Terminal

Abstract

This terminal comprises a reception unit that repeatedly receives a physical downlink control channel pertaining to the same information, and a control unit that monitors a region in which candidates for the physical downlink control channel pertaining to the same information are set. The number of candidates for the physical downlink control channel pertaining to the same information is three or more.

Description

Terminal

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a terminal that repeatedly receives a physical downlink channel.

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

[0003] 3GPP is currently discussing ways to improve the coverage of non-terrestrial networks (NTNs). NTNs are networks that include relay stations such as satellites, and terminals (User Equipment, UE) can communicate with base stations (next generation NodeB, gNB) via the relay stations.

[0004] In improving NTN coverage, it is necessary to take into account the Power Flux Density (PFD) limitations established by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) (see Non-Patent Document 1). For example, the ITU PFD limitations have raised concerns about insufficient transmission power for downlink (DL) transmissions such as the Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH).

[0005] “Revised WID: NR NTN (Non-Terrestrial Networks) enhancements”, RP-221819, 3GPP TSG RAN Meeting #96, 3GPP, June 6-9, 2022

[0006] To address this concern, PDCCH repetition is supported. Specifically, a UE can monitor an area (search space, SS) where two PDCCH candidates are configured. This allows the UE to support PDCCH repetition using two PDCCH candidates.

[0007] However, in some cases, additional transmission power is required, such as when a gNB transmits multiple beams via a relay station. In such a situation, the conventional PDCCH repetition using two PDCCH candidates may result in failure to receive the PDCCH.

[0008] Therefore, the present disclosure has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and aims to provide a terminal that can improve the success rate of receiving a PDCCH.

[0009] One aspect of the disclosure is a terminal (UE 200) comprising a receiving unit (radio signal transmitting / receiving unit 210) that repeatedly receives a physical downlink control channel related to the same information, and a control unit (control unit 270) that monitors an area in which candidates for the physical downlink control channel related to the same information are set, wherein the number of candidates for the physical downlink control channel related to the same information is three or more.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall schematic configuration of a wireless communication system. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a frequency range used in the wireless communication system. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example configuration of a radio frame, subframe, slot, and symbol used in the wireless communication system. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a terminal. FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of a base station. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an initial access procedure. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example configuration of an SS. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of PDCCH candidates in an SS. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of blind decoding (BD) in an SS. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of PDCCH repetition according to an embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of PDCCH repetition according to an embodiment. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of PDCCH repetition according to an embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of a base station and a terminal. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example configuration of a vehicle.

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

[0012] (1) Overall Schematic Configuration of Wireless Communication System The wireless communication system 10 shown in Fig. 1 is a wireless communication system conforming to a method called 5G. Alternatively, the wireless communication system 10 may be a wireless communication system conforming to a method called Beyond 5G, 5G Evolution, or 6G.

[0013] The wireless communication system 10 can support Massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (Massive MIMO), which generates more directional beams by controlling wireless signals transmitted from multiple antenna elements, Carrier Aggregation (CA), which uses multiple component carriers (CCs) as a bundle, and Dual Connectivity (DC), which enables simultaneous communication with two base stations.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1 , the wireless communication system 10 includes a base station (gNodeB, gNB) 100 connected to a Next Generation-Radio Access Network (NG-RAN) 20, and a terminal (User Equipment, UE) 200 that performs wireless communication with the gNB 100. The NG-RAN 20 is connected to a core network (CN) (not shown). The CN is configured by a network function (NF) such as an access and mobility management function (AMF). The NG-RAN 20 and the CN may be simply referred to as a "network," and may or may not be considered to be included in the wireless communication system 10. Note that the specific configuration of the wireless communication system 10, for example, the number of gNBs 100 and UEs 200, is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 1 .

[0015] The wireless communication system 10 of the embodiment includes a relay station 150 that relays communication between the gNB 100 and the UE 200. The relay station 150 is a satellite such as a GEO (Geostationary Earth Orbit) satellite, a MEO (Middle Earth Orbit) satellite, or a LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellite. The relay station 150 may also be a High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) mounted on an airship, a balloon, or the like, or may also be an Air to Ground (ATG) commercial aircraft. The relay station 150 of the embodiment is assumed to be an air vehicle as described above, but is not limited thereto.

[0016] The wireless communication system 10 may also support multiple frequency ranges (FR). That is, as shown in Fig. 2, the wireless communication system 10 may support the following FRs: FR1: 410 MHz to 7.125 GHz FR2-1: 24.25 GHz to 52.6 GHz FR2-2: Over 52.6 GHz to 71 GHz

[0017] In FR1, a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of 15, 30, or 60 kHz and a bandwidth (BW) of 5 to 100 MHz may be used, while in FR2-1, an SCS of 60 or 120 kHz (including 240 kHz) and a BW of 50 to 400 MHz may be used.

[0018] In FR2-2, to avoid an increase in phase noise, Cyclic Prefix-Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (CP-OFDM) or Discrete Fourier Transform-Spread-Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (DFT-S-OFDM) with a larger SCS may be applied.

[0019] 3, one slot in the wireless communication system 10 is composed of 14 symbols. If this configuration is maintained, the larger (wider) the SCS, the shorter the symbol period (and slot period). Note that the SCS is not limited to the frequencies shown in FIG. 3 and may be, for example, 480 kHz, 960 kHz, or other frequencies.

[0020] Furthermore, the number of symbols constituting one slot does not necessarily have to be 14, but may be, for example, 28 or 56. Furthermore, the number of slots per subframe may differ depending on the SCS.

[0021] (2) Functional Block Configuration of Wireless Communication System (2.1) Functional Block Configuration of Terminal As shown in FIG. 4, the UE 200 includes a wireless signal transmitting / receiving unit 210, an amplifier unit 220, a modulation / demodulation unit 230, a control signal / reference signal processing unit 240, an encoding / decoding unit 250, a data transmitting / receiving unit 260, and a control unit 270.

[0022] The radio signal transmitting / receiving unit 210 transmits and receives radio signals to and from the gNB 100. The radio signal transmitting / receiving unit 210 may be configured as a transmitting unit that transmits radio signals to the gNB 100 and a receiving unit that receives radio signals from the gNB 100. The radio signals include control signals and data.

[0023] The radio signal transceiver 210 of the embodiment can receive a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) transmitted by the gNB 100. The PDCCH may be repeatedly transmitted by the gNB 100. That is, the radio signal transceiver 210 can repeatedly receive the PDCCH. Note that the PDCCHs repeatedly received in this case are not multiple PDCCHs related to different information (PDCCHs including different information), but multiple PDCCHs related to the same information (PDCCHs including the same information). Specifically, the radio signal transceiver 210 can repeatedly receive a PDCCH transmitted by the gNB 100 using multiple PDCCH candidates. In other words, the radio signal transceiver 210 can receive a PDCCH that is repeated using multiple PDCCH candidates. The number of PDCCH candidates in the embodiment may be three or more. Note that the repeated transmission / reception of the PDCCH may be referred to as PDCCH repetition.

[0024] The PDCCH received by the radio signal transmission / reception unit 210 is not limited to a normal PDCCH, and may be a PDCCH used to receive messages (Msg2 / Msg4) transmitted from the gNB 100 during initial access. The PDCCH used to receive Msg2 / Msg4 is downlink control information (DCI) received via the PDCCH, and may be interpreted as DCI for scheduling Msg2 / Msg4. That is, the radio signal transmission / reception unit 210 can receive Msg2 / Msg4 based on the PDCCH or based on the DCI received via the PDCCH. Such a PDCCH is also referred to as a PDCCH for Msg2 / Msg4 or an Msg2 / Msg4-scheduling PDCCH. Such repeated transmission / reception of the PDCCH is also called PDCCH repetition for Msg2 / Msg4, or Msg2 / Msg4-scheduling PDCCH repetition.

[0025] PDCCH candidates are set in a search space (SS) that is monitored (i.e., performs blind decoding (BD)) by a control unit 270, which will be described later. In other words, the SS is an area in which PDCCH candidates are set and BD is performed by the control unit 270.

[0026] The radio signal transceiver unit 210 of the embodiment can receive various information elements (IEs) from the gNB 100. Details of the IEs will be described later, but for example, the radio signal transceiver unit 210 can receive an IE that indicates the number of BDs related to repeated reception of the PDCCH described above in the SS.

[0027] The amplifier unit 220 is configured by a power amplifier (PA) / low noise amplifier (LNA), etc. The amplifier unit 220 amplifies the radio signal output from the radio signal transmitting / receiving unit 210. The amplifier unit 220 also amplifies the radio signal output from the modulation / demodulation unit 230.

[0028] The modem unit 230 performs data modulation / demodulation, transmission power setting, resource block allocation, etc. for each predetermined communication destination (gNB 100 or another gNB). CP-OFDM / DFT-S-OFDM may be applied to the modem unit 230. Furthermore, DFT-S-OFDM may be used not only for the uplink (UL) but also for the downlink (DL).

[0029] The control signal / reference signal processing unit 240 performs processing related to control signals transmitted and received between the gNB 100, such as radio resource control (RRC) signaling.

[0030] The control signal / reference signal processing unit 240 performs processing related to reference signals transmitted and received between the gNB 100, such as Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS), Phase Tracking Reference Signal (PTRS), Channel State Information-Reference Signal (CSI-RS), Sounding Reference Signal (SRS), and Positioning Reference Signal (PRS).

[0031] The channels include control channels and data channels. The control channels include a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), a physical random access channel (PRACH), a physical broadcast channel (PBCH), etc. The data channels include a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), etc.

[0032] The encoding / decoding unit 250 performs division / concatenation and coding / decoding of data contained in the radio signal for each predetermined communication destination (gNB100 or another gNB).

[0033] Specifically, the encoding / decoding unit 250 decodes the data output from the modem unit 230 and concatenates the decoded data. In addition, the encoding / decoding unit 250 divides the data output from the data transmitter / receiver 260 into pieces of a predetermined size and performs coding on the divided data.

[0034] The data transmitter / receiver 260 transmits and receives data to and from the gNB 100. Specifically, the data transmitter / receiver 260 performs assembly / disassembly of Protocol Data Units (PDUs) / Service Data Units (SDUs) between multiple layers. The multiple layers include a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer, a Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, etc. The data transmitter / receiver 260 also performs data error correction and retransmission control based on Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ).

[0035] The control unit 270 controls the UE 200. The control unit 270 controls, for example, transmission and reception of radio signals by the radio signal transceiver unit 210, amplification by the amplifier unit 220, data modulation / demodulation by the modem unit 230, signal processing by the control signal and reference signal processor 240, coding / decoding by the encoder / decoder unit 250, and transmission and reception of data by the data transceiver unit 260.

[0036] The control unit 270 of the embodiment can monitor the SS in which the gNB 100 sets PDCCH candidates. The control unit 270 can decode the PDCCH by monitoring the SS in which PDCCH candidates are set (i.e., by performing BD on the PDCCH candidates set in the SS). More specifically, by setting multiple PDCCH candidates in the SS, the control unit 270 can change the candidates and attempt to decode the PDCCH multiple times. Note that, as described above, the PDCCHs for which decoding is attempted multiple times in this case are not multiple PDCCHs related to different information (PDCCHs including different information), but multiple PDCCHs related to the same information (PDCCHs including the same information).

[0037] As will be described in detail in the section on operational examples, the control unit 270 may monitor multiple SSs (three or more), and one PDCCH candidate may be set for each SS. Also, the control unit 270 may monitor only one SS, and all three or more PDCCH candidates may be set for this SS. Furthermore, the control unit 270 may monitor multiple SSs (two or more), and multiple PDCCH candidates (two or more) may be set for each SS.

[0038] (2.2) Functional block configuration of base station As shown in Figure 5, the gNB100 includes a radio signal transceiver unit 110 and a control unit 120.

[0039] The radio signal transmitting / receiving unit 110 transmits and receives radio signals to and from the UE 200. The radio signal transmitting / receiving unit 110 may include a transmitting unit that transmits radio signals to the UE 200 and a receiving unit that receives radio signals from the UE 200.

[0040] The radio signal transmitting and receiving unit 110 of the embodiment can transmit a PDCCH to the UE 200. In this case, the radio signal transmitting and receiving unit 110 can also repeatedly transmit a PDCCH to the UE 200. Note that the PDCCHs repeatedly transmitted in this case are not multiple PDCCHs related to different information (PDCCHs including different information), but multiple PDCCHs related to the same information (PDCCHs including the same information).

[0041] The control unit 120 controls the gNB 100. The control unit 120 controls, for example, the transmission and reception of radio signals by the radio signal transmission and reception unit 110. The control unit 120 can also perform scheduling for the UE 200.

[0042] The control unit 120 according to the embodiment can set PDCCH candidates in the SS, thereby allowing the control unit 120 to cause the radio signal transmitting and receiving unit 110 to repeatedly transmit the PDCCH using the PDCCH candidates.

[0043] (3) Operation of the Wireless Communication System (3.1) Issues There are situations where additional transmission power is required, such as when a gNB transmits multiple beams via a relay station. Conventional PDCCH repetition using two PDCCH candidates may not be able to meet such requirements. In particular, during initial access, PDCCH transmission is performed to receive Msg2 / Msg4. However, if transmission power is insufficient in the above-mentioned situation, multiple initial access attempts are required, which may strain communication resources.

[0044] (3.2) Prerequisites (3.2.1) Initial Access As shown in Fig. 6, the UE 200 performs initial access to the gNB 100. The initial access may also be referred to as random access. The initial access will be described below with reference to Fig. 6.

[0045] First, the UE 200 transmits a physical random access channel (PRACH) in response to the SS / PBCH block (SSB) received from the gNB 100 (corresponding to Msg1 in the figure). Second, the UE 200 receives a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) as a random access response (RAR) (corresponding to Msg2 in the figure). Here, the UE 200 receives a PDCCH used to receive Msg2 prior to receiving Msg2. Note that this PDCCH may also be referred to as Msg2.

[0046] Third, the UE 200 transmits a PUSCH as an RRC connection request message (corresponding to Msg3 in the figure). Fourth, the UE 200 receives a PDSCH as a contention resolution message (corresponding to Msg4 in the figure). Here, prior to receiving Msg4, the UE 200 receives a PDCCH used to receive Msg4. Note that this PDCCH may also be referred to as Msg4.

[0047] Finally, the UE 200 transmits a PUCCH as a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ)-ACK for Msg4 (corresponding to HARQ ACK in the figure), thereby completing the initial access.

[0048] (3.2.2) Search Space The relationship between the search space (SS) and the PDCCH will be described with reference to Figures 7 to 9. Note that SS and SS set may be interchangeable. SS is an area in which PDCCH candidates are configured and in which UE 200 performs blind decoding (BD). UE 200 monitors the SS in which PDCCH candidates are configured (i.e., performs BD on the PDCCH candidates configured in the SS). Furthermore, when multiple PDCCH candidates are configured in the SS, UE 200 can attempt to decode the PDCCH multiple times while changing the candidates. In other words, when multiple PDCCH candidates are configured in the SS, it becomes possible to attempt to decode the PDCCH multiple times while changing the candidates.

[0049] With reference to FIG. 7 , the linkage between two SSs (SS set A and SS set B in the figure) set by RRC will be described. The linkage may be set for two SSs arranged in the frequency direction (top diagram), for two SSs arranged in the time direction (middle diagram), or for two SSs arranged in the spatial direction (bottom diagram). UE 200 can monitor the two SSs for which the linkage is set. This allows UE 200 to support PDCCH repetition using PDCCH candidates set for the SSs. PDCCH repetition may mean that the same PDCCH is repeatedly transmitted via different resources. PDCCH repetition may mean reception of PDCCH repetition.

[0050] PDCCH repetition using PDCCH candidates configured in an SS will be described with reference to Figure 8. First, when PDCCH candidates with the same index and aggregation level (AL) are configured in each of the left and right SSs in the figure, PDCCH repetition may be performed using these two PDCCH candidates. Also, when two PDCCH candidates with the same index and AL are configured in the same SS, PDCCH repetition may be performed using these two PDCCH candidates.

[0051] The number of BDs for two SSs (two PDCCH candidates) for which a relationship is set will be described with reference to Figure 9. Two PDCCH candidates may be counted as two BDs as shown in the upper figure, or as three BDs as shown in the lower figure. The number of BDs is indicated by an information element (IE) such as numBD-twoPDCCH-r17. Note that the number of BDs may be interpreted as the number of BDs counted.

[0052] In the upper diagram of Figure 9, the number of BDs (two) may be two, consisting of individual decoding of PDCCH1 in the left SS and individual decoding of PDCCH2 in the right SS, or two, consisting of individual decoding of PDCCH1 in the left SS and soft combining of PDCCH1 and PDCCH2. In the lower diagram of Figure 9, the number of BDs (three) is three, consisting of individual decoding of PDCCH1 in the left SS, individual decoding of PDCCH2 in the right SS, and soft combining of PDCCH1 and PDCCH2. Note that soft combining means jointly decoding the two PDCCHs on the left and right. Note that the above-mentioned operation related to PDCCH repetition could not previously be applied to PDCCH reception related to the following SS sets or initial access.・SS set 0 ・searchSpaceSIB1 ・searchSpaceOtherSystemInformation ・pagingSearchSpace ・ra-SearchSpace ・searchSpaceMCCH ・searchSpaceMTCH ・peiSearchSpace ・sdt-SearchSpace ・recoverySearchSpaceId

[0053] (3.3) Operational Examples (3.3.1) Operational Example 1 Operational example 1 in which three or more PDCCH repetitions are supported in NTN will be described below.

[0054] (3.3.1.1) Operation Example 1-1: Relationship of SS Set Opt 1: As shown in Fig. 10, it may be defined that a relationship can be set (they can be set as linked) for three or more SSs of the same type in the same BWP. That is, if the maximum number of configurable SSs is Nmax, it may be defined that Nmax >= 3. Nmax may be, for example, 8.

[0055] A new IE, SearchSpaceLinkingId-r19, may be defined. If X SSs (where X can take a value from 2 to Nmax. Note that X is the number of SSs for which a relationship is actually established, and therefore includes a value less than three, such as 2) have the same SearchSpaceLinkingId-r19, the UE 200 assumes that these SSs are linked for PDCCH repetition. If PDCCH repetition is monitored for X linked SSs (where X can take a value from 2 to Nmax), the UE 200 expects that another monitored SS set is not linked to any of the X linked SS sets. Linked SS sets have the same SS set type (UE-specific SS (USS) / Common SS (CSS)). Any combination of multiple SSs among the X SSs may be used for PDCCH repetition. Among the X SSs, multiple adjacent SSs may be used for PDCCH repetition. Note that "adjacent" and "consecutive" may be interchangeable. Up to M SSs, which are not more than the above-mentioned X SSs, may be used for PDCCH repetition. M may be defined, configured, or may depend on UE capability.

[0056] In this operation example, Y (Y ≥ 2) PDCCH candidates with the same index and the same AL configured in X (X ≥ 2) linked SS sets may be used for PDCCH repetition, and both intra-slot repetition and inter-slot repetition may be supported.

[0057] Opt 2: As shown in FIG. 11, it may be defined that another PDCCH candidate in the same SS can be used for PDCCH repetition.

[0058] - PDCCH candidates of the same AL are used for PDCCH repetition.

[0059] For each of the same AL (AL=L) in SS set S, Alt1: A relationship between Y (Y>=2) PDCCH candidates of the same AL in the same SS set may be configured. The Y PDCCH candidates with the configured relationship may be used for PDCCH repetition. Alt2: The relationship between PDCCH candidates of the same AL in the same SS set may be determined based on a predetermined rule. For example, PDCCH candidates with AL=L and indices 0 to Y-1 may be used for PDCCH repetition, and PDCCH candidates with AL=L and indices Y to 2Y-1 may be used for PDCCH repetition.

[0060] In this case, whether a PDCCH candidate with AL=L is used for PDCCH repetition may be configured for each AL. Also, the number of repetitions supported for each AL (the number of linked PDCCH candidates) may be configured or defined for each AL. For example, a small value may be defined when the AL is high (e.g., 3 or 4 when AL=8 / 16), and a large value may be defined when the AL is low (e.g., 5, 6, or 8 when AL=1 / 2 / 4).

[0061] It may be defined that only consecutive PDCCH candidates in the same SS can be used for PDCCH repetition.

[0062] Opt 3: Opt 1 in Fig. 10 may be combined with Opt 2 in Fig. 11. For example, X (X=2 or X>=2) SS sets may be configured as linked (see Opt 1), while multiple PDCCH candidates may be used for PDCCH repetition in each of the linked SS sets (see Opt 2).

[0063] For example, as shown in Figure 12, three PDCCH candidates with the same index and the same AL can be used in three linked SS sets. In this way, more PDCCH candidates can be used for PDCCH repetition than in the past.

[0064] (3.3.1.2) Operation Example 1-2: Number of BDs A new IE, numBD-MPDCCH-r19, may be defined. This IE may be indicated to the UE 200 by the network (gNB 100) to count the number of PDCCH candidates. As described above, X is the number of linked SSs, and Y is the number of PDCCH candidates for the same AL in the same SS set, which is the number of PDCCH candidates used for PDCCH repetition.

[0065] In Opt 1 and Opt 2 of Operation Example 1-1, the value of this IE may be determined as one or more of the following values:

[0066] Opt 1: X BDs for Opt 1 of Operation Example 1-1, or Y BDs for Opt 2 of Operation Example 1-1 Example: When three SS sets are linked, or when three PDCCH candidates in the same SS are used for PDCCH repetition, UE200 may perform three individual decodings, or two individual decodings and one soft combining.

[0067] Opt 2: X+1 BDs for Opt 1 in Operation Example 1-1, or Y+1 BDs for Opt 2 in Operation Example 1-1 Example: When three SS sets are linked, or when three PDCCH candidates in the same SS are used for PDCCH repetition, UE200 may perform three separate decodings and one soft combining.

[0068] Opt 3: 2X-1 BDs for Opt 1 in Operation Example 1-1, or 2Y-1 BDs for Opt 2 in Operation Example 1-1. Example: When three SS sets are linked, or when three PDCCH candidates in the same SS are used for PDCCH repetition, UE 200 may perform three separate decodings and two soft combinings. Note that soft combining may be performed between two adjacent SS sets.

[0069] Opt 4: X! BDs for Opt 1 in Operation Example 1-1, or Y! BDs for Opt 2 in Operation Example 1-1. Example: When three SS sets are linked, or when three PDCCH candidates in the same SS are used for PDCCH repetition, UE 200 may perform three separate decodings and three soft combinings. Note that soft combining can be performed between any two SS sets.

[0070] In Opt 3 of Operation Example 1-1, the value of this IE may be determined as one or more of the following values:

[0071] Opt 1': Y*X BDs for Opt 3 in Operation Example 1-1 Example: When three SS sets are linked, or when three PDCCH candidates in the same SS are used for PDCCH repetition, UE200 may perform nine individual decodings, or eight individual decodings and one soft combining.

[0072] Opt 2': Y*X+1 BDs for Opt 3 in Operation Example 1-1 Example: When three SS sets are linked, or when three PDCCH candidates in the same SS are used for PDCCH repetition, UE200 may perform nine individual decodings and one soft combining.

[0073] Opt 3': Y*(2X-1) BDs for Opt 3 in Operation Example 1-1

[0074] Opt 4': Y*X! BDs for Opt 3 in Example 1-1

[0075] (3.3.1.3) Operation Example 1-3: Reporting of UE capability UE 200 may report the following as its own capability information: Maximum number of linked SS sets that can be supported Maximum number of PDCCH candidates that can be used for PDCCH repetition that can be supported Maximum number of BDs that can be supported for linked PDCCH

[0076] (3.3.2) Operation Example 2 (3.3.2.1) Operation Example 2-1 A case where the PDCCH in the PDCCH repetition in Operation Example 1 is a PDCCH for Msg2 / Msg4 (PDCCH used to receive Msg2 / Msg4) will be described.

[0077] For Msg2 / Msg4-scheduling PDCCH in NTN, this defines that ra-SearchSpace, which is the SS for initial access, can be linked with other SS sets. Variation: In NTN, the SS set linked to other SS sets for PDCCH repetition can be the following in addition to ra-SearchSpace. Example: SS set 0, searchSpaceSIB1, searchSpaceOtherSystemInformation, pagingSearchSpace, searchSpaceMCCH, searchSpaceMTCH, peiSearchSpace, sdt-SearchSpace, recoverySearchSpaceId

[0078] The relationship between SS sets and the number of BDs described in the above-mentioned operation example 1 may be reused for the Msg2 / Msg4-scheduling PDCCH, but the maximum number of PDCCH candidates that can be set is as follows.

[0079] Similar to the design of operation example 1 for the normal PDCCH, for the Msg2 / Msg4-scheduling PDCCH: If the number of defined SSs have the same SearchSpaceLinkingId-r19, the UE 200 assumes that these SSs are linked for PDCCH repetition. If the UE 200 receives a predetermined or new parameter indicating the relationship between PDCCH candidates, the UE 200 assumes that PDCCH candidates in the same SS can be used for PDCCH repetition.

[0080] In addition, for the Msg2 / Msg4-scheduling PDCCH, the above-mentioned parameters indicating the relationship may be set by an NTN-specific SIB.

[0081] Furthermore, the same rules / settings / links may be applied between the Msg2-scheduling PDCCH and the Msg4-scheduling PDCCH, or different rules / settings / links may be applied.

[0082] (3.3.2.2) Operation Example 2-2: Reporting of UE capability UE 200 may report the following as its own capability information: Whether Msg2 / Msg4-scheduling PDCCH repetition is supported The maximum number of linked SS sets that can be supported The maximum number of PDCCH candidates that can be used for PDCCH repetition that can be supported The maximum number of BDs that can be supported for linked PDCCH

[0083] The UE 200 may report the corresponding capability at the following times: - If the UE 200 supports the operation of Operation Example 2, always via Msg1 / Msg3 - When a capability report request related to Msg2 / Msg4-scheduling PDCCH repetition is received from the gNB 100 - Varies depending on implementation (for example, when the UE 200 detects the need for Msg2 / Msg4-scheduling PDCCH repetition)

[0084] The signaling of the capability report may be defined jointly or separately for the Msg2-scheduling PDCCH repetition and the Msg4-scheduling PDCCH repetition.

[0085] Variation: The UE 200 may report some assistance information via Msg1 / Msg3 to facilitate the NW's decision. For example, CSI, UE type / service type, etc. may be reported together with the UE capability report or separately.

[0086] (3.4) Actions and Effects By increasing the maximum possible number of PDCCH repetitions to three or more, the success rate of PDCCH reception can be improved compared to the conventional maximum of two PDCCH repetitions.

[0087] (4) Other Embodiments The contents of the present invention have been described above in accordance with the embodiments, but it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to these descriptions and that various modifications and improvements are possible.

[0088] The PDCCH in the above disclosure may be replaced with another downlink channel. For example, the PDCCH in the above disclosure may be replaced with the PDSCH.

[0089] In the above disclosure, the number of PDCCH candidates configured for each of the multiple SSs is the same for all SSs, but the numbers may be different. For example, in Figure 12, the number of PDCCH candidates configured for SS set A may be three, the number of PDCCH candidates configured for SS set B may be two, and the number of PDCCH candidates configured for SS set C may be four.

[0090] In the above disclosure, it is assumed that the UE 200 of the embodiment is applied to an NTN, but this is not limiting, and the UE 200 may be applied to a TN (Terrestrial Network) as well as an NTN.

[0091] The above-described operation examples may be combined and applied in a composite manner, as long as no contradiction occurs.

[0092] In the above disclosure, configure, activate, update, indicate, enable, specify, and select may be interchangeable. Similarly, link, associate, correspond, and map may be interchangeable, and allocate, assign, monitor, and map may be interchangeable.

[0093] Furthermore, specific, dedicated, UE-specific, and UE-dedicated may be interchangeable. Similarly, common, shared, group-common, UE-common, and UE-shared may be interchangeable.

[0094] The block diagrams (FIGS. 4 and 5) used to explain the above-described embodiments show functional blocks. These functional blocks (components) are realized by any combination of hardware and / or software. Furthermore, the method for realizing each functional block is not particularly limited. That is, each functional block may be realized using a single device that is physically or logically coupled, or may be realized using two or more physically or logically separated devices that are directly or indirectly connected (e.g., wired, wireless, etc.) and these multiple devices. The functional block may be realized by combining software with the single device or multiple devices.

[0095] Functions include, but are not limited to, judgment, determination, judgment, calculation, computation, processing, derivation, investigation, search, confirmation, reception, transmission, output, access, resolution, selection, election, establishment, comparison, assumption, expectation, regard, broadcasting, notifying, communicating, forwarding, configuring, reconfiguring, allocating, mapping, and assignment. For example, a functional block (component) that performs transmission is called a transmitting unit or transmitter. As mentioned above, there are no particular limitations on how each is implemented.

[0096] Furthermore, the above-described gNB 100 and UE 200 (the devices) may function as a computer that performs processing of the wireless communication method of the present disclosure. Figure 13 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the devices. As shown in Figure 13, the devices may be configured as a computer including a processor 1001, a memory 1002, a storage 1003, a communication device 1004, an input device 1005, an output device 1006, a bus 1007, etc.

[0097] In the following description, the term "apparatus" can be interpreted as a circuit, a device, a unit, etc. The hardware configuration of the apparatus may be configured to include one or more of the apparatuses shown in the drawings, or may be configured to exclude some of the apparatuses.

[0098] Each functional block of the device (FIGS. 4 and 5) is realized by any hardware element of the computer device or a combination of the hardware elements.

[0099] In addition, each function of the device is realized by loading specified software (programs) onto hardware such as processor 1001 and memory 1002, causing processor 1001 to perform calculations, control communication via communication device 1004, and control at least one of reading and writing data in memory 1002 and storage 1003.

[0100] The processor 1001 controls the entire computer by running, for example, an operating system, and may be configured as a central processing unit (CPU) including an interface with peripheral devices, a control unit, an arithmetic unit, and registers.

[0101] The processor 1001 also reads programs (program codes), software modules, data, etc. from at least one of the storage 1003 and the communication device 1004 into the memory 1002 and executes various processes in accordance with these. The programs used are those that cause a computer to execute at least some of the operations described in the above-described embodiments. Furthermore, the various processes described above may be executed by a single processor 1001, or may be executed simultaneously or sequentially by two or more processors 1001. The processor 1001 may be implemented by one or more chips. The programs may be transmitted from a network via a telecommunications line.

[0102] The memory 1002 is a computer-readable recording medium and may be configured by at least one of, for example, a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), a random access memory (RAM), etc. The memory 1002 may also be called a register, a cache, a main memory (primary storage device), etc. The memory 1002 may store a program (program code), a software module, etc., capable of executing a method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0103] Storage 1003 is a computer-readable recording medium, and may be, for example, at least one of an optical disk such as a Compact Disc ROM (CD-ROM), a hard disk drive, a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk (e.g., a compact disk, a digital versatile disk, a Blu-ray disc), a smart card, a flash memory (e.g., a card, a stick, a key drive), a floppy disk, a magnetic strip, etc. Storage 1003 may also be referred to as an auxiliary storage device. The above-mentioned recording medium may be, for example, a database, a server, or other suitable medium including at least one of memory 1002 and storage 1003.

[0104] The communication device 1004 is hardware (transmission / reception device) for communicating between computers via at least one of a wired network and a wireless network, and is also called, for example, a network device, a network controller, a network card, or a communication module.

[0105] The communication device 1004 may be configured to include a high-frequency switch, a duplexer, a filter, a frequency synthesizer, etc. to realize, for example, at least one of Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) and Time Division Duplex (TDD).

[0106] The input device 1005 is an input device (e.g., a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, a switch, a button, a sensor, etc.) that receives input from the outside. The output device 1006 is an output device (e.g., a display, a speaker, an LED lamp, etc.) that outputs to the outside. Note that the input device 1005 and the output device 1006 may be integrated into one device (e.g., a touch panel).

[0107] Furthermore, each device such as the processor 1001 and the memory 1002 is connected to a bus 1007 for communicating information. The bus 1007 may be configured using a single bus, or may be configured using different buses between each device.

[0108] Furthermore, the device may be configured to include hardware such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), or a field programmable gate array (FPGA), and some or all of the functional blocks may be realized by the hardware. For example, the processor 1001 may be implemented using at least one of these pieces of hardware.

[0109] Furthermore, the notification of information is not limited to the aspects / embodiments described in the present disclosure, and may be performed using other methods. For example, the notification of information may be performed by physical layer signaling (e.g., Downlink Control Information (DCI), Uplink Control Information (UCI)), higher layer signaling (e.g., RRC signaling, Medium Access Control (MAC) signaling), broadcast information (Master Information Block (MIB), System Information Block (SIB)), other signals, or a combination thereof. Furthermore, the RRC signaling may be referred to as an RRC message, and may be, for example, an RRC Connection Setup message, an RRC Connection Reconfiguration message, or the like.

[0110] Each aspect / embodiment described in the present disclosure may be applied to at least one of a system using Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), SUPER 3G, IMT-Advanced, a 4th generation mobile communication system (4G), a 5th generation mobile communication system (5G), Future Radio Access (FRA), New Radio (NR), W-CDMA (registered trademark), GSM (registered trademark), CDMA2000, Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.20, Ultra-WideBand (UWB), Bluetooth (registered trademark), or other suitable system, and a next-generation system enhanced based on these. Furthermore, a combination of multiple systems (e.g., a combination of at least one of LTE and LTE-A and 5G) may also be applied.

[0111] The order of the procedures, sequences, flowcharts, etc. of each aspect / embodiment described in this disclosure may be changed unless it is consistent. For example, the methods described in this disclosure present elements of various steps using an example order, and are not limited to the particular order presented.

[0112] In the present disclosure, a specific operation described as being performed by a base station may be performed by its upper node in some cases. In a network consisting of one or more network nodes having a base station, it is clear that various operations performed for communication with a terminal may be performed by at least one of the base station and another network node other than the base station (for example, an MME or an S-GW, etc., but are not limited to these). Although the above example illustrates a case where there is one other network node other than the base station, a combination of multiple other network nodes (for example, an MME and an S-GW) may also be used.

[0113] Information, signals (information, etc.) may be output from a higher layer (or a lower layer) to a lower layer (or a higher layer), or may be input / output via multiple network nodes.

[0114] The input and output information may be stored in a specific location (for example, a memory) or may be managed using a management table. The input and output information may be overwritten, updated, or added. The output information may be deleted. The input information may be transmitted to another device.

[0115] The determination may be made based on a value represented by one bit (0 or 1), a Boolean value (true or false), or a numerical comparison (e.g., comparison with a predetermined value).

[0116] The aspects / embodiments described in this disclosure may be used alone, in combination, or switched depending on the implementation. Notification of predetermined information (e.g., notification that "X is true") is not limited to explicit notification, but may be implicit (e.g., not notifying the predetermined information).

[0117] Software shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executable files, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc., whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise.

[0118] Software, instructions, information, etc. may also be transmitted or received over a transmission medium. For example, if software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using wired technologies (such as coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)), and / or wireless technologies (such as infrared, microwave), then these wired and / or wireless technologies are included within the definition of transmission media.

[0119] The information, signals, etc. described in this disclosure may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, chips, etc. that may be referred to throughout the above description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or magnetic particles, optical fields or photons, or any combination thereof.

[0120] Note that terms described in this disclosure and terms necessary for understanding this disclosure may be replaced with terms having the same or similar meanings. For example, at least one of a channel and a symbol may be a signal (signaling). Furthermore, a signal may be a message. Furthermore, a component carrier (CC) may be called a carrier frequency, a cell, a frequency carrier, etc.

[0121] As used in this disclosure, the terms "system" and "network" are used interchangeably.

[0122] Furthermore, the information, parameters, etc. described in the present disclosure may be expressed using absolute values, relative values ​​from a predetermined value, or other corresponding information. For example, a radio resource may be indicated by an index.

[0123] The names used for the above-described parameters are not intended to be limiting in any way. Furthermore, the mathematical expressions using these parameters may differ from those explicitly disclosed in this disclosure. The various channels (e.g., PUCCH, PDCCH, etc.) and information elements may be identified by any suitable names, and therefore the various names assigned to these various channels and information elements are not intended to be limiting in any way.

[0124] In this disclosure, terms such as "base station (BS)," "radio base station," "fixed station," "NodeB," "eNodeB (eNB)," "gNodeB (gNB)," "access point," "transmission point," "reception point," "transmission / reception point," "cell," "sector," "cell group," "carrier," and "component carrier" may be used interchangeably. Base stations may also be referred to by terms such as macrocell, small cell, femtocell, and picocell.

[0125] A base station can accommodate one or more (e.g., three) cells (also called sectors). When a base station accommodates multiple cells, the overall coverage area of ​​the base station can be divided into multiple smaller areas, and each smaller area can be provided with communication services by a base station subsystem (e.g., a small indoor base station (Remote Radio Head: RRH)).

[0126] The terms "cell" or "sector" refer to part or all of the coverage area of ​​a base station and / or base station subsystem that provides communication services within that coverage area.

[0127] In this disclosure, the terms "Mobile Station (MS)," "user terminal," "User Equipment (UE)," "terminal," etc. may be used interchangeably.

[0128] A mobile station may also be referred to by those skilled in the art as a subscriber station, mobile unit, subscriber unit, wireless unit, remote unit, mobile device, wireless device, wireless communication device, remote device, mobile subscriber station, access terminal, mobile terminal, wireless terminal, remote terminal, handset, user agent, mobile client, client, or some other suitable terminology.

[0129] At least one of the base station and the mobile station may be referred to as a transmitting device, a receiving device, a communication device, etc. At least one of the base station and the mobile station may be a device mounted on a mobile object, the mobile object itself, etc. The mobile object may be a vehicle (e.g., a car, an airplane, etc.), an unmanned mobile object (e.g., a drone, an autonomous vehicle, etc.), or a robot (manned or unmanned). At least one of the base station and the mobile station may also include devices that do not necessarily move during communication operations. For example, at least one of the base station and the mobile station may be an Internet of Things (IoT) device such as a sensor.

[0130] Furthermore, a base station in the present disclosure may be read as a mobile station (user terminal, the same applies hereinafter). For example, the aspects / embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied to a configuration in which communication between a base station and a mobile station is replaced with communication between multiple mobile stations (which may be called, for example, Device-to-Device (D2D) or Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X)). In this case, the mobile station may be configured to have the functions of a base station. Furthermore, terms such as "uplink" and "downlink" may be read as terms corresponding to terminal-to-terminal communication (for example, "side"). For example, terms such as an uplink channel and a downlink channel may be read as a side channel.

[0131] Similarly, a mobile station in the present disclosure may be interpreted as a base station, in which case the base station may have the functions of a mobile station.

[0132] A radio frame may be made up of one or more frames in the time domain, each of which may be called a subframe.

[0133] A subframe may further be composed of one or more slots in the time domain, and may have a fixed time length (e.g., 1 ms) that is independent of numerology.

[0134] Numerology may be communication parameters that apply to the transmission and / or reception of a signal or channel, such as subcarrier spacing (SCS), bandwidth, symbol length, cyclic prefix length, transmission time interval (TTI), number of symbols per TTI, radio frame structure, specific filtering operations performed by the transceiver in the frequency domain, and specific windowing operations performed by the transceiver in the time domain.

[0135] A slot may consist of one or more symbols in the time domain (such as Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols, Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) symbols, etc.) A slot may be a time unit based on numerology.

[0136] A slot may include multiple minislots. Each minislot may consist of one or multiple symbols in the time domain. A minislot may also be called a subslot. A minislot may consist of fewer symbols than a slot. A PDSCH (or PUSCH) transmitted in a time unit larger than a minislot may be called PDSCH (or PUSCH) mapping type A. A PDSCH (or PUSCH) transmitted using a minislot may be called PDSCH (or PUSCH) mapping type B.

[0137] The radio frame, subframe, slot, minislot, and symbol all represent time units for transmitting signals, and may be referred to by other names corresponding to the radio frame, subframe, slot, minislot, and symbol.

[0138] For example, one subframe may be referred to as a transmission time interval (TTI), multiple consecutive subframes may be referred to as a TTI, or one slot or one minislot may be referred to as a TTI. That is, at least one of the subframe and the TTI may be a subframe (1 ms) in existing LTE, a period shorter than 1 ms (e.g., 1-13 symbols), or a period longer than 1 ms. Note that the unit representing the TTI may be referred to as a slot, minislot, etc. instead of a subframe.

[0139] Here, TTI refers to, for example, the smallest time unit for scheduling in wireless communication. For example, in an LTE system, a base station schedules each user terminal to allocate radio resources (such as frequency bandwidth and transmission power that can be used by each user terminal) in TTI units. Note that the definition of TTI is not limited to this.

[0140] The TTI may be a transmission time unit for a channel-encoded data packet (transport block), a code block, a code word, etc., or may be a processing unit for scheduling, link adaptation, etc. When a TTI is given, the time interval (e.g., the number of symbols) to which a transport block, a code block, a code word, etc. is actually mapped may be shorter than the TTI.

[0141] In addition, when one slot or one minislot is called a TTI, one or more TTIs (i.e., one or more slots or one or more minislots) may be the minimum time unit for scheduling. Furthermore, the number of slots (minislots) constituting the minimum time unit for scheduling may be controlled.

[0142] A TTI having a time length of 1 ms may be called a regular TTI (TTI in LTE Rel. 8-12), normal TTI, long TTI, regular subframe, normal subframe, long subframe, slot, etc. A TTI shorter than a regular TTI may be called a shortened TTI, short TTI, partial or fractional TTI, shortened subframe, short subframe, minislot, subslot, slot, etc.

[0143] In addition, a long TTI (e.g., a normal TTI, a subframe, etc.) may be interpreted as a TTI having a time length of more than 1 ms, and a short TTI (e.g., a shortened TTI, etc.) may be interpreted as a TTI having a TTI length shorter than the TTI length of a long TTI and equal to or greater than 1 ms.

[0144] A resource block (RB) is a resource allocation unit in the time domain and the frequency domain, and may include one or more consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain. The number of subcarriers included in an RB may be the same regardless of numerology, for example, 12. The number of subcarriers included in an RB may be determined based on numerology.

[0145] The time domain of an RB may include one or more symbols and may have a length of one slot, one minislot, one subframe, or one TTI. One TTI, one subframe, etc. may each be composed of one or more resource blocks.

[0146] Note that one or more RBs may also be called a physical resource block (PRB), a sub-carrier group (SCG), a resource element group (REG), a PRB pair, an RB pair, etc.

[0147] Furthermore, a resource block may be composed of one or more resource elements (REs). For example, one RE may be a radio resource region of one subcarrier and one symbol.

[0148] A Bandwidth Part (BWP) (which may also be referred to as a fractional bandwidth) may represent a subset of contiguous common resource blocks (RBs) for a given numerology on a given carrier, where the common RBs may be identified by their index relative to a common reference point of the carrier. PRBs may be defined in a given BWP and numbered within that BWP.

[0149] The BWP may include a BWP for UL (UL BWP) and a BWP for DL ​​(DL BWP). One or more BWPs may be configured for a UE within one carrier.

[0150] At least one of the configured BWPs may be active, and the UE may not expect to transmit or receive a given signal / channel outside the active BWP. Note that the terms "cell," "carrier," etc. in this disclosure may be read as "BWP."

[0151] The above-described structures of radio frames, subframes, slots, minislots, symbols, etc. are merely examples. For example, the number of subframes included in a radio frame, the number of slots per subframe or radio frame, the number of minislots included in a slot, the number of symbols and RBs included in a slot or minislot, the number of subcarriers included in an RB, the number of symbols in a TTI, the symbol length, the cyclic prefix (CP) length, etc. may be variously changed.

[0152] The terms "connected," "coupled," or any variation thereof, refer to any direct or indirect connection or coupling between two or more elements, and may include the presence of one or more intermediate elements between two elements that are "connected" or "coupled" to each other. The coupling or connection between elements may be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. For example, "connected" may be read as "access." As used in this disclosure, two elements may be considered to be "connected" or "coupled" to each other using one or more wires, cables, and / or printed electrical connections, as well as electromagnetic energy having wavelengths in the radio frequency range, microwave range, and optical (both visible and invisible) range, as some non-limiting and non-exhaustive examples.

[0153] The reference signal may also be abbreviated as Reference Signal (RS) and may be called a pilot depending on the applicable standard.

[0154] As used in this disclosure, the phrase "based on" does not mean "based only on," unless expressly stated otherwise. In other words, the phrase "based on" means both "based only on" and "based at least on."

[0155] The "means" in the configuration of each of the above devices may be replaced with "part," "circuit," "device," etc.

[0156] As used in this disclosure, any reference to an element using a designation such as "first," "second," etc. does not generally limit the quantity or order of those elements. These designations may be used in this disclosure as a convenient method of distinguishing between two or more elements. Thus, a reference to a first and a second element does not imply that only two elements may be employed therein or that the first element must precede the second element in some way.

[0157] When the terms "include," "including," and variations thereof are used in this disclosure, these terms are intended to be inclusive, similar to the term "comprising." Furthermore, when the term "or" is used in this disclosure, it is not intended to be an exclusive or.

[0158] In this disclosure, where articles are added by translation, such as a, an, and the in English, the disclosure may include that the nouns following these articles are in the plural form.

[0159] As used in this disclosure, the terms "determining" and "determining" may encompass a wide variety of actions. "Determining" and "determining" may include, for example, judging, calculating, computing, processing, deriving, investigating, looking up, searching, inquiring (e.g., searching a table, database, or other data structure), ascertaining, and the like. "Determining" and "determining" may also include receiving (e.g., receiving information), transmitting (e.g., sending information), input, output, accessing (e.g., accessing data in memory), and the like, all of which are considered to be "determining." "Determining" and "determining" may also include resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing, comparing, and the like, all of which are considered to be "determining." In other words, "judgment" and "decision" can include regarding some action as having been "judged" or "decided." Also, "judgment (decision)" can be interpreted as "assuming," "expecting," "considering," etc.

[0160] In the present disclosure, the term "A and B are different" may mean "A and B are different from each other." The term may also mean "A and B are each different from C." Terms such as "separate" and "coupled" may also be interpreted in the same way as "different."

[0161] 14 shows an example of the configuration of a vehicle 2001. As shown in Fig. 14, the vehicle 2001 includes a drive unit 2002, a steering unit 2003, an accelerator pedal 2004, a brake pedal 2005, a shift lever 2006, left and right front wheels 2007, left and right rear wheels 2008, an axle 2009, an electronic control unit 2010, various sensors 2021 to 2029, an information service unit 2012, and a communication module 2013.

[0162] The drive unit 2002 is composed of, for example, an engine, a motor, or a hybrid of an engine and a motor.

[0163] The steering unit 2003 includes at least a steering wheel (also called a handle) and is configured to steer at least one of the front wheels and the rear wheels based on the operation of the steering wheel operated by the user.

[0164] The electronic control unit 2010 is composed of a microprocessor 2031, a memory (ROM, RAM) 2032, and a communication port (IO port) 2033. Signals are input to the electronic control unit 2010 from various sensors 2021 to 2027 provided in the vehicle. The electronic control unit 2010 may also be called an ECU (Electronic Control Unit).

[0165] The signals from the various sensors 2021 to 2028 include a current signal from a current sensor 2021 that senses the current of the motor, a rotation speed signal of the front and rear wheels obtained by a rotation speed sensor 2022, an air pressure signal of the front and rear wheels obtained by an air pressure sensor 2023, a vehicle speed signal obtained by a vehicle speed sensor 2024, an acceleration signal obtained by an acceleration sensor 2025, an accelerator pedal depression amount signal obtained by an accelerator pedal sensor 2029, a brake pedal depression amount signal obtained by a brake pedal sensor 2026, a shift lever operation signal obtained by a shift lever sensor 2027, and a detection signal for detecting obstacles, vehicles, pedestrians, etc. obtained by an object detection sensor 2028.

[0166] The information service unit 2012 is composed of various devices, such as a car navigation system, an audio system, speakers, a television, and a radio, for providing various types of information such as driving information, traffic information, and entertainment information, and one or more ECUs for controlling these devices. The information service unit 2012 uses information obtained from external devices via the communication module 2013, etc., to provide various types of multimedia information and multimedia services to the occupants of the vehicle 1.

[0167] The driving assistance system unit 2030 is composed of various devices that provide functions for preventing accidents and reducing the driver's driving burden, such as millimeter-wave radar, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), cameras, positioning locators (e.g., GNSS, etc.), map information (e.g., high-definition (HD) maps, autonomous vehicle (AV) maps, etc.), gyro systems (e.g., IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit), INS (Inertial Navigation System), etc.), AI (Artificial Intelligence) chips, and AI processors, as well as one or more ECUs that control these devices. The driving assistance system unit 2030 also transmits and receives various information via the communication module 2013 to realize driving assistance functions or autonomous driving functions.

[0168] The communication module 2013 can communicate with the microprocessor 2031 and components of the vehicle 1 via the communication port. For example, the communication module 2013 transmits and receives data via the communication port 2033 to and from a driving unit 2002, a steering unit 2003, an accelerator pedal 2004, a brake pedal 2005, a shift lever 2006, left and right front wheels 2007, left and right rear wheels 2008, an axle 2009, a microprocessor 2031 and memory (ROM, RAM) 2032 in the electronic control unit 2010, and sensors 2021 to 2028, which are provided in the vehicle 2001.

[0169] The communication module 2013 is a communication device that can be controlled by the microprocessor 2031 of the electronic control unit 2010 and can communicate with an external device. For example, it transmits and receives various information to and from the external device via wireless communication. The communication module 2013 may be located either inside or outside the electronic control unit 2010. The external device may be, for example, a base station, a mobile station, or the like.

[0170] The communication module 2013 transmits, via wireless communication to an external device, a current signal from the current sensor that is input to the electronic control unit 2010. The communication module 2013 also transmits, via wireless communication to an external device, the rotation speed signals of the front and rear wheels acquired by a rotation speed sensor 2022, the air pressure signals of the front and rear wheels acquired by an air pressure sensor 2023, the vehicle speed signal acquired by a vehicle speed sensor 2024, the acceleration signal acquired by an acceleration sensor 2025, the accelerator pedal depression amount signal acquired by an accelerator pedal sensor 2029, the brake pedal depression amount signal acquired by a brake pedal sensor 2026, the shift lever operation signal acquired by a shift lever sensor 2027, and the detection signals for detecting obstacles, vehicles, pedestrians, etc. acquired by an object detection sensor 2028, all of which are input to the electronic control unit 2010.

[0171] The communication module 2013 receives various information (traffic information, traffic signal information, vehicle distance information, etc.) transmitted from external devices and displays it on an information service unit 2012 provided in the vehicle. The communication module 2013 also stores the various information received from the external devices in a memory 2032 that can be used by the microprocessor 2031. Based on the information stored in the memory 2032, the microprocessor 2031 may control the drive unit 2002, steering unit 2003, accelerator pedal 2004, brake pedal 2005, shift lever 2006, left and right front wheels 2007, left and right rear wheels 2008, axle 2009, sensors 2021 to 2028, and the like provided in the vehicle 2001.

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

[0173] (Additional Note) The above disclosure may be expressed as follows.

[0174] A first feature is a terminal including: a receiving unit that repeatedly receives physical downlink control channels related to the same information; and a control unit that monitors an area in which candidates for the physical downlink control channels related to the same information are set, wherein the number of candidates for the physical downlink control channels related to the same information is three or more.

[0175] A second feature is the terminal based on the first feature, wherein the receiver receives a message transmitted from a base station in initial access, based on a physical downlink control channel related to the same information.

[0176] A third feature is the terminal according to the first or second feature, wherein the control unit monitors three or more of the areas, each of which has one candidate for a physical downlink control channel related to the same information set therein.

[0177] A fourth feature is the terminal according to the first or second feature, wherein the control unit monitors one of the regions in which all of the candidates for the physical downlink control channel related to the same information are set.

[0178] A fifth feature is the terminal according to the first or second feature, wherein the control unit monitors a plurality of the regions in each of which a plurality of candidates for the physical downlink control channel related to the same information is set.

[0179] A sixth feature is the terminal according to any one of the first to fifth features, wherein the receiving unit receives an information element indicating a number of blind decodings related to the repetitive reception in the region.

[0180] 10 Wireless communication system 20 NG-RAN 100 gNB 110 Wireless signal transceiver 120 Control unit 150 Relay station 200 UE 210 Wireless signal transceiver 220 Amplifier 230 Modulation / demodulation unit 240 Control signal / reference signal processing unit 250 Encoding / decoding unit 260 Data transceiver 270 Control unit 1001 Processor 1002 Memory 1003 Storage 1004 Communication device 1005 Input device 1006 Output device 1007 Bus 2001 Vehicle 2002 Drive unit 2003 Steering unit 2004 Accelerator pedal 2005 Brake pedal 2006 Shift lever 2007 Left and right front wheels 2008 Left and right rear wheels 2009 Axle 2010 Electronic control unit 2012 Information service unit 2013 Communication module 2021 Current sensor 2022 RPM sensor 2023 Air pressure sensor 2024 Vehicle speed sensor 2025 Acceleration sensor 2026 Brake pedal sensor 2027 Shift lever sensor 2028 Object detection sensor 2029 Accelerator pedal sensor 2030 Driving assistance system unit 2031 Microprocessor 2032 Memory (ROM, RAM) 2033 Communication port

Claims

1. A terminal comprising: a receiving unit that repeatedly receives a physical downlink control channel related to the same information; and a control unit that monitors an area in which candidates for the physical downlink control channel related to the same information are set, wherein the number of candidates for the physical downlink control channel related to the same information is three or more.

2. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the receiving unit receives a message transmitted from a base station in initial access based on a physical downlink control channel related to the same information.

3. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the control unit monitors three or more of the regions in each of which a candidate for the physical downlink control channel relating to the same information is set, one by one.

4. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the control unit monitors one of the regions in which all of the candidates for the physical downlink control channel related to the same information are set.

5. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the control unit monitors a plurality of the regions in each of which a plurality of candidates for the physical downlink control channel relating to the same information is set.

6. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the receiving unit receives an information element indicating the number of blind decodings related to the repeated reception in the area.

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