Sub-band full duplex resource and user equipment configuration method

Abstract

To provide a method for setting subband full duplex (SBFD) resources applied to user equipment (UE).SOLUTION: A method includes: receiving a first configuration from a network device, where the first configuration indicates a plurality of transmission directions for a time period; receiving a second configuration from the network device, where the second configuration indicates at least one SBFD resource within the time period; and performing a communication operation with the network device according to the first configuration and the second configuration.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates generally to communication mechanisms, and more particularly to a method for configuring sub-band full duplex (SBFD) resources and user equipment (UE). [Background technology]

[0002] The "sub-band full duplex" technology of 5G communication systems (such as New Radio (NR) systems) is an innovative method designed to improve spectral efficiency and communication capacity. SBFD technology divides the communication band into multiple sub-bands and realizes full duplex communication in these sub-bands. The entire communication spectrum is divided into multiple sub-bands, with some sub-bands used for downlink (DL) communication and others used for uplink (UL) communication. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] However, how SBFD resources are configured for communication needs to be defined for future applications. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] Therefore, the present invention relates to a method for configuring SBFD resources and UEs, which can be used to solve the above technical problems.

[0005] An embodiment of the present invention provides a subband full duplex (SBFD) resource configuration method applied to a user equipment (UE), the method including: receiving, by the UE, a first configuration from a network device, the first configuration indicating multiple transmission directions in a time period; receiving, by the UE, a second configuration from the network device, the second configuration indicating at least one SBFD resource in a time period; and performing, by the UE, a communication operation with the network device according to the first configuration and the second configuration.

[0006] An embodiment of the present invention provides a user equipment including a transceiver and a processor, wherein the processor is coupled to the transceiver and configured to: control the transceiver to receive a first configuration from a network device, the first configuration indicating a plurality of transmission directions over a time period; control the transceiver to receive a second configuration from the network device, the second configuration indicating at least one SBFD resource over a time period; and perform a communication operation with the network device according to the first configuration and the second configuration.

[0007] An embodiment of the present invention provides a sub-band full duplex (SBFD) resource configuration method applied to a network device, the method including: sending, by the network device, a first configuration to a user equipment (UE), the first configuration indicating multiple transmission directions in a time period; sending, by the network device, a second configuration to the UE, the second configuration indicating at least one SBFD resource in a time period; and performing, by the network device, a communication operation with the UE according to the first configuration and the second configuration. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] Based on the above, an embodiment of the present invention provides a solution for a UE and a network device to communicate with each other using SBFD resources configured by a higher layer configuration. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. [Figure 1A] A schematic diagram of implementing the SBFD concept is shown. [Figure 1B] 1 shows another schematic diagram implementing the SBFD concept. [Figure 2A]1 shows a first schematic diagram of possible interference problems when implementing SBFD techniques. [Figure 2B] 1 shows a second schematic diagram of possible interference issues when implementing SBFD techniques. [Figure 2C] 1 shows a third schematic diagram of a potential interference problem when implementing SBFD technology. [Figure 3] 1 shows a functional block diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] 1 shows a flowchart of a method for configuring SBFD resources according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 2 shows a schematic diagram of the transmission directions shown by a first configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 6] 1 shows a schematic diagram of a configuration of SBFD resources according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 7] 1 shows a schematic diagram of overwriting DL / flexible resources as SBFD resources according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 8] 1 shows a schematic diagram of the application of a bitmap display according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 9] 6 shows another schematic diagram of the transmission directions shown by the first configuration according to FIG. 5. [Figure 10] 1 shows a flowchart of a method for configuring SBFD resources according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] 1 shows a flowchart of a method for configuring SBFD resources according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] 1 shows a schematic diagram of an SBFD symbol according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13A] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of flexible symbol overwriting according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13B] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of overwriting DL symbols according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] 1 shows a flowchart of a method for configuring SBFD resources according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] 1 shows a flowchart of a method for configuring SBFD resources according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] 1 shows a schematic diagram of changing the transmission direction using DCI according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 17] 1 illustrates some cases according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of resources according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 19A] 1 shows a schematic diagram of constructing the symbol according to the first configuration, ignoring the second configuration. [Figure 19B] Ignoring the second configuration, a schematic diagram of configuring symbols according to DCI is shown. [Figure 20A] 1 shows a schematic diagram of UL subbands being changed to DL subbands according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 20B] 1 shows a schematic diagram of DL subbands being changed to UL subbands according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 21A] 1 shows a schematic diagram of constructing the symbol according to the first configuration, ignoring the second configuration. [Figure 21B] Ignoring the second configuration, a schematic diagram of configuring symbols according to DCI is shown. [Figure 22A] 1 shows a schematic diagram of DL subbands being changed to UL subbands according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 22B] 1 shows a schematic diagram of DL subbands being changed to UL subbands according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 23A] 1 shows a schematic diagram of constructing the symbol according to the first configuration, ignoring the second configuration. [Figure 23B] Ignoring the second configuration, a schematic diagram of configuring symbols according to DCI is shown. [Figure 24] 1 shows a schematic diagram of configuring SBFD resources according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 25] 1 shows a schematic diagram of configuring resources for legacy / advanced UE using DCI. [Figure 26] 1 shows a schematic diagram of configuring resources for legacy / advanced UE using DCI. [Figure 27]1 shows a schematic diagram of configuring resources using DCI according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 28] 1 shows a schematic diagram of configuring resources using DCI according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 29A] 1 shows a schematic diagram of configuring resources as SBFD resources using DCI. [Figure 29B] 1 shows a schematic diagram of configuring resources as SBFD resources using DCI. [Figure 29C] 1 shows a schematic diagram of configuring resources as SBFD resources using DCI. [Figure 30] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the application of control commands according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 31A] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the application of control commands according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 31B] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the application of control commands according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 32] 1 shows a schematic diagram of unavailable SBFD resources according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 33] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the application of control commands according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 34] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of handling missed control commands according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 35] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of handling missed control commands according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 36] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of handling missed control commands according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 37] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of handling missed control commands according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 38] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the application of a counter of control commands according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 39] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the application of a counter of control commands according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 40] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of implementing control commands as bitmaps according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 41] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of implementing control commands as bitmaps according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 42] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of implementing control commands as bitmaps according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 43] FIG. 43 shows a schematic diagram of implementing the control commands according to FIG. 42 as a bitmap. [Figure 44] 1 shows a flowchart of a method for configuring SBFD resources according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

[0011] The above full duplex can be implemented in a Time Division Duplex (TDD) scheme, more specifically, in a sub-band non-overlapping full duplex scheme on the gNB side within the conventional TDD band.

[0012] With the development of SBFD technology, it is expected that in the near future, both legacy UEs and SBFD-capable UEs will coexist in the same cell once SBFD is deployed. This will realize the benefits of SBFD-capable UEs, such as improved uplink coverage and improved uplink latency. Furthermore, legacy UEs will be able to operate in cells where SBFD is deployed without having to implement new Rel-18 features related to SBFD.

[0013] 1A shows a schematic diagram of implementing the concept of SBFD. In step 1 of FIG. 1A, a network device 10 (e.g., a base station such as a gNB) transmits a first higher layer configuration 11 (also referred to as a first configuration) to legacy UEs and advanced UEs. Here, legacy UEs may be UEs that cannot transmit and receive signals using SBFD resources, and advanced UEs (also referred to as SBFD-capable UEs) may be UEs that can transmit and receive signals using SBFD resources.

[0014] In Figure 1A, the first higher layer configuration 11 may be, for example, signaling "TDD-UL-DL-ConfigCommon," which may configure a specific resource (referred to as symbol #n in Figure 1A, where n is the index of the corresponding resource (e.g., symbol or slot)) as DL (denoted by "D"), in which case legacy UEs may perform data reception on symbol #n.

[0015] Further, in step 2 of FIG. 1A, the network device 11 can further send a second higher layer configuration 12 (also referred to as a second configuration), and the second higher layer configuration 12 can only be processed by the advanced UE.

[0016] In FIG. 1A, the second higher layer configuration 12 may be, for example, signaling of “SBFD-ConfigCommon”, which may further configure symbol #n as SBFD resources such as the first DL subband, UL subband, and second DL subband shown in FIG. 1A.

[0017] In the scenario of FIG. 1A, an advanced UE can be understood to be semi-statically configured with UL subbands in SBFD symbols configured as DL in TDD-UL-DL-ConfigCommon. In this case, the advanced UE must adhere to several principles: (1) UL transmissions in UL subbands may be allowed in a symbol; (2) UL transmissions outside of UL subbands are not allowed in a symbol; (3) the frequency locations of UL subbands may be known to the advanced UE, and the frequency locations of UL subbands may be explicitly indicated or implicitly derived; (4) the frequency locations of DL subbands may be known to the advanced UE, and the frequency locations of DL subbands may be explicitly indicated or implicitly derived; (5) DL receptions in DL subbands may be allowed in a symbol; and (6) DL receptions outside of DL subbands are not allowed in a symbol.

[0018] Figure 1B shows another schematic diagram of implementing the concept of SBFD. The scenario shown in Figure 1B is almost the same as the scenario shown in Figure 1A, except that the first higher layer configuration 11 from the network device 11 can flexibly configure symbol #n (represented by "F"). This means that legacy UEs can perform data transmission or data reception using symbol #n.

[0019] Next, similar to FIG. 1A, the network device 11 in FIG. 1B may further send a second higher layer configuration 12 to further configure symbol #n as an SBFD resource, and for related details, reference may be made to the description of FIG. 1A.

[0020] In some other examples, the network device 11 may also send a first upper layer configuration 11 for configuring the symbol #n to UL (represented by "U"), but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0021] FIG. 2A shows a first schematic diagram of interference issues that may arise when implementing SBFD techniques.

[0022] In FIG. 2A, there may be legacy operators A and C and SBFD operator B, and operators A, B, and C cannot share information with each other regarding, for example, TDD configurations, DL transmit (Tx) beams.

[0023] In this case, interference from operator A to operator B and interference from operator C to operator B may occur, and these types of interference are also known as adjacent channel interference or cross-link interference.

[0024] To address these interferences, gNBs may share their TDD configurations (UL and DL slot information) with each other. Alternatively, Operator B may disable SBFD operation and fall back to legacy operation, such as half-duplex TDD mode operation.

[0025] FIG. 2B shows a second schematic diagram of interference issues that may arise when implementing SBFD techniques.

[0026] In Figure 2B, gNB#A and gNB#B may belong to the same operator, which allows them to share TDD configurations (UL and DL slot information) with each other. Furthermore, gNB#A may correspond to a macrocell, and gNB#B may correspond to a microcell within this macrocell.

[0027] In the scenario of Figure 2B, the DL-UL resource configurations of gNB#A and gNB#B on channel #1 at different periods (e.g., slot #(n) and slot #(n+1)) may be exemplarily configured as shown.

[0028] Since gNB#A and gNB#B may use the same channel in the same slot, co-channel interference may occur between them.

[0029] FIG. 2C shows a third schematic diagram of interference issues that may arise when implementing SBFD techniques.

[0030] In Figure 2C, gNB#A and gNB#B may belong to the same operator, thereby allowing them to share DL Tx beams with each other. Furthermore, gNB#A may correspond to a macrocell, and gNB#B may correspond to a microcell within this macrocell.

[0031] In the scenario of Figure 2C, UE#1 and UE#2 can use their respective Tx beams for transmission, but because UE#1's Tx beam may not be separated from gNB#A's Tx beam, gNB#B can switch SBFD resources to all DL resources of UE#1.

[0032] On the other hand, since UE#2's Tx beam is separated from gNB#A's Tx beam, gNB#B can retain SBFD resources for UE#2.

[0033] FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] 3, the communications device 300 includes a transceiver 302 and a processor 304. The transceiver 302 may be configured to transmit and receive signals to and from other devices within its coverage area. The transceiver 302 may perform analog-to-digital signal conversion (ADC), digital-to-analog signal conversion (DAC), modulation, demodulation, signal amplification, low-pass filtering, and band-pass filtering. For example, the transceiver 302 may be configured to provide information about received signals to the processor 304, modulate data received from the processor 304 into a modulated signal, and transmit the modulated signal to other devices.

[0035] In some embodiments, the communications device 300 may further include other elements, such as an antenna module, for implementing the aforementioned functionality of the transceiver 302 and processor 304.

[0036] The processor 304 is coupled to the transceiver 302 and may be, for example, a general-purpose processor, a special-purpose processor, a conventional processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, a controller, a microcontroller, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) circuit, other types of integrated circuits (ICs), a state machine, etc.

[0037] In an embodiment of the present invention, the communication device 300 may be used to implement devices such as a UE (e.g., an advanced UE) and / or a network device (e.g., a gNB and / or other type of base station).

[0038] In an embodiment of the present invention, UE transmission / reception may be performed by a processor in the UE that controls the UE's transceiver.

[0039] In the following description, for simplicity, it is assumed that a UE is an advanced UE unless explicitly specified as a legacy UE.

[0040] 4 shows a flowchart of a method for configuring SBFD resources according to an embodiment of the present invention. The method of this embodiment can be performed by an (advanced) UE of the present invention, and the details of each step in FIG. 4 will be described later.

[0041] In step S410, the UE receives a first configuration from a network device, where the first configuration indicates multiple transmission directions (e.g., DL, UL, and / or flexible) in a time period. In this embodiment, the first configuration may be, for example, the first upper layer configuration 11 in FIG. 1A (e.g., signaling of "TDD-UL-DL-ConfigCommon"), but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0042] In one embodiment, the first configuration includes a first pattern and a subcarrier spacing, the first pattern indicating a beginning portion, a middle portion, and an end portion of the time period.

[0043] In one embodiment, the beginning of the period indicated by the first pattern may include at least one DL resource, the middle of the period indicated by the first pattern may include at least one flexible resource, and the end of the period indicated by the first pattern may include at least one UL resource.

[0044] For a better understanding, take Fig. 5 as an example, which shows a schematic diagram of the transmission direction indicated by the first configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] In this embodiment, the first configuration C1 (for example, “TDD-UL-DL-ConfigCommon”) transmitted from the network device 51 to the UE 52 includes a first pattern C11 and a subcarrier spacing μ ref The first pattern C11 may indicate a beginning portion 531, a middle portion 532, and an end portion 533 of the period S.

[0046] In FIG. 5, the first pattern C11 may be an upper layer parameter pattern, and has a slot configuration period p, a number of slots containing only downlink symbols d, slot , the number of downlink symbols d sym , the number of slots for uplink symbols only, u slot , the number of uplink symbols u sym and the subcarrier spacing μ ref 5 and exemplary values ​​of the above parameters, although the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0047] In some embodiments, the slot configuration period P may be indicated by the "dl-UL-TransmissionPeriodicity" field of the first pattern C11. slotmay be indicated by the "nrofDownlinkSlots" field of the first pattern C11. The number of downlink symbols d sym may be indicated by the "nrofDownlinkSymbols" field of the first pattern C11. slot can be indicated by the “nrofUplinkSlots” field of the first pattern C11. sym may be indicated by the "nrofUplinkSymbols" field of the first pattern C11, but the invention is not limited thereto.

[0048] In this embodiment, the slot configuration period p and the subcarrier interval μ ref are assumed to be 5 ms and 1, respectively, so the period S is accordingly divided into 10 slots (e.g., P × 2 μref ) is considered to be included.

[0049] Also, the number of slots for downlink symbols only, d slot is assumed to be 3, the beginning portion 531 of the period S may be determined to include the first three slots (e.g., slot #0 to slot #2) of the period S, which are DL resources / slots (denoted by "D"). Meanwhile, the number of slots with only uplink symbols, u slot Since is 3, the end portion 533 of period S may be determined to include the last three slots of period S (e.g., slot #7 to slot #9), with slot #7 to slot #9 being UL resources / slots (indicated by “U”).

[0050] In this embodiment, each of slots #0 through #9 is configured to include 14 symbols, designated Sym#0 through Sym#13 (Sym is an abbreviation for symbol) of the corresponding slot.

[0051] In FIG. 5, the number of downlink symbols d symis assumed to be 5, the first five symbols in the middle part 532 of the period S are determined to be DL symbols (e.g., Sym#0 to Sym#4 in slot #3). Meanwhile, the number of uplink symbols u sym is assumed to be 6, the last six symbols of the middle portion 532 of period S are determined to be UL symbols (e.g., Sym#8 to Sym#13 of slot #6). In this case, the other symbols in the middle portion 532 of period S are determined to be flexible resources / symbols (denoted by "F").

[0052] In one embodiment, a UE may be configured with one or more SBFD resources, which may include at least one of a time period, a frequency range, and spatial information, such as quasi-co-location (QCL) assumptions, parameters, etc.

[0053] In this embodiment, the frequency range includes at least two different subband types, such as DL subbands, UL subbands, or flexible subbands, and each subband of the at least two different subband types may not overlap in the frequency domain.

[0054] In one embodiment, a subband consists of one resource block (RB) or a set of contiguous RBs in the same transmission direction.

[0055] In one embodiment, the time period may be expressed in symbols, slots, or milliseconds (msec). In one embodiment, if the time period is equal to one symbol, it may be referred to as an SBFD symbol, and an SBFD symbol may be referred to as an 'S' symbol. In another embodiment, if the time period is equal to one slot, it may be referred to as an SBFD slot, and an SBFD slot may be referred to as an 'S' slot.

[0056] From another perspective, in addition to existing types of slots / symbols (e.g., slots / symbols denoted by "D", "U" and / or "F"), embodiments of the present invention introduce a new type of slot / symbol, denoted by "S", which represents an SBFD slot / symbol, although the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0057] FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram of an SBFD resource configuration according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0058] 6, the SBFD resource 60 may be an SBFD slot including 14 SBFD symbols, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In this embodiment, the SBFD resource 60 may include subband #0 to subband #2, which are a DL subband, a UL subband, and a DL subband, respectively, and each of subband #0 to subband #2 may consist of one RB or a set of consecutive RBs in the same transmission direction.

[0059] In this embodiment, the subbands included in the SBFD resource 60 may cover a frequency range 61 in the frequency domain, and the frequency domain 61 may correspond to a serving cell.

[0060] In this embodiment, the subbands included in the SBFD resource 60 indicated by the second configuration C2 in the frequency domain may include at least one DL subband (e.g., subband #0 and subband #2) and at least one UL subband (e.g., subband #1).

[0061] In one embodiment, frequency range 61 may be equal to the sum of the frequency domain length of at least one DL subband and the frequency domain length of at least one UL subband, e.g., frequency range 61 may be equal to the sum of the frequency domain lengths of subband #0 through subband #2 in FIG.

[0062] In one embodiment, at least one DL subband and at least one UL subband are non-overlapping in the frequency domain, e.g., subbands #0 to #2 in Figure 6 are non-overlapping in the frequency domain.

[0063] In one embodiment, each of at least one DL subband (e.g., subband #0 and subband #2) includes at least one first RB or a first set of consecutive RBs for DL ​​reception, and each of at least one UL subband (e.g., subband #1 in FIG. 6) includes at least one second RB or a second set of consecutive RBs for UL transmission.

[0064] Returning to FIG. 4, in step S420, the UE receives a second configuration C2 from the network device, where the second configuration C2 indicates at least one SBFD resource in the period S.

[0065] In different embodiments, the second configuration C2 may include one or more SBFD settings, and the one or more SBFD settings may be applied to the first pattern C11 and / or the second pattern C12.

[0066] For example, in an embodiment where the first configuration C1 simply indicates the first pattern C1 (e.g., the scenario of FIG. 5A), the UE may perform the following operations based on the SBFD configuration: (1) overwrite at least one DL resource indicated by the first pattern C1 (e.g., one or more DL resources / symbols in FIG. 5A) as a first SBFD resource; and (2) overwrite at least one flexible resource indicated by the first pattern C1 (e.g., one or more flexible resources / symbols in FIG. 5A) as a second SBFD resource. In one embodiment, the SBFD configuration is not permitted to be used by the UE to overwrite at least one uplink resource indicated by the first pattern C11 (e.g., one or more of the UL resources / symbols in FIG. 5A).

[0067] For better understanding, Figure 7 is used as an example, which shows a schematic diagram of overwriting DL / flexible resources as SBFD resources according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0068] In one embodiment, the first configuration C1 may indicate a first periodicity of the period S, and the second configuration C2 may indicate a second periodicity associated with at least one SBFD resource. In one embodiment, the first periodicity is the same as the second periodicity, although the invention is not limited in this respect.

[0069] In another embodiment, the first configuration C1 may indicate a first periodicity of the duration S, and the second configuration C2 may not indicate a second periodicity. In this case, the second periodicity may be determined to be the same as the first periodicity by default. From another perspective, if the first configuration C1 indicates the first periodicity, the second periodicity of at least one SBFD resource configured by the second configuration may be the same as the first periodicity.

[0070] In FIG. 7, the first configuration C1 (e.g., signaling “TDD-UL-DL-ConfigCommon”) may indicate that the “dl-UL-TransmissionPeriodicity” parameter (e.g., first periodicity) is P milliseconds (or 5 slots), and the transmission direction associated with slot #0 to slot #4 may be, for example, DDDFU, and the transmission direction associated with slot #5 to slot #9 may also be, for example, DDDFU.

[0071] In this embodiment, the second configuration C2 (e.g., signaling of “SBFD-ConfigCommon”) may indicate that the “SBFD-Periodicity” parameter (e.g., second periodicity) is P1 milliseconds (or 5 slots), but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0072] In case 1 of FIG. 7, the DL resources of slot #1 and slot #2 may be overwritten as the first SBFD resource 711 based on the second configuration C2, and the flexible resources of slot #3 may be overwritten as the first SBFD resource 712 based on the second configuration C2.

[0073] In one embodiment, the first SBFD resource 711 may be contiguous in the time domain, and the second SBFD resource 712 may also be contiguous in the time domain, although the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0074] In case 1 of FIG. 7, the end time of the first SBFD resource 711 may coincide with the start time of the second SBFD resource 712.

[0075] In one embodiment, the SBFD configuration may include an offset d1, such that the start time of the first SBFD resource 711 is later than the start time of the beginning portion of the period by the offset d1. In Case 1 of FIG. 7, the start time of the first SBFD resource 711 may be later than the start time of slot #0 by the offset d1.

[0076] In one embodiment, the start time of the first SBFD resource 711 may coincide with the start time of the beginning portion of the period, which can be understood as changing the offset d1 in case 1 of FIG. 7 to 0, although the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0077] In case 2, the SBFD configuration includes offsets d2 and d3, where offset d2 may be used to characterize the time difference between the start time of one SBFD resource and the start time of the beginning part of the period, and offset d3 may be used to characterize the time difference between different SBFD resources within the same period, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0078] In one embodiment, the subcarrier spacing μ ref applies to the first pattern C11 and the SBFD setting.

[0079] In one embodiment, the SBFD configuration may include information regarding a time length D1, which is equal to the sum of the time domain length of the first SBFD resource 711 and the second SBFD resource 712, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0080] In an embodiment of the present invention, a UE may be provided with higher layer signaling (e.g., downlink control information (DCI), medium access control (MAC), control element (CE), etc.) indicating one or more bitmap indications of SBFD resource configuration.

[0081] In one embodiment, the number of bits in the bitmap representation may be related to the number of slots in the period under consideration.

[0082] In one embodiment, each bit of the bitmap representation can be used to indicate whether a time period is applicable to SBFD operations, and the time period may be in symbols, slots, or milliseconds. For example, a "1" in a particular bit of the bitmap representation indicates that the corresponding time period (e.g., slot, symbol, etc.) is applicable to SBFD operations. Conversely, a "0" in a particular bit of the bitmap representation indicates that the corresponding time period is not applicable to SBFD operations.

[0083] In one embodiment, a first bit of the bitmap representation may be used to indicate a first time period, and a second bit of the bitmap representation may be used to indicate a second time period, wherein the length of the first time period may be the same as the length of the second time period, and the first time period may not overlap with the second time period in the time domain.

[0084] For better understanding, FIG. 8 shows a schematic diagram of the application of a bitmap display according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0085] In FIG. 8, it is assumed that the content of the first configuration C1 under consideration is the same as the first configuration C1 of FIG. 5A, and therefore the length of the period S is 5 milliseconds (indicated by the slot configuration period p (e.g., “dl-UL-TransmissionPeriodicity”)), and the period S includes 10 slots (e.g., slot #0 to slot #9).

[0086] In this case, there are 10 slots in period S, so the corresponding bitmap representation 80 may include, for example, 10 bits corresponding to slot #0 through slot #9, respectively.

[0087] 8, assume that slot #2, slot #3, slot #5, and slot #6 are used as SBFD resources. In this case, the bits in bitmap representation 80 corresponding to slot #2, slot #3, slot #5, and slot #6 may be configured to "1," and the bits in bitmap representation 80 corresponding to the other slots in period S may be configured to "0."

[0088] Therefore, when the UE receives the bitmap indication 80, the UE can determine that only slot #2, slot #3, slot #5, and slot #6 in period S will be used as SBFD resources, although the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0089] In another embodiment, the period S may be divided into multiple time periods and the first configuration C1 may be used to indicate the structure of the corresponding transmission direction.

[0090] FIG. 9 shows another schematic diagram of the transmission directions shown by the first configuration according to FIG.

[0091] In this embodiment, the period S may include a first period S1 and a second period S2, for example, the end time of the first period S1 coincides with the start time of the second period S2, and the period S is equal to the sum of the first period S1 and the second period S2.

[0092] In one embodiment, the first configuration C1 includes a first pattern C11, a second pattern C12, and a subcarrier spacing μ ref The first pattern C11 indicates a start portion 541, a middle portion 542, and an end portion 543 of the first period S1.

[0093] In this embodiment, the beginning portion 541 of the first period S1 indicated by the first pattern C11 may include at least one first DL resource, the middle portion 542 of the first period S1 indicated by the first pattern C11 may include at least one first flexible resource, and the end portion 543 of the first period S1 indicated by the first pattern C11 may include at least one first UL resource.

[0094] In Figure 9, the pattern parameters indicated by the first pattern C11 may be the same as those in Figure 5A, and therefore the start portion 541, middle portion 542, and end portion 543 of the first period S1 may be the same as the start portion 531, middle portion 532, and end portion 533 of the period S in Figure 5A, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0095] In this embodiment, the second pattern C12 indicates a beginning portion 551, a middle portion 552, and an end portion 553 of the second period S2. For example, the beginning portion 551 of the second period S2 indicated by the second pattern C12 may include at least one second DL resource, the middle portion 552 of the second period S2 indicated by the second pattern C12 may include at least one second flexible resource, and the end portion 553 of the second period S2 indicated by the second pattern C12 may include at least one second UL resource.

[0096] In FIG. 9, the second pattern C12 may be an upper layer parameter pattern, and has a slot configuration period P2, a number of slots containing only downlink symbols d slot , the number of downlink symbols d sym , the number of slots for uplink symbols only, u slot, the number of uplink symbols u sym and the subcarrier spacing μ ref Illustrative values ​​of the above parameters are shown in FIG. 9, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0097] In this embodiment, the slot configuration period P2 and the subcarrier interval μ ref are assumed to be 2 ms and 1, respectively, so the second period S2 is accordingly divided into four slots (e.g., P2 × 2 μref ) is considered to be included.

[0098] Furthermore, the number of slots d indicated by the second pattern C12 slot is assumed to be 2, the beginning portion 551 of the second period S2 may be determined to include the first two slots of the second period S2 (e.g., slot #10 to slot #11), which are DL resources / slots (denoted by "D"). Meanwhile, the number of slots u slot Since is 1, the end portion 553 of the second period S2 may be determined to include the last slot of the second period S2 (e.g., slot #13), which is a UL resource / slot (indicated by “U”).

[0099] In this embodiment, each of slots #10 to #13 is configured to include 14 symbols, designated Sym#0 to Sym#13 of the corresponding slot.

[0100] In FIG. 9, the number of downlink symbols d sym is assumed to be 4, the first four symbols of the middle part 552 of the second period S2 are determined to be DL symbols (e.g., Sym#0 to Sym#3 of slot #12). Meanwhile, the number of uplink symbols u symis assumed to be 7, the last seven symbols of the middle portion 552 of the second period S2 are determined to be UL symbols (e.g., Sym#7 to Sym#13 of slot #12). In this case, the other symbols in the middle portion 552 of the second period S2 are determined to be flexible resources / symbols (indicated by "F").

[0101] In this embodiment, the UE 52 may also receive a second configuration C2 from the network device 51.

[0102] In the scenario of Figure 9, since there are multiple time periods within period S, second configuration C2 may include one or more SBFD configurations for UE52 to override some resources as SBFD resources in one or more time periods.

[0103] In one embodiment, the second configuration C2 may include one SFBD setting applied to the first pattern C11 or the second pattern C12.

[0104] In this case, the UE 52 may overwrite at least one first downlink resource indicated by the first pattern C11 (e.g., one or more of slot #0 to slot #2) as the first SBFD resource and overwrite at least one first flexible resource indicated by the first pattern C11 (e.g., one or more of slot #3 to slot #6) as the second SBFD resource. Alternatively, the UE may overwrite at least one second downlink resource indicated by the second pattern C12 (e.g., one or more of slot #10 to slot #11) as the first SBFD resource and overwrite at least one second flexible resource indicated by the second pattern C12 (e.g., slot #12) as the second SBFD resource.

[0105] In this case, the first SBFD resource and the second SBFD resource correspond to a reference time period of the first period S1 and the second period S2. That is, when the reference time period under consideration is the first period S1, the SBFD configuration can be used to overwrite one or more of slot #0 to slot #2 indicated by the first pattern C11 as the first SBFD resource and to overwrite slot #3 to slot #6 indicated by the first pattern C11 as the second SBFD resource. On the other hand, when the reference time period under consideration is the second period S2, the SBFD configuration can be used to overwrite one or more of slot #10 to slot #11 indicated by the second pattern C12 as the first SBFD resource and to overwrite slot #12 indicated by the second pattern C12 as the second SBFD resource.

[0106] In this embodiment, the SBFD configuration is not allowed to be used to override at least one first uplink resource indicated by the first pattern C11 (e.g., slot #7 to slot #9) and at least one second uplink resource indicated by the second pattern C12 (e.g., slot #13).

[0107] In this embodiment, the first SBFD resource is contiguous in the time domain within the corresponding reference time period, and the second SBFD resource is contiguous in the time domain within the corresponding reference time period.

[0108] In this embodiment, the end time of the first SBFD resource coincides with the start time of the second SBFD resource within the corresponding reference time period.

[0109] In this embodiment, the first configuration C1 indicates a first periodicity of a period S, where the first periodicity is equal to the sum of the first period S1 and the second period S2, and the second configuration C2 indicates a second periodicity associated with at least one SBFD resource, where the first periodicity is identical to the second periodicity.

[0110] In this embodiment, the subcarrier spacing μ ref is applied to the first pattern C11, the second pattern C12, and the SBFD setting.

[0111] In this embodiment, the start time of the first SBFD resource coincides with the start time of the starting portion of the corresponding reference time period.

[0112] In this embodiment, if the SBFD configuration includes an offset, the start time of the first SBFD resource is later than the start time of the start part of the corresponding reference time period by the offset.

[0113] In this embodiment, the SBFD configuration includes information about a time length, and the time length is equal to the sum of the time domain length of the first SBFD resource and the time domain length of the second SBFD resource.

[0114] That is, in an embodiment in which the second configuration C2 has one SBFD setting, this SBFD setting may be applied to only one of the time periods within the period S.

[0115] However, in some embodiments, the second configuration C2 may also include multiple SFBD settings that are applied to the first pattern C11 or the second pattern C12, respectively.

[0116] For example, the second configuration C2 includes a first SBFD setting and a second SBFD setting, where the first SBFD setting is applied to a first pattern C11 and the second SBFD setting is applied to a second pattern C12.

[0117] In this embodiment, UE52 can use the first SBFD configuration to overwrite at least one first downlink resource indicated by the first pattern C11 (e.g., one or more of slot #0 to slot #2) as the first SBFD resource, and to overwrite at least one first flexible resource indicated by the first pattern C11 (e.g., one or more of slot #3 to slot #6) as the second SBFD resource.

[0118] Furthermore, UE52 can use the second SBFD configuration to overwrite at least one second downlink resource indicated by the second pattern C12 (e.g., one or more of slot #10 to slot #11) as a third SBFD resource, and to overwrite at least one second flexible resource indicated by the second pattern C12 (e.g., slot #12) as a fourth SBFD resource.

[0119] In this embodiment, the first SBFD configuration is not allowed to be used to override at least one first uplink resource (e.g., slot #7 to slot #9) indicated by the first pattern C11, and the second SBFD configuration is not allowed to be used to override at least one second uplink resource (e.g., slot #13) indicated by the second pattern C12.

[0120] In this embodiment, the first SBFD resource and the second SBFD resource are consecutive in time domain within a first time period, and the third SBFD resource and the fourth SBFD resource are consecutive in time domain within a second time period. Furthermore, the end time of the first SBFD resource coincides with the start time of the second SBFD resource, and the end time of the third SBFD resource coincides with the start time of the fourth SBFD resource.

[0121] In this embodiment, the first configuration C1 indicates a first periodicity of a period S, where the first periodicity is equal to the sum of the first period S1 and the second period S2, and the second configuration C2 indicates a second periodicity associated with at least one SBFD resource, where the first periodicity is identical to the second periodicity.

[0122] In this embodiment, the subcarrier spacing μ ref is applied to the first pattern C11, the second pattern C12, the first SBFD setting, and the second SBFD setting.

[0123] In this embodiment, the start time of the first SBFD resource coincides with the start time of the beginning portion of the first time period S1, and the start time of the third SBFD resource coincides with the start time of the beginning portion of the second time period S2.

[0124] In this embodiment, the first SBFD configuration includes a first offset, and the start time of the first SBFD resource is later than the start time of the starting portion of the first time period S1 by the first offset.

[0125] In this embodiment, the second SBFD configuration includes a second offset, and the start time of the third SBFD resource is later than the start time of the starting portion of the second period S2 by the second offset.

[0126] In this embodiment, the first SBFD configuration includes a first time length, and the first time length is equal to the sum of the time domain length of the first SBFD resource and the time domain length of the second SBFD resource.

[0127] In this embodiment, the second SBFD configuration includes a second time length, and the second time length is equal to the sum of the time domain length of the third SBFD resource and the time domain length of the fourth SBFD resource.

[0128] Returning to FIG. 4, in step S430, the UE 52 performs a communication operation with the network device 51 according to the first configuration C1 and the second configuration C2.

[0129] For example, UE52 has overwritten one or more resources in period S as corresponding SBFD resources based on the second configuration C2, so that UE52 can communicate with network device 51 using these SBFD resources.

[0130] For better understanding, Figures 6 and 7 are used as examples, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In Figure 7, assuming that each slot in the first SBFD resource 711 and the second SBFD resource 712 is configured as the SBFD resource 60 in Figure 6, UE 52 can perform DL reception with network device 51 using subband #0 and subband #2 of slot #1 to slot #3 (and slot #6 to slot #8), respectively. Furthermore, UE 52 can perform UL transmission with network device 51 using subband #1 of slot #1 to slot #3 (and slot #6 to slot #8), but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0131] 10 shows a flowchart of a method for configuring SBFD resources according to an embodiment of the present invention, which can be performed by the network device 51 of the present invention.

[0132] In step S1010, the network device 51 transmits a first configuration C1 to the UE 52. In step S1020, the network device 51 transmits a second configuration C2 to the UE 52. In step S1030, the network device 51 performs a communication operation with the UE 52 according to the first configuration C1 and the second configuration C2. For details related to steps S1010 to S1030, please refer to the above description and will not be repeated here.

[0133] 11 shows a flowchart of a method for configuring SBFD resources according to an embodiment of the present invention. The method of this embodiment can be performed by a UE 52 of the present invention, and the details of each step of FIG. 11 will be described later.

[0134] In step S1110, the UE 52 receives a first configuration C1 from the network device 51. In step S1120, the UE 52 receives a second configuration C2 from the network device 51. For details related to steps S1110 and S1120, please refer to the description of steps S410 and S420 in Figure 4, and will not be repeated here.

[0135] As noted above, the first configuration C1 indicates multiple transmission directions in a period S (eg, slots labeled "D," "U," or "F" in FIG. 5).

[0136] In one embodiment, the transmission direction indicated by the first configuration C1 applies to a frequency range (e.g., frequency range 61 in FIG. 6), and the at least one SBFD resource indicated by the second configuration C2 in the frequency domain includes at least one DL subband (e.g., subband #0 and subband #2 in FIG. 6) and at least one UL subband (e.g., subband #1 in FIG. 6).

[0137] In this embodiment, a new slot format can be introduced because an SBFD slot may contain one or more SBFD symbols (eg, 'S' symbols).

[0138] Specifically, Table 1 shows a portion of a conventional slot format table. [Table 1]

[0139] The new slot format table using the newly introduced SBFD symbol can be illustrated as in Table 2. [Table 2]

[0140] In one embodiment, the network device 51 may provide the new slot format to the UE 52 using, for example, Radio Resource Control (RRC), MAC CE, and / or DCI, although the invention is not limited thereto.

[0141] In one embodiment, the new slot format of Table 2 may include at least one 'S' symbol, and the frequency range of the 'S' symbol may include multiple subbands.

[0142] In one embodiment, the frequency location of the subband of at least one 'S' symbol may be the same as the SBFD symbol configured by higher layers.

[0143] FIG. 12 shows a schematic diagram of an SBFD symbol according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0144] In FIG. 12, SBFD symbol 1200 may include subbands 1201 to 1203, where subbands 1201 and 1203 are DL subbands and subband 1202 is a UL subband, although the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0145] In this embodiment, subbands 1201 to 1203 may comprise a frequency range 1230 corresponding to a serving cell.

[0146] 11, in step S1130, the UE 52 receives a third configuration C3 from the network device 51. The third configuration C3 indicates a DL bandwidth portion (BWP) and an UL BWP. In step S1140, the UE 52 performs communication operations with the network device 51 according to the first configuration C1, the second configuration C2, and the third configuration C3.

[0147] In one embodiment, the UE 52 may determine a first intersection between the UL BWP and each of the at least one UL subband as the at least one UL usable RB. Additionally, the UE 52 may determine a second intersection between the DL BWP and each of the at least one DL subband as the at least one DL usable resource block.

[0148] In this embodiment, UE52 is allowed to perform UL transmission using at least one UL available RB, and UE52 is allowed to perform DL reception using at least one DL available RB.

[0149] In this embodiment, UE52 is not permitted to perform UL transmission using any other UL resources other than at least one UL available RB, and UE52 is not permitted to perform DL reception using any other DL resources other than at least one DL available RB.

[0150] In this embodiment, the DL BWP and the ULBWP have the same BWP identifier.

[0151] For example, assuming that the third configuration C3 indicates BWP1210 as a DL BWP, UE52 can determine an intersection between BWP1210 and a DL subband of subbands 1201-1203 as a DL usable RB, which means that subband 1201 is determined to be a DL usable RB. As another example, assuming that the third configuration C3 indicates BWP1220 as a DL BWP, UE52 can determine an intersection between BWP1220 and a DL subband of subbands 1201-1203 as a DL usable RB, which means that subbands 1201 and 1203 are determined to be DL usable RBs.

[0152] In another embodiment, assuming that the third configuration C3 indicates BWP 1210 as a UL BWP, UE 52 may determine the intersection of BWP 1210 and the UL subband of subbands 1201-1203 as a UL usable RB, meaning that none of subbands 1201-1203 is determined to be a UL usable RB. However, if the third configuration C3 indicates BWP 1220 as a UL BWP, UE 52 may determine the intersection of BWP 1220 and the UL subband of subbands 1201-1203 as a UL usable RB, meaning that subband 1202 is determined to be a UL usable RB, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0153] From another perspective, if the third configuration indicates BWP 1210 as the DL bandwidth and UL bandwidth, and BWP 1210 is activated, UE 52 can only perform DL reception on SBFD symbol 1200. On the other hand, if the third configuration indicates BWP 1220 as the DL bandwidth and UL bandwidth, and BWP 1220 is activated, UE 52 can perform DL reception or UL transmission on SBFD symbol 1200, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0154] In one embodiment, if higher layer signaling (e.g., first configuration C1, "TDD-UL-DL-ConfigCommon" and / or "TDD-UL-DL-ConfigDedicated") indicates that the set of symbols for a slot is flexible symbols, or if no higher layer signaling is provided to UE52, UE52 can override the set of symbols based on other signaling (e.g., DCI) from network device 51.

[0155] For example, if a particular field (e.g., a slot format indicator (SFI) index field) in the DCI (e.g., DCI format 2_0) indicates the symbol set of a slot as SBFD symbols, UE52 may assume that the symbol set of the slot is all SBFD symbols. In this case, UE52 may perform DL reception on the DL subband or UL transmission on the UL subband on the symbol set of the slot.

[0156] FIG. 13A shows a schematic diagram of flexible symbol overwriting according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0157] 13A, it is assumed that symbol #n is configured as a flexible symbol by, for example, the first configuration C1. In this case, if UE 52 determines that the DCI from network device 51 indicates that symbol #n is an SBFD symbol, UE 52 may overwrite symbol #n as an SBFD symbol. From another perspective, in response to determining that symbol #n is also configured as flexible by the first configuration C1, UE 52 can configure symbol #n according to the DCI.

[0158] In another embodiment, if higher layer signaling (e.g., the first configuration C1, “TDD-UL-DL-ConfigCommon” and / or “TDD-UL-DL-ConfigDedicated”) indicates that the set of symbols for a slot are DL symbols, the UE 52 can override the set of symbols based on other signaling (e.g., DCI) from the network device 51.

[0159] For example, if a specific field (e.g., a slot format indicator (SFI) index field) in the DCI (e.g., DCI format 2_0) indicates the symbol set of a slot as SBFD symbols, UE52 may assume that the symbol set of the slot is all SBFD symbols. In this case, UE52 may perform DL reception on the DL subband or UL transmission on the UL subband on the symbol set of the slot.

[0160] FIG. 13B shows a schematic diagram of overwriting DL symbols according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0161] 13B, it is assumed that symbol #n is configured as a DL symbol by, for example, the first configuration C1. In this case, if UE 52 determines that the DCI from network device 51 indicates that symbol #n is an SBFD symbol, UE 52 may overwrite symbol #n as an SBFD symbol. From another perspective, in response to determining that symbol #n is also configured as a DL by the first configuration, UE 52 can configure symbol #n according to the DCI.

[0162] In another embodiment, in response to determining that symbol #n is also configured as UL by the first configuration C1, UE52 may ignore the first configuration C1 and configure symbol #n in accordance with the DCI, although the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0163] 14 shows a flowchart of a method for configuring SBFD resources according to an embodiment of the present invention, which can be performed by the network device 51 of the present invention.

[0164] In step S1410, the network device 51 transmits a first configuration C1 to the UE 52. In step S1420, the network device 51 transmits a second configuration C2 to the UE 52. In step S1430, the network device 51 transmits a third configuration C3 to the UE 52. In step S1440, the network device 51 performs a communication operation with the UE 52 according to the first configuration C1, the second configuration C2, and the third configuration C3. For details related to steps S1410 to S1440, please refer to the above description and will not be repeated here.

[0165] 15 shows a flowchart of a method for configuring SBFD resources according to an embodiment of the present invention. The method of this embodiment can be performed by a UE 52 of the present invention, and each step of FIG. 15 will be described in detail later.

[0166] In step S1510, the UE 52 receives a first configuration C1 from the network device 51. In step S1520, the UE 52 receives a second configuration C2 from the network device 51. For details related to steps S1510 and S1520, please refer to the description of steps S410 and S420 in Figure 4, and will not be repeated here.

[0167] In step S1530, UE 52 receives DCI C4 from network device 51. DCI C4 indicates at least one second transmission direction for at least one slot in period S. In step S1540, UE 52 performs a communication operation with network device 51 according to the first configuration C1, the second configuration C2, and DCI C4.

[0168] In one embodiment, the network device 51 can use DCI C4 (eg, DCI format 2_0) to change the transmission direction of the resources indicated by the first configuration C1.

[0169] FIG. 16 shows a schematic diagram of changing the transmission direction using DCI according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0170] 16, it can be assumed that UE 52 determines slots #0 to #4 as D, F, F, F, and U slots, respectively, according to the first configuration C1. In this embodiment, UE 52 can further receive DCI C4 (e.g., DCI format 2_0) from network device 51 and determine accordingly whether to adjust the transmission direction of one or more of slots #0 to #4.

[0171] For example, UE 52 may determine whether to adjust one or more transmission directions of slots #0 to #4 based on the SFI index field of DCI C4 and an SFI table, where the SFI table may be exemplarily shown in Table 3. [Table 3]

[0172] In one embodiment, when the SFI-index field of DCI C4 indicates “11” (i.e., the slot format combination ID is 3), UE 52 may determine the slot format combination as “0, 0, 2, 1.” In this case, UE 52 may determine the first slot of slot #0 to slot #4 as slot type 0; the second slot of slot #0 to slot #4 as slot type 0; the third slot of slot #0 to slot #4 as slot type 2; and the fourth slot of slot #0 to slot #4 as slot type 1.

[0173] According to Table 3, all symbols in slots of slot format 0 are DL symbols, all symbols in slots of slot format 1 are UL symbols, and all symbols in slots of slot format 2 are flexible symbols. Therefore, slots #0 to #4 are determined to be D, D, F, U, and U slots, respectively.

[0174] In one embodiment, DCI C4 is allowed to be used to override at least one flexible resource indicated by the first pattern C11, and further, DCI C4 is not allowed to be used to override at least one DL resource and at least one UL resource indicated by the first pattern C11.

[0175] FIG. 17 illustrates several cases according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0176] In case 1 of Figure 17, if RRC indicates a slot / symbol as "F", DCI C4 can be used to indicate / override this slot / symbol as "D", "U" or "F". In case 2 of Figure 17, if RRC indicates a slot / symbol as "D", it is not allowed to use DCI C4 to indicate / override this slot / symbol as "U" or "F". In case 3 of Figure 17, if RRC indicates a slot / symbol as "U", it is not allowed to use DCI C4 to indicate / override this slot / symbol as "D" or "F".

[0177] FIG. 18 shows a schematic diagram illustrating a resource configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0178] In this embodiment, it is assumed that the period S indicated by the first configuration C1 includes slot #0 to slot #4, and slot #1 to slot #3 have been overwritten as SBFD resources by UE52 based on the second configuration C2.

[0179] Furthermore, the network device 51 may further provide the UE 52 with a DCI C4 that is assumed to be used to indicate DL slots #0 to #2. For example, the SFI index filed in the DCI C4 may provide three slot types for slots #0 to #2, respectively, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0180] In different cases, the UE 52 may further configure (or assume / interpret) slots #0 to #2 indicated by DCI C4 in different ways.

[0181] In one embodiment, in response to determining that symbols in at least one slot are configured according to the second configuration C2 and DCI C4, UE 52 may ignore DCI C4 and configure (or assume / interpret) the symbols according to the second configuration C2.

[0182] For example, in case 1 of Figure 18, the symbols of slot #1 to slot #2 are configured by both the second configuration C2 and DCI C4, so UE 52 can ignore DCI C4 and configure (or assume / interpret) the symbols of slot #1 to slot #2 according to the second configuration C2. In this case, UE 52 maintains the resource configuration of slot #1 to slot #2.

[0183] In another embodiment, in response to determining that a symbol in at least one slot is configured with the second configuration C2 and DCI C4, UE 52 determines whether at least one SBFD resource indicated by the second configuration C2 is available for the symbol based on a field included in DCI C4.

[0184] In some embodiments, the DCI C4 field may be, for example, an available subband indicator field, which may be a 1-bit field, although the invention is not limited thereto. In this embodiment, the available subband indicator field may be used to inform UE 52 whether UL subbands for 'S' symbols in one or more slots are available for use.

[0185] In one embodiment, in response to determining that the field has a first bit value (e.g., "1"), the UE 52 may determine that at least one SBFD resource is available. Meanwhile, in response to determining that the field has a second bit value (e.g., "0"), the UE 52 may determine that at least one SBFD resource is not available.

[0186] Further, in response to determining that the field has a second bit value, UE52 may further determine that at least one UL subband of at least one SBFD resource has become at least one DL subband.

[0187] For example, in FIG. 18, the symbols from slot #1 to slot #2 are configured by both the second configuration C2 and DCI C4, so UE 52 can determine whether the SBFD resources indicated by the second configuration C2 are available for the symbols of slot #1 and slot #2 based on the available subband indicator field included in DCI C4.

[0188] In an embodiment in which the available subband indicator field has a first bit value (e.g., "1"), UE52 determines that symbols within the SBFD resources of slot #1 and slot #2 are available and, as a result, can maintain the resource configuration of slot #1 and slot #2.

[0189] In an embodiment in which the available subband indicator field has a second bit value (e.g., "0"), UE52 may determine that symbols within the SBFD resources of slot #1 and slot #2 are not available, and as a result, the resource configuration of slot #1 and slot #2 cannot be maintained. Furthermore, UE52 may determine that the UL subbands within the SBFD resources of slot #1 and slot #2 become DL subbands, which corresponds to the resource configuration of case 2 in FIG. 18.

[0190] In one embodiment, in response to determining that the field has the second bit value, UE52 may ignore at least one SBFD resource indicated by the second configuration C2 and configure (or assume / interpret) symbols according to the first configuration C1, i.e., UE52 may determine the transmission direction from slot #1 to slot #2 based on the first configuration C1.

[0191] FIG. 19A shows a schematic diagram of constructing the symbols according to the first configuration, ignoring the second configuration.

[0192] In step 1 of FIG. 19A, UE 52 can determine slots #0 to #4 as D, D, F, F, U slots based on the first configuration C1.

[0193] In step 2 of Figure 19A, UE 52 can overwrite slot #1 to slot #3 as SBFD resources based on the second configuration C2, where the transmission direction of each subband in slot #1 to slot #3 can be exemplarily shown in Figure 19A.

[0194] 19A, UE 52 may receive DCI C4 from network device 51. Here, DCI C4 may be assumed to have an SFI-index field providing three slot types from slot #0 to slot #2, and an available subband indicator field having a second bit value (e.g., "0").

[0195] In this embodiment, since the available subband indicator field has a second bit value, UE52 can ignore the SBFD resources indicated by the second configuration C2 and configure (or assume / interpret) the symbols according to the first configuration C1.

[0196] Therefore, as a result, the resource configuration from slot #1 to slot #2 is restored to slots D and F as indicated by the first configuration C1.

[0197] In another embodiment, in response to determining that the field has the second bit value, UE52 may ignore the at least one SBFD resource indicated by the second configuration C2 and configure (or assume / interpret) the symbols in accordance with DCI C4.

[0198] FIG. 19B shows a schematic diagram of structuring symbols according to DCI, ignoring the second configuration.

[0199] In step 1 of FIG. 19B, UE 52 can determine slots #0 to #4 as D, D, F, F, U slots based on the first configuration C1.

[0200] In step 2 of Figure 19B, UE 52 can overwrite slot #1 to slot #3 as SBFD resources based on the second configuration C2, where the transmission direction of each subband in slot #1 to slot #3 can be exemplarily shown in Figure 19B.

[0201] In step 3 of FIG. 19B, UE 52 may receive DCI C4 from network device 51, where DCI C4 may be assumed to have an SFI-index field providing three slot types from slot #0 to slot #2, and an available subband indicator field having a second bit value (e.g., "0").

[0202] In this embodiment, the slot format of slot #0 can be specifically configured as "14D," which means that slot #0 contains 14 consecutive DL symbols. Furthermore, the slot format of slot #1 can be specifically configured as "10D2F2U," which means that slot #1 contains 10 consecutive DL symbols, 2 flexible symbols, and 2 UL symbols. Similarly, the slot format of slot #2 can be specifically configured as "2D10F2U," which means that slot #2 contains 2 consecutive DL symbols, 10 flexible symbols, and 2 UL symbols.

[0203] In this embodiment, since the available subband indicator field has a second bit value, UE52 can ignore the SBFD resources indicated by the second configuration C2 and configure (or assume / interpret) symbols according to DCI C4.

[0204] As a result, the resource configurations of the symbols from slot #1 to slot #2 are "10D2F2U" and "2D10F2U", respectively, as indicated by DCI C4.

[0205] In another embodiment, the available subband indicator field in DCI C4 may be a multi-bit field. For example, the available subband indicator field may include a first bit corresponding to an UL subband and a second bit corresponding to a DL subband, where each of the first bit and the second bit may have a first bit value (e.g., "1") or a second bit value (e.g., "0").

[0206] In different embodiments, the available subband indicator field with different bit combinations can be used to inform the UE whether the UL and DL subbands of the 'S' symbols in one or more slots are available.

[0207] FIG. 20A shows a schematic diagram of changing a UL subband to a DL subband according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0208] In FIG. 20A, it is assumed that the SFI-index field of DCI C4 provides three slot formats, slot #0 to slot #2, respectively, and the available subband indicator field has bit combinations of {0, 1}.

[0209] In this case, since the first bit of the available subband indicator field is "0" (e.g., the second bit value), UE52 changes the UL subband from slot #1 to slot #2 to the DL subband. Furthermore, since the second bit of the available subband indicator field is "1" (e.g., the first bit value), UE52 maintains the DL subband from slot #1 to slot #2 as the DL subband.

[0210] FIG. 20B shows a schematic diagram of DL subbands being changed to UL subbands according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0211] In FIG. 20B, it is assumed that the SFI-index field of DCI C4 provides three slot formats, slot #0 to slot #2, respectively, and the available subband indicator field has a bit combination of {1, 0}.

[0212] In this case, since the first bit of the available subband indicator field is "1" (e.g., the first bit value), UE52 maintains the UL subbands from slot #1 to slot #2 as UL subbands. Furthermore, since the second bit of the available subband indicator field is "0" (e.g., the second bit value), UE52 changes the DL subbands from slot #1 to slot #2 to UL subbands.

[0213] In one embodiment, in response to determining that the available subband indicator field is {0, 0}, UE52 may ignore at least one SBFD resource indicated by the second configuration C2 and configure (or assume / interpret) symbols according to the first configuration C1. That is, UE52 may determine the transmission direction from slot #1 to slot #2 based on the first configuration C1.

[0214] FIG. 21A shows a schematic diagram of composing the symbols according to the first configuration, ignoring the second configuration.

[0215] In step 1 of FIG. 21A, UE 52 can determine slots #0 to #4 as D, D, F, F, U slots based on the first configuration C1.

[0216] In step 2 of Figure 21A, UE 52 can overwrite slot #1 to slot #3 as SBFD resources based on the second configuration C2, where the transmission direction of each subband in slot #1 to slot #3 can be exemplarily shown in Figure 21A.

[0217] In step 3 of Figure 21A, UE 52 may receive DCI C4 from network device 51. Here, DCI C4 may be assumed to have an SFI index field that provides three slot types, from slot #0 to slot #2, and an available subband indicator field that has a bit combination of {0, 0}.

[0218] In this embodiment, the available subband indicator field has a bit combination of {0, 0}, so UE52 can ignore the SBFD resources indicated by the second configuration C2 and configure (or assume / interpret) the symbols according to the first configuration C1.

[0219] Therefore, as a result, the resource configuration from slot #1 to slot #2 is restored to slots D and F as indicated by the first configuration C1.

[0220] In another embodiment, in response to determining that the available subband indicator field is {0, 0}, UE52 may ignore at least one SBFD resource indicated by the second configuration C2 and configure (or assume / interpret) symbols in accordance with DCI C4.

[0221] FIG. 21B shows a schematic diagram of structuring symbols according to DCI, ignoring the second configuration.

[0222] In step 1 of FIG. 21B, UE 52 can determine slots #0 to #4 as D, D, F, F, U slots based on the first configuration C1.

[0223] In step 2 of Figure 21B, UE 52 can overwrite slot #1 to slot #3 as SBFD resources based on the second configuration C2, where the transmission direction of each subband in slot #1 to slot #3 can be exemplarily shown in Figure 21B.

[0224] In step 3 of Figure 21B, UE 52 may receive DCI C4 from network device 51. Here, DCI C4 may be assumed to have an SFI-index field that provides three slot types, from slot #0 to slot #2, and an available subband indicator field that has a bit combination of {0, 0}.

[0225] In this embodiment, the slot format of slot #0 can be specifically configured as "14D," which means that slot #0 contains 14 consecutive DL symbols. Furthermore, the slot format of slot #1 can be specifically configured as "10D2F2U," which means that slot #1 contains 10 consecutive DL symbols, 2 flexible symbols, and 2 UL symbols. Similarly, the slot format of slot #2 can be specifically configured as "2D10F2U," which means that slot #2 contains 2 consecutive DL symbols, 10 flexible symbols, and 2 UL symbols.

[0226] In this embodiment, the available subband indicator field has a bit combination of {0, 0}, so UE52 can ignore the SBFD resources indicated by the second configuration C2 and configure (or assume / interpret) symbols according to DCI C4.

[0227] As a result, the symbol resource configurations from slot #1 to slot #2 are "10D2F2U" and "2D10F2U", respectively, as indicated by DCI C4.

[0228] In some embodiments, the available subband indicator field may have multiple bits, where each k-th bit (where k is an index) in the available subband indicator field corresponds to the k-th subband (referred to as subband #k) of the SBFD resource.

[0229] In one embodiment, if the kth bit of the available subband indicator field has a first bit value (e.g., "1"), the UE 52 can maintain the transmission direction of the corresponding subband #k unchanged. In another embodiment, if the kth bit of the available subband indicator field has a second bit value (e.g., "0"), the UE 52 can change the transmission direction of the corresponding subband #k from DL to UL or from UL to DL.

[0230] FIG. 22A shows a schematic diagram of DL subbands being changed to UL subbands according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0231] In FIG. 22A, it is assumed that the SFI-index field of DCI C4 provides three slot formats, slot #0 to slot #2, respectively, and the available subband indicator field has a bit combination of {0, 1, 0}.

[0232] In this case, since the first and third bits of the available subband indicator field are "0" (e.g., the second bit value), UE52 changes subbands #0 and #2 from slot #1 to slot #2 (e.g., the SBFD slot) from DL subbands to UL subbands. Furthermore, since the second bit of the available subband indicator field is "1" (e.g., the first bit value), UE52 maintains subband #1 from slot #1 to slot #2 as a UL subband.

[0233] FIG. 22B shows a schematic diagram of DL subbands being changed to UL subbands according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0234] In FIG. 22B, it is assumed that the SFI-index field of DCI C4 provides three slot formats, slot #0 to slot #2, respectively, and the available subband indicator field has bit combinations of {0, 1, 1}.

[0235] In this case, because the first bit of the available subband indicator field is "0" (e.g., the second bit value), UE52 changes subband #0 from DL subband to UL subband from slot #1 to slot #2 (e.g., the SBFD slot). Furthermore, because the second and third bits of the available subband indicator field are "1" (e.g., the first bit value), UE52 keeps the transmission direction of corresponding subband #1 and subband #2 from slot #1 to slot #2 unchanged.

[0236] In one embodiment, in response to determining that the available subband indicator field is {0, 0, 0}, UE52 may ignore at least one SBFD resource indicated by the second configuration C2 and configure (or assume / interpret) symbols according to the first configuration C1. That is, UE52 may determine the transmission direction from slot #1 to slot #2 based on the first configuration C1.

[0237] FIG. 23A shows a schematic diagram of composing the symbols according to the first configuration, ignoring the second configuration.

[0238] In step 1 of FIG. 23A, UE 52 can determine slots #0 to #4 as D, D, F, F, U slots based on the first configuration C1.

[0239] In step 2 of Figure 23A, UE 52 can overwrite slot #1 to slot #3 as SBFD resources based on the second configuration C2, where the transmission direction of each subband in slot #1 to slot #3 can be exemplarily shown in Figure 23A.

[0240] In step 3 of Figure 23A, UE 52 may receive DCI C4 from network device 51. Here, DCI C4 may be assumed to have an SFI-index field that provides three slot types, from slot #0 to slot #2, and an available subband indicator field that has a bit combination of {0, 0, 0}.

[0241] In this embodiment, the available subband indicator field has a bit combination of {0, 0, 0}, so UE52 can ignore the SBFD resources indicated by the second configuration C2 and configure (or assume / interpret) the symbols according to the first configuration C1.

[0242] Therefore, as a result, the resource configuration from slot #1 to slot #2 is restored to slots D and F as indicated by the first configuration C1.

[0243] In another embodiment, in response to determining that the available subband indicator field is {0, 0, 0}, UE52 may ignore at least one SBFD resource indicated by the second configuration C2 and configure (or assume / interpret) symbols in accordance with DCI C4.

[0244] FIG. 23B shows a schematic diagram of structuring symbols according to DCI, ignoring the second configuration.

[0245] In step 1 of FIG. 23B, UE 52 can determine slots #0 to #4 as D, D, F, F, U slots based on the first configuration C1.

[0246] In step 2 of Figure 23B, UE 52 can overwrite slot #1 to slot #3 as SBFD resources based on the second configuration C2, where the transmission direction of each subband in slot #1 to slot #3 can be exemplarily shown in Figure 23B.

[0247] In step 3 of Figure 23B, UE 52 may receive DCI C4 from network device 51. Here, DCI C4 may be assumed to have an SFI-index field providing three slot types from slot #0 to slot #2, and an available subband indicator field having a bit combination of {0, 0, 0}.

[0248] In this embodiment, the slot format of slot #0 can be specifically configured as "14D," which means that slot #0 contains 14 consecutive DL symbols. Furthermore, the slot format of slot #1 can be specifically configured as "10D2F2U," which means that slot #1 contains 10 consecutive DL symbols, 2 flexible symbols, and 2 UL symbols. Similarly, the slot format of slot #2 can be specifically configured as "2D10F2U," which means that slot #2 contains 2 consecutive DL symbols, 10 flexible symbols, and 2 UL symbols.

[0249] In this embodiment, the available subband indicator field has a bit combination of {0, 0, 0}, so UE52 can ignore the SBFD resources indicated by the second configuration C2 and configure (or assume / interpret) symbols according to DCI C4.

[0250] As a result, the resource configurations of the symbols from slot #1 to slot #2 are "10D2F2U" and "2D10F2U", respectively, as indicated by DCI C4.

[0251] FIG. 24 shows a schematic diagram of configuring SBFD resources according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0252] 24, the network device 51 may send a first configuration C1 to the legacy UEs and the advanced UEs to configure the transmission direction of the specific resource by these UEs, and the network device 52 may send a second configuration C2 to the advanced UEs to thereby enable the advanced UEs to configure the specific resource as the SBFD resource accordingly.

[0253] For example, the network device 51 may use a first configuration C1 to control legacy UEs and advanced UEs and configure symbol #n as an "F" symbol. Furthermore, the network device 51 may use a second configuration C2 to control advanced UEs and further configure symbol #n as an 'S' symbol, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0254] In some embodiments, the network device 51 may further configure specific resources for both legacy and advanced UEs using DCI C4.

[0255] FIG. 25 shows a schematic diagram of using DCI to configure resources for legacy / advanced UEs.

[0256] In one embodiment, in response to determining that a symbol in at least one slot is configured according to the second configuration C2 and that DCI C4 configures the symbol as DL, the UE may ignore the at least one SBFD resource indicated by the second configuration C2 for the symbol and configure the symbol as DL in accordance with DCI C4.

[0257] For example, in case 1 of FIG. 25, the network device 51 may transmit DCI C4 to the legacy UE and the advanced UE. Here, DCI C4 may indicate a specific resource (e.g., symbol #n in FIG. 24) as a DL resource. Therefore, the legacy UE and the advanced UE configure the specific resource as a DL resource. That is, although symbol #n is configured as an SBFD symbol based on the second configuration C2, the advanced UE may still configure symbol #n as a DL symbol according to DCI C4.

[0258] In one embodiment, in response to determining that a symbol in at least one slot is configured according to the second configuration C2 and that DCI C4 configures the symbol as UL, the UE may ignore the at least one SBFD resource indicated by the second configuration C2 for the symbol and configure the symbol as UL according to DCI C4.

[0259] For example, in case 2 of FIG. 25, the network device 51 may transmit DCI C4 to the legacy UE and the advanced UE. Here, DCI C4 may indicate a specific resource (e.g., symbol #n in FIG. 24) as an UL resource. Therefore, the legacy UE and the advanced UE configure the specific resource as an UL resource. That is, although symbol #n is configured as an SBFD symbol based on the second configuration C2, the advanced UE may still configure symbol #n as an UL symbol according to DCI C4.

[0260] FIG. 26 shows a schematic diagram of using DCI to configure resources for legacy / advanced UEs.

[0261] In one embodiment, in response to determining that a symbol in at least one slot is configured according to the second configuration C2 and that DCI C4 configures the symbol as flexible, the UE may ignore the at least one SBFD resource indicated by the second configuration C2 for the symbol and configure the symbol as flexible according to DCI C4.

[0262] For example, in case 1 of FIG. 26, the network device 51 may transmit DCI C4 to the legacy UE and the advanced UE. Here, DCI C4 may indicate a specific resource (e.g., symbol #n in FIG. 24) as a flexible resource. Therefore, the legacy UE and the advanced UE configure the specific resource as a flexible resource. That is, although symbol #n is configured as an SBFD symbol based on the second configuration C2, the advanced UE may still configure symbol #n as a flexible symbol according to DCI C4.

[0263] In another embodiment, in response to determining that symbols in at least one slot are configured according to the second configuration C2 and that DCI C4 configures the symbols as flexible, the UE may ignore DCI C4 and configure the symbols according to the second configuration C2 of the symbols.

[0264] For example, in case 2 of FIG. 26, the network device 51 may transmit DCI C4 to the legacy UE and the advanced UE. Here, DCI C4 may indicate a specific resource (e.g., symbol #n in FIG. 24) as a flexible resource. Therefore, the legacy UE may configure the specific resource as a flexible resource. Meanwhile, the advanced UE may keep symbol #n as an SBFD symbol configured by the second configuration C2 and ignore DCI C4.

[0265] In Case 3 of FIG. 26, the network device 51 may transmit DCI C4 to the legacy UE and the advanced UE. Here, DCI C4 may include a specific slot format (e.g., slot format 255) to indicate that a specific resource (e.g., symbol #n in FIG. 24) follows a higher layer configuration and ignores DCI C4. Therefore, the legacy UE can maintain the specific resource as a flexible resource and, for example, follow the C1 configuration and ignore DCI C4. On the other hand, the advanced UE can maintain symbol #n as an SBFD symbol and, for example, follow the C2 configuration and ignore DCI C4.

[0266] FIG. 27 shows a schematic diagram of configuring resources using DCI according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0267] In step 1 of FIG. 27, the legacy UE and the advanced UE can determine the symbol #n as the DL symbol according to the first configuration C1 from the network device 51.

[0268] In step 2 of FIG. 27, the advanced UE can determine the symbol #n as the SBFD symbol according to the second configuration C2 from the network device 51.

[0269] In case 1 of step 3, the network device 51 can use DCI C4 to indicate symbol #n as a DL symbol, so that legacy UEs and advanced UEs can configure symbol #n as a DL symbol.

[0270] In case 2 of step 3, the network device 51 may transmit DCI C4 to the legacy UE and the advanced UE. Here, DCI C4 may include a specific slot type (e.g., slot type 255) of symbol #n. Therefore, the legacy UE can maintain symbol #n as a DL symbol. Meanwhile, the advanced UE can maintain symbol #n as an SBFD symbol configured by the second configuration C2.

[0271] FIG. 28 shows a schematic diagram of configuring resources using DCI according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0272] In step 1 of FIG. 28, the legacy UE and the advanced UE can determine the symbol #n as the UL symbol according to the first configuration C1 from the network device 51.

[0273] In step 2 of FIG. 28, the advanced UE can determine the symbol #n as the SBFD symbol according to the second configuration C2 from the network device 51.

[0274] In case 1 of step 3, the network device 51 can use DCI C4 to indicate symbol #n as a UL symbol, so that legacy UEs and advanced UEs can configure symbol #n as a UL symbol.

[0275] In case 2 of step 3, the network device 51 may transmit DCI C4 to the legacy UE and the advanced UE. Here, DCI C4 may include a specific slot type (e.g., slot type 255) of symbol #n. Therefore, the legacy UE can maintain symbol #n as a UL symbol. Meanwhile, the advanced UE can maintain symbol #n as a SBFD symbol configured by the second configuration C2.

[0276] In some embodiments, the network device 51 may configure certain resources as SBFD resources directly using the DCI C4 without providing the second configuration C2.

[0277] FIG. 29A shows a schematic diagram of configuring resources as SBFD resources using DCI.

[0278] In step 1 of FIG. 29A, the advanced UE can determine the symbol #n as the DL symbol according to the first configuration C1 from the network device 51.

[0279] 29A, the network device 51 may indicate symbol #n as a flexible symbol using DCI C4, in which case the advanced UE may assume that symbol #n is an SBFD symbol.

[0280] Figure 29B shows a schematic diagram of configuring resources as SBFD resources using DCI.

[0281] In step 1 of FIG. 29B, the advanced UE can determine the symbol #n as the UL symbol according to the first configuration C1 from the network device 51.

[0282] In step 2 of Figure 29B, the network device 51 may indicate symbol #n as a flexible symbol using DCI C4, in which case the advanced UE may assume that symbol #n is an SBFD symbol.

[0283] Figure 29C shows a schematic diagram of configuring resources as SBFD resources using DCI.

[0284] In step 1 of FIG. 29C, the advanced UE can determine the symbol #n as a flexible symbol according to the first configuration C1 from the network device 51.

[0285] In step 2 of Figure 29C, the network device 51 may indicate symbol #n as a flexible symbol using DCI C4, in which case the advanced UE may assume that symbol #n is an SBFD symbol.

[0286] In one embodiment, the UE 52 may receive a slot format table from the network device 51. Here, the slot format table may be a new slot format table in Table 2, which includes at least one of a DL symbol, a UL symbol, a flexible symbol, and an SBFD symbol.

[0287] In one embodiment, in response to determining that symbols in at least one slot are configured as SBFD symbols according to DCI C4, UE52 may determine that the frequency domain configuration of the symbols is the same as a second configuration C2.

[0288] In some embodiments, the UE 52 may receive a control command from the network device 51, where the control command may indicate whether SBFD resources are available.

[0289] In one embodiment, if UE52 determines that the control command indicates a valid state, UE52 may determine that the SBFD resources are available. On the other hand, if UE52 determines that the control command indicates an invalid state, UE52 may determine that the SBFD resources are not available.

[0290] In some embodiments, the control command may be indicated by a DCI, MAC CE, or other higher layer configuration.

[0291] In some embodiments, the control command may be cell-specific, BWP-specific, or UE-specific.

[0292] In some embodiments, the control commands may be provided periodically by the network device 51 .

[0293] FIG. 30 shows a schematic diagram of the application of control commands according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0294] In this embodiment, the network device 51 can periodically transmit a control command to the UE 52. Here, the time difference between two consecutive control commands (e.g., control commands 3001 and 3002) can be, for example, a slot configuration period P (e.g., “dl-UL-TransmissionPeriodicity”).

[0295] 30, the control command 3001 may be set to indicate a valid state by the network device 51. Therefore, in this case, the UE 52 can determine that the SBFD resources within the period 3010 corresponding to the control command 3001 are available.

[0296] Furthermore, the control command 3002 may be set to indicate an invalid state by the network device 51. Therefore, in this case, the UE 52 can determine that the SBFD resources within the period 3020 corresponding to the control command 3002 are not available.

[0297] FIG. 31A shows a schematic diagram of the application of control commands according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0298] In this embodiment, the network device 51 can provide a control command 3101 indicating a valid state to the UE 52, and the UE 52 can determine that SBFD resources are available in the next period (e.g., periods 3110 and 3120) until it receives a control command 3102 indicating an invalid state.

[0299] In this case, therefore, UE52 may determine that SBFD resources within the time period 3130 corresponding to control command 3102 are not available.

[0300] FIG. 31B shows a schematic diagram of the application of control commands according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0301] In this embodiment, the network device 51 can provide a control command 3101a indicating an invalid state to the UE 52, and the UE 52 can determine that SBFD resources are not available in the next period (e.g., periods 3110a and 3120a) until it receives a control command 3102a indicating a valid state.

[0302] In this case, UE52 may therefore determine that SBFD resources within the time period 3130a corresponding to control command 3102a are available.

[0303] FIG. 32 shows a schematic diagram of unavailable SBFD resources according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0304] In FIG. 32, it is assumed that UE52 receives control command 3201 indicating an invalid state, and therefore UE52 can determine that SBFD resources within time period 3210 corresponding to control command 3201 are not available.

[0305] In this case, UE52 can determine the transmission direction of unavailable SBFD resources according to the first configuration C1. For example, if the first configuration C1 indicates that the slots corresponding to the SBFD resources are DL slots, UE52 can determine that these slots are DL slots, as exemplarily shown in Figure 32, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0306] FIG. 33 shows a schematic diagram of the application of control commands according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0307] In this embodiment, if UE 52 receives control command 3301 indicating a valid state at time t, UE 52 can determine that the SBFD resource is available from time t+T onwards, where T is the application time associated with the SBFD resource.

[0308] 33, slots #1 to #3 are configured as SBFD resources, but slot #2 starts after time t+T, so UE 52 can determine that only slots #2 and #3 are available. In other words, slot #1 is determined to be unavailable because it starts before time t+T, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0309] In another embodiment, if UE52 receives control command 3301 indicating an invalid state at time t, UE52 can determine that SBFD resources are unavailable from time t+T onwards. Thus, in the scenario of Figure 33, slots #1 to #3 are configured as SBFD resources, but since slot #1 starts before time t+T, UE52 can determine that only slot #1 is available. In other words, since slot #2 starts after time t+T, slots #2 and #3 are determined to be unavailable, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0310] In some embodiments, the UE 52 may miss receiving the control command. To solve this problem, the UE 52 may use the SBFD resources in another way.

[0311] FIG. 34 shows a schematic diagram of handling missed control commands according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0312] In step 1 of FIG. 34, UE 52 can determine slots #0 to #4 as D, F, F, F, U slots based on the first configuration C1 from network device 51.

[0313] In step 2 of Figure 34, UE 52 can overwrite slot #1 to slot #3 as SBFD resources based on the second configuration C2. Here, the transmission direction of each subband in slot #1 to slot #3 can be exemplarily shown in Figure 34.

[0314] In step 3 of Figure 34, it is assumed that UE52 misses receiving control command 3401 from network device 51, and therefore UE52 does not know whether SBFD resources are available for slots #1 to #3.

[0315] In this embodiment, UE52 misses control command 3401 and the first configuration C1 configures slot #1 as flexible, so UE52 may not perform higher layer configured UL transmission in UL subband 3410.

[0316] In this embodiment, UE52 may miss the control command 3401 and may not perform higher layer configured DL reception in DL subband 3420 since the first configuration C1 configures slot #3 as flexible.

[0317] FIG. 35 shows a schematic diagram of handling missed control commands according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0318] In step 1 of FIG. 35, UE 52 can determine slots #0 to #4 as D, D, D, D, U slots based on the first configuration C1 from network device 51.

[0319] In step 2 of Figure 35, UE 52 can overwrite slot #1 to slot #3 as SBFD resources based on the second configuration C2, where the transmission direction of each subband in slot #1 to slot #3 can be exemplarily shown in Figure 35.

[0320] In step 3 of Figure 35, it is assumed that UE52 misses receiving control command 3501 from network device 51, and therefore UE52 does not know whether SBFD resources are available for slots #1 to #3.

[0321] In this embodiment, UE52 misses control command 3501 and the first configuration C1 configures slot #1 as DL, so UE52 may not perform higher layer configured UL transmission in UL subband 3510.

[0322] In this embodiment, UE52 misses control command 3501 and the first configuration C1 configures slot #3 as DL, so UE52 may not perform DL reception of the higher layer configuration in UL subband 3520.

[0323] FIG. 36 shows a schematic diagram of handling missed control commands according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0324] In FIG. 36, the resource configuration of slot #0 to slot #4 may be the same as the resource configuration of slot #0 to slot #4 in FIG. 35 after step 2.

[0325] In this embodiment, it is assumed that UE52 misses receiving control command 3601, but UE52 is scheduled to perform DL reception on subband 3610 configured as a UL subband by the second configuration C2.

[0326] Therefore, UE52 can determine that control command 3601 indicates an invalid state, and therefore UE52 can determine that SBFD resources for the next slot #2 and slot #3 are not available, although the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0327] FIG. 37 shows a schematic diagram of handling missed control commands according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0328] In FIG. 37, the resource configuration of slot #0 to slot #4 may be the same as the resource configuration of slot #0 to slot #4 in FIG. 35 after step 2, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0329] In this embodiment, it is assumed that UE52 misses receiving control command 3701, but UE52 is scheduled to perform UL transmission on subband 3710 configured as a UL subband by second configuration C2.

[0330] Therefore, UE52 can determine that control command 3701 indicates a valid state, and therefore UE52 can determine that SBFD resources for the next slot #2 and slot #3 are available, although the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0331] In one embodiment, the control command indicating the invalid state can be designed using a counter, where the counter is initialized to have a specific value (say an integer of K) and is decremented by one after one period of time has elapsed. In this case, the UE 52 can assume that the SBFD resource is unavailable if the corresponding counter value is non-zero.

[0332] In one embodiment, once the counter value decrements to zero, the UE 52 may assume that SBFD resources are available.

[0333] FIG. 38 shows a schematic diagram of the application of a counter of control commands according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0334] In FIG. 38, it is assumed that UE 52 receives control command 3801 indicating an invalid state and accordingly initializes a corresponding counter to 2 (eg, K).

[0335] In period 3810, since the counter corresponding to control command 3801 is 2, UE52 can assume that SBFD resources are not available for period 3810.

[0336] In period 3820, since the counter corresponding to control command 3801 is 1 (i.e., the counter has decreased by 1 because period 3810 has passed), UE52 can assume that SBFD resources are not available for period 3820.

[0337] In period 3830, the counter corresponding to control command 3801 is 0 (i.e., the counter has decreased by 1 because period 3820 has passed), so UE52 can assume that SBFD resources for period 3830 will be available.

[0338] In some embodiments, the specific value used to start the counter may be determined by the network device 51 depending on the communication quality between the network device 51 and the UE 52. For example, if the communication quality measured by the network device 51 is poor, the specific value used to start the counter may be determined to be a larger value to prevent the UE 52 from using the SBFD resources for a longer period of time. Conversely, if the communication quality measured by the network device 51 is good, the specific value used to start the counter may be determined to be a smaller value to prevent the UE 52 from using the SBFD resources for a shorter period of time.

[0339] In some embodiments, the particular value used to start the counter may be indicated by, for example, the DCI, MAC CE, and / or other higher layer configuration.

[0340] In one embodiment, in the scenario of FIG. 38, the network device 51 may stop providing control commands during periods 3820 and 3830, although the present invention is not limited in this respect.

[0341] In some embodiments, the network device 51 may directly decrement the control command counter to zero if it determines that the communication quality is good.

[0342] FIG. 39 shows a schematic diagram of the application of a counter of control commands according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0343] In FIG. 39, it is assumed that UE 52 receives control command 3901 indicating an invalid state and accordingly initializes a corresponding counter to 4 (eg, K).

[0344] In period 3910, since the counter corresponding to control command 3901 is 2, UE52 can assume that SBFD resources are not available for period 3910.

[0345] In period 3920, the counter corresponding to control command 3901 is 3 (i.e., the counter has decreased by 1 because period 3910 has passed), so UE52 can assume that SBFD resources are not available for period 3920.

[0346] In period 3930, it is assumed that network device 51 detects that communication quality has improved, and therefore network device 51 can directly set the counter corresponding to control command 3901 to zero. In this case, since the counter corresponding to control command 3901 is 0, UE 52 can assume that SBFD resources within period 3930 will be available.

[0347] In some embodiments, the control command may be implemented as a bitmap containing M bits (where M is an integer), where the mth bit of the M bits (where m is an index) corresponds to the mth SBFD resource of one period.

[0348] In one embodiment, if the mth bit has a first bit value (e.g., "1"), the UE 52 may determine that the mth SBFD resource of the corresponding time period is available. On the other hand, if the mth bit has a second bit value (e.g., "0"), the UE 52 may determine that the mth SBFD resource of the corresponding time period is not available.

[0349] FIG. 40 shows a schematic diagram of implementing control commands as bitmaps according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0350] 40, assume that UE 52 receives control command 4001, which is a bitmap having bit combinations of {0, 1, 1}. In this case, UE 52 can determine that a first SBFD resource in a corresponding period (e.g., periods 4010 and 4020) is not available, and can determine that a second and third SBFD resource in a corresponding period (e.g., periods 4010 and 4020) is available.

[0351] Further, assume that UE52 receives control command 4002, which is a bitmap having bit combinations of {1, 1, 1}. In this case, UE52 can determine that the first, second, and third SBFD resources within the corresponding time period (e.g., time period 4030) are available.

[0352] FIG. 41 shows a schematic diagram of implementing control commands as bitmaps according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0353] 41, it is assumed that UE 52 receives control command 4101, which is a bitmap having bit combinations of {0, 1, 1}. In this case, UE 52 can determine that the first SBFD resource of the corresponding period (e.g., the SBFD resources of slot #1 and slot #6) is unavailable, and can determine that the second and third SBFD resources of the corresponding period (e.g., the SBFD resources of slot #2, slot #3, slot #7, and slot #8) are available.

[0354] In this embodiment, the SBFD resources determined to be unavailable may be used by UE52 based on, for example, the first configuration C1.

[0355] For example, if the first configuration C1 configures slot #1 as a DL slot, then UE 52 can assume slot #1 as the DL slot. Furthermore, if the first configuration C1 configures slot #6 as a flexible slot, then UE 52 can assume slot #6 as a flexible slot.

[0356] In some embodiments, a control command may be implemented as a bitmap including P bits (where P is an integer), where the pth bit (where p is an index) of the P bits corresponds to the pth SBFD symbol of the corresponding SBFD slot within a period.

[0357] In one embodiment, if the pth bit has a first bit value (e.g., "1"), UE52 can determine that the pth SBFD symbol of the corresponding SBFD slot of the corresponding period is available. On the other hand, if the pth bit has a second bit value (e.g., "0"), UE52 can determine that the pth SBFD symbol of the corresponding SBFD slot of the corresponding period is not available.

[0358] FIG. 42 shows a schematic diagram of implementing control commands as bitmaps according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0359] In FIG. 42, it is assumed that UE 52 receives control command 4201, which is a bitmap of 14 bits (eg, P is 14), corresponding respectively to 14 SBFD symbols in slot #n (eg, SBFD slot).

[0360] FIG. 43 shows a schematic diagram of implementing the control commands according to FIG. 42 as a bitmap.

[0361] 43, assume that UE52 receives control command 4301, which is a bitmap having the bit combinations {0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1}. In this case, UE52 can determine that symbols 1 through 7 in slot #n (e.g., symbols #0 through #6) are unavailable, and that symbols 8 through 14 in slot #n (e.g., symbols #7 through #13) are unavailable.

[0362] In this embodiment, the SBFD symbols determined to be unavailable may be used by UE52 based on the first configuration C1, for example.

[0363] For example, if the first configuration C1 configures the first to seventh symbols in slot #n as DL symbols, then UE 52 can assume that the first to seventh symbols in slot #n are DL symbols.

[0364] 44 shows a flowchart of a method for configuring SBFD resources according to an embodiment of the present invention, which can be performed by the network device 51 of the present invention.

[0365] In step S4410, the network device 51 transmits the first configuration C1 to the UE 52. In step S4420, the network device 51 transmits the second configuration C2 to the UE 52. In step S4430, the network device 51 transmits the DCI C4 to the UE 52. In step S4440, the network device 51 performs a communication operation with the UE 52 in accordance with the first configuration C1, the second configuration C2, and the DCI C4. For details related to steps S4410 to S4440, please refer to the above description and will not be repeated here.

[0366] In summary, the embodiments of the present invention provide a solution for a UE and a network device to communicate with each other using SBFD resources configured by higher layer configuration and / or DCI. [Industrial Applicability]

[0367] The SBFD resource configuration method and the UE using the same of the present invention can be applied to a communication system. [Explanation of symbols]

[0368] S: Period S1: First time period S2: Second time period 10, 51, 52: Network devices 11: First upper layer configuration 12: Second upper layer configuration 60: SBFD Resources 61: Frequency range 80: Bitmap display 300: Communication equipment 302: Transceiver 304: Processor 531, 541, 551: Start part 532, 542, 552: middle part 533, 543, 553: End part 711: First SBFD resource 712: Secondary SBFD resource 1200: SBFD symbol 1201, 1202, 1203, 3610, 3710: Sub-bands 1210, 1220: BWP 711, 712: First SBFD resource 1230, 61: Frequency range 3001, 3002, 3101, 3101a, 3102, 3102a, 3201, 3301, 3401, 3501, 3601, 3701, 3801, 3901, 4001, 4002, 4101, 4201, 4301: Control commands 3010, 3020, 3130, 3130a, 3210, 3810, 3820, 3830, 3910, 3920, 3930, 4010, 4020, 4030: Period 3110, 3110a, 3120, 3120a, 3820, 3830: Period 3410, 3510, 3520: UL sub-band 3420: DL subband C1: First configuration C11: First pattern C2: Second configuration C3: Third Configuration C4: DCI C12: Second pattern D1: Duration S410, S420, S430, S1010, S1020, S1030, S1110, S1120, S1130, S1140, S1410, S 1420, S1430, S1440, S1510, S1520, S1530, S1540, S4410, S4420, S4430, S4440: Process d1, d2, d3: offsets

Claims

1. 1. A method for configuring sub-band full duplex (SBFD) resources applied to a user equipment (UE), comprising: receiving, by the UE, from a network device, a first configuration indicating a plurality of transmission directions for a period of time; receiving, by the UE, from the network device a second configuration indicating at least one SBFD resource for the time period; performing, by the UE, a communication operation with the network device according to the first configuration and the second configuration; Including, the first configuration includes a first pattern, a second pattern, and a subcarrier spacing; the first pattern indicates a beginning, a middle, and an end of a first time period; the second pattern indicates a beginning, a middle, and an end of a second time period; the beginning portion of the first time period indicated by the first pattern includes at least one first downlink resource, the middle portion of the first time period indicated by the first pattern includes at least one first flexible resource, and the end portion of the first time period indicated by the first pattern includes at least one first uplink resource; the beginning portion of the second time period indicated by the second pattern includes at least one second downlink resource, the middle portion of the second time period indicated by the second pattern includes at least one second flexible resource, and the end portion of the second time period indicated by the second pattern includes at least one second uplink resource; an end time of the first time period coincides with a start time of the second time period, the duration being equal to the sum of the first time period and the second time period; The second configuration includes an SBFD setting, the SBFD setting is applied to the first pattern or the second pattern, and the SBFD setting is overwriting the at least one first downlink resource indicated by the first pattern with a first SBFD resource and overwriting the at least one first flexible resource indicated by the first pattern with a second SBFD resource; or overwriting the at least one second downlink resource indicated by the second pattern with the first SBFD resource, and overwriting the at least one second flexible resource indicated by the second pattern with the second SBFD resource; is used to perform The method, wherein the first SBFD resource and the second SBFD resource correspond to a reference time period of the first time period and the second time period.

2. the SBFD configuration is not permitted to be used to override the at least one first uplink resource indicated by the first pattern and the at least one second uplink resource indicated by the second pattern; The method of claim 1.

3. the first SBFD resources are contiguous in a time domain within the corresponding reference time period, and the second SBFD resources are contiguous in the time domain within the corresponding reference time period; an end time of the first SBFD resource coincides with a start time of the second SBFD resource within the corresponding reference time period; The method of claim 1.

4. the first configuration indicates a first periodicity of the time period, the first periodicity being equal to the sum of the first time period and the second time period, and a second periodicity of the at least one SBFD resource configured according to the second configuration being identical to the first periodicity; The subcarrier spacing is applied to the first pattern, the second pattern, and the SBFD configuration. The method of claim 1.

5. The SBFD setting includes information about a time length; the time length is equal to the sum of the time domain length of the first SBFD resource and the time domain length of the second SBFD resource; The method of claim 1.

6. A transmitter / receiver, a processor coupled to the transceiver, controlling the transceiver to receive a first configuration from a network device indicating a plurality of transmission directions over a period of time; controlling the transceiver to receive a second configuration from the network device indicating at least one SBFD resource for the time period; performing a communication operation with the network device according to the first configuration and the second configuration; a processor configured to execute Including, the first configuration includes a first pattern, a second pattern, and a subcarrier spacing; the first pattern indicates a beginning, a middle, and an end of a first time period; the second pattern indicates a beginning, a middle, and an end of a second time period; the beginning portion of the first time period indicated by the first pattern includes at least one first downlink resource, the middle portion of the first time period indicated by the first pattern includes at least one first flexible resource, and the end portion of the first time period indicated by the first pattern includes at least one first uplink resource; the beginning portion of the second time period indicated by the second pattern includes at least one second downlink resource, the middle portion of the second time period indicated by the second pattern includes at least one second flexible resource, and the end portion of the second time period indicated by the second pattern includes at least one second uplink resource; an end time of the first time period coincides with a start time of the second time period, the duration being equal to the sum of the first time period and the second time period; The second configuration includes an SBFD setting, the SBFD setting is applied to the first pattern or the second pattern, and the SBFD setting is overwriting the at least one first downlink resource indicated by the first pattern with a first SBFD resource and overwriting the at least one first flexible resource indicated by the first pattern with a second SBFD resource; or overwriting the at least one second downlink resource indicated by the second pattern with the first SBFD resource, and overwriting the at least one second flexible resource indicated by the second pattern with the second SBFD resource; is used to perform The first SBFD resource and the second SBFD resource correspond to a reference time period of the first time period and the second time period.

7. A sub-band full duplex (SBFD) resource configuration method applied to a network device, comprising: transmitting, by a network device, a first configuration to a user equipment (UE) indicating a plurality of transmission directions for a time period; sending, by the network device, a second configuration to the UE indicating at least one SBFD resource for the time period; performing, by the network device, a communication operation with a UE according to the first configuration and the second configuration; Including, the first configuration includes a first pattern, a second pattern, and a subcarrier spacing; the first pattern indicates a beginning, a middle, and an end of a first time period; the second pattern indicates a beginning, a middle, and an end of a second time period; the beginning portion of the first time period indicated by the first pattern includes at least one first downlink resource, the middle portion of the first time period indicated by the first pattern includes at least one first flexible resource, and the end portion of the first time period indicated by the first pattern includes at least one first uplink resource; the beginning portion of the second time period indicated by the second pattern includes at least one second downlink resource, the middle portion of the second time period indicated by the second pattern includes at least one second flexible resource, and the end portion of the second time period indicated by the second pattern includes at least one second uplink resource; an end time of the first time period coincides with a start time of the second time period, the duration being equal to the sum of the first time period and the second time period; The second configuration includes an SBFD setting, the SBFD setting is applied to the first pattern or the second pattern, and the SBFD setting is overwriting the at least one first downlink resource indicated by the first pattern with a first SBFD resource and overwriting the at least one first flexible resource indicated by the first pattern with a second SBFD resource; or overwriting the at least one second downlink resource indicated by the second pattern with the first SBFD resource, and overwriting the at least one second flexible resource indicated by the second pattern with the second SBFD resource; is used to perform The method, wherein the first SBFD resource and the second SBFD resource correspond to a reference time period of the first time period and the second time period.

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