Methods, communications devices and infrastructure equipment

Abstract

A method for a communications device configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals from an infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network via a wireless radio interface provided by the wireless communications network is provided. The method comprises receiving, from the infrastructure equipment, an indication of transmission parameter values for a first transmission to be transmitted to or received from the infrastructure equipment. The transmission parameter values include: first transmission parameter values for a first section of the first transmission, and second transmission parameter values for a second section of the first transmission, wherein the first transmission parameter values are different to the second transmission parameter values. The method comprises transmitting or receiving the first transmission according to the transmission parameter values for the respective sections of the first transmission.

Description

[0001] METHODS, COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE EQUIPMENT

[0002] The present application claims the Paris Convention priority of European patent application EP23188232.5, filed 27 July 2023, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

[0003] BACKGROUND

[0004] Field of Disclosure

[0005] The present disclosure relates to communications devices, infrastructure equipment, and methods of operating communications devices and infrastructure equipment in a wireless communications network.

[0006] Description of Related Art

[0007] The “background” description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description which may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present invention.

[0008] Previous generation mobile telecommunication systems, such as those based on the 3GPP defined UMTS and Long Term Evolution (LTE) architecture, are able to support a wider range of services than simple voice and messaging services offered by previous generations of mobile telecommunication systems. For example, with the improved radio interface and enhanced data rates provided by LTE systems, a user is able to enjoy high data rate applications such as mobile video streaming and mobile video conferencing that would previously only have been available via a fixed line data connection. The demand to deploy such networks is therefore strong and the coverage area of these networks, i.e. geographic locations where access to the networks is possible, is expected to continue to increase rapidly.

[0009] Current and future wireless communications networks are expected to routinely and efficiently support communications with an ever-increasing range of devices associated with a wider range of data traffic profiles and types than existing systems are optimised to support. For example, it is expected future wireless communications networks will be expected to efficiently support communications with devices including reduced complexity devices, machine type communication (MTC) devices, high resolution video displays, virtual reality headsets, extended Reality (XR) and so on. Some of these different types of devices may be deployed in very large numbers, for example low complexity devices for supporting the “The Internet of Things”, and may typically be associated with the transmissions of relatively small amounts of data with relatively high latency tolerance. Other types of device, for example supporting high- definition video streaming, may be associated with transmissions of relatively large amounts of data with relatively low latency tolerance. Other types of device, for example used for autonomous vehicle communications and for other critical applications, may be characterised by data that should be transmitted through the network with low latency and high reliability. A single device type might also be associated with different traffic profiles I characteristics depending on the application(s) it is running. For example, different consideration may apply for efficiently supporting data exchange with a smartphone when it is running a video streaming application (high downlink data) as compared to when it is running an Internet browsing application (sporadic uplink and downlink data) or being used for voice communications by an emergency responder in an emergency scenario (data subject to stringent reliability and latency requirements).

[0010] In view of this there is expected to be a desire for current wireless communications networks, for example those which may be referred to as 5G or new radio (NR) systems I new radio access technology (RAT) systems, or indeed future 6G wireless communications, as well as future iterations I releases of existing systems, to efficiently support connectivity for a wide range of devices associated with different applications and different characteristic data traffic profiles and requirements.

[0011] One example of a new service is referred to as Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communications (URLLC) services which, as its name suggests, requires that a data unit or packet be communicated with a high reliability and with a low communications delay. Another example of a new service is enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) services, which are characterised by a high capacity with a requirement to support up to 20 Gb / s. URLLC and eMBB type services therefore represent challenging examples for both LTE type communications systems and 5G / NR communications systems.

[0012] 5G NR has continuously evolved and the current work plan includes 5G-NR-advanced in which some further enhancements are expected, especially to support new use- cases / scenarios with higher requirements. The desire to support these new use-cases and scenarios gives rise to new challenges for efficiently handling communications in wireless communications systems that need to be addressed.

[0013] SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0014] The present disclosure can help address or mitigate at least some of the issues discussed above.

[0015] According to a first aspect, a method for a communications device configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals from an infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network via a wireless radio interface provided by the wireless communications network is provided. The method comprises receiving, from the infrastructure equipment, an indication of transmission parameter values for a first transmission to be transmitted to or received from the infrastructure equipment. The transmission parameter values include: first transmission parameter values for a first section of the first transmission, and second transmission parameter values for a second section of the first transmission, wherein the first transmission parameter values are different to the second transmission parameter values. The method comprises transmitting or receiving the first transmission according to the transmission parameter values for the respective sections of the first transmission.

[0016] According to a second aspect, a method for an infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network, the infrastructure equipment configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals from one or more communications devices via a wireless radio interface provided by the wireless communications network is provided. The method comprises transmitting, to a communications device, an indication of transmission parameter values for a first transmission to be transmitted to or received from the communications device. The indicated transmission parameter values include: first transmission parameter values for a first section of a first transmission to be transmitted to or received from the infrastructure equipment, and second transmission parameter values for a second section of the first transmission, wherein the first transmission parameter values are different to the second transmission parameter values. The method comprises transmitting or receiving the first transmission according to the indicated transmission parameter values for the respective sections of the first transmission.

[0017] Respective aspects and features of the present disclosure are defined in the appended claims and include a communications device, circuitry for a communications device, infrastructure equipment and circuitry for infrastructure equipment.

[0018] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, but are not restrictive, of the present technology. The described embodiments, together with further advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0019] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] A more complete appreciation of the disclosure and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

[0021] Figure 1 schematically represents some aspects of an LTE-type wireless telecommunication system which may be configured to operate in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0022] Figure 2 schematically represents some aspects of a new radio access technology (RAT) wireless telecommunications system which may be configured to operate in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0023] Figure 3 is a schematic block diagram of an example infrastructure equipment and communications device which may be configured to operate in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0024] Figure 4 schematically illustrates an example of a cell common slot format configuration;

[0025] Figure 5 schematically represents an example of non-overlapping subbands for uplink and downlink transmissions;

[0026] Figure 6 schematically represents an example of non-overlapping subbands for uplink and downlink transmissions;

[0027] Figure 7 schematically illustrates an example of intra-cell cross link interference;

[0028] Figure 8 schematically illustrates an example of inter sub-band interference;

[0029] Figures 9A-9C illustrate example slot formats in Subband Full Duplex (SBFD) implementations;

[0030] Figure 10A illustrates an example slot format in Subband Full Duplex (SBFD) implementations with orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol level granularity;

[0031] Figure 10B illustrates example transmissions in the slot format shown in Figure 10A that occupy multiple different types of OFDM symbol; Figure 11A illustrates an example of assigning different transmission parameter values to different portions of a transmission occupying different types of OFDM symbol;

[0032] Figure 11 B illustrates an example of assigning different transmission parameter values to different OFDM symbols of a slot;

[0033] Figure 12 illustrates an example for dynamically indicating transmission parameter values via downlink control information;

[0034] Figures 13A-D illustrates examples for utilising demodulation reference signals (DMRS) within particular portions of a transmission;

[0035] Figure 14 illustrates an example of including guard periods within a transmission.

[0036] Figure 15 illustrates a method for operating a communications device according to an example of the present disclosure.

[0037] Figure 16 illustrates a method for operating an infrastructure equipment according to an example of the present disclosure.

[0038] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0039] Long Term Evolution Advanced Radio Access Technology (4G)

[0040] Figure 1 provides a schematic diagram illustrating some basic functionality of a mobile telecommunications network / system 6 operating generally in accordance with LTE principles, but which may also support other radio access technologies, and which may be adapted to implement embodiments of the disclosure as described herein. Various elements of Figure 1 and certain aspects of their respective modes of operation are well-known and defined in the relevant standards administered by the 3GPP (RTM) body, and also described in many books on the subject, for example, Holma H. and Toskala A [1], It will be appreciated that operational aspects of the telecommunications networks discussed herein which are not specifically described (for example in relation to specific communication protocols and physical channels for communicating between different elements) may be implemented in accordance with any known techniques, for example according to the relevant standards and known proposed modifications and additions to the relevant standards.

[0041] The network 6 includes a plurality of base stations 1 connected to a core network 2. Each base station provides a coverage area 3 (i.e. , a cell) within which data can be communicated to and from communications devices 4. Although each base station 1 is shown in Figure 1 as a single entity, the skilled person will appreciate that some of the functions of the base station may be carried out by disparate, inter-connected elements, such as antennas (or antennae), remote radio heads, amplifiers, etc. Collectively, one or more base stations may form a radio access network.

[0042] Data is transmitted from base stations 1 to communications devices 4 within their respective coverage areas 3 via a radio downlink. Data is transmitted from communications devices 4 to the base stations 1 via a radio uplink. The core network 2 routes data to and from the communications devices 4 via the respective base stations 1 and provides functions such as authentication, mobility management, charging and so on. Terminal devices may also be referred to as mobile stations, user equipment (UE), user terminal, mobile radio, communications device, and so forth. Services provided by the core network 2 may include connectivity to the internet or to external telephony services. The core network 2 may further track the location of the communications devices 4 so that it can efficiently contact (i.e., page) the communications devices 4 for transmitting downlink data towards the communications devices 4.

[0043] Base stations, which are an example of network infrastructure equipment, may also be referred to as transceiver stations, nodeBs, e-nodeBs, eNB, g-nodeBs, gNB and so forth. In this regard different terminology is often associated with different generations of wireless telecommunications systems for elements providing broadly comparable functionality. However, certain embodiments of the disclosure may be equally implemented in different generations of wireless telecommunications systems, and for simplicity certain terminology may be used regardless of the underlying network architecture. That is to say, the use of a specific term in relation to certain example embodiments is not intended to indicate these embodiments are limited to a certain generation of network that may be most associated with that particular terminology.

[0044] New Radio Access Technology (5G)

[0045] Systems incorporating NR technology are expected to support different services (or types of services), which may be characterised by different requirements for latency, data rate and / or reliability. For example, Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) services are characterised by high capacity with a requirement to support up to 20 Gb / s. The requirements for Ultra Reliable and Low Latency Communications (URLLC) services are for one transmission of a 32 byte packet to be transmitted from the radio protocol layer 2 / 3 SDU ingress point to the radio protocol layer 2 / 3 SDU egress point of the radio interface within 1 ms with a reliability of 1 - 10’5(99.999 %) or higher (99.9999%) [2],

[0046] Massive Machine Type Communications (mMTC) is another example of a service which may be supported by NR-based communications networks. In addition, systems may be expected to support further enhancements related to Industrial Internet of Things (lloT) in order to support services with new requirements of high availability, high reliability, low latency, and in some cases, high-accuracy positioning.

[0047] An example configuration of a wireless communications network which uses some of the terminology proposed for and used in NR and 5G is shown in Figure 2. In Figure 2 a plurality of transmission and reception points (TRPs) 10 are connected to distributed control units (DUs) 41 , 42 by a connection interface represented as a line 16. Each of the TRPs 10 is arranged to transmit and receive signals via a wireless access interface within a radio frequency bandwidth available to the wireless communications network. Thus, within a range for performing radio communications via the wireless access interface, each of the TRPs 10, forms a cell of the wireless communications network as represented by a circle 12. As such, wireless communications devices 14 which are within a radio communications range provided by the cells 12 can transmit and receive signals to and from the TRPs 10 via the wireless access interface. Each of the distributed units 41 , 42 are connected to a central unit (CU) 40 (which may be referred to as a controlling node) via an interface 46. The central unit 40 is then connected to the core network 20 which may contain all other functions required to transmit data for communicating to and from the wireless communications devices and the core network 20 may be connected to other networks 60.

[0048] The elements of the wireless access network shown in Figure 2 may operate in a similar way to corresponding elements of an LTE network as described with regard to the example of Figure 1. It will be appreciated that operational aspects of the telecommunications network represented in Figure 2, and of other networks discussed herein in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure, which are not specifically described (for example in relation to specific communication protocols and physical channels for communicating between different elements) may be implemented in accordance with any known techniques, for example according to currently used approaches for implementing such operational aspects of wireless telecommunications systems, e.g. in accordance with the relevant standards.

[0049] The TRPs 10 of Figure 2 may in part have a corresponding functionality to a base station or eNodeB of an LTE network. Similarly, the communications devices 14 may have a functionality corresponding to the UE devices 4 known for operation with an LTE network. It will be appreciated therefore that operational aspects of a new RAT network (for example in relation to specific communication protocols and physical channels for communicating between different elements) may be different to those known from LTE or other known mobile telecommunications standards. However, it will also be appreciated that each of the core network component, base stations and communications devices of a new RAT network will be functionally similar to, respectively, the core network component, base stations and communications devices of an LTE wireless communications network.

[0050] In terms of broad top-level functionality, the core network 20 connected to the new RAT telecommunications system represented in Figure 2 may be broadly considered to correspond with the core network 2 represented in Figure 1 , and the respective central units 40 and their associated distributed units I TRPs 10 may be broadly considered to provide functionality corresponding to the base stations 1 of Figure 1. The term network infrastructure equipment I access node may be used to encompass these elements and more conventional base station type elements of wireless telecommunications systems. Depending on the application at hand the responsibility for scheduling transmissions which are scheduled on the radio interface between the respective distributed units and the communications devices may lie with the controlling node I central unit and I or the distributed units I TRPs. A communications device 14 is represented in Figure 2 within the coverage area of the first communication cell 12. This communications device 14 may thus exchange signalling with the first central unit 40 in the first communication cell 12 via one of the distributed units I TRPs 10 associated with the first communication cell 12.

[0051] It will further be appreciated that Figure 2 represents merely one example of a proposed architecture for a new RAT based telecommunications system in which approaches in accordance with the principles described herein may be adopted, and the functionality disclosed herein may also be applied in respect of wireless telecommunications systems having different architectures.

[0052] Thus, certain embodiments of the disclosure as discussed herein may be implemented in wireless telecommunication systems I networks according to various different architectures, such as the example architectures shown in Figures 1 and 2. It will thus be appreciated the specific wireless telecommunications architecture in any given embodiment is not of primary significance to the principles described herein. In this regard, certain embodiments of the disclosure may be described generally in the context of communications between network infrastructure equipment I access nodes and a communications device, wherein the specific nature of the network infrastructure equipment I access node and the communications device will depend on the network infrastructure for the embodiment at hand. For example, in some scenarios the network infrastructure equipment I access node may comprise a base station, such as an LTE-type base station 1 as shown in Figure 1 which is adapted to provide functionality in accordance with the principles described herein, and in other examples the network infrastructure equipment may comprise a control unit I controlling node 40 and / or a TRP 10 of the kind shown in Figure 2 which is adapted to provide functionality in accordance with the principles described herein.

[0053] A more detailed diagram of some of the components of the network shown in Figure 2 is provided by Figure 3. In Figure 3, a TRP 10 as shown in Figure 2 comprises, as a simplified representation, a wireless transmitter 30, a wireless receiver 32 and a controller or controlling processor 34 which may operate to control the transmitter 30 and the wireless receiver 32 to transmit and receive radio signals to one or more UEs 14 within a cell 12 formed by the TRP 10. As shown in Figure 3, an example UE 14 is shown to include a corresponding transmitter 49, a receiver 48 and a controller 44 which is configured to control the transmitter 49 and the receiver 48 to transmit signals representing uplink data to the wireless communications network via the wireless access interface formed by the TRP 10 and to receive downlink data as signals transmitted by the transmitter 30 and received by the receiver 48 in accordance with the conventional operation.

[0054] The transmitters 30, 49 and the receivers 32, 48 (as well as other transmitters, receivers and transceivers described in relation to examples and embodiments of the present disclosure) may include radio frequency filters and amplifiers as well as signal processing components and devices in order to transmit and receive radio signals in accordance for example with the 5G / NR standard. The controllers 34, 44 (as well as other controllers described in relation to examples and embodiments of the present disclosure) may be, for example, a microprocessor, a CPU, or a dedicated chipset, etc., configured to carry out instructions which are stored on a computer readable medium, such as a non-volatile memory. The processing steps described herein may be carried out by, for example, a microprocessor in conjunction with a random access memory, operating according to instructions stored on a computer readable medium. The transmitters, the receivers and the controllers are schematically shown in Figure 3 as separate elements for ease of representation. However, it will be appreciated that the functionality of these elements can be provided in various different ways, for example using one or more suitably programmed programmable computer(s), or one or more suitably configured application-specific integrated circuit(s) I circuitry I chip(s) I chipset(s). As will be appreciated the infrastructure equipment I TRP I base station as well as the UE I communications device will in general comprise various other elements associated with its operating functionality.

[0055] As shown in Figure 3, the TRP 10 also includes a network interface 50 which connects to the DU 42 via a physical interface 16. The network interface 50 therefore provides a communication link for data and signalling traffic from the TRP 10 via the DU 42 and the CU 40 to the core network 20.

[0056] The interface 46 between the DU 42 and the CU 40 is known as the F1 interface which can be a physical or a logical interface. The F1 interface 46 between CU and DU may operate in accordance with specifications 3GPP TS 38.470 and 3GPP TS 38.473, and may be formed from a fibre optic or other wired or wireless high bandwidth connection. In one example the connection 16 from the TRP 10 to the DU 42 is via fibre optic. The connection between a TRP 10 and the core network 20 can be generally referred to as a backhaul, which comprises the interface 16 from the network interface 50 of the TRP 10 to the DU 42 and the F1 interface 46 from the DU 42 to the CU 40.

[0057] Full Duplex Time Division Duplex (FD-TDD)

[0058] NR / 5G networks can operate using Time Division Duplex (TDD), where an entire frequency band or carrier is switched to either downlink or uplink transmissions for a time period and can be switched to the other of downlink or uplink transmissions at a later time period. Currently, TDD operates in Half Duplex mode (HD-TDD) where the gNB or UE can, at a given time, either transmit or receive packets, but not both at the same time. As wireless networks transition from NR to 5G-Advanced networks, a proposed new feature of such networks is to enhance duplexing operation for Time Division Duplex (TDD) by enabling Full Duplex operation in TDD (FD-TDD) [3], [4],

[0059] In FD-TDD, a gNB can transmit and receive data to and from the UEs at the same time on the same frequency band. In addition, a UE can operate either in HD-TDD or FD-TDD mode, depending on its capability. For example, when UEs are only capable of supporting HD-TDD, FD-TDD is achieved at the gNB by scheduling a DL transmission to a first UE and scheduling a UL transmission from a second UE within the same orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol (i.e. at the same time). Conversely, when UEs are capable of supporting FD-TDD, FD-TDD is achieved both at the gNB and the UE, where the gNB can simultaneously schedule this UE with DL and UL transmissions within the same OFDM symbol by scheduling the DL and UL transmissions at different frequencies (e.g. physical resource blocks (PRBs)) of the system bandwidth. A UE supporting FD-TDD requires more complex hardware than a UE that only supports HD-TDD. Development of current 5G networks is focused primarily on enabling FD-TDD at the gNB with UEs operating in HD-TDD mode.

[0060] Motivations for enhancing duplexing operation for TDD include an improvement in system capacity, reduced latency, and improved uplink coverage. For example, in current HD-TDD systems, OFDM symbols are allocated only for either a DL or UL direction in a semi-static manner. Hence, if one direction experiences less or no data, the spare resources cannot be used in the other direction, or are, at best, under-utilized. However, if resources can be used for DL data and UL data (as in FD-TDD) at the same time, the resource utilization in the system can be improved. Furthermore, in current HD-TDD systems, a UE can receive DL data, but cannot transmit UL data at the same time, which causes delays. If a gNB or UE is allowed to transmit and receive data at the same time (as with FD-TDD), the traffic latency will be improved. In addition, UEs are usually coverage limited in their UL transmissions when located close to the edge of a cell. While the UE coverage at the cell-edge can be improved if more time domain resources are assigned to UL transmissions (e.g. repetitions), if the UL direction is assigned more time resources, fewer time resources can be assigned to the DL direction, which can lead to system imbalance. Enabling FD-TDD would allow a UE to be assigned more UL time resources when required, without sacrificing DL time resources.

[0061] Slot Format Configuration

[0062] A Slot Format in a TDD system describes a link direction of each OFDM symbol. An OFDM symbol may be configured as Downlink (DL), Uplink (UL) or Flexible (FL). The Slot Format may be configured semi-statically via Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling and / or dynamically via DCI indication. In a semi-static Slot Format configuration, the link direction of the OFDM symbols can be configured using cell common signaling in system information blocks (SIBs) or using UE dedicated RRC signaling. In a dynamic Slot Format configuration, the link direction of the OFDM symbols can be indicated using a Group Common DCI (GC- DCI) and / or DL / LIL Scheduling Grant.

[0063] A cell common slot format may be configured in RRC parameter TDD-UL-DL-Pattern. A cell common slot format may comprise one or more patterns. For example, a cell common slot format may comprise two patterns including Pattern 1 and Pattern 2 where each of Pattern 1 and 2 have a period that can be configured with values = {0.5, 0.625, 1 , 1.25, 2, 2.5, 5, 10} ms. Pattern 1 and Pattern 2 may be concatenated and repeated periodically. In some cases, Pattern 2 is optional. Patterns 1 and 2 may be defined by one or more of:

[0064] • The number of slots from the start of the pattern that are DL, i.e. , dsiot,i and dsiot,2 for Pattern 1 and Pattern 2 respectively.

[0065] • The number of OFDM symbols dsymboi, 1 and dsymboi,2 after the end of dsiot,i and dsiot,2 slots for Pattern 1 & Pattern 2 respectively that are DL OFDM symbols.

[0066] • The number of slots from the end of the pattern that are UL, i.e., usiot,i and usiot,2 for Pattern 1 and Pattern 2 respectively.

[0067] • The number of OFDM symbols usymboi,i and usymboi,2 before the start of usiot,i and usiot,2 for Pattern 1 and Pattern 2 respectively that are UL OFDM symbols.

[0068] • The OFDM symbols between the end of dsymboi, 1 and the start of usymboi,i are Flexible OFDM symbols in Pattern 1. Similarly, the OFDM symbols between the end of dsymboi, 2 and the start of usymboi,2 are Flexible OFDM symbols in Pattern 2.

[0069] An example of a cell common slot format for a 15 kHz Subcarrier Spacing operation is shown in Figure 4. Pattern 1 has a period of 5 ms with dsiot,i = 3, dsymboi, 1 = 7, usiot,i = 1 and usymboi,i = 4. Pattern 2 has a period of 5 ms with dsiot,2 = 1 , dsymboi, 2 = 6, usiot,2 = 2 and usymboi,2 = 5. The periodicity of the overall TDD pattern is the sum of the period of Pattern 1 and Pattern 2. In this example, the periodicity of the overall TDD pattern is 10 ms.

[0070] The Slot Format may be further semi-statically configured using UE dedicated RRC signaling. For example, Flexible OFDM symbols configured using the cell common Slot Format configuration can be semi-statically configured as DL, UL or remain as Flexible.

[0071] The OFDM symbols that are semi-statically configured as Flexible after cell common and UE dedicated configurations may be indicated dynamically as DL, UL or remain as Flexible by a Dynamic Slot Format Indicator (SFI), which is transmitted in a Group Common (GC) DCI using DCI Format 2_0, where the CRC of the GC-DCI is masked with SFI-RNTI.

[0072] Flexible OFDM Symbols that remain Flexible after instruction from the SFI can be changed to a DL symbol or a UL symbol by a DL Grant or UL Grant respectively. In other words, a DL Grant scheduling a PDSCH that overlaps Flexible OFDM Symbols may convert these Flexible OFDM Symbols to DL symbols. Similarly, a UL Grant scheduling a PUSCH that overlaps Flexible OFDM Symbols may convert these Flexible OFDM Symbols to UL symbols.

[0073] Subband Full Duplex (SBFD)

[0074] In SBFD, the frequency resource of a TDD system bandwidth or Bandwidth Part (BWP) (i.e., at the UE / gNB) is divided into two or more non-overlapping sub-bands, where each sub-band can be DL or UL [5], Guard subbands may be used between DL and UL subbands to reduce inter subband interference.

[0075] An example is shown in Figure 5, where simultaneous DL and UL transmissions occur in different non-overlapping sub-bands 401 to 403, i.e., in different sets of frequency Resource Blocks (RB): Sub-band#1 401 , Sub-band#2402, Sub-band#3 403, such that Sub-band#1 401 and Sub-band#3 403 are used for DL transmissions whilst Sub-band#2 402 is used for UL transmissions.

[0076] While Figure 5 shows the system bandwidth as being divided into three sub-bands, any number of sub-bands could be used. For example, the system bandwidth may be divided into four sub-bands, which may include the two downlink sub-bands 401 , 403, the uplink sub-band 402 and another uplink subband, though other sub-band arrangements are envisioned. To reduce leakage from one sub-band 401 to 403 to another, a guard sub-band 410 may be configured between UL and DL sub-bands 401 to 403. Guard sub-bands 410 are configured between DL Sub-band#3 403 and UL Sub-band#2 402 and between UL Sub-band#2 402 and DL Sub-band#1 401.

[0077] The arrangement of sub-bands 401 to 403 shown in Figure 5 is just one possible arrangement of the sub-bands and other arrangements are possible, and guard bands may be used in substantially any sub-band arrangement.

[0078] Figure 6 shows two further examples with a DL and UL subband separated by a guard subband. For example, on the left-side of Figure 6, a UL subband#1 501 is separated from a DL subband#2 503 by a guard subband 502. In this case, the DL subband#2 503 occupies a higher frequency portion of the system bandwidth than the UL subband#1 501. On the rightside of Figure 6, a DL subband#1 504 is separated from a UL subband#2 506 by a guard subband 505. In this case, the UL subband#2 506 occupies a higher frequency portion of the system bandwidth than the DL subband#1 504.

[0079] Intra-Cell Cross Link Interference (CLI) and Sub-band Full Duplex (SBFD)

[0080] In addition to inter-cell CLI, FD-TDD also suffers from intra-cell CLI at the gNB and at the UE. An example is shown in Figure 7, where a gNB 610 is capable of FD-TDD and is simultaneously receiving UL transmission 631 from UE1 621 and transmitting a DL transmission 642 to UE2 622. At the gNB 610, intra-cell CLI is caused by the DL transmission 642 at the gNB’s transmitter self-interfering 641 with its own receiver that is trying to decode UL signals 631. At UE2 622, intra-cell CLI 632 is caused by an aggressor UE, e.g., UE1 621 , transmitting in the UL 631 , whilst a victim UE, e.g., UE2 622, is receiving a DL signal 642.

[0081] The intra-cell CLI at the gNB due to self-interference can be significant, as the DL transmission can in some cases be over 100 dB more powerful than the UL reception. Accordingly, complex RF hardware and interference cancellation are required to isolate this self-interference.

[0082] Inter Sub-Band Interference

[0083] SBFD may suffer from inter sub-band interferences, which are caused by transmission leakage and receiver’s selectivity. Although a transmission is typically scheduled within a specific frequency subband, i.e., a specific set of RBs, transmission power can leak out to other subbands. This occurs because subband filters are not perfect, and as such the roll-off of the filter will cause power to leak into subband adjacent to the intended specific frequency subband. An example is shown in Figure 8, where an aggressor transmits a signal in an adjacent subband 1010 at a lower frequency than the victim’s receiving subband 1020. Due to roll-off of the transmission filter and nonlinearities in components of the transmitter, some transmission power is leaked into the victim’s receiving subband 1020. Similarly, the receiver’s filter is also not perfect and will receive unwanted power from the subband 1010. Therefore, the receiver will experience interference 1050.

[0084] SBFD Time Configurations

[0085] In a typical TDD deployment, the TDD time pattern configuration has a TDD pattern periodicity of 5 slots and a {DDDDll} TDD slot format, where D = DL slot and II = UL slot, as shown in Figure 9A. The slot prior to UL slot, e.g., Slot n+3 in Figure 9A, may have one or two Flexible OFDM symbols at the end of the slot (e.g., OFDM symbols 13 and 14) to provide a guard period for the UE to perform Timing Advance and to transition from DL to UL. One of the objectives of Duplex Evolution is to increase UL capacity, and so at least for 3GPP Rel-18 and Rel-19, SBFD may be configured in DL OFDM symbols only, i.e., by configuring a UL subband in a DL OFDM symbol. Two SBFD slot configurations considered in the Rel-18 Duplex Evolution Study Item [4] are {DXXXU} and {XXXXU}, where X = SBFD slot which contains at least one UL subband and at least one DL subband, as shown in Figures 9B and 9C respectively. Although, the SBFD slot in the examples of Figures 9B and 9C have only one DL subband, it should be noted that other SBFD frequency configurations such as those with two DL subbands in Figure 5 or with the UL subband at the top and a DL subband at the bottom in the Right Hand Side of Figure 6, can be configured.

[0086] In addition to configuring SBFD with a granularity of an entire slot, SBFD may also be configured at the granularity of individual OFDM symbols. That is, within a single slot the gNB may configure SBFD symbols (having at least one UL subband and at least one DL subband) and non-SBFD symbols (that are full UL or DL). An example is shown in Figure 10A, where a TDD pattern has a SBFD slot configuration {DXXXU}. The SBFD slots, Slot n+1 , Slot n+2 and Slot n+3, include SBFD and non-SBFD OFDM symbols. In Slot n+1 , the first two OFDM symbols are DL symbols whilst the remaining are SBFD symbols with two DL subbands & one UL subband. Similarly for Slot n+2 and Slot n+3, the first two OFDM symbols are DL and OFDM symbols 3-12 are SBFD symbols, but the last two OFDM symbols are UL and Flexible respectively.

[0087] Transmission Parameters and Values

[0088] Since SBFD configurations may contain SBFD and non-SBFD OFDM symbols, there is the possibility of a DL or UL transmission overlapping both SBFD and non-SBFD OFDM symbols, in particular within a single slot that contains SBFD and non-SBFD OFDM symbols. An example is shown in Figure 10B, which has the same SBFD configuration as shown in Figure 10A. Slot n includes a first repetition occasion 1011 (1) of PDCSH#1 1011 (in OFDM symbols 3-14 of the slot), and slot n+1 includes a second repetition occasion 1011(2) of PDSCH#1 1011 (also in OFDM symbols 3-14 of the slot). In Slot n+2, PUSCH#2 1020 transmission overlaps SBFD OFDM symbols (7thto 12thOFDM symbols of the slot) and non-SBFD OFDM symbols (13thto 14thOFDM symbols of the slot). Similarly, in slot n+3, PDSCH 1012 overlaps SBFD OFDM symbols (1st& 2ndOFDM symbols of the slot) and non-SBFD OFDM symbols (3rdto 12thOFDM symbols of the slot). Transmissions that have multiple repetition occasions and span multiple slots, such as PDSCH / PUSCH repetitions or CG-PUSCH (configured grant PUSCH) / SPS (semi-persistent scheduling) may also overlap SBFD and non-SBFD OFDM symbols. For example in Figure 10B, PDSCH#1 1011 has 2* repetitions, where the 1strepetition PDSCH#1-R1 1011(1) occupies only DL OFDM symbols in Slot n, whilst the 2ndrepetition PDSCH#1-R2 1011(2) occupies only SBFD OFDM symbols in Slot n+1.

[0089] The gNB and / or UE may use different transmission parameter values (i.e. , different values of particular transmission parameters), such as different hardware and / or configuration parameters for transmissions in SBFD and non-SBFD OFDM symbols. For example, the gNB may use different antenna panels or antenna ports for transmissions in SBFD and non-SBFD OFDM symbols, where for SBFD, additional subband filtering may be applied to reduce inter subband CLI. This leads to a different radio channel for a single transmission in SBFD and non-SBFD OFDM symbols. The gNB and UE may also use different transmission parameters for transmissions in SBFD and non-SBFD OFDM symbols to adapt to different interferences. For example, the UE may use a higher transmission power in SBFD symbols to overcome inter-subband CLI, or the gNB may use a lower modulation and coding scheme (MCS) for SBFD symbols, due to the presence of CLI and a higher MCS for non-SBFD due to no CLI being present.

[0090] In legacy implementations, transmission parameter values are fixed for a PDSCH or PUSCH transmission, and for a CG-PUSCH or SPS periodic transmission. As such, a transmission that overlaps both SBFD and non-SBFD symbols may experience different radio channels as the transmission transitions from SBFD to non-SBFD OFDM symbols, and vice-versa. For example, a front loaded DMRS used for PDSCH#2 1012 in Figure 10B may be applicable for the first two OFDM symbols where the transmission is in DL OFDM symbol, but it may not be applicable for the remaining of the PDSCH#2 1012 transmission that occurs in SBFD OFDM symbols (symbols 3-14 of slot n+3) if different antenna panels are used for SBFD and non- SBFD OFDM symbols. Furthermore, in some cases guard periods may be required for a transmission transitioning from SBFD to non-SBFD OFDM symbols, and vice-versa, e.g., in order to enable the UE or gNB to change its hardware, such as RF filters. However, guard periods interrupt the transmission and cause phase discontinuity.

[0091] One approach to addressing this problem is to prevent a transmission from overlapping SBFD and non-SBFD OFDM symbols in a slot [6], This avoids interruptions in the transmission due to changing of hardware and transmission parameters, and as such a gNB scheduler may avoid scheduling such transmissions. However, this restriction reduces the scheduling flexibility and prevents a transmission from occupying a full slot, which is feasible in legacy systems. A different approach to addressing this problem is to allow a transmission to overlap SBFD and non-SBFD OFDM symbols in a slot, provided the gNB or UE does not change its transmission parameters (e.g., hardware or configuration parameters) for the same transmission [7], While this enables a transmission to avoid interruptions when transitioning from SBFD to non-SBFD OFDM symbols (and vice-versa), this approach restricts the ability of the gNB or UE to adapt to changes in the radio channel environment, notably CLI, between SBFD and non-SBFD OFDM symbols.

[0092] The techniques according to the present disclosure enable transmissions to span SBFD and non-SBFD OFDM symbols while providing flexibility in allowing use of different transmission schemes for SBFD and non-SBFD OFDM symbols.

[0093] According to the present disclosure, an infrastructure equipment (e.g., a gNB) indicates to a communications device (e.g. a UE) whether a transmission uses different sets of transmission parameter values (i.e. different values of particular transmission parameters) in different portions / sections of the transmission. As such, different transmission parameter values may be used for different OFDM symbols of the same transmission, therefore providing scheduling flexibility and the ability to adapt to changes in the radio channel environment.

[0094] Figure 11A illustrates two example SBFD slots slot n and slot n+1. OFDM symbols 1 and 2 of slot n are allocated to DL, OFDM symbols 3-7 are SBFD symbols having two DL sub bands and one UL sub band, OFDM symbols 8-9 are allocated to DL, and OFDM symbols 10-14 are SBFD symbols having two DL sub bands and one UL sub band. OFDM symbols 1-5 of slot n+1 are SBFD symbols having two DL sub bands and one UL sub band, OFDM symbols 6-7 are allocated to UL, OFDM symbols 8-12 are SBFD symbols having two DL sub bands and one UL sub band, and OFDM symbols 13-14 are allocated to UL. Slot n includes a downlink PDSCH transmission 1110 occupying OFDM symbols 1-14, and slot n+1 includes an uplink PUSCH transmission 1120 occupying OFDM symbols 1-11.

[0095] PDSCH transmission 1110 includes four transmission portions 1110(1)-(4) that each occupy a set of contiguous OFDM symbols of the same type, where each portion occupies a different type of OFDM symbol to the adjacent portion(s). The first portion 1110(1) occupies OFDM symbols 1-2 of slot n which are non-SBFD symbols, the second portion 1110(2) occupies OFDM symbols 3-7 which are SBFD symbols, the third portion 1110(3) occupies OFDM symbols 8-9 which are non-SBFD symbols, and the fourth portion 1110(4) occupies OFDM symbols 10-14 which are SBFD symbols. PUSCH transmission 1120 includes three transmission portions 1120(1)-(3) that each occupy a set of contiguous OFDM symbols of the same type, where each portion occupies a different type of OFDM symbol to the adjacent portion(s). The first portion 1120(1) occupies OFDM symbols 1-5 of slot n+1 which are SBFD symbols, the second portion 1120(2) occupies OFDM symbols 6-7 which are non-SBFD symbols, and the third portion 1110(3) occupies OFDM symbols 8-11 which are SBFD symbols. The different types of SBFD symbols may be SBFD and non-SBFD OFDM symbols; or SBFD, non-SBFD, and Flexible OFDM symbols.

[0096] As discussed above, PDSCH 1110 may be transmitted using multiple different transmission parameter values. That is, different portions 1110(1)-(4) may have different values for transmission parameters or two or more portions may have the same transmission parameters whilst other portions have different transmission parameters. The transmission parameters may include configuration parameters, such as precoding matrix, MCS, beam information, radio channel information, and / or transmission power. The transmission parameters may additionally or alternatively include hardware to be utilised for transmission / reception of a transmission, such as one or more antenna panels, one or more antenna ports, and / or one or more RF filters to be utilized for transmission / reception of the transmission. The values of one or more of the transmission parameters may be different for different portions 1110(1 )-(4) and 1120(1)-(3) of a transmission or some of the portions may have same transmission parameters.

[0097] For example, in Figure 11A the portions 1110(1)-(2) of the PDSCH transmission 1110 have first transmission parameter values, and the portions 1110(3)-(4) of the PDSCH transmission 1110 have second transmission parameter values in which one or more of the transmission parameters have a value different to the first transmission parameter values. As such, the first set of OFDM symbols of the PDSCH transmission 1110 having the same transmission parameter values may be referred to as a first section 1115(1) of the transmission 1110, and the second set of OFDM symbols of the PDSCH transmission 1110 having the same transmission parameter values may be referred to as a section 1115(2) of the PDSCH transmission 1110. Furthermore, in Figure 11A the OFDM symbols of the PLISCH transmission 1120 having the same transmission parameter values, and as such the portions 1120(1)-(3) having the same transmission parameter values, may be referred to as a section 1125(1) of the PUSCH transmission 1120. The sections 1115(1)-(2), 1125(1) of the transmissions may include one or more portions 1110(1)-(4), 1120(1)-(3) of the transmission (occupying OFDM symbols of the same type), such as a single portion, two portions, three portions, or all portions of a transmission.

[0098] As discussed above, a gNB indicates to the UE the transmission parameter values for the portions of a transmission or segments of a slot. In particular, the gNB may transmit to the UE an indicator which indicates which portions of a transmission use the same transmission parameters. For instance, in the example of Figure 11A, the gNB can indicate that portions 1110(1)-(2) of the PDSCH 1110 use one set of transmission parameter values, and that portions 1110(3)-(4) of the PDSCH 1110 use a different set of transmission parameter values. Furthermore, the gNB can indicate that all portions 1120(1)-(3) of the PUSCH 1120 use the same transmission parameter values.

[0099] While in Figure 11A the sections 1115(1)-(2) of the PDSCH 1110 (and the section 1125(1) of PUSCH 1120) comprise one or more portions 1110(1)-(4) of the PDSCH 1110 occupying the same type of OFDM symbol, in some cases the sections of a transmission having the same transmission parameter values may include a non-integer number of portions of a transmission which occupy the same type of OFDM symbol. That is, the sections of a transmission having the same transmission parameter values may be set to include one or more sub-portions. An example of this is shown in Figure 11 B. Here, slots may be divided into multiple segments 1130, each having a different transmission parameter values. In other words, particular transmission parameter values may be defined for groups of OFDM symbols of a slot (i.e. segments 1130), rather than for portions of a transmission.

[0100] In Figure 11 B, slot n includes two segments 1130(1) and 1130(2) each having different sets of transmission parameters. Segment 1130(1) comprises OFDM symbols 1-7 of slot n and segment 1130(2) comprises OFDM symbols 8-14 of slot n. Slot n+1 includes only one segment 1130(3) comprising all OFDM symbols of slot n+1. Slot n+2 includes a segment 1130(4) comprising OFDM symbols 1-2, a segment 1130(5) comprising OFDM symbols 3-12, and segment 1130(6) comprising OFDM symbols 13-14. Slot n+3 includes a segment 1130(7) comprising OFDM symbols 1-7, and a segment 1130(8) comprising OFDM symbols 8-14. Slot n+4 includes only one segment 1130(9) comprising all OFDM symbols of slot n+4. All OFDM symbols of a particular segment 1130 have the same transmission parameter values, and a gNB is able to use different transmission parameter values in different segments 1130 for a transmission to a UE. However, in some cases particular adjacent segments 1130 may have the same transmission parameter values, as configured by an infrastructure equipment (such as a gNB).

[0101] For example, in Figure 11 B a first repetition occasion 1011(1) of PDSCH 1011 in slot n includes a first section located in segment 1130(1) (the first section occupying OFDM symbols 3-7 of slot n) and a second section located in segment 1130(2) (the second section occupying OFDM symbols 8-14 of slot n). In slot n+1 , a second repetition occasion 1011(2) of PDSCH 1011 includes only one section and also one portion (i.e., the section contains only one portion) located in segment 1130(3), occupying OFDM symbols 3-14. In slot n+2, a PUSCH 1020 includes a first section located in segment 1130(5) (the first section occupying OFDM symbols 7-12 of slot n+2) and a second section located in segment 1130(6) (the second section occupying OFDM symbols 13-14 of slot n+2). In slot n+3, the PDSCH 1012 includes a first section located in segment 1130(7) (the first section occupying OFDM symbols 1-7 of slot n+3) and a second section located in segment 1130(8) (the second section occupying OFDM symbols 8-12 of slot n+3). As per the above, the gNB may indicate which OFDM symbols share the same set of transmission parameter values. That is, instead of indicating the sections of a transmission that share the same set of transmission parameters, as in Figure 11 A, the indicator indicates the OFDM symbols of the slot (i.e., forming the segment as described earlier) that share the same set of transmission parameters.

[0102] The sections / portion of a transmission that share the same set of transmission parameters or the OFDM symbols of the slot format that share the same set of transmission parameters may be indicated to the UE by the gNB in a number of different ways. For example, the indication / indicator may be signaled to the UE via RRC signaling. That is, the network may RRC configure a UE to assume whether two or more transmission portions have the same transmission parameter values or not. Alternatively, the network can configure different sets of transmission parameter value for a predefined TDD slot pattern, as shown in the example in Figure 11 B. Furthermore, the absolute transmission parameter values (i.e., the actual transmission parameter values to be used) for the sections / portion of a transmission may be indicated to the UE via RRC signalling or via dynamic signalling, such as a DCI.

[0103] In some examples, the network can configure transmission parameter values for each channel independently. That is, the network may configure DL transmissions to use one set of transmission parameter values for its transmission portions, whilst the network may configured UL transmissions to use a different set of transmission parameter values for its transmission portions, regardless of the number of transmission portions each transmission has. Furthermore, the network may configure the sets of transmission parameter values independently for each CG-PUSCH and SPS configuration. CG-PUSCH and SPS are configured resources where the PUSCH or PDSCH resources are semi-statically configured for a UE to occur periodically. In current implementations, the network can configure a UE with up to 12 CG-PUSCH configurations and up to 8 SPS configurations, and in some cases the network may configure each of the 12 CG-PUSCH and 8 SPS with sets of transmission parameter values individually. In addition or alternatively, the network can configure each repetition occasion of a repetitive transmission individually. For example, if a PDSCH has 4 repetition occasions, the network can RRC indicate whether a given repetition occasion uses the same set of transmission parameter values or multiple sets of transmission parameter values for each repetition. Here, the 1strepetition of a PDSCH may be configured to use different transmission parameters for different transmission portions. That is, if the 1strepetition overlaps SBFD and non-SBFD OFDM symbols, thereby having 2 transmission portions, then each portion may use different transmission parameters. The remaining repetitions of the PDSCH (i.e., the 2ndto the 4threpetitions) may apply the same transmission parameters to all their portions. For example, if the 2ndrepetition has 3 transmission portions then all these 3 transmission portions may use the same transmission parameters.

[0104] Instead of indicating the transmission parameter values semi-statically (via RRC signaling), the network may dynamically indicate transmission parameter values in Downlink Control Information (DCI), such as a DL Grant, UL Grant, GC-DCI, or activation DCI for a CG-PUSCH or SPS. The network may indicate more than one set of transmission parameter values, and may indicate the transmission portions that uses each of these sets of transmission parameter values.

[0105] In some cases, the dynamic indicator may be a bit string, where a particular bit value of the bit string indicates a particular set of predefined transmission parameter values for a particular portion of a transmission. Alternatively, the bit value may indicate a change in the transmission parameter values for a particular portion of a transmission. For example, a gNB may transmit to a UE a 4 bit indicator for the PDSCH 1110 of Figure 11 A, where each bit corresponds to a respective transmission portion 1110(1)-(4) of the PDSCH 1110. The 4 bit indicator may include a bit string “0011”, which indicates that portions 1110(1)-(2) use a first set of transmission parameter values and that portions 1110(3)-(4) use a second set of transmission parameter values. In the case of the PLISCH 1120 of Figure 11A, the indicator may include a bit string “000” or “111”, which indicates that all portions of the transmission use the same transmission parameter values. In some cases, the length of the bit indicator may be dynamically adjusted according to the number of portions of the transmission, or the length of the bit indicator may be fixed, where redundant bits (corresponding to non-existent portions of a transmission) are ignored by the UE.

[0106] In some examples, the indicator is a bit in a DCI, which indicates whether all the transmission portions of a transmission use different sets of transmission parameter values or whether all the transmission portions of a transmission use the same set of transmission parameter values. An example is shown in Figure 12, where the gNB sends a DL Grant 1240(1) in Slot n to schedule a PDSCH 1210 in Slot n+1 with a corresponding PUCCH 1230 carrying the HARQ-ACK in Slot n+3. The scheduled PDSCH 1210 overlaps non-SBFD (DL) and SBFD OFDM symbols (and therefore has two portions 1210(1)-(2)) and the said indicator in the DL Grant 1240(1) includes a value of “1” thereby indicating that the two transmission portions 1210(1 )-(2) of the PDSCH 1210 use different sets of transmission parameters. In Slot n+2, the gNB sends a UL Grant 1240(2) to schedule a PUSCH 1220 in the same slot, where the PUSCH 1220 overlaps SBFD and non-SBFD (UL) OFDM symbols, thereby it also has two transmission portions. The said indicator in the UL Grant 1240(2) includes a value of “0”, thereby indicating that the entire PUSCH 1220 (i.e., all two transmission portions of the PUSCH) uses one set of transmission parameter values. Although, in this example a “1” indicates different sets of transmission parameter values for each transmission portion and “0” indicates the same set of transmission parameter values for all transmission portions, it should be appreciated that other representations may be used. For example, a “1” value may indicate all transmission portions use the same set of transmission parameter values and a “0” value may indicate that each transmission portion uses a different set of transmission parameter values.

[0107] In some examples, for the PDSCH 1210, the corresponding PUCCH 1230 carrying the HARQ feedback for the PDSCH 1210 may be associated with a separate indicator included in the DL Grant 1240(1) or PDSCH 1210 which indicates whether the PUCCH 1230 uses different sets of transmission parameter values for its transmission portions or one set of transmission parameter values. Alternatively, for the PDSCH 1210, the corresponding PUCCH 1230 carrying the HARQ feedback for the PDSCH 1210 may use the same indicator (included in the DL Grant 1240(1) as the PDSCH 1210. That is, the said dynamic indicator (bit string or single bit) may be applicable to both the PDSCH 1210 and its corresponding PUCCH 1230. In addition, while a dynamic indicator may be used to indicate whether portions of a transmission (occupying the same type of OFDM symbol) use the same set of transmission parameter values, a dynamic indicator may also be used to indicate whether segments of a slot (such as segments 1130(1)-(9) shown in Figure 11 B) utilise different sets of transmission parameter values.

[0108] According to various examples of the present disclosure, each section of a transmission (sharing the same transmission parameter values) includes at least one DM RS. This example recognises that different transmission parameter value may comprise different transmission power, MCS, precoding, beams and / or radio channels. Changes to some of these transmission parameters like precoding, beams and radio channel due to changes in hardware, such as antenna elements and / or antenna ports, may require a DM RS that reflects these changes to be included in the channel.

[0109] An example of this is shown in Figure 13A, where a PDSCH 1110 and a PLISCH 1120 are scheduled in Slot n and Slot n+1 respectively, as with the example of Figure 11A. The PDSCH 1110 has 4 transmission portions 1110(1)-(4) and the PLISCH 1120 has 3 transmission portions 1120(1)-(3). Here, the first and second transmission portions 1110(1)-(2) of the PDSCH 1110 form a first transmission section 1115(1) of the PDSCH 1110, (i.e., they share the same set of transmission parameter values) whilst the third and fourth transmission portions 1110(3)-(4) of the PDSCH 1110 form a second transmission portion 1115(2) of the PDSCH 1110. As discussed above, each transmission section (having the same set of transmission parameter values) includes at least one DMRS 1350. In the present example, the PDSCH 1110 has three DMRS 1350(1)-(3), where two DMRS 1350(1)-(2) are included in the first transmission section 1115(1) and another DMRS 1350(3) is included in the second transmission section 1115(2). The PLISCH 1120 has only one set of transmission parameters, i.e., one transmission section 1125(1), and here only a single DMRS 1350(4) is included in the PUSCH 1120.

[0110] The position of a DMRS 1350 within a transmission may, in some cases, be explicitly indicated to the UE by the gNB, for each transmission section 1115, 1125, and may be indicated either semi-statically or dynamically. Alternatively, the position of a DMRS 1350 may be implicitly indicated to the UE by the gNB, by the aforementioned indicator that indicates the transmission parameter values. That is, if the indicator indicates that one or more transmission portions or slot segments use a different set of transmission parameter values, that transmission portion will have at least one DMRS whose position (e.g., at the start of a transmission section) has been semi-statically configured or is predefined in the specifications.

[0111] Figure 13B shows another example including two slots: slot n and slot n+1. Slot n is a fully DL slot having a first repetition occasion 1310(1) of a PDSCH 1310 located in OFDM symbols 1- 14 of slot n. The entirety of the first repetition occasion 1310(1) of the PDSCH 1310 uses the same transmission parameter values, and as such the first repetition occasion 1310(1) has only one section 1315(1). Slot n+1 is an SBFD slot where OFDM symbols 1-4 are fully DL, OFDM symbols 5-10 are SBFD slots with two DL subbands and one UL subband, and OFDM symbols 11-14 are fully DL. Slot n+1 contains the second repetition occasion 1310(2) of the PDSCH 1310 located in OFDM symbols 1-14 of slot n+1. The second repetition occasion 1310(2) of the PDSCH 1310 includes three portions 1310(2)a-c each being a contiguous set of OFDM symbols occupying a same type of OFDM symbol. The first portion 1310(2)a is located in OFDM symbols 1-4 which are DL symbols, the second portion 1310(2)b is located in OFDM symbols 5-10 which are SBFD symbols, and the third portion 1310(2)c is located in OFDM symbols 11-14 which are DL symbols. Each consecutive portion 1310(2)a-c of the second repetition occasion 1310(2) uses a different set of transmission parameter values, and as such the second repetition occasion 1310(2) has three sections 1325(1)-(3), where the first section 1315(1) corresponding the first portion 1310(2)a consisting of OFDM symbols 1-4, the second section 1325(2) corresponding to the second portion 1310(2)b consisting of OFDM symbols 5-10, and the third section 1325(3) corresponding to the third portion 1310(2)c consisting of OFDM symbols 11-14.

[0112] The first repetition occasion 1310(1) is configured with a DMRS 1351 (1) in the 1stOFDM symbol of slot n, and a DMRS 1351 (2) in the 7thOFDM symbol of the first repetition occasion 1310(1) and slot n. As the first and second repetition occasions 1310(1), (2) are repetitions of the same PDSCH 1310, the second repetition occasion 1310(2) is configured with DMRS 1351 (3) and DMRS 1351 (4) located in locations corresponding to the location of DMRS 1351 (1) and DMRS 1351 (2) of the first repetition occasion 1310(1) respectively. That is, the second repetition occasion 1320(2) is configured with DMRS 1351 (3) and DMRS 1351 (4) also located in the 1stand 7thOFDM symbols of the second repetition occasion 1310(2) and slot n+1. DMRS 1351 (3) and DMRS 1351 (4) are therefore located in the first and second sections 1325(1), (2) of the second repetition 1310(2) of the PDSCH 1310. However, as the third section 1325(3) of the second repetition 1310(2) uses a different set of transmission parameter values to the second section 1325(2) (and optionally different transmission parameter values to the first section 1325(1)), the third section 1325(3) may be provided with an additional DMRS 1351 (5) which does not have a corresponding DMRS in a corresponding location of the first repetition occasion 1310(1). That is, the additional DMRS 1351 (5) in the third section 1325(3) is dynamically and / or implicitly determined rather than semi-statically configured as for DMRS 1351 (1) and DMRS 1351(2) of the first repetition occasion 1310(1), and DMRS 1351(3) and DMRS 1351 (4) of the second repetition occasion 1310(2).

[0113] In some cases, a UE may be semi-statically configured to use either a single set of transmission parameter values for a transmission or multiple sets of transmission parameter values, based on an implicit indication from a gNB. For example, the implicit indication may be the position of a DMRS within a transmission. That is, if a transmission portion contains at least one DMRS, then the UE may determine that the transmission portion uses a different set of transmission parameter values to the previous transmission portion. Conversely, if a transmission portion does not contain a DMRS, the UE may determine that the transmission portion has the same transmission parameter values as the previous transmission portion. This example is shown in Figure 13C, which includes the same slot layout as that shown in Figures 11A and 13A, and includes PDSCH 1110 and PUSCH 1120 occupying the same OFDM symbols as in Figures 11A and 13A.

[0114] As discussed above in relation to Figures 11A and 13A, the PDSCH 1110 in Figure 13C, includes a first portion 1110(1) and a second portion 1110(2) which occupy different OFDM symbol types, but which use the same transmission parameter values, thereby forming a first section 1115(1) of the PDSCH 1110. The PDSCH 1110 also includes a third portion 1110(3) and a fourth portion 1110(4) which occupy different OFDM symbol type, but which use the same transmission parameter values (but different to the first section 1115(1)), thereby forming a second section 1115(2) of the PDSCH 1110. The first portion 1110(1) (and therefore the first section 1115(1)) includes a DMRS 1352(1), and the third portion 1110(3) (and therefore the second section 1115(2)) also includes a DMRS 1352(2). As the second portion 1110(2) does not include a DMRS, the UE may determine that the second portion 1110(2) uses the same transmission parameter values as the first portion 1110(1). Conversely, as the third portion 1110(3) includes DMRS 1352(2), the UE may determine that the third portion 1110(3) uses different transmission parameter values to the second portion 1110(2). Furthermore, as the fourth portion 1110(4) does not include a DMRS, the UE may determine that the fourth portion 1110(4) uses the same transmission parameter values as the third portion 1110(3). The PUSCH 1120 in slot n+1 uses the same transmission parameter values throughout, and as such only includes a single DMRS, which in this case is located in the first portion 1120(1) of the PUSCH 1120. As such, the UE may determine that the second and third portions 1120(2), (3) of the PUSCH 1120 use the same transmission parameter values as the first portion 1120(1). In the example of Figure 13C, the DMRS may indicate a transmission portion in which the transmission parameter values change (and as such need not be located in the first OFDM symbol of the transmission portion), as discussed above, or in some cases may indicate a specific OFDM symbol from which the transmission parameter values change.

[0115] According to examples where the implicit indication is the position of DMRS within a transmission, if the first transmission portion of a transmission does not have a DMRS, then a UE may determine that a transmission section (using the same set of transmission parameter values) contains transmission portions that occur before (and optionally after) a first occurrence of a DMRS. This example is illustrated in Figure 13D, where slots n and n+1 have the same OFDM symbol layouts as Figures 11A, 13A, and 13C. Slot n includes a PDSCH 1110 having occupying OFDM symbols 1-14 and includes four portions 1110(1)-(4), as in Figures 11A, 13A, and 13C. In Figure 13D, the first portion 1110(1) does not have a DMRS, and as such the UE may determine that the first portion 1110(1) utilises the same transmission parameter values as the portion in which the first DMRS of the PDSCH 1110 occurs. The second portion 1110(2) of the PDSCH 1110 includes a DMRS 1353(1). As the DMRS 1353(1) is the first DMRS of the PDSCH 1110, the UE determines that the first portion 1110(1) and the second portion 1110(2) use the same transmission parameter values. The UE may also determine that, as the first portion 1110(1) does not include a DMRS but the second portion 1110(2) includes DMRS 1353(1), that the third portion uses the same transmission parameter values as the second portion 1120(2). As such, the first, second and third portions 1110(1)- (3) of the PDSCH 1110 use the same transmission parameter values, and as such form a first section 1316(1) of the PDSCH 1110. In the example of Figure 13D, the fourth portion 1110(4) includes a DMRS 1353(2) (located in the second OFDM symbol of the fourth portion 1110(4)), and as such the UE may determine that the fourth portion 1110(4) uses different transmission parameter values to the third portion 1110(3) and therefore forms a second section 1316(2) of the PDSCH 1110.

[0116] In Figure 13D, slot n includes a PUSCH 1320 occupying OFDM symbols 1-14. The PUSCH 1320 includes four portions 1320(1 )-(4) each corresponding to a contiguous set of OFDM symbols of the same type. In Figure 13D, the first portion 1320(1) of the PUSCH 1320 does not have a DMRS, and as such the UE may determine that the first portion 1320(1) utilises the same transmission parameter values as the portion in which the first DMRS of the PUSCH 1320 occurs. The second portion 1320(2) of the PUSCH 1320 also does not have a DMRS. As such, the UE may determine that the second portion 1320(2) utilises the same transmission parameter values as the first portion 1320(1) and the same transmission parameter values as the portion in which the first DMRS of the PUSCH 1320 occurs. The third portion 1320(3) of the PUSCH 1320 includes a DMRS 1353(3). As the DMRS 1353(3) is the first DMRS of the PUSCH 1320, the UE determines that the first portion 1320(1), second portion 1320(2) and third portion 1320(3) use the same transmission parameter values. The fourth portion 1320(4) of the PLISCH 1320 includes a DM RS 1353(4) and as such the UE may determine that the fourth portion uses a different set of transmission parameter values as the third portion 1320(3). Consequently, the first, second and third portion 1320(1 )-(3) form a first section 1326(1) of the PLISCH 1320, and the fourth portion 1320(4) forms a second section 1326(2) of the PUSCH 1320.

[0117] In some cases, the UE may determine the existence of one or more guard periods within a transmission when the transmission parameter values change. That is, a guard period may be required for the gNB and or UE to change hardware, or perform reconfigurations, such as subband filtering. Such a guard period can be provided by puncturing the transmission or rate matching. An example is shown in Figure 14, which corresponds to the arrangement in Figure 13C. In the PDSCH 1110 in slot n, a guard period 1460 is provided prior to the second section 1115(2) of the transmission, which has different transmission parameter values to the first section 1115(1). In the guard period 1460, nothing is transmitted to the UE by the gNB, which allows the gNB and / or UE time to prepare the change in transmission parameter values.

[0118] The presence or absence of a guard period may in some cases be indicated by the network to the UE. This recognises that not all changes to the set of transmission parameter values between two transmission section may require a guard period. For example, if the only changes are to the transmission power, MCS, or precoding, a guard period 1460 may not be required. Similarly, certain hardware changes (such as a change in cyclic prefix), may also not require a guard period 1460, provided the gNB and / or UE can perform such changes fast enough. Hence, by allowing the gNB to indicate whether a guard period is required, flexibility is provided.

[0119] The presence or absence of a guard period, as well as its location and direction, may be indicated to the UE in a number of ways, for example via RRC signaling ora dynamic indication in a DCI, GC-DCI, or activation DCI. In other examples, the presence or absence of guard period may be determined by the UE based on an implicit indication from the gNB. For example, the UE may determine whether a guard period 1460 is present based on the type of OFDM symbol change from one transmission section to the next. More specifically, a guard period 1460 may be added between transmission sections 1115(1), (2), if the final transmission portion 1110(2) of the first transmission section 1115(1) (i.e., just prior to the second transmission section 1115(2)) is SBFD whilst the first transmission portion 1110(3) of the second transmission section (1115(2) is non-SBFD. That is, the guard period may be added if consecutive transmission portions of different transmission sections have different OFDM symbol types (i.e. SBFD or non-SBFD), or if the OFDM symbol type changes from SBFD to non-SBFD between consecutive transmission portions of different transmission sections, or if the OFDM symbol type changes from non-SBFD to SBFD between consecutive transmission portions of different transmission sections. It should also be appreciated that other changes of OFDM symbol type can be used in this example. The type of OFDM symbol change between transmission section that utilise guard period may be RRC configured by the network or predefined in the specifications.

[0120] Furthermore, in some examples the UE may determine whether a guard period exists based on a channel type (i.e. whether the transmission is UL or DL). For example, a guard period may be required between transmission section in a PDSCH, but may not be required in a PUSCH (or vice versa). This recognises that a gNB or UE may need to perform hardware change in DL transmission, but not for an UL transmission, and vice-versa. The type of channel that may utilise guard periods may be RRC configured by the network or predefined in the specifications.

[0121] Figure 15 illustrates a method for operating a communications device, such as those shown in any of Figures 1-3, according to an example of the present disclosure. At step 1510, the communications device receives, from an infrastructure equipment, an indication of transmission parameter values for a first transmission to be transmitted to or received from the infrastructure equipment, wherein the transmission parameter values include: first transmission parameter values for a first section of the first transmission, and second transmission parameter values for a second section of the first transmission, wherein the first transmission parameter values are different to the second transmission parameter values. At step 1520, the communications device transmits or receives the first transmission according to the transmission parameter values for the respective sections of the first transmission.

[0122] Figure 16 illustrates a method for operating an infrastructure equipment, such as those shown in any of Figures 1-3, according to an example of the present disclosure. At step 1610, the infrastructure equipment transmits, to a communications device, an indication of transmission parameter values for a first transmission to be transmitted to or received from the communications device, wherein the indicated transmission parameter values include: first transmission parameter values for a first section of a first transmission to be transmitted to or received from the infrastructure equipment, and second transmission parameter values for a second section of the first transmission, wherein the first transmission parameter values are different to the second transmission parameter values. At step 1620, the infrastructure equipment transmits or receives the first transmission according to the indicated transmission parameter values for the respective sections of the first transmission.

[0123] As such, from one perspective, there has been described methods, communications devices, infrastructure equipment, and circuitry for allowing the use of multiple transmission parameter values in a single transmission. The network indicates to a communications device whether one or more a transmission uses different sets of transmission parameter values in different portions of the transmission.

[0124] Further examples of feature combinations taught by the present disclosure are set out in the following numbered paragraphs:

[0125] Paragraph 1. A method for a communications device configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals from an infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network via a wireless radio interface provided by the wireless communications network, the method comprising: receiving, from the infrastructure equipment, an indication of transmission parameter values for a first transmission to be transmitted to or received from the infrastructure equipment, wherein the transmission parameter values include: first transmission parameter values for a first section of the first transmission, and second transmission parameter values for a second section of the first transmission, wherein the first transmission parameter values are different to the second transmission parameter values; and transmitting or receiving the first transmission according to the transmission parameter values for the respective sections of the first transmission.

[0126] Paragraph 2. The method according to paragraph 1 , wherein the first transmission comprises a plurality of portions, each occupying a contiguous set of OFDM symbols of the same type, and wherein each portion occupies a different type of OFDM symbol to its adjacent portions.

[0127] Paragraph 3. The method according to paragraph 2, wherein the different types of OFDM symbols are OFDM symbols having two or more subbands for different link directions, and OFDM symbols having only one link direction.

[0128] Paragraph 4. The method according to paragraph 2 or paragraph 3, wherein the first section and / or the second section include two or more portions.

[0129] Paragraph 5. The method according to any of paragraphs 1-4, wherein the transmission parameter values include configuration parameter values for the respective section of the first transmission.

[0130] Paragraph 6. The method according to paragraph 5, wherein the configuration parameters include a precoding matrix, modulation and coding scheme, beam information, radio channel information, antenna ports information, and / or transmission power for the first transmission.

[0131] Paragraph 7. The method according to any preceding paragraph, wherein the transmission parameters include hardware to be utilised for transmission / reception of the first transmission.

[0132] Paragraph 8. The method according to paragraph 7, wherein the hardware to be utilised for transmission / reception of the first transmission includes one or more antenna panels, one or more antenna ports, transmission and reception points (TRP), and / or one or more RF filters to be utilized for the first transmission.

[0133] Paragraph 9. The method according to any preceding paragraph, wherein the indication of the first and / or second transmission parameter values indicates a change in transmission parameter values.

[0134] Paragraph 10. The method according to any preceding paragraph, wherein the indication of the first and / or second transmission parameter values indicates transmission parameter values for one or more portions of the first transmission that each occupy a contiguous set of OFDM symbols of the same type.

[0135] Paragraph 11. The method according to any of paragraphs 1-9, wherein the indication of the first and / or second transmission parameter values indicates transmission parameter values for one or more groups of contiguous OFDM symbols of a slot.

[0136] Paragraph 12. The method according to any preceding paragraph, wherein the communications device receives one or more of the indications of the transmission parameter values via RRC signalling from an infrastructure equipment.

[0137] Paragraph 13. The method according to paragraph 12, wherein the communications device determines the transmission parameter values based on whether the first transmission is an uplink or downlink transmission. Paragraph 14. The method according to paragraph 12 or paragraph 13, wherein the communications device determines the transmission parameter values based on a CG- PLISCH configuration and / or an SPS configuration for the communications device.

[0138] Paragraph 15. The method according to any of paragraphs 12-14, wherein the communications device determines the transmission parameter values based on a repetition occasion number for the first transmission.

[0139] Paragraph 16. The method according to any preceding paragraph, wherein the communications device receives one or more of the indications of the transmission parameter values via downlink control information.

[0140] Paragraph 17. The method according to paragraph 16, wherein the one or more of the indications include a bit string.

[0141] Paragraph 18. The method according to paragraph 17, wherein a value of a particular bit of the bit string indicates a change in the transmission parameter values.

[0142] Paragraph 19. The method according to any of paragraphs 16-18, wherein the first transmission is a downlink transmission, and wherein the method further comprises: transmitting, to the infrastructure equipment, a second transmission, wherein the second transmission is an uplink control channel including an ACK or NACK for the first transmission

[0143] Paragraph 20. The method according to paragraph 19, wherein the communications device identifies transmission parameter values for the second transmission based on the received indication of the first transmission parameter values or the received indication of the second transmission parameter values.

[0144] Paragraph 21. The method according to paragraph 19, wherein the communications device identifies transmission parameter values for the second transmission based on receiving a further indication of third transmission parameter values for the second transmission.

[0145] Paragraph 22. The method according to any of paragraphs 16-21 , wherein the first and second sections of the first transmission each include one or more demodulation reference signals (DMRS).

[0146] Paragraph 23. The method according to paragraph 22, wherein the communications device receives, from the infrastructure equipment, an indication of a position of the DMRS in a particular section of the first transmission.

[0147] Paragraph 24. The method according to paragraph 22 or paragraph 23, the communications device determines a position of the DMRS in the first section of the first transmission based on the received indication of the first transmission parameter values.

[0148] Paragraph 25. The method according to any of paragraphs 22-24, wherein the first section comprises first portion and a second portion, wherein the first and second portions of the first section occupy different types of OFDM symbol, and wherein the method further comprises: based on determining that the second portion does not include a DMRS, determining that the second portion uses the same transmission parameter values as the first portion. Paragraph 26. The method according to any of paragraphs 22-25, wherein the indication of first and / or second transmission parameter values is an implicit indication.

[0149] Paragraph 27. The method according to paragraph 26, wherein the communications device determines the first and / or second transmission parameter values based on a position of a DM RS within the first and / or second section of the first transmission respectively.

[0150] Paragraph 28. The method according to paragraph 27, wherein the first section comprises first portion and a second portion, wherein the first and second portions of the first section occupy different types of OFDM symbol, and wherein the communications device determines that first portion of the first section of the first transmission has the first transmission parameter values, based on the presence of a DM RS within the second portion of the first section of the first transmission, wherein the second portion occurs after the first portion.

[0151] Paragraph 29. The method according to any preceding paragraph, wherein the communications device determines the existence of a guard period of one or more OFDM symbols between the first and second sections of the transmission.

[0152] Paragraph 30. The method according to paragraph 29, wherein the communications device determines the existence and / or a duration of the guard period based on an indication received from the infrastructure equipment.

[0153] Paragraph 31. The method according to paragraph 30, wherein the communications device determines the existence and / or a duration of the based on RRC signalling or dynamic signalling from the infrastructure equipment.

[0154] Paragraph 32. The method according to any of paragraphs 29-31 , wherein the communications device determines the existence of the guard period based on the first and second sections of the first transmission having different transmission parameter values.

[0155] Paragraph 33. The method according to any of paragraphs 29-32, wherein the communications device determines the existence of the guard period based on an OFDM symbol type occupied by the first and second sections of the first transmission.

[0156] Paragraph 34. The method according to any of paragraphs 29-33, wherein the communications device determines the existence of the guard period based on whether the first transmission is an uplink transmission or a downlink transmission.

[0157] Paragraph 35. A communications device configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals from an infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network via a wireless radio interface provided by the wireless communications network, the communications device comprising: a transmitter configured to transmit signals, a receiver configured to receive signals, and a controller configured in combination with the transmitter and the receiver to receive, from the infrastructure equipment, an indication of transmission parameter values for a first transmission to be transmitted to or received from the infrastructure equipment, wherein the transmission parameter values include: first transmission parameter values for a first section of the first transmission, and second transmission parameter values for a second section of the first transmission, wherein the first transmission parameter values are different to the second transmission parameter values; and transmit or receive the first transmission according to the transmission parameter values for the respective sections of the first transmission.

[0158] Paragraph 36. Circuitry for a communications device configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals from an infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network via a wireless radio interface provided by the wireless communications network, the circuitry comprising: transmitter circuitry configured to transmit signals, receiver circuitry configured to receive signals, and controller circuitry configured in combination with the transmitter circuitry and the receiver circuitry to receive, from the infrastructure equipment, an indication of transmission parameter values for a first transmission to be transmitted to or received from the infrastructure equipment, wherein the transmission parameter values include: first transmission parameter values for a first section of the first transmission, and second transmission parameter values for a second section of the first transmission, wherein the first transmission parameter values are different to the second transmission parameter values; and transmit or receive the first transmission according to the transmission parameter values for the respective sections of the first transmission.

[0159] Paragraph 37. A method for an infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network, the infrastructure equipment configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals from one or more communications devices via a wireless radio interface provided by the wireless communications network, the method comprising: transmitting, to a communications device, an indication of transmission parameter values for a first transmission to be transmitted to or received from the communications device, wherein the indicated transmission parameter values include: first transmission parameter values for a first section of a first transmission to be transmitted to or received from the infrastructure equipment, and second transmission parameter values for a second section of the first transmission, wherein the first transmission parameter values are different to the second transmission parameter values; and transmitting or receiving the first transmission according to the indicated transmission parameter values for the respective sections of the first transmission.

[0160] Paragraph 38. The method according to paragraph 37, wherein the first transmission comprises a plurality of portions, each occupying a contiguous set of OFDM symbols of the same type, and wherein each portion occupies a different type of OFDM symbol to its adjacent portions.

[0161] Paragraph 39. The method according to paragraph 38, wherein the different types of OFDM symbols are OFDM symbols having two or more subbands for different link directions, and OFDM symbols having only one link direction.

[0162] Paragraph 40. The method according to paragraph 38 or paragraph 39, wherein the first section and / or the second section include two or more portions.

[0163] Paragraph 41. The method according to any of paragraphs 37-40, wherein the transmission parameter values include configuration parameter values for the respective section of the first transmission.

[0164] Paragraph 42. The method according to paragraph 41 , wherein the configuration parameters include a precoding matrix, modulation and coding scheme, beam information, radio channel information, antenna ports information, and / or transmission power for the first transmission.

[0165] Paragraph 43. The method according to any of paragraphs 37-42, wherein the transmission parameters include hardware to be utilised for transmission / reception of the first transmission.

[0166] Paragraph 44. The method according to paragraph 43, wherein the hardware to be utilised for transmission / reception of the first transmission includes one or more antenna panels, one or more antenna ports, transmission and reception points (TRP), and / or one or more RF filters to be utilized for the first transmission.

[0167] Paragraph 45. The method according to any of paragraphs 37-44, wherein the indication of the first and / or second transmission parameter values indicates a change in transmission parameter values.

[0168] Paragraph 46. The method according to any of paragraphs 37-45, wherein the indication of the first and / or second transmission parameter values indicates transmission parameter values for one or more portions of the first transmission that each occupy a contiguous set of OFDM symbols of the same type.

[0169] Paragraph 47. The method according to any of paragraphs 37-45, wherein the indication of the first and / or second transmission parameter values indicates transmission parameter values for one or more groups of contiguous OFDM symbols of a slot.

[0170] Paragraph 48. The method according to any of paragraphs 37-47, wherein the infrastructure equipment transmits the one or more of the indications of the transmission parameter values via RRC signalling.

[0171] Paragraph 49. The method according to paragraph 48, wherein the transmission parameter values are indicated based on whether the first transmission is an uplink or downlink transmission.

[0172] Paragraph 50. The method according to paragraph 48 or paragraph 49, wherein the transmission parameter values are indicated based on a CG-PUSCH configuration and / or an SPS configuration for the communications device. Paragraph 51. The method according to any of paragraphs 48-50, wherein the transmission parameter values are indicated based on a repetition occasion number for the first transmission.

[0173] Paragraph 52. The method according to any of paragraphs 37-51 , wherein the infrastructure equipment transmits one or more of the indications of the transmission parameter values via downlink control information.

[0174] Paragraph 53. The method according to paragraph 52, wherein the one or more of the indications include a bit string.

[0175] Paragraph 54. The method according to paragraph 53, wherein a value of a particular bit of the bit string indicates a change in the transmission parameter values.

[0176] Paragraph 55. The method according to any of paragraphs 52-54, wherein the first transmission is a downlink transmission, and wherein the method further comprises: receiving, from the communications device, a second transmission, wherein the second transmission is an uplink control channel including an ACK or NACK for the first transmission

[0177] Paragraph 56. The method according to paragraph 55, wherein transmission parameter values for the second transmission are indicated based on the indication of the first transmission parameter values or the indication of the second transmission parameter values.

[0178] Paragraph 57. The method according to paragraph 55, wherein the transmission parameter values for the second transmission are indicated by transmitting, to the communications device, a further indication of third transmission parameter values for the second transmission.

[0179] Paragraph 58. The method according to any of paragraphs 52-57, wherein the first and second sections of the first transmission each include one or more demodulation reference signals (DMRS).

[0180] Paragraph 59. The method according to paragraph 58, wherein the infrastructure equipment transmits, to the communications device, an indication of a position of the DMRS in a particular section of the first transmission.

[0181] Paragraph 60. The method according to paragraph 58 or paragraph 59, wherein a position of the DMRS in the first section of the first transmission is indicated by the indication of the first transmission parameter values.

[0182] Paragraph 61. The method according to any of paragraphs 58-60, wherein the indication of first and / or second transmission parameter values is an implicit indication.

[0183] Paragraph 62. The method according to paragraph 61 , wherein the first and / or second transmission parameter values are indicated according to a position of a DMRS within the first and / or second section of the first transmission respectively.

[0184] Paragraph 63. The method according to paragraph 62, wherein the first section comprises first portion and a second portion, wherein the first and second portions of the first section occupy different types of OFDM symbol, and wherein the infrastructure equipment indicates that the first portion of the first section of the first transmission has the first transmission parameter values, based on the presence of a DM RS within the second portion of the first section of the first transmission, wherein the second portion occurs after the first portion.

[0185] Paragraph 64. The method according to any of paragraphs 37-63, wherein the infrastructure equipment transmits, to the communications device, an indication of the existence of a guard period of one or more OFDM symbols between the first and second sections of the transmission.

[0186] Paragraph 65. The method according to paragraph 64, wherein the indication of the existence of the guard period is transmitted via RRC signalling or dynamic signalling.

[0187] Paragraph 66. The method according to any of paragraphs 64-65, wherein the infrastructure equipment indicates the presence of a guard period based on the first and second sections of the first transmission having different transmission parameter values.

[0188] Paragraph 67. The method according to any of paragraphs 64-66, wherein the infrastructure equipment indicates the presence of a guard period based on an OFDM symbol type occupied by the first and second sections of the first transmission.

[0189] Paragraph 68. The method according to any of paragraphs 64-67, wherein the infrastructure equipment indicates the presence of a guard period based on whether the first transmission is an uplink transmission or a downlink transmission.

[0190] Paragraph 69. Infrastructure equipment for a wireless communications network, the infrastructure equipment configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals from one or more communications devices via a wireless radio interface provided by the wireless communications network, the infrastructure equipment comprising: a transmitter configured to transmit signals, a receiver configured to receive signals, and a controller configured in combination with the transmitter and the receiver to transmit, to a communications device, an indication of transmission parameter values for a first transmission to be transmitted to or received from the communications device, wherein the indicated transmission parameter values include: first transmission parameter values for a first section of a first transmission to be transmitted to or received from the infrastructure equipment, and second transmission parameter values for a second section of the first transmission, wherein the first transmission parameter values are different to the second transmission parameter values; and transmit or receive the first transmission according to the indicated transmission parameter values for the respective sections of the first transmission.

[0191] Paragraph 70. Circuitry for infrastructure equipment for a wireless communications network, the circuitry configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals from one or more communications devices via a wireless radio interface provided by the wireless communications network, the circuitry comprising: transmitter circuitry configured to transmit signals, receiver circuitry configured to receive signals, and controller circuitry configured in combination with the transmitter circuitry and the receiver circuitry to transmit, to a communications device, an indication of transmission parameter values for a first transmission to be transmitted to or received from the communications device, wherein the indicated transmission parameter values include: first transmission parameter values for a first section of a first transmission to be transmitted to or received from the infrastructure equipment, and second transmission parameter values for a second section of the first transmission, wherein the first transmission parameter values are different to the second transmission parameter values; and transmit or receive the first transmission according to the indicated transmission parameter values for the respective sections of the first transmission.

[0192] Paragraph 71. A system comprising a communications device according to paragraph 35 and infrastructure equipment according to paragraph 69.

[0193] Paragraph 72. A computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of any of paragraphs 1 to 34 or any of paragraphs 37 to 68.

[0194] Paragraph 73. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program according to paragraph 72.

[0195] REFERENCES

[0196] [1] Holma H. and ToskalaA, “LTE for UMTS OFDMA and SC-FDMA based radio access”, John Wiley and Sons, 2009.

[0197] [2] TR 38.913, “Study on Scenarios and Requirements for Next Generation Access Technologies (Release 14)”, 3rd Generation Partnership Project, v14.3.0, August 2017.

[0198] [3] RP-213591 , “New SI: Study on evolution of NR duplex operation,” CMCC, RAN#94e, December 2021.

[0199] [4] RP-220633, “Revised SID: Study on evolution of NR duplex operation,” CMCC, RAN#95e, March 2022.

[0200] [5] European Patent No. 3545716.

[0201] [6] R1-2304792, “Sub-band non-overlapping full duplex,” Ericsson, RA1#113

[0202] [7] R1 -2305093, “Discussion on subband non-overlapping full duplex,” CMCC, RAN1#113

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method for a communications device configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals from an infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network via a wireless radio interface provided by the wireless communications network, the method comprising: receiving, from the infrastructure equipment, an indication of transmission parameter values for a first transmission to be transmitted to or received from the infrastructure equipment, wherein the transmission parameter values include: first transmission parameter values for a first section of the first transmission, and second transmission parameter values for a second section of the first transmission, wherein the first transmission parameter values are different to the second transmission parameter values; and transmitting or receiving the first transmission according to the transmission parameter values for the respective sections of the first transmission.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first transmission comprises a plurality of portions, each occupying a contiguous set of OFDM symbols of the same type, and wherein each portion occupies a different type of OFDM symbol to its adjacent portions.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the different types of OFDM symbols are OFDM symbols having two or more subbands for different link directions, and OFDM symbols having only one link direction.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the first section and / or the second section include two or more portions.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the transmission parameter values include configuration parameter values for the respective section of the first transmission.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the configuration parameters include a precoding matrix, modulation and coding scheme, beam information, radio channel information, antenna ports information, and / or transmission power for the first transmission.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the transmission parameters include hardware to be utilised for transmission / reception of the first transmission.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the hardware to be utilised for transmission / reception of the first transmission includes one or more antenna panels, one or more antenna ports, transmission and reception points (TRP), and / or one or more RF filters to be utilized for the first transmission.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the indication of the first and / or second transmission parameter values indicates a change in transmission parameter values.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the indication of the first and / or second transmission parameter values indicates transmission parameter values for one or more portions of the first transmission that each occupy a contiguous set of OFDM symbols of the same type.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the indication of the first and / or second transmission parameter values indicates transmission parameter values for one or more groups of contiguous OFDM symbols of a slot.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the communications device receives one or more of the indications of the transmission parameter values via RRC signalling from an infrastructure equipment.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the communications device determines the transmission parameter values based on whether the first transmission is an uplink or downlink transmission.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the communications device determines the transmission parameter values based on a CG-PUSCH configuration and / or an SPS configuration for the communications device.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the communications device determines the transmission parameter values based on a repetition occasion number for the first transmission.

16. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the communications device receives one or more of the indications of the transmission parameter values via downlink control information.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the one or more of the indications include a bit string.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein a value of a particular bit of the bit string indicates a change in the transmission parameter values.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the first transmission is a downlink transmission, and wherein the method further comprises: transmitting, to the infrastructure equipment, a second transmission, wherein the second transmission is an uplink control channel including an ACK or NACK for the first transmission20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the communications device identifies transmission parameter values for the second transmission based on the received indication of the first transmission parameter values or the received indication of the second transmission parameter values.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the communications device identifies transmission parameter values for the second transmission based on receiving a further indication of third transmission parameter values for the second transmission.

22. The method according to claim 16, wherein the first and second sections of the first transmission each include one or more demodulation reference signals (DMRS).

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the communications device receives, from the infrastructure equipment, an indication of a position of the DMRS in a particular section of the first transmission.

24. The method according to claim 22, the communications device determines a position of the DMRS in the first section of the first transmission based on the received indication of the first transmission parameter values.

25. The method according to claim 22, wherein the first section comprises first portion and a second portion, wherein the first and second portions of the first section occupy different types of OFDM symbol, and wherein the method further comprises: based on determining that the second portion does not include a DMRS, determining that the second portion uses the same transmission parameter values as the first portion.

26. The method according to claim 22, wherein the indication of first and / or second transmission parameter values is an implicit indication.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the communications device determines the first and / or second transmission parameter values based on a position of a DM RS within the first and / or second section of the first transmission respectively.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the first section comprises first portion and a second portion, wherein the first and second portions of the first section occupy different types of OFDM symbol, and wherein the communications device determines that first portion of the first section of the first transmission has the first transmission parameter values, based on the presence of a DM RS within the second portion of the first section of the first transmission, wherein the second portion occurs after the first portion.

29. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the communications device determines the existence of a guard period of one or more OFDM symbols between the first and second sections of the transmission.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the communications device determines the existence and / or a duration of the guard period based on an indication received from the infrastructure equipment.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the communications device determines the existence and / or a duration of the based on RRC signalling or dynamic signalling from the infrastructure equipment.

32. The method according to claim 29, wherein the communications device determines the existence of the guard period based on the first and second sections of the first transmission having different transmission parameter values.

33. The method according to claim 29, wherein the communications device determines the existence of the guard period based on an OFDM symbol type occupied by the first and second sections of the first transmission.

34. The method according to claim 29, wherein the communications device determines the existence of the guard period based on whether the first transmission is an uplink transmission or a downlink transmission.

35. A communications device configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals from an infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network via a wireless radio interface provided by the wireless communications network, the communications device comprising: a transmitter configured to transmit signals, a receiver configured to receive signals, and a controller configured in combination with the transmitter and the receiver to receive, from the infrastructure equipment, an indication of transmission parameter values for a first transmission to be transmitted to or received from the infrastructure equipment, wherein the transmission parameter values include: first transmission parameter values for a first section of the first transmission, and second transmission parameter values for a second section of the first transmission, wherein the first transmission parameter values are different to the second transmission parameter values; and transmit or receive the first transmission according to the transmission parameter values for the respective sections of the first transmission.

36. Circuitry for a communications device configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals from an infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network via a wireless radio interface provided by the wireless communications network, the circuitry comprising: transmitter circuitry configured to transmit signals, receiver circuitry configured to receive signals, and controller circuitry configured in combination with the transmitter circuitry and the receiver circuitry to receive, from the infrastructure equipment, an indication of transmission parameter values for a first transmission to be transmitted to or received from the infrastructure equipment, wherein the transmission parameter values include: first transmission parameter values for a first section of the first transmission, and second transmission parameter values for a second section of the first transmission, wherein the first transmission parameter values are different to the second transmission parameter values; and transmit or receive the first transmission according to the transmission parameter values for the respective sections of the first transmission.

37. A method for an infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network, the infrastructure equipment configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals from oneor more communications devices via a wireless radio interface provided by the wireless communications network, the method comprising: transmitting, to a communications device, an indication of transmission parameter values for a first transmission to be transmitted to or received from the communications device, wherein the indicated transmission parameter values include: first transmission parameter values for a first section of a first transmission to be transmitted to or received from the infrastructure equipment, and second transmission parameter values for a second section of the first transmission, wherein the first transmission parameter values are different to the second transmission parameter values; and transmitting or receiving the first transmission according to the indicated transmission parameter values for the respective sections of the first transmission.

38. The method according to claim 37, wherein the first transmission comprises a plurality of portions, each occupying a contiguous set of OFDM symbols of the same type, and wherein each portion occupies a different type of OFDM symbol to its adjacent portions.

39. The method according to claim 38, wherein the different types of OFDM symbols are OFDM symbols having two or more subbands for different link directions, and OFDM symbols having only one link direction.

40. The method according to claim 38, wherein the first section and / or the second section include two or more portions.41 . The method according to claim 37, wherein the transmission parameter values include configuration parameter values for the respective section of the first transmission.

42. The method according to claim 41 , wherein the configuration parameters include a precoding matrix, modulation and coding scheme, beam information, radio channel information, antenna ports information, and / or transmission power for the first transmission.

43. The method according to claim 37, wherein the transmission parameters include hardware to be utilised for transmission / reception of the first transmission.

44. The method according to claim 43, wherein the hardware to be utilised for transmission / reception of the first transmission includes one or more antenna panels, one or more antenna ports, transmission and reception points (TRP), and / or one or more RF filters to be utilized for the first transmission.

45. The method according to claim 37, wherein the indication of the first and / or second transmission parameter values indicates a change in transmission parameter values.

46. The method according to claim 37, wherein the indication of the first and / or second transmission parameter values indicates transmission parameter values for one or more portions of the first transmission that each occupy a contiguous set of OFDM symbols of the same type.

47. The method according to claim 37, wherein the indication of the first and / or second transmission parameter values indicates transmission parameter values for one or more groups of contiguous OFDM symbols of a slot.

48. The method according to claim 37, wherein the infrastructure equipment transmits the one or more of the indications of the transmission parameter values via RRC signalling.

49. The method according to claim 48, wherein the transmission parameter values are indicated based on whether the first transmission is an uplink or downlink transmission.

50. The method according to claim 48, wherein the transmission parameter values are indicated based on a CG-PUSCH configuration and / or an SPS configuration for the communications device.

51. The method according to claim 48, wherein the transmission parameter values are indicated based on a repetition occasion number for the first transmission.

52. The method according to claim 37, wherein the infrastructure equipment transmits one or more of the indications of the transmission parameter values via downlink control information.

53. The method according to claim 52, wherein the one or more of the indications include a bit string.

54. The method according to claim 53, wherein a value of a particular bit of the bit string indicates a change in the transmission parameter values.

55. The method according to claim 52, wherein the first transmission is a downlink transmission, and wherein the method further comprises: receiving, from the communications device, a second transmission, wherein the second transmission is an uplink control channel including an ACK or NACK for the first transmission56. The method according to claim 55, wherein transmission parameter values for the second transmission are indicated based on the indication of the first transmission parameter values or the indication of the second transmission parameter values.

57. The method according to claim 55, wherein the transmission parameter values for the second transmission are indicated by transmitting, to the communications device, a further indication of third transmission parameter values for the second transmission.

58. The method according to claim 52, wherein the first and second sections of the first transmission each include one or more demodulation reference signals (DMRS).

59. The method according to claim 58, wherein the infrastructure equipment transmits, to the communications device, an indication of a position of the DMRS in a particular section of the first transmission.

60. The method according to claim 58, wherein a position of the DMRS in the first section of the first transmission is indicated by the indication of the first transmission parameter values.

61. The method according to claim 58, wherein the indication of first and / or second transmission parameter values is an implicit indication.

62. The method according to claim 61 , wherein the first and / or second transmission parameter values are indicated according to a position of a DMRS within the first and / or second section of the first transmission respectively.

63. The method according to claim 62, wherein the first section comprises first portion and a second portion, wherein the first and second portions of the first section occupy different types of OFDM symbol, and wherein the infrastructure equipment indicates that the first portion of the first section of the first transmission has the first transmission parameter values, based on the presence of a DMRS within the second portion of the first section of the first transmission, wherein the second portion occurs after the first portion.

64. The method according to claim 37, wherein the infrastructure equipment transmits, to the communications device, an indication of the existence of a guard period of one or more OFDM symbols between the first and second sections of the transmission.

65. The method according to claim 64, wherein the indication of the existence of the guard period is transmitted via RRC signalling or dynamic signalling.

66. The method according to claim 64, wherein the infrastructure equipment indicates the presence of a guard period based on the first and second sections of the first transmission having different transmission parameter values.

67. The method according to claim 64, wherein the infrastructure equipment indicates the presence of a guard period based on an OFDM symbol type occupied by the first and second sections of the first transmission.

68. The method according to claim 64, wherein the infrastructure equipment indicates the presence of a guard period based on whether the first transmission is an uplink transmission or a downlink transmission.

69. Infrastructure equipment for a wireless communications network, the infrastructure equipment configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals from one or more communications devices via a wireless radio interface provided by the wireless communications network, the infrastructure equipment comprising: a transmitter configured to transmit signals, a receiver configured to receive signals, and a controller configured in combination with the transmitter and the receiver to transmit, to a communications device, an indication of transmission parameter values for a first transmission to be transmitted to or received from the communications device, wherein the indicated transmission parameter values include: first transmission parameter values for a first section of a first transmission to be transmitted to or received from the infrastructure equipment, and second transmission parameter values for a second section of the first transmission, wherein the first transmission parameter values are different to the second transmission parameter values; and transmit or receive the first transmission according to the indicated transmission parameter values for the respective sections of the first transmission.

70. Circuitry for infrastructure equipment for a wireless communications network, the circuitry configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals from one or more communications devices via a wireless radio interface provided by the wireless communications network, the circuitry comprising: transmitter circuitry configured to transmit signals, receiver circuitry configured to receive signals, and controller circuitry configured in combination with the transmitter circuitry and the receiver circuitry to transmit, to a communications device, an indication of transmission parameter values for a first transmission to be transmitted to or received from the communications device, wherein the indicated transmission parameter values include: first transmission parameter values for a first section of a first transmission to be transmitted to or received from the infrastructure equipment, and second transmission parameter values for a second section of the first transmission, wherein the first transmission parameter values are different to the second transmission parameter values; and transmit or receive the first transmission according to the indicated transmission parameter values for the respective sections of the first transmission.

71. A system comprising a communications device according to claim 35 and infrastructure equipment according to claim 69.

72. A computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of claim 1 or claim 37.

73. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program according to claim 72.

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