Component carrier transmission for power spectral density imbalance

Abstract

Example embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to component carrier (CC) transmission for power spectral density imbalance A method comprises receiving, from a second apparatus, configuration information for testing at least one of maximum output power reduction for carrier aggregation or additional maximum output power reduction for carrier aggregation; determining, based on the configuration information, a first number of resource blocks (RBs) for a first CC and a second number of RBs for a second CC, a gap between the first number of RBs and the second number of RBs being larger than a nominal channel spacing, and the first number being different from the second number; and performing, simultaneously, a first transmission to the second apparatus via the first CC using the first number of RBs and a second transmission to the second apparatus via the second CC using the second number of RBs.

Description

COMPONENT CARRIER TRANSMISSION FOR POWER SPECTRAL DENSITY IMBALANCECROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority from, and the benefit of US Provisional Application No. 63 / 703845, filed October 4, 2024, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.FIELD

[0002] Various example embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of telecommunication and in particular, to methods, devices, apparatuses and computer readable storage medium for component carrier (CO) transmission for power spectral density (PSD) imbalance.BACKGROUND

[0003] The uplink carriers of user equipment (UE) may encounter power spectral density imbalance. To address this issue and fulfill specific communication requirements, measures such as maximum power reduction (MPR) are often implemented to ensure stable operation and optimize the performance of the communication system. Sometimes, according to actual needs, additional maximum power reduction (A-MPR) may be further implemented to ensure stable operation and performance optimization of the communication system.SUMMARY

[0004] In a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a first apparatus. The first apparatus comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus at least to: receive, from a second apparatus, configuration information for testing at least one of maximum output power reduction for carrier aggregation of the first apparatus or additional maximum output power reduction for carrier aggregation of the first apparatus; determine, based on the configuration information, a first number of resource blocks for a first component carrier and a second number of resource blocks for a second component carrier, a gap between the first number of resource blocks and the second number of resource blocks being larger than a nominal channel spacing, and the first number being different from the second number; and perform, simultaneously, a first transmission to the second apparatus via the first component carrier using the first number of resource blocks and a second transmission to the second apparatus via the second component carrier using the second number of resource blocks.

[0005] In a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a second apparatus. The second apparatus comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the second apparatus at least to: transmit, to a first apparatus, configuration information for testing at least one of maximum output power reductionfor carrier aggregation of the first apparatus or additional maximum output power reduction for carrier aggregation of the first apparatus; determine, based on the configuration information, a first number of resource blocks for a first component carrier and a second number of resource blocks for a second component carrier, a gap between the first number of resource blocks and the second number of resource blocks being larger than a nominal channel spacing, and the first number being different from the second number; and receive, simultaneously, a first transmission from the first apparatus via the first component carrier using the first number of resource blocks and a second transmission from the first second apparatus via the second component carrier using the second number of resource blocks.

[0006] In a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method. The method comprises: receiving, at a first apparatus and from a second apparatus, configuration information for testing at least one of maximum output power reduction for carrier aggregation of the first apparatus or additional maximum output power reduction for carrier aggregation of the first apparatus; determining, based on the configuration information, a first number of resource blocks for a first component carrier and a second number of resource blocks for a second component carrier, a gap between the first number of resource blocks and the second number of resource blocks being larger than a nominal channel spacing, and the first number being different from the second number; and performing, simultaneously, a first transmission to the second apparatus via the first component carrier using the first number of resource blocks and a second transmission to the second apparatus via the second component carrier using the second number of resource blocks.

[0007] In a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method. The method comprises: transmitting, at a second apparatus and to a first apparatus, configuration information for testing at least one of maximum output power reduction for carrier aggregation of the first apparatus or additional maximum output power reduction for carrier aggregation of the first apparatus; determining, based on the configuration information, a first number of resource blocks for a first component carrier and a second number of resource blocks for a second component carrier, a gap between the first number of resource blocks and the second number of resource blocks being larger than a nominal channel spacing, and the first number being different from the second number; and receiving, simultaneously, a first transmission from the first apparatus via the first component carrier using the first number of resource blocks and a second transmission from the first second apparatus via the second component carrier using the second number of resource blocks.

[0008] In a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a first apparatus. The first apparatus comprises means for receiving, from a second apparatus, configuration information for testing at least one of maximum output power reduction for carrier aggregation of the first apparatus or additional maximum output power reduction for carrier aggregation of the first apparatus; means for determining, based on the configuration information, a first number of resource blocks for a firstcomponent carrier and a second number of resource blocks for a second component carrier, a gap between the first number of resource blocks and the second number of resource blocks being larger than a nominal channel spacing, and the first number being different from the second number; and means for performing, simultaneously, a first transmission to the second apparatus via the first component carrier using the first number of resource blocks and a second transmission to the second apparatus via the second component carrier using the second number of resource blocks.

[0009] In a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a second apparatus. The second apparatus comprises means for transmitting, to a first apparatus, configuration information for testing at least one of maximum output power reduction for carrier aggregation of the first apparatus or additional maximum output power reduction for carrier aggregation of the first apparatus; means for determining, based on the configuration information, a first number of resource blocks for a first component carrier and a second number of resource blocks for a second component carrier, a gap between the first number of resource blocks and the second number of resource blocks being larger than a nominal channel spacing, and the first number being different from the second number; and means for receiving, simultaneously, a first transmission from the first apparatus via the first component carrier using the first number of resource blocks and a second transmission from the first second apparatus via the second component carrier using the second number of resource blocks.

[0010] In a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium comprises instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method according to the third aspect.

[0011] In an eighth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium comprises instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method according to the fourth aspect.

[0012] It is to be understood that the Summary section is not intended to identify key or essential features of embodiments of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure will become easily comprehensible through the following description.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Some example embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, where:

[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates an example communication environment in which example embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented;

[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates a signaling chart of communication in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0016] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of an uplink configuration in accordance with someexample embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0017] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic diagram of an uplink configuration in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0018] FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic diagram of an uplink configuration in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0019] FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic diagram of an uplink configuration in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0020] FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a first apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0021] FIG. 8 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a second apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0022] FIG. 9 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a device that is suitable for implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0023] FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram of an example computer readable medium in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0024] Throughout the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals represent the same or similar element.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Principle of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to some example embodiments. It is to be understood that these embodiments are described only for the purpose of illustration and help those skilled in the art to understand and implement the present disclosure, without suggesting any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure. Embodiments described herein can be implemented in various manners other than the ones described below.

[0026] In the following description and claims, unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skills in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

[0027] References in the present disclosure to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” and the like indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but it is not necessary that every embodiment includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

[0028] It shall be understood that although the terms “first,” “second,”..., etc. in front of noun(s)and the like may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another and they do not limit the order of the noun(s). For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments. As used herein, the term “and / or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the listed terms.

[0029] As used herein, “at least one of the following: ” and “at least one of ” and similar wording, where the list of two or more elements are joined by “and” or “or”, mean at least any one of the elements, or at least any two or more of the elements, or at least all the elements.

[0030] As used herein, unless stated explicitly, performing a step “in response to A” does not indicate that the step is performed immediately after “A” occurs and one or more intervening steps may be included.

[0031] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “has”, “having”, “includes” and / or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, elements, and / or components etc., but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components and / or combinations thereof.

[0032] As used in this application, the term “circuitry” may refer to one or more or all of the following:(a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and / or digital circuitry) and(b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable):(i) a combination of analog and / or digital hardware circuit(s) with software / firmware and(ii) any portions of hardware processor(s) with software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions) and(c) hardware circuit(s) and or processor(s), such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation.

[0033] This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or portion of ahardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

[0034] As used herein, the term “communication network” refers to a network following any suitable communication standards, such as New Radio (NR), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE- A), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA), Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-loT) and so on. Furthermore, the communications between a terminal device and a network device in the communication network may be performed according to any suitable generation communication protocols, including, but not limited to, the first generation (1 G), the second generation (2G), 2.5G, 2.75G, the third generation (3G), the fourth generation (4G), 4.5G, the fifth generation (5G), 5.5G, the sixth generation (6G) communication protocols, and / or any other protocols either currently known or to be developed in the future. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied in various communication systems. Given the rapid development in communications, there will of course also be future type communication technologies and systems with which the present disclosure may be embodied. It should not be seen as limiting the scope of the present disclosure to only the aforementioned system.

[0035] As used herein, the term “network device” refers to a node in a communication network via which a terminal device accesses the network and receives services therefrom. The network device may refer to a base station (BS) or an access point (AP), for example, a node B (NodeB or NB), an evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB), an NR NB (also referred to as a gNB), a Remote Radio Unit (RRU), a radio header (RH), a remote radio head (RRH), a relay, an Integrated Access and Backhaul (I AB) node, a low power node such as a femto, a pico, a non-terrestrial network (NTN) or non-ground network device such as a satellite network device, a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite and a geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) satellite, an aircraft network device, and so forth, depending on the applied terminology and technology. In some example embodiments, radio access network (RAN) split architecture comprises a Centralized Unit (CU) and a Distributed Unit (DU) at an IAB donor node. An IAB node comprises a Mobile Terminal (IAB-MT) part that behaves like a UE toward the parent node, and a DU part of an IAB node behaves like a base station toward the next-hop IAB node.

[0036] The term “terminal device” refers to any end device that may be capable of wireless communication. By way of example rather than limitation, a terminal device may also be referred to as a communication device, user equipment (UE), a Subscriber Station (SS), a Portable Subscriber Station, a Mobile Station (MS), or an Access Terminal (AT). The terminal device may include, but not limited to, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, voice over IP (VoIP) phones, wireless local loop phones, a tablet, a wearable terminal device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), portablecomputers, desktop computer, image capture terminal devices such as digital cameras, gaming terminal devices, music storage and playback appliances, vehicle-mounted wireless terminal devices, wireless endpoints, mobile stations, laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), laptop-mounted equipment (LME), USB dongles, smart devices, wireless customer-premises equipment (CPE), an Internet of Things (loT) device, a watch or other wearable, a head-mounted display (HMD), a vehicle, a drone, a medical device and applications (e.g., remote surgery), an industrial device and applications (e.g., a robot and / or other wireless devices operating in an industrial and / or an automated processing chain contexts), a consumer electronics device, a device operating on commercial and / or industrial wireless networks, and the like. The terminal device may also correspond to a Mobile Termination (MT) part of an IAB node (e.g., a relay node). In the following description, the terms “terminal device”, “communication device”, “terminal”, “user equipment” and “UE” may be used interchangeably.

[0037] As used herein, the term “resource,” “transmission resource,” “resource block, ”(RB), “physical resource block” (PRB), “uplink resource,” or “downlink resource” may refer to any resource for performing a communication, for example, a communication between a terminal device and a network device, such as a resource in time domain, a resource in frequency domain, a resource in space domain, a resource in code domain, or any other combination of the time, frequency, space and / or code domain resource enabling a communication, and the like. In the following, unless explicitly stated, a resource in both frequency domain and time domain will be used as an example of a transmission resource for describing some example embodiments of the present disclosure. It is noted that example embodiments of the present disclosure are equally applicable to other resources in other domains.

[0038] Principle and implementations of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 1-10.

[0039] FIG. 1 illustrates an example communication environment 100 in which example embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented. In the communication environment 100, a first apparatus 110 and a second apparatus 120 may communicate with each other. In some example embodiments, in a testing case, the first apparatus 110 may be or include a device under test (DUT) or a UE, and the second apparatus 120 may be or include a test equipment (TE) or a system simulator (SS).

[0040] It is to be understood that the number of apparatuses and their connections shown in FIG. 1 are only for the purpose of illustration without suggesting any limitation. The communication environment 100 may include any suitable number of apparatuses configured to implement example embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0041] In the following, for purpose of illustration, some example embodiments are described with the first apparatus 110 operating as the DUT or UE and the second apparatus 120 operating as theTE or SS. However, in some example embodiments, operations described in connection with the first apparatus 110 may be implemented at the second apparatus 120 or other devices, and operations described in connection with the second apparatus 120 may be implemented at the first apparatus 110 or other devices.

[0042] Communications in the communication environment 100 may be implemented according to any proper communication protocol(s), comprising, but not limited to, cellular communication protocols of the first generation (1 G), the second generation (2G), the third generation (3G), the fourth generation (4G), the fifth generation (5G), the sixth generation (6G), and the like, wireless local network communication protocols such as Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 and the like, and / or any other protocols currently known or to be developed in the future. Moreover, the communication may utilize any proper wireless communication technology, comprising but not limited to: Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Duplex (FDD), Time Division Duplex (TDD), Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple (OFDM), Discrete Fourier Transform spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) and / or any other technologies currently known or to be developed in the future.

[0043] As mentioned above, the uplink carriers of UE may encounter power spectral density imbalance. Under the ongoing 3GPP Release 19 work item on UE radio frequency (RF) enhancements for NR Frequency Range 1 (FR1 ) / Frequency Range 2 (FR2) and Evolved-universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (EUTRA)-NR dual connectivity (EN-DC), Phase 4, one of the objectives is as shown in Table 1.Table 1

[0044] One of the topics under discussion for this objective is MPR evaluation methodology andassumption and some solutions in this regard are as shown in Table 2.Table 2

[0045] This discussion on this topic is about the UE transmitting (with 2 transmission (TX)) uplink component carriers (UL CCs) with PSD imbalance (among the UL CCs) require a larger MPR than the equal PSD case to meet the emission requirements specified in Technical Specification (TS) 38.101 - 1.Table 3

[0046] It can be seen from the agreement that MPR and A-MPR studies for Power Class (PC) 1 .5 contiguous or non-contiguous intra-band uplink carrier aggregation (UL CA) (with 2TX) may account for PSD imbalance with up to 6dB (among the UL CCs), and new requirements based on PSD imbalance with 6dB would be defined.

[0047] However, in the current TS 38.521-1 , there is no contiguous or non-contiguous intra-band UL CA test configuration that covers UE transmitting UL carriers with PSD imbalance close to or equal to 6dB in FR1 (which contains the target bands n41 , n77, n78, and n79 in the above objective of the work item) during the tests.

[0048] The related test configuration tables for MPR and A-MPR requirements with contiguous or non-contiguous intra-band UL CA are shown in Tables 4 to 12 (extracted from TS 38.521-1 clauses 6.2A.2.1 and 6.2A.3.1 ) below.

[0049] Table 4 corresponds to TS 38.521-1 Table 6.2A.2.1 .4.1 -2a, which shows Intra-band contiguous CA Test Configuration Table for PC3 and PC2 (contiguous RB allocation).Table 4

[0050] Table 5 corresponds to TS 38.521 -1 Table 6.2A.2.1 .4.1 -2b), which shows Intra-band contiguous CA Test Configuration Table for PC3 and PC2 (non-contiguous RB allocation).Table 5

[0051] Table 6 corresponds to TS 38.521 -1 Table 6.2A.2.1 .4.1 -3a, which shows Intra-band noncontiguous CA Test Configuration Table (MPRIMS to meet -13dBm / MHz) when UE supporting IE dualPA-Architecture.Table 6

[0052] Table 7 corresponds to TS 38.521 -1 Table 6.2A.2.1 .4.1 -3b, which shows Intra-band noncontiguous CA Test Configuration Table (MPRIMS to meet -30dBm / MHz) when UE supporting IE dualPA-Architecture.Table 7

[0053] Table 8 corresponds to TS 38.521-1 Table 6.2A.3.1.4.1 -7, which shows Test Configuration Table for intra-band contiguous CA for CA_NS_04 (contiguous allocation).Table 8

[0054] The referenced RB allocation tables (i.e., Tables 9-18) are extracted from TS 38.521-1 clauses 6.1 and 6.1A.

[0055] Tables 9 and 10 correspond to TS 38.521-1 Table 6.1-1 , which shows Common uplink configuration.Table 9Table 10

[0056] Table 11 corresponds to Table 6.1 A-1 a, which shows Common uplink configuration for intraband contiguous 2UL CA (contiguous RB allocation).Table 11

[0057] Table 12 corresponds to TS 38.521 -1 Table 6.1A-1 b, which shows Common uplink configuration for intra-band contiguous 2UL CA (non-contiguous RB allocation).Table 12

[0058] The bold columns in the above tables show the following information related to test configurations.

[0059] For intra-band contiguous 2UL CA with contiguous RB allocation, different numbers of RBs are allocated for primary component carrier (PCC) and secondary component carrier (SCC) in the test configurations. However, in this case both PCC and SCC can still be transmitted with equal PSD in each transmission (TX) on Tx Diversity (TxD) architecture.

[0060] For intra-band contiguous 2UL CA with non-contiguous RB allocation or intra-band noncontiguous 2UL CA if UE supports information element (IE) dual power amplifier (PA) architecture, the same number of RBs are allocated for PCC and SCC in the test configurations. Thus, the PCC and SCC are transmitted with equal PSD on dual PA architecture with the same configured maximum transmission power on each PA.

[0061] Note that the main difference between TxD architecture and dual PA architecture is that a common local oscillator (LO) is used for two PAs with TxD architecture while separate LOs are used for dual PA architecture to transmit the PCC and SCC.

[0062] Therefore, there are problems with test coverage with the current test configurations. For example, the currently specified MRP and A-MPR requirements cannot be tested if UE is configured to transmit UL CCs with PSD imbalance close to 6d B. For another example, the new MRP and A-MPR requirements, if agreed to be specified, cannot be tested if UE is configured to transmit UL CCs with 6dB or larger PSD imbalance.

[0063] In accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a solution for CC transmission for PSD imbalance. In the solution, a first apparatus receives, from a second apparatus, configuration information for testing at least one of maximum output power reduction for CA of the first apparatus or additional maximum output power reduction for CA of the first apparatus. The first apparatus determines, based on the configuration information, a first number of resource blocks for a first component carrier and a second number of resource blocks for a second component carrier. A gap between the first number of resource blocks and the second number of resource blocks is larger than a nominal channel spacing, and the first number is different from the second number. The first apparatus performs, simultaneously, a first transmission to the second apparatus via the first component carrier using the first number of resource blocks and a second transmission to the second apparatus via the second component carrier using the second number of resource blocks.

[0064] In this way, new UE test configurations can be provided for MPR and A-MPR requirementswith contiguous and non-contiguous intra-band UL CA with PSD imbalance to verify UE compliance with such PSD imbalance.

[0065] Example embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0066] Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which illustrates a signaling chart 200 of communication in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. The signaling chart 200 involves the first apparatus 110 and second apparatus 120, which may be described with reference to FIG. 1. In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 110 may include a DUT, and the second apparatus 120 may include a TE.

[0067] The second apparatus 120 transmits 202 configuration information to the first apparatus 110. The configuration information may be used for testing maximum output power reduction for CA of the first apparatus 110. For testing the maximum output power reduction for CA, the allowed MPR may be specified. Alternatively, or in addition, the configuration information may be used for testing additional maximum output power reduction for CA of the first apparatus 110. For testing the additional maximum output power reduction for CA, the allowed A-MPR may be specified.

[0068] The configuration information may indicate at least one test configuration. For example, the configuration information may include at least one test ID each corresponding to a test configuration.

[0069] After receiving 204 the configuration information, the first apparatus 110 determines 206 a first number of RBs and a second number of RBs based on the configuration information. The first number of RBs is used for a first CC and the second number of RBs is used for a second CC. For example, one of the first and second CCs may be a PCC, and the other one of the first and second CCs may be the SCC.

[0070] The first number is different from the second number. In some example embodiments, the second number may be integer times the first number. For example, the first CC is allocated with X RBs and the second CC is allocated with N*X RBs, where X is an integer smaller than or equal to the maximum transmission bandwidth configuration of the CC channel bandwidth.

[0071] In some example embodiments, a gap between the first number of RBs and the second number of RBs may be larger than a nominal channel spacing. For example, the configuration information indicates a UL configuration for intra-band contiguous UL CA with non-contiguous RB allocation (e.g., in TS 38.101-1) or a UL configuration for intra-band non-contiguous UL CA.

[0072] To receive transmissions from the first apparatus 110, the second apparatus 120 determines 208 the first number of RBs and second number of RBs based on the configuration information as well.

[0073] After the determination by both the first apparatus 110 and second apparatus 120, the first apparatus 110 performs 210 a first transmission and a second transmission to the second apparatus120, simultaneously. The first transmission is performed via the first CC using the first number of RBs, and the second transmission is performed via the second CC using the second number of RBs. That is, both the first CC and second CC need to be transmitted simultaneously so as to test the first apparatus 110.

[0074] Correspondingly, the second apparatus 120 receives 212 the first transmission and second transmission simultaneously. Based on the reception, the second apparatus 120 may obtain a test result for the maximum output power reduction of the first apparatus 110.

[0075] In some example embodiments, the first transmission and the second transmission may have the same configured maximum output power. A PSD imbalance between the first transmission and the second transmission may exceed a certain level, for example a threshold level. The threshold level may include any required PSD imbalance level, such as 2dB, 3dB, 6dB, etc. In this way, new test configurations can be provided with different RB allocations in PCC and SCC, which are jointly or separately transmitted by a plurality of PAs, with the same configured maximum output power on each CC to create PSD imbalance among the UL CCs during testing with MPR and A-MPR requirements for non-contiguous intra-band 2UL CA.

[0076] For example, in the dual PA architecture, actual transmission power in each PA may be different as they may be different kinds of PA. The first transmission and the second transmission may be configured with the same maximum output power while the first number of RBs is different from the second number of RBs, thereby resulting in the PSD imbalance. The PSD imbalance may be close to, equal to, or larger than a certain level, for example 6d B.

[0077] As mentioned above, the second number may be integer times the first number. In some example embodiments, the integer times may include 2 times. For example, the first CC (e.g., PCC) is configured with X RB allocation and the second CC (e.g., SCC) is configured with 2X RB allocation, where X is an integer smaller than or equal to the maximum transmission bandwidth configuration of the CC channel bandwidth. This may create 3dB PSD imbalance among the UL CCs with the same configured maximum output power on each CC.

[0078] Alternatively, or additionally, the integer times may include 4 times. For example, the first CC (e.g., PCC) is configured with X RB allocation and the second CC (e.g., SCC) is configured with 4X RB allocation, where X is an integer smaller than or equal to the maximum transmission bandwidth configuration of the CC channel bandwidth. This may create 6dB PSD imbalance among the UL CCs with the same configured maximum output power on each CC.

[0079] Alternatively, or additionally, the integer times may include 5 times. For example, the first CC (e.g., PCC) is configured with X RB allocation and the second CC (e.g., SCC) is configured with larger than or equal to 5X RB allocation, where X is an integer smaller than or equal to the maximum transmission bandwidth configuration of the CC channel bandwidth. This may create >6dB PSDimbalance among the UL CCs with the same configured maximum output power on each CC.

[0080] In this way, the present disclosure may provide new test configurations to meet the requirements of MPR and A-MPR with intra-band contiguous with non-contiguous RB allocation and non-contiguous UL CA defined in TS 38.521-1 , where the PSD imbalance may be close to, equal to, or greater than 6dB. These new test configurations need to be sent by PC1 .5 UE to pass the test, and if the same PSD imbalance issue is found in other PCs (such as PC1), the embodiments of the present disclosure can be extended to other PC UEs.

[0081] As mentioned above, the configuration information indicates that there is a gap between the first number of RBs and second number of RBs. The following will describe such uplink configurations with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6.

[0082] In some embodiments, a bandwidth may be configured for transmissions from the first apparatus 110 to the second apparatus 120. The first number of resource blocks may be located at a first edge of the bandwidth, and the second number of resource blocks may be located at a second edge of the bandwidth. The second edge may be opposite to the first edge.

[0083] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of an uplink configuration in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. An aggregated channel bandwidth is configured for transmissions from the first apparatus 110 to the second apparatus 120. The aggregated channel bandwidth may include a first portion 302 for PCC and a second portion 306 for the SCC. The PCC is configured with allocated UL RBs 304, and the SCC is configured with allocated UL RBs 308. The DL operating band is present only for FDD or supplementary downlink (SDL) bands.

[0084] In the case that the transmission via the PCC and transmission via the SCC have the same configured maximum output power, if the allocated RBs 304 are wider and the allocated RBs 308 are narrower (as shown in FIG. 3), the PSD of the transmission via the PCC is lower than the PSD of the transmission via the SCC. If the allocated RBs 304 are narrower and the allocated RBs 308 are wider, the PSD of the transmission via the PCC is larger than the PSD of the transmission via the SCC.

[0085] As shown in FIG. 3, the allocated UL RBs 304 are located at the edge of the aggregated channel bandwidth, and the allocated UL RBs 308 are located at the other edge of the aggregated channel bandwidth. In this way, an uplink configuration with non-contiguous RB allocation is provided.

[0086] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic diagram of another uplink configuration in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. A sub-block bandwidth is configured for transmissions from the first apparatus 110 to the second apparatus 120. The sub-block bandwidth includes a first portion 402 for the PCC and a second portion 406 for the SCC. The PCC is configured with allocated UL RBs 404, and the SCC is configured with allocated UL RBs 408. The DL operating band is present only for FDD or SDL bands.

[0087] In the case that the transmission via the PCC and transmission via the SCC have the sameconfigured maximum output power, if the allocated RBs 404 are wider and the allocated RBs 408 are narrower (as shown in FIG. 4), the PSD of the transmission via the PCC is lower than the PSD of the transmission via the SCC. If the allocated RBs 404 are narrower and the allocated RBs 408 are wider, the PSD of the transmission via the PCC is larger than the PSD of the transmission via the SCC.

[0088] As shown in FIG. 4, the allocated UL RBs 404 are located at the edge of the sub-block bandwidth, and the allocated UL RBs 408 are located at the other edge of the sub-block bandwidth. In this way, an uplink configuration with non-contiguous RB allocation is provided.

[0089] In the example embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4, the allocated UL RBs of one CC (PCC or SCC) are placed at one edge of the CC channel bandwidth, while the allocated UL RBs of the other CC are placed at the opposite edge of the CC channel bandwidth to maximize the frequency separation between the allocated UL RBs, as well as to minimize the frequency separation between the narrower allocated UL RBs and the DL operating band if present.

[0090] In some embodiments, a bandwidth may be configured for transmissions from the first apparatus 110 to the second apparatus 120. The first number of RBs may be located at a first edge of the bandwidth, and the second number of resource blocks have an offset to a second edge of the bandwidth. The second edge may be opposite to the first edge.

[0091] FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic diagram of an uplink configuration in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. An aggregated channel bandwidth is configured for transmissions from the first apparatus 110 to the second apparatus 120. The aggregated channel bandwidth may include a first portion 502 for PCC and a second portion 506 for the SCC. The PCC is configured with allocated UL RBs 504, and the SCC is configured with allocated UL RBs 508. The DL operating band is present only for FDD or SDL bands.

[0092] In the case that the transmission via the PCC and transmission via the SCC have the same configured maximum output power, if the allocated RBs 504 are wider and the allocated RBs 508 are narrower (as shown in FIG. 5), the PSD of the transmission via the PCC is lower than the PSD of the transmission via the SCC. If the allocated RBs 504 are narrower and the allocated RBs 508 are wider, the PSD of the transmission via the PCC is larger than the PSD of the transmission via the SCC.

[0093] As shown in FIG. 5, the allocated UL RBs 508 are located at the edge of the aggregated channel bandwidth, and the allocated UL RBs 504 have an offset to the other edge of the aggregated channel bandwidth. In this way, an uplink configuration with non-contiguous RB allocation is provided.

[0094] FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic diagram of another uplink configuration in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. A sub-block bandwidth is configured for transmissions from the first apparatus 110 to the second apparatus 120. The sub-block bandwidth includes a first portion 602 for the PCC and a second portion 606 for the SCC. The PCC is configured with allocated UL RBs 604, and the SCC is configured with allocated UL RBs 608. The DL operatingband is present only for FDD or SDL bands.

[0095] In the case that the transmission via the PCC and transmission via the SCC have the same configured maximum output power, if the allocated RBs 604 are wider and the allocated RBs 608 are narrower, the PSD of the transmission via the PCC is lower than the PSD of the transmission via the SCC. If the allocated RBs 604 are narrower and the allocated RBs 608 are wider, the PSD of the transmission via the PCC is larger than the PSD of the transmission via the SCC.

[0096] As shown in FIG. 6, the allocated UL RBs 608 are located at the edge of the sub-block bandwidth, and the allocated UL RBs 604 have an offset to the other edge of the sub-block bandwidth. In this way, an uplink configuration with non-contiguous RB allocation is provided.

[0097] In the example embodiments of FIGS. 5 and 6, the narrower allocated RBs of one CC (PCC or SCC) are placed at one edge of the CC channel bandwidth, while the wider allocated RBs of the other CC are placed in the middle of the CC channel bandwidth to minimize the frequency separation between the narrower allocated RBs and the DL operating band if present. Alternatively, the wider allocated RBs of one CC (PCC or SCC) are placed at one edge of the CC channel bandwidth, while the narrower allocated RBs of the other CC are placed in the middle of the CC channel bandwidth, which is not limited in the preset disclosure.

[0098] In some example embodiments, the configuration information may indicate intra-band contiguous CA with non-contiguous RB allocation, and the first number of RBs and the second number of RBs may be located within an aggregated channel bandwidth. For example, FIGS. 3 and 5 illustrate the uplink configurations for intra-band contiguous UL CA with non-contiguous RB allocation.

[0099] In some example embodiments, the configuration information may indicate intra-band noncontiguous carrier aggregation, and the first number of resource blocks and the second number of resource blocks may be located within a sub-block bandwidth. For example, FIGS. 4 and 6 illustrate the uplink configurations for intra-band non-contiguous UL CA with non-contiguous RB allocation.

[0100] Note that different RB allocation at the edge of the CC channel bandwidth may present different difficulties for different requirements. For example, a test configuration with the wider RB allocation at the edge of the CC channel bandwidth with lower PSD would cause more inter-mod products, and thus would be more demanding for signal quality tests (e.g., error vector magnitude (EVM)) and emission tests (e.g., adjacent channel leakage ratio (ACLR)) within UL operating band. On the other hand, a test configuration with the narrower RB allocation at the edge of the CC channel bandwidth with higher PSD would cause fewer inter-mod products with higher power, and thus would be more demanding for emission tests (e.g., transmitter spurious emission) outside the UL operating band, as the RF transmission filter design needs to provide a steeper roll-off to meet the emission requirements adjacent to the UL operating band edge.

[0101] In some example embodiments, the configuration information may indicate a test identifier(e.g., test ID in test configuration tables). The first apparatus 110 may determine RB allocation corresponding to the indicated test identifier from a predefined test configuration. The predefined test configuration is used for a plurality of test identifiers including the indicated test identifier. The first apparatus 110 may determine the first number of RBs and the second number of RBs based on the RB allocation.

[0102] For example, based on the test configuration tables defined in TS 38.521 -1 clauses 6.2A.2.1 and 6.2A.3.1 (shown in Tables 4 to 12 above), the related test configuration tables for MPR and A- MPR requirements with contiguous or non-contiguous intra-band UL CA according to the embodiments of the present disclosure are provided below.

[0103] Table 13 corresponds to the updated test configuration table based on TS 38.521-1 Table 6.2A.2.1 .4.1 -3a, which shows Intra-band non-contiguous CA Test Configuration Table (MPRIMS to meet -13dBm / MHz) when UE supports IE dualPA-Architecture.Table 130104] As shown in Table 13, the bold rows (test IDs 73-82) are newly added according to the embodiments of the preset disclosure. For example, for the test ID 73, the predefined test configuration includes modulations for all CCs (e.g., Pi / 2 BPSK), subcarrier spacing (SCS) (e.g., 15 kHz, 30 kHz, or 60 kHz), RB allocation, etc. In the case that the SCS is 15 kHz, the allocated RBs for PCC is located at the left edge of the bandwidth, and the allocated RBs for SCC is located at the right edge of the bandwidth.

[0105] Table 14 corresponds to the updated test configuration table based on TS 38.521-1 Table 6.2A.2.1 .4.1 -3b, which shows Intra-band non-contiguous CA Test Configuration Table (MPRIMS to meet -30dBm / MHz) when UE supporting IE dualPA-Architecture.Table 14

[0106] As shown in Table 14, the bold rows (test IDs 64-73) are newly added according to the embodiments of the preset disclosure. For example, for the test ID 64, the predefined test configuration includes modulations for all CCs (e.g., Pi / 2 BPSK), SCS, RB allocation, etc. In the case that the SCS is 15 kHz, the allocated RBs for PCC is located at the left edge of the bandwidth, and the allocated RBs for SCC is located at the right edge of the bandwidth.

[0107] The referenced RB allocation tables may be defined in TS 38.521 -1 clauses 6.1 and 6.1A as shown in Table 15 (related changes are bold).

[0108] Table 15 corresponds to TS 38.521 -1 Table 6.1A-1 b, which shows Common uplink configuration for intra-band contiguous 2UL CA (non-contiguous RB allocation).Table 15

[0109] The configured maximum output power per CC table may be defined in TS 38.521 -1 clauses 66.2A.2.1.4.3 as shown in Table 16 (related changes are bold).

[0110] Table 16 corresponds to TS 38.521-1 Table 6.2A.2.1.4.3-2c, which shows FrequencylnfoUL- SIB for Intra-band non-contiguous CA Test Configuration Table when UE supporting IE dualPA- Architecture.Table 16

[0111] Note that the present disclosure may be applied to other PC in other bands with more than 2 Tx. For example, PC1 in band n41 with 4 Tx are requested to be considered which can use the present disclosure to enhance UE test coverage.

[0112] The main advantage of the present disclosure is that it provides new UE test configurations for MPR and A-MPR requirements with contiguous and non-contiguous intra-band UL CA with PSD imbalance close to, equal to, or larger than 6dB in TS 38.521-1. Without the present disclosure, the MPR and A-MPR requirements cannot be tested to verify UE compliance with such PSD imbalance.

[0113] FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of an example method 700 implemented at a first apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 700 will be described from the perspective of the first apparatus 110 in FIG. 1.

[0114] At block 710, the first apparatus 110 receives, from a second apparatus, configuration information for testing at least one of maximum output power reduction for carrier aggregation of the first apparatus or additional maximum output power reduction for carrier aggregation of the first apparatus.

[0115] At block 720, the first apparatus 110 determines, based on the configuration information, a first number of resource blocks for a first component carrier and a second number of resource blocks for a second component carrier. A gap between the first number of resource blocks and the second number of resource blocks is larger than a nominal channel spacing, and the first number is different from the second number.

[0116] At block 730, the first apparatus 110 performs, simultaneously, a first transmission to the second apparatus via the first component carrier using the first number of resource blocks and asecond transmission to the second apparatus via the second component carrier using the second number of resource blocks.

[0117] In some example embodiments, the first transmission and the second transmission have the same configured maximum output power and a power spectral density imbalance between the first transmission and the second transmission exceeds a threshold level.

[0118] In some example embodiments, the second number is integer times the first number.

[0119] In some example embodiments, the integer times comprise at least one of: 2 times, 4 times or 5 times

[0120] In some example embodiments, the first number of resource blocks are located at a first edge of a bandwidth configured for transmissions from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, and the second number of resource blocks are located at a second edge of the bandwidth, the second edge being opposite to the first edge.

[0121] In some example embodiments, the first number of resource blocks are located at a first edge of a bandwidth configured for transmissions from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, and the second number of resource blocks have an offset to a second edge of the bandwidth, the second edge being opposite to the first edge.

[0122] In some example embodiments, the configuration information indicates intra-band contiguous carrier aggregation with non-contiguous resource block allocation, and the first number of resource blocks and the second number of resource blocks are located within an aggregated channel bandwidth.

[0123] In some example embodiments, the configuration information indicates intra-band noncontiguous carrier aggregation, and the first number of resource blocks and the second number of resource blocks are located within a sub-block bandwidth.

[0124] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 110 determines resource block allocation corresponding to the indicated test identifier from a predefined test configuration for a plurality of test identifiers comprising the indicated test identifier; and determines the first number of resource blocks and the second number of resource blocks based on the resource block allocation.

[0125] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus comprises a device under test, and the second apparatus comprises a test equipment.

[0126] FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of an example method 800 implemented at a second apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 800 will be described from the perspective of the second apparatus 120 in FIG. 1.

[0127] At block 810, the second apparatus 120 transmits, to a first apparatus, configuration information for testing at least one of maximum output power reduction for carrier aggregation of the first apparatus or additional maximum output power reduction for carrier aggregation of the first apparatus.

[0128] At block 820, the second apparatus 120 determines, based on the configuration information, a first number of resource blocks for a first component carrier and a second number of resource blocks for a second component carrier. A gap between the first number of resource blocks and the second number of resource blocks is larger than a nominal channel spacing, and the first number is different from the second number.

[0129] At block 830, the second apparatus 120 receives, simultaneously, a first transmission from the first apparatus via the first component carrier using the first number of resource blocks and a second transmission from the first second apparatus via the second component carrier using the second number of resource blocks.

[0130] In some example embodiments, the first transmission and the second transmission have the same configured maximum output power and a power spectral density imbalance between the first transmission and the second transmission exceeds a threshold level.

[0131] In some example embodiments, the second number is integer times the first number.

[0132] In some example embodiments, the integer times comprise at least one of: 2 times, 4 times or 5 times

[0133] In some example embodiments, the first number of resource blocks are located at a first edge of a bandwidth configured for transmissions from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, and the second number of resource blocks are located at a second edge of the bandwidth, the second edge being opposite to the first edge.

[0134] In some example embodiments, the first number of resource blocks are located at a first edge of a bandwidth configured for transmissions from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, and the second number of resource blocks have an offset to a second edge of the bandwidth, the second edge being opposite to the first edge.

[0135] In some example embodiments, the configuration information indicates intra-band contiguous carrier aggregation with non-contiguous resource block allocation, and the first number of resource blocks and the second number of resource blocks are located within an aggregated channel bandwidth.

[0136] In some example embodiments, the configuration information indicates intra-band noncontiguous carrier aggregation, and the first number of resource blocks and the second number of resource blocks are located within a sub-block bandwidth.

[0137] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus 120 determines resource block allocation corresponding to the indicated test identifier from a predefined test configuration for a plurality of test identifiers comprising the indicated test identifier; and determines the first number of resource blocks and the second number of resource blocks based on the resource block allocation.

[0138] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus comprises a device under test, and the second apparatus comprises a test equipment.

[0139] In some example embodiments, a first apparatus capable of performing any of the method 700 (for example, the first apparatus 110 in FIG. 1 ) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 700. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The first apparatus may be implemented as or included in the first apparatus 110 in FIG. 1 .

[0140] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus comprises means for receiving, from a second apparatus, configuration information for testing at least one of maximum output power reduction for carrier aggregation of the first apparatus or additional maximum output power reduction for carrier aggregation of the first apparatus; means for determining, based on the configuration information, a first number of resource blocks for a first component carrier and a second number of resource blocks for a second component carrier, a gap between the first number of resource blocks and the second number of resource blocks being larger than a nominal channel spacing, and the first number being different from the second number; and means for performing, simultaneously, a first transmission to the second apparatus via the first component carrier using the first number of resource blocks and a second transmission to the second apparatus via the second component carrier using the second number of resource blocks.

[0141] In some example embodiments, the first transmission and the second transmission have the same configured maximum output power and a power spectral density imbalance between the first transmission and the second transmission exceeds a threshold level.

[0142] In some example embodiments, the second number is integer times the first number.

[0143] In some example embodiments, the integer times comprise at least one of: 2 times, 4 times or 5 times

[0144] In some example embodiments, the first number of resource blocks are located at a first edge of a bandwidth configured for transmissions from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, and the second number of resource blocks are located at a second edge of the bandwidth, the second edge being opposite to the first edge.

[0145] In some example embodiments, the first number of resource blocks are located at a first edge of a bandwidth configured for transmissions from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, and the second number of resource blocks have an offset to a second edge of the bandwidth, the second edge being opposite to the first edge.

[0146] In some example embodiments, the configuration information indicates intra-band contiguous carrier aggregation with non-contiguous resource block allocation, and the first number of resource blocks and the second number of resource blocks are located within an aggregated channel bandwidth.

[0147] In some example embodiments, the configuration information indicates intra-band noncontiguous carrier aggregation, and the first number of resource blocks and the second number ofresource blocks are located within a sub-block bandwidth.

[0148] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for determining resource block allocation corresponding to the indicated test identifier from a predefined test configuration for a plurality of test identifiers comprising the indicated test identifier; and means for determining the first number of resource blocks and the second number of resource blocks based on the resource block allocation.

[0149] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus comprises a device under test, and the second apparatus comprises a test equipment.

[0150] In some example embodiments, a second apparatus capable of performing any of the method 800 (for example, the second apparatus 120 in FIG. 1 ) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 800. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The second apparatus may be implemented as or included in the second apparatus 120 in FIG. 1.

[0151] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus comprises means for transmitting, to a first apparatus, configuration information for testing at least one of maximum output power reduction for carrier aggregation of the first apparatus or additional maximum output power reduction for carrier aggregation of the first apparatus; means for determining, based on the configuration information, a first number of resource blocks for a first component carrier and a second number of resource blocks for a second component carrier, a gap between the first number of resource blocks and the second number of resource blocks being larger than a nominal channel spacing, and the first number being different from the second number; and means for receiving, simultaneously, a first transmission from the first apparatus via the first component carrier using the first number of resource blocks and a second transmission from the first second apparatus via the second component carrier using the second number of resource blocks.

[0152] In some example embodiments, the first transmission and the second transmission have the same configured maximum output power and a power spectral density imbalance between the first transmission and the second transmission exceeds a threshold level.

[0153] In some example embodiments, the second number is integer times the first number.

[0154] In some example embodiments, the integer times comprise at least one of: 2 times, 4 times or 5 times

[0155] In some example embodiments, the first number of resource blocks are located at a first edge of a bandwidth configured for transmissions from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, and the second number of resource blocks are located at a second edge of the bandwidth, the second edge being opposite to the first edge.

[0156] In some example embodiments, the first number of resource blocks are located at a first edgeof a bandwidth configured for transmissions from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, and the second number of resource blocks have an offset to a second edge of the bandwidth, the second edge being opposite to the first edge.

[0157] In some example embodiments, the configuration information indicates intra-band contiguous carrier aggregation with non-contiguous resource block allocation, and the first number of resource blocks and the second number of resource blocks are located within an aggregated channel bandwidth.

[0158] In some example embodiments, the configuration information indicates intra-band noncontiguous carrier aggregation, and the first number of resource blocks and the second number of resource blocks are located within a sub-block bandwidth.

[0159] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises: means for determining resource block allocation corresponding to the indicated test identifier from a predefined test configuration for a plurality of test identifiers comprising the indicated test identifier; and means for determining the first number of resource blocks and the second number of resource blocks based on the resource block allocation.

[0160] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus comprises a device under test, and the second apparatus comprises a test equipment.

[0161] FIG. 9 is a simplified block diagram of a device 900 that is suitable for implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure. The device 900 may be provided to implement a communication device, for example, the first apparatus 110 or the second apparatus 120 as shown in FIG. 1. As shown, the device 900 includes one or more processors 910, one or more memories 920 coupled to the processor 910, and one or more communication modules 940 coupled to the processor 910.

[0162] The communication module 940 is for bidirectional communications. The communication module 940 has one or more communication interfaces to facilitate communication with one or more other modules or devices. The communication interfaces may represent any interface that is necessary for communication with other network elements. In some example embodiments, the communication module 940 may include at least one antenna.

[0163] The processor 910 may be of any type suitable to the local technical network and may include one or more of the following: general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and processors based on multicore processor architecture, as non-limiting examples. The device 900 may have multiple processors, such as an application specific integrated circuit chip that is slaved in time to a clock which synchronizes the main processor.

[0164] The memory 920 may include one or more non-volatile memories and one or more volatile memories. Examples of the non-volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a Read Only Memory(ROM) 924, an electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM), a flash memory, a hard disk, a compact disc (CD), a digital video disk (DVD), an optical disk, a laser disk, and other magnetic storage and / or optical storage. Examples of the volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a random-access memory (RAM) 922 and other volatile memories that will not last in the power-down duration.

[0165] A computer program 930 includes computer executable instructions that are executed by the associated processor 910. The instructions of the program 930 may include instructions for performing operations / acts of some example embodiments of the present disclosure. The program 930 may be stored in the memory, e.g., the ROM 924. The processor 910 may perform any suitable actions and processing by loading the program 930 into the RAM 922.

[0166] The example embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented by means of the program 930 so that the device 900 may perform any process of the disclosure as discussed with reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 8. The example embodiments of the present disclosure may also be implemented by hardware or by a combination of software and hardware.

[0167] In some example embodiments, the program 930 may be tangibly contained in a computer readable medium which may be included in the device 900 (such as in the memory 920) or other storage devices that are accessible by the device 900. The device 900 may load the program 930 from the computer readable medium to the RAM 922 for execution. In some example embodiments, the computer readable medium may include any types of non-transitory storage medium, such as ROM, EPROM, a flash memory, a hard disk, CD, DVD, and the like. The term “non-transitory,” as used herein, is a limitation of the medium itself (i.e. , tangible, not a signal) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (e.g., RAM vs. ROM).

[0168] FIG. 10 shows an example of the computer readable medium 1000 which may be in form of CD, DVD or other optical storage disk. The computer readable medium 1000 has the program 930 stored thereon.

[0169] Generally, various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic or any combination thereof. Some aspects may be implemented in hardware, and other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device. Although various aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated and described as block diagrams, flowcharts, or using some other pictorial representations, it is to be understood that the block, apparatus, system, technique or method described herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

[0170] Some example embodiments of the present disclosure also provide at least one computerprogram product tangibly stored on a computer readable medium, such as a non-transitory computer readable medium. The computer program product includes computer-executable instructions, such as those included in program modules, being executed in a device on a target physical or virtual processor, to carry out any of the methods as described above. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, libraries, objects, classes, components, data structures, or the like that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The functionality of the program modules may be combined or split between program modules as desired in various embodiments. Machineexecutable instructions for program modules may be executed within a local or distributed device. In a distributed device, program modules may be located in both local and remote storage media.

[0171] Program code for carrying out methods of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. The program code may be provided to a processor or controller of a general-purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus, such that the program code, when executed by the processor or controller, cause the functions / operations specified in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams to be implemented. The program code may execute entirely on a machine, partly on the machine, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the machine and partly on a remote machine or entirely on the remote machine or server.

[0172] In the context of the present disclosure, the computer program code or related data may be carried by any suitable carrier to enable the device, apparatus or processor to perform various processes and operations as described above. Examples of the carrier include a signal, computer readable medium, and the like.

[0173] The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable medium may include but not limited to an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples of the computer readable storage medium would include an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

[0174] Further, although operations are depicted in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Likewise, although several specific implementation details are contained in the above discussions, these should not be construed aslimitations on the scope of the present disclosure, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular embodiments. Unless explicitly stated, certain features that are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, unless explicitly stated, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented in a plurality of embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination.

[0175] Although the present disclosure has been described in languages specific to structural features and / or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the present disclosure defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:1 . A first apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus at least to: receive, from a second apparatus, configuration information for testing at least one of maximum output power reduction for carrier aggregation of the first apparatus or additional maximum output power reduction for carrier aggregation of the first apparatus; determine, based on the configuration information, a first number of resource blocks for a first component carrier and a second number of resource blocks for a second component carrier, a gap between the first number of resource blocks and the second number of resource blocks being larger than a nominal channel spacing, and the first number being different from the second number; and perform, simultaneously, a first transmission to the second apparatus via the first component carrier using the first number of resource blocks and a second transmission to the second apparatus via the second component carrier using the second number of resource blocks.

2. The first apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first transmission and the second transmission have the same configured maximum output power and a power spectral density imbalance between the first transmission and the second transmission exceeds a threshold level.

3. The first apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second number is integer times the first number.

4. The first apparatus of claim 3, wherein the integer times comprise at least one of: 2 times, 4 times or 5 times.

5. The first apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first number of resource blocks are located at a first edge of a bandwidth configured for transmissions from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, and the second number of resource blocks are located at a second edge of the bandwidth, the second edge being opposite to the first edge.

6. The first apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first number of resource blocks are located at a first edge of a bandwidth configured for transmissions from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, and the second number of resource blocks have an offset to a second edge of the bandwidth, the second edge being opposite to the first edge.

7. The first apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the configuration information indicates intra-band contiguous carrier aggregation with non-contiguous resource block allocation, and the first number of resource blocks and the second number of resource blocks are located within an aggregated channel bandwidth.

8. The first apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the configuration information indicates intra-band noncontiguous carrier aggregation, and the first number of resource blocks and the second number of resource blocks are located within a sub-block bandwidth.

9. The first apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the configuration information indicates a test identifier, and the first apparatus is caused to: determine resource block allocation corresponding to the indicated test identifier from a predefined test configuration for a plurality of test identifiers comprising the indicated test identifier; and determine the first number of resource blocks and the second number of resource blocks based on the resource block allocation.

10. The first apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first apparatus comprises a device under test, and the second apparatus comprises a test equipment.11 . A second apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the second apparatus at least to: transmit, to a first apparatus, configuration information for testing at least one of maximum output power reduction for carrier aggregation of the first apparatus or additional maximum output power reduction for carrier aggregation of the first apparatus; determine, based on the configuration information, a first number of resource blocks for a first component carrier and a second number of resource blocks for a second component carrier, a gap between the first number of resource blocks and the second number of resource blocks being larger than a nominal channel spacing, and the first number being different from the second number; and receive, simultaneously, a first transmission from the first apparatus via the first component carrier using the first number of resource blocks and a second transmission from the first second apparatus via the second component carrier using the second number of resource blocks.

12. The second apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the first transmission and the second transmission have the same configured maximum output power and a power spectral density imbalance between the first transmission and the second transmission exceeds a threshold level.

13. The second apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the second number is integer times the first number.

14. The second apparatus of claim 13, wherein the integer times comprise at least one of: 2 times, 4 times or 5 times.

15. The second apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the first number of resource blocks are located at a first edge of a bandwidth configured for transmissions from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, and the second number of resource blocks are located at a second edge of the bandwidth, the second edge being opposite to the first edge.

16. The second apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the first number of resource blocks are located at a first edge of a bandwidth configured for transmissions from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, and the second number of resource blocks have an offset to a second edge of the bandwidth, the second edge being opposite to the first edge.

17. The second apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the configuration information indicates intra-band contiguous carrier aggregation with non-contiguous resource block allocation, and the first number of resource blocks and the second number of resource blocks are located within an aggregated channel bandwidth.

18. The second apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the configuration information indicates intra-band non-contiguous carrier aggregation, and the first number of resource blocks and the second number of resource blocks are located within a sub-block bandwidth.

19. The second apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the configuration information indicates a test identifier, and the second apparatus is caused to: determine resource block allocation corresponding to the indicated test identifier from a predefined test configuration for a plurality of test identifiers comprising the indicated test identifier; and determine the first number of resource blocks and the second number of resource blocks based on the resource block allocation.

20. The second apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the first apparatus comprises a device under test, and the second apparatus comprises a test equipment.

21. A method comprising: receiving, at a first apparatus from a second apparatus, configuration information for testing at least one of maximum output power reduction for carrier aggregation of the first apparatus or additional maximum output power reduction for carrier aggregation of the first apparatus. determining, based on the configuration information, a first number of resource blocks for a first component carrier and a second number of resource blocks for a second component carrier, a gap between the first number of resource blocks and the second number of resource blocks being larger than a nominal channel spacing, and the first number being different from the second number. performing, simultaneously, a first transmission to the second apparatus via the first component carrier using the first number of resource blocks and a second transmission to the second apparatus via the second component carrier using the second number of resource blocks.

22. A method comprising: transmitting, at a second apparatus to a first apparatus, configuration information for testing at least one of maximum output power reduction for carrier aggregation of the first apparatus or additional maximum output power reduction for carrier aggregation of the first apparatus. determining, based on the configuration information, a first number of resource blocks for a first component carrier and a second number of resource blocks for a second component carrier, a gap between the first number of resource blocks and the second number of resource blocks being larger than a nominal channel spacing, and the first number being different from the second number. receiving, simultaneously, a first transmission from the first apparatus via the first component carrier using the first number of resource blocks and a second transmission from the first second apparatus via the second component carrier using the second number of resource blocks.

23. A computer readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus at least to perform the method of claim 21 or the method of claim 22.

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