Carrier switching
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- LG ELECTRONICS INC
- Filing Date
- 2026-01-19
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-30
Smart Images

Figure KR2026001084_30072026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Carrier switching
[0001] This specification relates to mobile communication.
[0002] 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) LTE (Long-Term Evolution) is a technology designed to enable high-speed packet communication. Many methods have been proposed to achieve LTE goals, such as reducing costs for users and operators, improving service quality, expanding coverage, and increasing system capacity. As high-level requirements, 3GPP LTE demands reduced cost per bit, improved service availability, flexible use of frequency bands, a simple structure, open interfaces, and appropriate power consumption of terminals.
[0003] Work has begun at the ITU (International Telecommunication Union) and 3GPP to develop requirements and specifications for New Radio (NR) systems. 3GPP must identify and develop the technical components necessary to successfully standardize NR in a timely manner, satisfying both urgent market demands and the longer-term requirements presented by the ITU-R (ITU Radio communication sector) IMT (International Mobile Telecommunications)-2020 process. Furthermore, NR must be able to utilize any spectrum band up to at least 110 GHz so that it can be used for wireless communication even in the distant future.
[0004] NR targets a single technical framework that covers all deployment scenarios, usage scenarios, and requirements, including eMBB (enhanced Mobile Broadband), mMTC (massive Machine Type-Communications), and URLLC (Ultra-Reliable and Low Latency Communications). NR must be forward compatible by nature.
[0005] According to conventional technology, when a terminal with a single antenna performs carrier aggregation (CA) operations based on an inter-frequency band, there is a problem in that it cannot effectively and / or accurately support secondary cell (SCell) activation.
[0006] In addition, low band carrier aggregation (CA) using Supplementary Downlink (SDL) is being discussed. However, according to conventional technology, it is not clearly defined how the terminal performs switching in low band CA operation. As a result, there is a problem that the terminal and the network cannot effectively and / or accurately perform low band CA operation.
[0007] In one embodiment, a method is provided. The method may include the steps of: a UE receiving a switching pattern from a PCell; the UE receiving a SCell enable command from the PCell; the UE transmitting a CSI related to the SCell to the PCell; and the UE performing a switching from the PCell to the SCell based on the switching pattern.
[0008] In another aspect, a device for implementing the above method is provided.
[0009] In one embodiment, a method is provided. The method may include the step of a PCell transmitting a switching pattern to a UE; the step of the PCell transmitting a SCell enable command to the UE; and the step of the PCell receiving a CSI related to the SCell from the UE.
[0010] In another aspect, a device for implementing the above method is provided.
[0011] FIG. 1 shows an example of a communication system to which the implementation of the present specification is applied.
[0012] FIG. 2 shows an example of a wireless device to which the implementation of the present specification applies.
[0013] FIG. 3 shows an example of a wireless device to which the implementation of the present specification applies.
[0014] Figure 4 is a figure showing an example of a communication structure that can be provided in a 6G system.
[0015] Figure 5 shows an example of an electromagnetic spectrum.
[0016] FIGS. 6a through 6e illustrate an example of a RACH procedure applicable to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0017] FIG. 7 is an example of CA operation of a terminal including one antenna according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0018] FIG. 8 is an example of SCell activation according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0019] FIG. 9 is an example of a procedure related to SCell activation and carrier switching according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0020] FIG. 10 is an example of SCell activation based on a switching pattern according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0021] FIG. 11 is an example of a procedure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0022] The following techniques, devices, and systems may be applied to various wireless multiple access systems. Examples of multiple access systems include Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) systems, Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) systems, Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) systems, Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) systems, Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) systems, and Multi-Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (MC-FDMA) systems. CDMA may be implemented through wireless technologies such as Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA) or CDMA2000. TDMA may be implemented through wireless technologies such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), or Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE). OFDMA can be implemented through wireless technologies such as IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, or E-UTRA (Evolved UTRA). UTRA is part of UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System). 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) LTE (Long-Term Evolution) is part of E-UMTS (Evolved UMTS) using E-UTRA.3GPP LTE uses OFDMA in the downlink (DL) and SC-FDMA in the uplink (UL).
[0023] The following techniques, devices, and systems may be applied to various wireless multiple access systems. Examples of multiple access systems include code division multiple access (CDMA) systems, frequency division multiple access (FDMA) systems, time division multiple access (TDMA) systems, orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) systems, single carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) systems, and multicarrier frequency division multiple access (MC-FDMA) systems. CDMA may be implemented through wireless technologies such as universal terrestrial radio access (UTRA) or CDMA2000. TDMA may be implemented through wireless technologies such as global system for mobile communications (GSM), general packet radio service (GPRS), or enhanced data rates for GSM evolution (EDGE). OFDMA can be implemented through wireless technologies such as IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, or E-UTRA (evolved UTRA). UTRA is part of UMTS (universal mobile telecommunications system). 3GPP (3rd generation partnership project) LTE (long-term evolution) is part of E-UMTS (evolved UMTS) using E-UTRA.3GPP LTE uses OFDMA in the downlink (DL) and SC-FDMA in the uplink (UL). Evolutions of 3GPP LTE include LTE-A (advanced), LTE-A Pro, and / or 5G NR (new radio).
[0024] For convenience of explanation, the implementation of this specification is described primarily in relation to 3GPP-based wireless communication systems. However, the technical characteristics of this specification are not limited thereto. For example, the following detailed description is provided based on a mobile communication system corresponding to a 3GPP-based wireless communication system, but aspects of this specification that are not limited to 3GPP-based wireless communication systems may be applied to other mobile communication systems.
[0025] For terms and technologies used in this specification that are not specifically described, reference may be made to wireless communication standard documents published prior to this specification.
[0026] In this specification, “A or B” may mean “only A,” “only B,” or “both A and B.” Alternatively, in this specification, “A or B” may be interpreted as “A and / or B.” For example, in this specification, “A, B or C” may mean “only A,” “only B,” “only C,” or “any combination of A, B and C.”
[0027] As used herein, a slash ( / ) or a comma may mean “and / or.” For example, “A / B” may mean “A and / or B.” Accordingly, “A / B” may mean “only A,” “only B,” or “both A and B.” For example, “A, B, C” may mean “A, B, or C.”
[0028] In this specification, “at least one of A and B” may mean “only A,” “only B,” or “both A and B.” Additionally, in this specification, the expressions “at least one of A or B” or “at least one of A and / or B” may be interpreted as synonymous with “at least one of A and B.”
[0029] Additionally, in this specification, “at least one of A, B and C” may mean “only A,” “only B,” “only C,” or “any combination of A, B and C.” Furthermore, “at least one of A, B or C” or “at least one of A, B and / or C” may mean “at least one of A, B and C.”
[0030] Additionally, parentheses used in this specification may mean “for example.” Specifically, when indicated as “Control Information (PDCCH),” “PDCCH” may be proposed as an example of “Control Information.” In other words, “Control Information” in this specification is not limited to “PDCCH,” and “PDCCH” may be proposed as an example of “Control Information.” Furthermore, even when indicated as “Control Information (i.e., PDCCH),” “PDCCH” may be proposed as an example of “Control Information.”
[0031] Technical features described individually within a single drawing in this specification may be implemented individually or simultaneously.
[0032] Although not limited thereto, the various descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and / or operation flowcharts disclosed in this specification may be applied to various fields where wireless communication and / or connectivity between devices (e.g., 5G) is required.
[0033] The present specification will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings and / or description, the same reference numerals may refer to the same or corresponding hardware blocks, software blocks, and / or function blocks unless otherwise indicated.
[0034] In the attached drawings, User Equipment (UE) is illustrated by way of example, but the illustrated UE may be referred to by terms such as Terminal, Mobile Equipment (ME), etc. Additionally, the UE may be a portable device such as a laptop, mobile phone, PDA, smartphone, multimedia device, etc., or a non-portable device such as a PC, vehicle-mounted device, etc.
[0035] Hereinafter, UE is used as an example of a wireless communication device capable of wireless communication (or a wireless device, or a wireless device). Operations performed by the UE may be performed by a wireless communication device. A wireless communication device may also be referred to as a wireless device, a wireless device, etc.
[0036] The term "base station" as used below generally refers to a fixed station that communicates with wireless devices, and may be referred to by other terms such as eNodeB (evolved-NodeB), eNB (evolved-NodeB), BTS (Base Transceiver System), Access Point, and gNB (Next generation NodeB).
[0037] FIG. 1 shows an example of a communication system to which the implementation of the present specification is applied.
[0038] The 5G usage scenario shown in FIG. 1 is merely an example, and the technical features of this specification may be applied to other 5G usage scenarios not shown in FIG. 1.
[0039] The three main requirements categories for 5G are (1) enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) category, (2) massive machine type communication (mMTC) category, and (3) ultra-reliable and low latency communications (URLLC) category.
[0040] Some use cases may require multiple categories for optimization, while others may focus on only one key performance indicator (KPI). 5G supports these diverse use cases using flexible and reliable methods.
[0041] eMBB far surpasses basic mobile internet access and covers rich interactive tasks and media and entertainment applications in the cloud and augmented reality. Data is one of the core drivers of 5G, and in the 5G era, dedicated voice services may not be available for the first time. In 5G, voice processing is expected to be simplified as an application that leverages the data connectivity provided by the communication system. The main cause of traffic growth is the increase in content size and the rise of applications requiring high data transfer speeds. As more devices connect to the internet, streaming services (audio and video), conversational video, and mobile internet access will become more widely used. Many of these applications require an always-on connection to push real-time information and alerts to users. Cloud storage and applications are rapidly increasing on mobile communication platforms and can be applied to both work and entertainment. Cloud storage is a special use case that accelerates the increase in uplink data transfer speeds. 5G is also used for remote work in the cloud. When using haptic interfaces, 5G requires much lower end-to-end latency to maintain a good user experience. For example, entertainment such as cloud gaming and video streaming is another key factor increasing the demand for mobile broadband capabilities. Entertainment is essential for smartphones and tablets in all places, including highly mobile environments such as trains, cars, and airplanes. Another use case is augmented reality for entertainment and information retrieval. In this case, augmented reality requires very low latency and instantaneous data volume.
[0042] Furthermore, one of the most anticipated use cases for 5G relates to mMTC, the ability to seamlessly connect embedded sensors across all fields. Potentially, the number of Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices is expected to reach 240 million by 2020. Industrial IoT plays a key role in enabling smart cities, asset tracking, smart utilities, agriculture, and security infrastructure through 5G.
[0043] URLLC includes ultra-reliable, low-latency links for new services that will transform industries through the remote control of primary infrastructure, as well as for autonomous vehicles. Reliability and low latency are essential for controlling smart grids, automating industries, achieving robotics, and controlling and coordinating drones.
[0044] 5G is a means to deliver gigabits per second from streaming rated at hundreds of megabits per second, and it can complement Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) and cable-based broadband (or Docsis). Such high speeds are necessary to deliver TV with resolutions of 4K or higher (6K, 8K or higher), as well as virtual and augmented reality. Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) applications include highly immersive sports games. Specific applications may require specialized network configurations. For example, in the case of VR games, game companies must integrate core servers with network operators' edge network servers to minimize latency.
[0045] Automobiles are expected to become a new and significant driving force in 5G, along with numerous use cases for in-vehicle mobile communication. For example, passenger entertainment requires broadband mobile communication with high simultaneous capacity and high mobility. This is because future users will continue to expect high-quality connectivity regardless of location or speed. Another use case in the automotive sector is the AR dashboard. AR dashboards enable drivers to identify objects in dark areas beyond those visible through the windshield, and display the distance to objects and their movement by overlapping information delivery to the driver. In the future, wireless modules will enable communication between vehicles, information exchange between vehicles and support infrastructure, and information exchange between vehicles and other connected devices (e.g., devices accompanying pedestrians). Safety systems reduce the risk of accidents by guiding drivers through alternative behavioral processes to drive more safely. The next step will be remotely controlled or autonomous vehicles. This requires extremely high reliability and very fast communication between different autonomous vehicles, as well as between vehicles and infrastructure. In the future, autonomous vehicles will perform all driving activities, and drivers will focus only on abnormal traffic that the vehicle cannot identify. The technical requirements for autonomous vehicles demand ultra-low latency and ultra-high reliability to raise traffic safety to a level unattainable by humans.
[0046] Smart cities and smart homes / buildings, referred to as a smart society, will be embedded in high-density wireless sensor networks. Distributed networks of intelligent sensors will identify conditions for cost-effective and energy-efficient maintenance of cities or homes. A similar configuration can be applied to individual households. All temperature sensors, window and heating controllers, burglar alarms, and home appliances will be wirelessly connected. Many of these sensors generally have low data transmission speeds, low power consumption, and low costs. However, real-time HD video may be required by certain types of devices for monitoring.
[0047] Automated control of distribution sensor networks is required to decentralize energy consumption and distribution, including heat and gas, to a higher level. Smart grids utilize digital information and communication technologies to collect data and interconnect sensors to operate based on the collected information. Since this information may include the behavior of suppliers and consumers, smart grids can improve the distribution of fuels, such as electricity, through methods such as efficiency, reliability, economic viability, production sustainability, and automation. A smart grid can also be regarded as another sensor network with low latency.
[0048] Mission-critical applications (e.g., e-health) are one of the 5G use scenarios. The health sector includes many applications that can benefit from mobile communication. Communication systems can support telemedicine, which provides clinical treatment from remote locations. Telemedicine can help reduce distance barriers and improve access to medical services that are not consistently available in remote rural areas. Telemedicine is also used to perform critical treatments and save lives in emergency situations. Mobile communication-based wireless sensor networks can provide remote monitoring and sensors for parameters such as heart rate and blood pressure.
[0049] Wireless and mobile communications are becoming increasingly important in industrial applications. Wiring incurs high installation and maintenance costs. Therefore, the potential to replace cables with reconfigurable wireless links presents an attractive opportunity for many industries. However, achieving this replacement requires establishing wireless connections with latency, reliability, and capacity comparable to cables, as well as simplifying the management of these connections. With the demand for 5G connections, low latency and a very low probability of error are new requirements.
[0050] Logistics and freight tracking are important use cases of mobile communications that utilize location-based information systems to enable inventory and package tracking anywhere. While these use cases generally require low data rates, they necessitate location information with wide range and reliability.
[0051] Referring to FIG. 1, a communication system (1) includes wireless devices (100a to 100f), a base station (BS) (200), and a network (300). FIG. 1 illustrates a 5G network as an example of the network of the communication system (1), but the implementation of the present disclosure is not limited to a 5G system and can be applied to future communication systems beyond a 5G system.
[0052] The base station (200) and the network (300) can be implemented as wireless devices, and a specific wireless device can operate as a base station / network node in relation to another wireless device.
[0053] Wireless devices (100a to 100f) represent devices that perform communication using radio access technology (RAT) (e.g., 5G NR or LTE) and may also be referred to as communication / wireless / 5G devices. Wireless devices (100a to 100f) may include, but are not limited to, robots (100a), vehicles (100b-1 and 100b-2), extended reality (XR) devices (100c), portable devices (100d), home appliances (100e), IoT devices (100f), and artificial intelligence (AI) devices / servers (400). For example, vehicles may include vehicles with wireless communication capabilities, autonomous vehicles, and vehicles capable of performing communication between vehicles. Vehicles may include unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) (e.g., drones). XR devices may include AR / VR / mixed reality (MR) devices and may be implemented in the form of head-mounted devices (HMDs) and head-up displays (HUDs) mounted on vehicles, televisions, smartphones, computers, wearable devices, home appliances, digital signs, vehicles, robots, etc. Portable devices may include smartphones, smart pads, wearable devices (e.g., smartwatches or smart glasses), and computers (e.g., laptops). Home appliances may include TVs, refrigerators, and washing machines. IoT devices may include sensors and smart meters.
[0054] In this specification, wireless devices (100a to 100f) may be referred to as user equipment (UE). The UE may include, for example, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a laptop computer, a digital broadcasting terminal, a PDA (personal digital assistant), a PMP (portable multimedia player), a navigation system, a slate PC, a tablet PC, an ultrabook, a vehicle, a vehicle with autonomous driving capabilities, a connected car, a UAV, an AI module, a robot, an AR device, a VR device, an MR device, a hologram device, a public safety device, an MTC device, an IoT device, a medical device, a fintech device (or financial device), a security device, a weather / environment device, a 5G service-related device, or a device related to the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
[0055] For example, a UAV can be an aircraft that is not on board and is navigated by radio control signals.
[0056] For example, a VR device may include a device for implementing objects or backgrounds in a virtual environment. For example, an AR device may include a device that implements objects or backgrounds in a virtual world by connecting them to objects or backgrounds in a real world. For example, an MR device may include a device that implements objects or backgrounds in a virtual world by merging them with objects or backgrounds in a real world. For example, a holographic device may include a device for implementing a 360-degree stereoscopic image by recording and playing back stereoscopic information using the phenomenon of light interference that occurs when two laser lights called holograms meet.
[0057] For example, a public safety device may include an image relay device or an image device that can be worn on a user's body.
[0058] For example, MTC devices and IoT devices may be devices that do not require direct human intervention or operation. For instance, MTC devices and IoT devices may include smart meters, vending machines, thermometers, smart light bulbs, door locks, or various sensors.
[0059] For example, a medical device may be a device used for the purpose of diagnosing, treating, alleviating, curing, or preventing a disease. For example, a medical device may be a device used to diagnose, treat, alleviate, or correct an injury or damage. For example, a medical device may be a device used for the purpose of examining, replacing, or modifying a structure or function. For example, a medical device may be a device used for the purpose of regulating pregnancy. For example, a medical device may include a therapeutic device, a driving device, a (in vitro) diagnostic device, a hearing aid, or a surgical device.
[0060] For example, a security device may be a device installed to prevent potential risks and maintain safety. For example, a security device may be a camera, closed-circuit TV (CCTV), a recorder, or a black box.
[0061] For example, a fintech device may be a device capable of providing financial services such as mobile payments. For example, a fintech device may include a payment device or a POS system.
[0062] For example, a weather / environment device may include a device for monitoring or predicting the weather / environment.
[0063] Wireless devices (100a to 100f) can be connected to a network (300) through a base station (200). AI technology may be applied to the wireless devices (100a to 100f), and the wireless devices (100a to 100f) can be connected to an AI server (400) through the network (300). The network (300) can be configured using a 3G network, a 4G (e.g., LTE) network, a 5G (e.g., NR) network, and a network after 5G. The wireless devices (100a to 100f) may communicate with each other through the base station (200) / network (300), but they may also communicate directly (e.g., sidelink communication) without going through the base station (200) / network (300). For example, vehicles (100b-1, 100b-2) can communicate directly (e.g., V2V (vehicle-to-vehicle) / V2X (vehicle-to-everything) communication). Also, IoT devices (e.g., sensors) can communicate directly with other IoT devices (e.g., sensors) or other wireless devices (100a to 100f).
[0064] Wireless communication / connections (150a, 150b, 150c) can be established between wireless devices (100a to 100f) and / or between wireless devices (100a to 100f) and base station (200) and / or between base station (200). Here, the wireless communication / connections can be established through various RATs (e.g., 5G NR), such as uplink / downlink communication (150a), sidelink communication (150b) (or D2D (device-to-device) communication), and communication between base stations (150c) (e.g., relay, IAB (integrated access and backhaul)). Through the wireless communication / connections (150a, 150b, 150c), wireless devices (100a to 100f) and base station (200) can transmit / receive wireless signals to / from each other. For example, wireless communication / connection (150a, 150b, 150c) may transmit / receive signals through various physical channels. To this end, based on various proposals in this specification, at least some of the following may be performed: a process for setting various configuration information for transmitting / receiving wireless signals, a process for various signal processing (e.g., channel encoding / decoding, modulation / demodulation, resource mapping / demapping, etc.), and a resource allocation process.
[0065] AI refers to the field of researching artificial intelligence or the methodologies to create it, while machine learning refers to the field of researching methodologies to define and solve various problems within the realm of artificial intelligence. Machine learning is also defined as an algorithm that improves performance on a task through continuous experience.
[0066] A robot can refer to a machine that automatically processes or operates given tasks based on its own capabilities. In particular, a robot equipped with the ability to perceive its environment, make independent judgments, and perform actions can be called an intelligent robot. Robots can be classified into industrial, medical, domestic, and military types depending on their purpose or field of use. Robots are equipped with drive units, including actuators or motors, to perform various physical movements, such as moving robot joints. Additionally, mobile robots include wheels, brakes, propellers, etc., in their drive units, enabling them to drive on the ground or fly in the air.
[0067] Autonomous driving refers to technology that drives itself, and an autonomous vehicle refers to a vehicle that drives without user intervention or with minimal user intervention. For example, autonomous driving can include technologies such as maintaining the driving lane, automatically adjusting speed like adaptive cruise control, driving automatically along a predetermined route, and automatically setting a route and driving once a destination is set. The term "vehicle" encompasses vehicles equipped solely with internal combustion engines, hybrid vehicles equipped with both internal combustion engines and electric motors, and electric vehicles equipped solely with electric motors; it can include not only automobiles but also trains and motorcycles. An autonomous vehicle can be viewed as a robot equipped with autonomous driving capabilities.
[0068] Augmented Reality is a collective term for VR, AR, and MR. VR technology provides real-world objects or backgrounds solely as CG images, AR technology provides virtual CG images superimposed on images of real objects, and MR technology is a CG technology that mixes and combines virtual objects with the real world. MR technology is similar to AR technology in that it displays real-world and virtual objects together. However, there is a difference in that while virtual objects in AR technology are used to complement real-world objects, virtual and real objects in MR technology are used as equal entities.
[0069] NR supports multiple numerologies or subcarrier spacings (SCS) to support various 5G services. For example, when the SCS is 15 kHz, it supports a wide area in traditional cellular bands; when the SCS is 30 kHz / 60 kHz, it supports dense-urban areas, lower latency, and wider carrier bandwidth; and when the SCS is 60 kHz or higher, it supports a bandwidth greater than 24.25 GHz to overcome phase noise.
[0070] The NR frequency band can be defined by two types of frequency ranges (e.g., FR1, FR2). The numerical values of the frequency ranges may change. For example, the frequency ranges of the two types (FR1, FR2) may be as shown in Table 1 below. For convenience of explanation, among the frequency ranges used in the NR system, FR1 may mean "sub 6 GHz range" and FR2 may mean "above 6 GHz range" and may be referred to as millimeter wave (mmW). FR2 may include FR2-1 and FR2-2, as illustrated in the examples in Tables 1 and 2.
[0071] Frequency Range designationCorresponding frequency rangeSubcarrier SpacingFR1450MHz - 6000MHz15, 30, 60kHzFR2FR2-124250MHz - 52600MHz60, 120, 240kHzFR2-257000MHz - 71000MHz120, 480, 960kHz
[0072] As described above, the numerical values of the frequency range of the NR system may change. For example, FR1 may include a band of 410 MHz to 7125 MHz as shown in Table 2 below. That is, FR1 may include a frequency band of 6 GHz (or 5850, 5900, 5925 MHz, etc.) or higher. For example, the frequency band of 6 GHz (or 5850, 5900, 5925 MHz, etc.) or higher included within FR1 may include an unlicensed band. The unlicensed band may be used for various purposes, for example, for communication for vehicles (e.g., autonomous driving).
[0073] Frequency Range designationCorresponding frequency rangeSubcarrier SpacingFR1410MHz - 7125MHz15, 30, 60kHzFR2FR2-124250MHz - 52600MHz60, 120, 240kHzFR2-257000MHz - 71000MHz120, 480, 960kHz
[0074] Here, the wireless communication technology implemented in the wireless device of this specification may include LTE, NR, and 6G, as well as narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) for low-power communication. For example, NB-IoT technology may be an example of low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) technology and may be implemented according to standards such as LTE Cat NB1 and / or LTE Cat NB2, but is not limited to the names mentioned above. Additionally, or generally, the wireless communication technology implemented in the wireless device of this specification may perform communication based on LTE-M technology. For example, LTE-M technology may be an example of LPWAN technology and may be referred to by various names such as enhanced MTC (eMTC). For example, LTE-M technology may be implemented in at least one of various standards such as 1) LTE CAT 0, 2) LTE Cat M1, 3) LTE Cat M2, 4) LTE non-BL (non-bandwidth limited), 5) LTE-MTC, 6) LTE MTC, and / or 7) LTE M, and is not limited to the names mentioned above. Additionally or generally, wireless communication technology implemented in the wireless device of this specification may include at least one of ZigBee, Bluetooth, and / or LPWAN for low-power communication, and is not limited to the names mentioned above. For example, ZigBee technology may create personal area networks (PANs) related to small / low-power digital communication based on various standards such as IEEE 802.15.4, and may be referred to by various names.
[0075] FIG. 2 shows an example of a wireless device to which the implementation of the present specification applies.
[0076] Referring to FIG. 2, the first wireless device (100) and the second wireless device (200) can transmit and receive wireless signals to / from an external device via various RATs (e.g., LTE and NR).
[0077] In FIG. 2, {the first wireless device (100) and the second wireless device (200)} may correspond to at least one of the {wireless devices (100a~100f) and base station (200)}, {wireless devices (100a~100f) and wireless devices (100a~100f)} and / or {base station (200) and base station (200)} of FIG. 1.
[0078] The first wireless device (100) may include at least one transceiver such as a transceiver (106), at least one processing chip such as a processing chip (101), and / or one or more antennas (108).
[0079] The processing chip (101) may include at least one processor, such as a processor (102), and at least one memory, such as a memory (104). FIG. 2 is shown as an example in which the memory (104) is included in the processing chip (101). Additionally and / or generally, the memory (104) may be placed outside the processing chip (101).
[0080] The processor (102) can control the memory (104) and / or the transceiver (106) and may be configured to implement the descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and / or operation flowcharts disclosed herein. For example, the processor (102) may process information within the memory (104) to generate a first information / signal and transmit a wireless signal containing the first information / signal through the transceiver (106). The processor (102) may receive a wireless signal containing a second information / signal through the transceiver (106) and process the second information / signal to store the obtained information in the memory (104).
[0081] Memory (104) may be connected to the processor (102) so as to be operable. Memory (104) may store various types of information and / or instructions. Memory (104) may store software code (105) that implements instructions to perform descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and / or operation flowcharts disclosed in this specification when executed by the processor (102). For example, software code (105) may implement instructions to perform descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and / or operation flowcharts disclosed in this specification when executed by the processor (102). For example, software code (105) may control the processor (102) to perform one or more protocols. For example, software code (105) may control the processor (102) to perform one or more wireless interface protocol layers.
[0082] Here, the processor (102) and memory (104) may be part of a communication modem / circuit / chip designed to implement a RAT (e.g., LTE or NR). A transceiver (106) may be connected to the processor (102) and may transmit and / or receive a wireless signal through one or more antennas (108). Each transceiver (106) may include a transmitter and / or receiver. The transceiver (106) may be interchangeably used with an RF (radio frequency) unit. In this specification, the first wireless device (100) may represent a communication modem / circuit / chip.
[0083] The second wireless device (200) may include at least one transceiver such as a transceiver (206), at least one processing chip such as a processing chip (201), and / or one or more antennas (208).
[0084] The processing chip (201) may include at least one processor, such as a processor (202), and at least one memory, such as a memory (204). FIG. 2 is shown as an example in which the memory (204) is included in the processing chip (201). Additionally and / or alternatively, the memory (204) may be placed outside the processing chip (201).
[0085] The processor (202) can control the memory (204) and / or the transceiver (206) and may be configured to implement the descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and / or operation flowcharts disclosed herein. For example, the processor (202) may process information within the memory (204) to generate a third information / signal and transmit a wireless signal containing the third information / signal through the transceiver (206). The processor (202) may receive a wireless signal containing a fourth information / signal through the transceiver (206) and process the fourth information / signal to store the obtained information in the memory (204).
[0086] Memory (204) may be connected to the processor (202) so as to be operable. Memory (204) may store various types of information and / or instructions. Memory (204) may store software code (205) that implements instructions to perform descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and / or operation flowcharts disclosed in this specification when executed by the processor (202). For example, software code (205) may implement instructions to perform descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and / or operation flowcharts disclosed in this specification when executed by the processor (202). For example, software code (205) may control the processor (202) to perform one or more protocols. For example, software code (205) may control the processor (202) to perform one or more wireless interface protocol layers.
[0087] Here, the processor (202) and memory (204) may be part of a communication modem / circuit / chip designed to implement a RAT (e.g., LTE or NR). A transceiver (206) may be connected to the processor (202) and transmit and / or receive a wireless signal through one or more antennas (208). Each transceiver (206) may include a transmitter and / or receiver. The transceiver (206) may be interchangeably used with an RF unit. In this specification, the second wireless device (200) may represent a communication modem / circuit / chip.
[0088] Hereinafter, hardware elements of the wireless device (100, 200) will be described in more detail. Although not limited thereto, one or more protocol layers may be implemented by one or more processors (102, 202). For example, one or more processors (102, 202) may implement one or more layers (e.g., functional layers such as a PHY (physical) layer, a MAC (media access control) layer, a RLC (radio link control) layer, a PDCP (packet data convergence protocol) layer, a RRC (radio resource control) layer, and an SDAP (service data adaptation protocol) layer). One or more processors (102, 202) may generate one or more PDUs (protocol data units) and / or one or more SDUs (service data units) according to the descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and / or operation flowcharts disclosed in this specification. One or more processors (102, 202) may generate messages, control information, data, or information according to the descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and / or operation flowcharts disclosed in this specification. One or more processors (102, 202) may generate a signal (e.g., baseband signal) containing a PDU, SDU, message, control information, data, or information according to the descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and / or operation flowcharts disclosed in this specification and provide it to one or more transceivers (106, 206). One or more processors (102, 202) may receive a signal (e.g., baseband signal) from one or more transceivers (106, 206) and may obtain a PDU, SDU, message, control information, data, or information according to the descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and / or operation flowcharts disclosed in this specification.
[0089] One or more processors (102, 202) may be referred to as controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, and / or microcomputers. One or more processors (102, 202) may be implemented by hardware, firmware, software, and / or a combination thereof. For example, one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), one or more digital signal processors (DSPs), one or more digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), one or more programmable logic devices (PLDs), and / or one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) may be included in one or more processors (102, 202). Descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and / or operation flowcharts disclosed herein may be implemented using firmware and / or software, and the firmware and / or software may be implemented to include modules, procedures, and functions. Firmware or software configured to perform the descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and / or operation flowcharts disclosed in this specification may be included in one or more processors (102, 202) or stored in one or more memories (104, 204) and driven by one or more processors (102, 202). The descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and / or operation flowcharts disclosed in this specification may be implemented using firmware or software in the form of code, instructions, and / or sets of instructions.
[0090] One or more memories (104, 204) may be connected to one or more processors (102, 202) and may store various forms of data, signals, messages, information, programs, codes, instructions, and / or commands. One or more memories (104, 204) may consist of read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), flash memory, hard drives, registers, cache memory, computer read storage media, and / or combinations thereof. One or more memories (104, 204) may be located inside and / or outside of one or more processors (102, 202). Additionally, one or more memories (104, 204) may be connected to one or more processors (102, 202) through various technologies such as wired or wireless connections.
[0091] One or more transceivers (106, 206) may transmit user data, control information, wireless signals / channels, etc., as described in the descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and / or operation flowcharts disclosed in this specification to one or more other devices. One or more transceivers (106, 206) may receive user data, control information, wireless signals / channels, etc., as described in the descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and / or operation flowcharts disclosed in this specification from one or more other devices. For example, one or more transceivers (106, 206) may be connected to one or more processors (102, 202) and may transmit and receive wireless signals. For example, one or more processors (102, 202) may control one or more transceivers (106, 206) to transmit user data, control information, wireless signals, etc., to one or more other devices. Additionally, one or more processors (102, 202) can control one or more transceivers (106, 206) to receive user data, control information, wireless signals, etc. from one or more other devices.
[0092] One or more transceivers (106, 206) may be connected to one or more antennas (108, 208). One or more transceivers (106, 206) may be configured to transmit and receive user data, control information, wireless signals / channels, etc., as described in the descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and / or operation flowcharts disclosed herein through one or more antennas (108, 208). In this specification, one or more antennas (108, 208) may be a plurality of physical antennas or a plurality of logical antennas (e.g., antenna ports).
[0093] One or more transceivers (106, 206) can convert received user data, control information, wireless signals / channels, etc. from RF band signals to baseband signals in order to process received user data, control information, wireless signals / channels, etc. using one or more processors (102, 202). One or more transceivers (106, 206) can convert processed user data, control information, wireless signals / channels, etc. from baseband signals to RF band signals using one or more processors (102, 202). To this end, one or more transceivers (106, 206) may include (analog) oscillators and / or filters. For example, one or more transceivers (106, 206) can up-convert an OFDM baseband signal into an OFDM signal through an (analog) oscillator and / or filter under the control of one or more processors (102, 202) and transmit the up-converted OFDM signal at a carrier frequency. One or more transceivers (106, 206) can receive an OFDM signal at a carrier frequency and down-convert the OFDM signal into an OFDM baseband signal through an (analog) oscillator and / or filter under the control of one or more processors (102, 202).
[0094] In an implementation of this specification, the UE may operate as a transmitting device in the uplink (UL; uplink) and as a receiving device in the downlink (DL; downlink). In an implementation of this specification, the base station may operate as a receiving device in the UL and as a transmitting device in the DL. For technical convenience, it is generally assumed that the first wireless device (100) operates as a UE and the second wireless device (200) operates as a base station. For example, a processor (102) connected to, mounted on, or released to the first wireless device (100) may be configured to perform UE operations according to an implementation of this specification or to control a transceiver (106) to perform UE operations according to an implementation of this specification. A processor (202) connected to, mounted on, or released to the second wireless device (200) may be configured to perform base station operations according to an implementation of this specification or to control a transceiver (206) to perform base station operations according to an implementation of this specification.
[0095] In this specification, the base station may be referred to as Node B, eNode B, or gNB.
[0096] FIG. 3 shows an example of a wireless device to which the implementation of the present specification applies.
[0097] Wireless devices can be implemented in various forms depending on the use example / service (see FIG. 1).
[0098] Referring to FIG. 3, the wireless device (100, 200) may correspond to the wireless device (100, 200) of FIG. 2 and may be composed of various components, devices / parts and / or modules. For example, each wireless device (100, 200) may include a communication device (110), a control device (120), a memory device (130), and additional components (140). The communication device (110) may include a communication circuit (112) and a transceiver (114). For example, the communication circuit (112) may include one or more processors (102, 202) of FIG. 2 and / or one or more memories (104, 204) of FIG. 2. For example, the transceiver (114) may include one or more transceivers (106, 206) of FIG. 2 and / or one or more antennas (108, 208) of FIG. 2. The control unit (120) is electrically connected to the communication device (110), the memory device (130), and the additional component (140) and controls the overall operation of each wireless device (100, 200). For example, the control unit (120) may control the electrical / mechanical operation of each wireless device (100, 200) based on a program / code / command / information stored in the memory device (130). The control device (120) can transmit information stored in the memory device (130) to an external (e.g., other communication device) via the communication device (110) through a wireless / wired interface, or store information received from an external (e.g., other communication device) via the communication device (110) through a wireless / wired interface in the memory device (130).
[0099] The additional component (140) can be configured in various ways depending on the type of wireless device (100, 200). For example, the additional component (140) may include at least one of a power device / battery, an input / output (I / O) device (e.g., audio I / O port, video I / O port), a driving device, and a computing device. The wireless device (100, 200) may be implemented in the form of, but is not limited to, a robot (100a in FIG. 1), a vehicle (100b-1 and 100b-2 in FIG. 1), an XR device (100c in FIG. 1), a portable device (100d in FIG. 1), a home appliance (100e in FIG. 1), an IoT device (100f in FIG. 1), a digital broadcasting terminal, a hologram device, a public safety device, an MTC device, a medical device, a fintech device (or financial device), a security device, a climate / environment device, an AI server / device (400 in FIG. 1), a base station (200 in FIG. 1), or a network node. The wireless device (100, 200) may be used in a mobile or fixed location depending on the use example / service.
[0100] In FIG. 3, the entirety of the various components, devices / parts and / or modules of the wireless device (100, 200) may be connected to each other via a wired interface, or at least some of them may be connected wirelessly via a communication device (110). For example, in each wireless device (100, 200), the control device (120) and the communication device (110) may be connected via a wire, and the control device (120) and the first device (e.g., 130 and 140) may be connected wirelessly via the communication device (110). Each component, device / part and / or module within the wireless device (100, 200) may further include one or more elements. For example, the control device (120) may be composed of one or more sets of processors. As an example, the control device (120) may be composed of a set of a communication control processor, an application processor (AP), an electronic control unit (ECU), a graphics processing unit, and a memory control processor. As another example, the memory device (130) may be composed of RAM, DRAM, ROM, flash memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory and / or a combination thereof.
[0101] <NR에서의 동작 대역>
[0102] The operating band in NR is as follows.
[0103] The operating bands in Table 3 below are operating bands that have been refarmed from the LTE / LTE-A operating bands. These are called the FR1 bands.
[0104] NR Operating Band Uplink (UL) Operating Band Downlink (DL) Operating Band Duplex Mode F UL_low - F UL_high F DL_low - F DL_highn11920 MHz - 1980 MHz2110 MHz - 2170 MHzFDDn21850 MHz - 1910 MHz1930 MHz - 1990 MHzFDDn31710 MHz - 1785 MHz1805 MHz - 1880 MHzFDDn5824 MHz - 849 MHz869 MHz - 894 MHzFDDn72500 MHz - 2570 MHz2620 MHz - 2690 MHzFDDn8880 MHz - 915 MHz925 MHz - 960 MHzFDDn12699 MHz - 716 MHz729 MHz - 746 MHzFDDn20832 MHz - 862 MHz791 MHz - 821 MHzFDDn251850 MHz - 1915 MHz1930 MHz - 1995 MHzFDDn28703 MHz - 748 MHz758 MHz - 803 MHzFDDn342010 MHz - 2025 MHz2010 MHz - 2025 MHzTDDn382570 MHz - 2620 MHz2570 MHz - 2620 MHzTDDn391880 MHz - 1920 MHz1880 MHz - 1920 MHzTDDn402300 MHz - 2400 MHz2300 MHz - 2400 MHzTDDn412496 MHz - 2690 MHz2496 MHz - 2690 MHzTDDn501432 MHz - 1517 MHz1432 MHz - 1517 MHzTDDn511427 MHz - 1432 MHz1427 MHz - 1432 MHzTDDn661710 MHz - 1780 MHz2110 MHz - 2200 MHzFDDn701695 MHz - 1710 MHz1995 MHz - 2020 MHzFDDn71663 MHz - 698 MHz617 MHz - 652 MHzFDDn741427 MHz - 1470 MHz1475 MHz - 1518 MHzFDDn75N / A1432 MHz - 1517 MHzSDLn76N / A1427 MHz - 1432 MHzSDLn773300 MHz - 4200 MHz3300 MHz - 4200MHzTDDn783300 MHz - 3800 MHz3300 MHz - 3800 MHzTDDn794400 MHz - 5000 MHz4400 MHz - 5000 MHzTDDn801710 MHz - 1785 MHzN / ASULn81880 MHz - 915 MHzN / ASULn82832 MHz - 862 MHzN / ASULn83703 MHz - 748 MHzN / ASULn841920 MHz - 1980 MHzN / ASULn861710 MHz - 1780 MHzN / ASUL
[0105] The table below shows the NR operating band defined at high frequencies. This is called the FR2 band.
[0106] NR Uplink (UL) Operation Downlink (DL) Operation Duplex Mode F UL_low - F UL_high F DL_low - F DL_high n25726500 MHz - 29500 MHz26500 MHz - 29500 MHzTDDn25824250 MHz - 27500 MHz24250 MHz - 27500 MHzTDDn25937000 MHz - 40000 MHz37000 MHz - 40000 MHzTDDn26037000 MHz - 40000 MHz37000 MHz - 40000 MHzFDDn26127500 MHz - 28350 MHz27500 MHz - 28350 MHzFDD
[0107] <6G System General>
[0108] The 6G (wireless communication) system aims for (i) very high data rates per device, (ii) a very large number of connected devices, (iii) global connectivity, (iv) very low latency, (v) reduced energy consumption of battery-free IoT devices, (vi) ultra-reliable connectivity, and (vii) connected intelligence with machine learning capabilities. The vision of the 6G system can be seen in four aspects: intelligent connectivity, deep connectivity, holographic connectivity, and ubiquitous connectivity, and the 6G system can satisfy the requirements shown in Table 5 below. In other words, Table 5 is a table representing an example of the requirements for a 6G system.
[0109] Per device peak data rate1 TbpsE2E latency1 msMaximum spectral efficiency100bps / HzMobility supportUp to 1000km / hrSatellite integrationFullyAIFullyAutonomous vehicleFullyXRFullyHaptic CommunicationFully
[0110] 6G systems can have key factors such as enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable low latency communications (URLLC), massive machine-type communication (mMTC), AI integrated communication, tactile internet, high throughput, high network capacity, high energy efficiency, low backhaul and access network congestion, and enhanced data security.
[0111] Figure 4 is a figure showing an example of a communication structure that can be provided in a 6G system.
[0112] 6G systems are expected to have 50 times higher simultaneous wireless connectivity than 5G wireless communication systems. URLLC, a key feature of 5G, will become an even more dominant technology in 6G communication by providing end-to-end latency of less than 1ms. Unlike the frequently used area spectrum efficiency, 6G systems will exhibit significantly superior volume spectrum efficiency. 6G systems can provide very long battery life and advanced battery technologies for energy harvesting, meaning mobile devices in 6G systems will not require separate charging. New network characteristics in 6G may include the following.
[0113] - Satellite Integrated Network: 6G is expected to be integrated with satellites to provide a global mobile population. Integrating terrestrial, satellite, and airborne networks into a single wireless communication system is crucial for 6G.
[0114] - Connected Intelligence: Unlike previous generations of wireless communication systems, 6G is innovative and will update wireless evolution from "connected things" to "connected intelligence." AI can be applied at each stage of the communication process (or at each step of the signal processing described below).
[0115] - Seamless integration of wireless information and energy transfer: 6G wireless networks will transfer power to charge the batteries of devices such as smartphones and sensors. Therefore, wireless information and energy transfer (WIET) will be integrated.
[0116] - Ubiquitous Super 3D Connectivity: Connectivity to the network and core network functions of drones and very low Earth orbit satellites will create Super 3D connectivity in 6G ubiquitous.
[0117] Some general requirements regarding the new network characteristics of 6G mentioned above may be as follows.
[0118] - Small cell networks: The idea of small cell networks was introduced to improve the quality of received signals in cellular systems as a result of increased throughput, energy efficiency, and spectrum efficiency. Consequently, small cell networks are an essential feature of communication systems for 5G and beyond 5G (5GB). Therefore, 6G communication systems also adopt the characteristics of small cell networks.
[0119] - Ultra-dense heterogeneous network: Ultra-dense heterogeneous networks will be another important characteristic of 6G communication systems. Multi-tier networks composed of heterogeneous networks improve overall QoS and reduce costs.
[0120] - High-capacity backhaul: Backhaul connections are characterized as high-capacity backhaul networks to support high-volume traffic. High-speed fiber optics and free-space optics (FSO) systems can be possible solutions to this problem.
[0121] - Radar technology integrated with mobile technology: High-precision localization (or location-based services) through communication is one of the functions of 6G wireless communication systems. Therefore, radar systems will be integrated with 6G networks.
[0122] - Softwarization and virtualization: Softwarization and virtualization are two important features that form the basis of the design process in 5GB networks to ensure flexibility, reconfigurability, and programmability. Additionally, billions of devices can be shared across a shared physical infrastructure.
[0123] <Key Implementation Technologies of 6G Systems>
[0124] Artificial Intelligence
[0125] The most critical and newly introduced technology for 6G systems is AI. AI was not involved in 4G systems. 5G systems will support AI partially or to a very limited extent. However, 6G systems will be supported by AI for complete automation. Advancements in machine learning will create more intelligent networks for real-time communication in 6G. Introducing AI into communications can streamline and enhance real-time data transmission. AI can determine how complex target tasks are performed using numerous analyses. In other words, AI can increase efficiency and reduce processing latency.
[0126] Time-consuming tasks such as handover, network selection, and resource scheduling can be performed instantly by using AI. AI can also play a significant role in M2M, machine-to-human, and human-to-machine communication. Furthermore, AI can enable rapid communication in Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI). AI-based communication systems can be supported by metamaterials, intelligent structures, intelligent networks, intelligent devices, intelligent cognitive radios, self-sustaining wireless networks, and machine learning.
[0127] Recently, attempts to integrate AI with wireless communication systems have emerged, but these have primarily focused on the application and network layers, particularly deep learning in the field of wireless resource management and allocation. However, such research is increasingly advancing toward the MAC and physical layers, with attempts to combine deep learning with wireless transmission, particularly at the physical layer. AI-based physical layer transmission refers to the application of signal processing and communication mechanisms based on AI drivers rather than traditional communication frameworks in terms of fundamental signal processing and communication mechanisms. Examples include deep learning-based channel coding and decoding, deep learning-based signal estimation and detection, deep learning-based MIMO mechanisms, and AI-based resource scheduling and allocation.
[0128] Machine learning can be used for channel estimation and channel tracking, and for power allocation and interference cancellation in the physical layer of the downlink (DL). In addition, machine learning can be used for antenna selection, power control, and symbol detection in MIMO systems.
[0129] Machine learning refers to a series of operations for training machines to create machines capable of performing tasks that humans can or find difficult to do. Machine learning requires data and learning models. Data learning methods in machine learning can be broadly classified into three types: supervised learning, unsupervised learning, and reinforcement learning.
[0130] The purpose of neural network training is to minimize output errors. It is a process that repeatedly inputs training data into a neural network, calculates the error between the network's output and the target for the training data, and updates the weights of each node by backpropagating the error from the output layer to the input layer in a direction that reduces the error.
[0131] Supervised learning uses training data with correct answers labeled, whereas unsupervised learning may not have correct answers labeled. That is, for example, in the case of supervised learning regarding data classification, the training data may consist of data where each training data point is labeled with a category. Labeled training data is input into a neural network, and an error can be calculated by comparing the network's output (category) with the labels of the training data. The calculated error is backpropagated within the neural network (i.e., from the output layer to the input layer), and the connection weights of each node in each layer of the neural network can be updated according to this backpropagation. The amount of change in the connection weights of each node being updated can be determined by the learning rate. The neural network's calculations on the input data and the backpropagation of the error can constitute a learning cycle (epoch). The learning rate can be applied differently depending on the number of iterations of the neural network's learning cycle. For example, efficiency can be increased by using a high learning rate in the early stages of neural network training to enable the network to quickly achieve a certain level of performance, and accuracy can be increased by using a low learning rate in the later stages of training.
[0132] The learning method may vary depending on the characteristics of the data. For example, if the goal is to accurately predict data transmitted from the transmitting end at the receiving end in a communication system, it is preferable to perform learning using supervised learning rather than unsupervised learning or reinforcement learning.
[0133] Learning models correspond to the human brain, and while the most basic linear models can be considered, a machine learning paradigm that uses highly complex neural network structures, such as artificial neural networks, as learning models is called deep learning.
[0134] The neural network cores used for learning methods are broadly classified into deep neural networks (DNN), convolutional deep neural networks (CNN), recurrent Boltzmann machines (RNN), and spiking neural networks (SNN).
[0135] THz Communication (Terahertz Communication)
[0136] Data transmission rates can be increased by expanding bandwidth. This can be achieved by using sub-THz communication with wide bandwidth and applying advanced large-scale MIMO technology. THz waves, also known as sub-millimeter radiation, generally refer to a frequency band between 0.1 THz and 10 THz with corresponding wavelengths ranging from 0.03 mm to 3 mm. The 100 GHz–300 GHz band range (Sub-THz band) is considered the primary portion of the THz band for cellular communication. Adding the Sub-THz band to the mmWave band increases 6G cellular communication capacity. Among the defined THz bands, the 300 GHz–3 THz band is located in the far-infrared (IR) frequency band. Although the 300 GHz–3 THz band is part of the broadband, it lies at the boundary of the broadband and immediately following the RF band. Therefore, this 300 GHz–3 THz band exhibits similarities to RF.
[0137] Figure 5 shows an example of an electromagnetic spectrum.
[0138] Key characteristics of THz communication include (i) widely available bandwidth to support very high data transmission rates, and (ii) high path loss occurring at high frequencies (highly directional antennas are indispensable). The narrow beam width generated by highly directional antennas reduces interference. The small wavelength of THz signals allows a much larger number of antenna elements to be integrated into devices and BSs operating in this band. This enables the use of advanced adaptive array technologies that can overcome range limitations.
[0139] Large-scale MIMO
[0140] One of the key technologies for improving spectrum efficiency is the application of MIMO technology. As MIMO technology improves, spectrum efficiency also improves. Therefore, large-scale MIMO technology will be important in 6G systems. Since MIMO technology utilizes multiple paths, multiplexing technology and beam generation and operation technology suitable for the THz band must also be given important consideration to enable data signals to be transmitted through one or more paths.
[0141] Hologram Beam Forming (HBF)
[0142] Beamforming is a signal processing procedure that adjusts an antenna array to transmit wireless signals in a specific direction. It is a subset of smart antennas or advanced antenna systems. Beamforming technology offers several advantages, such as a high signal-to-noise ratio, interference prevention and rejection, and high network efficiency. Holographic Beamforming (HBF) is a new beamforming method that differs significantly from MIMO systems because it utilizes software-defined antennas. HBF is expected to be a highly effective approach for the efficient and flexible transmission and reception of signals in multi-antenna communication devices in 6G.
[0143] Optical wireless technology
[0144] Optical wireless communication (OWC) is a form of optical communication that transmits signals using visible light, infrared (IR), or ultraviolet (UV). OWC operating in the visible light band (e.g., 390–750 nm) is generally referred to as Visible Light Communication (VLC). Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can be utilized for VLC implementation. VLC can be used in various applications, including wireless local area networks, wireless personal communication networks, and vehicle networks.
[0145] VLC offers the following advantages over RF-based technologies. First, the spectrum occupied by VLC is in the free / unlicensed band and can provide extensive bandwidth (THz-level bandwidth). Second, VLC causes minimal interference to other electromagnetic devices. Therefore, VLC can be applied to sensitive electromagnetic interference applications, such as aircraft and hospitals. Third, VLC offers strengths in communication security and privacy protection. The transmission medium of VLC-based networks, namely visible light, cannot penetrate walls or other opaque obstacles. Consequently, the transmission range of VLC can be limited to indoors, thereby protecting users' personal and sensitive information. Fourth, since VLC can utilize lighting sources as base stations, expensive base stations are not required.
[0146] Free-space Optical Communication (FSO) is an optical communication technology that uses light propagating in free space, such as air, outer space, or a vacuum, to wirelessly transmit data for communication or computer networking. FSO can be used as a point-to-point OWC system on the ground. FSO can operate at near-infrared frequencies (750–1600 nm). Laser transmitters can be used for FSO implementation, and FSO can provide high data rates (e.g., 10 Gbit / s), offering a potential solution to backhaul bottlenecks.
[0147] These OWC technologies were planned for 6G communication in addition to RF-based communication for all possible device-to-access networks. These networks connect to network-to-backhaul / fronthaul network connections. Although OWC technologies have already been in use since 4G communication systems, they will be used more widely to meet the demands of 6G communication systems. OWC technologies such as light fidelity, visible light communication, optical camera communication, and broadband-based FSO communication are already well-known technologies. Communication based on optical radio technology can provide very high data rates, low latency, and secure communication.
[0148] LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) can also be utilized for ultra-high resolution 3D mapping in 6G communication based on wide bandwidth. LiDAR refers to a remote sensing method that measures distance by illuminating an object with near-infrared, visible, and ultraviolet light and detecting the reflected light through an optical sensor. LiDAR can be used for fully autonomous driving in automobiles.
[0149] FSO Backhaul Network
[0150] The transmitter and receiver characteristics of an FSO system are similar to those of a fiber optic network. Therefore, data transmission in an FSO system is similar to that of a fiber optic system. Consequently, FSO can be a good technology for providing backhaul connectivity in 6G systems in conjunction with fiber optic networks. Using FSO enables very long-distance communication over distances of more than 10,000 km. FSO supports high-capacity backhaul connectivity for remote and non-remote areas such as the ocean, space, underwater, and isolated islands. FSO also supports cellular backhaul connectivity.
[0151] Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN)
[0152] 6G systems integrate terrestrial and air networks to support vertically scalable user communications. 3D BS will be provided via low-orbit satellites and UAVs. By adding new dimensions in terms of altitude and associated degrees of freedom, 3D connectivity differs significantly from existing 2D networks. In NR, the Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) is considered as one method for this. An NTN refers to a network or network segment that utilizes RF resources mounted on a satellite (or UAS platform). There are two common scenarios for NTNs that provide access to user equipment: transparent payload and regenerative payload. The following are the basic elements of an NTN.
[0153] - One or more sat-gateways connecting NTN to a public data network
[0154] - GEO satellites are supplied by one or more satellite gateways deployed across a satellite target range (e.g., regional or continental range). We assume that the UEs in a cell are serviced by only one satellite gateway.
[0155] - Non-GEO satellites providing continuous service from one or more satellite gateways at a time. The system ensures service and feeder link continuity between continuous service satellite gateways with a time duration sufficient to perform mobility anchoring and handover.
[0156] - Feeder link or wireless link between the satellite gateway and the satellite (or UAS platform)
[0157] - Service link or wireless link between user equipment and satellite (or UAS platform).
[0158] - A satellite (or UAS platform) capable of implementing transparent or regenerative (including onboard processing) payloads. Satellite (or UAS platform) generated beams typically produce multiple beams for a designated service area based on the line of sight. The beam footprint is generally elliptical. The satellite (or UAS platform)'s line of sight depends on the onboard antenna diagram and the minimum elevation angle.
[0159] - Transparent payload: Radio frequency filtering, frequency conversion, and amplification. Therefore, the waveform signal repeated by the payload is not altered.
[0160] - Playback Payload: Radio frequency filtering, frequency conversion and amplification, demodulation / decoding, switching and / or routing, coding / modulation. This is virtually equivalent to equipping a satellite (or UAS platform) with all or part of the base station functions (e.g., gNB).
[0161] - For satellite deployments, Inter-Satellite Links (ISL) are optional. This requires a regenerative payload on the satellite. ISL can operate at RF frequencies or in the broadband.
[0162] - User equipment is serviced by a satellite (or UAS platform) within the target service area.
[0163] Generally, GEO satellites and UAS are used to provide continental, regional, or local services.
[0164] Generally, LEO and MEO constellations are used to provide services in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. In some cases, constellations may provide global coverage, including the polar regions. For this to work, appropriate orbital inclination, a sufficiently generated beam, and inter-satellite links are required.
[0165] Quantum Communication
[0166] Quantum communication is a next-generation communication technology that applies quantum mechanical properties to the field of information and communications to overcome the limitations of existing technologies, such as security and ultra-high-speed computing. Quantum communication provides a means to generate, transmit, process, and store information that cannot be represented in the form of 0 and 1 based on binary bits used in conventional communication technologies, or that is difficult to represent. While conventional communication technologies utilize wavelength or amplitude for information transmission between a transmitter and a receiver, quantum communication, in contrast, utilizes photons—the smallest unit of light—for this purpose. In particular, since quantum uncertainty and quantum irreversibility can be applied to the polarization or phase difference of photons (light), quantum communication possesses the characteristic of enabling communication with guaranteed perfect security. Furthermore, under specific conditions, quantum communication may enable ultra-high-speed communication by utilizing quantum entanglement.
[0167] Cell-free Communication
[0168] The tight integration of multiple frequencies and heterogeneous communication technologies is crucial in 6G systems. Consequently, users can seamlessly move from one network to another without the need for any manual configuration on their devices. The best network among available communication technologies is automatically selected. This will break the limitations of the cellular concept in wireless communication. Currently, user movement from one cell to another causes excessive handovers in high-density networks, leading to handover failures, delays, data loss, and the "ping-pong" effect. 6G cell-free communication will overcome all of these issues and provide better QoS.
[0169] Cell-free communication is defined as a “system in which multiple geographically distributed access points (APs) cooperatively serve a small number of terminals using the same time and frequency resources with the help of a fronthaul network and a CPU.” A single terminal is served by a set of multiple APs, which is called an AP cluster. There are various ways to form an AP cluster; among them, the method of configuring an AP cluster with APs that can significantly contribute to improving the terminal's reception performance is called terminal-centric clustering. When using this method, the configuration is dynamically updated as the terminal moves. By introducing this terminal-centric AP clustering technique, the terminal is always located at the center of the AP cluster, thereby becoming free from inter-cluster interference that can occur when a terminal is located at the boundary of the AP cluster. This cell-free communication will be achieved through multi-connectivity and multi-tier hybrid technologies, as well as heterogeneous radios used by different devices.
[0170] Integration of Wireless Information and Energy Transfer (WIET)
[0171] WIET uses the same fields and waves as wireless communication systems. In particular, sensors and smartphones will be charged using wireless power transmission during communication. WIET is a promising technology for extending the lifespan of wireless battery charging systems. Therefore, devices without batteries will be supported in 6G communication.
[0172] Integration of Wireless Communication and Sensing
[0173] Autonomous wireless networks are capable of continuously detecting dynamically changing environmental conditions and exchanging information between different nodes. In 6G, sensing will be tightly integrated with communication to support autonomous systems.
[0174] Integrated Access and Backhaul Network
[0175] In 6G, the density of access networks will be enormous. Each access network will be connected via backhaul connections such as fiber optics and FSO networks. To cope with a very large number of access networks, there will be tight integration between access and backhaul networks.
[0176] Big Data Analysis
[0177] Big data analysis is a complex process for analyzing various large-scale data sets or big data. This process ensures perfect data management by uncovering information such as hidden data, unknown correlations, and customer preferences. Big data is collected from various sources, such as video, social networks, images, and sensors. This technology is widely used to process vast amounts of data in 6G systems.
[0178] Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface
[0179] Numerous studies have been conducted that treat the wireless environment, along with transmitters and receivers, as a variable to be optimized. To emphasize the fundamental difference between wireless environments created through this approach and past design and optimization standards, they are referred to as Smart Radio Environments (SRE) or Intelligent Radio Environments (IRE). Regarding reconfigurable intelligent antenna (or intelligent reconfigurable antenna technology) as a technology for realizing SRE, various terms have been proposed, such as Reconfigurable Metasurfaces, Smart Large Intelligent Surfaces (SLIS), Large Intelligent Surfaces (LIS), Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS), and Intelligent Reflecting Surface (IRS).
[0180] THz band signals exhibit strong directivity, which can lead to numerous dead zones caused by obstacles. Consequently, RIS technology becomes crucial as it allows for the expansion of communication coverage, enhanced communication stability, and the provision of additional value-added services by installing RIS systems near these dead zones. An RIS is an artificial surface made of electromagnetic materials capable of altering the propagation of incoming and outgoing radio waves. While RIS may appear to be an extension of massive MIMO, it differs from massive MIMO in its array structure and operational mechanism. Furthermore, RIS offers the advantage of low power consumption because it operates as a reconfigurable reflector with passive elements—meaning it reflects signals passively without using an active RF chain. Additionally, since each passive reflector in the RIS must independently adjust the phase shift of the incident signal, this can be advantageous for wireless communication channels. By appropriately adjusting the phase shift through the RIS controller, the reflected signal can be collected at the target receiver to boost the received signal power.
[0181] There are also RISs that can control transmission and refraction characteristics as well as reflect wireless signals, and such RISs are mainly used for O2I (Outdoor to Indoor). Recently, STAR-RIS (Simultaneous Transmission and Reflection RIS), which provides transmission and reflection simultaneously, is also being actively researched.
[0182] Metaverse
[0183] Metaverse is a compound word formed from 'Meta,' meaning virtual or transcendent, and 'Universe,' meaning the universe. Generally, the term metaverse is used to mean something like 'a three-dimensional virtual space where social and economic activities similar to those in the real world are prevalent.'
[0184] Extended Reality (XR), a core technology for implementing the metaverse, can expand real-world experiences and provide a unique sense of immersion through the convergence of the virtual and the real. The high bandwidth and low latency of 6G networks enable users to experience Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) with enhanced immersion.
[0185] Autonomous Driving (Self-driving)
[0186] For perfect autonomous driving, vehicles must communicate with each other to alert one another to dangerous situations, or communicate with infrastructure such as parking lots and traffic lights to verify information like parking locations and signal change times. V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything), a core element of building autonomous driving infrastructure, is a technology that enables vehicles to communicate and share with various elements on the road to perform autonomous driving, including wireless communication between vehicles (V2V) and between vehicles and infrastructure (V2I).
[0187] Fast transmission speeds and low-latency technologies are essential to maximize the performance of autonomous driving and ensure high safety. Furthermore, as the amount of information to be transmitted and received increases significantly in the future—moving beyond the level of delivering warning or guidance messages to the driver to actively intervene in vehicle operation and directly control the vehicle in dangerous situations—it is expected that 6G will be able to maximize autonomous driving through faster transmission speeds and lower latency than 5G.
[0188] Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)
[0189] Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or drones will become a critical element in 6G wireless communication. In most cases, high-speed data wireless connectivity is provided using UAV technology. BS entities are installed on UAVs to provide cellular connectivity. UAVs possess specific capabilities not found in fixed BS infrastructure, such as easy deployment, robust line-of-sight links, and controlled degrees of freedom for mobility. During emergencies, such as natural disasters, the deployment of ground communication infrastructure is not economically feasible, and sometimes services cannot be provided in volatile environments. UAVs can easily handle these situations. UAVs will become a new paradigm in the field of wireless communication. This technology facilitates the three fundamental requirements of wireless networks: eMBB, URLLC, and mMTC. UAVs can also support various purposes, such as enhancing network connectivity, fire detection, disaster emergency services, security and surveillance, pollution monitoring, parking monitoring, and accident monitoring. Therefore, UAV technology is recognized as one of the most critical technologies for 6G communication.
[0190] Blockchain
[0191] Blockchain will become a critical technology for managing massive amounts of data in future communication systems. As a form of distributed ledger technology, a distributed ledger is a database distributed across numerous nodes or computing devices. Each node replicates and stores an identical copy of the ledger. Blockchain is managed via a peer-to-peer (P2P) network and can exist without being managed by a centralized authority or server. Data in a blockchain is collected together and organized into blocks. These blocks are linked together and protected using encryption. Blockchain inherently complements large-scale IoT perfectly through enhanced interoperability, security, privacy, stability, and scalability. Therefore, blockchain technology provides various capabilities such as inter-device interoperability, large-scale data traceability, autonomous interaction with other IoT systems, and the large-scale connectivity stability of 6G communication systems.
[0192] <Random Access Channel (RACH) 절차>
[0193] FIGS. 6a through 6e illustrate an example of a RACH procedure applicable to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0194] With reference to FIGS. 6a through 6e, a RACH procedure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is described. The embodiment of FIGS. 6a through 6e may be combined with various embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0195] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, where RF requirements (e.g., Tx RF performance requirements and / or Rx RF performance requirements) are described, the UE may satisfy these RF requirements. For example, the UE may be tested to satisfy the RF requirements (e.g., Tx RF performance requirements and / or Rx RF performance requirements) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a UE satisfying these RF requirements may perform a RACH procedure. When the UE transmits a message, data, signaling, etc. to a gNB, the UE satisfies the Tx RF performance requirements described in the first embodiment of this specification. When the UE receives a message, data, signaling, etc. from a gNB, the UE satisfies the Rx RF performance requirements described in the first embodiment of this specification.
[0196] To connect a UE to a 5G network, the UE and the 5G network must be synchronized in the uplink and downlink. Downlink synchronization is performed when the UE successfully decodes the SSB transmitted by the gNB. To establish uplink synchronization and an RRC connection, the UE must perform the RACH random access procedure.
[0197] Two types of random access procedures are supported. The two types of random access procedures are a 4-stage Random Access (RA) type using MSG1 and a 2-stage RA type using MSGA.
[0198] The two types of RA procedures can support Contention Based Random Access (CBRA) and Contention Free Random Access (CFRA), respectively, as shown in Figures 6a through 6e below. The UE can select the random access type when starting the random access procedure according to the network configuration.
[0199] Referring to Figures 6a and 6c, a four-step RA type using MSG1 is described.
[0200] The MSG1 of the 4-step RA type includes a PRACH preamble. The UE transmits the MSG1. After the UE transmits the MSG1, the UE monitors the network for a response within a set period.
[0201] In the case of a CBRA according to the example of Fig. 6a, when the UE receives a random access response (MSG2) from the gNB, the UE can transmit MSG3 using a UL grant scheduled by the response message. The UE can then monitor contention resolution. If contention resolution is not successful even after MSG3 (re)transmission, the UE performs MSG1 transmission again.
[0202] In the case of CFRA according to the example of Fig. 6c, a dedicated preamble for transmitting MSG1 is allocated by the network. The gNB transmits the RA preamble allocation to the UE. The UE transmits MSG1 containing the random access preamble to the gNB. When the UE receives a random access response from the network, it terminates the random access procedure.
[0203] Referring to FIGS. 6b, 6d, and 6e, a two-stage RA type is described. The MSGA of the two-stage RA type includes a random access preamble of PRACH and a PUSCH payload. After the UE transmits the MSGA, the UE monitors the response of the network within a set window.
[0204] In the case of a CBRA according to the example of Fig. 6b, if the UE successfully resolves a race after receiving a network response (e.g., MSGB), the UE terminates the random access procedure. If a fallback indication is received within MSGB, the UE performs an MSG3 transmission using the UL grant reserved in the fallback indication as in Fig. 6e and monitors race resolution. If the resolution is not successful after the MSG3 (re)transmission, the UE performs an MSGA transmission again.
[0205] In the case of CFRA according to the example of Fig. 6d, the UE can receive an RA preamble allocation and a PUSCH allocation from the gNB. Then, dedicated preamble and PUSCH resources can be set for MSGA transmission. The UE transmits MSGA. When the UE receives a network response, the UE terminates the random access procedure.
[0206] If the random access procedure of the 2-stage RA type is not completed even after several MSGA transfers, the UE may be configured to switch to the CBRA of the 4-stage RA type.
[0207] Various examples of some procedures and technical specifications related to the disclosure of this specification are as follows. For the various examples below, standard documents may also be referenced.
[0208] For reference, in this disclosure, terminal and User Equipment (UE) may be used interchangeably.
[0209] According to conventional technology, when a terminal with a single antenna performs carrier aggregation (CA) operations based on an inter-frequency band, there is a problem in that it cannot effectively and / or accurately support secondary cell (SCell) activation.
[0210] In addition, low band carrier aggregation (CA) using Supplementary Downlink (SDL) is being discussed. However, according to conventional technology, it is not clearly defined how the terminal performs switching in low band CA operation. As a result, there is a problem that the terminal and the network cannot effectively and / or accurately perform low band CA operation.
[0211] For example, this specification describes examples of methods for distributing data traffic and increasing data transmission rates when using low-frequency bands to service a wide area. For example, examples of carrier aggregation (CA) operations with supplementary downlink (SDL) are described. For example, examples of operation methods regarding switching between the low-frequency band and the SDL frequency band are described during CA operations with SDL. In this disclosure, examples of CA based on a low-frequency band (e.g., an operating band n5 including an Uplink (UL) band 824-849 MHz and a DL band 869-894 MHz) and an SDL (e.g., an operating band n29 including a DL band 717-728) are described, but these are merely examples, and the scope of this specification is not limited by these examples. Various examples of this disclosure may be equally applied to CA between other frequency bands.
[0212] For example, according to the present disclosure, low band carrier aggregation (CA) through switching may be supported. In CA based on the low band spectrum of an FDD carrier and a supplementary DL (SDL), a switching pattern may be established between a transmitter and receiver of an FDD carrier used for PCell for a UE and a receiver of an SDL carrier used for SCell.
[0213] For reference, in various examples of the present disclosure, an inter-frequency band-based CA may be configured for the terminal, and / or a low band CA may be configured. In the following description regarding CA, the description may apply to an inter-frequency band-based CA and / or a low band CA.
[0214] This specification describes an example in which a terminal having a single antenna (e.g., a single Radio Frequency (RF) chain) performs carrier aggregation (CA) operations based on an inter-frequency band. An example of a method related to SCell activation is described for such a terminal to perform carrier aggregation (CA) operations based on an inter-frequency band.
[0215] A terminal can support CA through a single antenna. In this case, as shown in the example of FIG. 8, the terminal cannot operate on two frequency bands simultaneously and may perform switching between the two frequency bands based on the base station's scheduling. For example, the terminal may perform switching based on scheduling and operate on only one frequency band at a specific time.
[0216] The following drawings are made to illustrate a specific example of the present specification. The names of specific devices or specific signals / messages / fields described in the drawings are presented as examples, and therefore the technical features of the present specification are not limited to the specific names used in the following drawings.
[0217] FIG. 7 is an example of CA operation of a terminal including one antenna according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0218] Figure 7 is an example of CA operation for a UE equipped with a single antenna.
[0219] Referring to FIG. 7, an inter-frequency band-based CA can be established for a terminal. Based on the terminal including a single antenna, the terminal can perform signal transmission and / or signal reception in a PCell, and then perform switching from a PCell to a SCell. The terminal can perform signal transmission and / or signal reception in a SCell, and then perform switching from a SCell to a PCell.
[0220] When LB CA is configured for a terminal, the base station may set a switching pattern for the frequency band (or component carrier) for the terminal. For example, the switching pattern for the frequency band (or component carrier) may be a semi-static switching pattern. For example, the base station may transmit information related to the switching pattern for the frequency band (or component carrier) (e.g., semi-static switching pattern) to the terminal.
[0221] For reference, the switching pattern may include one or more time intervals related to SCell and one or more time intervals related to PCell. For example, the switching pattern may include information in the form of a bitmap. For example, if the switching pattern includes 00001111000011111, the time interval corresponding to 0 may be the time interval related to PCell, and the time interval corresponding to 1 may be the time interval related to SCell. For example, in the example of 00001111000011111, the time interval corresponding to the first four consecutive 1s may be referred to as the first time interval related to SCell, and the time interval corresponding to the second five consecutive 1s may be referred to as the second time interval related to SCell.
[0222] For reference, the switching pattern of the frequency band (or component carrier) (e.g., semi-static switching pattern), frequency band switching pattern, frequency band switching pattern, and semi-static switching pattern may all be used as terms with the same meaning below. Additionally, the switching pattern of the frequency band (or component carrier) (e.g., semi-static switching pattern) may be referred to as a switching pattern related to Low Band CA (LBCA). For example, a switching pattern related to LBCA may be LBCA-SwitchingPattern.
[0223] In some implementations, a base station may set a switching pattern (e.g., a semi-static switching pattern) for a frequency band (or component carrier) to a terminal via Radio Resource Control (RRC). For example, the base station may transmit an RRC-based message to the terminal containing information regarding the switching pattern (e.g., a semi-static switching pattern) for the frequency band (or component carrier). The base station may also release the switching pattern (e.g., a semi-static switching pattern) for the frequency band (or component carrier) to the terminal via RRC. For example, the base station may transmit an RRC-based message to the terminal containing information regarding the release of the switching pattern (e.g., a semi-static switching pattern) for the frequency band (or component carrier).
[0224] For a terminal to operate based on CA, the base station must add a SCell for CA and activate a deactivated SCell for the terminal. For a terminal with a single antenna to perform measurements on an inter-band SCell, the terminal needs to perform RF retuning for the frequency band of the SCell, and related operation settings may be required.
[0225] If the terminal has a different RF chin for the inter-band SCell, examples of measurement requirements for the deactivated SCell are shown in Table 6 below. For example, based on the measCycleSCell cycle, the terminal may perform measurements related to the deactivated SCell. For example, measCycleSCell may be the measurement cycle for the SCell. measCycleSCell may be used when the SCell is set on a frequency indicated by information related to the measurement object (e.g., measObjectNR) and the SCell is in a deactivated state. For reference, the terminal may also receive information related to the measurement object (e.g., measObjectNR) from the base station.
[0226] The terminal can use measurements related to deactivated SCell during SCell activation. MeasCycleSCell can be set to one of {160, 256, 320, 512, 640, 1024, 1280}ms.
[0227] DRX cycleTSSB_measurement_period_intraNo DRX Ceil (5 x K p ) x measCycleSCell x CSSF intra DRX cycle≤ 320msCeil(5 x K p ) x max(measCycleSCell, 1.5xDRX cycle) x CSSF intra DRX cycle> 320msCeil(5 x K p ) x max(measCycleSCell, DRX cycle) x CSSF intra NOTE 1: This requirement may also apply to disabled SCG SCell.
[0228] Table 6 shows examples of measurement periods (e.g., TSSB_measurement_period_intra) associated with a disabled SCell for intra-frequency without measurement gaps in FR1. K p is the scaling factor for the SSB frequency layer measured without a measurement gap. CSSF intra is the Carrier Specific Scaling Factor. The Discontinuous Reception (DRX) cycle refers to the DRX cycle.
[0229] However, the terminal may contain only one RF chain. In this case, the terminal may need to set a measurement gap (MG) to measure the deactivated SCell. To do this, the terminal can perform the following actions:
[0230] - The terminal may request an MG from the base station for measurement of the deactivated SCell. Alternatively, the base station may transmit an Information Element (IE) to the terminal regarding whether an MG for the SCell is required. In this case, the terminal may report information regarding whether an MG is required (e.g., NeedForGapsSCell) to the base station. For example, NeedForGapsSCell may be defined as shown in Table 7 below.
[0231] NeedForGapsSCell ::= SEQUENCE {gapIndicationSCell ENUMERATED {gap, no-gap}}
[0232] According to the example in Table 7, NeedForGapsSCell may include a gapIndicationSCell containing a gap or no-gap. If the terminal requires an MG, NeedForGapsSCell may include a gap, and if not, no-gap.
[0233] - The terminal may request an MG from the base station, or the terminal may notify the base station that it needs an MG. In this case, the base station may set an MG for the deactivated SCell measurement for the terminal. For example, the base station may transmit information related to the MG for the deactivated SCell measurement to the terminal. For example, for the MG setting in this case, a new MG pattern defined based on the existing defined MG pattern and the period of the measurementCycleSCell may be considered. For example, for FR1, the Measurement Gap Repetition Period (MGRP) may be increased to {256, 320, 512, 640, 1024, 1280}ms, and for each increased MGRP, an MG pattern considering an MGL of {3, 4, 6}ms may be considered. For example, new MG patterns defined based on existing defined MG patterns and cycles of measCycleSCell may be added, such as Gap pattern IDs 26 to 44 in Table 8 below.
[0234] Gap Pattern IdMeasurement Gap Length (MGL, ms)Measurement Gap Repetition Period(MGRP, ms)06401680234033804620561606420744084809416010320113160125.520135. 540145.580155.5160163.520173.540183.580193.5160201.520211.540221.580 231.51602410802520160266256276320286512296640316102432612803342563443203545123646403741024384128039325640332041351242364043310244431280
[0235] In the examples of Table 8, gap patterns Id 0 to 25 may be previously defined MG patterns. Gap patterns based on gap patterns Id 26 to 44 may be examples of previously defined MG patterns and new MG patterns defined based on the period of measCycleSCell.
[0236] When the base station sets the MG, the measurement period for the deactivated SCell may be as shown in the example in Table 9 below.
[0237] DRX cycleTSSB_measurement_period_intraNo DRX Ceil (5 x K p ) x MGRP x CSSF intra DRX cycle≤ 320msCeil(5 x K p ) x max(MGRP, 1.5xDRX cycle) x CSSF intra DRX cycle> 320msCeil(5 x K p ) x max(MGRP, DRX cycle) x CSSF intra NOTE 1: This requirement may also apply to disabled SCG SCell.
[0238] Table 9 shows examples of measurement periods (e.g., TSSB_measurement_period_intra) associated with a disabled SCell for intra-frequency without measurement gaps in FR1. K p is the scaling factor for the SSB frequency layer measured without a measurement gap. CSSF intra is the Carrier Specific Scaling Factor. The Discontinuous Reception (DRX) cycle refers to the DRX cycle.
[0239] Optionally, the base station may configure the MG setting to be valid only for a certain period of time. For example, the MG setting may include a time (e.g., 5 x MGRP) during which the terminal's measurement accuracy for SCell can be guaranteed, or the MG setting may be provided to the terminal with a time (e.g., 5 x MGRP) during which the terminal's measurement accuracy for SCell can be guaranteed.
[0240] The base station may transmit a Media Access Control Element (MAC-CE) containing an activation command for the SCell to the terminal. In this case, the base station enables the terminal to perform an activation operation for the SCell by providing a SCell activation window (e.g., T activation_window ) can also be additionally configured. For example, the base station can set the activation command for SCell and the SCell activation window (e.g., T activation_window MAC-CE including ) can be transmitted to the terminal.
[0241] For example, after the terminal receives the SCell activation command, the MAC-CE processing (MAC-CE decoding) time (e.g., 3ms) and the acknowledgment (ACK) / negative-acknowledgement (NACK) transmission time for the DL data (e.g., T HARQ ) after, SCell activation window (e.g., T activation_window ) can be applied.
[0242] SCell activation window (eg, T activation_window ) may include the RF retuning time of the terminal from the PCell to the SCell and / or the RF retuning time from the SCell to the PCell. The terminal does not expect signal transmission or reception from the PCell during the SCell activation window. Alternatively, an interruption may occur in the DL / UL of another serving cell during the SCell activation window.
[0243] The terminal must complete SCell activation during the SCell activation window, and the terminal must be able to perform signal transmission and reception operations on the PCell by switching from the SCell to the PCell.
[0244] In some implementations, the base station may have configured frequency band switching patterns for the PCell and SCell via RRC. For example, the base station may send an RRC message (e.g., an RRCReconfiguration message) containing frequency band switching patterns related to the PCell and SCell to the terminal. In this case, the frequency band switching pattern may be applied starting from the SCell activation window.
[0245] For example, the application of a frequency band switching pattern may be withheld from the time the terminal receives the SCell activation command until the SCell activation window expires. After the SCell activation window expires, the terminal can complete the SCell activation operation by transmitting a valid CSI report from the PCell to the network.
[0246] The base station can set a switching pattern of the frequency band (or component carrier) for the terminal. For example, the switching pattern of the frequency band (or component carrier) may be a semi-static switching pattern. For example, the base station can transmit information related to the switching pattern of the frequency band (or component carrier) (e.g., semi-static switching pattern) to the terminal.
[0247] For reference, the switching pattern of the frequency band (or component carrier) (e.g., semi-static switching pattern), frequency band switching pattern, frequency band switching pattern, and semi-static switching pattern may all be used as terms with the same meaning below. Additionally, the switching pattern of the frequency band (or component carrier) (e.g., semi-static switching pattern) may be referred to as a switching pattern related to Low Band CA (LBCA). For example, a switching pattern related to LBCA may be LBCA-SwitchingPattern.
[0248] In some implementations, a base station may set a switching pattern (e.g., a semi-static switching pattern) for a frequency band (or component carrier) to a terminal via Radio Resource Control (RRC). For example, the base station may transmit an RRC-based message to the terminal containing information regarding the switching pattern (e.g., a semi-static switching pattern) for the frequency band (or component carrier). The base station may also release the switching pattern (e.g., a semi-static switching pattern) for the frequency band (or component carrier) to the terminal via RRC. For example, the base station may transmit an RRC-based message to the terminal containing information regarding the release of the switching pattern (e.g., a semi-static switching pattern) for the frequency band (or component carrier).
[0249] In some implementations, the base station may set a frequency band switching pattern for the terminal via RRC. For example, the base station may transmit an RRC-based message to the terminal containing information related to the frequency band switching pattern. Additionally, the base station may enable the terminal to perform a frequency band switching operation based on the frequency band switching pattern by activating or deactivating the frequency band switching pattern via a MAC command. For example, the base station may transmit a MAC command to the terminal containing information related to the activation or deactivation of the frequency band switching pattern. For example, if the terminal receives information related to the activation of the frequency band switching pattern, the terminal may perform a switching operation (e.g., a frequency band switching operation) based on that frequency band switching pattern.
[0250] The following drawings are made to illustrate a specific example of the present specification. The names of specific devices or specific signals / messages / fields described in the drawings are presented as examples, and therefore the technical features of the present specification are not limited to the specific names used in the following drawings.
[0251] FIG. 8 is an example of SCell activation according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0252] FIG. 8 is an example of SCell activation of a UE equipped with a single antenna. The terminal can receive a SCell activation command (e.g., included in MAC-CE) and a SCell activation window. For example, the base station receives an activation command for SCell and a SCell activation window (e.g., T activation_window A MAC-CE including ) can be transmitted to the terminal. Alternatively, the base station can transmit a MAC-CE including an activation command for SCell and a SCell activation window to the terminal.
[0253] After the terminal receives the SCell activation command, the MAC-CE processing (MAC-CE decoding) time (e.g., 3ms) and the ACK / NACK transmission time for the DL data (e.g., T HARQ ) after, SCell activation window (e.g., T activation_window ) can be applied. Within the SCell activation window, the terminal can perform switching from SCell to PCell and transmit and receive signals from PCell.
[0254] For example, the following description may apply to the SCell activation window.
[0255] - If the activating SCell is a known SCell, SCell activation window (e.g., T activation_window ) can be as follows. SCell activation window (e.g., T activation_window) is the RF return time from PCell to SCell, the time until the first SSB of SCell is received (e.g., T FirstSSB It may include ), and the RF retuning time from SCell to PCell. For example, the sum of the RF retuning time from PCell to SCell and the RF retuning time from SCell to PCell can be assumed to be 1ms. (e.g., T activation_window = T FirstSSB + 1ms + X ms, X is additional margin; eg, X=0, 1, 2 ms)
[0256] - If the activating SCell does not transmit SSB and the terminal supports scellWithoutSSB-InterBandCA, the SCell activation window (e.g., T activation_window ) can be as follows. SCell activation window (e.g., T activation_window ) is the RF retuning time from PCell to SCell, the time until the first Tracking Reference Signal (TRS) / Aperiodic-TRS (A-TRS) of SCell is received (e.g., T first_TRS / T first_A-TRS ), may include the RF retuning time from SCell to PCell. For example, the sum of the RF retuning time from PCell to SCell and the RF retuning time from SCell to PCell can be assumed to be 1ms. (e.g., T activation_window = T first_TRS (or T first_A-TRS ) + 1ms + X ms, X is additional margin; eg, X=0, 1, 2 ms)
[0257] - If the activating SCell is an unknown SCell, SCell activation window (e.g., T activation_window ) can be as follows. SCell activation window (e.g., T activation_window ) is the RF return time from PCell to SCell, the time until the first SSB of SCell is received (e.g., T FirstSSB ), L3 measurement time (e.g., SCell's SMTC period or SSB period, T SMTC ), L1 measurement time (e.g., SCell's SSB cycle or CSI-RS cycle, T L1-RSPR ), L1 measurement reporting time (e.g., T L1-RSPR,reporting ), may include RF retuning time from SCell to PCell, etc. For example, the sum of the RF retuning time from PCell to SCell and the RF retuning time from SCell to PCell can be assumed to be 1ms. (e.g., T activation_window = T FirstSSB + T SMTC + T L1-RSPR + T L1-RSPR,reporting + 1ms + X ms, X is additional margin; eg, X=0, 1, 2 ms)
[0258] The application of a frequency band switching pattern after the termination of SCell activation (e.g., after the SCell activation window + valid CSI report (PCell)) can be considered as follows. For example, if the time point after the termination of SCell activation (e.g., after the SCell activation window + valid CSI report (PCell)) corresponds to a time point (or time interval) related to SCell according to the frequency band switching pattern (e.g., the time point of the SCell reception pattern and / or the time point of the SCell transmission pattern), the terminal may perform the following operations based on the frequency band switching pattern:
[0259] - The terminal can immediately switch to SCell; or,
[0260] - The terminal may ignore the corresponding SCell reception pattern (e.g., the time interval related to the SCell within the switching pattern) and maintain transmission and reception operations on the PCell. The terminal may initiate a switching operation to the SCell at the next SCell reception pattern (e.g., the time interval related to the SCell within the switching pattern). In this case, a defined operation between the terminal and the network can be maintained regarding the configured switching pattern and the switching time. Thus, the timing for scheduling and signal transmission and reception to the PCell / SCell may be clear; or,
[0261] - If the hold time of the SCell reception pattern (e.g., the time interval related to the SCell within the switching pattern) is less than or equal to a certain time (e.g., X ms, X={1,2,3,..}), the terminal may maintain transmit / receive operations on the PCell. If the hold time of the SCell reception pattern (e.g., the time interval related to the SCell within the switching pattern) is greater than the certain time, the terminal may switch to the SCell; or,
[0262] - When the period of the frequency band switching pattern is set, the terminal applies the frequency band switching pattern of the next period. For example, if the SCell activation operation ends in the middle of the Nth period, the terminal may apply the frequency band switching pattern starting from the N+1th period of the frequency band switching pattern.
[0263] The following drawings are made to illustrate a specific example of the present specification. The names of specific devices or specific signals / messages / fields described in the drawings are presented as examples, and therefore the technical features of the present specification are not limited to the specific names used in the following drawings.
[0264] FIG. 9 is an example of a procedure related to SCell activation and carrier switching according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0265] In some implementations, a base station may set a switching pattern (e.g., a semi-static switching pattern) for a frequency band (or component carrier) to a terminal via Radio Resource Control (RRC). For example, the base station may transmit an RRC-based message to the terminal containing information regarding the switching pattern (e.g., a semi-static switching pattern) for the frequency band (or component carrier). The base station may also release the switching pattern (e.g., a semi-static switching pattern) for the frequency band (or component carrier) to the terminal via RRC. For example, the base station may transmit an RRC-based message to the terminal containing information regarding the release of the switching pattern (e.g., a semi-static switching pattern) for the frequency band (or component carrier).
[0266] In step (S901), PCell can send a SCell enable command based on MAC-CE to the UE. For example, PCell can send a MAC-CE containing a SCell enable command to the UE.
[0267] In step (S902), the UE can perform Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) transmission and MAC-CE decoding.
[0268] In step (S903), SCell may transmit a reference signal to the UE. For example, the reference signal may include an SSB (Synchronization Signal Block or Synchronization Signal (SS) / Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH) block), and / or a Channel State Information-Reference Signal (CSI-RS).
[0269] In step (S904), the UE can perform measurements based on the RS of the SCell. For example, while the UE performs measurements based on the RS of the SCell, the UE does not perform Tx / Rx with the PCell.
[0270] In step (S905), the UE can transmit a valid CSI report to the PCell. For example, the valid CSI report may be based on measurements based on the SCell's RS.
[0271] In step (S906), the UE can perform carrier switching from PCell to SCell in the first SCell switching occupancy.
[0272] For example, if a UE receives a frequency band switching pattern from a PCell, a point in time after the UE has performed (or transmitted) a valid CSI report may be a time interval related to the SCell on the frequency band switching pattern (e.g., a time interval for receiving the SCell and / or a time interval for transmitting the SCell). In this case, the UE may ignore the corresponding time interval for receiving the SCell and continue the transmit / receive operation on the PCell. The terminal may perform carrier switching to the SCell at the next time interval for receiving the SCell.
[0273] In some implementations, when the UE receives a frequency band switching pattern from the PCell, the point in time after the UE performs (or transmits) a valid CSI report may be the point in time of the indication interval related to the SCell on the frequency band switching pattern (e.g., the point in time of the SCell receiving pattern and / or the point in time of the SCell transmitting pattern). In this case, the UE may immediately perform carrier switching to the SCell.
[0274] In step (S907), SCell may transmit data and / or control signals to the UE. The UE may also transmit signals to SCell.
[0275] In some implementations, the switching pattern (e.g., frequency band switching pattern) may be pre-configured via RRC or via MAC-CE. For example, a base station (e.g., PCell) may send an RRC message containing the switching pattern (e.g., frequency band switching pattern) to the UE. A base station (e.g., PCell) may send a MAC-CE containing the switching pattern (e.g., frequency band switching pattern) to the UE.
[0276] Referring to FIG. 10, an example of operation is described when the terminal receives a SCell enable command after receiving a switching pattern (e.g., a frequency band switching pattern).
[0277] The following drawings are made to illustrate a specific example of the present specification. The names of specific devices or specific signals / messages / fields described in the drawings are presented as examples, and therefore the technical features of the present specification are not limited to the specific names used in the following drawings.
[0278] FIG. 10 is an example of SCell activation based on a switching pattern according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0279] In the example of FIG. 10, a frequency band switching pattern may be set in the terminal. The terminal may receive a MAC-CE containing a SCell enable command. The MAC-CE may also include information related to the activation of the switching pattern.
[0280] When the terminal receives a SCell activation command, or the terminal may receive an activation instruction for a frequency band switching pattern along with the SCell activation command.
[0281] In this case, after receiving the SCell activation command in the PCell, the MAC-CE processing (MAC-CE decoding) time (e.g., 3ms) and the ACK / NACK transmission time for the DL data (e.g., T HARQ Afterwards, the terminal can switch to SCell according to the frequency band switching pattern. After switching to SCell, the terminal can perform an operation for SCell activation (e.g., an operation identical to the operation in the SCell activation window).
[0282] MAC-CE processing (MAC-CE decoding) time (e.g., 3ms) and ACK / NACK transmission time for DL data (e.g., T HARQ Time from ) until switching to SCell (e.g., T SU ; switching uncertainty) may also be additionally considered. If, from the time the SCell activation command is received, the MAC-CE processing (MAC-CE decoding) time (e.g., 3ms) and the ACK / NACK transmission time for DL data (e.g., T HARQA switching pattern to SCell may exist before ) has elapsed. In such a case, from the time the SCell activation command is received, the MAC-CE processing (MAC-CE decoding) time (e.g., 3ms) and the ACK / NACK transmission time for DL data (e.g., T HARQ Until a specified time, the terminal may be permitted to maintain operation on the PCell. After switching to the SCell, the terminal may defer switching to the PCell until the operation for SCell activation is completed. For example, while SCell activation is being performed, the terminal may perform measurements on the SCell (the interval during which SSB or CSI-RS is transmitted). At other times, the terminal may switch back to the PCell to perform transmit and receive operations on the PCell. In this case, after switching to the SCell, the terminal may defer switching to the PCell until the operation for SCell activation is completed.
[0283] The following drawings are made to illustrate a specific example of the present specification. The names of specific devices or specific signals / messages / fields described in the drawings are presented as examples, and therefore the technical features of the present specification are not limited to the specific names used in the following drawings.
[0284] FIG. 11 is an example of a procedure according to one embodiment of the disclosure of the present specification.
[0285] FIG. 11 is an example of the disclosure of this specification. The scope of the disclosure of this specification is not limited by the procedure illustrated in FIG. 13. For example, the operation, content, etc. described in the various examples of the disclosure of this specification above may apply to the example of FIG. 11.
[0286] The UE can perform the random access procedure described in the examples of FIGS. 6a through 6e. For example, the UE can transmit a random access preamble to a base station. The base station can transmit a response message to the UE.
[0287] In the example of Fig. 11, the base station may refer to a PCell. Below, descriptions related to the PCell may be understood as descriptions related to the base station.
[0288] Alternatively, the base station may include a PCell. The SCell mentioned in the example of FIG. 11 may be included in the same base station as the PCell or in a different base station.
[0289] In step (S1101), the base station (e.g., PCell) can transmit a switching pattern to the UE.
[0290] In some implementations, the switching pattern may include one or more time intervals related to the SCell and one or more time intervals related to the PCell.
[0291] In step (S1102), the base station (e.g., PCell) can send a SCell enable command to the UE.
[0292] In some implementations, the UE may send a Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) to the PCell. The UE may also decode a MAC-CE containing a SCell enable command.
[0293] In step (S1103), the UE can transmit a Channel State Indicator (CSI) to a base station (e.g., PCell).
[0294] In some implementations, the UE may perform a measurement based on the reference signal of the SCell. Based on the measurement, the UE may transmit the CSI to the base station (e.g., PCell).
[0295] For example, the CSI may be a CSI related to the SCell. For example, the UE may transmit a CSI related to the SCell to the PCell.
[0296] In step (S1104), the UE can perform switching.
[0297] For example, the UE can perform switching from the PCell to the SCell based on the switching pattern.
[0298] Based on the fact that the timing at which the above switching pattern is applied overlaps with the first time interval related to the SCell of the above switching pattern, the switching may be performed in the first time interval related to the SCell, or the switching may be performed in the second time interval related to the SCell of the above switching pattern (e.g., the next time interval related to the SCell). The second time interval related to the SCell of the above switching pattern may be the pattern following the first time interval related to the SCell.
[0299] For example, the point at which the switching pattern is applied may be when the UE transmits the CSI pack.
[0300] In some implementations, based on the fact that the UE has a single Radio Frequency (RF) chain, the UE may transmit information to the PCell requesting a measurement gap (MG) for a measurement of a deactivated SCell.
[0301] In some implementations, the UE may receive information from the PCell related to the MG for measuring the disabled SCell.
[0302] In some implementations, the MG for measuring the disabled SCell may be set based on a measurement cycle (e.g., measCylcleSCell) associated with the SCell.
[0303] In some implementations, information related to the MG for measuring the disabled SCell may include information related to the MG for measuring the disabled SCell and the time when the MG for measuring the disabled SCell is valid.
[0304] This specification may have various effects.
[0305] For example, CA operations based on inter-frequency bands performed by a terminal with a single antenna may be supported. For example, SCell activation may be effectively and / or accurately supported.
[0306] For example, low band CA based on supplementary DL can be effectively supported. For example, terminal operation and / or network operation regarding the switching pattern in low band CA operation can be effectively and / or accurately supported. Accordingly, even if switching is performed in low band CA operation, interruption of data transmission and reception can be prevented or minimized.
[0307] For example, in low-band CA operation and / or inter-frequency band-based CA operation, when a switching pattern is applied, the interruption of data transmission and reception of the terminal can be avoided by clearly defining the deactivated SCell measurement, SCell activation interval and / or SCell switching timing for the switching pattern.
[0308] The effects obtainable through the specific examples of this specification are not limited to those listed above. For example, there may be various technical effects that a person with ordinary skill in the related art can understand or derive from this specification. Accordingly, the specific effects of this specification are not limited to those explicitly described herein, but may include various effects that can be understood or derived from the technical features of this specification.
[0309] For reference, the operation of the terminal (e.g., UE) described in this specification may be implemented by the device of FIGS. 1 to 3 described above. For example, the terminal (e.g., UE) may be the first device (100) or the second device (200) of FIG. 2. For example, the operation of the terminal (e.g., UE) described in this specification may be processed by one or more processors (102 or 202). The operation of the terminal described in this specification may be stored in one or more memories (104 or 204) in the form of an instruction / program (e.g., instruction, executable code) executable by one or more processors (102 or 202). One or more processors (102 or 202) can control one or more memories (104 or 204) and one or more transceivers (105 or 206) and execute instructions / programs stored in one or more memories (104 or 204) to perform the operation of a terminal (e.g., UE) as described in the disclosure of this specification.
[0310] Additionally, instructions for performing the operation of a terminal (e.g., UE) described in the disclosure of this specification may be stored in a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium. The storage medium may be contained in one or more memories (104 or 204). And, the instructions recorded in the storage medium may perform the operation of a terminal (e.g., UE) described in the disclosure of this specification by being executed by one or more processors (102 or 202).
[0311] For reference, the operation of a network node (e.g., AMF, SMF, UPF, PCF, AUSF, etc.) or a base station (e.g., a base station included in a satellite, NG-RAN, gNB, eNB, serving cell, PCell, SCell, neighbor cell, etc.) described in this specification may be implemented by the device of FIGS. 1 to 3, which will be described below. For example, the network node or base station may be the first device (100) or the second device (200) of FIG. 2. For example, the operation of a network node or base station described in this specification may be processed by one or more processors (102 or 202). The operation of a terminal described in this specification may be stored in one or more memories (104 or 204) in the form of an instruction / program (e.g., instruction, executable code) executable by one or more processors (102 or 202). One or more processors (102 or 202) can control one or more memories (104 or 204) and one or more transceivers (106 or 206) and execute instructions / programs stored in one or more memories (104 or 204) to perform the operation of a network node or base station as described in the disclosure of this specification.
[0312] Additionally, instructions for performing the operation of a network node or base station described in the disclosure of this specification may be stored in a non-volatile (or non-transient) computer-readable storage medium. The storage medium may be contained in one or more memories (104 or 204). And, the instructions recorded in the storage medium may perform the operation of a network node or base station described in the disclosure of this specification by being executed by one or more processors (102 or 202).
[0313] Although preferred embodiments have been described by way of example above, the disclosure of this specification is not limited to such specific embodiments, and may be modified, changed, or improved in various forms within the scope of the spirit and claims of this specification.
[0314] In the exemplary system described above, methods are described based on a flowchart as a series of steps or blocks, but are not limited to the order of the described steps, and some steps may occur in a different order or simultaneously with other steps as described above. Furthermore, a person skilled in the art will understand that the steps shown in the flowchart are not exclusive, and that other steps may be included, or that one or more steps of the flowchart may be omitted without affecting the scope of rights.
[0315] The claims described in this specification may be combined in various ways. For example, the technical features of the method claims in this specification may be combined to be implemented as a device, and the technical features of the device claims in this specification may be combined to be implemented as a method. Furthermore, the technical features of the method claims and the technical features of the device claims in this specification may be combined to be implemented as a device, and the technical features of the method claims and the technical features of the device claims in this specification may be combined to be implemented as a method. Other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A step in which User Equipment (UE) receives a switching pattern from a Primary cell (PCell); The step of the above UE receiving a Secondary cell (SCell) activation command from the above PCell; The step of the above UE transmitting a Channel State Indicator (CSI) related to the SCell to the above PCell; and The above UE includes the step of performing switching from the PCell to the SCell based on the switching pattern, Based on the fact that the timing at which the above switching pattern is applied overlaps with the first time interval related to the SCell of the above switching pattern, the switching is performed in the first time interval related to the SCell, or the switching is performed in the second time interval related to the SCell of the above switching pattern, and A method in which the second time interval related to the SCell of the above switching pattern is the next time interval of the first time interval related to the SCell.
2. In Paragraph 1, A method in which the timing at which the above switching pattern is applied is based on the timing of transmitting the above CSI.
3. In Paragraph 1 or 2, A method in which the switching pattern comprises one or more time intervals related to the SCell and one or more time intervals related to the PCell.
4. In any one of paragraphs 1 through 3, The above UE further includes the step of performing a measurement based on the reference signal of the SCell, and The above CSI is a method based on the above measurement.
5. In any one of paragraphs 1 through 4, The step of the above UE transmitting a Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) to the above PCell; and A method further comprising the step of decoding a Media Access Control Control Element (MAC-CE) including the SCell enable command.
6. In any one of paragraphs 1 through 5, A method further comprising the step of the UE transmitting information to the PCell requesting a measurement gap (MG) for a measurement of a deactivated SCell based on the fact that the UE has a Radio Frequency (RF) chain.
7. In any one of paragraphs 1 through 6, A method further comprising the step of the UE receiving information related to an MG for measuring a deactivated SCell from the PCell.
8. In Paragraph 7, A method in which the MG for measuring the deactivated SCell is set based on the measurement cycle associated with the SCell.
9. In Paragraph 7 or 8, A method comprising information related to an MG for measuring the deactivated SCell, wherein the information includes the MG for measuring the deactivated SCell and information related to the time during which the MG for measuring the deactivated SCell is valid.
10. As a device, At least one transmitter / receiver; At least one processor; and It includes one or more memories that store instructions and can be connected to operate with at least one processor, and The above-mentioned at least one processor is a device adapted to perform a method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.
11. At least one processor; and It includes at least one memory that stores instructions and is operablely electrically connected to at least one processor, and An operation performed based on the execution of the above instruction by the at least one processor is: an apparatus comprising a method according to any one of claims 1 to 10.
12. As a non-transitory computer-readable medium (CRM) recording instructions, The above instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method according to any one of claims 1 through 11, CRM.
13. A step in which the Primary cell (PCell) transmits a switching pattern to the User Equipment (UE); The step of the PCell transmitting a Secondary cell (SCell) activation command to the UE; and The above PCell includes the step of receiving a Channel State Indicator (CSI) related to the SCell from the UE, and The above switching pattern relates to the switching from the PCell to the SCell performed by the UE, and Based on the fact that the timing at which the above switching pattern is applied overlaps with the first time interval related to the SCell of the above switching pattern, the switching is performed in the first time interval related to the SCell, or the switching is performed in the second time interval related to the SCell of the above switching pattern, and A method in which the second time interval related to the SCell of the above switching pattern is the next time interval of the first time interval related to the SCell.
14. In Paragraph 13, A method in which the timing at which the above switching pattern is applied is based on the timing of transmitting the above CSI.
15. In Paragraph 13 or 14, A method in which the switching pattern comprises one or more time intervals related to the SCell and one or more time intervals related to the PCell.
16. In any one of paragraphs 13 through 15, The above CSI is a method based on a measurement performed by the UE based on the reference signal of the SCell.
17. In any one of paragraphs 13 through 16, A method further comprising the step of the PCell receiving information from the UE requesting a measurement gap (MG) for a measurement of a deactivated SCell based on the fact that the UE has a Radio Frequency (RF) chain.
18. In any one of paragraphs 13 through 17, A method further comprising the step of the PCell transmitting information related to the MG for measuring the disabled SCell to the UE.
19. In Paragraph 18, A method in which the MG for measuring the deactivated SCell is set based on the measurement cycle associated with the SCell.
20. In Paragraph 18 or 19, A method comprising information related to an MG for measuring the deactivated SCell, wherein the information includes the MG for measuring the deactivated SCell and information related to the time during which the MG for measuring the deactivated SCell is valid.
21. At least one transmitter / receiver; At least one processor; and It includes at least one memory that stores instructions and can be connected to operate with at least one processor, and The above-mentioned at least one processor is a device adapted to perform a method according to any one of claims 13 to 20.