Apparatus, method and computer program

Abstract

There is provided an apparatus comprising means for providing information to a network, the information indicating that the apparatus has at least one asymmetric spectrum shaping capability, receiving an indication from the network to adjust an additional maximum power reduction within a frequency band associated with the at least one asymmetric spectrum shaping capability and performing at least one additional maximum power reduction adjustment within the frequency band based on the received indication.

Description

TITLEApparatus, Method and Computer ProgramTECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] Various embodiments of this disclosure relate generally to methods, apparatus and computer programs, and in particular - but not exclusively, to network assisted additional maximum power reduction (A- PR) using digital post linearization in 6G.BACKGROUND

[0002] A communication system can be seen as a facility that enables communication sessions between two or more communication devices, or provides communication devices access to a network. A mobile or wireless communication network is one example of a communication network. A communication device may be provided with a service by an application server.

[0003] A mobile or wireless communication network may operate in accordance with standard(s), such as those provided by 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project) or ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute). Examples of mobile or wireless communication network that operate in accordance with 3GPP standards are generally referred to as 4G (4th Generation) networks, 5G (5th Generation) network, 5G-Advanced networks and 6G networks.SUMMARY

[0004] Some embodiments of this disclosure will be described with respect to certain aspects. These aspects are not intended to indicate key or essential features of the various example embodiments of this disclosure, nor are they intended to be used to limit the scope of thereof. Other features, aspects, and elements will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art in view of this disclosure. For example, it should be appreciated that further aspects may be provided by the combination of any two or more of the various aspects described herein.

[0005] In a first aspect there is provided an apparatus comprising means for providing information to a network, the information indicating that the apparatus has at least one asymmetric spectrum shaping capability, receiving an indication from the network to adjust an additional maximum power reduction within a frequency band associated with the at least one asymmetric spectrum shaping capability and performing at leastone additional maximum power reduction adjustment within the frequency band based on the received indication.

[0006] The apparatus may comprise means for performing asymmetric spectrum shaping within the frequency band so that spectrum emissions are decreased in at least one adjacent band.

[0007] The information indicating that the apparatus has at least one asymmetric spectrum shaping capability may comprise at least one of an indication that the apparatus supports asymmetric spectrum shaping violating adjacent channel leakage ratio requirements or an indication that the apparatus supports asymmetric spectrum shaping violating error vector magnitude requirements.

[0008] Performing the at least one additional maximum power reduction adjustment may comprise relaxing, decreasing, increasing or maintaining an additional maximum power reduction value.

[0009] The additional maximum power reduction value may be decreased by a constant amount, wherein the amount is determined based on user equipment performance.

[0010] In a second aspect there is provided an apparatus comprising means for receiving information from a user equipment, the information indicating that the user equipment has at least one asymmetric spectrum shaping capability, providing an indication to the user equipment to adjust an additional maximum power reduction within a frequency band associated with the at least one asymmetric spectrum shaping capability and receiving a signal with at least one additional maximum power reduction adjustment within the frequency band.

[0011] The apparatus may comprise means for performing a digital post distortion procedure for the received signal based on the information indicating the at least one asymmetric shaping capability.

[0012] The information indicating that the user equipment has at least one asymmetric spectrum shaping capability may comprise at least one of an indication that the user equipment supports asymmetric spectrum shaping violating adjacent channel leakage ratio requirements or an indication that the user equipment supports asymmetric spectrum shaping violating error vector magnitude requirements.

[0013] The apparatus may comprise means for determining to provide the indication to the user equipment to adjust the additional maximum power reduction within a frequency band based on adjacent channel leakage ratio caused by the frequency band.

[0014] The apparatus may comprise means for determining to provide an indication to the user equipment to stop adjusting the additional maximum power reduction when in-band distortion is above a threshold value.

[0015] The threshold value may be a bit error ratio or block error ratio limit.

[0016] Adjusting the additional maximum power reduction may comprise relaxing, decreasing, increasing or maintaining the additional maximum power reduction value.

[0017] In a third aspect there is provided a method comprising providing information to a network, the information indicating that the apparatus has at least one asymmetric spectrum shaping capability, receiving an indication from the network to adjust an additional maximum power reduction within a frequency band associated with the at least one asymmetric spectrum shaping capability and performing at least one additional maximum power reduction adjustment within the frequency band based on the received indication.

[0018] The method may comprise performing asymmetric spectrum shaping within the frequency band so that spectrum emissions are decreased in at least one adjacent band.

[0019] The information indicating that the apparatus has at least one asymmetric spectrum shaping capability may comprise at least one of an indication that the apparatus supports asymmetric spectrum shaping violating adjacent channel leakage ratio requirements or an indication that the apparatus supports asymmetric spectrum shaping violating error vector magnitude requirements.

[0020] Performing the at least one additional maximum power reduction adjustment may comprise relaxing, decreasing, increasing or maintaining an additional maximum power reduction value.

[0021] The additional maximum power reduction value may be decreased by a constant amount, wherein the amount is determined based on user equipment performance.

[0022] In a fourth aspect there is provided a method comprising receiving information from a user equipment, the information indicating that the user equipment has at least one asymmetric spectrum shaping capability, providing an indication to the user equipment to adjust an additional maximum power reduction within a frequency band associated with the at least one asymmetric spectrum shaping capability and receiving a signal with at least one additional maximum power reduction adjustment within the frequency band.

[0023] The method may comprise performing a digital post distortion procedure for the received signal based on the information indicating the at least one asymmetric shaping capability.

[0024] The information indicating that the user equipment has at least one asymmetric spectrum shaping capability may comprise at least one of an indication that the user equipment supports asymmetric spectrum shaping violating adjacent channel leakage ratio requirements or an indication that the user equipment supports asymmetric spectrum shaping violating error vector magnitude requirements.

[0025] The method may comprise determining to provide the indication to the user equipment to adjust the additional maximum power reduction within a frequency band based on adjacent channel leakage ratio caused by the frequency band.

[0026] The method may comprise determining to provide an indication to the user equipment to stop adjusting the additional maximum power reduction when in-band distortion is above a threshold value.

[0027] The threshold value may be a bit error ratio or block error ratio limit.

[0028] Adjusting the additional maximum power reduction may comprise relaxing, decreasing, increasing or maintaining the additional maximum power reduction value.

[0029] In a fifth aspect there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processor, and at least one memory storing instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform a method according to the third or fourth aspect.

[0030] In a sixth aspect there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions wherein the instructions when executed by at least one processor of an apparatus cause the apparatus to perform the method according to the third or fourth aspect.

[0031] Some embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

[0032] In the above, many different aspects have been described. As previously noted, it should be appreciated that further aspects may be provided by the combination of any two or more of the aspects described above (or otherwise in this disclosure).

[0033] Various other aspects are also described in the following detailed description and in the claims.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0034] Some embodiments will be described, by way of non-limiting andillustrative example only, with reference to the figures, in which:

[0035] Fig. 1 shows an example of a communication network to which examples disclosed herein may be applied;

[0036] Fig. 2 shows an example transmitter where A-MPR is allowed and an example transmitter where A-MPR is not allowed;

[0037] Fig. 3 shows a block diagram of third order intermodulation (IMD3) generation;

[0038] Fig. 4 shows a spectrum diagram illustrating how intermodulation distortion (IMD) products are generated;

[0039] Fig. 5a shows an example asymmetric output spectrum;

[0040] Fig. 5b shows an example symmetric output spectrum;

[0041] Fig. 6 shows a block diagram of a transmitter and a receiver including a digital post distortion block;

[0042] Fig. 7 shows simulation results of EVM vs PA Back-off before and after DPoD in the receiver;

[0043] Fig. 8 shows a flowchart of an example method;

[0044] Fig. 9 shows a flowchart of an example method;

[0045] Fig. 10a shows an example of spectrum output in relation to ACLR limits;

[0046] Fig. 10b shows an example of spectrum output in relation to ACLR limits;

[0047] Fig. 10c shows an example of spectrum output in relation to ACLR limits;

[0048] Fig. 11 shows an example signalling diagram between a UE and a gNB;

[0049] Fig. 12 shows an example of an apparatus.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] The following embodiments are provided by way of non-limiting and illustrative example. Although the specification may refer to “an”, “one”, or “some” embodiments) in several locations of the text, this does not necessarily mean that each reference is made to the same embodiment(s), or that a particular feature only applies to a single embodiment. Single features of different embodiments may also be combined to provide other embodiments. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection of an embodiment, it intended such feature, structure, or characteristic may be applied in connection with other embodiments (whether or not explicitly described).

[0051] It shall be understood that although the terms “first,” “second” and the like may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limitedby these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another.

[0052] For the purposes of this disclosure, the phrases “at least one of A or B”, “at least one of A and B”, and “A and / or B” means (A), (B), or (A and B). For the purposes of this disclosure, the phrase “A, B, and / or C” means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B, and C).

[0053] As used herein, the term “or” refers to a non-exclusive “or” unless otherwise indicated (e.g., use of “or else” or “or in the alternative”).

[0054] As used herein, unless stated explicitly, performing a respective feature, step, or functionality “in response to A” does not indicate that the respective feature, step, or functionality is performed immediately after “A” occurs as one or more intervening features, steps, or functionalities may be performed (at least in part) between an occurrence of the respective feature, step, or function and “A”. Analogously, performing a respective feature, step, or functionality “based on A” does not indicate that the respective feature, step, or functionality is performed solely based on “A” as the respective feature, step, or functionality may be further based on one or more other features, steps, or functionalities in addition to “A”.

[0055] Embodiments described herein may be implemented in a communication network, such as any of the following radio access technologies (RATs): Worldwide Interoperability for Micro-wave Access (WiMAX), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM, 2G), GSM EDGE radio access Network (GERAN), General Packet Radio Service (GRPS), Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS, 3G) based on basic wideband-code division multiple access (W-CDMA), high-speed packet access (HSPA), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced, and enhanced LTE (eLTE), 5G (also called NR), or any future RAT such as 6G. Moreover, communication within the communication network may utilize any proper wireless communication technology, comprising but not limited to: Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Duplex (FDD), Time Division Duplex (TDD), Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple (OFDM), and / or Discrete Fourier Transform spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM).

[0056] As used herein, the term “network device” or “network node” refers to a node in a communication network via which user equipment may access the network and / or which is configured to control radio communication and managing radio resources within a cell. The network node or network device may be referred to as a base station (BS), an access point (AP) or an access node. The network device may be,depending on the applied technology, for example, a node B (NodeB or NB), an evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB), an NR NB (also referred to as a gNB), a Remote Radio Unit (RRU), a radio head (RH), a remote radio head (RRH), a relay, an Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) node, a low power node, a non-terrestrial network (NTN) or nonground network device, such as a satellite network device, a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite and a geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) satellite, or an aircraft network device.

[0057] Moreover, in connection of split radio access network (RAN), the network device may refer to a centralised unit (CU) of a base station and / or a distributed unit (DU) of a base station. An interface between CU and DU may be referred to as an F1 interface in NR. In the split RAN architecture, node operations may be carried out, at least partly, in the central / centralized unit, CU, (e.g. server, host or node) operationally coupled to the DU, (e.g. a radio head / node). One CU may control one or more DUs, acting at least as transmit / receive (Tx / Rx) nodes. In some embodiments, the DUs may comprise e.g. a radio link control (RLC), medium access control (MAC) layer and a physical (PHY) layer, whereas the CU may comprise the layers above RLC layer, such as a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, a radio resource control (RRC) and an internet protocol (IP) layers. Other functional splits are possible too. In practice, any processing task may be performed in either the CU or the DU and the boundary where the responsibility is shifted between the CU and the DU may depend on the applied implementation.

[0058] The term “terminal device” refers to any end device that may be configured to perform wireless communication. By way of example, a terminal device may be referred to as a communication device, user equipment (UE), a Subscriber Station (SS), or a Mobile Station (MS). The terminal device may include a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, voice over IP (VoIP) phones, wireless local loop phones a tablet, a wearable terminal device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), portable computers, desktop computer, image capture terminal devices such as digital cameras, gaming terminal devices, music storage and playback appliances, vehicle-mounted wireless terminal devices, USB dongles, an Internet of Things (loT) device, a watch or other wearable, a head-mounted display (HMD), a vehicle, a drone, a medical device and applications (e.g., remote surgery), an industrial device and applications (e.g., a robot and / or other wireless devices operating in an industrial and / or an automated processing chain contexts), a consumer electronics device, a device operating on commercial and / or industrial wireless networks, and the like.

[0059] A term “resource”, as used herein, may refer to radio resources in timedomain, in frequency domain, in space domain, and / or in code domain. Some examples of resources may include, e.g., a physical resource block (PRB), a radio frame, a subframe, a time slot, a subband, a frequency region, a sub-carrier, a beam, etc. The term “transmission” and / or “reception” may refer to wirelessly transmitting and / or receiving via a wireless propagation channel on radio resources.

[0060] Fig. 1 illustrates an example of a communication network to which examples disclosed herein may be applied. The communication network or a cellular communication network may comprise a network node 110 configured to provide one or more cells, such as cell 100, and a network node 112 configured to provide one or more other cells, such as cell 102. Each cell may, for example, be a macro cell, a micro cell, femto, or a pico cell. The cell may define a coverage area or a service area of the corresponding access node.

[0061] The network node (110, 112) may be configured to provide a user equipment (UE) 120 (one or more UEs) with wireless access to the communication network. The wireless access may comprise downlink (DL) communication from the network node (110, 112) to the UE 120 and uplink (UL) communication from the UE 120 to the network node (110, 112). Examples of uplink channels may comprise physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) for transmitting control information and physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) for transmitting data towards the network. Examples of downlink channels may comprise physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) for transmitting control information and physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) for transmitting data towards the user equipment.

[0062] There may be a plurality of UEs (120, 122) in the system. Each of the plurality of UEs may be served by the same or by different network nodes (110, 112). UE may be configured with dual connectivity (DC), wherein the UE, for example UE 120, may be connected to multiple network nodes (110, 112). The UEs (120, 122) may communicate with each other, in case device-to-device (D2D) communication interface is established between them via a so-called sidelink (SL). Such D2D communications may be referred to as machine-to-machine, peer-to-peer (P2P) communications, or ve- hicle-to-vehicle (V2V), for example.

[0063] In the case of multiple network nodes in the communication network, the network nodes may be connected to each other via an interface. LTE specifications, for example, refer to such an interface as an X2 interface. An interface between an LTE node and a 5G node, or between two 5G nodes may be called an Xn interface.

[0064] The network nodes 110 and 112 may be further connected via anotherinterface to a core network 116 of the communication network. The LTE specifications specify the core network as an evolved packet core (EPC), and the core network may comprise a plurality of entities (e.g. a mobility management entity (MME) and a gateway node). The MME may handle mobility of terminal devices in a tracking area encompassing a plurality of cells and handle signalling connections between the terminal devices and the core network. The gateway node may handle data routing in the core network and to / from the terminal devices. The 5G specifications specify the core network as a 5G core (5GC). The 5GC may, for example, comprise an access and mobility management function (AMF) and a user plane function / gateway (UPF) and other functions. The AMF may handle termination of non-access stratum (NAS) signalling, NAS ciphering & integrity protection, registration management, connection management, mobility management, access authentication and authorization, security context management. The UPF node may, for example, support packet routing and forwarding, packet inspection and quality of service (QoS) handling.

[0065] Out of band emissions are unwanted emissions immediately outside the assigned channel bandwidth, e.g., in an adjacent channel to the assigned channel bandwidth. Out of band emissions may result from the modulation process and nonlinearity in the transmitter but may exclude spurious emissions. An out of band emission limit is specified in terms of a spectrum emission mask and an adjacent channel leakage power ratio (ACLR).

[0066] Additional Maximum power Reduction (A-MPR) is allowed to meet additional emission requirements. A-MPR is signalled by the network as NS (Network Signalling) value. NS is one mechanism to realize global harmonization of terminals. A- MPR might be applied in response to specific NS instructions from the NW. For example, the NW might request a reduction in transmit power when there are strict regulatory constraints on adjacent channel emissions. If A-MPR is applied to reduce the transmit power, it may impact the reliability and range of network signalling.

[0067] Fig. 2 shows an example where NS_05 (A-MPR allowed) for NR band 1 (n1 , 1920-1980 MHz) is used for protecting PHS (1893.5 -1915.7 MHz) in Japan while for the other countries NS_01 is indicated by NW to avoid A-MPR for NR band 1.

[0068] Compared to LTE, 5G NR allows a wider channel bandwidth (e.g., 100 MHz vs. 20 MHz). Higher power classes as PC2 are also suggested to enhance the coverage and capacity of the UE uplink. Due to worst-case A-MPR, the desired uplink performance may not always materialize in the field. The wider the channel bandwidth, the larger the A-MPR, e.g. PC2 n39 A-MPR for 20 MHz CBW is up to 5.5 dB, while thatfor 40 MHz CBWcan be up to 12.5 dB. This means a 7 dB difference in A-MPR resulting in a 7 dB reduction of UE’s maximum output power which may affect the coverage and capacity of the uplink.

[0069] A root cause of unwanted emissions may be the intermodulation distortion (IMD) products generated in UE’s power amplifier. Fig. 3 shows a block diagram how an IMD product, IMD3 may cause unwanted emission in a victim system.

[0070] Fig. 4 show a spectrum diagram illustrating how IMD products are generated.

[0071] In the example shown in Fig. 4, the generated products are:Carrier leakage = f_carrier = 1950 MHzAllocated spectrum = f_allocated = 1942.5 MHz (center)Image spectrum = fjmage = 1957.5 MHz (center)IMD3 = 2*(f_allocated) - (fjmage) = 2*1942.5 - 1957.5 = 1927.5 MHz (center)IMD5 = 3*(f_allocated) - 2*(f_image) = 3*1942.5 - 2*1957.5 = 1912.5 MHz (center)CIM3 & IMD3 = 2*(fjmage) - (f_allocated) = 2*1957.5 - 1942.5 = 1972.5 MHz (center)

[0072] As can be seen in Fig. 4, the strongest distortion is due to IMD3 at the lower side of the transmission spectrum approximately at -25dBm / MHz. The center frequency of the IMD3 product is located in the adjacent channel creating an Adjacent Channel Leakage Ratio (ACLR) at 1927.5 MHz. The frequency of this IMD3 distortion will move further away from the allocated spectrum when the channel bandwidth increase which can potentially hit several protected frequency regions.

[0073] An asymmetric spectrum may be used to maintain emissions compliance at unchanged TX power level for cases where victim frequency band is single sided. A delay between the amplitude path and the phase path can generate an asymmetric output spectrum. Such impact is shown in Fig. 5(a) where the spectrum is asymmetrical. This establishes that an asymmetric spectrum may be determined from a delay between the amplitude and phase paths. As part of this delay the EVM gets affected, where the EVM (in-band distortion) is 1.15 % while in Fig. 5(b) with a symmetrical spectrum the EVM is reduced to 1%. This example shows the relation between an asymmetrical spectrum and an increase in EVM.

[0074] Digital Post Linearization, also referred to as a Digital Post Distortion (DPoD) method, may be combined with other linearization methods such as Envelope Tracking (ET) and / or DPD (or OTA-DPD), where ET and / or DPD can be optimized to power efficiency and reduce the ACLR respectively, while the DPoD takes care of the in-band distortion.

[0075] DPoD may allow a UE transmitter to operate at a higher TX EVM than typically assumed, i.e., transmitting higher distorted signal. In uplink, this may result in improved transmit power for higher order modulations. DPoD does not require extra hardware in UE and may allow low-cost UEs to be capable for high coverage and high- capacity transmission. Fig. 6 shows a block diagram of a transmitter and receiver with the digital post distortion block in the receiver system.

[0076] The simulation results illustrated in Fig. 7 show how the DPoD method may improve EVM in the receiver from approximately 9% to approximately 3% EVM while the UE is transmitting with 256-QAM. This means that the UE may be allowed a significant relaxation to the 3GPP requirement for Tx EVM from the current 3.5% to >8% for 256-QAM.

[0077] Using the DPoD approach the UE can transmit with higher power (i.e., relaxation of A-MPR). UE sends the demodulation reference signal (DMRS) through its own PA and the reference signal is used for parameter estimation in gNB. The DPoD has a target to improve the in-band distortion. The out-of-band distortion (ACLR) improvement is a target for UE since it is not allowed to violate neighbor channels which can belong to another network. Using a higher order modulation in UE with high EVM and reduced MPR, needs a well-controlled ACLR to avoid spectrum violation specifically in FR1 and the lower frequency edge of FR3 since the 3GPP requirement is high, 33dBc.

[0078] The transmitter of a UE includes a power amplifier (PA) which may be designed in such a way that the UE has as least margin as the UE vendor finds necessary to comply to the requirements of the output spectrum at maximum transmission power level. If more output power is required from this level (beyond maximum output power) the UE will no longer be able to comply with the spectrum requirements. That is, PAs are designed to offer the best efficiency at this maximum output power level. Without methods of ET and DPD, the PA may drop in efficiency when operated at backed off power levels.

[0079] A receiver, e.g., gNB, may suffer from low SNR when UE reduces the TX power to be compliant with the Network Signaling requirements for protected bands in the form of A-MPR. The need to reduce the UE UL transmit power may be caused by the generated IMD3 distortion linked to the PA output power and associated linearity performance as illustrated in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. A method to improve UL coverage by reducing A-MPR which could append to the known existing PA control methods may be desirable. While these methods may be internal to a UE it would be of an advantage tothe network if the network could configure a UE with such features, e.g. to perform according to specification even at less power back-off.

[0080] Fig. 8 shows a flowchart of a method according to an example embodiment. The method may be performed at an apparatus. The apparatus may comprise a UE or be comprised in a UE.

[0081] At 801 , the method comprises providing information to a network, the information indicating that the apparatus has at least one asymmetric spectrum shaping capability.

[0082] At 802, the method comprises receiving an indication from the network to adjust an additional maximum power reduction within a frequency band associated with the at least one asymmetric spectrum shaping capability.

[0083] At 803, the method comprises performing at least one additional maximum power reduction adjustment within the frequency band based on the received indication.

[0084] Fig. 9 shows a flowchart of a method according to an example embodiment.

[0085] At 901 , the method comprises receiving information from a user equipment, the information indicating that the apparatus has at least one asymmetric spectrum shaping capability.

[0086] At 902, the method comprises providing an indication to the user equipment to adjust an additional maximum power reduction within a frequency band associated with the at least one asymmetric spectrum shaping capability.

[0087] At 903, the method comprises receiving a signal with at least one additional maximum power reduction adjustment within the frequency band.

[0088] The method as described with reference to Fig. 8 may comprise performing asymmetric spectrum shaping within the frequency band so that spectrum emissions are decreased in at least one adjacent band.

[0089] The information indicating that the apparatus has at least one asymmetric spectrum shaping capability may comprise at least one of an indication that the apparatus supports asymmetric spectrum shaping violating adjacent channel leakage ratio (ACLR) requirements or an indication that the apparatus supports asymmetric spectrum shaping violating error vector magnitude (EVM) requirements.

[0090] The method as described with reference to Fig. 9 may comprise performing a digital post distortion procedure for the received signal based on the information indicating the at least one asymmetric shaping capability. The method as described withreference to Fig. 9 may comprise determining to provide the indication to the user equipment to adjust the additional maximum power reduction within a frequency band based on adjacent channel leakage ratio caused by the frequency band.

[0091] Methods as described with reference to Figs. 8 and 9 make a link between UEs which support ET and are capable of creating an asymmetric output spectrum allowing the UE to transmit at less A-MPR and a signaling aspect where the NW assists the UE to trade-off less output power reduction for increased ACLR and EVM.

[0092] In an example embodiment, the UE informs the NW that it supports asymmetric spectrum shaping to increase output power (less A-MPR) at operation near protected bands. The UE is responsible for upholding the requirements to the spectrum emission. This is an example of information indicating that the apparatus has at least one asymmetric spectrum shaping capability. In this example the apparatus supports asymmetric shaping capability violating EVM requirements. This capability may be termed capability (A). Through signaling between gNB and UE, gNB signals UE to take on the asymmetric spectrum shaping. The network uses DPoD to mitigate the in-band distortion.

[0093] In an example embodiment, the UE informs the NW that it supports NW configuration to proceed beyond 3GPP requirements (ACLR > ACLR in 3GPP) when assisted by the NW to do so. The NW is responsible for upholding the tolerated impact to the UE spectrum emission. This is an example of information indicating that the apparatus has at least one asymmetric spectrum shaping capability. In this example the apparatus supports asymmetric shaping capability violating ACLR requirements. This capability may be termed capability (B).

[0094] Through capability (B), the gNB may further tolerate worse EVM and ACLR performance if the NW operator owns the adjacent channel spectrum and does not see an impact of the increased EVM and ACLR in the current channel performance impacted by the ACLR. The network may still apply DPoD to compensate the UE.

[0095] A method as described with reference to Fig. 9 may comprise determining to provide the indication to the user equipment to adjust the additional maximum power reduction within a frequency band based on adjacent channel leakage ratio caused by the frequency band. The determining may be based on whether ACLR violating ACLR requirements can be tolerated. Whether ACLR violating ACLR requirements may be tolerated may depend on SNR (signal-to-noise-ratio) of the reception band and / or the number of UEs in the reception field. In an example embodiment, while compliant withthe protected band, if the ACLR at the gNB’s reception exceeds the 3GPP limit, then gNB can take a decision to allow this or not.

[0096] Performing the at least one additional maximum power reduction adjustment may comprise relaxing, decreasing, increasing or maintaining an additional maximum power reduction value. The A-MPR value may be decreased or increased by a constant amount. The amount may be determined based on UE performance.

[0097] The method as described with reference to Fig. 9 may comprise determining to provide an indication to the user equipment to stop adjusting the additional maximum power reduction when in-band distortion is above a threshold value. The threshold value may be a bit error ratio or block error ratio limit.

[0098] In an example embodiment, if in-band distortion mitigation exceeds a certain level (not suitable for gNB) then gNB asks UE to stop adjusting the A-MPR since the in-band distortion is beyond a BER / BLER limit.

[0099] Fig. 10 shows in three scenarios that considers ACLR limits, protected bands, and tolerated ACLR violation. In Fig. 10(a), the UE Tx power is reduced by A- MPR and the ACLR at the gNB is below the ACLR limit. In Fig. 10 (b), the A-MPR is relaxed so the UE is transmitting at a higher TX power but the ACLR is below the ACLR limit, albeit at a smaller margin. In Fig. 10(c), the ACLR in the adjacent protected band is above the ACLR limit but the network performs DPoD LR, thereby assisting the UE to allow a greater output power than in Figs. 10(a) and 10(b).

[0100] In Fig. 10(c), the UE can further relax A-MPR (further increase TX power) while ACLR is in the “tolerated” range. Since this requires that the in-band distortion of the spectrum belonging to the operating gNB and the gNB has sufficient SI NR in that channel, then gNB can decide if it can tolerate such an ACLR in reception band or not. This decision may be dependent on the signal-to-noise-ratio of the gNB’s reception band and the number of UEs in the reception field.

[0101] However, this technique will generate in-band distortion in the UE’s PA. The generated in-band distortion related to deterministically shaped ET needs to be removed. We propose a DPoD procedure in combination with deterministically shaped ET to cancel the generated in-band distortion at the gNB side.

[0102] Fig. 11 shows a signalling diagram between a UE and a gNB according to an example embodiment.

[0103] At step 1 , NS is activated and UE use 3GPP A-MPR level.

[0104] AT step 2, the UE reports its “adjustable A-MPR” capability status. The “adjustable A-MPR” capability status is an example of information indicating that theapparatus has at least one asymmetric spectrum shaping capability. The asymmetric shaping ability may comprise capability (A) or capability (B).

[0105] At step 3, the gNB determines capabilities A and / or B should be activated at the UE.

[0106] If so, at step 4, the gNB sends a message: “UE managed spectrum shaping” to UE to activate capability (A) (i.e., the UE performs asymmetric spectrum shaping within a frequency band so that spectrum emissions are decreased in at least one adjacent band). The network uses DPoD to mitigate the in-band distortion resulting from the asymmetric spectrum shaping.

[0107] At step 5, the UE performs the asymmetric spectrum shaping (capability (A). Adjustable A_MPR is activated so that A-MPR is relaxed by x dB determined by the UE performance. The ACLR and spectrum emission in protected band is compliant with 3GPP specifications.

[0108] At step 6, the gNB uses DPoD to mitigate the increased in-band EVM resulting from the asymmetric spectrum shaping.

[0109] At step 7, the gNB sends the message: “NW managed spectrum shaping” (i.e., the EVM can be mitigated by DPoD if the ACLR in gNB reception band is “tolerated) to UE to activate capability (B).

[0110] At step 8, the gNB uses DPoD to mitigate the increased EVM and gNB manages UE A-MPR depending on whether the ACLR is within a tolerated range. gNB Allows tolerated level of ACLR in gNB’s reception band. gNB compensates EVM degradation in UEs uplink.

[0111] At step 9, gNB signals UE to change A-MPR similar to TPC instructions (e.g., instructions as “up”, “down”, “keep”, which could mean “+1dB”, “-1dB”, “OdB”) dependent on tolerated ACLR limits.

[0112] At step 10, the UE tracks A-MPR instructions based on the message from gNB in step 9.

[0113] Fig. 12 shows, by way of example, a block diagram of an apparatus 10. The apparatus 10 comprises, for example, at least one processor 12 and at least one memory 14 storing instructions 15 that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus 10 at least to perform the method or methods (or portion(s) thereof) as disclosed herein, and any of the embodiments (or respective portion(s) thereof). In an example, the at least one memory and the instructions (e.g. a computer program code, software), are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus 10 to perform the method or methods (or portion(s) thereof) as disclosed herein, andany of the embodiments (or respective portion(s) thereof).

[0114] A processor 12 may comprise circuitry, or be constituted as circuitry or circuitries, the circuitry or circuitries being configured to perform phases of methods in accordance with embodiments described herein.

[0115] As used herein, the term "circuitry” may refer to one or more or all of the following: (a) hardware-only circuit implementations, such as implementations in only analog and / or digital circuitry, and (b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as, as applicable: (i) a combination of analog and / or digital hardware circuit(s) with software / fi rmware and (ii) any portions of hardware processor(s) with software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a user equipment, to perform various functions) and (c) hardware circuit(s) and or processor(s), such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessors), that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation. This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term herein, including in any claims. As a further example, as used herein, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

[0116] The memory 14 may be implemented using any suitable data storage technology. The memory may comprise a database for storing data. The memory 14 may, for example, be at least in part external to apparatus 10 but accessible to apparatus 10.

[0117] The instructions 15 may be comprised in a computer readable medium or a non-transitory computer readable medium. A term non-transitory, as used herein, is a limitation of the medium itself (i.e. tangible, not a signal) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (e.g. random access memory, RAM, vs. read only memory, ROM).

[0118] For example, the apparatus 10 is a terminal device, such as a UE. As another example, the apparatus is comprised in such a terminal device, e.g. as a chipset configured to control the terminal device. The apparatus 10 may be caused or configured or comprise means to perform at least the method of Figs. 8 and / or any one or more of the embodiments described herein.

[0119] As another example, the apparatus 10 is a network entity. In another embodiment, the apparatus is comprised in such a network entity, e.g. as a chipset configured to control the network entity. The apparatus 10 may be caused or configured or comprise means to perform at least the method of Fig. 9 and / or any one or more of the embodiments described herein.

[0120] The apparatus may comprise one or more entities of any of protocol layers, such as a MAC entity, an RRC entity, an RLC entity, a PDCP entity or a PHY entity. In some embodiments, the entity is configured to perform at least the method of Figs. 3 to 6, or 8 or 9, and / or any one or more of the embodiments described.

[0121] The apparatus 10 comprises a radio interface 16. The radio interface16 may provide the apparatus 10 with communication capabilities. The radio interface 16 may comprise a receiver configured to receive information in accordance with at least one cellular or non-cellular standard. The radio interface 16 may comprise a transmitter configured to transmit information in accordance with at least one cellular or non- cellular standard. The receiver may comprise more than one receiver. The transmitter may comprise more than one transmitter. The radio interface 16 may comprise a transceiver configured to receive and transmit information in accordance with at least one cellular or non-cellular standard. The transceiver may comprise more than one transceiver.

[0122] The apparatus 10 may comprise a user interface 18 comprising, for example, at least one of a keypad, a microphone, a touch display, a display, a speaker, etc. The user interface 18 may be used to control the apparatus by the user. The user interface 18 may be external to the apparatus 10. For example, the apparatus 10 may be connected to another device, such as a computer, either via wireless or wired connection, and the apparatus 10 is controlled by the user via the computer.

[0123] In an embodiment, at least some of the processes described herein may be carried out by an apparatus comprising means for carrying out at least some of the described processes. Means for performing method steps as disclosed herein may include software and / or hardware components of the apparatus 10. For example, the at least one processor 12, the memory 14, and the computer program code form means for carrying out the method or methods (or portion(s) thereof) as disclosed herein, and any of the embodiments (or respective portion(s) thereof). As used herein the term “means” is to be construed in singular form, i.e. referring to a single element, or in plural form, i.e. referring to a combination of single elements. Therefore, terminology “means for [performing A, B, C]”, is to be interpreted to cover an apparatus in which there isonly one means for performing A, B and C, or where there are separate means for performing A, B and C, or partially or fully overlapping means for performing A, B, C. Further, terminology “means for performing A, means for performing B, means for performing C” is to be interpreted to cover an apparatus in which there is only one means for performing A, B and C, or where there are separate means for performing A, B and C, or partially or fully overlapping means for performing A, B, C.

[0124] Even though this disclosure has been described above with reference to non-limiting and illustrative examples according to the accompanying figures, it is clear that the scope of this disclosure is not restricted thereto - but can be modified in many different ways. As technology advances, it will become apparent to a person skilled in art as to how the disclosure can be further implemented and / or modified in various ways. Further, it is clear to a person skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may, but are not required to, be combined in various ways with other embodiments described herein.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . An apparatus comprising means for: providing information to a network, the information indicating that the apparatus has at least one asymmetric spectrum shaping capability; receiving an indication from the network to adjust an additional maximum power reduction within a frequency band associated with the at least one asymmetric spectrum shaping capability; and performing at least one additional maximum power reduction adjustment within the frequency band based on the received indication.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising means for performing asymmetric spectrum shaping within the frequency band so that spectrum emissions are decreased in at least one adjacent band.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the information indicating that the apparatus has at least one asymmetric spectrum shaping capability comprises at least one of an indication that the apparatus supports asymmetric spectrum shaping violating adjacent channel leakage ratio requirements or an indication that the apparatus supports asymmetric spectrum shaping violating error vector magnitude requirements.

4. The apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein performing the at least one additional maximum power reduction adjustment comprises relaxing, decreasing, increasing or maintaining an additional maximum power reduction value.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the additional maximum power reduction value is decreased by a constant amount, wherein the amount is determined based on user equipment performance.

6. An apparatus comprising means for: receiving information from a user equipment, the information indicating that the user equipment has at least one asymmetric spectrum shaping capability; providing an indication to the user equipment to adjust an additional maximum power reduction within a frequency band associated with the at least one asymmetricspectrum shaping capability; and receiving a signal with at least one additional maximum power reduction adjustment within the frequency band.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 comprising means for: performing a digital post distortion procedure for the received signal based on the information indicating the at least one asymmetric shaping capability.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the information indicating that the user equipment has at least one asymmetric spectrum shaping capability comprises at least one of an indication that the user equipment supports asymmetric spectrum shaping violating adjacent channel leakage ratio requirements or an indication that the user equipment supports asymmetric spectrum shaping violating error vector magnitude requirements.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, comprising means for determining to provide the indication to the user equipment to adjust the additional maximum power reduction within a frequency band based on adjacent channel leakage ratio caused by the frequency band.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8 or claim 9, comprising means for determining to provide an indication to the user equipment to stop adjusting the additional maximum power reduction when in-band distortion is above a threshold value.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the threshold value is a bit error ratio or block error ratio limit.

12. The apparatus according to any of claims 6 to 11 , wherein adjusting the additional maximum power reduction comprises relaxing, decreasing, increasing or maintaining the additional maximum power reduction value.

13. A method comprising, at an apparatus: providing information to a network, the information indicating that the apparatus has at least one asymmetric spectrum shaping capability; receiving an indication from the network to adjust an additional maximumpower re-duction within a frequency band associated with the at least one asymmetric spectrum shaping capability; and performing at least one additional maximum power reduction adjustment within the frequency band based on the received indication.

14. A method comprising: receiving information from a user equipment, the information indicating that the user equipment has at least one asymmetric spectrum shaping capability; providing an indication to the user equipment to adjust an additional maximum power reduction within a frequency band associated with the at least one asymmetric spectrum shaping capability; and receiving a signal with at least one additional maximum power reduction adjustment within the frequency band.

15. A computer program product comprising program instructions which, when the program is executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform: providing information to a network, the information indicating that the apparatus has at least one asymmetric spectrum shaping capability; receiving an indication from the network to adjust an additional maximum power reduction within a frequency band associated with the at least one asymmetric spectrum shaping capability; and performing at least one additional maximum power reduction adjustment within the frequency band based on the received indication.

16. A computer program product comprising program instructions which, when the program is executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform: receiving information from a user equipment, the information indicating that the user equipment has at least one asymmetric spectrum shaping capability; providing an indication to the user equipment to adjust an additional maximum power reduction within a frequency band associated with the at least one asymmetric spectrum shaping capability; and receiving a signal with at least one additional maximum power reduction adjustment within the frequency band.

17. An apparatus comprising at least one processor, and at least onememory storing instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor cause the apparatus at least to perform: providing information to a network, the information indicating that the apparatus has at least one asymmetric spectrum shaping capability; receiving an indication from the network to adjust an additional maximum power reduction within a frequency band associated with the at least one asymmetric spectrum shaping capability; and performing at least one additional maximum power reduction adjustment within the frequency band based on the received indication.

18. An apparatus comprising at least one processor, and at least one memory storing instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor cause the apparatus at least to perform: receiving information from a user equipment, the information indicating that the user equipment has at least one asymmetric spectrum shaping capability; providing an indication to the user equipment to adjust an additional maximum power reduction within a frequency band associated with the at least one asymmetric spectrum shaping capability; and receiving a signal with at least one additional maximum power reduction adjustment within the frequency band.

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