resources). A frame structure may be defined for FDD (e.g., frame structure type 1) and TDD (e.g., frame structure type 2).

[0036] In an aspect of the wireless communication system 100, the base station 105 or the UE 115 may include a plurality of antennas to improve the communication quality and reliability between the base station 105 and the UE 115 by utilizing an antenna diversity scheme. Additionally or alternatively, the base station 105 or the UE 115 may utilize a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technique that can transmit a plurality of spatial layers carrying the same or different coded data by utilizing a multipath environment.

[0037] Wireless communication system 100 can support features sometimes referred to as operation on multiple cells or carriers, carrier aggregation (CA) or multi-carrier operation. A carrier may also sometimes be referred to as a component carrier (CC), layer, channel, etc. The terms "carrier", "component carrier", "cell", and "channel" may be used interchangeably herein. UE115 may be composed of a plurality of downlink CCs and one or more uplink CCs for carrier aggregation. Carrier aggregation may be used for both FDD component carriers and TDD component carriers.

[0038] In an aspect of wireless communication system 100, one or more of base stations 105 may include a multiplexing component 240 for multiplexing communications using different CP types for communication on different timelines, which may be based on lengths associated with the CP type. One or more of UE115 may include a communication component 340 for receiving and decoding multiplexed communications based on different CP types. Further, in some examples, one or more UE115 may, additionally or alternatively, include a multiplexing component 240 for multiplexing communications of different CP types according to the aspects described herein, and / or one or more base stations 105 may include a communication component 340 for receiving and decoding multiplexed communications. Moreover, in some examples, different UE115 may include a multiplexing component 240 and / or a communication component 340, etc. for facilitating UE-to-UE communication.

[0039] Next, referring to FIGS. 2-8, aspects are shown regarding one or more components and one or more methods for performing the actions or operations described herein, and aspects in dashed lines may be optional. The operations described below in FIGS. 4-5 are presented as being performed in a particular order and / or by exemplary components, but it should be understood that the ordering of the actions and the components performing the actions may be changed according to the implementation. Moreover, the following actions, functions, and / or components described may be implemented by a specially programmed processor, a processor executing specially programmed software, or a computer-readable medium, or by any other combination of hardware components and / or software components capable of performing the actions or functions described.

[0040] Referring to FIG. 2, a block diagram 200 is shown including a portion of a wireless communication system having a plurality of UEs 115 that communicate with a base station 105 via a communication link 125, where the base station 105 is also connected to a network 210. The UEs 115 can be examples of UEs described in the present disclosure that are configured to receive and decode multiplexed communications of different CP types (e.g., communications that can overlap in the time domain). Moreover, the base station 105 can be an example of a base station described in the present disclosure (e.g., an eNB, gNB, other types of access points, etc. that provide one or more macro cells, small cells, etc.) that is configured to multiplex and transmit communications using different CP types that can correspond to different communication timelines.

[0041] In one aspect, the base station of FIG. 2 may include one or more processors 205 and / or memory 202 that operate in combination with the multiplexing component 240 to implement the functions, methods (e.g., method 400 of FIG. 4), etc. presented in this disclosure. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the multiplexing component 240 may include one or more components for multiplexing communications having different CP types (and thus, possibly different communication timelines). In one example, the multiplexing component 240 may include a slot format indication component 242 for indicating a slot format associated with a first CP type, and / or a slot format derivation component 244 for deriving or interpolating (and / or further, indicating) a second slot format associated with a second CP type.

[0042] One or more processors 205 may include a modem 220 that uses one or more modem processors. Various functions related to the multiplexing component 240 and / or its sub-components may be included within the modem 220 and / or the processor 205. In one aspect, they may be executed by a single processor, and in other aspects, different functions among the multiple functions may be executed by a combination of two or more different processors. For example, in one aspect, one or more processors 205 may include any one or any combination of a modem processor, or a baseband processor, or a digital signal processor, or a transmission processor, or a transceiver processor associated with the transceiver 270, or a system-on-chip (SoC). In particular, one or more processors 205 may execute the functions and components included in the multiplexing component 240. In another example, the multiplexing component 240 may operate in one or more communication layers, such as the physical layer (e.g., layer 1 (L1)), the media access control (MAC) layer (e.g., layer 2 (L2)), the PDCP layer, or the RLC layer (e.g., layer 3 (L3)), for multiplexing communications and / or transmitting an indication of a slot format for one or more CP types.

[0043] In some examples, each of the multiplexing component 240 and the sub-components may comprise hardware, firmware, and / or software, and may be configured to execute code or implement instructions stored in a memory (e.g., a computer-readable storage medium such as the memory 202 described below). Further, in some aspects, the base station 105 of FIG. 2 may include, for example, a radio frequency (RF) front end 290 and a transceiver 270 for receiving and transmitting radio transmissions to / from the UE 115. The transceiver 270 may cooperate with the modem 220 to receive signals for the multiplexing component 240 or transmit signals generated by the multiplexing component 240 to the UE. The RF front end 290 may be connected to one or more antennas 273, and may include one or more switches 292, one or more amplifiers (e.g., a power amplifier (PA) 294 and / or a low noise amplifier 291), and one or more filters 293 for transmitting and receiving RF signals on the uplink and downlink channels, for example, for transmitting and receiving signals. In some aspects, the components of the RF front end 290 may be connected to the transceiver 270. The transceiver 270 may be connected to one or more of the modem 220 and the processor 205.

[0044] The transceiver 270 may be configured to transmit (e.g., via a transmitter (TX) radio 275) and receive (e.g., via a receiver (RX) radio 280) wireless signals through the antenna 273 via the RF front end 290. In some aspects, the transceiver 270 may be adjusted to operate at a specified frequency so that the base station 105 can communicate with, for example, the UE 115. In some aspects, for example, the modem 220 may be configured to configure the transceiver 270 to operate at a specified frequency and power level based on the configuration of the base station 105 and the communication protocol used by the modem 220.

[0045] The base station 105 of FIG. 2 may further include a memory 202 for storing, among other things, a local version of the data and / or applications used in this specification, or one or more of the multiplexing components 240 and / or its sub-components executed by the processor 205. The memory 202 can include any type of computer-readable medium usable by a computer or processor 205, such as random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), tapes, magnetic disks, optical disks, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, and any combination thereof. In one aspect, for example, the memory 202 may be a computer-readable storage medium that stores one or more computer-executable codes that define one or more of the multiplexing components 240 and / or its sub-components. Additionally or alternatively, the base station 105 may include a bus 211 that couples one or more of the RF front end 290, transceiver 270, memory 202, or processor 205 and exchanges signaling information between each of the components and / or sub-components of the base station 105.

[0046] In one aspect, the processor 205 may correspond to one or more of the processors described in connection with the base station of FIG. 9. Similarly, the memory 202 may correspond to the memory described in connection with the base station of FIG. 9.

[0047] Referring to FIG. 3, a block diagram 300 is shown that includes a portion of a wireless communication system having a plurality of UEs 115 that communicate with a base station 105 via a communication link 125, where the base station 105 is also connected to a network 210. The UE 115 can be an example of a UE described in the present disclosure that is configured to receive and decode multiplexed communications of different CP types (e.g., communications that can overlap in the time domain). Additionally, the base station 105 can be an example of a base station described in the present disclosure (e.g., an eNB, gNB, other types of access points, etc. that provide one or more macro cells, small cells, etc.) that is configured to multiplex and transmit communications using different CP types that can correspond to different communication timelines.

[0048] In one aspect, the UE 115 of FIG. 3 can include one or more processors 305 and / or a memory 302 that operate in combination with a communication component 340 to implement the functions, methods (e.g., method 500 of FIG. 5), etc. presented in the present disclosure. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the communication component 340 can include one or more components for receiving and decoding multiplexed communications having different CP types. For example, the communication component 340 can include a slot format determination component 342 for determining a received communication slot format associated with a first CP type and / or a slot format derivation component 344 for deriving a received communication slot format associated with a second CP type. In one example, the communication component 340 can receive and decode communications received according to the first and second CP types.

[0049] One or more processors 305 can include a modem 320 that uses one or more modem processors. Various functions related to the communication component 340 and / or its sub-components may be included in the modem 320 and / or the processor 305. In some aspects, they can be executed by a single processor, while in other aspects, different functions among the multiple functions may be executed by a combination of two or more different processors. For example, in some aspects, one or more processors 305 can include any one or any combination of a modem processor, or a baseband processor, or a digital signal processor, or a transmission processor, or a transceiver processor related to the transceiver 370, or a system-on-chip (SoC). In particular, one or more processors 305 can execute the functions and components included in the communication component 340. In another example, the communication component 340 can operate in one or more communication layers, such as the physical layer or L1, the MAC layer or L2, the PDCP / RLC layer or L3, etc., for receiving communications with different CP types and receiving slot format indicators for communications related to one or more of the different CP types.

[0050] In some examples, each of the communication component 340 and the sub-components may comprise hardware, firmware, and / or software, and may be configured to execute code or implement instructions stored in a memory (e.g., a computer-readable storage medium such as the memory 302 described below). Further, in some aspects, the UE 115 of FIG. 3 may include, for example, an RF front end 390 and a transceiver 370 for receiving and transmitting wireless transmissions to and from the base station 105. The transceiver 370 may cooperate with the modem 320 to receive signals including packets (e.g., and / or one or more associated PDUs). The RF front end 390 may be connected to one or more antennas 373 and may include one or more switches 392, one or more amplifiers (e.g., PA 394 and / or LNA 391), and one or more filters 393 for transmitting and receiving RF signals on the uplink and downlink channels. In some aspects, the components of the RF front end 390 can be connected to the transceiver 370. The transceiver 370 may be connected to one or more of the modem 320 and the processor 305.

[0051] The transceiver 370 may be configured to transmit wireless signals (e.g., via the transmitter (TX) radio 375) and receive (e.g., via the receiver (RX) radio 380) through the antenna 373 via the RF front end 390. In some aspects, the transceiver 370 may be adjusted to operate at a specified frequency so that the UE 115 can communicate with, for example, the base station 105. In some aspects, for example, the modem 320 can be configured to configure the transceiver 370 to operate at a specified frequency and power level based on the configuration of the UE 115 and the communication protocol used by the modem 320.

[0052] UE 115 of FIG. 3 may further include a memory 302 for storing, among other things, local versions of data and / or applications used herein, or one or more of the communication components 340 and / or their sub-components being executed by the processor 305. The memory 302 can include any type of computer-readable medium usable by a computer or processor 305, such as RAM, ROM, tape, magnetic disk, optical disk, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, and any combination thereof. In one aspect, for example, the memory 302 can be a computer-readable storage medium storing one or more computer-executable codes defining one or more of the communication components 340 and / or their sub-components. Additionally or alternatively, the UE 115 may include a bus 311 coupling one or more of the RF front end 390, transceiver 370, memory 302, or processor 305 to exchange signaling information among the components and / or sub-components of the UE 115.

[0053] In one aspect, the processor 305 may correspond to one or more of the processors described in connection with the UE of FIG. 9. Similarly, the memory 302 may correspond to the memory described in connection with the UE of FIG. 9.

[0054] FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of an example of a method 400 for multiplexing communications (e.g., by a base station) having different CP types. In one example, the UE may include corresponding components of FIG. 2 for performing the functions described in method 400 and / or for multiplexing communications having different CP types.

[0055] Optionally, in block 402, a first slot format for a first CP type can be determined. In some aspects, the slot format indication component 242 can determine the first slot format for the first CP type, for example, together with the processor 205, the memory 202, the transceiver 270, the multiplexing component 240, etc. For example, the slot format indication component 242 can select the first slot format based on one or more parameters related to communication with the UE 115, such as signal strength or quality, the load at the base station 105, the buffer status report from the UE 115 indicating the amount of data to be transmitted, the quality of service (QoS), the bit rate, or other performance metrics for one or more links or bearers. For example, the slot format can correspond to defining the number and / or pattern of symbols in a slot for a communication direction (e.g., downlink, uplink, etc.). The slot format can also include one or more flexible symbols that can be dynamically configured for downlink or uplink communication. In one example, a wireless technology such as 5G NR can define the number of slot formats that specify the number and / or pattern of downlink, uplink, or flexible symbols in a slot.

[0056] For example, FIG. 6 shows examples of slot formats 600 and 610 defined in 5G NR for normal CP. For example, slot format 600 includes three downlink symbols, followed by eight flexible symbols, followed by three uplink symbols, for a total of 14 symbols in the slot. In another example, slot format 610 includes two downlink symbols, followed by one flexible symbol, followed by four uplink symbols, followed by two downlink symbols, followed by one flexible symbol, followed by four uplink symbols, for a total of 14 symbols in the slot. In one example, the slot format indication component 242 may select a slot format for a first CP type (e.g., normal CP) based on one or more slot formats defined in a wireless communication technology such as 5G NR.

[0057] Optionally, in block 404, an indicator for the first slot format may be transmitted. In some aspects, the slot format indication component 242 may transmit an indicator of the first slot format, for example, together with the processor 205, the memory 202, the transceiver 270, the multiplexing component 240, etc. For example, the slot format indication component 242 may use the indicator in the configuration or associated signaling, such as in the downlink control information (DCI) in the downlink control channel (e.g., PDCCH), to transmit the indicator to one or more UEs 115. Moreover, in some examples, the slot format indication component 242 may determine and / or indicate the communication direction (e.g., downlink or uplink) for the flexible symbols of the slot in a separate configuration. As described, the slot format indication component 242 may determine and / or transmit the indicator in a semi-static, dynamic, etc. manner when the selected format may be UE-specific, group-specific, etc. For example, the slot format indication component 242 may transmit the slot format or related indicator in a radio resource control (RRC) signal, dedicated control channel communication, etc. In one example, the slot format indication component 242 may be able to indicate an initial slot format, and the initial slot format may be overridden with a new slot format during dynamic signaling.

[0058] Optionally, in block 406, a second slot format for a second CP type may be derived based on the first slot format. In some aspects, the slot format derivation component 244 may derive a second slot format for a second CP type based on the first slot format, for example, together with the processor 205, the memory 202, the transceiver 270, the multiplexing component 240, etc. As further described herein, this may include interpolating from the first slot format to the second slot format such that one or more symbols are defined in the second slot format for communication such as downlink, uplink, flexible, etc., based on how symbols are defined in the first slot format. In another example, this may include selecting a slot format for a second CP type that is shown (or otherwise mapped) to match something such as the first slot format for a first CP type. In the latter example, the base station 105 may include a mapping (e.g., stored in the memory 202) between a slot format for a first CP type (e.g., normal CP) that can be used to multiplex communication and a slot format for a second CP type (e.g., extended CP).

[0059] Moreover, for example, the CP type may have different numerologies and thus may be associated with different timelines for communication. For example, in 5G NR, communication resources may be defined as a set of frequency resources (e.g., multiple subcarriers) over a set of time resources (e.g., multiple OFDM symbols). In one example, in 5G NR, a slot may be defined to include multiple OFDM symbols each having a number of subcarriers determined based on the subcarrier spacing, and the number of OFDM symbols in a slot may be determined at least in part based on the CP type (e.g., normal CP, extended CP, etc.) used for the slot. In one example, 5G NR may support OFDM symbol level time division multiplexing of different CP types as described herein. The allocation of OFDM symbols in each numerology or CP type may be based on the corresponding OFDM symbol grid, which is defined every 0.5 milliseconds (ms) and may be repeated every 0.5 ms.

[0060] For example, for subcarrier spacing SCS NCP =2 μNCP ·15 [kHz], the normal CP symbol grid may be defined as follows.

[0061]

Number

[0062] In another example, for subcarrier spacing SCS ECP =2 μECP ·15 [kHz], the extended CP symbol grid may be defined as follows.

[0063]

Number

[0064] In 5G NR, for example, it may be assumed that the same subcarrier spacing (SCS) is configured for different CP types (e.g., μ NCP = μ ECP ), but it may also be possible to configure different SCSs for different CP types. In one example, uplink and downlink communications for any CP type may well use different SCSs within a slot, and / or different CP types may use different SCSs within a slot. Further, sub-band level frequency division multiplexing of different CP types may be used. In any case, in order to determine symbol alignment within a slot and the corresponding slot format, it may be desirable for coexistence between these signals in 5G NR and normal / extended CP LTE signals to use a symbol grid as defined above for normal CP and extended CP type communications.

[0065] For example, since different CP types may have different numbers of symbols per slot (e.g., and thus may be associated with different timelines for a given slot), symbol boundaries may not align, and the derivation of slot formats where the communication directions match (or approximately match) may well be based on logic to resolve possible collisions, where symbols for one CP type overlap with symbols for the other CP type having different communication directions (e.g., downlink, uplink, flexible, etc.). In one example, the slot format derivation component 244 may use this logic to derive the slot format for a second CP type based on the slot format for a first CP type, or the slot formats may be associated during configuration, and the association may be based on logic.

[0066] An example is shown in FIG. 6, which shows slot formats 600, 610 for normal CP and corresponding slot formats 602, 612 for extended CP, which may be defined as corresponding to slot formats 600, 610. As shown, slot formats 600, 610 may be defined based on a numerology of 14 OFDM symbols per slot (e.g., for normal CP), and may correspond to slot formats 27 and 55 defined in 5G NR, respectively. Further, for example, slot formats 602, 612 may be defined based on a numerology of 12 OFDM symbols per slot (e.g., for extended CP). In the illustrated example, slot formats 600, 602 may have a certain level of consistency (or may be said to match) such that at least some symbols in slot format 600 having a particular communication direction (e.g., downlink, uplink, or flexible) overlap with at least some other symbols in slot format 602 having the same communication direction in the time domain. Similarly, slot formats 610, 612 may similarly have a certain level of consistency. In one example, slot formats 600, 602 may be defined for use in 5G NR communication and may be associated with each other as corresponding slot formats (and similarly, slot formats 610, 612) during configuration. In another example, however, slot format derivation component 244 may interpolate slot format 602 for extended CP based on the determined slot format determined and / or indicated by slot format indication component 242. The interpolation may be performed based on a set of rules, which may be configured, for example, at base station 105 or UE 115 and provided from base station 105 to UE 115 during configuration, etc. Using rules to determine slot formats, for example, can help avoid severe inter-symbol / inter-carrier interference during communication.

[0067] Figure 7 shows a partial slot format that illustrates an example of a rule for determining the communication direction of symbols in an extended CP slot format based on a determined or indicated normal CP slot format. For example, as shown in 700, when two downlink symbols in the normal CP slot format overlap with symbols in the extended CP slot format, the symbols in the extended CP slot format can be interpolated as downlink symbols. For example, as shown in 702, when two uplink symbols in the normal CP slot format overlap with symbols in the extended CP slot format, the symbols in the extended CP slot format can be interpolated as uplink symbols.

[0068] For example, when a downlink symbol and an adjacent flexible symbol in the normal CP slot format overlap with symbols in the extended CP slot format, the symbols in the extended CP slot format can be interpolated as downlink symbols as shown in 704, or as flexible symbols as shown in 706. Similarly, for example, when an uplink symbol and an adjacent flexible symbol in the normal CP slot format overlap with symbols in the extended CP slot format, the symbols in the extended CP slot format can be interpolated as uplink symbols as shown in 708, or as flexible symbols as shown in 710. In one example, the rule for determining whether a symbol in the extended slot format is downlink / uplink or flexible can be based on one or more measurable criteria, such as a portion of the symbols in the normal CP slot format that overlap with the symbols in the extended CP slot format (e.g., if more of the downlink / uplink symbols in the normal CP slot format than flexible symbols overlap with the symbols in the extended CP format, the symbols in the extended CP format can be interpolated as downlink / uplink).

[0069] In another example, when the downlink symbol and the adjacent uplink symbol in the normal CP slot format overlap with the symbols in the extended CP slot format, the symbols in the extended CP slot format can be interpolated as the downlink symbol as shown in 712, the uplink symbol as shown in 714, or the reserved symbol as shown in 716 (e.g., if the reserved symbol can indicate that any transmission or reception through the symbol is prohibited). In one example, the rules for determining whether the symbols in the extended slot format are downlink, uplink, or reserved can indicate one or more measurable criteria such as a portion of the symbols in the normal CP slot format that overlap with the symbols in the extended CP slot format, interference criteria, etc., or can be based on one or more measurable criteria. In any case, in one specific example, the slot format derivation component 244 can derive the slot format 602 from the slot format 600 and / or can use a set of rules to derive the slot format 612 based on the slot format 610. In any case, the derived slot format for the second CP (e.g., extended CP) can have at least some level of consistency with the first slot format for the first CP (e.g., normal CP) such that at least some overlapping symbols can have at least some time portion with the same communication direction (or one or more reserved symbols through which communication is not permitted). Thereby, transmissions from the base station (or from the UE) based separately on the first CP and the second CP can be multiplexed and / or otherwise coexist in the slot. In one example, the base station 105 can configure the UE 115 (e.g., by the multiplexing component 240) with one or more rules or some indication regarding one or more rules (e.g., by RRC or upper layer signaling) such that the UE 115 can indeed derive the second slot format based on the first slot format as well.In this example, the rule may be UE-specific and based on the indicated UE capabilities (e.g., indicated by RRC or upper layer signaling), etc.

[0070] Referring back to FIG. 4, optionally, at block 408, an indicator for a second slot format may be transmitted. In one aspect, the slot format derivation component 244 may transmit an indicator for the second slot format, for example, together with the processor 205, the memory 202, the transceiver 270, the multiplexing component 240, etc. For example, the slot format derivation component 244 may use the indicator in the configuration or associated signaling, such as in the downlink control information (DCI) in the downlink control channel (e.g., PDCCH), in a value map having values indicating the communication direction for each symbol in the second slot format, etc., to transmit the indicator to one or more UEs 115.

[0071] In method 400, at block 410, a first communication based on a first CP type and a second communication based on a second CP type may be multiplexed within a slot. In one aspect, multiplexing component 240 may multiplex, within a slot, a first communication based on a first CP type and a second communication based on a second CP type, for example, together with processor 205, memory 202, transceiver 270, etc. As described, the first communication may be prepared for transmission in a symbol having an appropriate communication direction (e.g., downlink for transmission to base station 105 or uplink for transmission to UE 115), based on a first slot format and a timeline associated with the first CP. Similarly, the second communication may be prepared for transmission in a symbol having an appropriate communication direction (e.g., downlink for transmission to base station 105 or uplink for transmission to UE 115), based on a second slot format and a timeline associated with the second CP. The first and second communications may be multiplexed for transmission within the same slot. In one example, the first and second communications may overlap in the time domain within the slot, and the corresponding symbols may be associated with the same communication direction based on a defined slot format.

[0072] In method 400, at block 412, within a slot, the first communication may be transmitted based on a first timeline, and the second communication may be transmitted based on a second timeline. In one aspect, multiplexing component 240 may transmit, within a slot, the first communication based on the first timeline and the second communication based on the second timeline, for example, together with processor 205, memory 202, transceiver 270, etc. In this regard, the first and second communications may be transmitted in symbols of the first and second timelines, respectively, that may occur within the same slot. Further, as described, base station 105 may include components for further receiving, within a slot, the multiplexed first communication (based on the first CP type) and the second communication (based on the second CP type) from UE 115.

[0073] In one example, transmitting the first and second communications at block 412 may optionally include, at block 414, defining one or more time gaps between the first communication and the second communication. In one aspect, multiplexing component 240 may define one or more time gaps between the first communication and the second communication, for example, together with processor 205, memory 202, transceiver 270, etc. For example, multiplexing component 240 may define one or more time gaps during which communication is prohibited to align the first communication to a first timeline (e.g., at the symbol boundary of the first timeline) and / or the second communication to a second timeline (e.g., at the symbol boundary of the second timeline) to minimize the occurrence of colliding symbol directions in their respective slot formats. An example is shown in FIG. 8.

[0074] FIG. 8 shows an example of a timeline 800 for communicating based on a first timeline for normal CP type (including 14 OFDM symbols) and a second timeline for extended CP type (including 12 OFDM symbols). In this example, after transmitting extended CP (ECP) control 802 and ECP data 804 during the first three symbols of the extended CP timeline, multiplexing component 240 may define a time gap (e.g., guard time 806) before transmitting normal CP (NCP) communication 808 to align communication 808 at the fifth symbol of the NCP timeline with NCP communication 810 at the seventh symbol. As shown, the time gap may include fragments of OFDM symbols aligned to the next OFDM symbol boundary on one timeline or the other. Similarly, multiplexing component 240 may define a time gap (e.g., guard time 812) before transmitting additional ECP data 814 to align ECP data 814 to the tenth symbol of the ECP timeline.

[0075] FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of an example of a method 500 for receiving and / or decoding communications having different CP types (e.g., by a UE). In one example, a base station may include corresponding components of FIG. 3 to perform the functions described in method 500 and / or receive and decode multiplexed communications having different CP types.

[0076] In method 500, optionally, at block 502, a first slot format indicator may be received. In one aspect, a slot format determination component 342 may receive the first slot format indicator, for example, together with a processor 305, a memory 302, a transceiver 370, a communication component 340, etc. For example, the slot format determination component 342 may receive the first slot format indicator from the configuration during control channel communication (e.g., from base station 105). In one example, as described, the indicator may be a value indicated in the configuration, and the value may correspond to a slot format defined in 5G NR (e.g., slot format 27 or 55 as shown in FIG. 6). In another example, the indicator may include a value map where each value indicates whether the corresponding symbol in the slot is downlink, uplink, flexible, etc. As described, the slot format determination component 342 may receive or otherwise determine the indicator semi-statically, dynamically, etc. (e.g., in RRC signaling, dedicated control signaling, etc.) when the selected format may be UE-specific, group-specific, etc.

[0077] In method 500, optionally, at block 504, a first slot format for a first CP type may be determined based on a first slot format indicator. In one aspect, a slot format determination component 342 may determine a first slot format for a first CP type based on the first slot format indicator, together with, for example, processor 305, memory 302, transceiver 370, communication component 340, etc. For example, the slot format determination component 342 may determine the communication direction (e.g., downlink, uplink, flexible, etc.) for each symbol in the slot based on the slot format indicator. Further, in one example, the slot format determination component 342 may determine communication for flexible symbols based on a separate configuration (e.g., from base station 105, etc.). The symbols may be aligned with a symbol grid corresponding to the first CP type (e.g., based on the number of symbols configured for the first CP type).

[0078] In method 500, optionally, at block 506, a second slot format may be derived. In some embodiments, a slot format derivation component 344 may derive the second slot format, for example, together with processor 305, memory 302, transceiver 370, communication component 340, etc. For example, the slot format derivation component 344 may derive the second slot format based on the first slot format (e.g., based on one or more rules described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7). In one example, in this regard, the base station 105 and the UE 115 may use the same or similar set of rules to derive the second slot format based on the first slot format so that the base station 105 and the UE 115 indeed derive the same slot format, as described above. In one example, the slot format derivation component 344 may receive a set of rules, or some indicator regarding the set of rules, from the base station 105 (e.g., by RRC or upper layer signaling). In one example, in this regard, the set of rules may be UE-specific and / or based on the indicated UE capabilities (e.g., indicated by RRC or upper layer signaling). In another example, the slot format derivation component 344 may derive the second slot format based on a separate slot format indicator configured for the second slot format (e.g., received in a configuration from the base station 105, the configuration may include a value indicating the format, a value map indicating the communication direction for each symbol in the slot, etc.).

[0079] Furthermore, the first slot format is suitable for communications using the first CP type, and the second slot format is suitable for communications using the second CP type. Moreover, in this regard, the first slot format may be based on a first timeline associated with the first CP type, and the second slot format may be based on a second timeline associated with the second CP type, and the first and second timelines may differ based on having different numbers of symbols per slot. The symbols may be aligned with a symbol grid corresponding to the second CP type (e.g., based on the number of symbols configured for the second CP type). As described, the symbol grids for the first and second CP types may be aligned within a slot. In any case, the UE and the base station can communicate based on the determined symbol locations and communication directions.

[0080] For example, this may include receiving a first communication in block 508 according to a first slot format based on the first timeline and / or the first CP type. In one aspect, communication component 340 may receive a first communication (e.g., a transmission from base station 105) according to a first slot format based on the first timeline and / or the first CP type (e.g., based on determining that the symbol is a downlink symbol for the first CP type), together with, for example, processor 305, memory 302, transceiver 370, etc. As described, the first slot format for the first CP type may include symbols having a specified communication direction, and communication component 340 may receive the first communication within symbols having an appropriate communication direction (e.g., downlink for a UE receiving a signal, or uplink for a base station receiving a signal).

[0081] Communicating based on the determined symbol location and communication direction may also include, at block 510, receiving a second communication according to a second slot format based on a second timeline and / or a second CP type, where the second communication is multiplexed in the same slot as the first communication. In one aspect, communication component 340 may receive a second communication (e.g., another transmission) according to a second slot format based on a second timeline and / or a second CP type (e.g., based on determining that a symbol is a downlink symbol for the second CP type), with, for example, processor 305, memory 302, transceiver 370, etc. The second communication may be multiplexed in the same slot as the first communication as described, and thus may be transmitted in symbols of each timeline having the same communication direction (e.g., downlink for a UE receiving a signal or uplink for a base station receiving a signal). As described, the second slot format for the second CP type may include symbols having a designated communication direction, and the symbols may overlap in time with symbols of the first slot format having the same designated communication direction. Thus, communication component 340 can receive the first communication in a first symbol according to the first timeline and the second communication in a second symbol according to the second timeline, which may have the same communication direction and / or may overlap in the time domain or otherwise (e.g., downlink for a UE receiving a signal or uplink for a base station receiving a signal). In one example, communication component 340 may receive first and second communications that are the subject of one or more time gaps, as described with reference to FIG. 8, such that the communications can be separated so that they can align with appropriate symbol boundaries for the timelines associated with them, based on the CP type associated with them. Further, as described, UE 115 may include components for further transmitting, within a slot, a multiplexed first communication (based on a first CP type) and a second communication (based on a second CP type) to base station 105.

[0082] In method 500, at block 512, the first communication may be decoded based on the first length of the first CP type, and at block 514, the second communication may be decoded based on the second length of the second CP type. In one aspect, communication component 340 can decode the first communication based on the first length of the first CP type, for example, together with processor 305, memory 302, transceiver 370, etc., and can decode the second communication based on the second length of the second CP type. For example, communication component 340 may use the appropriate length of a given CP to verify the received signal from the beginning of the signal and / or to determine missing data based on the data at the end of the signal corresponding to the CP length.

[0083] FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a MIMO communication system 900 including base station 105 and UE 115. MIMO communication system 900 may illustrate aspects of wireless communication system 100 described with reference to FIG. 1. Base station 105 may be an example of the aspects of base station 105 described with reference to FIGS. 1-3. Base station 105 may include antennas 934 and 935, and UE 115 may include antennas 952 and 953. In MIMO communication system 900, base station 105 may be capable of simultaneously sending data via multiple communication links. Each communication link may be referred to as a "layer", and the "rank" of a communication link may indicate the number of layers used for the communication. For example, in a 2×2 MIMO communication system where base station 105 transmits two "layers", the rank of the communication link between base station 105 and UE 115 is 2.

[0084] At base station 105, a transmission (Tx) processor 920 can receive data from a data source. The transmission processor 920 can process the data. The transmission processor 920 can also generate control symbols or reference symbols. A transmission MIMO processor 930 can perform spatial processing (e.g., precoding) on data symbols, control symbols, or reference symbols when applicable, and can provide output symbol streams to transmission modulators / demodulators 932 and 933. Each modulator / demodulator 932 - 933 can process its respective output symbol stream (e.g., for OFDM, etc.) to obtain an output sample stream. Each modulator / demodulator 932 - 933 can further process the output sample stream (e.g., convert to analog, amplify, filter, upconvert) to obtain a DL signal. In one example, the DL signals from modulators / demodulators 932 and 933 can be transmitted via antennas 934 and 935, respectively.

[0085] UE115 may be an example of the aspects of UE115 described with reference to FIGS. 1 - 3. In UE115, UE antennas 952 and 953 can receive DL signals from base station 105 and can provide the received signals to modulators / demodulators 954 and 955, respectively. Each modulator / demodulator 954 - 955 can condition its respective received signal (e.g., filter, amplify, downconvert, digitize) to obtain input samples. Each modulator / demodulator 954 - 955 can further process the input samples (e.g., for OFDM, etc.) to obtain received symbols. A MIMO detector 956 can obtain the symbols received from modulators / demodulators 954 and 955, perform MIMO detection on the received symbols when applicable, and provide the detected symbols. A reception (Rx) processor 958 can process the detected symbols (e.g., demodulate, deinterleave, decode) and may provide the decoded data for UE115 to a data output, and may provide the decoded control information to processor 980 or memory 982.

[0086] In some cases, the processor 980 may execute stored instructions to instantiate the communication component 340 (see, e.g., FIGS. 1 and 3).

[0087] On the uplink (UL), at the UE 115, the transmit processor 964 may receive and process data from a data source. The transmit processor 964 may also generate reference symbols for reference signals. The symbols from the transmit processor 964 may be precoded by the transmit MIMO processor 966, if applicable, and further processed by the modulators / demodulators 954 and 955 (e.g., for SC-FDMA, etc.) and transmitted to the base station 105 according to the communication parameters received from the base station 105. At the base station 105, the UL signal from the UE 115 is received by the antennas 934 and 935, processed by the modulators / demodulators 932 and 933, detected by the MIMO detector 936, if applicable, and further processed by the receive processor 938. The receive processor 938 may provide the decoded data to the data output and to the processor 940 or the memory 942.

[0088] In some cases, the processor 940 may execute stored instructions to instantiate the multiplexing component 240 (see, e.g., FIGS. 1 and 2).

[0089] The components of UE115 may be implemented individually or collectively using one or more ASICs adapted to implement some or all of the applicable functions in hardware. Each of the modules mentioned may be a means for implementing one or more functions related to the operation of the MIMO communication system 900. Similarly, the components of base station 105 may be implemented individually or collectively using one or more ASICs adapted to implement some or all of the applicable functions in hardware. Each of the components mentioned may be a means for implementing one or more functions related to the operation of the MIMO communication system 900.

[0090] The detailed description set forth above in connection with the accompanying drawings is illustrative in nature and not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the claims to the precise forms disclosed. The term "exemplary" when used herein means "serving as an example, instance, or illustration" and does not mean "preferred" or "advantageous over other examples." The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing an understanding of the described techniques. However, the techniques may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of the example being described.

[0091] Information and signals may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referenced throughout the above description may be represented by voltage, current, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or magnetic particles, optical fields or optical particles, computer-executable code or instructions stored on a computer-readable medium, or any combination thereof.

[0092] The various illustrative blocks and components described in connection with the present disclosure may be implemented or performed using, without limitation, a processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an ASIC, an FPGA or other programmable logic device, discrete gates or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof specially programmed to perform the functions described herein. The specially programmed processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. The specially programmed processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.

[0093] The functions described in this specification may be implemented in hardware, software executed by a processor, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software executed by a processor, the functions may be stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium as one or more instructions or code, or may be transmitted via a non-transitory computer-readable medium. Other examples and implementations are within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure and the appended claims. For example, due to the nature of software, the functions described above may be implemented using software, hardware, firmware, hardwiring, or any combination thereof, executed by a specially programmed processor. The features implementing the functions may also be physically located in various positions, including being distributed such that portions of the functions are implemented at different physical locations. Also, as used herein, including within the claims, "or" as used in an enumeration of items ending with "at least one of" indicates a disjunctive enumeration such that, for example, an enumeration such as "at least one of A, B, or C" means A or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (i.e., A and B and C).

[0094] A computer-readable medium includes both computer storage media and computer communication media including any medium that can facilitate transfer of a computer program from one location to another. The storage media can be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer. By way of example, and not limitation, computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code means in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer or a general purpose or special purpose processor. Also, any connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of the medium. As used herein, the terms “disk” and “disc” include compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk, and Blu-ray disc, where a disk typically magnetically reproduces data and a disc optically reproduces data using a laser. Combinations of the above are also included within the scope of computer-readable media.

[0095] The foregoing description of the disclosure is provided to enable a person skilled in the art to make or use the disclosure. Various modifications to the disclosure will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other variations without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Further, although the elements of the described aspects and / or embodiments may be described or claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated unless an explicit limitation to the contrary is stated. Additionally, all or part of any aspect and / or embodiment may be utilized with all or part of any other aspect and / or embodiment, unless otherwise described. Accordingly, the disclosure should not be limited to the examples and designs described herein, but should be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0096] 100 Wireless communication system 105 Base station 110 Geographic coverage area 115 UE 125 Communication link 130 Core network 132 Backhaul link 134 Backhaul link 200 Block diagram 202 Memory 205 Processor 210 Network 211 Bus 220 Modem 240 Multiplexing component 242 Slot format indication component 244 Slot format derivation component 270 Transceiver 273 Antenna 275 Transmitter (TX) radio 280 Receiver (RX) radio 290 Radio frequency (RF) front end 291 Low noise amplifier 292 Switch 293 Filter 294 Power Amplifier (PA) 300 Block Diagram 302 Memory 305 Processor 311 Bus 320 Modem 340 Communication Component 342 Slot Format Judgment Component 344 Slot Format Derivation Component 370 Transceiver 373 Antenna 375 Transmitter (TX) Wireless 380 Receiver (RX) Wireless 390 RF Front End 391 LNA 392 Switch 393 Filter 394 PA 400 Method 500 Method 600 Slot Format 602 Slot Format 610 Slot Format 612 Slot Format 800 Timeline 802 Extended CP Control 804 ECP Data 806 Guard Time 808 Normal CP Communication 810 NCP Communication 812 Guard Time 814 ECP Data 900 MIMO Communication System 920 Transmit (Tx) Processor 930 Transmit MIMO Processor 932 Transmit Modulator / Demodulator, Modulator / Demodulator 933 Transmit Modulator / Demodulator, Modulator / Demodulator 934 Antenna 935 Antenna 936 MIMO Detector 938 Receiver Processor 940 Processor 942 Memory 952 Antenna, UE Antenna 953 Antenna, UE Antenna 954 Modulator / Demodulator 955 Modulator / Demodulator 956 MIMO Detector 958 Receiver (Rx) Processor 964 Transmitter Processor 966 Transmit MIMO Processor 980 Processor 982 Memory

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication, comprising: Receiving a first slot format indicator indicating a first slot format for communication of a first cyclic prefix (CP) type, wherein the first slot format indicates a communication direction for each of a first set of a plurality of symbols; Receiving a first communication according to a first timeline in one or more of the first set of a plurality of symbols indicated in the first slot format as downlink symbols, wherein the first timeline is associated with the first CP type; Receiving a second communication according to a second timeline associated with the second CP type in one or more of a second set of determined symbols as downlink symbols based on a second slot format for communication of a second CP type, wherein the second slot format is based on the first slot format and indicates a communication direction for each of the second set of one or more symbols, the second CP type has a smaller number of symbols than the first CP type, and the first CP type and the second CP type are associated with different timelines; Decoding the first communication according to a first length of the first CP type; Decoding the second communication according to a second length of the second CP type; One or more first slot format downlink symbols assigned for receiving downlink communication in the first slot format at least partially overlap in the time domain with one or more second slot format downlink symbols in the second slot format; One or more first slot format uplink symbols assigned for transmitting uplink communication in the first slot format at least partially overlap in the time domain with one or more second slot format uplink symbols in the second slot format a step of determining the second slot format to conform to the first slot format as described above A method comprising the above steps. **Claim 2** The method according to claim 1, wherein the communication direction for each symbol in the first set of a plurality of symbols and each symbol in the second set of a plurality of symbols is one of uplink, downlink, or flexible. **Claim 3** The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of receiving the slot format indicator includes receiving the slot format indicator in radio resource control signaling from a base station. **Claim 4** The method according to claim 1, wherein the second slot format is further based on receiving a second slot format indicator from a base station. **Claim 5** The method according to claim 1, wherein the second slot format is interpolated from the first slot format based on the second timeline. **Claim 6** The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving a configuration including one or more rules for interpolating the second slot format, and the second slot format is at least partially based on the one or more rules. **Claim 7** The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first slot format or the second slot format includes one or more guard periods between a first symbol in the first timeline and a second symbol in the second timeline, during which communication is prohibited according to at least one of the first slot format or the second slot format. **Claim 8** The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving a second slot format indicator from which the second slot format is derived. **Claim 9** a step of decoding the first communication based on a first subcarrier spacing associated with the first CP type; and a step of decoding the second communication based on a second subcarrier spacing associated with the second CP type, wherein the first subcarrier spacing is different from the second subcarrier spacing. **Claim 10** A method for wireless communication, comprising Transmitting a first slot format indicator indicating a first slot format for communication of a first cyclic prefix (CP) type, wherein the first slot format indicates a communication direction for each of a first set of a plurality of symbols; Transmitting a first communication according to a first timeline corresponding to the first CP type and the first slot format; Transmitting a second communication according to a second timeline corresponding to a second CP type and a second slot format, wherein the second slot format is based on the first slot format and indicates a communication direction for each of a second set of one or more symbols, the second CP type has a smaller number of symbols than the first CP type, and the first CP type and the second CP type are associated with different timelines; One or more first slot format downlink symbols allocated for receiving downlink communication in the first slot format at least partially overlap in the time domain with one or more second slot format downlink symbols in the second slot format; One or more first slot format uplink symbols allocated for transmitting uplink communication in the first slot format at least partially overlap in the time domain with one or more second slot format uplink symbols in the second slot format; Determining the second slot format to be compatible with the first slot format, the method comprising: Claim 11 The method according to claim 10, wherein the communication direction for each symbol in the first set of a plurality of symbols and each symbol in the second set of a plurality of symbols is one of uplink, downlink, or flexible. Claim 12 The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of transmitting the slot format indicator includes transmitting the slot format indicator in radio resource control signaling. Claim 13 The method according to claim 10, wherein the second slot format is further based on transmitting a second slot format indicator. [

14. ] An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising: a transceiver; a memory configured to store instructions; and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory, the one or more processors being: receiving a first slot format indicator indicating a first slot format for communication of a first cyclic prefix (CP) type, wherein the first slot format indicates a communication direction for each of a first set of a plurality of symbols; receiving a first communication according to a first timeline in one or more of the first set of a plurality of symbols indicated in the first slot format as downlink symbols, the first timeline being associated with the first CP type; receiving a second communication according to a second timeline associated with the second CP type in one or more of a second set of determined symbols as downlink symbols based on a second slot format for communication of a second CP type, wherein the second slot format is based on the first slot format and indicates a communication direction for each of the second set of one or more symbols, the second CP type has a smaller number of symbols than the first CP type, and the first CP type and the second CP type are each associated with a different timeline; decoding the first communication according to a first length of the first CP type; decoding the second communication according to a second length of the second CP type; and one or more first slot format downlink symbols assigned for receiving downlink communication in the first slot format at least partially overlap in the time domain with one or more second slot format downlink symbols in the second slot format. One or more first slot format uplink symbols allocated for transmitting uplink communication in the first slot format overlap at least partially in the time domain with one or more second slot format uplink symbols in the second slot format. To determine the second slot format that conforms to the first slot format An apparatus configured to perform.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the communication direction for each symbol in the first set of a plurality of symbols and each symbol in the second set of a plurality of symbols is one of uplink, downlink, or flexible.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the one or more processors are configured to receive the slot format indicator in radio resource control signaling from a base station.

17. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the second slot format is further based on receiving a second slot format indicator from a base station.

18. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the second slot format is interpolated from the first slot format based on the second timeline.

19. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to receive a configuration including one or more rules for interpolating the second slot format, and the second slot format is at least partially based on the one or more rules.

20. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein at least one of the first slot format or the second slot format includes one or more guard periods between a first symbol in the first timeline and a second symbol in the second timeline, during which communication is prohibited according to at least one of the first slot format or the second slot format.

21. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to receive a second slot format indicator from which the second slot format is derived.

22. The one or more processors are configured to decode the first communication based on a first sub-carrier spacing associated with the first CP type, and further configured to decode the second communication based on a second sub-carrier spacing associated with the second CP type, wherein the first sub-carrier spacing is different from the second sub-carrier spacing, the apparatus according to claim 14. **Claim 23** An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising: a transceiver; a memory configured to store instructions; and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory, the one or more processors being configured to: transmit a first slot format indicator indicating a first slot format for communication of a first cyclic prefix (CP) type, the first slot format indicating a communication direction for each of a first set of a plurality of symbols; transmit a first communication according to a first timeline corresponding to the first CP type and the first slot format; transmit a second communication according to a second timeline corresponding to a second CP type and a second slot format, the second slot format being based on the first slot format and indicating a communication direction for each of a second set of one or more symbols, the second CP type having a smaller number of symbols than the first CP type, and the first CP type and the second CP type being associated with different timelines; one or more first slot format downlink symbols allocated for receiving downlink communication in the first slot format at least partially overlap in the time domain with one or more second slot format downlink symbols in the second slot format; one or more first slot format uplink symbols allocated for transmitting uplink communication in the first slot format at least partially overlap in the time domain with one or more second slot format uplink symbols in the second slot format An apparatus configured to determine the second slot format to conform to the first slot format as described above. **Claim 24** The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the communication direction for each symbol in the first set of a plurality of symbols and each symbol in the second set of a plurality of symbols is one of uplink, downlink, or flexible. **Claim 25** The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the one or more processors are configured to transmit the slot format indicator in radio resource control signaling. **Claim 26** The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the second slot format is further based on transmitting a second slot format indicator.

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