Apparatus and method for determining in-band emissions for high order modulation performance improvements

Abstract

Example embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to in-band emission for high order modulation performance improvements. A method comprises receiving, from a second apparatus, a configuration comprising Error Vector Magnitude (EVM) limit and In-Band Emission (IBE) limit for an uplink (UL) transmission, the EVM limit comprising at least one value for a first EVM for EVM requirement corresponding to at least one modulation order, wherein for an individual modulation order, the value for the first EVM is larger than a value for a default EVM requirement, the IBE limit comprising at least one value for a second EVM for determining a corresponding IBE mask; determining, for the individual modulation order, the IBE mask based on the second EVM, wherein the value for the second EVM is larger than the value for the default EVM; and determining, a transmit power based at least in part on the determined IBE mask.

Description

IN-BAND EMISSIONS FOR HIGH ORDER MODULATION PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENTSFIELD

[0001] 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 in-band emission for high order modulation performance improvements.BACKGROUND

[0002] Error Vector Magnitude (EVM) is a general measure of transmitter accuracy in wireless communication systems, affected by factors like In-phase and Quadrature (IQ) imbalance, phase noise, nonlinear degradation, filter imperfections (including filter passband ripple and group delay), and thermal noise. Current standards define EVM requirements, as well as in-band emission (IBE) requirements which measure the ratio of power in non-allocated resource blocks (RBs) to allocated RBs and depend on EVM limits.SUMMARY

[0003] 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, a configuration comprising Error Vector Magnitude (EVM) limit and In-Band Emission (IBE) limit for an uplink (UL) transmission, the EVM limit comprising at least one value for a first EVM for EVM requirement corresponding to at least one modulation order, wherein for an individual modulation order, the value for the first EVM is larger than a value for a default EVM requirement, the IBE limit comprising at least one value for a second EVM for determining a corresponding IBE mask; determine, for the individual modulation order, the IBE mask based on the second EVM, wherein the value for the second EVM is larger than the value for the default EVM; and determine, a transmit power based at least in part on the determined IBE mask.

[0004] 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, a configuration comprising Error Vector Magnitude (EVM) limit and In-Band Emission (IBE) limit for an uplink (UL) transmission, the EVM limit comprising at least one value for a first EVM for EVM requirement corresponding to at least one modulation order, wherein for an individualmodulation order, the value for the first EVM is larger than a value for a default EVM requirement; the IBE limit comprising at least one value for a second EVM for determining a corresponding IBE mask; and receive, from the first apparatus, the UL transmission at a transmit power determined based at least in part on the IBE mask that is determined based on the second EVM for the individual modulation order, wherein the value for the second EVM is larger than the value for the default EVM.

[0005] In a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method. The method comprises: receiving, from a second apparatus, a configuration comprising Error Vector Magnitude (EVM) limit and In-Band Emission (IBE) limit for an uplink (UL) transmission, the EVM limit comprising at least one value for a first EVM for EVM requirement corresponding to at least one modulation order, wherein for an individual modulation order, the value for the first EVM is larger than a value for a default EVM requirement, the IBE limit comprising at least one value for a second EVM for determining a corresponding IBE mask; determining, for the individual modulation order, the IBE mask based on the second EVM, wherein the value for the second EVM is larger than the value for the default EVM; and determining, a transmit power based at least in part on the determined IBE mask.

[0006] In a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method. The method comprises: transmitting, to a first apparatus, a configuration comprising Error Vector Magnitude (EVM) limit and In-Band Emission (IBE) limit for an uplink (UL) transmission, the EVM limit comprising at least one value for a first EVM for EVM requirement corresponding to at least one modulation order, wherein for an individual modulation order, the value for the first EVM is larger than a value for a default EVM requirement; the IBE limit comprising at least one value for a second EVM for determining a corresponding IBE mask; and receiving, from the first apparatus, the UL transmission at a transmit power determined based at least in part on the IBE mask that is determined based on the second EVM for the individual modulation order, wherein the value for the second EVM is larger than the value for the default EVM..

[0007] 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, a configuration comprising Error Vector Magnitude (EVM) limit and In-Band Emission (IBE) limit for an uplink (UL) transmission, the EVM limit comprising at least one value for a first EVM for EVM requirement corresponding to at least one modulation order, wherein for an individual modulation order, the value for the first EVM is larger than a value for a default EVM requirement, the IBE limit comprising at least one value for a second EVM for determining a corresponding IBE mask; means for determining, for the individual modulation order, the IBE mask based on the second EVM, wherein the value for the second EVM is larger than the value for the default EVM; and means for determining, a transmit power based at least in part on the determined IBE mask.

[0008] In a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a second apparatus. Thesecond apparatus comprises: means for transmitting, to a first apparatus, a configuration comprising Error Vector Magnitude (EVM) limit and In-Band Emission (IBE) limit for an uplink (UL) transmission, the EVM limit comprising at least one value for a first EVM for EVM requirement corresponding to at least one modulation order, wherein for an individual modulation order, the value for the first EVM is larger than a value for a default EVM requirement; the IBE limit comprising at least one value for a second EVM for determining a corresponding IBE mask; and means for receiving, from the first apparatus, the UL transmission at a transmit power determined based at least in part on the IBE mask that is determined based on the second EVM for the individual modulation order, wherein the value for the second EVM is larger than the value for the default EVM.

[0009] I n 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.

[0010] 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.

[0011] 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

[0012] Some example embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, where:

[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates an example communication environment in which example embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented;

[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates MPR values for different modulations and the limiting requirement in frequency range 1 (FR1);

[0015] FIG. 3 illustrates example RF performances with a relaxed EVM;

[0016] FIG. 4 illustrates various examples for the EVM and IBE requirements under different operational conditions in accordance with some example embodiments in the present disclosure;

[0017] FIG. 5 illustrates an example signaling process in accordance with some embodiments in the present disclosure;

[0018] FIGs. 6A-6B illustrate example simulation results in accordance with some embodiments in the present disclosure;

[0019] FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a first apparatus in accordance withsome example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0020] FIG. 8 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a second apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0021] FIG. 9 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a device that is suitable for implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0022] FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram of an example computer readable medium in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0023] Throughout the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals represent the same or similar element.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] 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.

[0025] 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.

[0026] 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.

[0027] 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.

[0028] As used herein, “at least one of the following: ” and “at leastone 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.

[0029] 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.

[0030] 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.

[0031] 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 ci rcuit(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.

[0032] 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 a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

[0033] 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), NarrowBand 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.

[0034] 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 (IAB) 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.

[0035] 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), portable computers, desktop computer, image capture terminal devices such as digital cameras, gaming terminal devices, music storage and playback appliances, vehicle-mounted wireless terminal devices, 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 chaincontexts), 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.

[0036] 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.

[0037] As used herein, the term “Error Vector Magnitude” (EVM) refers to a measure of the difference between the ideal signal and the measured signal in a communication system. EVM may be calculated as the square root of the ratio of the mean error vector power, which represents the deviation of the received signal from the ideal constellation point, to the mean reference power. EVM may be expressed as a percentage and is used to evaluate the quality of modulation and the overall performance of the transmitter. EVM requirements are defined in current standards to ensure that a transmitter meets modulation quality for expected in-channel RF transmissions from the UE for different modulation schemes.

[0038] As used herein, the term “In-Band Emission” (IBE) refers to the unwanted emissions from the allocated transmission bandwidth to adjacent frequencies within the UE channel bandwidth of a communication system. These emissions may interfere with the transmission of other UEs allocated within the same channel bandwidth. Hence, IBE requirements are defined in current standards for UEs to regulate the interference from the desired UE’s allocated transmission bandwidth to the nonallocated frequencies within the UE channel bandwidth.

[0039] As used herein, the term “Digital Post Distortion” (DPoD) refers to a technique used to correct signal distortions that occur during transmission in communication systems. DPoD involves applying advanced algorithms, for example digital signal processing algorithms, to the received signal to compensate for nonlinearities (for example caused by the power amplifier at the transmitter) and other distortions introduced by the transmission medium or hardware. This technique enhances the accuracy and quality of the transmitted signal.

[0040] Example embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below withreference to the accompanying drawings.

[0041] 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 plurality of communication devices, including a terminal device 110 and a network device 120, can communicate with each other. In the example of FIG. 1 , the terminal device 110 may be a UE and the network device 120 may be a base station serving the UE. The serving area of the network device 120 may be called a cell.

[0042] It is to be understood that the number of devices 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 devices configured to implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure. Although not shown, it would be appreciated that one or more additional devices may be located in the cell, and one or more additional cells may be deployed in the communication environment 100. It is noted that although illustrated as a network device, the network device 120 may be another device than a network device. Although illustrated as a terminal device, the terminal device 110 may be another device than a terminal device.

[0043] In the following, for the purpose of illustration, some example embodiments are described with the terminal device 110 operating as a UE and the network device 120 operating as a base station. However, in some example embodiments, operations described in connection with a terminal device may be implemented at a network device or other device, and operations described in connection with a network device may be implemented at a terminal device or other device.

[0044] In some example embodiments, a transmission direction from the network device 120 to the terminal device 110 is referred to as a downlink (DL), while a transmission direction from the terminal device 110 to the network device 120 is referred to as an uplink (UL). In DL, the network device 120 is a transmitting (TX) device (or a transmitter) and the terminal device 110 is a receiving (RX) device (or a receiver). In UL, the terminal device 110 is a TX device (or a transmitter) and the network device 120 is a RX device (or a receiver).

[0045] Communications in the communication environment 100 may be implemented according to any proper communication protocol (s), comprising, but not limited to, cellular communication protocols, 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 othertechnologies currently known or to be developed in the future.

[0046] As aforementioned, EVM is intended as a general measure of transmitter accuracy, by measuring difference between the reference waveform and the measured waveform. In current standards, it is strictly defined for UE transmitters the 5G EVM requirements after correcting for sample time offset, RF frequency offset, and carrier leakage from transmitted waveforms.

[0047] As previously discussed, various sources of signal degradation contribute to the total EVM. For example, the IQ image rejection ratio (IRR) requirement, which must meet a minimum of 28 dB due to IQ imbalance (including amplitude and phase errors), results in an isolated contribution to the overall EVM of up to 3.98%.

[0048] Some sources of signal degradation, such as IQ imbalance, may be mitigated through transmitter calibration. Calibration techniques involve fine-tuning the transmitter hardware to minimize amplitude and phase mismatches between the in-phase (I) and quadrature-phase (Q) components. However, other sources of degradation, such as nonlinearities introduced by the Power Amplifier (PA), present greater challenges. PA nonlinearities often result in signal distortions that are complex and difficult to compensate for within the transmitter alone, as they typically involve higher-order nonlinear effects and spectral regrowth.

[0049] IBE is a requirement to minimize interference from allocated transmission bandwidth to adjacent non-allocated frequency within the assigned channel bandwidth. According to the 5G standard, current IBE requirement consists of an EVM-dependent limit, i.e.,20 • logwEVM - 3 - 5 • (|RB| - ) / LCRB(Eq. 1)

[0050] where EVM is the maximum allowed EVM limit with respect to a considered modulation. This implies that higher-order modulation with a stricter EVM requirement necessitates stricter IBE limits.

[0051] Receiver-side techniques, such as Digital Post Distortion (DPoD), may be employed to improve EVM. DPoD applies digital signal processing algorithms to counteract distortion introduced by the transmitter and / or channel. In scenarios where receiver-side processing techniques like DPoD are implemented, the stringent transmitter requirements for certain parameters, such as In-Band Emission (IBE), may potentially be relaxed. This relaxation is possible because the receiver compensates for transmitter-induced distortions, thereby reducing the need for the transmitter to meet overly rigid specifications.

[0052] Compensating for PA non-linearity distortion at the receiver is a potential effective technique to enhance performance, particularly for high-order modulations. This involves the receiver estimating or learning the PA’s impairments and applying compensation. Techniques such as Digital PostDistortion Inverse, Power Amplifier Nonlinearity Cancellation (PANC), Reconstruction of Distorted Signals (RODS), or AI / ML-based approaches may be used. This may benefit UL performance byallowing UEs to transmit more distorted signals, enabling higher transmit power and improved overall UL efficiency. Current studies demonstrate the potential for DPoD to enable a substantial relaxation of RF requirements for transmitter EVM.

[0053] 3GPP defines the Maximum Power Reduction (MPR) requirements in the UL as the maximum allowed reduction in transmit power that ensures the UE satisfying the minimum RF performance criteria. These criteria include key parameters such as Error Vector Magnitude (EVM), In-Band Emission (IBE), Adjacent Channel Leakage Ratio (ACLR), Occupied Bandwidth (OBW), Spectrum Emission Mask (SEM), and spurious emissions.

[0054] The primary motivation for compensating for PA non-linearities lies in its application to higher-order modulation schemes, such as 64-QAM, 256-QAM or higher, which may be typically constrained by EVM requirements. In EVM-limited scenarios, MPR is defined such that EVM limit is tightly satisfied.

[0055] Referring now to FIG. 2, which illustrates MPR values for different modulations and the limiting requirements in frequency range 1 (FR1). As shown in FIG. 2, MPR values vary based on the modulation order and the specific RF requirement that dictates the MPR in FR1 according to current 5G standards. For example, in the case of 256-QAM, EVM is consistently the limiting factor that defines MPR. For lower modulation orders, such as 64-QAM, the MPR is typically limited by IBE for the inner RB allocation region and ACLR in the outer RB allocation region.

[0056] To derive the benefits of PA non-linearity compensation techniques, such as DPoD applied at the receiver, focusing on improving performance in EVM-limited scenarios would be explored. In these cases, increasing the allowable transmit power may lead to better utilization of advanced compensation methods. However, achieving this requires relaxing the strict EVM limits imposed by current specifications. Relaxing the EVM requirements, however, introduces a secondary challenge: as the EVM limit is relaxed, IBE often becomes the primary limiting factor. This constraint prevents further increases in transmit power beyond that set by the IBE limit, significantly curtailing the potential performance gains achievable with methods like DPoD, e.g., in FR1.

[0057] Referring now to FIG. 3, which illustrates example RF performance where EVM is excluded from the RF requirements, but the IBE requirement is maintained at its current specification levels (based on the default EVM limit specified in current standards). In this hypothetical extreme case, IBE becomes the primary limiting factor for 256-QAM transmissions. The results demonstrate that the performance gains are significantly restricted, with a maximum improvement of only about 1.5 dB in the inner RB allocation region, due to the stringent IBE limits. This highlights the difficulty of fully leveraging relaxed EVM requirements when IBE remains unaltered.

[0058] To fully unlock the potential benefits of relaxed EVM requirements and advanced PA nonlinearity compensation techniques at the receiver, a reconsideration of IBE requirement is essential.The current IBE constraints create a bottleneck that limits the gains achievable by relaxing EVM. Therefore, the focus here is to redefine the IBE requirement in scenarios where EVM relaxation is considered to enable effective PA non-linearity compensation and improved UL performance. This redefinition would need to carefully balance performance, compliance, and the integrity of the transmitted signal to meet evolving network demands.

[0059] The redefinition could lead to the relaxation and optimization of IBE requirement in future communication systems, including upcoming 6G networks, to enhance UL performance. IBE impacts only the actual channel bandwidth of the network and may be managed dynamically and autonomously by the network itself, depending on the specific operating conditions. This adaptive approach may help achieve a more efficient balance between IBE limits and improved UL transmission performance.

[0060] The core concept in the disclosure provides the gNB with the capability to tradeoff between IBE and UL coverage, particularly for devices using DPoD with high Modulation and Coding Schemes (MCS). It is anticipated that in many scenarios, the gNB may tolerate much higher levels of IBE than are currently permitted under existing regulations. Specific examples where higher IBE tolerance could be beneficial include scenarios with partial UL load, where the network resources are underutilized; Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM) between devices using low MCS and those using high MCS, facilitating that the high MCS users may benefit from relaxed IBE constraints; and advanced receiver implementations that support higher levels of IBE, such as through spatial cancellation techniques that mitigate the impact of the IBE component on received signals.

[0061] Embodiments in the disclosure aim to introduce a new IBE requirement by making the EVM- dependent component in the IBE mask relaxed and / or configurable. The general form of the EVM component in the IBE equation may now be expressed as:

[0062] where EVM is the configurable EVM limit used in the IBE mask, and it is typically different from the default EVM limit used in the evaluation of EVM requirements in the current standards (denoted as EVMoefauit).

[0063] There are several key assumptions regarding the interaction between EVM requirements and advanced processing algorithms like DPoD. Under default conditions, where no advanced processing techniques are applied, the UE adheres to the EVM requirements specified in the current standards. For a given modulation, the EVM limit under these default conditions is denoted as EVMoefauit, which represents the baseline performance requirement for ensuring compliance with 3GPP standards.

[0064] When an advanced algorithm such as DPoD is enabled, the UE is allowed or configured to transmit with a relaxed EVM limit. This relaxed EVM threshold, referred to as EVMReiaxed, exceeds the EVMoefauit value (i.e., EVMReiaxed > EVMoefauit) and reflects the enhanced processing capabilities provided by the DPoD algorithm. There may also be a plurality of relaxed EVM requirements. TheEVM used in determining an IBE may depend on value of a relaxed EVM requirement selected from the plurality of relaxed requirements.

[0065] Given these assumptions, when the UE is permitted to transmit under a relaxed EVM requirement (EVMReiaxed), it is proposed that the EVM-dependent component in the IBE requirement may no longer rely solely on the default EVM limit (EVMoefauit). Instead, it may be based on a configurable EVM parameter, denoted as EVM, which may either be dynamically indicated by the network or predefined based on specific configurations, such as the activation of DPoD or activation of relaxation of EVM requirement. The configurable EVM parameter would replace the default EVM parameter used in determining the IBE limit, allowing the IBE requirement to be aligned with the relaxed EVM threshold associated with advanced processing techniques.

[0066] In an embodiment, the UE may be configured to utilize the configurable EVM parameter with a value greater than the default EVM requirement, i.e., EVM > EVMoefauit. This configuration introduces flexibility in adapting the EVM-dependent component of the IBE requirement, enabling the accommodation of advanced processing algorithms such as DPoD. The use of EVM> EVMoefauit may provide the potential to achieve performance improvements by allowing a higher transmission power while maintaining acceptable in-band emissions. This approach may be further divided into two distinct options based on how EVM relates to other EVM thresholds, namely EVMReiaxed and EVMoefauit.

[0067] In a first option, referred to as Option 1 a, the configurable EVM parameter EVM may be explicitly configured as equal to the relaxed EVM requirement EVMReiaxed, i.e., EVMoefauit <EVM = EVMReiaxed. In this scenario, EVM may serve as a direct representation of the relaxed EVM threshold introduced by the DPoD algorithm or a similar advanced processing technique. By configuring EVM to be equal to EVMReiaxed, the IBE requirement may be relaxed to match the operational performance of the UE when utilizing the relaxed EVM threshold. This configuration may provide alignment of the IBE requirements with the enhanced capabilities of the UE, allowing for performance gains. Specifically, this configuration may provide the necessary trade-offs to achieve improved transmission power, and hence uplink (UL) coverage, by leveraging the increased flexibility afforded by the relaxed EVM limits.

[0068] In a second option, referred to as Option 1 b, the value of the configurable EVM parameter EVM remains greater than the default EVM requirement EVMoefauit but is not equal to the relaxed EVM threshold EVMReiaxed, i.e., EVMoefauit <EVMEVMReiaxed. The value of the configurable EVM parameter EVM may be either smaller or larger than EVMReiaxed. This configuration introduces an additional layer of flexibility, allowing the network to specify an EVM value that is distinct from both the default and relaxed thresholds. By doing so, a tailored balance between uplink transmission power (UL coverage) and in-band emission requirements (IBE) may be achieved. Compared to Option 1 a,this configuration may provide a more granular mechanism for managing the trade-offs involved. While it still supports performance gains enabled by algorithms like DPoD, it may also offer a finer control over how much the IBE relaxation is leveraged, taking into account the receiver’s tolerance to IBE and the network’s overall resource management strategy.

[0069] This distinction between Option 1 a and Option 1 b is particularly valuable in scenarios where achieving the optimal trade-off between UL coverage and IBE constraints is essential. Option 1 a provides a clear performance boost by directly aligning the IBE requirements with the relaxed EVM threshold. In contrast, Option 1 b allows for a more flexible and nuanced approach, enabling the network to fine-tune the balance between power and IBE constraints to suit specific deployment scenarios, such as varying levels of UL traffic load, modulation schemes, or receiver capabilities. Both options contribute to enhancing the overall efficiency and performance of the UL communication system while supporting the integration of advanced processing techniques like DPoD.

[0070] In an embodiment, the configurable EVM parameter EVM may be configured to be equal to the default EVM requirement EVMoefauit, i.e., EVM = EVMoefauit. This configuration means that the EVM parameter in the calculation of the IBE limit (or in short, IBE equation) remains based on the default EVM requirement specified for the modulation scheme in use. However, in this approach, the actual EVM limit applied to the UE’s transmission may be allowed to be relaxed beyond EVMoefauit, depending on the network configuration and the use of advanced processing techniques such as DPoD.

[0071] By maintaining EVM = EVMoefauit \n the IBE equation, a level of consistency with existing standards and requirements may be retained, minimizing the need for significant changes to the regulatory framework. However, by allowing the UE to transmit with a relaxed EVM limit, the system may still capitalize on the benefits of advanced signal processing methods.

[0072] In an embodiment, EVM may not be strictly tied to the default EVM requirement for the specific modulation scheme in use but is instead chosen from one of the EVM requirements for a lower-order modulation scheme or a lower coding rate for a specific modulation order. For example, when the UE is transmitting using 256QAM, the value of EVM in the IBE equation may be configured to be equal to the default EVM requirement for 64QAM, which is a less stringent threshold. This configuration enables further relaxation of the IBE requirements while still adhering to a baseline that is consistent with standardized modulation schemes. By choosing EVM from a lower-order modulation scheme, the network may introduce additional flexibility in managing the trade-off between IBE and UL transmission power.

[0073] It is particularly beneficial in high-performance UL scenarios where advanced processing algorithms such as DPoD are employed to compensate for non-linearities in the power amplifier. By using a less restrictive EVM value in IBE equation, the system may achieve higher transmit power levels, improving UL coverage and data rates. At the same time, the IBE requirement remainsmanageable, the overall system performance is not compromised.

[0074] In an embodiment, the configurable EVM parameter EVM may be configured with a scaling factor a (where a > 1), which is applied on top of the default EVM limits EVMoetauit, expressed as EVM = aEVMdefault, where a > 1. The value of a may be determined based on various system parameters or performance trade-offs, such as hardware capabilities, deployment scenarios, or specific use case requirements. The scaling factor a can be adjusted to balance between maintaining signal quality and achieving improved system efficiency.

[0075] In an embodiment, the UL transmit power may be determined based on the relaxed EVM and the configurable EVM parameter EVM.

[0076] In an embodiment, this new requirement based on the proposed configurable EVM parameter EVM may be applicable to specific allocation regions within the frequency spectrum instead of being applied universally across the entire assigned UL channel bandwidth. For instance, the new IBE requirement could be restricted to inner RB allocation regions, leaving outer RB allocation regions subject to the existing IBE rules. This approach facilitates that the new relaxed requirements may be applied in a controlled manner, minimizing the risk of interference or degradation of system performance in critical areas of the assigned UL transmission spectrum. The determination of which RB allocation regions are subject to the new IBE requirement may be based on factors such as the operational environment, network configuration, or traffic patterns.

[0077] Alternatively, or additionally, the new IBE requirement may be applied selectively based on the modulation scheme in use. For example, the relaxed IBE requirement could be targeted at higher- order modulation schemes such as 64-QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) and 256-QAM. These modulation schemes, which provide higher spectral efficiency, are typically more sensitive to performance constraints and may benefit from the application of relaxed IBE requirements. The selective application facilitates that system performance may be optimized for specific use cases without compromising overall network integrity. Alternatively, or additionally, the new IBE requirement may be applied selectively based on the coding rate in use for a specific modulation order. For example, the relaxed IBE requirement could be targeted to a lower coding rate.

[0078] The specific value of the IBE limit may also depend on the characteristics of the resource allocation, including resource block (RB) allocation length, denoted as LCRB, and the index of the first RB in the allocation, denoted as RBstart. These parameters may collectively define the allocation’s location and length within the system bandwidth, influencing how and where the relaxed IBE requirement may be effectively applied. For instance, allocations located in less interference-sensitive regions may be more suitable for relaxed requirements, while allocations in critical regions may adhere to stricter standards.

[0079] In one embodiment, the gNB may be responsible for configuring the allocation range ofresource blocks (RBs) where relaxed IBE requirements are valid. For example, the gNB might specify that RB allocations of which the index of the first RB within the ranges [0, 1 , .... 50] and [223, 224, ..., 272] operate according to the existing IBE rules, while RB allocations of which the index of the first RB within the range [51 , 52, ..., 222] operate under the relaxed IBE rules. This configuration allows the network to optimize performance by strategically applying relaxed requirements to specific portions of the bandwidth, depending on factors such as traffic distribution, interference conditions, or service priorities.

[0080] For each embodiment, a measurement test setup may be specified for a configuration with respect to a pair of a relaxed EVM limit and IBE requirement determined by the EVM . The measurement test setup may not include a PA nonlinearity compensation for the measured signal before the transmit EVM and IBE calculation. Nevertheless, in some measurement test setup, the compensation may also be included. The transmit power determined by a relaxed EVM limit and IBE requirement determined by the EVM needs to satisfy EVM and IBE requirements specified by the measurement test specifications.

[0081] The configuration of IBE regions may be performed either semi-statically or dynamically. Semi-static configuration involves the use of Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling to establish long-term configurations that remain consistent over time, providing predictability and stability in the network. On the other hand, dynamic configuration involves real-time adjustments that can be made via dedicated Downlink Control Information (DCI) or group-common DCI signaling. Dynamic configuration enables the network to respond quickly to changes in traffic conditions, scheduling demands, or other operational factors.

[0082] The gNB may determine the appropriate IBE requirement based on various conditions, such as traffic patterns, scheduling priorities, or overall network performance metrics. For instance, during periods of high traffic, the gNB might configure the system to prioritize resource efficiency by applying relaxed IBE requirements to less critical regions, thereby maximizing throughput and minimizing congestion. Conversely, during periods of low traffic, the gNB may enforce stricter requirements to maintain higher signal quality and minimize emissions.

[0083] The introduction of relaxed IBE requirements may have direct implications for related parameters, such as the relaxed EVM (EVMReiaxed) and the configurable EVM (EVM). Adjustments to these parameters may be necessary to ensure consistency with the new IBE requirements and to maintain an appropriate balance between in-band interference control and system performance.

[0084] Referring now to FIG. 4, which illustrates various examples for defining the EVM and IBE requirements under different operational conditions. These examples illustrate how the network can adapt its requirements dynamically to optimize performance while adhering to predefined constraints. When utilizing DCI for adaptation, such as in the case of an uplink (UL) grant conveyed for examplevia DCI Format 0_1 , a signaling mechanism may be implemented to enable real-time selection of specific requirement configurations.

[0085] For instance, the DCI could include a single bit or a pair of signaling states, which may be used to dynamically select one of the columns from the table. This bit acts as a control signal, enabling the gNB to switch between different operational profiles based on real-time network conditions, traffic requirements, or interference scenarios. In a practical example, this single bit could toggle between the second column, representing the default EVM and IBE requirements, and the third column, which might represent a relaxed or alternative set of requirements (e.g., Option 1 b, 1c or 1 d). This mechanism provides a straightforward and efficient means of adapting system performance by leveraging minimal signaling overhead. The selection between requirement profiles can occur in realtime, allowing the system to optimize resource allocation dynamically while maintaining compliance with operational constraints.

[0086] Referring now to FIG. 5, which illustrates an example signaling process 500 in accordance with some embodiments in the present disclosure. The UE 110 may be the terminal device 110 in FIG. 1 and the gNodeB may be the network device 120 in FIG. 1 .

[0087] The signaling process 500 begins with the UE 110 indicating 401 its capability to support relaxed EVM transmission and / or the application of a new IBE requirement. This capability indication can be communicated by the UE 110 to the gNB 120 during an initial setup procedure, such as UE capability signaling, or through specific signaling messages triggered by the network. Notably, this step may be optional in certain scenarios, depending on the network’s preconfigured policies or the use case. For instance, in environments where the relaxed EVM mode is standard for certain categories of UEs or services, the UE 110 may not need to explicitly indicate its capability. However, when the network requires explicit confirmation, this step may ensure that the gNB 120 is aware of the UE’s ability to support these enhanced configurations.

[0088] Following the capability indication, the gNB 120 proceeds to configure 502 the UE 110 with a relaxed EVM requirement. This configuration may be tied to a specific operational mode, such as a DPoD mode (or modes related to other PA non-linearity distortion compensation techinque), which inherently aligns with the application of a more relaxed EVM constraint. The relaxed EVM requirement may allow the UE 110 more flexibility in meeting signal quality standards, thereby enhancing efficiency in scenarios where strict EVM compliance is not critical. This configuration is typically communicated to the UE through Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, with parameters defining the scope and conditions of the relaxed EVM mode.

[0089] Simultaneously or subsequently, the gNB 120 may configure 503 the UE 110 with the applicable IBE requirement. The IBE requirement is defined in accordance with the configurable EVM parameter EVM which incorporates scaling factors or adjustments based on the relaxed mode asdiscussed in the above. This facilitates that the IBE requirement is consistent with the relaxed EVM constraints, enabling the UE to optimize its transmission while adhering to the IBE requirements. The IBE requirement configuration may also specify the frequency ranges, modulation schemes, or resource block allocations where the new criteria apply, providing the UE 110 with clear guidance on how to implement the settings dynamically.

[0090] After receiving the configuration messages from the gNB 120, the UE 110 may process the information to determine 504 the applicable IBE requirement according to the configurable EVM parameter EVM. The UE 110 may determine the transmit power (the power backoff or MPR) based on the relaxed requirements and configure its transmission power. The UE 110 may align its transmission behavior to comply with the adjusted requirements, ensuring that its IBE remains within the permissible range defined by the network for the relaxed EVM mode.

[0091] The UE 110 may calculate 505 the transmit power for the Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) based on the configured relaxed EVM requirement and the corresponding IBE requirement. This calculation involves balancing multiple factors, including the allocated power for uplink transmissions, the relaxed constraints on EVM, and the specific IBE thresholds applicable to the configured mode.

[0092] Referring now to FIGs. 6A-6B, which illustrate example simulation results. FIG. 6A shows the MPR required for 256QAM modulation with an allocation length of 8 Physical Resource Blocks (PRBs) in a 100 MHz channel to satisfy RF emission requirements. MPR, which refers to the maximum reduction in transmission power necessary to meet regulatory and network-defined emission constraints, serves as an important performance metric. A smaller MPR indicates better performance, as less power reduction is required.

[0093] The analysis presented in FIG. 6A explores the impact of varying EVM limits and IBE mask definitions on the required MPR. Notably, the results demonstrate that relaxing the EVM limit does not always translate to an MPR improvement, and the actual gain is heavily dependent on how the IBE mask is defined.

[0094] When the IBE mask is based on the default EVM limits, the benefits of relaxing the EVM limit are minimal. In this case, even if EVM is excluded entirely from the set of RF requirements, the MPR reduction is not significant for the majority of PRB allocations across the channel bandwidth. The only notable exception is for allocations positioned near the middle of the channel.

[0095] In contrast, when the EVM limit is relaxed not only for EVM compliance but also in the IBE mask, a clear and substantial MPR gain can be observed. This means that the relaxed EVM threshold is directly reflected in the IBE requirements, allowing the UE more flexibility in meeting RF in-band emission constraints. By coupling relaxed EVM limits with corresponding adjustments in the IBE mask, UE is able to operate higher transmit power, achieving better efficiency across a wider range ofchannel allocations.

[0096] FIG. 6B illustrates the MPR required for 64QAM modulation, using the same settings as in the previous example with an 8-PRB allocation length in a 100 MHz channel. Unlike the case for 256QAM, it is important to note that EVM is not the limiting factor for RF performance in this scenario. However, the results indicate that relaxing the EVM limit in both the EVM and IBE requirements still allows for better MPR gains.

[0097] Similarly, when the EVM limit is relaxed only in the EVM requirement, no notable improvement in MPR is observed. In contrast, when the relaxation of the EVM limit is extended to the IBE requirements, clear MPR gains are achieved.

[0098] 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.

[0099] At block 710, receiving, from a second apparatus, a configuration comprising Error Vector Magnitude (EVM) limit and In-Band Emission (IBE) limit for an uplink (UL) transmission, the EVM limit comprising at least one value for a first EVM for EVM requirement corresponding to at least one modulation order, wherein for an individual modulation order, the value for the first EVM is larger than a value for a default EVM requirement, the IBE limit comprising at least one value for a second EVM for determining a corresponding IBE mask.

[0100] At block 720, determining, for the individual modulation order, the IBE mask based on the second EVM, wherein the value for the second EVM is larger than the value for the default EVM.

[0101] At block 730, determining, a transmit power based at least in part on the determined IBE mask.

[0102] In some example embodiments, the method 700 further comprises: determine, the transmit power based on a Maximum Power Reduction (MPR) determined based on a value for the first EVM and the value for the second EVM.

[0103] In some example embodiments, the method 700 further comprises: determine, for a specific Resource Block (RB) allocation region, the IBE mask based on the second EVM; and determine, for an RB allocation region other than the specific RB allocation region, the IBE mask based on the default EVM or the first EVM.

[0104] In some example embodiments, the method 700 further comprises: determining the IBE mask based on the second EVM dependent on an RB allocation length and an index of the first Resource Block (RB).

[0105] In some example embodiments, the method 700 further comprises: determine the IBE mask based on the second EVM dependent on a coding rate.

[0106] In some example embodiments, for an individual modulation order, the value for the first EVMis different from the value for the second EVM and the second EVM is configured with one of: a value smaller than the value for the first EVM, a value larger than the value for the first EVM, a value for the default EVM used by a modulation order lower than the individual modulation order, or a scaled value of the value for the default EVM, where the scaling factor is larger than one.

[0107] In some example embodiments, the value for the first EVM is configured with a value for the default EVM used by a modulation order lower than the individual modulation order.

[0108] In some example embodiments, the configuration comprises an indication indicating the selection of the at least one value for the first EVM or the at least one value for the second EVM.

[0109] In some example embodiments, the method 700 further comprises: determining, in the absence of the configuration, the transmit power based at least in part on an IBE mask determined based a value for the default EVM.

[0110] In some example embodiments, the configuration is received at least via one of Radio Resource Configuration (RRC), Media Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE) or Downlink Control Information (DCI).

[0111] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus is or is comprised in a terminal device, and wherein the second apparatus is or is comprised in a network device.

[0112] 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 110 in FIG. 1.

[0113] At block 810, transmitting, to a first apparatus, a configuration comprising Error Vector Magnitude (EVM) limit and In-Band Emission (IBE) limit for an uplink (UL) transmission, the EVM limit comprising at least one value for a first EVM for EVM requirement corresponding to at least one modulation order, wherein for an individual modulation order, the value for the first EVM is larger than a value for a default EVM requirement; the IBE limit comprising at least one value for a second EVM for determining a corresponding IBE mask.

[0114] At block 820, receiving, from the first apparatus, the UL transmission at a transmit power determined based at least in part on the IBE mask that is determined based on the second EVM for the individual modulation order, wherein the value for the second EVM is larger than the value for the default EVM.

[0115] In some example embodiments, the configuration indicates to: determine, the transmit power based on a Maximum Power Reduction (MPR) determined based on a value for the first EVM and the value for the second EVM.

[0116] In some example embodiments, the configuration indicates to: determine, for a specific Resource Block (RB) allocation region, the IBE mask based on the second EVM; and determine, for an RB allocation region other than the specific RB allocation region, the IBE mask based on the defaultEVM or the first EVM.

[0117] In some example embodiments, the configuration indicates to: determine the IBE mask based on the second EVM dependent on an RB allocation length and an index of the first Resource Block (RB).

[0118] In some example embodiments, the configuration indicates to: determine the IBE mask based on the second EVM dependent on a coding rate.

[0119] In some example embodiments, for an individual modulation order, the value for the first EVM is different from the value for the second EVM and the second EVM is configured with one of: a value smaller than the value for the first EVM, a value larger than the value for the first EVM, a value for the default EVM used by a modulation order lower than the individual modulation order, or a scaled value of the value for the default EVM, where the scaling factor is larger than one.

[0120] In some example embodiments, the value for the first EVM is configured with a value for the default EVM used by a modulation order lower than the individual modulation order.

[0121] In some example embodiments, the configuration comprises an indication indicating the selection of the at least one value for the first EVM or the at least one value for the second EVM.

[0122] In some example embodiments, the configuration is received at least via one of Radio Resource Configuration (RRC), Media Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE) or Downlink Control Information (DCI).

[0123] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus is or is comprised in a terminal device, and wherein the second apparatus is or is comprised in a network device.

[0124] 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 .

[0125] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus comprises means for receiving, from a second apparatus, a configuration comprising Error Vector Magnitude (EVM) limit and In-Band Emission (IBE) limit for an uplink (UL) transmission, the EVM limit comprising at least one value for a first EVM for EVM requirement corresponding to at least one modulation order, wherein for an individual modulation order, the value for the first EVM is larger than a value for a default EVM requirement, the IBE limit comprising at least one value for a second EVM for determining a corresponding IBE mask; means for determining, for the individual modulation order, the IBE mask based on the second EVM, wherein the value for the second EVM is larger than the value for the default EVM; and means for determining, a transmit power based at least in part on the determined IBE mask.

[0126] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for determining, the transmit power based on a Maximum Power Reduction (MPR) determined based on a value for the first EVM and the value for the second EVM.

[0127] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for determining, for a specific Resource Block (RB) allocation region, the IBE mask based on the second EVM; and determine, for an RB allocation region other than the specific RB allocation region, the IBE mask based on the default EVM or the first EVM.

[0128] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for determining the IBE mask based on the second EVM dependent on an RB allocation length and an index of the first Resource Block (RB).

[0129] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for determining the IBE mask based on the second EVM dependent on a coding rate.

[0130] In some example embodiments, for an individual modulation order, the value for the first EVM is different from the value for the second EVM and the second EVM is configured with one of: a value smaller than the value for the first EVM, a value larger than the value for the first EVM, a value for the default EVM used by a modulation order lower than the individual modulation order, or a scaled value of the value for the default EVM, where the scaling factor is larger than one.

[0131] In some example embodiments, the value for the first EVM is configured with a value for the default EVM used by a modulation order lower than the individual modulation order.

[0132] In some example embodiments, the configuration comprises an indication indicating the selection of the at least one value for the first EVM or the at least one value for the second EVM.

[0133] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for determining, in the absence of the configuration, the transmit power based at least in part on an IBE mask determined based a value for the default EVM.

[0134] In some example embodiments, the configuration is received at least via one of Radio Resource Configuration (RRC), Media Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE) or Downlink Control Information (DCI).

[0135] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus is or is comprised in a terminal device, and wherein the second apparatus is or is comprised in a network device.

[0136] In some example embodiments, a second apparatus capable of performing any of the method 800 (for example, the second apparatus 110 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 110 in FIG. 1 .

[0137] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus comprises means for transmitting toa first apparatus, a configuration comprising Error Vector Magnitude (EVM) limit and In-Band Emission (IBE) limit for an uplink (UL) transmission, the EVM limit comprising at least one value for a first EVM for EVM requirement corresponding to at least one modulation order, wherein for an individual modulation order, the value for the first EVM is larger than a value for a default EVM requirement; the IBE limit comprising at least one value for a second EVM for determining a corresponding IBE mask; and means for receiving, from the first apparatus, the UL transmission at a transmit power determined based at least in part on the IBE mask that is determined based on the second EVM for the individual modulation order, wherein the value for the second EVM is larger than the value for the default EVM.

[0138] In some example embodiments, the configuration indicates to: determine, the transmit power based on a Maximum Power Reduction (MPR) determined based on a value for the first EVM and the value for the second EVM.

[0139] In some example embodiments, the configuration indicates to: determine, for a specific Resource Block (RB) allocation region, the IBE mask based on the second EVM; and determine, for an RB allocation region other than the specific RB allocation region, the IBE mask based on the default EVM or the first EVM.

[0140] In some example embodiments, the configuration indicates to: determine the IBE mask based on the second EVM dependent on an RB allocation length and an index of the first Resource Block (RB).

[0141] In some example embodiments, the configuration indicates to: determine the IBE mask based on the second EVM dependent on a coding rate.

[0142] In some example embodiments, for an individual modulation order, the value for the first EVM is different from the value for the second EVM and the second EVM is configured with one of: a value smaller than the value for the first EVM, a value larger than the value for the first EVM, a value for the default EVM used by a modulation order lower than the individual modulation order, or a scaled value of the value for the default EVM, where the scaling factor is larger than one.

[0143] In some example embodiments, the value for the first EVM is configured with a value for the default EVM used by a modulation order lower than the individual modulation order.

[0144] In some example embodiments, the configuration comprises an indication indicating the selection of the at least one value for the first EVM or the at least one value for the second EVM.

[0145] In some example embodiments, the configuration is received at least via one of Radio Resource Configuration (RRC), Media Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE) or Downlink Control Information (DCI).

[0146] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus is or is comprised in a terminal device, and wherein the second apparatus is or is comprised in a network device.

[0147] FIG. 9 is a simplified block diagram of a device 900 that is suitable for implementing exampleembodiments of the present disclosure. The device 900 may be provided to implement a communication device, for example, the terminal device 110 or the network device 120 as shown in FIG. 1 , or the UE 110 and the gNB 120 in FIG. 5. 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.

[0148] 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.

[0149] 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.

[0150] 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.

[0151] 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.

[0152] 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 FIGs. 2-9. The example embodiments of the present disclosure may also be implemented by hardware or by a combination of software and hardware.

[0153] 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 930from 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).

[0154] 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.

[0155] 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.

[0156] Some example embodiments of the present disclosure also provide at least one computer program 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.

[0157] 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.

[0158] 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.

[0159] 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.

[0160] 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 as limitations 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.

[0161] 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

26What 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, a configuration comprising Error Vector Magnitude (EVM) limit and In-Band Emission (IBE) limit for an uplink (UL) transmission, the EVM limit comprising at least one value for a first EVM for EVM requirement corresponding to at least one modulation order, wherein for an individual modulation order, the value for the first EVM is larger than a value for a default EVM requirement, the IBE limit comprising at least one value for a second EVM for determining a corresponding IBE mask; determine, for the individual modulation order, the IBE mask based on the second EVM, wherein the value for the second EVM is larger than the value for the default EVM; and determine, a transmit power based at least in part on the determined IBE mask.

2. The first apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first apparatus is caused to: determine, the transmit power based on a Maximum Power Reduction (MPR) determined based on a value for the first EVM and the value for the second EVM.

3. The first apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first apparatus is caused to: determine, for a specific Resource Block (RB) allocation region, the IBE mask based on the second EVM; and determine, for an RB allocation region other than the specific RB allocation region, the IBE mask based on the default EVM or the first EVM.

4. The first apparatus of any claim 1 , wherein the first apparatus is caused to: determine the IBE mask based on the second EVM dependent on an RB allocation length and an index of the first Resource Block (RB).

5. The first apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first apparatus is caused to: determine the IBE mask based on the second EVM dependent on a coding rate.

6. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein for an individual modulation order, the value for the first EVM is different from the value for the second EVM and the second EVM is configured with one of: a value smaller than the value for the first EVM, a value larger than the value for the first EVM, a value for the default EVM used by a modulation order lower than the individual modulation order, or a scaled value of the value for the default EVM, where the scaling factor is larger than one.

7. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the value for the first EVM is configured with a value for the default EVM used by a modulation order lower than the individual modulation order.

8. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the configuration comprises an indication indicating the selection of the at least one value for the first EVM or the at least one value for the second EVM.

9. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first apparatus is caused to: determine, in the absence of the configuration, the transmit power based at least in part on an IBE mask determined based a value for the default EVM.

10. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the configuration is received at least via one of Radio Resource Configuration (RRC), Media Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE) or Downlink Control Information (DCI).

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, a configuration comprising Error Vector Magnitude (EVM) limit and In-Band Emission (IBE) limit for an uplink (UL) transmission, the EVM limit comprising at least one value for a first EVM for EVM requirement corresponding to at least one modulation order, wherein for an individual modulation order, the value for the first EVM is larger than a value for a default EVM requirement; the IBE limit comprising at least one value for a second EVM for determining a corresponding IBE mask; andreceive, from the first apparatus, the UL transmission at a transmit power determined based at least in part on the IBE mask that is determined based on the second EVM for the individual modulation order, wherein the value for the second EVM is larger than the value for the default EVM.

12. The second apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the configuration indicates to: determine, the transmit power based on a Maximum Power Reduction (MPR) determined based on a value for the first EVM and the value for the second EVM.

13. The second apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the configuration indicates to: determine, for a specific Resource Block (RB) allocation region, the IBE mask based on the second EVM; and determine, for an RB allocation region other than the specific RB allocation region, the IBE mask based on the default EVM or the first EVM.

14. The second apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the configuration indicates to: determine the IBE mask based on the second EVM dependent on an RB allocation length and an index of the first Resource Block (RB).

15. The second apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the configuration indicates to: determine the IBE mask based on the second EVM dependent on a coding rate.

16. The second apparatus of any of claims 11 to 15, wherein for an individual modulation order, the value for the first EVM is different from the value for the second EVM and the second EVM is configured with one of: a value smaller than the value for the first EVM, a value larger than the value for the first EVM, a value for the default EVM used by a modulation order lower than the individual modulation order, or a scaled value of the value for the default EVM, where the scaling factor is larger than one.

17. The second apparatus of any of claims 11 to 16, wherein the value for the first EVM is configured with a value used by the default EVM for a modulation order lower than the individual modulation order.

18. The second apparatus of any of claims 11 to 17, wherein the configuration comprises an29 indication indicating the selection of the at least one value for the first EVM or the at least one value for the second EVM.

19. The second apparatus of any of claims 11 to 18, wherein the configuration is received at least via one of Radio Resource Configuration (RRC), Media Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE) or Downlink Control Information (DCI).

20. The second apparatus of any of claims 1 to 19, wherein the first apparatus is or is comprised in a terminal device, and wherein the second apparatus is or is comprised in a network device.

21. A method comprising: receiving, from a second apparatus, a configuration comprising Error Vector Magnitude (EVM) limit and In-Band Emission (IBE) limit for an uplink (UL) transmission, the EVM limit comprising at least one value for a first EVM for EVM requirement corresponding to at least one modulation order, wherein for an individual modulation order, the value for the first EVM is larger than a value for a default EVM requirement, the IBE limit comprising at least one value for a second EVM for determining a corresponding IBE mask; determining, for the individual modulation order, the IBE mask based on the second EVM, wherein the value for the second EVM is larger than the value for the default EVM; and determining, a transmit power based at least in part on the determined IBE mask.

22. A method comprising: transmitting, to a first apparatus, a configuration comprising Error Vector Magnitude (EVM) limit and In-Band Emission (IBE) limit for an uplink (UL) transmission, the EVM limit comprising at least one value for a first EVM for EVM requirement corresponding to at least one modulation order, wherein for an individual modulation order, the value for the first EVM is larger than a value for a default EVM requirement; the IBE limit comprising at least one value for a second EVM for determining a corresponding IBE mask; and receiving, from the first apparatus, the UL transmission at a transmit power determined based at least in part on the IBE mask that is determined based on the second EVM for the individual modulation order, wherein the value for the second EVM is larger than the value for the default EVM.

Images