Method and system for uplink muting indication for subband non-overlapping full-duplex (SBFD) slots

Abstract

The present invention relates to uplink interference mitigation in wireless communication systems, particularly in sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation as defined in 5G New Radio (NR). The invention enables dynamic or semi-static muting of two OFDM symbols within a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) slot to facilitate cross-link interference (CLI) measurement at a base station (gNB). The gNB determines muting based on uplink conditions and encodes the muting indication using a one-bit flag, a muting index derived from configurable parameters (K11, K21, K22), or a row index referencing a muting symbol table aligned with a time domain resource allocation (TDRA) table. This indication is sent to user equipment (UE) via DCI or RRC signaling. The UE decodes the muting instruction and suppresses data on specified symbols while preserving demodulation reference signals. The gNB uses the muted symbols for CLI measurement and equalizer weight computation, improving uplink decoding with minimal signaling overhead.

Description

[0001] METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR UPLINK MUTING INDICATION FOR SUBBAND NON-OVERLAPPING FULL-DUPLEX (SBFD) SLOTS CROSS REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to Indian Provisional Patent Application No. 202441059720 entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR UPLINK MUTING INDICATION FOR SUBBAND NON-OVERLAPPING FULL-DUPLEX (SBFD) SLOTS” filed on Aug.07, 2024, Indian Provisional Patent Application No. 202441059725 entitled “A METHOD FOR PROCESSING UPLINK (UL) RESOURCE MUTING FOR CLI HANDLING IN SBFD ENABLED NETWORK” filed on Aug.07, 2024, India Provisional Application No. 202441074231 entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR UPLINK RESOURCE MUTING INDICATION FOR SUBBAND NON- OVERLAPPING FULL-DUPLEX (SBFD)” filed on Oct.01, 2024, and Indian Provisional Patent Application No. 202441074529 entitled “A METHOD FOR PROCESSING UPLINK (UL) RESOURCE MUTING IN SUB BAND FULL DUPLEX (SBFD) WIRELESS NETWORK” filed on Oct. 02, 2024, which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to wireless communications, particularly to mitigating uplink interference in sub-band full duplex settings through coordinated base station-user equipment collaboration. Background of the Invention Wireless communication systems have undergone significant advancements, evolving from LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) to 5G New Radio (5G-NR) to meet burgeoning demands for spectral efficiency, enhanced data rates, and robust network capacity. LTE-A systems leverage heterogeneous network architectures, integrating high-power macro base stations to provide expansive coverage with low-power pico base stations to augment signal strength in areas of suboptimal coverage. This deployment strategy, while effective for capacity enhancement, introduces pronounced interference challenges, particularly for pico user equipment situated at the peripheries of macro cells, where high-power macro base station transmissions impair signal quality and data throughput. To address interference in LTE-A networks, techniques such as Inter- Cell Interference Coordination (ICIC) have been developed. A prominent approach involves macro base stations transmitting almost blank subframes (ABSs), which comprise minimal resource elements to reduce interference impacting pico user equipment, thereby facilitating improved data rates. While ABSs mitigate certain interference scenarios, their implementation necessitates intricate coordination among network elements and exhibits limited adaptability to rapidly fluctuating network conditions, rendering them less effective in increasingly complex and dynamic environments. The advent of 5G-NR has introduced transformative technologies, including massive Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) and beamforming, which significantly enhance signal directionality and network capacity. However, these advancements exacerbate interference complexities, particularly in sub-band full duplex (SBFD) configurations. In SBFD systems, simultaneous uplink and downlink transmissions within adjacent frequency bands precipitate cross-link interference (CLI), which predominantly compromises uplink signal reception at base stations, thereby degrading overall network performance. Conventional interference mitigation strategies, such as ABSs and static resource allocation, are often inadequate in SBFD contexts, where dynamic network conditions demand real-time adaptability and precise interference measurement. The granularity required to effectively manage uplink interference, particularly CLI, remains a significant challenge, as existing methods struggle to optimize resource allocation and interference assessment in rapidly varying scenarios. This limitation underscores the need for advanced methodologies to enhance uplink interference mitigation in SBFD environments. There exists a pressing need for innovative approaches that enable adaptive coordination between base stations and user equipment to optimize interference measurement and mitigation. Such methods must facilitate precise control over uplink resources and real-time adaptation to network dynamics, thereby improving uplink performance and overall network efficiency in SBFD wireless communication systems. Objective of the Invention The principal objective of the present invention is to provide a method for mitigating uplink interference in sub-band full duplex (SBFD) wireless communication systems by enabling adaptive coordination between base stations and user equipment to optimize interference measurement and enhance uplink performance. Another objective of the present invention is to improve the accuracy of cross-link interference (CLI) measurement in SBFD environments by facilitating precise selection and muting of uplink resources, thereby minimizing interference impact on uplink signal reception. Another objective of the present invention is to enhance network efficiency in SBFD systems by providing a flexible coordination mechanism that supports dynamic and semi-static signaling, accommodating diverse network conditions without requiring extensive reconfiguration. Another objective of the present invention is to reduce the complexity of interference mitigation in SBFD communications by streamlining base station and user equipment interactions, thus enabling efficient resource allocation and real-time adaptation to interference dynamics. A further objective of the present invention is to improve overall system performance and reliability in 5G New Radio (5G-NR) networks by optimizing uplink interference mitigation, contributing to higher data rates and robust connectivity in SBFD deployments. Summary of the Invention This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. According to an aspect of the present invention, this invention relates to a method for mitigating uplink interference in sub-band full duplex (SBFD) wireless communication systems by coordinating base station and user equipment operations to optimize interference measurement and uplink performance. The method includes evaluating the need for uplink resource muting at a base station to measure cross-link interference (CLI). The base station selects specific uplink resources for muting, transmits a muting indication to the user equipment, and measures CLI during the muted resources. The user equipment receives the indication, mutes the designated uplink resources, and transmits uplink signals on non-muted resources, thereby facilitating accurate interference mitigation. According to another aspect of the invention, the method enables flexible coordination through dynamic and semi-static signaling mechanisms. The base station may transmit a muting indication using a control message, such as a one-bit flag (indicator) to turn ON / OFF (enable / disable) uplink muting, and / or an index referencing a predefined muting configuration (UL resource muting index), to instruct the user equipment on which uplink resources (symbol indexes) to mute. The user equipment processes the indication to identify and mute the specified resources, ensuring precise CLI measurement without generating excessive signaling overhead. This coordinated approach eliminates the need for static resource allocation, enhancing adaptability to varying network conditions in SBFD environments. According to another aspect of the present invention, the method supports adaptive resource selection by using a one-bit muting flag to enable or disable muting and a UL resource muting index to convey specific symbol-level muting information. This ensures efficient signaling and dynamic response to interference scenarios without relying on fixed or rule- based muting logic. The base station selects resources based on network conditions, such as interference patterns, and communicates the selection to the user equipment via the muting indication. The user equipment employs a mapping mechanism to align with the base station’s selection, ensuring seamless coordination. This adaptive method optimizes uplink interference mitigation while maintaining compatibility with diverse waveform configurations, such as those used in 5G New Radio (5G-NR) systems. According to a further aspect of the invention, the method reduces the complexity of interference mitigation in SBFD communications by streamlining base station and user equipment interactions. By integrating interference measurement and resource muting into a cohesive process, the method minimizes the need for extensive reconfiguration or complex resource management protocols. This streamlined approach enhances network efficiency, reduces processing latency, and improves uplink data rates, making it particularly advantageous for 5G-NR deployments where dynamic interference management is critical for maintaining robust connectivity. The foregoing general description outlines the key aspects of the invention, which offers an innovative approach to uplink interference mitigation in SBFD wireless communication systems. By combining adaptive resource muting, precise CLI measurement, and flexible gNB-UE coordination, the method improves network performance, reduces operational complexity, and enhances reliability. This approach is highly suitable for modern 5G-NR systems operating in interference-prone SBFD environments, providing an efficient alternative to conventional interference mitigation techniques. Brief description of the drawings The figures described below depict various aspects of the system and methods disclosed herein. It should be understood that each figure depicts an embodiment of a particular aspect of the disclosed system and methods, and that each of the figures is intended to accord with a possible embodiment thereof. Further, wherever possible, the following description refers to the reference numerals included in the following figures, in which features depicted in multiple figures are designated with consistent reference numerals. FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary wireless communication system environment (100), in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 illustrates a scenario (200) depicting the absence of uplink (UL) resource muting indication from a base station (gNB) to its serving user equipment (UE), in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 illustrates a scenario (300) showing the determination of PUSCH muting symbols at both the gNB and UE for cross-link interference (CLI) measurement, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 illustrates example symbol-level muting patterns (400) for PUSCH mapping type A, showing muted symbols for two different resource allocations with specific start symbol (S) and length (L) values, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 illustrates example symbol-level muting patterns (500) for PUSCH mapping type B, showing muted symbols for two different resource allocations based on varied start symbol and duration values, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart (600) describing the method of determining PUSCH symbol muting for CLI measurement using dynamic indication of a muting flag from the gNB, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart (700) describing the method of determining PUSCH symbol muting for CLI measurement using semi-static indication of a muting flag via RRC signaling, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 illustrates a scenario (800) in which muting symbol configuration and indication are conveyed from the gNB to the UE using control channel signaling, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 illustrates a flowchart (900) detailing the overall method for uplink interference mitigation in a sub-band full duplex (SBFD) wireless communication system, including muting symbol selection, signaling, CLI measurement, and equalizer computation, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and may have not been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figure may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures. List of Definitions The following definitions and technical terms are employed throughout the present specification and the accompanying drawings. These definitions are provided to ensure clarity and consistency in the interpretation of the disclosed invention and its associated components and operations. · SBFD – Sub-Band Full Duplex: A wireless communication mode wherein uplink and downlink transmissions occur simultaneously within adjacent frequency bands, potentially causing cross-link interference. · CLI – Cross-Link Interference: Interference experienced at a base station’s uplink reception due to simultaneous downlink transmissions from neighboring cells or base stations in an SBFD configuration. · UE – User Equipment: A device, such as a mobile phone or terminal, configured to communicate with a base station in a wireless communication system, capable of receiving control signaling and transmitting uplink signals. · gNB – Next Generation Node B: A base station in 5G New Radio (5G- NR) systems responsible for managing radio resources, transmitting control signaling, and receiving uplink transmissions from user equipment. · PUSCH – Physical Uplink Shared Channel: A physical channel in 5G- NR used by user equipment to transmit uplink data and control information to a base station. · OFDM – Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing: A modulation technique that divides a wideband signal into multiple orthogonal subcarriers, each carrying a portion of the transmitted data, used in PUSCH transmissions. · DCI – Downlink Control Information: A control message transmitted by a base station to a user equipment, containing scheduling and configuration information, including muting indications for uplink resources. · RRC – Radio Resource Control: A protocol layer in 5G-NR responsible for configuring and managing radio resources, used for semi-static signaling of muting indications. · TDRA – Time Domain Resource Allocation: A configuration specifying the time-domain resources (e.g., slots, symbols) allocated for uplink or downlink transmissions, often associated with muting symbol tables.·Muting Indication: A control signal, such as a one-bit flag, index, or table reference, transmitted from a base station to a user equipment to indicate specific OFDM symbols to be muted during PUSCH transmission. · Muting Symbol Table: A predefined table synchronized with a TDRA table, mapping row indices to specific OFDM symbol positions designated for muting to facilitate CLI measurement. · DMRS – Demodulation Reference Signal: Pilot signals transmitted within a PUSCH to assist the base station in channel estimation and coherent demodulation, preserved during symbol muting. · DFT-S-OFDM – Discrete Fourier Transform-Spread Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing: A waveform used in 5G-NR uplink transmissions, characterized by low peak-to-average power ratio, compatible with the invention’s muting method. · CP-OFDM – Cyclic Prefix Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing: A waveform used in 5G-NR uplink and downlink transmissions, employing a cyclic prefix to mitigate inter-symbol interference, supported by the invention. · Equalizer Weights: Coefficients computed by a base station using CLI measurements on muted symbols, applied to a receiver’s equalizer to mitigate interference and decode PUSCH data.·Lookup Table: A memory structure in the user equipment containing mappings from received muting indices to specific OFDM symbol positions, used for efficient muting implementation.·Configurable Parameters: Variables, such as symbol position candidates, used to calculate muting indices, enabling flexible selection of muted OFDM symbols in an SBFD system. Detailed Description of the Invention The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplary embodiments of the invention as defined by the claims and their equivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness. The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings but are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention are provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a component surface” includes reference to one or more of such surfaces. By the term “substantially” it is meant that the recited characteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations or variations, including for example, tolerances, measurement error, measurement accuracy limitations and other factors known to those of skill in the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effect the characteristic is intended to provide. Figures discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present disclosure in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way that would limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented in any suitably arranged system. The terms used to describe various embodiments are exemplary. It should be understood that these are provided to merely aid the understanding of the description, and that their use and definitions, in no way limit the scope of the invention. Terms first, second, and the like are used to differentiate between objects having the same terminology and are in no way intended to represent a chronological order, unless where explicitly stated otherwise. A set is defined as a non-empty set including at least one element. Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary wireless communication environment (100) configured to support uplink interference mitigation in a sub-band full duplex (SBFD) wireless communication system. The system includes a core network (102), a base station (104), a central unit (CU) (106), a distributed unit (DU) (108), a cellular coverage area (cell) (110), and a user equipment (UE) (112). In one embodiment, the core network (102) is responsible for functions such as mobility management, session control, and overall orchestration of user-plane and control-plane signaling. The base station (104), also referred to as a gNB in 5G terminology, manages both uplink and downlink transmissions within the cell (110) and may comprise functionally split components such as the central unit (CU) (106), which handles higher-layer operations including radio resource control (RRC) messaging, and the distributed unit (DU) (108), which performs real-time processing such as scheduling, hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ), and physical layer functions. In an SBFD scenario where uplink and downlink transmissions may occupy adjacent or partially overlapping frequency resources, cross-link interference (CLI) can arise due to downlink transmissions from neighboring cells affecting uplink reception. To address this, the base station (104) includes functionality to determine whether uplink muting is required for a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmission. A muting decision unit evaluates interference conditions or uplink signal quality to decide whether muting should be applied. A symbol selector within the base station is configured to choose one or more orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols within a PUSCH-allocated slot for muting, using either an index-based selection from a configured set of candidate symbol positions or a muting symbol table aligned with a time domain resource allocation (TDRA) table. A signaling module in the base station generates a muting indication comprising at least one of: a one-bit muting flag indicating whether muting is enabled or disabled for the slot, and a UL resource muting symbol index identifying the OFDM symbols selected for muting. This indication is transmitted to the UE (112) either dynamically using downlink control information (DCI) or via semi-static configuration using an RRC message. The signaling may reuse existing or reserved fields in DCI formats, such as padding bits or reserved indicator bits, to minimize control overhead. The UE (112) is a mobile terminal configured for uplink transmission with capabilities to support muting control. It comprises a receiver configured to receive muting information from the base station via DCI or RRC, and a decoder that extracts the one-bit muting flag and / or the UL resource muting symbol index. A muting logic unit determines the OFDM symbols to be muted based on the received index and a preconfigured set of candidate symbol positions or a lookup table delivered via RRC configuration. The UE's transmitter suppresses data transmission on the designated muted OFDM symbols during generation of the PUSCH signal while continuing to transmit on unmuted symbols in the slot and maintaining any configured demodulation reference signal (DMRS) symbols for accurate channel estimation. In certain configurations, the transmitter is further configured to control transmission on every alternate subcarrier of the muted symbols based on a configured comb offset received via RRC messaging, where the comb offset determines whether transmission is permitted on even or odd subcarriers within the muted symbols. The UE can receive muting information dynamically on a slot-by-slot basis via DCI or semi-statically via RRC messages defining muting symbol configurations. The UL resource muting symbol index is used by the UE to select muted symbols through a predefined mapping or lookup table. The transmitter is also configured to preserve DMRS transmission even when data muting is applied to selected symbols. After muting decisions are applied, the UE transmits the PUSCH signal incorporating the muted symbols. The base station (104) receives the PUSCH transmission and includes a measurement unit that measures CLI using the muted symbols. An equalizer processor at the base station computes equalizer weights based on these CLI measurements to enhance decoding of the remaining PUSCH data. This coordinated mechanism between base station and UE enables adaptive, interference-aware uplink muting, supporting robust decoding and improved spectral efficiency in SBFD deployments across various waveform types such as discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (DFT-S- OFDM) and cyclic prefix orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (CP- OFDM), including both normal and extended cyclic prefix configurations. FIG. 2 illustrates a scenario (200) representing a conventional or fallback approach in a wireless communication system, where no uplink (UL) muting indication is provided by the base station (gNB) to the user equipment (UE). This scenario highlights the limitations of the system in performing reliable cross-link interference (CLI) measurement when muting is not configured or is improperly signaled. In one embodiment, on the gNB side, a control channel is configured and downlink control information (DCI) is generated and transmitted (202) without including any muting-related information. At the UE side, the corresponding DCI is received by the downlink control channel receiver (204). The PUSCH configuration is read (206), and PUSCH parameters are generated (208) without any instruction regarding muting. Consequently, the UE generates and transmits the UL PUSCH signal (210) either with no muting or, in some cases, with internally muted symbols yet the gNB lacks awareness of these muted symbol positions. The gNB receives the uplink signal and performs front-end processing and OFDM demodulation (212), followed by estimation of the channel using the demodulation reference signals (DMRS), as well as estimation of noise variance and potential inter-cell UE-to-gNB interference (214). However, in the absence of explicitly designated muted symbols, CLI interference measurement cannot be accurately performed (216), since the gNB either did not instruct the UE to mute any symbol or lacks knowledge of which symbols were muted by the UE. As a result of the absence of known muted symbols, the gNB is unable to perform effective interference nulling. The equalizer weight computation module (218) is deprived of CLI statistics, leading to less optimal equalization (220) and degradation in uplink reception performance. Two cases are depicted for one slot duration of PUSCH transmission. In the first case, the UE transmits a fully populated slot where all data- bearing OFDM symbols are active, leaving no opportunity for CLI estimation. In the second case, the UE applies muting on certain OFDM symbols based on its internal logic or configuration, but the gNB has no corresponding information about which symbols have been muted. In both cases, the absence of synchronized muting indication between the UE and gNB makes CLI estimation unreliable. The figure thus underscores the technical problem addressed by the present invention: without coordinated signaling of muting information— such as via a one-bit muting flag and / or an uplink resource muting index— the base station cannot exploit CLI measurement opportunities, even if the UE performs muting autonomously. This leads to degraded performance in SBFD systems, particularly under inter-cell interference conditions. The present invention resolves this issue by enabling explicit and synchronized muting configuration and indication, as further described in the subsequent figures. Figure 3 illustrates a signaling and processing scenario (300) wherein a base station (gNB) and user equipment (UE) collaboratively determine and apply PUSCH muting symbols for the purpose of cross-link interference (CLI) measurement in a sub-band full duplex (SBFD) wireless communication system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. At the gNB side, a time domain resource allocation (TDRA) table or a PUSCH time domain resource muting table is configured (302). These tables define uplink symbol allocation parameters and symbol positions selected for muting, respectively. The information is conveyed to the UE via a radio resource control (RRC) message (304), transmitted within a PDSCH (Physical Downlink Shared Channel) signal (306). The UE receives the message (308) and extracts either the updated TDRA configuration or the muting symbol table (310). The gNB determines whether to apply muting for CLI measurement by evaluating uplink interference conditions. This decision is encoded in a one-bit muting flag (314). The muting flag can be signaled to the UE in one of two ways, based on indication type (316): · Semi-static indication: The muting flag is transmitted using RRC signaling (318), embedded in a PDSCH message (320, 322). · Dynamic indication: The muting flag is embedded within DCI formats (0_1 or 0_2), reusing fields such as the UL / SUL (uplink / supplementary uplink) indicator or a newly introduced dedicated field (326), transmitted via the PDCCH (328). The UE receives the muting flag and TDRA index (330) and processes them (324, 332). If the flag is set to ‘1’, indicating that muting is required, the UE identifies specific OFDM symbols within the slot to mute (334). The muting symbol positions are determined as follow: · Example 1 – Table lookup via TDRA: The gNB can configure either of the following: i. A PUSCH time domain resource muting table, or ii. An extended TDRA table with two new columns added for muting symbol numbers. In accordance with 3GPP TS 38.214, uplink time domain resource allocation is configured at the user equipment (UE) using a table transmitted via radio resource control (RRC) signaling. Each row of the table defines the parameters for a PUSCH transmission, including row index, PUSCH mapping type, parameter K2, start symbol S, and number of symbols L. The selected row for a given PUSCH transmission opportunity is identified by a TDRA indicator field in the downlink control information (DCI), where the actual row index is computed as TDRA indicator + 1 The TDRA indicator (signaled via DCI) determines the selected row using the formula: Row Index = TDRA Indicator + 1. From the selected row, the UE reads: · li,1 and li,2 – Muting symbol numbers for normal cyclic prefix (CP) · l′i,1 and l′i,2 – Muting symbol numbers for extended CP These values are taken from Tables 1 and 2 (below given), which define muting positions: In one embodiment, for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) enabled UEs, the base station (gNB) configures a separate PUSCH time domain resource muting table, which defines muting symbol positions per slot. Each row in this muting table is mapped directly to a corresponding row of the TDRA table using the same TDRA indicator + 1 index resolution. Up to two muting symbols may be configured per row: PUSCH muting symbol number-1 (li,1) and PUSCH muting symbol number-2 (li,2). The muting symbol positions can be selected from: · {0, 1, ..., 13} for normal cyclic prefix (CP) configurations, and · {0, 1, ..., 11} for extended CP configurations. These values are determined by the gNB based on interference coordination needs. The muting table is configured to the UE via a new RRC information element. The UE retrieves the relevant muting symbol indices from the table using the TDRA indicator in the DCI, without requiring additional signaling fields.

[0002] Row index PUSCH muting symbol number-1 PUSCH muting symbol number-2 1 l1,1 l1,2 2 l2,1 l2,2 3 l3,1 l3,2 4 l4,1 l4,2 5 l5,1 l5,2 6 l6,1 l6,2 7 l7,1 l7,2 8 l8,1 l8,2 9 l9,1 l9,2 10 l10,1 l10,2 11 l11,1 l11,2 12 l12,1 l12,2 13 l13,1 l13,2 14 l14,1 l14,2 15 l15,1 l15,2 16 l16,1 l16,2 Table 1 PUSCH time domain resource muting for normal CP

[0003] Row index PUSCH muting symbol number-1 PUSCH muting symbol number-2 1 l!,l!,"2 l!",l!","3 l!#,l!#,"4 l!$,l!$,"5 l!%,l!%,"6 l!&,l!&,"7l!', l!',"8 l!(,l!(,"9 l!),l!),"10 l!*,l!*,"11 l!,l!,"12 l!",l!","13 l!#,l!#,"14 l!$,l!$,"15 l!%,l!%,"16 l!&,l!&,"Table 2 PUSCH time domain resource muting for extended CP Tables 1 and 2 define uplink muting symbol positions for SBFD systems. Table 1 applies to normal CP, and Table 2 applies to extended CP configurations. Each row maps to a TDRA index and specifies up to two OFDM symbols to be muted. Table 3 and Table 4 present the existing default configurations for PUSCH time domain resource allocation as specified in 3GPP TS 38.213. These tables define the uplink slot structure used by user equipment (UE) during PUSCH transmission. Table 3 corresponds to normal cyclic prefix (CP) operation, while Table 4 is applicable to extended CP scenarios. Each row in these tables includes parameters such as the PUSCH mapping type (Type A or Type B), the K2 parameter (scheduling offset), the start symbol index (S), and the number of contiguous OFDM symbols allocated for transmission (L). These configurations are referenced by a TDRA indicator field transmitted via the downlink control information (DCI), where the selected row is determined using the formula: TDRA index = TDRA indicator + 1. The information in these tables serves as the baseline for defining both the time domain allocation of uplink resources and for extending muting symbol control,

[0004] Row index PUSCH mapping type K2 S L 1 Type A j 0 14 2 Type A j 0 12 3 Type A j 0 10 4 Type B j 2 10 5 Type B j 4 10 6 Type B j 4 8 7 Type B j 4 6 8 Type A j+1 0 14 9 Type A j+1 0 12 10 Type A j+1 0 10 11 Type A j+2 0 14 12 Type A j+2 0 12 13 Type A j+2 0 10 14 Type B j 8 6 15 Type A j+3 0 14 16 Type A j+3 0 10 Table 3 Existing Default table in 38.213 for PUSCH time domain resource allocation A for normal

[0005] Row index PUSCH mapping type K2 S L 1 Type A j 0 8 2 Type A j 0 12 3 Type A j 0 10 4 Type B j 2 10 5 Type B j 4 4 6 Type B j 4 8 7 Type B j 4 6 8 Type A j+1 0 8 9 Type A j+1 0 12 10 Type A j+1 0 10 11 Type A j+2 0 6 12 Type A j+2 0 12 13 Type A j+2 0 10 14 Type B j 8 4 15 Type A j+3 0 8 16 Type A j+3 0 10 Table 4 Existing Default table in 38.213 for PUSCH time domain resource allocation A for extended In another embodiment, the muting symbol positions are embedded directly into an extended TDRA table by adding two new columns. This approach minimizes separate table management and simplifies UE-side lookup logic. The muting positions (li,1, li,2) or (l′i,1, l′i,2) are configured in the same row as the corresponding TDRA parameters. The table is provisioned to UEs via RRC signaling, and the muting symbols are applied when the one-bit muting flag is set to ‘1’ for the slot. Row PUSCH K2 S L PUSCH muting PUSCH muting index mapping type symbol number-1 symbol number-2 1 Type A j 0 14 l1,1 l1,2 2 Type A j 0 12 l2,1 l2,2 3 Type A j 0 10 l3,1 l3,2 4 Type B j 2 10 l4,1 l4,2 5 Type B j 4 10 l5,1 l5,2 6 Type B j 4 8 l6,1 l6,2 7 Type B j 4 6 l7,1 l7,2 8 Type A j+1 0 14 l8,1 l8,2 9 Type A j+1 0 12 l9,1 l9,2 10 Type A j+1 0 10 l10,1 l10,2 11 Type A j+2 0 14 l11,1l11,212 Type A j+2 0 12 l12,1 l12,2 13 Type A j+2 0 10 l13,1 l13,2 14 Type B j 8 6 l14,1 l14,2 15 Type A j+3 0 14 l15,1 l15,2 16 Type A j+3 0 10 l16,1 l16,2 Table 5 Proposed table with two additional columns to indicate PUSCH resource muting symbols along with PUSCH time domain resource allocation A for normal CP

[0006] Row PUSCH K2 S L PUSCH muting PUSCH muting index mapping type symbol number-1 symbol number-2 1 Type A j 0 8 l!,l!,"2 Type A j 0 12 l!",l!","3 Type A j 0 10 l!#,l!#,"4 Type B j 2 10l!$, l!$,"5 Type B j 4 4 l!%,l!%,"6 Type B j 4 8 l!&,l!&,"7 Type B j 4 6 l!',l!',"8 Type A j+1 0 8 l!(,l!(,"9 Type A j+1 0 12 l!),l!),"10 Type A j+1 0 10 l!*,l!*,"11 Type A j+2 0 6l!, l!,"12 Type A j+2 0 12 l!",l!","13 Type A j+2 0 10 l!#,l!#,"14 Type B j 8 4 l!$,l!$,"15 Type A j+3 0 8 l!%,l!%,"16 Type A j+3 0 10 l!&,l!&,"Table 6 Proposed table with two additional columns to indicate PUSCH resource muting symbols along with PUSCH time domain resource allocation A for extended CP Table 5 and Table 6 illustrate proposed enhancements to the standard PUSCH time domain resource allocation tables by incorporating additional columns for muting symbol configuration. These extended tables are applicable to sub-band full duplex (SBFD) enabled user equipment (UE) and provide a unified structure where both uplink scheduling and muting information are conveyed together. Table 5 corresponds to normal cyclic prefix (CP) configurations, and Table 6 applies to extended CP. In each table, the first set of columns retain the standard parameters—PUSCH mapping type, scheduling offset (K2), start symbol (S), and transmission duration (L) as defined in 3GPP TS 38.213. The two added columns specify PUSCH muting symbol number-1 and PUSCH muting symbol number-2, indicating the OFDM symbol positions within the slot to be muted. This integration allows the user equipment to determine both the resource allocation and the muting configuration using a single TDRA index, thereby reducing signaling complexity and ensuring synchronized CLI measurement between the gNB and UE. The UE generates its PUSCH signal (336), excluding data on even or odd subcarriers based on the comb offset configured for muted symbols while preserving DMRS symbols. The gNB receives the uplink signal and performs OFDM demodulation and channel estimation using DMRS, noise variance, and inter-cell interference analysis (338, 340). Crucially, CLI is measured on the muted symbols (342), as they contain only interference. The gNB computes covariance matrices of the interference: · R₁,i: Covariance of CLI on first muted symbol for i-th PRB · R₂,i: Covariance of CLI on second muted symbol for i-th PRB These matrices are used to calculate equalizer weights, which help mitigate interference. The equalizer weights incorporate: · H(i,n): Channel estimated from DMRS on i-th PRB and n-th UE · R(Intercell,UE): Inter-cell UE to gNB interference · σ²(i,n): Noise variance for subcarrier i and UE n · CLI covariance: R₁,i and R₂,i The equalizer weight equations are: i. For R₁, i: F .= 2 0 02 / ,1 + 2 " / ,1 5 0 / ,60 / ,6 + 7819:;<:>>,?@ 81B + 7 , / + D / ,1 / 0 / ,13 1C6 EF to suppress CLI and enhance receiver performance (348). Figure 4 illustrates a symbol-level muting scenario (400) for physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmissions utilizing PUSCH mapping type A. The figure includes two subfigures, (a) and (b), each depicting a slot represented as a sequence of orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols. The shaded blocks (PUSCH DMRS symbol) correspond to demodulation reference signals required for coherent demodulation, unshaded blocks (PUSCH Data symbol without muting) indicate active data symbols transmitted normally, and striped blocks (PUSCH Data symbol with muting) denote symbols intentionally muted to enable cross-link interference (CLI) measurement. Additionally, cross-hatched blocks labeled as No Data in subfigure (b) represent portions of the slot where no uplink transmission is scheduled, reflecting a deferred or unallocated interval before the start of the PUSCH allocation. Mapping type A supports contiguous scheduling within the slot while allowing flexible choices for start position and transmission duration to meet diverse latency and coverage requirements. In subfigure (a), the PUSCH allocation begins early within the slot, with DMRS symbols positioned near the start of the allocation and muted symbols placed immediately following the DMRS. This arrangement supports early CLI measurement while maintaining low latency transmission. In subfigure (b), the PUSCH allocation is shifted later in the slot, with an initial cross-hatched (No Data) region indicating deferred transmission prior to the scheduled data symbols. Here, the DMRS symbols appear more centrally within the allocation, with muting applied to data symbols before or after the DMRS to facilitate CLI measurements aligned with the transmission window. These examples illustrate how mapping type A can dynamically adjust the placement of muted symbols based on configurable time-domain resource allocation (TDRA) parameters such as start offset and duration, as well as preconfigured muting table indices. This flexibility enables targeted CLI measurement while preserving DMRS integrity and supporting reliable decoding and equalization at the receiver. Figure 5 illustrates a symbol-level muting scenario (500) for physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmissions utilizing PUSCH mapping type B. The figure includes two subfigures, (a) and (b), each representing a slot composed of a sequence of orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols. The shaded blocks (PUSCH DMRS symbol) indicate demodulation reference signals necessary for coherent demodulation, unshaded blocks (PUSCH Data symbol without muting) represent active data symbols transmitted normally, and striped blocks (PUSCH Data symbol with muting) denote symbols where muting is intentionally applied to facilitate cross-link interference (CLI) measurement. Additionally, cross- hatched blocks labeled as No Data in subfigure (b) indicate deferred or unallocated intervals before the PUSCH allocation begins, corresponding to configurable time-domain scheduling offsets. Mapping type B supports flexible, non-contiguous scheduling, allowing different start positions and durations as well as varying placements of DMRS and data symbols within the slot. Subfigure (a) illustrates an example where the PUSCH allocation begins earlier in the slot with minimal scheduling offset, placing the DMRS and muted data symbol relatively close to the start of the allocation. Such a configuration may reflect cases with a longer contiguous transmission window, supporting low-latency needs and early CLI measurements. Subfigure (b) depicts a scenario where the PUSCH allocation is shifted later within the slot, with an initial cross-hatched (No Data) region representing a deferred start. The DMRS symbols appear more centrally in the allocation, with muting applied to a data symbol positioned accordingly to capture CLI during the scheduled transmission window. These examples align with different start offsets and transmission durations that can be configured using time-domain resource allocation (TDRA) parameters and muting tables, enabling dynamic adaptation to varying interference environments while maintaining decoding reliability and waveform integrity. Figure 6 illustrates a detailed flowchart (600) representing the coordinated method of determining and applying physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) symbol muting for cross-link interference (CLI) measurement, based on dynamic indication of a muting flag from the base station (gNB), in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The method enables selective uplink muting at the user equipment (UE) to facilitate accurate CLI measurement at the gNB while minimizing uplink performance degradation. The process begins with the gNB configuring a new time domain resource allocation (TDRA) table or a PUSCH time domain resource muting table that includes muting symbol information (602). This muting configuration is conveyed to the UE via a radio resource control (RRC) message (604), which is transmitted in the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) (606). The UE receives the PDSCH data (608) and extracts the relevant TDRA or PUSCH muting table entry (610), followed by identifying the muting resource mapping associated with the received TDRA index (612). The gNB sets a binary muting flag (614) based on real-time or semi-static conditions. This one-bit flag is embedded in the control channel configuration and carried via the DCI (616), which is then transmitted to the UE through the control channel (618). At the UE side, the DCI is received (620), and the PUSCH configuration along with the muting flag is extracted (622). The UE checks the state of the muting flag (624). If the flag is not set (i.e., muting flag = 0), PUSCH transmission proceeds without symbol-level muting (628). If the flag is set to 1, indicating muting is required, the UE determines the PUSCH muting symbol number using the TDRA index (626). The selected OFDM symbols are excluded from data transmission, and the UE generates the PUSCH signal with muted symbols appropriately positioned (630). Upon uplink reception (632), the gNB checks if the muting flag was enabled. If not (634: No), the gNB does not conduct CLI measurement due to the absence of muted symbols (636). If the flag was set (634: Yes), the gNB retrieves the muting symbol number using the same TDRA index (642) and uses the received muted symbols to perform CLI interference measurement (640). The gNB estimates the channel conditions based on demodulation reference signals (DMRS), noise variance, and inter-cell UE interference (644). It then calculates equalizer weights (646) incorporating the measured CLI covariance and proceeds to apply equalization and further receiver-side processing for decoding the remaining unmuted symbols (648). This method ensures synchronization between the gNB and UE for symbol-level muting using a minimal one-bit control indicator and leverages preconfigured or semi statically updated muting tables. The design accommodates both real-time (dynamic) and stable (semi-static) muting operations and supports uplink interference mitigation while preserving DMRS integrity and waveform compatibility. Figure 7 illustrates a flowchart (700) describing a method of determining PUSCH (Physical Uplink Shared Channel) symbol muting for cross-link interference (CLI) measurement using a semi-static indication of a muting flag via RRC (Radio Resource Control) signaling, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The process initiates at the gNB (next-generation Node B), where a new TDRA (Time Domain Resource Allocation) table or a PUSCH time domain resource muting table including PUSCH muting symbol information is prepared (702). This configuration data is encapsulated in an RRC message (704) and then delivered to the UE (User Equipment) via PDSCH data transmission (706). Upon reception at the UE side, the PDSCH data is decoded (708), and the updated TDRA or PUSCH muting table is extracted (710). The UE identifies the applicable muting symbol numbers by referencing the TDRA index, as indicated in step (712). The muting flag is received in the RRC message carried on the PDSCH channel (718), and the flag value is extracted accordingly (720). On the gNB side, a muting flag configuration is performed based on a network-wide CLI environment evaluation (714). This semi-static muting flag is transmitted using an RRC message on the PDSCH channel (716). Unlike dynamic signaling, the flag remains unchanged over a longer period, offering a consistent CLI coordination mechanism when real-time adjustments are unnecessary. If the muting flag extracted by the UE is determined to be set (i.e., equal to 1) at decision block (722), then the UE proceeds to determine the specific PUSCH muting symbol numbers (724). Otherwise, if the flag is 0, the UE skips muting (726) and proceeds to transmit uplink data normally (728). The gNB also transmits control channel configuration information for PUSCH scheduling via DCI (Downlink Control Information) (732), which is then transmitted over the control channel (734). The UE receives this control channel signal (736), and extracts PUSCH configuration details including TDRA index (738), which supports muting symbol resolution. If the muting flag at the gNB is set to 1 (740), then the gNB determines the muting symbol numbers (742) by referencing the configured TDRA index and muting table. If not set, no PUSCH symbols are muted and CLI measurement is skipped (744). When muting is configured, the gNB extracts the applicable muting symbol numbers using the TDRA index (746) and performs CLI interference measurement on the muted symbols for equalizer optimization (748). The gNB estimates the channel on the PUSCH DMRS (Demodulation Reference Signal), noise variance, and inter-cell UE-to-gNB interference (750). Using these parameters, the gNB calculates equalizer weights (752), which are then applied in the equalization process to suppress interference and improve decoding reliability (754). This semi-static muting method characterized by RRC-based flag signaling and symbol-level muting enables stable and efficient CLI measurement without the frequent signaling overhead required in dynamic systems. It provides a balance between measurement accuracy and signaling efficiency, making it suitable for interference-dense SBFD (Sub- Band Full Duplex) deployments. Figure 8 illustrates a signaling and processing scenario (800) for configuring, signaling, and applying PUSCH (Physical Uplink Shared Channel) muting symbols (no data transmitted on even or odd subcarriers based on the comb offset configured for muted symbols) for cross-link interference (CLI) measurement in a Sub-Band Full Duplex (SBFD) system. This embodiment uses muting index signaling via the control channel based on configurable muting parameters and symbol sets, minimizing signaling overhead while supporting symbol-level granularity in muting indication. At the gNB side, muting resource parameters K₁₁, K₂₁, and K₂₂ are initially configured for each UE (802). These parameters define the number of candidate symbol positions in a slot for: · K₁₁: One-symbol muting scenarios. · K₂₁: First-symbol in two-symbol muting. · K₂₂: Second-symbol in two-symbol muting. A set of possible muting symbol positions is computed within the uplink slot based on the configured K values (804). These sets may be explicitly provided to the UE via RRC signaling or implied using indexed positioning. RRC message generation with the muting configuration (including the parameters or sets) is performed at block (806). This message is transmitted using a downlink PDSCH signal (808) and received by the UE at (810). Separately, the gNB configures the actual muting symbol and determines the muting index i based on current slot resources, selected muting symbol(s), and the K parameters (814). This index i uniquely identifies a specific muting symbol position or pair. Control channel configuration is generated to transmit this muting index in a DCI format (816), which can use one of the following options: · Padding bits in DCI format 0_0. · Additional field in formats 0_1 or 0_2. · Reuse of an existing field in DCI formats 0_0, 0_1 or 0_2 (e.g., UL / SUL flag, TDRA field in DCI). · A new DCI format. This control signal is then transmitted (818). The UE receives the PDSCH signal (810) and extracts the configured sets of muting symbol positions (812). In parallel, the DCI message carrying muting index i is received via the control channel (820). The muting configuration and index are extracted (822), and the UE uses this information to map i to the actual muting symbol(s) using a pre-constructed lookup table based on configured K values (824). If only one symbol is muted, i corresponds to index lmute,1. If two symbols are muted, it corresponds to a unique pair (lmute,1, lmute,2). These indices are then mapped back to specific OFDM slot, via: · Position index sets configured via RRC (explicit), or The UE then generates the PUSCH signal, leaving the muted symbols partially unused (826). The result is an uplink transmission that contains DMRS symbols, data symbols, and muted symbols, as illustrated in the slot diagram. The gNB receives the uplink signal at block (828) and performs RF and OFDM demodulation. Channel estimation is performed using DMRS (830), and CLI interference is measured on the muted symbols for the i-th PRB (832). The resulting CLI covariance matrix: · R₁, i for one muted symbol. · R₁, i and R₂,i for two muted symbols. These are used in equalizer weight calculation (834) using the formulae: Case 1: One symbol muted F 2+ 5 2 + + 7 + " F . / = 02 / ,130 02 / ,1 + 5 0 02 / ,6 + 7 <:>>,?@ 81B + 7 " / ,1 / ,6 819:; , / + D / ,1 G1C6 EF · H₍^,^₎: Channel estimate on the DMRS symbol. · R(Intercell,UE): Interference from other cells' UEs. · σ²₍^,^₎: Noise variance. · R₁, i / R₂,i: CLI covariance matrices from muted symbols. · W^ / W^¹ / W^²: Equalizer weights. These weights are used in equalization (836) and downstream decoding modules. FIG. 9 illustrates a flowchart (900) depicting a method for uplink interference mitigation in a sub-band full duplex (SBFD) wireless communication system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The procedure enables adaptive, slot-level control of muting on selected uplink OFDM symbols to facilitate cross-link interference (CLI) measurement and suppression at the base station. In step 902, the uplink interference mitigation procedure is initiated for SBFD operation. This scenario addresses the challenge of simultaneous downlink and uplink transmissions on overlapping frequency resources, which can lead to cross-link interference between cells. In step 904, the base station configures, via a radio resource control (RRC) message, muting information including either a set of possible OFDM symbol positions for muting at the UE or muting positions or trigger indications mapped to rows of a time domain resource allocation (TDRA) table. This configuration step allows the UE to understand which symbols may be muted under different allocation scenarios. In step 906, the base station evaluates whether uplink muting is required for a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmission. This decision is based on interference conditions, inter-cell cross-link leakage, or uplink signal quality measurements that indicate potential performance degradation. A decision is made in step 908 regarding the necessity of muting. If the evaluation concludes that muting is not required, the process proceeds without applying muting, as shown in step 910, allowing normal PUSCH transmission without added signaling or restrictions. If muting is determined to be necessary, the process advances to step 912, where the base station selects one or more OFDM symbols within the allocated PUSCH slot for muting. This selection can be based on the preconfigured symbol positions or determined dynamically using a muting symbol table aligned with the TDRA table. In step 914, the base station generates a muting indication. This indication comprises either a one-bit muting flag to enable or disable muting for the given slot, or an uplink (UL) resource muting symbol index that identifies the specific OFDM symbols to be muted. Step 916 involves transmitting the muting indication to the UE. This can be achieved using downlink control information (DCI) signaling— potentially reusing reserved or existing fields such as UL / SUL bits or TDRA index fields or via semi-static radio resource control (RRC) messages for longer-term configuration. At step 918, the UE receives the muting indication. In step 920, the UE determines the designated OFDM symbols to mute based on the received UL resource muting index and a preconfigured set of candidate symbol positions or a predefined lookup table provisioned to the UE via RRC signaling. In step 922, the UE suppresses data transmission on the indicated OFDM symbols during generation of the PUSCH signal. This ensures the muted symbols carry no user data while preserving waveform integrity, including cyclic prefix timing and any required demodulation reference signal (DMRS) symbols. The approach supports both DFT-S-OFDM and CP-OFDM waveforms and is compatible with normal or extended cyclic prefix configurations. In step 924, the UE transmits the PUSCH signal containing the muted symbols to the base station. At step 926, the base station receives the PUSCH signal with the muted symbols, which serve as reference positions for interference measurement. In step 928, the base station measures cross-link interference (CLI) at the locations of the muted OFDM symbols in the received PUSCH transmission. These muted symbols, containing no uplink user data, provide a clean observation point for downlink leakage from neighboring cells, such as PDCCH or PDSCH components. Finally, in step 930, the base station computes equalizer weights using the CLI measurements. These equalizer weights are used to enhance interference suppression and improve decoding accuracy for subsequent PUSCH transmissions, thereby achieving effective uplink interference mitigation in the SBFD system. A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims

Claims

We Claim: method for uplink interference mitigation in a wireless communication system supporting sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation, between a base station (gNB) and a user equipment (UE), the method comprising: configuring, via a radio resource control (RRC) message, one or more of: a set of possible orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol positions for muting to the UE; or muting symbol positions or muting trigger indications corresponding to each row of a time domain resource allocation (TDRA) table to the UE; determining whether uplink muting is required for a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmission based on uplink signal quality or interference conditions; selecting one or more OFDM symbols within a PUSCH-allocated slot for muting; generating a muting indication comprising either: a one-bit muting flag indicating whether muting is enabled or disabled for the slot; or an uplink (UL) resource muting symbol index indicating the selected OFDM symbol(s) to be muted; andtransmitting the muting indication to the UE using downlink control information (DCI) or an RRC message.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining the muted OFDM symbols at the UE based on the received muting index and preconfigured symbol position sets or lookup tables; suppressing data transmission at the UE on the indicated OFDM symbols during generation of the PUSCH signal; receiving the PUSCH transmission at the gNB with the muted symbols; measuring cross-link interference (CLI) at the gNB using the muted symbols; and computing equalizer weights at the gNB using the CLI measurements for decoding the received PUSCH data.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein: a time domain resource allocation (TDRA) table is used for triggering and / or indicating the uplink resource muting; the one-bit muting flag enables or disables application of symbol muting for the given slot; and the uplink (UL) resource muting index specifies the location of up to two muted OFDM symbols within the slot for interference measurement.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the muting indication is transmitted via: reuse of an existing or reserved field in a DCI format 0_0, 0_1, or 0_2; or a semi-static radio resource control (RRC) message configured during UE setup or reconfiguration.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user equipment (UE) determines the muted OFDM symbols using a predefined lookup table that maps the received UL resource muting index to actual symbol positions based on the configured muting candidate sets.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method is applicable to both discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (DFT-S-OFDM) and cyclic prefix orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (CP-OFDM) waveforms.

7. A user equipment (UE) configured for uplink transmission in a sub- band full duplex (SBFD) wireless communication system, the UE comprising: a receiver configured to receive muting information from a base station via at least one of downlink control information (DCI) or a radio resource control (RRC) message, the muting information comprising one or more of:a set of possible orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol positions for muting; or muting symbol positions or muting trigger indications corresponding to each row of a time domain resource allocation (TDRA) table; a decoder configured to extract at least one of: a one-bit muting flag indicating whether muting is enabled or disabled for a slot; and an uplink (UL) resource muting symbol index indicating one or more OFDM symbols to be muted within the slot; muting logic configured to determine one or more OFDM symbols to be muted based on the UL resource muting symbol index and a preconfigured set of candidate symbol positions or a lookup table received via the RRC message; and a transmitter configured to suppress data transmission on the determined muted OFDM symbols during generation of a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) signal, while transmitting on remaining unmuted OFDM symbols in the slot including any configured demodulation reference signal (DMRS) symbols, the transmitter further configured to control transmission on every alternate subcarrier of the muted symbols based on a configured comb offset received via the RRC message, wherein the comb offset indicates whether to transmit on even or odd subcarriers of the muted symbols.

8. The UE as claimed in claim 7, wherein the muting information is received: dynamically using a DCI message on a slot-by-slot basis; or semi-statically using an RRC message defining the muting symbol configuration.

9. The UE as claimed in claim 7, wherein the UL resource muting symbol index is used to select the muted OFDM symbols based on a predefined lookup table that maps each index to corresponding symbol positions within the slot.

10. The UE as claimed in claim 7, wherein the transmitter is further configured to preserve transmission of demodulation reference signals (DMRS) in the PUSCH signal while applying data muting only to the selected OFDM symbols.

11. A base station (gNB) configured to manage uplink interference in a sub-band full duplex (SBFD) wireless communication system, the base station comprising: a configuration unit configured to configure, via a radio resource control (RRC) message, one or more of: a set of possible orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol positions for muting at a user equipment (UE); ormuting symbol positions or muting trigger indications corresponding to each row of a time domain resource allocation (TDRA) table at the UE; a muting decision unit configured to determine whether uplink muting is required for a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmission from the UE based on uplink signal quality or interference conditions; a symbol selector configured to select one or more OFDM symbols within a PUSCH-allocated slot for muting; a signaling module configured to generate a muting indication comprising at least one of: a one-bit muting flag indicating whether muting is enabled or disabled for the slot; and an uplink (UL) resource muting symbol index indicating the selected OFDM symbols to be muted, the signaling module further configured to transmit the muting indication to the UE using at least one of downlink control information (DCI) or the RRC message; a measurement unit configured to receive a PUSCH transmission comprising the muted symbols and to measure cross-link interference (CLI) using the muted symbols; and an equalizer processor configured to compute equalizer weights using the CLI measurements for decoding the received PUSCH data.

12. The base station as claimed in claim 11, wherein the symbol selector is configured to select the OFDM symbols for muting based on: an index-based selection from a configured set of candidate symbol positions within the slot; or a muting symbol table aligned with a time domain resource allocation (TDRA) table, wherein the UL resource muting index references a row of the muting symbol table.

13. The base station as claimed in claim 11, wherein the muting indication is transmitted using: reuse of an existing or reserved field in a DCI format; or a semi-static RRC message configured during UE setup or reconfiguration.

14. The base station as claimed in claim 11, wherein the muting behavior is adapted based on the waveform type used for the PUSCH transmission, including discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (DFT-S-OFDM) and cyclic prefix orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (CP-OFDM), and the selected cyclic prefix configuration.

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