Wireless relay device and wireless relay method

Abstract

This wireless relay device receives control information from a wireless base station. On the basis of the control information, the wireless relay device controls the relay status relating to at least the beams when the device relays radio waves from the wireless base station or a terminal without employing signal interpretation.

Description

Wireless relay device and wireless relay method

[0001] The present invention relates to a radio relay device and a radio relay method.

[0002] The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is developing specifications for the 5th generation mobile communication system (5G, also known as New Radio (NR) or Next Generation (NG)), and is also developing specifications for the next generation, known as Beyond 5G, 5G Evolution, or 6G.

[0003] In particular, high frequency bands are expected to be used in next-generation communications, but improvements in communication quality will be necessary due to factors such as a reduction in the number of scatterers, a weakening of the shadowing effect, and an increase in distance attenuation, and it is expected that beam control and environments that guarantee communication quality will be required.

[0004] For example, in high frequency bands, there is a problem that blind zones are easily created due to the strong directional nature of radio waves, etc. Therefore, methods have been attempted to improve communication quality in multipath environments, etc., using passive repeaters or active reflectors (RIS: Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface) (see Non-Patent Document 1, pp. 15-16, etc.).

[0005] NTT Docomo, "Docomo 6G White Paper 3.0 Edition", [online], released in February 2021, Internet <URL: https: / / www.nttdocomo.co.jp / corporate / technology / whitepaper_6g / >

[0006] When relaying radio waves from a radio wave source such as a base station or a terminal (User Equipment, UE) to a radio wave receiving destination by reflecting or transmitting the radio waves, it is necessary to directly obtain or estimate information about the propagation path between the base station, the UE, etc., and appropriately control the beam of a reflector (RIS), etc.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and aims to provide a wireless relay device and a wireless relay method that can obtain information regarding the propagation path between a base station, a UE, etc., and appropriately control the beam of a reflector (RIS), etc., to relay.

[0008] A wireless relay device (RIS300) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a control unit (control unit 330) that controls at least the relay state of the beam when relaying radio waves from a wireless base station (wireless base station 100, 150) or a terminal (UE200) without interpreting the signal, and a receiving unit (information acquisition unit 350) that receives control information from the wireless base station (wireless base station 100, 150), and the control unit (control unit 330) controls the relay state of the beam based on the control information.

[0009] A wireless relay method that is one aspect of the present disclosure includes a receiving step of receiving control information from a wireless base station (wireless base station 100, 150) or a terminal (UE 200), and a control step of controlling a relay state for at least a beam when relaying radio waves from the wireless base station (wireless base station 100, 150) without signal interpretation, wherein the control step controls the relay state for the beam based on the control information.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the overall configuration of a wireless communication system 10. FIG. 2 is a basic configuration diagram of a network using a wireless relay device 300. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the wireless relay device 300. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of typical issues when using a high frequency band. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between the transmitting antenna (Tx) of a base station 150A or the like, the relay antenna (Sx) of a reflective wireless relay device 300, and the receiving antenna (Rx) of a UE 200 or the like. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the transmitting antenna (Tx) of a base station 150A or the like, the relay antenna (Sx) of a transparent wireless relay device 300, and the receiving antenna (Rx) of a UE 200 or the like. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the relationship in which the wireless relay device 300 performs signaling of control information with the base station 100 or the UE 200. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of selecting a beam to be transmitted and received by the RIS using a meta structure. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of selecting a beam to be transmitted and received by the RIS using a meta structure. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the operation of the wireless relay device 300. Fig. 11 is a diagram showing an example of operation of the wireless relay device 300. Fig. 12 is a diagram showing an example of operation of the wireless relay device 300. Fig. 13 is a diagram showing an example of operation of the wireless relay device 300. Fig. 14 is a diagram showing an example of operation of the wireless relay device 300. Fig. 15 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the UE 200, the wireless relay device 300, etc.

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the same or similar reference numerals are used to designate the same functions or configurations, and descriptions thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[0012] (1) Overall Schematic Configuration of Wireless Communication System Fig. 1 is an overall schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a wireless communication system 10 according to this embodiment. The wireless communication system 10 is, for example, a wireless communication system conforming to 5G New Radio (NR) or 6G, and is configured by multiple wireless base stations and multiple terminals.

[0013] Specifically, the wireless communication system 10 includes a wireless base station 100, wireless base stations 150A to 150D, and a user terminal 200 (hereinafter referred to as UE 200, User Equipment).

[0014] The radio base station 100 is, for example, a radio base station conforming to 5G or 6G standards, and forms a cell C1. Note that the cell C1 is a relatively large cell, and is called a macrocell.

[0015] The radio base stations 150A to 150D are also radio base stations conforming to 5G to 6G, but form relatively small cells C11 to C14, respectively. Cells C11 to C14 may be called small cells or semi-macro cells. As shown in FIG. 1, cells C11 to C14 may be formed so as to be included in (overlay) cell C1 (macro cell).

[0016] A macrocell is generally interpreted as a communication area with a radius of several hundred meters to several tens of kilometers that is covered by a single wireless base station, while a small cell is interpreted as a general term for a cell that has low transmission power and covers an area smaller than that of a macrocell.

[0017] The radio base station 100 and the radio base stations 150A to 150D may be referred to as gNodeB (gNB) or BS (Base Station), etc. The UE 200 may be referred to as MS, etc. Furthermore, the specific configuration of the radio communication system 10, including the number and types of radio base stations and terminals, is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 1 .

[0018] Furthermore, the wireless communication system 10 is not necessarily limited to a wireless communication system conforming to 5G or 6G. For example, the wireless communication system 10 may be a next-generation wireless communication system such as 6G or a wireless communication system conforming to Long Term Evolution (LTE).

[0019] The radio base station 100 and the radio base stations 150A to 150D, for example, perform radio communication according to 5G to 6G with the UE 200. The radio base station 100, the radio base stations 150A to 150D, and the UE 200 can support Massive MIMO, which generates a more directional beam BM by controlling radio signals transmitted from multiple antenna elements, Carrier Aggregation (CA), which uses multiple component carriers (CCs) by bundling them together, Dual Connectivity (DC), which performs simultaneous communication between a UE and two NG-RAN nodes, and Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB), which integrates a radio backhaul between radio communication nodes such as gNBs and radio access to a UE.

[0020] The wireless communication system 10 may also support higher frequency bands than the following frequency ranges (FR) defined in 3GPP Release 15:

[0021] FR1: 410 MHz to 7.125 GHz FR2: 24.25 GHz to 52.6 GHz Specifically, the wireless communication system 10 supports frequency bands exceeding 52.6 GHz up to 114.25 GHz. For convenience, this high frequency band is referred to as "FR4." FR4 belongs to the so-called EHF (extremely high frequency, also known as millimeter waves). Note that FR4 is a tentative name, and it may be called by a different name.

[0022] The wireless communication system 10 also includes a wireless repeater 300. In the present embodiment, the wireless repeater 300 may be described as a reflector (RIS), a phase-controlled reflector, a passive repeater, an intelligent reflecting surface (IRS), or the like. Specific examples of the reflector (RIS) may include those called metamaterial reflectors, dynamic metasurfaces, metasurface lenses, and the like (see Non-Patent Document 1).

[0023] In this embodiment, the radio relay device 300 relays a radio signal transmitted from a radio base station (e.g., the radio base station 150A). (In the description of this embodiment, the term "relay" may refer to at least one of "reflection," "transmission," "concentration" (concentrating radio waves at a substantially single point), and "diffraction.") The UE 200 can receive the radio signal relayed by the radio relay device 300. Conversely, the radio relay device 300 may relay a radio signal transmitted from the UE 200. The same applies to the base station 100 (including 150; the same applies below). In other words, the radio relay device 300 relays a radio signal from the radio base station 100 or the terminal 200.

[0024] As an example, the wireless relay device 300 can change the phase of a wireless signal relayed to the terminal 200. From this perspective, the wireless relay device 300 may be called a variable-phase reflector. Note that in the present embodiment, the wireless relay device 300 may be described as having a function of changing the phase of a wireless signal and relaying it, but this is not limiting. The wireless relay device 300 may also be called a repeater, a relay device, a reflect array, an IRS, a transmit array, or the like.

[0025] In addition, in this embodiment, the wireless repeater device 300 such as a RIS may be called a battery-less device, a metamaterial functional device, an intelligent reflecting surface, a smart repeater, etc. As an example, the wireless repeater device 300 such as a RIS may be defined as having the following functions. [UE functions] - Function to receive signals transmitted from the BS (e.g., DL (downlink) signals, SSB (SS Block), PDCCH (Physical Downlink Control Channel), PDSCH (Physical Downlink Shared Channel), DM-RS (DeModulation Reference Signal), PT-RS (Phase Tracking Reference Signal), CSI-RS (Channel Status Information Reference Signal), RIS-dedicated signals) Reception of information related to the meta-material functions listed below - Function to transmit signals to the BS (e.g., UL (uplink) signals, PRACH (Random Access Channel Preamble), PUCCH (Physical Uplink Control Channel), PUSCH Physical Uplink Control Channel, DM-RS, PT-RS, SRS (Sounding Reference Signal), RIS-dedicated signals) Transmission of information related to the meta-material functions listed below - Frame synchronization function with the BS [Meta-material functions] - Function to reflect signals transmitted from the BS or UE (e.g., phase change) Functions related to beam control (e.g., TCI (Transmission Configuration Indication)-state, QCL (Quasi Coherence Functions related to the control of location, beam selection and application, spatial filter / precoding weight selection and application) - Functions for changing the power of signals transmitted from the BS or UE (e.g., power amplification)

[0026] Furthermore, "receive and transmit" or "relay" in a wireless repeater 300 such as a RIS may mean that the following predetermined function A is performed, but transmission is performed without performing predetermined function B. A: A phase shifter is applied, but B: A compensation circuit (e.g., amplifier, filter) is not used. A: A phase shifter and compensation circuit are applied, but B: A frequency conversion is not used.

[0027] In the wireless relay device 300 such as a RIS, when the phase is changed, the amplitude may be amplified. Furthermore, "relaying" in the wireless relay device 300 such as a RIS may mean transmitting a received signal as is without performing processing at the layer 2 / 3 level, transmitting a received signal at the physical layer level as is, or transmitting a received signal as is without signal interpretation (in which case, the phase may be changed or the amplitude may be amplified). In this embodiment, the wireless relay device 300 can particularly control the relay state of at least the beam when relaying radio waves from the wireless base station 100 or the terminal 200 without signal interpretation.

[0028] (2) Basic Configuration of Network Using Wireless Relay Device 300 Next, a description will be given of the basic configuration of a network using the wireless relay device 300. FIG.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 2, as an example, the radio relay device 300 is interposed between the radio base station 150A (which may be another radio base station 100, etc.) and the UE 200, and relays (reflects, transmits, aggregates, diffracts, etc.) radio signals transmitted and received between the radio base station 150A and the UE 200.

[0030] As a specific example, when the radio quality is good, the radio base station 150A and the UE 200 transmit and receive radio signals directly without going through the radio relay device 300. When the radio quality deteriorates, for example, when there is an obstruction between the radio base station 150A and the UE 200, the radio relay device 300 relays the radio signals transmitted and received between the radio base station 150A and the UE 200.

[0031] Specifically, the radio relay device 300 calculates propagation path information H between a radio wave generating source such as the radio base station 150A or the UE 200 and the relay antenna based on a change in the received power when controlling the variable unit 303 such as a variable phase shifter. PT, H RP The propagation path information H is estimated, and the variable unit 303 such as a variable phase shifter is controlled based on the estimated propagation path information to relay the radio signal to the radio wave receiving destination such as the UE 200. PT, H RP The radio relay device 300 may also relay a radio signal to a radio wave receiving destination such as the UE 200 by controlling a variable unit 303 such as a variable phase shifter based on control information received from the radio base station 150A or the UE 200.

[0032] Here, a propagation path or a propagation channel refers to an individual communication path for wireless communication, and in this case, refers to a communication path between each transmitting / receiving antenna (BS ant. and MS ant. in the figure, etc.).

[0033] As an example, the radio relay device 300 includes a small multi-element antenna 301 that supports Massive MIMO, and a variable phase shifter or phase shifter 303 that changes the phase of a radio signal, essentially, a radio wave, to a specific phase, and controls the phase of the radio wave relayed to the UE 200 or the radio base station 150A using the phase shifter 303. For specific methods of controlling the phase, the following literature may be referred to: Venkat Arun and Hari Balakrishnan, “RFocus: Beamforming Using Thousands of Passive Antennas”, 17th USENIX Symposium on Networked Systems Design and Implementation (NSDI '20), February 25-27, 2020, Santa Clara, CA, USA, pp.1047-1061 Qingqing Wu, and Rui Zhang, “Intelligent Reflecting Surface Enhanced Wireless Network via Joint Active and Passive Beamforming”, IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS, VOL. 18, NO. 11, NOVEMBER 2019, pp.5394-5409

[0034] (3) Functional Block Configuration of Wireless Relay Device 300 Fig. 3 is a functional block configuration diagram of the wireless relay device 300. As shown in Fig. 3, the wireless relay device 300 includes an antenna 301, a variable unit 303, a control unit 330, and an information acquisition unit 350.

[0035] As will be described later with reference to Figures 5 and 6, the antenna 301 is at least one antenna connected to a variable unit 303. For example, the antenna 301 may be arranged as an array antenna. In this embodiment, the antenna 301 may be particularly referred to as a relay antenna.

[0036] The variable unit 303 is connected to the antenna 301 and can change the phase, load, amplitude, etc. For example, the variable unit 303 may be a variable phase shifter, a phase shifter, an amplifier, etc. For example, by changing the phase of the radio waves that reach the repeater antenna from the radio wave generating source, it is possible to change the direction, beam, etc. of the radio waves.

[0037] The control unit 330 is a control means that controls the variable unit 303. In this embodiment, the control unit 330 functions as a control unit that controls at least the relay state related to the beam when relaying radio waves from the radio base station 100 or the terminal 200 without signal interpretation. Here, the control unit 330 may change the relay state based on control information received from the radio base station 100. For example, the control unit 330 may select appropriate receiving beams and transmitting beams (directions thereof) based on control information such as SSB, and control the variable unit 303 for that purpose. Note that the control information may be a combination of a beam between the radio base station 100 and the radio relay device 300 and a beam between the UE 200 and the radio relay device 300 (e.g., mapping information between the former and the latter).

[0038] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the control unit 330 can control the variable unit 303 based on, for example, information about the propagation path between the UE 200 or the radio base station 150A and the relay antenna 301 (including information estimated based on the reception state and control information; the same applies below). For example, the control unit 330 can relay radio waves received from the radio base station 150A to a specific direction, such as the radio wave receiving destination (UE 200 in this case), by changing the phase without using transmission power, using a known method such as an active repeater or RIS. Specifically, the control unit 330 controls the variable unit 303 based on the estimated H PT and H RPBased on this, the radio relay device 300 controls the phase of the radio signal to be relayed to the UE 200 or the radio base station 150A. That is, based on the same principle as beamforming, by changing the phase of an array antenna or the like, radio waves can be relayed in a specific direction. Note that the radio relay device 300 controls (changes) only the phase of the radio signal (radio wave) using the control unit 330, and may relay the radio signal without power supply, without amplifying the power of the relayed radio signal.

[0039] Here, in this embodiment, the control unit 330 may determine whether the control information received by the receiving unit 350 is addressed to itself. For example, the RIS 300 may determine whether the control information (DCI, etc.) is addressed to itself based on an RNTI (Radio Network Temporary Identifier) ​​that scrambles the CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) of the DCI. As another example, the RIS 300 may determine which field of the DCI, etc., is addressed to itself based on a setting in an upper layer.

[0040] In this embodiment, the control unit 330 may control the time until the change of the relay state for the beam based on the control information is performed, or may control the application period for the control of the relay state for the beam based on the control information. Specific examples will be described later.

[0041] In this embodiment, the information acquisition unit 350 also functions as a receiving unit that acquires control information from the radio base station 150A. For example, the information acquisition unit 350 may receive various signals such as SSB (including the various signals exemplified in the above-mentioned UE function and metamaterial function) transmitted from the radio base station 150A or the UE 200 as control information. In this embodiment, the information acquisition unit 350 may also receive setting information for receiving control information related to beams. In this embodiment, the information acquisition unit 350 may also function as a transmitting unit that transmits response information in response to the reception of the control information to the radio base station 100. Note that the information acquisition unit 350 acquires propagation path information (H PT , H RP ) may be estimated.

[0042] In addition, H PT and H RP can be expressed as follows:

[0043]

[0044] M is the number of antennas at the terminal (receiving), N is the number of antennas at the wireless base station (transmitting), and K is the number of relay antennas.

[0045] The propagation path information (propagation channel information) for each propagation path is specifically information such as amplitude and phase, and in this embodiment is information estimated regarding the propagation path of the radio wave arriving at the relay antenna 301. As an example, the information acquisition unit 350 may estimate the propagation path information of the relay antenna 301 based on a change in received power when the phase of the variable unit 303 of each relay antenna 301 in the array is switched to orthogonal, using a principle similar to that of I / Q (In-phase / Quadrature) detection.

[0046] (4) Configuration Examples of Antennas, etc. Next, we will explain configuration examples focusing on the relay antenna 301. First, we will explain typical problems that arise when using high frequency bands, and then we will explain antenna configuration examples, etc. in the wireless relay device 300 that can solve these problems.

[0047] (4.1) Problems A wireless base station that supports Massive MIMO can transmit beams. Massive MIMO generally refers to MIMO communication using antennas with 100 or more antenna elements, enabling faster wireless communication than conventional methods by multiplexing multiple streams. Advanced beamforming (BF) is also possible. The beam width can be dynamically changed depending on the frequency band used or the status of the UE 200. Furthermore, the use of narrow beams can increase the received signal power through beamforming (BF) gain. Furthermore, it is expected to reduce interference and make more efficient use of wireless resources.

[0048] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of typical issues that arise when using a high-frequency band. As shown in FIG. 4, when using a high-frequency band of several GHz to several tens of GHz or more, a blind zone is likely to occur due to the strong, directional propagation of radio waves. When the radio base station 150A and the UE 200 are line-of-sight, even when the high-frequency band is used, there is no impact on wireless communication between the radio base station 150A and the UE 200. On the other hand, when the line-of-sight between the radio base station 150A and the UE 200 is blocked by an obstacle OB, such as a building or a tree, wireless quality is significantly degraded. In other words, when the UE 200 moves into a blind zone blocked by the obstacle OB, communication may be interrupted.

[0049] Considering the existence of applications (such as remote control) that take advantage of the high speed, large capacity, and low latency characteristics of 5G and 6G, it is important to eliminate blind spots, ensure that communication within the wireless communication system 10 is not interrupted, and keep the wireless base station and terminal connected.

[0050] Therefore, technologies have been developed that can relay radio waves between the base station 150A and the UE 200, such as radio wave propagation control devices such as active repeaters and RIS. In this way, by controlling the propagation characteristics of the base station signal, it is possible to improve communication characteristics, expand coverage without the need for a signal source, and reduce installation and operation costs by adding more base stations.

[0051] Conventional radio wave propagation control devices are classified into passive and active types, and while the passive type has the advantage of not requiring control information, it cannot keep up with moving objects, environmental changes, etc. In contrast, the active type has the disadvantage of requiring control information and increasing overhead, but it can variably control the propagation characteristics of radio waves by changing the load (phase) state of the control antenna, and can keep up with moving objects, environmental changes, etc.

[0052] There are two types of active radio wave propagation control devices and control methods: a feedback (FB) model and a propagation path information model. In the FB model, a variable radio wave propagation control device randomly changes the load (phase) state and has the UE or the like provide feedback on the communication state, thereby searching for optimal conditions. On the other hand, in the propagation path information model, the load state is determined based on propagation path information between the radio base station and the radio wave propagation control device, enabling optimal radio wave propagation control. Either type can be applied in this embodiment.

[0053] In addition, there are various types of relay methods, such as reflection, transmission, diffraction, and aggregation. In this embodiment, as an example, reflective and transmissive configurations will be described below (for diffraction and aggregation types, see Non-Patent Document 1, etc.).

[0054] (4.2) Reflection Type An example of the system configuration of a reflection type wireless relay device 300 will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between a transmitting antenna (Tx) of a base station 150A or the like, a relay antenna (Sx) of a transmission type wireless relay device 300, and a receiving antenna (Rx) of a UE 200 or the like. As shown in Fig. 5, this embodiment uses MIMO as an example, and there are multiple propagation paths between Tx and Sx and multiple propagation paths between Sx and Rx, and the wireless relay device 300 relays radio waves by controlling a variable unit 303 such as a variable phase shifter of an antenna 301.

[0055] As shown in Figure 5, in the case of a reflective type, the array-like relay antennas 301 are arranged facing the same direction, which makes it possible to estimate the propagation path of the relay antenna 301 based on the reception state observed when the phase condition of the relay antenna 301 is changed multiple times.

[0056] (4.3) Transparent Type An example of the system configuration of a transparent type wireless relay device 300 will be described with reference to FIG. 6 . FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between a transmitting antenna (Tx) of a base station 150A or the like, a relay antenna (Sx) of a transparent type wireless relay device 300, and a receiving antenna (Rx) of a UE 200 or the like. As shown in FIG. 6 , this embodiment uses MIMO as an example, and there are multiple propagation paths between Tx and Sx and multiple propagation paths between Sx and Rx. As shown in the figure, the wireless relay device 300 relays radio waves arriving from one side to the other side via a variable unit 303 such as a variable phase shifter of the relay antenna 301. As such, in the transparent type, the reference antenna 301A and the relay antenna 301 are arranged as a pair, facing in opposite directions, so that radio waves arriving from one side can be relayed to the other side. Whether the wireless relay device is a transparent type or a reflective type, a power detector or the like may be configured to detect the power reaching the relay antenna 301 to measure the reception status. Furthermore, the propagation path of the relay antenna 301 can be estimated based on the received signal observed when the phase condition of the relay antenna 301 is changed multiple times.

[0057] (5) Example of Control Based on Control Information An example of a method for controlling the relay state of a beam based on control information received by the wireless relay device 300 from the base station 100 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[0058] 7 is a diagram showing a relationship in which the radio relay device 300 performs signaling of control information with the base station 100 or the UE 200. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, signaling is performed between the radio relay device 300 and the base station 100 or the UE 200 to perform beam control of the radio relay device 300, such as a RIS. For example, control information for beam selection is included in the transmitted and received signals, and the reception quality of the transmitted beam, etc., is fed back.

[0059] An example of beam control in which the beam is changed by control information without changing the beam of the base station will be described below. Figures 8 and 9 show an example of selecting a beam to be transmitted and received by the RIS using control information.

[0060] As shown in Fig. 8, the RIS 300 can appropriately select a beam for transmission / reception by the RIS 300 itself by using the beam selection of the control information. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 9, the base station 100 or the UE 200 can appropriately select a beam to direct when transmitting to the RIS or a beam to receive from the RIS. (6) Example of RIS Operation Next, an example of operation of the radio relay device 300 such as the RIS will be described below. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 7, an operation of communicating control information between the base station and the RIS and determining the operation of the RIS based on the control information will be described.

[0061] In addition, at least one of the following operations may be performed: Discovery Synchronization / connection with base station Synchronization / connection with mobile station Synchronization / connection between base station and mobile station Beam selection based on information from base station Beam selection based on information from mobile station Feedback specification for Meta Structure control Signaling mechanism for RIS beam control Beam selection by RIS Beam switching when multiple mobile stations exist Cooperation by multiple RISs Reporting communication quality to base station / mobile station

[0062] 10 is a diagram showing an example of the operation of the wireless relay device 300 in this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 10, in this embodiment, the wireless relay device 300 such as a RIS controls the relay state of the relay beam based on control information received from the base station 100. Note that the wireless relay device 300 may perform the following operation as an initial connection procedure with the wireless base station 100.

[0063] Discovery The RIS may discover base stations with which it can synchronize / connect. The RIS may be discovered by base stations with which it can synchronize / connect.

[0064] ・Synchronization / Connection: The RIS performs operations related to synchronization / connection with the base station. For example, the RIS synchronizes based on the SSB transmitted from the base station and sends a connection request to the base station.

[0065] ・Initial connection between base station and mobile station: Receives and transmits signals related to the initial connection sent from the base station and mobile station (beam control in RIS). For example, RIS directs the beam according to each SSB index.

[0066] Furthermore, the radio relay device 300 may perform the following operations when performing beam control (beam control based on control information from the base station) in communication after connection is established between the base station and the mobile station. Note that the beam control may be performed UE-specifically.

[0067] ・RIS receives and decodes control information from the base station. For example, to perform beam control, the RIS may receive and decode CSI information and location information of the mobile station and base station from the base station. ・RIS controls beams based on the control information received and decoded from the base station. For example, beam switching when there are multiple mobile stations. ・RIS reports information about communication to the base station. For example, the RIS reports communication quality on the RIS side to the base station.

[0068] (7) Semi-static RIS Beam Selection An example of RIS beam selection by a base station using control information will be explained below, focusing on the following points. Proposal 1: Beam selection based on the value set by RRC Proposal 2: Beam selection based on the received MAC CE Proposal 3: Beam selection based on the received DCI Proposal 3-1: The RIS may determine whether the DCI is addressed to it by the RNTI in which the CRC of the DCI is scrambled Proposal 3-2: The RIS may determine which DCI field is addressed to it based on the configuration of higher layers Proposal 4 Time until the RIS applies a beam change Proposal 4-1: Time until the beam is applied based on the received beam information Proposal 4-2: Beam change time / frequency difference required to point to different beams simultaneously Proposal 5: Application period of received beam selection information Proposal 5-1: The beam selected based on the received information may be used until certain conditions are met Proposal 5-2: After certain conditions are met, certain actions may be performed Proposal 6: Settings related to receiving information for beam selection Proposal 7: Response to receiving information for beam selection

[0069] 11 is a diagram showing an example of the operation between the RIS 300 and the base station 100. As shown in FIG. 11 (1), in Step 1, the RIS reports information about beams that can be directed to the UE to the base station. For example, the capability information of the RIS is reported to the base station (e.g., the number of beams that the RIS can direct, and the direction or angle of the beams that the RIS can direct).

[0070] (2) In Step 2, beam selection is performed by RRC based on control information from the base station. Note that the RIS may receive beam selection information as control information in higher layer signals and select a beam based on parameters set by RRC.

[0071] (3) In Step 3, the RIS receives beam selection information from the MAC CE as control information. For example, the RIS receives beam selection information from the MAC CE as control information. At this time, the RIS may select a beam based on the beam selection information set by the RRC and the MAC CE.

[0072] (4) In Step 4, the RIS receives beam selection information by DCI. For example, the RIS may receive the beam selection information as control information in DCI. In this case, the RIS may select a beam based on the beam selection information set by the RRC / MAC CE and the DCI. Note that a group common or RIS-specific RNTI dedicated to the RIS, or the same RNTI as that of the UE, may be set.

[0073] Note that some of the steps above may not be applied. Furthermore, beam relay is a process of converting the phase of a received signal to a specific phase, and may also be referred to as a spatial filter or weight.

[0074] (7.1) Proposal 1 An example of beam selection based on values ​​set in RRC will be described with reference to Fig. 12. The RIS may receive information related to beam selection from the base station as control information via higher layer signaling.

[0075] Alternatively, beam selection may be performed based on values ​​set by RRC. For example, the following information may be received to select a beam:

[0076] The RIS may also select a beam based on beam pattern information for a specific period. For example, the RIS may configure one or more beam patterns for a number of radio frames / slots / symbols, such as SSB periodicity, TDD pattern, and select a beam based on one of the beam patterns. The RIS may also report the number of configurable beam patterns.

[0077] In this case, different beam patterns may be set depending on the frequency, as shown in Fig. 12. For example, a beam pattern such as that shown in Fig. 12 may be set using a bitmap or SLIV expression. That is, as shown in Fig. 12, if there are many UEs in the direction of beam 2, more resources can be set for beam 2.

[0078] (7.2) Proposal 2 An example of beam selection based on MAC CE received as control information will be described below. The RIS may receive MAC CE and select a beam based on the received MAC CE.

[0079] The RIS may report to the base station whether beam selection based on MAC CE is possible. The RIS may select a beam based on multiple beam patterns configured in RRC and the received MAC CE.

[0080] In addition, one or more specific beam patterns may be activated / deactivated. The RIS may also report the number of beam patterns that can be activated. In this case, beam selection based on the received MAC CE may be performed only for a certain period after reception. The certain period may be determined based on a predetermined rule / RRC setting / MAC CE.

[0081] The RIS may also select a beam by modifying part of the beam pattern received via RRC based on the MAC CE. The beam may be selected based on the MAC CE that holds beam information for a specific time / frequency. In this case, beam selection based on the received MAC CE may be performed only for a certain period after reception. Note that the certain period may be determined based on a predetermined rule / RRC setting / MAC CE.

[0082] (7.3) Proposal 3 An example of beam selection based on DCI received as control information will be described.

[0083] For example, the RIS may receive DCI and select a beam based on the received DCI. Alternatively, the RIS may report to the base station whether beam selection based on DCI is possible. Alternatively, the RIS may select a beam based on multiple beam patterns activated by the MAC CE and the received DCI.

[0084] In this case, beam selection based on the received DCI may be performed only for a certain period after reception. The specific period may be determined based on a predetermined rule / RRC setting / MAC CE / DCI.

[0085] The RIS may select a beam by changing part of the beam pattern received by the RRC based on the DCI. Alternatively, the RIS may select a beam based on the DCI that holds beam information at a specific time / frequency. In this case, the beam selection based on the received DCI may be performed only for a certain period after reception. The certain period may be determined based on a predetermined rule / RRC setting / MAC CE / DCI.

[0086] (7.3.1) Proposal 3-1 A RIS may determine whether a DCI is addressed to itself by the RNTI that scrambles the CRC of the DCI. It may also determine whether a DCI is addressed to itself based on an RNTI that identifies a single RIS (e.g., C-RNTI).

[0087] It may be possible to determine whether a message is addressed to the UE based on an RNTI that identifies multiple RISs. The RNTI that identifies the RIS may be shared with the UE, or an RNTI dedicated to the RIS may be used.

[0088] (7.3.2) Proposal 3-2 The RIS may determine which DCI fields are addressed to it based on the settings of the upper layer. Option 1: Set a group in the upper layer, and determine that the DCI fields scrambled with the RNTI corresponding to the set group are addressed to it. Option 2: Set a group in the upper layer for each DCI format, and determine that the DCI fields scrambled with the corresponding RNTI are addressed to it.

[0089] (7.4) Proposal 4 An example of control regarding the time until the RIS applies a beam change will be explained.

[0090] (7.4.1) Proposal 4-1 Regarding the time until beam application based on received beam information, the received beam-based information may be set and reported according to RRC, MAC CE, and DCI, as shown in Figure 13. The RIS may apply the received beam-based information after a certain time has passed since it was received. The RIS may determine the time until beam application based on the received beam information based on a predetermined rule, RRC setting, MAC CE, or DCI.

[0091] The RIS may report the time it takes to apply the received beam information after receiving it. The RIS may report the time it takes to apply the beam based on the received beam information to the RRC or MAC CE.

[0092] (7.4.2) Proposal 4-2 The time required for beam change / frequency difference required for simultaneously pointing different beams will be explained with reference to FIG.

[0093] The RIS may report the time required to switch beams (e.g., RRC or MAC CE). The RIS may report the frequency difference required to simultaneously point different beams (e.g., RRC, MAC CE). The time required for beam change / frequency difference required to simultaneously point different beams may be determined based on a predetermined rule (e.g., the RIS operates to minimize the time required for beam change).

[0094] (7.5.1) Proposal 5 This explains the application period of received beam selection information. In this example, the beam selected based on the received information may be used until a certain condition is met. Example: Until the next reception of beam selection information Example: Until the connection between the base station and the RIS is no longer maintained Example: A timer is started upon reception of beam selection information or beam selection / change based on the received information, and until a certain time has elapsed If beam selection information is received or beam selection / change based on the received information is performed while the timer is running, the timer may be reset.

[0095] (7.5.2) Proposal 5-2 After a predetermined condition is met, a predetermined operation may be performed. For example, a predetermined beam (e.g., default) may be changed. For example, the function of receiving and transmitting signals from the base station may be stopped. For example, a predetermined signal may be sent to the base station, or a signal reporting that a predetermined condition has been met may be sent.

[0096] (7.6) Proposal 6 Settings for PDCCH reception related to information for beam selection may be received from the base station. For example, settings related to CORESET / Search Space / Monitoring Occasion may be used. For example, settings may be common to or different from settings related to information reception other than information for beam selection.

[0097] (7.7) Proposal 7 A signal may be transmitted to the base station in response to the reception of information for beam selection. For example, the DCI related to the reception of information for beam selection may include information (slot / resource) related to the response transmission. For example, the slot / resource related to the response transmission may be determined based on the timing of reception of information for beam selection, or based on the timing of completion of beam selection / change. For example, the response transmission may be performed on the PUCCH or the PUSCH, but is not limited to this.

[0098] (8) Actions and Effects According to the above-described embodiment, the following actions and effects can be obtained: That is, the wireless relay device (RIS300) includes a control unit (control unit 330) that controls at least a relay state related to a beam when relaying radio waves from a wireless base station (wireless base station 100, 150) or a terminal (UE200) without interpreting the signal, and a receiving unit (information acquisition unit 350) that receives control information from the wireless base station (wireless base station 100, 150), and the control unit (control unit 330) controls the relay state related to the beam based on the control information.

[0099] As a result, the radio relay device 300 can obtain control information regarding the beam from the radio base station, thereby obtaining information regarding the propagation path between the base station and the UE, etc., and appropriately controlling reflectors (RIS), etc. to relay the beam.

[0100] In addition, in this embodiment, the wireless relay device 300 determines whether the received control information is addressed to itself, so even if there are multiple RISs, etc. around the base station, it is possible to give instructions only to the target wireless relay device.

[0101] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the time until the relay state for the beam is changed based on the control information is controlled, so that beam relay can be performed appropriately according to the capabilities of the RIS, etc.

[0102] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the application period of control of the relay state for a beam based on control information is controlled, so that beam relay can be performed appropriately according to the capabilities of the RIS, etc.

[0103] Furthermore, in this embodiment, since setting information for receiving control information related to beams is received, appropriate control information can be set.

[0104] Furthermore, this embodiment further comprises a transmitting unit that transmits response information to the radio base station in response to the reception of the control information, so that it is possible to respond as to whether or not the control information from the base station has been received.

[0105] (9) Other Embodiments The present invention has been described above with reference to examples. However, the present invention is not limited to these descriptions, and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements are possible.

[0106] For example, in the above-described embodiment, the direction from the radio base station to the terminal (downstream direction) was mainly described, but as described appropriately in the above-described embodiment, radio signals in the direction from the terminal to the radio base station (upstream direction) may also be controlled.

[0107] The block diagram ( FIG. 3 ) used to explain the above-described embodiment shows functional blocks. These functional blocks (components) are realized by any combination of hardware and / or software. Furthermore, the method for realizing each functional block is not particularly limited. That is, each functional block may be realized using a single device that is physically or logically coupled, or may be realized using two or more physically or logically separated devices that are connected directly or indirectly (e.g., via wire, wireless, etc.) and these multiple devices. The functional block may be realized by combining the single device or multiple devices with software.

[0108] Functions include, but are not limited to, judgment, determination, judgment, calculation, computation, processing, derivation, investigation, search, confirmation, reception, transmission, output, access, resolution, selection, selection, establishment, comparison, assumption, expectation, consideration, broadcasting, notifying, communicating, forwarding, configuring, reconfiguring, allocating, mapping, and assignment. For example, a functional block (component) that performs transmission is called a transmitting unit or transmitter. As mentioned above, there are no particular limitations on how each is implemented.

[0109] Furthermore, the above-described UE 200 and radio relay device 300 may function as a computer that performs processing of the wireless communication method of the present disclosure. Fig. 15 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the base station 100, the UE 200, and the radio relay device 300. As shown in Fig. 15, the base station 100, the UE 200, and the radio relay device 300 may be configured as a computer device including a processor 1001, a memory 1002, a storage 1003, a communication device 1004, an input device 1005, an output device 1006, a bus 1007, etc.

[0110] In the following description, the term "apparatus" can be interpreted as a circuit, a device, a unit, etc. The hardware configuration of the apparatus may be configured to include one or more of the apparatuses shown in the drawings, or may be configured to exclude some of the apparatuses.

[0111] Each functional block of the wireless relay device 300 (see FIG. 3) is realized by any hardware element of the computer device or a combination of such hardware elements.

[0112] In addition, each function or some of the functions of the wireless relay device 300 may be realized by loading specified software (programs) onto hardware such as the processor 1001 and memory 1002, causing the processor 1001 to perform calculations, control communication by the communication device 1004, and control at least one of reading and writing data in the memory 1002 and storage 1003.

[0113] The processor 1001 controls the entire computer by running, for example, an operating system, and may be configured as a central processing unit (CPU) including an interface with peripheral devices, a control unit, an arithmetic unit, and registers.

[0114] The processor 1001 also reads programs (program codes), software modules, data, etc. from at least one of the storage 1003 and the communication device 1004 into the memory 1002 and executes various processes in accordance with these. The programs used are those that cause a computer to execute at least some of the operations described in the above-described embodiments. Furthermore, the various processes described above may be executed by a single processor 1001, or may be executed simultaneously or sequentially by two or more processors 1001. The processor 1001 may be implemented by one or more chips. The programs may be transmitted from a network via a telecommunications line.

[0115] The memory 1002 is a computer-readable recording medium and may be configured by at least one of, for example, a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), a random access memory (RAM), etc. The memory 1002 may also be called a register, a cache, a main memory (primary storage device), etc. The memory 1002 may store a program (program code), a software module, etc., capable of executing a method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0116] Storage 1003 is a computer-readable recording medium, and may be, for example, at least one of an optical disk such as a Compact Disc ROM (CD-ROM), a hard disk drive, a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk (e.g., a compact disk, a digital versatile disk, a Blu-ray disc), a smart card, a flash memory (e.g., a card, a stick, a key drive), a floppy disk, a magnetic strip, etc. Storage 1003 may also be referred to as an auxiliary storage device. The above-mentioned recording medium may be, for example, a database, a server, or other suitable medium including at least one of memory 1002 and storage 1003.

[0117] The communication device 1004 is hardware (transmission / reception device) for communicating between computers via at least one of a wired network and a wireless network, and is also called, for example, a network device, a network controller, a network card, or a communication module.

[0118] The communication device 1004 may be configured to include a high-frequency switch, a duplexer, a filter, a frequency synthesizer, etc. to realize, for example, at least one of Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) and Time Division Duplex (TDD).

[0119] The input device 1005 is an input device (e.g., a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, a switch, a button, a sensor, etc.) that receives input from the outside. The output device 1006 is an output device (e.g., a display, a speaker, an LED lamp, etc.) that outputs to the outside. Note that the input device 1005 and the output device 1006 may be integrated into one device (e.g., a touch panel).

[0120] Furthermore, each device such as the processor 1001 and the memory 1002 is connected to a bus 1007 for communicating information. The bus 1007 may be configured using a single bus, or may be configured using different buses between each device.

[0121] Furthermore, the device may be configured to include hardware such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), or a field programmable gate array (FPGA), and some or all of the functional blocks may be realized by the hardware. For example, the processor 1001 may be implemented using at least one of these pieces of hardware.

[0122] Furthermore, the notification of information is not limited to the aspects / embodiments described in the present disclosure, and may be performed using other methods. For example, the notification of information may be performed by physical layer signaling (e.g., Downlink Control Information (DCI), Uplink Control Information (UCI)), higher layer signaling (e.g., RRC signaling, Medium Access Control (MAC) signaling, broadcast information (Master Information Block (MIB), System Information Block (SIB))), other signals, or a combination thereof. Furthermore, the RRC signaling may be referred to as an RRC message, and may be, for example, an RRC Connection Setup message, an RRC Connection Reconfiguration message, or the like.

[0123] Each aspect / embodiment described in the present disclosure may be applied to at least one of a system using Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), SUPER 3G, IMT-Advanced, a 4th generation mobile communication system (4G), a 5th generation mobile communication system (5G), Beyond 5G, 6G, Future Radio Access (FRA), New Radio (NR), W-CDMA (registered trademark), GSM (registered trademark), CDMA2000, Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.20, Ultra-WideBand (UWB), Bluetooth (registered trademark), or other suitable system, and a next-generation system enhanced based on these. Furthermore, a combination of multiple systems (e.g., a combination of at least one of LTE and LTE-A and 5G) may also be applied.

[0124] The order of the procedures, sequences, flowcharts, etc. of each aspect / embodiment described in this disclosure may be changed unless it is consistent. For example, the methods described in this disclosure present elements of various steps using an example order, and are not limited to the particular order presented.

[0125] In the present disclosure, a specific operation described as being performed by a base station may also be performed by its upper node in some cases. In a network consisting of one or more network nodes having a base station, it is clear that various operations performed for communication with a terminal may be performed by at least one of the base station and another network node other than the base station (e.g., MME or S-GW, etc., but are not limited to these). Although the above example illustrates a case where there is one other network node other than the base station, a combination of multiple other network nodes (e.g., MME and S-GW) may also be used.

[0126] Information, signals (information, etc.) may be output from a higher layer (or a lower layer) to a lower layer (or a higher layer), or may be input and output via multiple network nodes.

[0127] The input and output information may be stored in a specific location (for example, a memory) or may be managed using a management table. The input and output information may be overwritten, updated, or added. The output information may be deleted. The input information may be transmitted to another device.

[0128] The determination may be made based on a value represented by one bit (0 or 1), a Boolean value (true or false), or a numerical comparison (e.g., comparison with a predetermined value).

[0129] The aspects / embodiments described in this disclosure may be used alone, in combination, or switched depending on the implementation. Notification of predetermined information (e.g., notification that "X is true") is not limited to explicit notification, but may be implicit (e.g., not notifying the predetermined information).

[0130] Software shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executable files, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc., whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise.

[0131] Software, instructions, information, etc. may also be transmitted or received over a transmission medium. For example, if software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using wired technologies (such as coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)), and / or wireless technologies (such as infrared, microwave), then these wired and / or wireless technologies are included within the definition of transmission media.

[0132] The information, signals, etc. described in this disclosure may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, chips, etc. that may be referred to throughout the above description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or magnetic particles, optical fields or photons, or any combination thereof.

[0133] Note that terms described in this disclosure and terms necessary for understanding this disclosure may be replaced with terms having the same or similar meanings. For example, at least one of a channel and a symbol may be a signal (signaling). Furthermore, a signal may be a message. Furthermore, a component carrier (CC) may be called a carrier frequency, a cell, a frequency carrier, etc.

[0134] As used in this disclosure, the terms "system" and "network" are used interchangeably.

[0135] Furthermore, the information, parameters, etc. described in the present disclosure may be expressed using absolute values, may be expressed using relative values ​​from a predetermined value, or may be expressed using other corresponding information. For example, a radio resource may be indicated by an index.

[0136] The names used for the above-described parameters are not intended to be limiting in any way. Furthermore, the mathematical expressions using these parameters may differ from those explicitly disclosed in this disclosure. The various channels (e.g., PUCCH, PDCCH, etc.) and information elements may be identified by any suitable names, and therefore the various names assigned to these various channels and information elements are not intended to be limiting in any way.

[0137] In this disclosure, terms such as "base station (BS)," "radio base station," "fixed station," "NodeB," "eNodeB (eNB)," "gNodeB (gNB)," "access point," "transmission point," "reception point," "transmission / reception point," "cell," "sector," "cell group," "carrier," and "component carrier" may be used interchangeably. Base stations may also be referred to by terms such as macrocell, small cell, femtocell, and picocell.

[0138] A base station can accommodate one or more (e.g., three) cells (also called sectors). When a base station accommodates multiple cells, the overall coverage area of ​​the base station can be divided into multiple smaller areas, and each smaller area can be provided with communication services by a base station subsystem (e.g., a small indoor base station (Remote Radio Head: RRH)).

[0139] The terms "cell" or "sector" refer to part or all of the coverage area of ​​a base station and / or base station subsystem that provides communication services within that coverage area.

[0140] In this disclosure, the terms "Mobile Station (MS)," "user terminal," "User Equipment (UE)," "terminal," etc. may be used interchangeably.

[0141] A mobile station may also be referred to by those skilled in the art as a subscriber station, mobile unit, subscriber unit, wireless unit, remote unit, mobile device, wireless device, wireless communication device, remote device, mobile subscriber station, access terminal, mobile terminal, wireless terminal, remote terminal, handset, user agent, mobile client, client, or some other suitable terminology.

[0142] At least one of the base station and the mobile station may be referred to as a transmitting device, a receiving device, a communication device, etc. At least one of the base station and the mobile station may be a device mounted on a mobile object, the mobile object itself, etc. The mobile object may be a vehicle (e.g., a car, an airplane, etc.), an unmanned mobile object (e.g., a drone, an autonomous vehicle, etc.), or a robot (manned or unmanned). At least one of the base station and the mobile station may also include devices that do not necessarily move during communication operations. For example, at least one of the base station and the mobile station may be an Internet of Things (IoT) device such as a sensor.

[0143] Furthermore, a base station in the present disclosure may be read as a mobile station (user terminal, the same applies hereinafter). For example, the aspects / embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied to a configuration in which communication between a base station and a mobile station is replaced with communication between multiple mobile stations (which may be called, for example, Device-to-Device (D2D) or Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X)). In this case, the mobile station may be configured to have the functions of a base station. Furthermore, terms such as "uplink" and "downlink" may be read as terms corresponding to terminal-to-terminal communication (for example, "side"). For example, terms such as an uplink channel and a downlink channel may be read as a side channel.

[0144] Similarly, a mobile station in the present disclosure may be interpreted as a base station. In this case, the base station may be configured to have the functions of a mobile station. A radio frame may be composed of one or more frames in the time domain. Each of the one or more frames in the time domain may be called a subframe. A subframe may further be composed of one or more slots in the time domain. A subframe may have a fixed time length (e.g., 1 ms) that is independent of numerology.

[0145] Numerology may be communication parameters that apply to the transmission and / or reception of a signal or channel, such as subcarrier spacing (SCS), bandwidth, symbol length, cyclic prefix length, transmission time interval (TTI), number of symbols per TTI, radio frame structure, specific filtering operations performed by the transceiver in the frequency domain, and specific windowing operations performed by the transceiver in the time domain.

[0146] A slot may consist of one or more symbols in the time domain (such as an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbol, a Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) symbol, etc.) A slot may be a numerology-based time unit.

[0147] A slot may include multiple minislots. Each minislot may consist of one or multiple symbols in the time domain. A minislot may also be called a subslot. A minislot may consist of fewer symbols than a slot. A PDSCH (or PUSCH) transmitted in a time unit larger than a minislot may be called PDSCH (or PUSCH) mapping type A. A PDSCH (or PUSCH) transmitted using a minislot may be called PDSCH (or PUSCH) mapping type B.

[0148] The radio frame, subframe, slot, minislot, and symbol all represent time units for transmitting signals, and may be referred to by other names corresponding to the radio frame, subframe, slot, minislot, and symbol.

[0149] For example, one subframe may be referred to as a transmission time interval (TTI), multiple consecutive subframes may be referred to as a TTI, or one slot or one minislot may be referred to as a TTI. That is, at least one of the subframe and the TTI may be a subframe (1 ms) in existing LTE, a period shorter than 1 ms (e.g., 1-13 symbols), or a period longer than 1 ms. Note that the unit representing the TTI may be called a slot, minislot, etc., instead of a subframe.

[0150] Here, TTI refers to, for example, the smallest time unit for scheduling in wireless communication. For example, in an LTE system, a base station schedules each user terminal to allocate radio resources (such as frequency bandwidth and transmission power that can be used by each user terminal) in TTI units. Note that the definition of TTI is not limited to this.

[0151] The TTI may be a transmission time unit for a channel-encoded data packet (transport block), a code block, a code word, etc., or may be a processing unit for scheduling, link adaptation, etc. When a TTI is given, the time interval (e.g., the number of symbols) to which a transport block, a code block, a code word, etc. is actually mapped may be shorter than the TTI.

[0152] In addition, when one slot or one minislot is called a TTI, one or more TTIs (i.e., one or more slots or one or more minislots) may be the minimum time unit for scheduling, and the number of slots (minislots) constituting the minimum time unit for scheduling may be controlled.

[0153] A TTI having a time length of 1 ms may be referred to as a regular TTI (TTI in LTE Rel. 8-12), normal TTI, long TTI, regular subframe, normal subframe, long subframe, slot, etc. A TTI shorter than a regular TTI may be referred to as a shortened TTI, short TTI, partial or fractional TTI, shortened subframe, short subframe, minislot, subslot, slot, etc.

[0154] In addition, a long TTI (e.g., a normal TTI, a subframe, etc.) may be interpreted as a TTI having a time length of more than 1 ms, and a short TTI (e.g., a shortened TTI, etc.) may be interpreted as a TTI having a TTI length shorter than the TTI length of a long TTI and equal to or greater than 1 ms.

[0155] A resource block (RB) is a resource allocation unit in the time domain and the frequency domain, and may include one or more consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain. The number of subcarriers included in an RB may be the same regardless of numerology, for example, 12. The number of subcarriers included in an RB may be determined based on numerology.

[0156] The time domain of an RB may include one or more symbols and may have a length of one slot, one minislot, one subframe, or one TTI, each of which may consist of one or more resource blocks.

[0157] Note that one or more RBs may also be called a physical resource block (PRB), a sub-carrier group (SCG), a resource element group (REG), a PRB pair, an RB pair, etc.

[0158] Furthermore, a resource block may be composed of one or more resource elements (REs). For example, one RE may be a radio resource region of one subcarrier and one symbol.

[0159] A Bandwidth Part (BWP) (which may also be referred to as a fractional bandwidth) may represent a subset of contiguous common resource blocks (RBs) for a given numerology on a given carrier, where the common RBs may be identified by their index relative to a common reference point of the carrier. PRBs may be defined in a given BWP and numbered within that BWP.

[0160] The BWP may include a BWP for UL (UL BWP) and a BWP for DL ​​(DL BWP). One or more BWPs may be configured for a UE within one carrier.

[0161] At least one of the configured BWPs may be active, and the UE may not expect to transmit or receive a predetermined signal / channel outside the active BWP. Note that the terms "cell," "carrier," etc. in this disclosure may be read as "BWP."

[0162] The above-described structures of the radio frame, subframe, slot, minislot, and symbol are merely examples. For example, the number of subframes included in a radio frame, the number of slots per subframe or radio frame, the number of minislots included in a slot, the number of symbols and RBs included in a slot or minislot, the number of subcarriers included in an RB, the number of symbols in a TTI, the symbol length, the cyclic prefix (CP) length, and other configurations may be changed in various ways.

[0163] The terms "connected," "coupled," or any variation thereof, refer to any direct or indirect connection or coupling between two or more elements, and may include the presence of one or more intermediate elements between two elements that are "connected" or "coupled" to each other. The coupling or connection between elements may be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. For example, "connected" may be read as "access." As used in this disclosure, two elements may be considered to be "connected" or "coupled" to each other using one or more wires, cables, and / or printed electrical connections, as well as electromagnetic energy having wavelengths in the radio frequency range, microwave range, and optical (both visible and invisible) range, as some non-limiting and non-exhaustive examples.

[0164] The reference signal may also be abbreviated as Reference Signal (RS) and may be called a pilot depending on the applicable standard.

[0165] As used in this disclosure, the phrase "based on" does not mean "based only on," unless expressly stated otherwise. In other words, the phrase "based on" means both "based only on" and "based at least on."

[0166] The "means" in the configuration of each of the above devices may be replaced with "part," "circuit," "device," etc.

[0167] As used in this disclosure, any reference to an element using a designation such as "first," "second," etc. does not generally limit the quantity or order of those elements. These designations may be used in this disclosure as a convenient method of distinguishing between two or more elements. Thus, a reference to a first and a second element does not imply that only two elements may be employed therein or that the first element must precede the second element in some way.

[0168] When the terms "include," "including," and variations thereof are used in this disclosure, these terms are intended to be inclusive, similar to the term "comprising." Furthermore, when the term "or" is used in this disclosure, it is not intended to be an exclusive or.

[0169] In this disclosure, where articles are added by translation, such as a, an, and the in English, the disclosure may include that the nouns following these articles are in the plural form.

[0170] As used in this disclosure, the terms "determining" and "determining" may encompass a wide variety of actions. "Determining" and "determining" may include, for example, judging, calculating, computing, processing, deriving, investigating, looking up, searching, inquiring (e.g., searching in a table, database, or other data structure), ascertaining, and the like. "Determining" and "determining" may also include receiving (e.g., receiving information), transmitting (e.g., sending information), input, output, accessing (e.g., accessing data in memory), and the like. Furthermore, "judgment" and "decision" can include regarding resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing, comparing, etc. as having been "judged" or "decided." In other words, "judgment" and "decision" can include regarding some action as having been "judged" or "decided." Furthermore, "judgment (decision)" can be interpreted as "assuming," "expecting," "considering," etc.

[0171] In the present disclosure, the term "A and B are different" may mean "A and B are different from each other." The term may also mean "A and B are each different from C." Terms such as "separate" and "coupled" may also be interpreted in the same way as "different."

[0172] Although the present disclosure has been described in detail above, it is clear to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described herein. The present disclosure can be implemented in modified and altered forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the claims. Therefore, the description of the present disclosure is intended to be illustrative and does not have any limiting meaning on the present disclosure.

[0173] 10 Wireless communication system 100, 150A to 150D Wireless base station 200 UE 300 Wireless relay device 301 Relay antenna 303 Variable unit 330 Control unit C Cell OB Obstacle 1001 Processor 1002 Memory 1003 Storage 1004 Communication device 1005 Input device 1006 Output device 1007 Bus

Claims

1. A receiving unit for receiving control information from a network; a control unit that determines time resources for transmission and reception between the terminal and the control unit based on the control information; Equipped with The control unit is a wireless relay device that determines the time resource based on the control information including a cycle, a beam, and a period.

2. A wireless relay device as described in Claim 1, wherein the receiving unit receives the control information based on parameters of a radio resource control (RRC) layer.

3. A wireless relay device as described in Claim 1, wherein the control unit determines the beam based on a control element (CE) of a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer.

4. A wireless relay device as described in Claim 3, wherein the control unit determines to use a time resource a certain period of time after receiving the control element.

5. A wireless relay device as described in claim 1, wherein the control unit determines the beam based on downlink control information (DCI).

6. A wireless relay device as described in Claim 5, wherein the control unit determines whether the downlink control information is addressed to the wireless relay device based on a Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI) that identifies the wireless relay device.

7. A receiving step of receiving control information from a network; determining time resources for transmission / reception to / from the terminal based on the control information; Including, A radio relay method in a radio relay device, wherein in the determining step, the time resource is determined based on the control information including a cycle, a beam, and a period.