Methods, communications devices and infrastructure equipment

Abstract

A method of operating an infrastructure equipment is provided, the infrastructure equipment forming part of a wireless communications network and configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals from a communications device via a radio interface between the communications device and the infrastructure equipment, the radio access interface comprising a plurality of resource elements arranged in time and frequency and each configured either for uplink transmission or downlink transmission, the method comprising: transmitting, to the communications device, configuration information of a set of uplink muting patterns, the configuration information indicating an association between a downlink reference signal (DL RS) and one or more uplink muting pattern of the set of uplink muting patterns, wherein each uplink muting pattern requires that one or more of allocated resource elements are to be muted and not used for transmitting the uplink transmission; receiving, from the communications device, an uplink transmission, to which an uplink muting pattern has been applied based on the configuration information. Methods, communications devices and infrastructure equipment are also provided.

Description

[0001] Spec

[0002] METHODS, COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE EQUIPMENT

[0003] BACKGROUND

[0004] Field of the Disclosure

[0005] The present invention relates to methods, communications devices and infrastructure equipment.

[0006] Description of Related Art

[0007] The "background" description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in the background section, as well as aspects of the description which may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly or impliedly admitted as prior art against the present invention.

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

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

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

[0011] It is an aim of the present disclosure to address at least some these issues.

[0012] SUMMARY

[0013] Embodiments of the present disclosure are defined by the appended claims. In addition, further aspects of the present disclosure are defined by the dependent claims.

[0014] In accordance with the embodiments of the present disclosure, improved selection of an uplink muting pattern to be used can be performed. Improved selection of the uplink muting pattern reduces interference and ensures the quality of the expected measurement results. This facilitates efficient communication within a wireless communications network.

[0015] It will be appreciated that the present disclosure is not particularly limited to these advantageous technical effects. Further technical effects achieved by the present disclosure will become apparent to the skilled person when reading the disclosure.

[0016] Furthermore, it is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, but are not restrictive, of the present technology. The described embodiments, together with further advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0017] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] A more complete appreciation of the disclosure and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein: Spec

[0019] Figure 1 schematically represents some aspects of an LTE-type wireless telecommunication system which may be configured to operate in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0020] Figure 2 schematically represents some aspects of a new radio access technology (RAT) wireless telecommunications system which may be configured to operate in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0021] Figure 3 is a schematic block diagram of an example infrastructure equipment and communications device which may be configured to operate in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0022] Figure 4 schematically represents a first example of non-overlapping subbands for uplink and downlink transmissions for subband full duplex (SBFD);

[0023] Figure 5 schematically represents second and third examples of non-overlapping subbands for uplink and downlink transmissions for SBFD;

[0024] Figure 6 illustrates an example of inter sub-band interference;

[0025] Figure 7 schematically illustrates an example of intra-cell cross link interference;

[0026] Figure 8 illustrates an example of intra sub-band interference;

[0027] Figure 9 illustrates an example of uplink resource muting for gNB reference signal (RS) measurements;

[0028] Figure 10 illustrates CSI-RS transmissions from two neighbour cells with different pattern;

[0029] Figure 11 illustrates an example configuration of an infrastructure equipment in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure;

[0030] Figure 12 illustrates an example configuration of a communications device in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure;

[0031] Figure 13 illustrates an example method of operating infrastructure equipment in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure;

[0032] Figure 14 illustrates an example method of operating a communications device in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure;

[0033] Figure 15 illustrates an example of quasi-co-located uplink muting patterns in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure; Spec

[0034] Figure 16 illustrates an example message flow diagram of an example wireless communications system in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.

[0035] DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0036] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views.

[0037] Long Term Evolution Advanced Radio Access Technology (4G)

[0038] Figure 1 provides a schematic diagram illustrating some basic functionality of a mobile telecommunications network / system 6 operating generally in accordance with LTE principles, but which may also support other radio access technologies, and which may be adapted to implement embodiments of the disclosure as described herein. Various elements of Figure 1 and certain aspects of their respective modes of operation are well-known and defined in the relevant standards administered by the 3GPP (RTM) body, and also described in many books on the subject, for example, Holma H. and Toskala A [1], It will be appreciated that operational aspects of the telecommunications networks discussed herein which are not specifically described (for example in relation to specific communication protocols and physical channels for communicating between different elements) may be implemented in accordance with any known techniques, for example according to the relevant standards and known proposed modifications and additions to the relevant standards.

[0039] The network 6 includes a plurality of base stations 1 connected to a core network 2. Each base station provides a coverage area 3 (i.e. a cell) within which data can be communicated to and from communications devices 4. Although each base station 1 is shown in Figure 1 as a single entity, the skilled person will appreciate that some of the functions of the base station may be carried out by disparate, inter-connected elements, such as antennas (or antennae), remote radio heads, amplifiers, etc. Collectively, one or more base stations may form a radio access network.

[0040] Data is transmitted from base stations 1 to communications devices 4 within their respective coverage areas 3 via a radio downlink (DL). Data is transmitted from communications devices 4 to the base stations 1 via a radio uplink (UL). The core network 2 routes data to and from the communications devices 4 via the respective base stations 1 and provides functions such as authentication, mobility management, charging and so on. Communications devices may also be referred to as mobile stations, user equipment (UEs), user terminals, mobile radios, mobile terminals, terminal devices, wireless transmit and receive units (WTRUs), and so forth. Services provided by the core network 2 may include connectivity to the internet or to external telephony services. The core network 2 may further track the location of the communications devices 4 so that it can efficiently contact (i.e. page) the communications devices 4 for transmitting downlink data towards the communications devices 4. Spec

[0041] Base stations, which are an example of network infrastructure equipment, may also be referred to as transceiver stations, nodeBs, e-nodeBs, eNB, g-nodeBs, gNB and so forth. In this regard different terminology is often associated with different generations of wireless telecommunications systems for elements providing broadly comparable functionality. However, certain embodiments of the disclosure may be equally implemented in different generations of wireless telecommunications systems, and for simplicity certain terminology may be used regardless of the underlying network architecture. That is to say, the use of a specific term in relation to certain example implementations is not intended to indicate these implementations are limited to a certain generation of network that may be most associated with that particular terminology.

[0042] New Radio Access Technology (5G)

[0043] Systems incorporating NR technology are expected to support different services (or types of services), which may be characterised by different requirements for latency, data rate and / or reliability. For example, Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) services are characterised by high capacity with a requirement to support up to 20 Gb / s. The requirements for Ultra Reliable and Low Latency Communications (URLLC) services are for one transmission of a 32 byte packet to be transmitted from the radio protocol layer 2 / 3 SDU ingress point to the radio protocol layer 2 / 3 SDU egress point of the radio interface within 1 ms with a reliability of 1 - 10-5 (99.999 %) or higher (99.9999%) [2],

[0044] Massive Machine Type Communications (mMTC) is another example of a service which may be supported by NR-based communications networks. In addition, systems may be expected to support further enhancements related to Industrial Internet of Things ( I loT) in order to support services with new requirements of high availability, high reliability, low latency, and in some cases, high-accuracy positioning.

[0045] An example configuration of a wireless communications network which uses some of the terminology proposed for and used in NR and 5G is shown in Figure 2. In Figure 2 a plurality of transmission and reception points (TRPs) 10 are connected to distributed control units (DUs) 41, 42 by a connection interface represented as a line 16. Each of the TRPs 10 is arranged to transmit and receive signals via a wireless access interface within a radio frequency bandwidth available to the wireless communications network. Thus, within a range for performing radio communications via the wireless access interface, each of the TRPs 10, forms a cell of the wireless communications network as represented by a circle 12. As such, wireless communications devices 14 which are within a radio communications range provided by the cells 12 can transmit and receive signals to and from the TRPs 10 via the wireless access interface. Each of the distributed units 41, 42 are connected to a central unit (CU) 40 (which may be referred to as a controlling node) via an interface 46. The central unit 40 is then connected to the core network 20 which may contain all other functions required to transmit data for Spec communicating to and from the wireless communications devices and the core network 20 may be connected to other networks 25.

[0046] The elements of the wireless access network shown in Figure 2 may operate in a similar way to corresponding elements of an LTE network as described with regard to the example of Figure 1. It will be appreciated that operational aspects of the telecommunications network represented in Figure 1, and of other networks discussed herein in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure, which are not specifically described (for example in relation to specific communication protocols and physical channels for communicating between different elements) may be implemented in accordance with any known techniques, for example according to currently used approaches for implementing such operational aspects of wireless telecommunications systems, e.g. in accordance with the relevant standards.

[0047] The TRPs 10 of Figure 2 may in part have a corresponding functionality to a base station or eNodeB of an LTE network. Similarly, the communications devices 14 may have a functionality corresponding to the UE devices 4 known for operation with an LTE network. It will be appreciated therefore that operational aspects of a new RAT network (for example in relation to specific communication protocols and physical channels for communicating between different elements) may be different to those known from LTE or other known mobile telecommunications standards. However, it will also be appreciated that each of the core network component, base stations and communications devices of a new RAT network will be functionally similar to, respectively, the core network component, base stations and communications devices of an LTE wireless communications network.

[0048] In terms of broad top-level functionality, the core network 20 connected to the new RAT telecommunications system represented in Figure 2 may be broadly considered to correspond with the core network 2 represented in Figure 1, and the respective central units 40 and their associated distributed units / TRPs 10 may be broadly considered to provide functionality corresponding to the base stations 1 of Figure 1. The term network infrastructure equipment / access node may be used to encompass these elements and more conventional base station type elements of wireless telecommunications systems. Depending on the application at hand the responsibility for scheduling transmissions which are scheduled on the radio interface between the respective distributed units and the communications devices may lie with the controlling node / central unit and / or the distributed units / TRPs. A communications device 14 is represented in Figure 2 within the coverage area of the first communication cell 12. This communications device 14 may thus exchange signalling with the first central unit 40 in the first communication cell 12 via one of the distributed units / TRPs 10 associated with the first communication cell 12. Spec

[0049] It will further be appreciated that Figure 2 represents merely one example of a proposed architecture for a new RAT based telecommunications system in which approaches in accordance with the principles described herein may be adopted, and the functionality disclosed herein may also be applied in respect of wireless telecommunications systems having different architectures.

[0050] Thus, certain embodiments of the disclosure as discussed herein may be implemented in wireless telecommunication systems / networks according to various different architectures, such as the example architectures shown in Figures 1 and 2. It will thus be appreciated the specific wireless telecommunications architecture in any given implementation is not of primary significance to the principles described herein. In this regard, certain embodiments of the disclosure may be described generally in the context of communications between network infrastructure equipment / access nodes and a communications device, wherein the specific nature of the network infrastructure equipment / access node and the communications device will depend on the network infrastructure for the implementation at hand. For example, in some scenarios the network infrastructure equipment / access node may comprise a base station, such as an LTE-type base station 1 as shown in Figure 1 which is adapted to provide functionality in accordance with the principles described herein, and in other examples the network infrastructure equipment may comprise a control unit / controlling node 40 and / or a TRP 10 of the kind shown in Figure 2 which is adapted to provide functionality in accordance with the principles described herein.

[0051] A more detailed diagram of some of the components of the network shown in Figure 2 is provided by Figure 3. In Figure 3, a TRP 10 as shown in Figure 2 comprises, as a simplified representation, a wireless transmitter 30, a wireless receiver 32 and a controller or controlling processor 34 which may operate to control the transmitter 30 and the wireless receiver 32 to transmit and receive radio signals to one or more UEs 14 within a cell 12 formed by the TRP 10. As shown in Figure 3, an example UE 14 is shown to include a corresponding transmitter 49, a receiver 48 and a controller 44 which is configured to control the transmitter 49 and the receiver 48 to transmit signals representing uplink data to the wireless communications network via the wireless access interface formed by the TRP 10 and to receive downlink data as signals transmitted by the transmitter 30 and received by the receiver 48 in accordance with the conventional operation.

[0052] The transmitters 30, 49 and the receivers 32, 48 (as well as other transmitters, receivers and transceivers described in relation to examples and embodiments of the present disclosure) may include radio frequency filters and amplifiers as well as signal processing components and devices in order to transmit and receive radio signals in accordance for example with the 5G / NR standard. The controllers 34, 44 (as well as other controllers described in relation to examples and embodiments of the present disclosure) may be, for example, a microprocessor, a CPU, or a dedicated chipset, etc., Spec configured to carry out instructions which are stored on a computer readable medium, such as a nonvolatile memory. The processing steps described herein may be carried out by, for example, a microprocessor in conjunction with a random access memory, operating according to instructions stored on a computer readable medium. The transmitters, the receivers and the controllers are schematically shown in Figure 3 as separate elements for ease of representation. However, it will be appreciated that the functionality of these elements can be provided in various different ways, for example using one or more suitably programmed programmable computer(s), or one or more suitably configured application-specific integrated circuit(s) / circuitry / chip(s) / chipset(s). As will be appreciated the infrastructure equipment / TRP / base station as well as the UE / communications device will in general comprise various other elements associated with its operating functionality.

[0053] As shown in Figure 3, the TRP 10 also includes a network interface 50 which connects to the DU 42 via a physical interface 16. The network interface 50 therefore provides a communication link for data and signalling traffic from the TRP 10 via the DU 42 and the CU 40 to the core network 20.

[0054] The interface 46 between the DU 42 and the CU 40 is known as the Fl interface which can be a physical or a logical interface. The Fl interface 46 between CU and DU may operate in accordance with specifications 3GPP TS 38.470 and 3GPP TS 38.473, and may be formed from a fibre optic or other wired or wireless high bandwidth connection. In one example the connection 16 from the TRP 10 to the DU 42 is via fibre optic. The connection between a TRP 10 and the core network 20 can be generally referred to as a backhaul, which comprises the interface 16 from the network interface 50 of the TRP 10 to the DU 42 and the Fl interface 46 from the DU 42 to the CU 40.

[0055] In order for a UE such as UE 4 or 14 to transmit uplink data to the network (e.g. on a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) or a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH)) to, for example, base station 1 or TRP 10, the UE must first ensure it is synchronised with the network on the uplink. Since a particular eNB or gNB expects to be receiving communications from many UEs, it needs to ensure that it shares a common timing understanding with each of these UEs (i.e. they are synchronised in terms of the starting times of frames and Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols). This is so that the eNB is able to schedule communication with each of them in a manner that avoids collisions and to ensure orthogonality of the uplink signals, such that inter-subcarrier interference is avoided or mitigated.

[0056] Although reference is made to 5G networks, the discussions in this specification apply equally to 6G networks (and beyond) where there is expected to be significantly higher throughput, lower latency and higher reliability utilising sub-THz frequencies.

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

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

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

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

[0061] A Rel-19 Work Item (Wl) [5] on Duplex Evolution is therefore agreed to specify the requirements for FD-TDD, which is revised in [6], In Rel-19 Duplex Evolution, FD-TDD is performed at the gNB, where the gNB can transmit and receive data / signals to / from the UEs at the same time on the same frequency band, whilst the UE is maintained as HD-TDD. That is, full duplex TDD is achieved at the gNB by scheduling a UE in the DL and scheduling another UE in the UL within the same OFDM symbol. One of the objectives of the Rel-19 Duplex Evolution Wl [5], [6] is to support RACH operation in Subband Full Duplex (SBFD) OFDM symbols.

[0062] Subband Full Duplex (SBFD)

[0063] In SBFD, the frequency resource of a TDD system bandwidth or Bandwidth Part (BWP) (i.e. at the UE / gNB) is divided into two or more non-overlapping subbands, where each subband can be DL or UL [7], Guard subbands may be used between DL and UL subbands to reduce inter subband interference. In the current 5G system, only one UL subband can be configured in an OFDM symbol.

[0064] An example is shown in Figure 4, where simultaneous DL and UL transmissions occur in three different non-overlapping subbands 61 to 63, i.e. in different sets of frequency Resource Blocks (RB): Subband#l 61, Subband#2 62, Subband#363. The example of Figure 4 is referred to as {DUD}, because two subbands, Subband#l 61 and Subband#3 63, are used for DL transmissions whilst one subband, Subband#2 62, is used for UL transmissions. To reduce leakage from one subband 61 to 63 to another, a guard subband 64 may be configured between UL and DL subbands 61 to 63. Guard subbands 64 are configured between DL Subband#3 63 and UL Subband#2 62 and between UL Subband#2 62 and DL Subband#l 61.

[0065] Figure 5 shows two further examples with a DL and UL subband separated by a guard subband, where here, the UL subband can be configured to occupy the lower frequency portion of the BWP whilst the DL subband occupies higher frequency portion of the BWP {UDj or the UL subband occupies the higher frequency portion of the BWP whilst the DL subband occupies lower frequency portion of the BWP {DU}. Here, on the left-side of Figure 5, an UL subband#l 71 is separated from a DL subband#2 73 by a guard subband 72 - this subband arrangement is referred to as {UD}. In this case, the DL subband#2 73 occupies a higher frequency portion of the system bandwidth than the UL subband#l 71. On the right-side of Figure 5, a DL subband#l 81 is separated from an UL subband#2 83 by a guard subband 82 - this subband arrangement is referred to as {DU}. In this case, the UL subband#2 83 occupies a higher frequency portion of the system bandwidth than the DL subband#l 81.

[0066] While Figures 4 and 5 show the system bandwidth as being divided into either two or three subbands, those skilled in the art would appreciate that the concept of SBFD may (in further releases of the 3GPP specifications, for example) be extended such that any number of subbands could be used, if deemed beneficial. For example, the system bandwidth may be divided into four subbands, which may, using Spec the example of Figure 4, include the two downlink subbands 61, 63, the uplink subband 62 and another uplink subband, though other subband arrangements are envisioned. Guard subbands may be used in substantially any subband arrangement.

[0067] Intra-Cell Cross Link Interference (CLI)

[0068] The use of SBFD is considered as a way of reducing self-interference at the gNB. However, SBFD may suffer from inter (and indeed intra) sub-band interferences, which are caused by transmission leakage and receiver's selectivity. Although a transmission is typically scheduled within a specific frequency channel (or sub-band), i.e. a specific set of RBs, transmission power can leak out to other channels. This occurs because channel filters are not perfect, and as such the roll-off of the filter will cause power to leak into channels adjacent to the intended specific frequency channel. While the following discussion uses the term channel, the discussion equally applies to sub-bands, such as the sub-bands shown in Figures 4 and 5.

[0069] FD-TDD employing SBFD suffers from intra-cell cross link interference (CLI) at the gNB and at the UE.

[0070] An example is shown in Figure 6, where an aggressor transmits a signal 910 in an adjacent channel at a lower frequency than the victim's receiving 920 channel. The interference 950 caused by the aggressor's transmission includes Adjacent Channel Leakage (ACL) 951 of the aggressor's transmitting filter and the Adjacent Channel Selectivity (ACS) 952 of the victim's receiving filter. In other words, the receiver will experience interference 950 in the frequency range shown in Figure 6.

[0071] As such, due to adjacent channel interference (ACI), cross link interference (CLI) will still occur despite the use of different sub-bands 401 to 403 for DL and UL transmissions in a FD-TDD cell as shown in the example of Figure 4, or sub bands 501 and 503, and 504 and 506 in the examples of Figure 5.

[0072] Inter subband interference causes intra-cell Cross Link Interference (CLI) at the gNB and at the UE.

[0073] An example is shown in Figure 7, where a gNB 610 is capable of FD-TDD and is simultaneously receiving ULtransmission 631 from UE1621 and transmitting a DLtransmission 642 to UE2 622. At the gNB 610, intra-cell CLI is caused by the DL transmission 642 at the gNB's transmitter self-interfering 641 with its own receiver that is trying to decode UL signals 631. At UE2 622, intra-cell CLI 632 is caused by an aggressor UE, e.g. UE1 621, transmitting in the UL 631, whilst a victim UE, e.g. UE2 622, is receiving a DL signal 642.

[0074] The intra-cell CLI at the gNB due to self-interference can be significant, as the DL transmission can in some cases be over 100 dB more powerful than the UL reception. Accordingly, complex RF hardware and interference cancellation are required to isolate this self-interference. As noted above, guard bands may be inserted between two sub-bands of different link directions as shown in Figures 4 and 5 and described above. Furthermore, separate antenna panels may be used for transmissions and Spec receptions at the gNB to provide spatial isolation between the DL and UL thereby reducing gNB selfinterference.

[0075] Intra Sub-Band Interference

[0076] Intra subband interference can occur if the subband configurations among gNBs in the frequency domain are not aligned. Here, CLI as described above may occur in the overlapping frequencies of inter-cell subbands.

[0077] An example is shown in Figure 8, which comprises two gNBs (gNBl and gNB2) with overlapping coverage areas. Here, gNBl's system bandwidth is divided into an UL subband UL-SB#1 occupying the frequency range fO to f2 and a DL subband DL-SB#1 occupying the frequency range f2 to f3, while gNB2's system bandwidth is divided into an UL subband UL-SB#2 occupying the frequency range fO to fl and a DL subband DL-SB#2 occupying the frequency range fl to f3. The non-aligned subband configurations cause UL-SB#1 to overlap with DL-SB#2 in a region 1000 in the frequency range fl to f2, thereby causing intra subband CLI within these overlapping frequencies fl to f2. In this example intra subband CLI will be experienced in two respects; firstly, DL transmission by gNB2 within the frequency range fl to f2 in DL-SB#2 will interfere with UL reception at gNBl within the frequency range fl to f2 in UL-SB#1, and secondly, UL transmission by UE1 within the frequency range fl to f2 will interfere with DL reception at UE2 within the frequency range fl to f2 in DL-SB#2.

[0078] UL Resource Muting

[0079] One method introduced to handle CLI among gNBs is to introduce gNB reference signal (RS) measurements. That is, a gNB transmits RSs whilst another gNB measures these transmitted RSs to determine the level of CLI experienced from the transmitting gNB. The RS may be synchronisation signal blocks (SSB) or channel state information RS (CSI-RS), where the configurations of the SSB or CSI-RS are signalled from the transmitting gNB to the receiving gNB.

[0080] An example is shown in Figure 9. Here, gNB2 transmits gNB RSs in Slot n, which is a DL slot, whilst gNBl, which is aware of the locations of these RSs, measures the RSs in Slot n. In addition to CLI estimation, gNB RS measurement may also be used for beam nulling, where the victim gNB will form its Rx beam such that it nulls out the CLI from DL transmissions from an aggressor gNB.

[0081] The gNB that measures another gNB's RSs may also be receiving in the UL; for example, if the gNB RSs fall onto UL OFDM symbols or onto the UL subband of SBFD OFDM symbols. This UL signal may interfere with the measurement of gNB RSs, thereby causing inaccurate estimation of the CLI (or of covariance matrix estimation of the aggressor gNB for beam nulling purposes). Recognising this, UL resource muting is introduced, where some of the resource elements (REs) in an UL transmission are muted; notably the REs that coincide with the gNB RSs. In the example shown in Figure 9, UE1 is allocated a PUSCH in Slot n, and here UL muting is applied to the PUSCH, where the muted REs coincide Spec with the gNB RSs that gNBl is measuring. This thereby reduces the interference from UEl's uplink transmissions to enable accurate measurement of the gNB RSs. It should be noted that although ideally the muted REs perfectly coincide, in practise this may not always be the case, for example, there may be difference in timing since the propagation delay from gNB2 to gNBl may not lead to the RS arriving within the start of the OFDM symbol boundary. The gNB may also use a more generalised UL muting pattern, e.g. a comb-2 muting pattern, where a subset of the muted REs coincides with the gNB (e.g. gNB2's) RS.

[0082] In order to apply muting to a UE's PUSCH, the gNB semi-statically configures the UE with a UL muting pattern and the UE can then apply the configured muting pattern on its UL transmissions. In [8], it is noted that RE muting may increase the code rate of an UL transmission, thereby reducing its reliability, and so not every UL transmission should be muted.

[0083] In co-pending international patent application [9], it is proposed that the UE can determine whether or not to apply the configured UL muting pattern on a dynamic basis, either dependent on certain conditions being met, or upon being implicitly indicated by the gNB.

[0084] When the victim gNB performs CLI measurements based on the received reference signal (e.g. CSI-RS) from the aggressor gNB, ideally, there should not be any other signal / channel colliding with that reference signal. This is because such a collision with the reference signal would interfere with the CLI measurement based on the received reference signal. An example of a signal / channel colliding with the reference signal would be if a UE performs uplink transmission in the allocated uplink sub-band.

[0085] As noted above, a UL resource muting operation may be applied to address this issue. The uplink muting is applied to the resources where the neighbour / target gNB transmit CSI-RS (or other reference signal). The gNB may measure different RS. For example, the gNB may measure different RS from different neighbour / target gNB. Accordingly, a UE muting pattern used when the gNB measures a first RS may not necessarily be appropriate when the gNB measures a second RS. Alternatively or in addition, a UE may move around within a cell, where a different muting pattern may be beneficial. This is illustrated within Figure 10 of the present disclosure. Hence, a technical problem addressed by arrangements of embodiments of the present technique is how a UE can efficiently and effectively determine an appropriate UL muting pattern to use. Indeed, one of the objectives of the Rel-19 Duplex Evolution Wl is to support Cross Link Interference (CLI) handling by performing UE uplink muting operation.

[0086] Accordingly, methods communications devices and infrastructure equipment are provided in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.

[0087] Infrastructure Equipment Spec

[0088] In embodiments of the disclosure, infrastructure equipment forming part of a wireless communications network and configured to transmit signals to and / or receive signals from a communications device via a radio interface between the communications device and the infrastructure equipment is provided. The radio access interface comprises a plurality of resource elements arranged in time and frequency and each configured either for uplink transmission or downlink transmission.

[0089] Consider, now, Figure 11 of the present disclosure. Figure 11 of the present disclosure illustrates an example configuration of an infrastructure equipment in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. The example infrastructure equipment 1100 of Figure 11 comprises transceiver circuitry 1102.

[0090] The transceiver circuitry 1102 is configured to transmit, to the communications device, configuration information of a set of uplink muting patterns, the configuration information indicating an association between a downlink reference signal (DL RS) and one or more uplink muting pattern of the set of uplink muting patterns, wherein each uplink muting pattern requires that one or more of allocated resource elements are to be muted and not used for transmitting the uplink transmission; and receive, from the communications device, an uplink transmission, to which an uplink muting pattern has been applied based on the configuration information.

[0091] As illustrated in Figure 11 of the present disclosure, the infrastructure equipment 1100 may further, optionally, comprise a controller circuitry 1104. In examples, the controller circuitry 1104 may perform control of one or more functions of the infrastructure equipment 1100. In examples, the controller circuitry 1104 may assist in control of the transceiver circuitry 1102. A number of additional functions performed by the infrastructure equipment 1100, which may be controlled, at least in part, by the controller circuitry 1104, are described in more detail later.

[0092] Furthermore, in some examples, the infrastructure equipment may be part of a wireless communications network such as that described with reference to Figure 1 of the present disclosure (e.g. a telecommunications network operating generally in accordance with LTE principles). In some examples, the infrastructure equipment may be part of a wireless communications network such as that described with reference to Figure 2 of the present disclosure (e.g. a new RAT wireless telecommunications network). In some examples, the infrastructure equipment may therefore be connected to a core network. In addition, the infrastructure equipment may be connected (e.g. through the core network) to one or more other infrastructure equipment.

[0093] Communications Device Spec

[0094] In embodiments of the disclosure, a communications device configured to transmit signals to and / or receive signals from an infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network via a radio access interface between the communications device and the infrastructure equipment. The radio access interface comprises a plurality of resource elements arranged in time and frequency and each configured either for uplink transmission or downlink transmission.

[0095] Consider, now, Figure 12 of the present disclosure. Figure 12 of the present disclosure illustrates an example configuration of a communications device in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. The example communications device 1200 of Figure 12 comprises transceiver circuitry 1202.

[0096] The transceiver circuitry 1202 is configured to transceiver circuitry configured to: receive, from the infrastructure equipment, configuration information of a set of uplink muting patterns, the configuration information indicating an association between a downlink reference signal and one or more uplink muting pattern of the set of uplink muting patterns, wherein each uplink muting pattern indicates that one or more of allocated resource elements are to be muted and not used for transmitting the uplink transmission; and transmit, to the infrastructure equipment, an uplink transmission to which an uplink muting pattern has been applied based on the configuration information.

[0097] As illustrated in Figure 12 of the present disclosure, the communications device 1200 may further, optionally, comprise a controller circuitry 1204. In examples, the controller circuitry 1204 may perform control of one or more functions of the communications device 1200. In examples, the controller circuitry 1104 may assist in control of the transceiver circuitry 1102. A number of additional functions performed by the communications device 1200, which may be controlled, at least in part, by the controller circuitry 1204, are described in more detail later.

[0098] Methods

[0099] In addition, methods of operating the infrastructure equipment 1100 and the communications device 1200 are also provided in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.

[0100] Consider, now, Figure 13 of the present disclosure. Figure 13 illustrates an example method of operating infrastructure equipment in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. In examples, the method of Figure 13 of the present disclosure may be performed, or use to control, an infrastructure equipment as described with reference to Figure 11 of the present disclosure.

[0101] The example method of Figure 13 starts at step S1300 and proceeds to step S1302.

[0102] In step S1302, the method comprises transmitting, to the communications device, configuration information of a set of uplink muting patterns, the configuration information indicating an association Spec between a downlink reference signal (DL RS) and one or more uplink muting pattern of the set of uplink muting patterns, wherein each uplink muting pattern requires that one or more of allocated resource elements are to be muted and not used for transmitting the uplink transmission.

[0103] In step S1304, the method comprises receiving, from the communications device, an uplink transmission, to which an uplink muting pattern has been applied based on the configuration information.

[0104] The method then proceeds to and ends with step S1306.

[0105] Consider, now, Figure 14 of the present disclosure. Figure 14 illustrates an example method of operating a communications device in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. In examples, the method of Figure 13 of the present disclosure may be performed, or use to control, a communications device as described with reference to Figure 12 of the present disclosure.

[0106] The example method of Figure 14 starts at step S1400 and proceeds to step S1402.

[0107] In step S1402, the method comprises receiving, from the infrastructure equipment, configuration information of a set of uplink muting patterns, the configuration information indicating an association between a downlink reference signal and one or more uplink muting pattern of the set of uplink muting patterns, wherein each uplink muting pattern indicates that one or more of allocated resource elements are to be muted and not used for transmitting the uplink transmission.

[0108] Step S1404 comprises transmitting, to the infrastructure equipment, an uplink transmission to which an uplink muting pattern has been applied based on the configuration information.

[0109] The method then proceeds to, and end with, step S1406.

[0110] While Figures 13 and 14 of the present disclosure illustrate example methods, it will be appreciated that the present disclosure is not particularly limited in this regard. That is, the methods of embodiments of the disclosure are not particularly limited to the example methods illustrated in Figure 13 and 14 of the present disclosure. One or more additional steps may be included within the methods which are not shown in Figures 13 and 14 of the present disclosure. In addition, one or more steps of the method shown in Figures 13 and 14 of the present disclosure may be repeated as required. In addition, the steps shown in Figures 13 and 14 may, in some situations, be performed in a different order than shown in Figure 13 and 14; indeed, in some examples, at least a number of the steps of the respective methods may be performed either in sequence or in parallel.

[0111] Computer Program

[0112] Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the methods of the present disclosure may be carried out on conventional hardware (such as that described previously herein) suitably adapted as applicable by Spec software instruction or by the inclusion or substitution of dedicated hardware. Thus, the required adaptation to existing parts of a conventional equivalent device may be implemented in the form of a computer program product comprising processor implementable instructions stored on a non- transitory machine-readable medium such as a floppy disk, optical disk, hard disk, PROM, RAM, flash memory or any combination of these or other storage media, or realized in hardware as an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) or an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or other configurable circuit suitable to use in adapting the conventional equivalent device. Separately, such a computer program may be transmitted via data signals on a network such as an Ethernet, a wireless network, the Internet, or any combination of these or other networks.

[0113] With the embodiments of the disclosure, configuration information of a set of uplink muting patterns is transmitted from the infrastructure equipment to the communications device. This configuration information indicates an association between a downlink reference signal (DL RS) and one or more uplink muting pattern of the set of uplink muting patterns. Accordingly, this configuration information can be used to perform an improved selection of the uplink pattern to be used. For example, a correct uplink muting pattern for a given situation can be selected and then used for uplink transmission (e.g. through the association between the DL RS and the one or more uplink muting patterns). Improved selection of the uplink muting pattern reduces interference with the CLI measurement from the aggressor gNB.

[0114] Indeed, through this configuration information, embodiments of the disclosure provide a mechanism to support and / or facilitate a communications device to use the correct muting pattern in the presence of multiple neighbour infrastructure equipment (which may have the same or different CLI measurement configuration (e.g, resources and periodicity)).

[0115] This facilitates efficient communication within a wireless communications network.

[0116] Further details of embodiments of the disclosure will now be described with reference to a number of example situations and implementations.

[0117] Quasi-co-location

[0118] As has been described with reference to Figures 11 to 14 of the present disclosure, in embodiments, configuration information is provided to the communications device in order to support or facilitate the communications device to use the correct muting pattern even in the presence of multiple infrastructure equipment.

[0119] In examples, the configuration information indicates, as the association, that a DL RS is quasi-colocated (QCL-ed) with one or more uplink muting pattern of the set of uplink muting patterns. Spec

[0120] Consider, now, Figure 15 of the present disclosure. Figure 15 of the present disclosure illustrates an example of quasi-co-located uplink muting patterns in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.

[0121] In this example, a UE (an example of a communications device) is being served by a first infrastructure equipment (gNBl). In order to handle CLI between gNBs, gNB Reference Signal (RS) measurements are made between the base stations. For example, gNB2 transmits a RS (e.g., CSI-RS) while gNB measures this RS to determine the level of CLI from gNB2.

[0122] When the UE needs to transmit the same time-slot as when gNB2 transmits a RS, the UE should apply an uplink muting pattern to its uplink transmission to the resources where gNB2 transmits the RS. This will ensure that the CLI measurement at gNBl is not interfered by the UE uplink transmission. However, it can be difficult to determine, from a plurality of uplink muting patterns associated with one or more gNBs which are available, which is a correct uplink muting pattern to use in a particular situation.

[0123] In embodiments of the present disclosure, the correct uplink muting pattern can be selected in accordance with the association information included in the configuration information received from the gNB. As noted above, in examples, the configuration information indicates, as the association, that a DL RS is quasi-co-located (QCL-ed) with one or more uplink muting pattern of the set of uplink muting patterns.

[0124] In examples, the infrastructure equipment may be configured to transmit the configuration information via radio resource control (RRC) signalling, a MAC Control Element (CE), or downlink control information (DCI). In examples, the mechanism used to transmit the configuration information to the communications device may be selected or adapted in accordance with the frequency with which that configuration information should be provided to the communications device.

[0125] In the case where the configuration information indicates, as the association, that a DL RS is QCL-ed with one or more uplink muting pattern of the set of uplink muting patterns, the uplink muting pattern resources are using the same spatial filter (beam-forming) of the DL RS. For example, the uplink muting pattern may be associated with a Transmission Configuration Indication (TCI) state which indicates QCL-ed with DL RS. In the example of Figure 15, the uplink muting pattern 1 is using the same beam direction as DL RS from the serving gNB 1. This is the correct uplink muting pattern to use in order to mute the uplink transmissions when gNB2 is transmitting the RS.

[0126] However, if the UE moved within the cell such that it was located in the direction of DL RS#2 of gNBl, the uplink muting pattern 1 may no longer be the correct uplink muting pattern to use. Consider a situation such as that described with Figure 10 of the present disclosure. In this situation, the RS Spec transmitted from a different gNB (such as gNB3 in the example of Figure 10 of the present disclosure) may become the dominant RS (i.e. gNB3 may become the aggressor gNB in this portion of the cell). gNB3 may have another pattern for the CSI-RS transmission to be used for the CLI measurement at gNBl, which matches a different uplink muting pattern. Therefore, the configuration information may indicate the association such that when the UE is QCL-ed with DL RS#2 from gNBl, the UE uses uplink muting pattern 2 to mute its uplink transmission.

[0127] In some examples, the gNBl may communicate with neighbour gNBs through the core network in order to obtain information concerning the CSI-RS pattern which will be used by the neighbour gNBs. In other words, the core network interface between gNBs can be used in order to exchange the CSI- RS pattern. Accordingly, the gNB can be aware of the CSI-RS pattern which will be used by the neighbour gNBs (e.g. gNB2 in this example, or gNB2 and gNB3 in the example of Figure 10 of the present disclosure). gNBl can use this knowledge of the CSI-RS pattern of the neighbour gNBs to select the appropriate uplink muting pattern for the UE which will match the CSI-RS pattern of the neighbour gNB (e.g. to form the association between the DRS and the uplink muting pattern). However, the mechanism by which the gNB receives the information concerning the CSI-RS pattern of the neighbour gNB is not particularly limited in the present disclosure. Accordingly, the UE can use an uplink muting pattern, from amongst the available muting patterns, having the same spatial filter of the DL RS. In other words, if the UE receives a different DL RS, then the UE may use a muting pattern associated with that DL RS. This facilitates the selection of the correct uplink muting pattern to use from the plurality of available uplink muting patterns.

[0128] The DL RS from the gNB to the UE can include any suitable DL RS depending on the situation to which the embodiments of the disclosure are applied. For example, the DL RS can include a Channel State Information Reference Signal (CSI-RS) or a Synchronization Signal Block (SSB).

[0129] In examples, the configuration can also contain the resource information (i.e., which resource element in time / frequency grid is muted). It can be a set of resource element in frequency domain (e.g., comb- 2, comb-4, etc) and / or the resource element in time domain, such as the symbol(s) for uplink muting pattern in a slot. However, in examples, the resource information for each uplink muting pattern may be known by the UE in advance. In this situation, the uplink muting pattern configuration may indicate only the association between the DL RS and the uplink muting pattern.

[0130] In examples, the association between downlink reference signal and uplink muting pattern can be a one-to-one mapping such that one uplink muting pattern is associated with one DL RS. For example, when the association is that the DL RS is QCL-ed with an uplink muting pattern, one uplink muting Spec pattern may be associated with a TCI state which indicates QCL-ed with one DL RS. This may be required when a gNB, such as gNB2 in the example of Figure 15, uses a single pattern for its RS.

[0131] However, the present disclosure is not particularly limited in this regard. More generally, the association may indicate that one uplink muting pattern is associated with a TCI state which indicates QCL-ed with a plurality of DL RS (e.g. when a gNB, such as gNB2, uses a first pattern for a RS at a first time, and a second pattern for a RS at a second, different, time). Likewise, the association may also indicate a many-to-one mapping or a one-to-many mapping between the DL RS and the uplink muting patterns (e.g. if a same uplink muting pattern should be used with different DL RS for example).

[0132] Accordingly, while a number of examples of the present disclosure have been described with reference to an example situation of a one-to-one mapping between the DL RS and the uplink muting pattern, it will be appreciated that the present disclosure is not particularly limited in this regard.

[0133] Furthermore, while a number of examples of the present disclosure have been described with reference to an example situation where the DL RS is a DL RS from the serving gNB (i.e. gNBl in the example of Figure 15) it will be appreciated that the present disclosure is not particularly limited in this regard. For example, the DL RS may be a DL RS of one or more neighbour gNBs. Accordingly, the configuration information may further define that the uplink muting pattern is associated with a neighbour cell ID. Then, the uplink muting pattern may be selected in accordance with the DL RS having the strongest measurement (e.g. RSRP) from a neighbour cell. Taking Figure 10 as an example, a first muting pattern (uplink muting pattern 1) may be applied when gNB2 is the strongest neighbour cell, while a second uplink muting pattern (uplink muting pattern 2) may be applied when gNB3 is the strongest neighbour cell. Thus, in examples, DL RS the configuration information may include DL RS of a neighbouring infrastructure equipment and the method may comprise performing a measurement of DL RS from the neighbouring infrastructure equipment and selecting an uplink muting pattern based on the measurement of DL RS from the neighbouring infrastructure equipment and the configuration information.

[0134] Active Muting Pattern

[0135] In the example described with reference to Figure 15 of the present disclosure, the gNB transmits the configuration information to the UE and the UE can use this configuration information in order to select an uplink muting pattern to apply (e.g. based on the DL RS the UE receives from the gNB).

[0136] However, in examples, the UE may be instructed, by the gNB to use one or a subset of the uplink muting patterns. That is, the gNB may determine, for the UE, an active uplink muting pattern of the set of uplink muting patterns; and transmit, to the communications device, indication information of Spec the active uplink muting pattern, the active uplink pattern defining an uplink muting pattern of the set of uplink muting patterns to be used by the communications device.

[0137] In the example of Figure 15, the active muting pattern is the muting pattern 1 (since it is the muting pattern currently being used by the UE).

[0138] The manner by which the gNB determines the active uplink muting pattern is not particularly limited in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. For example, the gNB may determine the active uplink muting pattern based on a measurement of DL RS and the configuration information (where the measurement of the DL RS is reported by the UE, for example). That is, as an example, the gNB may receive, from the UE, a measurement of DL RS which indicates that the UE is receiving DL RS#1. Accordingly, the gNB may then use the association between the DL RS and the uplink muting pattern from the configuration information in order to determine that the UE should use uplink muting pattern 1 as the active uplink muting pattern. The gNB may then transmit indication information of the active uplink muting pattern to the UE in order that the UE uses this correct uplink muting pattern.

[0139] The way in which the gNB transmits this indication of the active uplink muting pattern to the UE is not particularly limited in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. For example, the gNB can provide indication information comprising an index corresponding to the active uplink muting pattern. The UE may then apply an uplink muting pattern to its uplink transmissions in accordance with the index received from the gNB.

[0140] In examples, the indication information may include a Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) ID (i.e. SRS resource ID or SRS resource set ID). That SRS corresponds to the SRS transmission with zero power in which it is equivalent to the muting transmission. As the UE has received the configuration information from the gNB, the UE can use the index information corresponding to the active uplink muting pattern to select and apply the correct uplink muting pattern to its uplink transmissions once this index information is received from the gNB.

[0141] Furthermore, in examples, the indication information may include a downlink beam associated with the DL RS that the UE is to be attached to and the active uplink muting pattern is an uplink muting pattern associated with the DL RS.

[0142] Additionally, in examples, the indication of the active muting pattern can also contain the uplink muting pattern periodicity. For example, different gNBs may transmit an RS for CLI measurement (such as CSI-RS) with different interval. The UE should only apply the uplink muting pattern to its uplink transmissions at a time when the gNB is transmitting the RS for CLI measurement. Therefore, the uplink muting pattern periodicity can also be provided in order to ensure that the uplink muting pattern is not unnecessarily applied by the UE (e.g. at a time when the gNB is not transmitting a RS for Spec

[0143] CLI measurement). Furthermore, the muting pattern periodicity can also be part of the configuration containing multiple configurations. For example, when all gNBs are configured with the same CSI-RS periodicity.

[0144] Furthermore, in examples, the indication information may further comprise duration information indicating a time duration for which the active uplink muting pattern should be used by the communications device. The duration information can be considered as validity duration information. For example, it may be interpreted that the UE should assume that the given muting pattern is valid for the entirety of the duration information. Once, the time duration has expired, then UE may then perform a further action to identify a new active uplink muting pattern. For example, the UE may perform evaluation to evaluate whether the active uplink muting pattern is still valid. In another example, the evaluation is performed by performing Radio Resource Management (RRM) measurement, such as whether the UE is still using the best beam or best cell associated with the uplink muting pattern operation. Alternatively, the UE should assume that the active muting pattern is still valid until it receives a new instruction from the gNB.

[0145] Therefore, the information included in the indication information of the active uplink muting pattern is not particularly limited and may vary in accordance with the situation to which the embodiments of the disclosure are applied.

[0146] In examples, the gNB may be configured to transmit the indication information via radio resource control (RRC) signalling, a MAC Control Element (CE), or a downlink control information (DCI). Therefore, the manner by which the gNB is configured to transmit the information to the UE is not particularly limited. In examples, the gNB may select a mechanism for transmitting the indication information to the UE depending on the with the frequency with which that indication information should be provided to the communications device.

[0147] In some examples, the gNB may determine the active uplink muting pattern for use for a given UE when the gNB receives an uplink transmission from the UE. In examples, the uplink transmission may include a scheduling request from the UE. This may provide that the gNB only transmits the indication of the active muting pattern to the UE when the UE is (or will) be performing uplink transmission, thus reducing unnecessary signalling between the gNB and the UE. In some examples, the gNB may determine the active uplink muting pattern for use for a given UE during the initiation of the RRC connected mode. In such occurrence, the UE is expected to receive RRC configuration, including the RRC configuration for uplink transmission. The uplink pattern information can be given as part of the RRC configuration.

[0148] Assistance Information Spec

[0149] As explained above, in some examples, the infrastructure equipment - such as the gNB - may provide the communications device - such as the UE - with an indication of an active muting pattern for use from amongst the plurality of uplink muting patterns which are available. The selection of the active muting pattern, performed by the infrastructure equipment, can be made in accordance with the configuration information indicating an association between the DL RS and uplink muting pattern.

[0150] However, in some examples, the communications device may, itself, perform a selection of the uplink muting pattern for use. Furthermore, the communications device may provide assistance information to the infrastructure equipment, which can be used, by the infrastructure equipment, in order to make a selection of the active uplink muting pattern. The infrastructure equipment can adopt that information or just for the consideration, in which the infrastructure equipment may disobey the assistance information from the UE. This is described in more detail later.

[0151] Consider, again, the example situation of Figure 15 of the present disclosure, where a UE is located within a cell of gNBl. gNB2 is an aggressor gNB, which causes CLI with gNBl. In order to mitigate this CLI, gNB2 transmits a RS to gNBl; gNBl can measure this RS. In order to avoid interfering with this RS, the UE should apply a correct uplink muting pattern to its uplink transmission.

[0152] Accordingly, gNBl transmits configuration information of a set of uplink muting patterns to the UE, the configuration information indicating an association between a DL RS and one or more uplink muting patterns of the set of uplink muting patterns.

[0153] In this example, once the UE has received the configuration information from the gNB, the UE can make a determination as a correct uplink muting pattern to apply to its uplink transmissions. For example, the UE can perform a measurement of DL RS and select an uplink muting pattern based on the measurement of the DL RS and the configuration information. In the example of Figure 15, the UE can determine that the DL RS #1 is the strongest DL RS from the gNB and can make a selection of the uplink muting pattern, using the configuration information, on the basis of this determination (e.g. the UE may select the uplink muting pattern which is QCL-ed with this DL RS).

[0154] In this way, the UE can efficiently utilize the configuration information received from the gNB in order to make an appropriate selection of the uplink muting pattern which should be used.

[0155] For example, when the DL RS is an SSB, the UE may perform a measurement (e.g. RSRP) of the SSB. As long as the SSB is still resulting as the best SSB (e.g. higher RSRP value) and / or is above a threshold, then the UE will keep the same uplink muting pattern for its uplink transmission. Otherwise, the UE will update its uplink muting pattern in accordance with the measurement result (i.e. to correspond to the new SSB). Spec

[0156] In examples, the UE may repeat the measurement (e.g. RSRP) as often as required. In examples, the UE may continually perform measurement in order that the uplink muting pattern is continually updated. In examples, the UE may perform a measurement of the DL RS when triggered by the gNB. In examples, the UE may perform the measurement at a certain time interval. In some examples, the interval or periodicity can be the same interval or more frequent than the legacy measurement. The present disclosure is not particularly limited in this regard.

[0157] In case the UE has identified a condition, such as the best downlink measurement has been changed (e.g. a best downlink beam index has been changed), the UE may provide certain assistance information to the gNB in order to assist the gNB in selecting an appropriate uplink muting pattern for the UE. In examples, the assistance information may indicate a suggested uplink muting pattern to be used as an active uplink muting pattern, for example an index associated with an uplink muting pattern, the index may be an SRS ID or other IDs.

[0158] As noted above, the condition which is used to trigger the UE to provide the assistance information to the gNB can include a condition which is identified based on a result of a DL RS measurement. For example, the condition can include a change in best DL RS measurement (with a new DL RS providing a stronger RSRP than the current best DL RS). However, it will be appreciated that the condition used to trigger the UE to provide the assistance is not particularly limited in this regard. For example, the condition may be based on a timer (e.g. a time since previous assistance information was provided to the gNB), mobility information (e.g. based on a movement of the UE from a previous location) or the like.

[0159] The form of the assistance information can vary and is not particularly limited. For example, the assistance information, indicating a suggested uplink muting pattern, may comprise the result of the DL RS measurement. Indeed, the result of the DL RS measurement can include an indication of the best DL RS and / or a measurement value of the best DL RS. The gNB can use the result of the DL RS measurement, as described above, in order to make a selection of the active uplink muting pattern in accordance with the configuration information. Alternatively, for example, the information indicating the suggested uplink muting pattern may be an index corresponding to the suggested uplink muting pattern. That is, the UE may make a selection of a suggested uplink muting pattern, using the configuration information received from the gNB, in view of the DL RS measurement and may then provide an index relating to the suggested uplink muting pattern (e.g. uplink muting pattern 1) to the gNB.

[0160] In examples, the assistance information may be transmitted to the gNB, from the UE, via a radio resource control (RRC) signalling, a MAC Control Element (CE), or uplink control information (UCI). The Spec selection of the manner by which the assistance information is transmitted to the gNB may be made in view of the frequency with which the assistance information should be used, by the gNB, in order to update the active muting pattern, for example.

[0161] Consider, now, an example, where a UE has moved to a location which changes the best DL RS. For example, consider a situation where a UE moves from a first location (where DL RS#1 is the best DL RS) to a second location (where DL RS#2 is the best DL RS). In this condition (i.e. the change of the best DL RS), the UE should change its uplink muting pattern so that it is matching to the RS from the relevant aggressor gNB (based on the configuration information received from the gNB). In this example, the UE may provide an index relating to the uplink muting pattern to the gNB (e.g. via RRC signalling). However, the UE may also provide this information via MAC CE or UCI if there is a need to provide the information more quickly than can be provided via RRC signalling.

[0162] Once the gNB receives the assistance information from the UE, the gNB may use that information (e.g. for selection of the active uplink muting pattern). In examples, the gNB can be mandated to use the information included in the assistance information from the UE. However, in practice, the gNB can consider that information (i.e., the gNB is not mandated). For example, the gNB may consider that a different uplink muting pattern than that suggested by the UE should be used and the gNB will instruct the UE to use another uplink muting pattern.

[0163] Accordingly, once the UE has transmitted the assistance information to the gNB, there are a number of options concerning which uplink muting pattern should be used by the UE until further communication is received from the gNB (such as a confirmation that the UE should use the suggested uplink muting pattern). Before such communication is received from the gNB, the UE should ensure that its uplink transmission does not interfere with the RS of another gNB.

[0164] Accordingly, in examples, once the UE has transmitted assistance information to the gNB, the UE may drop the entire uplink transmission in that slot (and any further slot until communication is received from the gNB). For example, the UE may drop the uplink transmission when the UE expects that there are CSI-RS for CLI measurement, based on the configuration information, even when further communication from the gNB (confirming which uplink muting pattern to use) has not yet been received. Hence, the UE can avoid unnecessary harm or interference to the CLI measurement.

[0165] Alternatively, the UE may continue to use the original uplink muting pattern unless a further communication is received from the gNB in response to the assistance information. In this way, the UE can avoid unnecessarily changing its uplink muting pattern (e.g. if the response from the gNB later indicates that the suggested uplink muting pattern should not be adopted by the UE). Spec

[0166] Further alternatively, the UE may transmit the assistance information to the gNB. Then, the UE may change and / or adapt the uplink resource muting pattern (used on the UE side for the uplink transmission) in accordance with the suggested uplink muting pattern which has been reported to the gNB. In this example situation, the UE assumes that the gNB will agree that the new uplink muting pattern should be adopted. In other words, the UE will assume that unless further communication is received from the gNB, the UE should use the suggested uplink resource muting pattern (implicit acknowledgment from the gNB).

[0167] Example Signalling

[0168] Consider, now, Figure 16 of the present disclosure. Figure 16 illustrates an example message flow diagram (signalling diagram) of an example wireless communications system in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.

[0169] In particular, Figure 16 illustrates an example of a signalling procedure between a UE (an example of a communications device) and a gNB (an example of infrastructure equipment) in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.

[0170] In step S1600, the gNB is configured to transmit configuration information to the UE. This configuration information may be transmitted to the UE when updated by the gNB and / or when the UE enters the cell of the gNB, for example. In the example of Figure 16, the configuration information is transmitted to the UE via an RRC transmission. However, the present disclosure is not particularly limited in this regard. The configuration information includes a set of uplink muting patterns, the configuration information indicating an association between a DL RS and one or more uplink muting patterns of the set of uplink muting patterns. Accordingly, the configuration information can be used in order to perform an appropriate selection of the uplink muting pattern for use.

[0171] In step S1602 of the example of Figure 16, the gNB receives an uplink scheduling request from the UE. Accordingly, the gNB understands that the UE has an uplink transmission to perform.

[0172] In step S1604, the gNB may therefore perform a further RRC configuration to indicate to the UE an active muting pattern (i.e. the uplink muting pattern which should be used by the UE). The uplink muting pattern may be determined, by the gNB, using the association between the DL RS and the uplink muting patterns. In examples, the gNB may determine the uplink muting pattern in accordance with a DL RS measurement which has been performed by the UE. In some examples, step S1604 can also be provided priorto step S1602 During RRC connected mode, the UE is expected to perform uplink transmission. Hence, the S1604 can be provided prior to step S1602. Hence, S1604 is decoupled from S1602. In some examples, the information in step 1604 is applicable to one or more S1602. Spec

[0173] The UE may then, in step S1606, perform its uplink transmission where the active uplink muting pattern indicated by the gNB has been adopted. In this way, the UE can use a correct uplink muting pattern from the set of uplink muting patterns, thus facilitating efficient communication within a wireless communications network (as interference with the RS of an aggressor gNB can be suppressed).

[0174] In examples, once the uplink transmission has been performed, the UE - if it has further uplink transmissions to make - may perform (or, in some examples, repeat) a downlink measurement (e.g. RSRP of the DL RS from the gNB). Dependent on the result of this measurement, the UE may identify a condition which requires a new muting pattern to be adopted. For example, the UE may identify that there has been a change in the best (strongest) DL RS.

[0175] Upon detecting this condition, the UE may transmit - in step S1608 of the example of Figure 16 - UE assistance information to the gNB, the UE assistance information indicating the need for a new muting pattern. In examples, the UE assistance information may provide a suggested uplink muting pattern.

[0176] The gNB, upon receiving this assistance information from the UE, may consider whether the suggested uplink muting pattern should be adopted. If the gNB considers that the suggested muting pattern should be adopted, then a further message should be transmitted to the UE (in step S1610) indicating that the UE should change the active muting pattern to the suggested active muting pattern. In examples, this message may be transmitted by RRC configuration. However, the present disclosure is not particularly limited in this regard, for example the message may be transmitted using MAC CE or DCL

[0177] In accordance with embodiments of the disclosure, an improved mechanism to support and / or facilitate a communications device to use the correct muting pattern. This addresses the technical problem which has been described, concerning how a UE can efficiently and effectively determine an appropriate UL muting pattern to use. Accordingly, embodiments of the disclosure facilitate efficient communication within a wireless communications network.

[0178] While embodiments of the disclosure have been described with reference to communication between infrastructure and a communications device, it will be appreciated that the present disclosure is not particularly limited in this regard. For example, the communication may likewise be performed between an infrastructure equipment and more than one communications device. Indeed, when a gNB is serving multiple UE, the gNB may provide the same configuration information to the UE (i.e. describing a same association between the uplink muting pattern and the DL RS). However, the selection of the active uplink muting pattern may nevertheless vary between the different UE (e.g. depending on which DL RS was the strongest for each individual UE). Spec

[0179] Those skilled in the art would further appreciate that such infrastructure equipment and / or communications devices as herein defined may be further defined in accordance with the various arrangements and embodiments discussed in the preceding paragraphs. It would be further appreciated by those skilled in the art that such infrastructure equipment and communications devices as herein defined and described may form part of communications systems other than those defined by the present disclosure, provided that these are within the scope of the claims.

[0180] In addition, the flowing numbered paragraphs provide further example aspects and features of the present disclosure:

[0181] 1) A method of operating an infrastructure equipment forming part of a wireless communications network and configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals from a communications device via a radio interface between the communications device and the infrastructure equipment, the radio access interface comprising a plurality of resource elements arranged in time and frequency and each configured either for uplink transmission or downlink transmission, the method comprising: transmitting, to the communications device, configuration information of a set of uplink muting patterns, the configuration information indicating an association between a downlink reference signal (DL RS) and one or more uplink muting pattern of the set of uplink muting patterns, wherein each uplink muting pattern requires that one or more of allocated resource elements are to be muted and not used for transmitting the uplink transmission; receiving, from the communications device, an uplink transmission, to which an uplink muting pattern has been applied based on the configuration information.

[0182] 2) The method according to clause 1, wherein the configuration information indicates, as the association, that a DL RS is quasi-co-located (QCL-ed) with one or more uplink muting pattern of the set of uplink muting patterns.

[0183] 3) The method according to clause 2, wherein the configuration information defines an uplink muting pattern is associated with a Transmission Configuration Indication (TCI) state which indicates QCL-ed with the DL RS.

[0184] 4) The method according to clause 3, wherein one uplink muting pattern is associated with a TCI state which indicates the one uplink muting pattern is QCL-ed with one DL RS.

[0185] 5) The method according to clause 3, wherein one uplink muting pattern is associated with TCI states which indicates the one uplink muting pattern is QCL-ed with a plurality of DL RSs. Spec

[0186] 6) The method according to clause 3, wherein a plurality of uplink muting patterns are associated with a TCI state which indicates the plurality of uplink muting patterns are QCL-ed with one DL RS.

[0187] 7) The method according to clause 3, wherein a plurality of uplink muting patterns are associated with TCI states which indicate the plurality of uplink muting patterns are QCL-ed with a plurality of DL RSs.

[0188] 8) The method according to any preceding clause, wherein the configuration information further contains resource information, for each uplink muting pattern, indicating the one or more of allocated resource elements to be muted and not used for transmitting the uplink transmission.

[0189] 9) The method according to any preceding clause, comprising transmitting the configuration information via radio resource control (RRC) signalling, a MAC Control Element (CE), or downlink control information (DCI).

[0190] 10) The method according to any preceding clause, wherein the DL RS includes a Channel State Information Reference Signal (CSI-RS) or a Synchronization Signal Block (SSB).

[0191] 11) The method according to any preceding clause, comprising determining, for the communications device, an active uplink muting pattern of the set of uplink muting patterns; and transmitting, to the communications device, indication information of the active uplink muting pattern, the active uplink pattern defining an uplink muting pattern of the set of uplink muting patterns to be used by the communications device.

[0192] 12) The method according to clause 11, wherein the infrastructure equipment determines the active uplink muting pattern in response to receiving an uplink transmission from the communications device.

[0193] 13) The method according to clause 12, wherein the uplink transmission includes an uplink scheduling request from the communications device.

[0194] 14) The method according to any of clauses 11 to 13, comprising determining the active uplink muting pattern based on a measurement of DL RS and the configuration information.

[0195] 15) The method according to any of clauses 11 to 14, wherein the indication information comprises an index corresponding to the active uplink muting pattern.

[0196] 16) The method according to any of clauses 11 to 15, wherein the indication information further comprises duration information indicating a time duration for which the active uplink muting pattern should be used by the communications device. Spec

[0197] 17) The method according to any of clauses 11 to 16, comprising transmitting the indication information via radio resource control (RRC) signalling, a MAC Control Element (CE), or downlink control information (DCI).

[0198] 18) The method according to any of clauses 11 to 17, wherein the indication information is a Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) ID.

[0199] 19) The method according to any of clauses 11 to 17, wherein the indication information is a downlink beam associated with the DL RS that the communications device is to be attached to and the active uplink muting pattern is an uplink muting pattern associated with the DL RS.

[0200] 20) The method according to any preceding clause, comprising receiving, from the communications device, assistance information, the assistance information indicating a suggested uplink muting pattern to be used as an active uplink muting pattern.

[0201] 21) The method according to clause 20, wherein the information indicating the suggested uplink muting pattern comprises a result of DL RS measurement.

[0202] 22) The method according to clause 21, wherein the result of the DL RS measurement includes an indication of a best DL RS and / or a measurement of the best DL RS.

[0203] 23) The method according any of clauses 20 to 22, wherein the information indicating the suggested uplink muting pattern comprises an index corresponding to the suggested uplink muting pattern.

[0204] 24) The method according to clauses 20 to 23, wherein the assistance information is received via radio resource control (RRC) signalling, a MAC Control Element (CE), or uplink control information (UCI).

[0205] 25) The method according to clauses 20 to 24, comprising updating the active uplink muting pattern in accordance with the suggested uplink muting pattern.

[0206] 26) The method according to clauses 20 to 25, comprising transmitting, to the communication device, second indication information of the active uplink muting pattern, the active uplink pattern defining an uplink muting pattern of the set of uplink muting patterns to be used by the communications device.

[0207] 27) An infrastructure equipment forming part of a wireless communications network and configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals from a communications device via a radio interface between the communications device and the infrastructure equipment, the radio access interface comprising a plurality of resource elements arranged in time and frequency and each Spec configured either for uplink transmission or downlink transmission, the infrastructure equipment comprising: transceiver circuitry configured to: transmit, to the communications device, configuration information of a set of uplink muting patterns, the configuration information indicating an association between a downlink reference signal (DL RS) and one or more uplink muting pattern of the set of uplink muting patterns, wherein each uplink muting pattern requires that one or more of allocated resource elements are to be muted and not used for transmitting the uplink transmission; and receive, from the communications device, an uplink transmission, to which an uplink muting pattern has been applied based on the configuration information.

[0208] 28) Circuitry for an infrastructure equipment forming part of a wireless communications network and configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals from a communications device via a radio interface between the communications device and the infrastructure equipment, the radio access interface comprising a plurality of resource elements arranged in time and frequency and each configured either for uplink transmission or downlink transmission, the circuitry comprising transceiver circuitry configured to: transmit, to the communications device, configuration information of a set of uplink muting patterns, the configuration information indicating an association between a downlink reference signal (DL RS) and one or more uplink muting pattern of the set of uplink muting patterns, wherein each uplink muting pattern requires that one or more of allocated resource elements are to be muted and not used for transmitting the uplink transmission; and receive, from the communications device, an uplink transmission, to which an uplink muting pattern has been applied based on the configuration information.

[0209] 29) A computer program comprising instructions which, when implemented by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method according to any of clauses 1 to 26.

[0210] 30) A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing the computer program according to clause 29.

[0211] 31) A method of operating a communications device configured to transmit signals to and / or receive signals from an infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network via a radio access interface between the communications device and the infrastructure equipment, the radio access interface comprising a plurality of resource elements arranged in time and frequency and each configured either for uplink transmission or downlink transmission, the method comprising: Spec receiving, from the infrastructure equipment, configuration information of a set of uplink muting patterns, the configuration information indicating an association between a downlink reference signal and one or more uplink muting pattern of the set of uplink muting patterns, wherein each uplink muting pattern indicates that one or more of allocated resource elements are to be muted and not used for transmitting the uplink transmission; transmitting, to the infrastructure equipment, an uplink transmission to which an uplink muting pattern has been applied based on the configuration information.

[0212] 32) The method according to clause 31, wherein the configuration information indicates, as the association, that a DL RS is quasi-co-located (QCL-ed) with one or more uplink muting pattern of the set of uplink muting patterns.

[0213] 33) The method according to clause 32, wherein the configuration information defines an uplink muting pattern is associated with a Transmission Configuration Indication (TCI) state which indicates QCL-ed with the DL RS.

[0214] 34) The method according to clause 33, wherein one uplink muting pattern is associated with a TCI state which indicates the one uplink muting pattern is QCL-ed with one DL RS.

[0215] 35) The method according to clause 33, wherein one uplink muting pattern is associated with TCI states which indicates the one uplink muting pattern is QCL-ed with a plurality of DL RSs.

[0216] 36) The method according to clause 33, wherein a plurality of uplink muting patterns are associated with a TCI state which indicates the plurality of uplink muting patterns are QCL-ed with one DL RS.

[0217] 37) The method according to clause 33, wherein a plurality of uplink muting patterns are associated with TCI states which indicate the plurality of uplink muting patterns are QCL-ed with a plurality of DL RSs.

[0218] 38) The method according to any of clauses 31 to 37, wherein the configuration information further contains resource information, for each uplink muting pattern, indicating the one or more of allocated resource elements to be muted and not used for transmitting the uplink transmission.

[0219] 39) The method according to any of clauses 31 to 38, comprising receiving the configuration information via radio resource control (RRC) signalling, a MAC Control Element (CE), or downlink control information (DCI).

[0220] 40) The method according to any of clauses 31 to 39, wherein the DL RS includes a Channel State Information Reference Signal (CSI-RS) or a Synchronization Signal Block (SSB). Spec

[0221] 41) The method according to any of clauses 31 to 40, comprising receiving, from the infrastructure equipment, indication information of the active uplink muting pattern, the active uplink pattern defining an uplink muting pattern of the set of uplink muting patterns to be used by the communications device.

[0222] 42) The method according to clause 41, wherein the indication information is received in response to transmission, to the infrastructure equipment, an uplink transmission.

[0223] 43) The method according to clause 42, wherein the uplink transmission includes an uplink scheduling request.

[0224] 44) The method according any of clauses 41 to 43, wherein the indication information comprises an index corresponding to the active uplink muting pattern.

[0225] 45) The method according to any of clauses 41 to 44, wherein the indication information further comprises duration information indicating a time duration for which the active uplink muting pattern should be used by the communications device.

[0226] 46) The method according to any of clauses 41 to 45, comprising receiving the indication information via radio resource control (RRC) signalling, a MAC Control Element (CE), or downlink control information (DCI).

[0227] 47) The method according to any of clauses 41 to 46, wherein the indication information is a Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) ID.

[0228] 48) The method according to any of clauses 41 to 46, wherein the indication information is a downlink beam associated with the DL RS that the communications device is be attached to and the active uplink muting pattern is an uplink muting pattern associated with the DL RS.

[0229] 49) The method according to any of clauses 31 to 48, comprising performing a measurement of DL RS and selecting an uplink muting pattern based on the measurement of DL RS and the configuration information.

[0230] 50) The method according to any of clauses 31 to 49, comprising identifying a condition and, in response to identifying the condition, transmitting, to the infrastructure equipment, assistance information indicating a suggested uplink muting pattern to be used as an active uplink muting pattern.

[0231] 51) The method according to clause 50, wherein the condition is identified based on a result of a DL RS measurement. Spec

[0232] 52) The method according to clause 51, wherein the condition includes a change in a best DL RS measurement.

[0233] 53) The method according to any of clauses 50 to 52, wherein the information indicating the suggested uplink muting pattern comprises the result of DL RS measurement.

[0234] 54) The method according to clause 53, wherein the result of the DL RS measurement incudes an indication of a best DL RS and / or a measurement value of the best DL RS.

[0235] 55) The method according to any of clauses 50 to 54, wherein the information indicating the suggested uplink muting pattern comprises an index corresponding to the suggested uplink muting pattern.

[0236] 56) The method according to any of clauses 50 to 55, comprising transmitting the assistance information via radio resource control (RRC) signalling, a MAC Control Element (CE), or uplink control information (UCI).

[0237] 57) The method according to any of clauses 50 to 56, comprising receiving, from the infrastructure equipment, second indication information of the active uplink muting pattern, the active uplink pattern defining an uplink muting pattern of the set of uplink muting patterns to be used by the communications device.

[0238] 58) The method according to any of clauses 50 to 57, wherein the method comprises changing, by the communications device, the active uplink muting pattern in accordance with the suggested uplink muting pattern once the assistance information has been transmitted to the infrastructure equipment.

[0239] 59) The method according to any of clauses 50 to 58, comprising dropping the uplink transmission in an affected transmission time, until receiving an updated active uplink muting pattern from the infrastructure equipment.

[0240] 60) The method according to any of clauses 31 to 59, wherein the DL RS in the configuration information includes DL RS of a neighbouring infrastructure equipment and wherein the method comprises performing a measurement of DL RS from the neighbouring infrastructure equipment and selecting an uplink muting pattern based on the measurement of DL RS from the neighbouring infrastructure equipment and the configuration information.

[0241] 61) A communications device configured to transmit signals to and / or receive signals from an infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network via a radio access interface between the communications device and the infrastructure equipment, the radio access interface Spec comprising a plurality of resource elements arranged in time and frequency and each configured either for uplink transmission or downlink transmission, communications device comprising: transceiver circuitry configured to: receive, from the infrastructure equipment, configuration information of a set of uplink muting patterns, the configuration information indicating an association between a downlink reference signal and one or more uplink muting pattern of the set of uplink muting patterns, wherein each uplink muting pattern indicates that one or more of allocated resource elements are to be muted and not used for transmitting the uplink transmission; transmit, to the infrastructure equipment, an uplink transmission to which an uplink muting pattern has been applied based on the configuration information.

[0242] 62) Circuitry for a communications device configured to transmit signals to and / or receive signals from an infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network via a radio access interface between the communications device and the infrastructure equipment, the radio access interface comprising a plurality of resource elements arranged in time and frequency and each configured either for uplink transmission or downlink transmission, the circuitry comprising transceiver circuitry configured to: receive, from the infrastructure equipment, configuration information of a set of uplink muting patterns, the configuration information indicating an association between a downlink reference signal and one or more uplink muting pattern of the set of uplink muting patterns, wherein each uplink muting pattern indicates that one or more of allocated resource elements are to be muted and not used for transmitting the uplink transmission; transmit, to the infrastructure equipment, an uplink transmission to which an uplink muting pattern has been applied based on the configuration information.

[0243] 63) A computer program comprising instructions which, when implemented by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method according to any of clauses 31.

[0244] 64) A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing the computer program according to clause 63.

[0245] 65) A wireless communications system comprising an infrastructure equipment according to clause 27 and a communications device according to clause 61.

[0246] Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present disclosure are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the disclosure may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Spec

[0247] In so far as embodiments of the disclosure have been described as being implemented, at least in part, by software-controlled data processing apparatus, it will be appreciated that a non-transitory machine-readable medium carrying such software, such as an optical disk, a magnetic disk, semiconductor memory or the like, is also considered to represent an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0248] It will be appreciated that the above description for clarity has described embodiments with reference to different functional units, circuitry and / or processors. However, it will be apparent that any suitable distribution of functionality between different functional units, circuitry and / or processors may be used without detracting from the embodiments.

[0249] Described embodiments may be implemented in any suitable form including hardware, software, firmware or any combination of these. Described embodiments may optionally be implemented at least partly as computer software running on one or more data processors and / or digital signal processors. The elements and components of any embodiment may be physically, functionally and logically implemented in any suitable way. Indeed the functionality may be implemented in a single unit, in a plurality of units or as part of other functional units. As such, the disclosed embodiments may be implemented in a single unit or may be physically and functionally distributed between different units, circuitry and / or processors.

[0250] Although the present disclosure has been described in connection with some embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein. Additionally, although a feature may appear to be described in connection with particular embodiments, one skilled in the art would recognize that various features of the described embodiments may be combined in any manner suitable to implement the technique.

[0251] References

[0252] [1] Holma H. and Toskala A, "LTE for UMTS OFDMA and SC-FDMA based radio access", John Wiley and Sons, 2009.

[0253] [2] TR 38.913, "3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; Study on Scenarios and Requirements for Next Generation Access Technologies (Release 14)", 3GPP, V14.3.0, August 2017.

[0254] [3] RP-213591, "New SI: Study on evolution of NR duplex operation," CMCC, RAN#94e, December 2021.

[0255] [4] RP-220633, "Revised SID: Study on evolution of NR duplex operation," CMCC, RAN#95e, March 2022. Spec

[0256] [5] RP-234035, "New WID: Evolution of NR duplex operation: Subband full duplex (SBFD)," CMCC, RAN#102, December 2023.

[0257] [6] RP-241614, "Revised WID: Evolution of NR duplex operation: Subband full duplex (SBFD) / ' Huawei, RAN#104, June 2024. [7] European Patent No. 3545716.

[0258] [8] Rl-2404499, "CLI handling for SBFD", Sony, RAN WG1#117, May 2024.

[0259] [9] International Patent Application No. PCT / EP2023 / 071417.

Claims

SpecCLAIMS1. A method of operating an infrastructure equipment forming part of a wireless communications network and configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals from a communications device via a radio interface between the communications device and the infrastructure equipment, the radio access interface comprising a plurality of resource elements arranged in time and frequency and each configured either for uplink transmission or downlink transmission, the method comprising: transmitting, to the communications device, configuration information of a set of uplink muting patterns, the configuration information indicating an association between a downlink reference signal (DL RS) and one or more uplink muting pattern of the set of uplink muting patterns, wherein each uplink muting pattern requires that one or more of allocated resource elements are to be muted and not used for transmitting the uplink transmission; receiving, from the communications device, an uplink transmission, to which an uplink muting pattern has been applied based on the configuration information.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the configuration information indicates, as the association, that a DL RS is quasi-co-located (QCL-ed) with one or more uplink muting pattern of the set of uplink muting patterns.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the configuration information defines an uplink muting pattern is associated with a Transmission Configuration Indication (TCI) state which indicates QCL-ed with the DL RS.

4. The method according to claim 3, i) wherein one uplink muting pattern is associated with a TCI state which indicates the one uplink muting pattern is QCL-ed with one DL RS; or ii) wherein one uplink muting pattern is associated with TCI states which indicates the one uplink muting pattern is QCL-ed with a plurality of DL RSs; or iii) wherein a plurality of uplink muting patterns are associated with a TCI state which indicates the plurality of uplink muting patterns are QCL-ed with one DL RS; or iv) wherein a plurality of uplink muting patterns are associated with TCI states which indicate the plurality of uplink muting patterns are QCL-ed with a plurality of DL RSs.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the configuration information further contains resource information, for each uplink muting pattern, indicating the one or more of allocated resource elements to be muted and not used for transmitting the uplink transmission.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising determining, for the communications device, an active uplink muting pattern of the set of uplink muting patterns; and transmitting, to theSpec communications device, indication information of the active uplink muting pattern, the active uplink pattern defining an uplink muting pattern of the set of uplink muting patterns to be used by the communications device.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the infrastructure equipment determines the active uplink muting pattern in response to receiving an uplink transmission from the communications device.

8. The method according to claim 6, i) comprising determining the active uplink muting pattern based on a measurement of DL RS and the configuration information; or ii) wherein the indication information comprises an index corresponding to the active uplink muting pattern; or iii) wherein the indication information further comprises duration information indicating a time duration for which the active uplink muting pattern should be used by the communications device.

9. The method according to claim 1, comprising receiving, from the communications device, assistance information, the assistance information indicating a suggested uplink muting pattern to be used as an active uplink muting pattern.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the information indicating the suggested uplink muting pattern comprises a result of DL RS measurement.

11. The method according to claim 9, i) wherein the information indicating the suggested uplink muting pattern comprises an index corresponding to the suggested uplink muting pattern; or ii) wherein the assistance information is received via radio resource control (RRC) signalling, a MAC Control Element (CE), or uplink control information (UCI); or iii) comprising updating the active uplink muting pattern in accordance with the suggested uplink muting pattern; or iv) comprising transmitting, to the communication device, second indication information of the active uplink muting pattern, the active uplink pattern defining an uplink muting pattern of the set of uplink muting patterns to be used by the communications device.

12. An infrastructure equipment forming part of a wireless communications network and configured to transmit signals to and / or to receive signals from a communications device via a radio interface between the communications device and the infrastructure equipment, the radio access interface comprising a plurality of resource elements arranged in time and frequency and each configured either for uplink transmission or downlink transmission, the infrastructure equipment comprising: transceiver circuitry configured to:Spec transmit, to the communications device, configuration information of a set of uplink muting patterns, the configuration information indicating an association between a downlink reference signal (DL RS) and one or more uplink muting pattern of the set of uplink muting patterns, wherein each uplink muting pattern requires that one or more of allocated resource elements are to be muted and not used for transmitting the uplink transmission; and receive, from the communications device, an uplink transmission, to which an uplink muting pattern has been applied based on the configuration information.

13. A method of operating a communications device configured to transmit signals to and / or receive signals from an infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network via a radio access interface between the communications device and the infrastructure equipment, the radio access interface comprising a plurality of resource elements arranged in time and frequency and each configured either for uplink transmission or downlink transmission, the method comprising: receiving, from the infrastructure equipment, configuration information of a set of uplink muting patterns, the configuration information indicating an association between a downlink reference signal and one or more uplink muting pattern of the set of uplink muting patterns, wherein each uplink muting pattern indicates that one or more of allocated resource elements are to be muted and not used for transmitting the uplink transmission; transmitting, to the infrastructure equipment, an uplink transmission to which an uplink muting pattern has been applied based on the configuration information.

14. A communications device configured to transmit signals to and / or receive signals from an infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network via a radio access interface between the communications device and the infrastructure equipment, the radio access interface comprising a plurality of resource elements arranged in time and frequency and each configured either for uplink transmission or downlink transmission, communications device comprising: transceiver circuitry configured to: receive, from the infrastructure equipment, configuration information of a set of uplink muting patterns, the configuration information indicating an association between a downlink reference signal and one or more uplink muting pattern of the set of uplink muting patterns, wherein each uplink muting pattern indicates that one or more of allocated resource elements are to be muted and not used for transmitting the uplink transmission; transmit, to the infrastructure equipment, an uplink transmission to which an uplink muting pattern has been applied based on the configuration information.Spec15. A computer program comprising instructions which, when implemented by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method according to claim 1 or 13.

Images