Communication device and communication method

Abstract

The present invention improves accuracy in uplink channel estimation. This terminal comprises: a control circuit that, on the basis of information relating to a communication method that supports communication in different directions for each of a plurality of bands in a first time resource in which a frequency band is divided into the plurality of bands, determines a time interval for performing channel estimation in which reference signals are combined; and a transmission circuit that, on the basis of the time interval, transmits an uplink signal including the reference signal.

Description

Communication equipment and communication methods

[0001] This disclosure relates to communication devices and communication methods.

[0002] The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has completed the specification of the physical layer for Release 18 NR (New Radio access technology) as an enhancement to the functionality of 5th Generation mobile communication systems (5G). NR supports enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) and ultra-reliable and low-latency communication (URLLC) to meet requirements such as high speed and large capacity (see, for example, Non-Patent Documents 1-6).

[0003] 3GPP TS 38.211 V18.5.0, "Physical channels and modulation (Release 18)", Dec. 20243GPP TS 38.212 V18.5.0, "Multiplexing and channel coding (Release 18)", Dec. 20243GPP TS 38.213 V18.5.0, "Physical layer 20243GPP TS 38.331 V18.4.0, "Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocol specification (Release 18)", Dec. 20243GPP TS 38.331 V18.4.0, "Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocol specification (Release 18)", Dec. 20243GPP TS 38.321 V18.4.0, "Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol specification (Release 18)", Dec. 2024

[0004] However, there is room for consideration regarding the uplink channel estimation method.

[0005] The non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure contribute to providing a communication device and a communication method capable of improving the uplink channel estimation accuracy.

[0006] A communication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a control circuit that determines a time interval for performing channel estimation by synthesizing reference signals based on information regarding a communication method that supports communication in different directions for each of the plurality of bands in a first time resource in which a frequency band is divided into a plurality of bands, and a transmission circuit that transmits an uplink signal including the reference signal based on the time interval.

[0007] These general or specific aspects may be implemented in a system, apparatus, method, integrated circuit, computer program, or recording medium, or may be implemented in any combination of a system, apparatus, method, integrated circuit, computer program, and recording medium.

[0008] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the uplink channel estimation accuracy can be improved.

[0009] Further advantages and effects in an embodiment of the present disclosure will be clarified from the specification and the drawings. Such advantages and / or effects are provided by some embodiments and the features described in the specification and the drawings, respectively, but not all of them are necessarily provided in order to obtain one or more identical features.

[0010] Figures illustrating the Duplex scheme, slot configuration, Configuration 1 and Configuration 2, Nominal Time Domain Window (TDW) and Actual TDW, Subband non-overlapping full duplex (SBFD) symbol and non-SBFD symbol boundary as event, Block diagram showing some base station configuration examples, Block diagram showing some terminal configuration examples, Block diagram showing base station configuration examples, Block diagram showing terminal configuration examples, Sequence diagram showing base station and terminal operation examples, Actual TDW setting example, Actual TDW setting example, Actual TDW setting example, Actual TDW setting example, Link direction setting example in SBFD symbol, 3 Exemplary architecture of a GPP NR system, 5 Exemplary functional partitioning in G O-RAN

[0011] Embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0012] [Regarding Subband Non-Overlapping Full Duplex (SBFD)] As a Study Item for Release 18, "Study on evolution of NR duplex operation" was discussed. One of the main topics of this Study Item was support for subband non-overlapping full duplex (also called SBFD or Cross Division Duplex (XDD)). Based on the results of the feasibility study in Release 18, it was decided to formalize the SBFD specification in Release 19.

[0013] Figure 1 shows an example of a duplex scheme. In Figure 1, the vertical axis represents frequency and the horizontal axis represents time. Also, in Figure 1, "U" indicates uplink transmission and "D" indicates downlink transmission.

[0014] Figure 1(a) shows an example of a half-duplex Time Division Duplex (TDD). In Figure 1(a), the terminal (UE: User Equipment) is a terminal connected to a base station (e.g., gNB). In the half-duplex shown in Figure 1(a), the transmission direction (e.g., downlink or uplink) for a given time resource may be the same between the base station and the terminal. For example, the transmission direction for a given time resource will not differ between terminals.

[0015] Figure 1(b) shows an example of SBFD. In SBFD, a frequency resource (or frequency band) is divided into multiple bands (e.g., subbands, RB sets, subbands, or sub-BWPs (Bandwidth Parts)), and transmission in different directions (e.g., downlink or uplink) is supported on a subband basis. In SBFD, a terminal performs transmission and reception in either the uplink or downlink at a given time resource, and does not perform transmission and reception in the other direction. On the other hand, in SBFD, a base station can transmit and receive on both the uplink and downlink simultaneously. There may be cases where a terminal does not use a resource in a transmission direction at a given time resource (e.g., the resource shown by the dotted line in Figure 1(b)).

[0016] Although not shown in Figure 1, a guard band may be placed between the uplink subband (UL subband: U) and the downlink subband (DL subband: D). The guard band may be used to reduce cross-link interference (CLI) between different transmission directions (links).

[0017] In the following explanation, symbols on which SBFD operation or control is performed will be referred to as "SBFD symbols." Symbols on which SBFD operation or control is not performed (for example, symbols different from SBFD symbols) may also be referred to as "non-SBFD symbols." Furthermore, a slot composed of SBFD symbols may be referred to as an "SBFD slot," and a slot composed of non-SBFD symbols may be referred to as a "non-SBFD slot."

[0018] Furthermore, the subband configuration is notated as {X…X}, where X represents the UL subband (U) or DL ​​subband (D). The order of notation corresponds to the order in which the subbands are arranged. For example, the subband configuration in Figure 1(b) is notated as {DUD}.

[0019] [About SBFD Symbols and SBFD-Compatible Terminals] SBFD-compatible terminals (also called, for example, SBFD-aware UEs) are terminals that support SBFD operation and control. SBFD-compatible terminals can obtain SBFD-related settings, such as the position in the frequency and time domains of subbands. Non-SBFD-compatible terminals (also called non-SBFD-aware UEs) are terminals that do not support SBFD operation and control. Non-SBFD-compatible terminals, for example, do not recognize SBFD symbols, and therefore, even if an existing symbol (e.g., a non-SBFD symbol) is set (or changed) to an SBFD symbol, the terminal will recognize that symbol as an existing symbol and operate accordingly.

[0020] SBFD symbols may be configured, for example, by using (or replacing / modifying) existing symbols. For example, upon notification from a base station, an SBFD-enabled terminal may reconfigure some or all of its existing symbols as SBFD symbols and operate accordingly. Existing symbols include DL symbols, UL symbols, and Flexible symbols. For example, SBFD symbols may be configured using DL symbols. Existing symbols are configured, for example, by RRC signaling (e.g., TDD-UL-DL-ConfigCommon). Here, non-SBFD symbols are, for example, symbols that are not SBFD symbols (e.g., existing symbols that are not used as SBFD symbols).

[0021] Figure 2 shows an example of a slot configuration.

[0022] Figure 2(a) shows an example of a slot configuration in a terminal that does not support SBFD. In the example in Figure 2(a), the TDD UL-DL pattern period (the period in which the TDD slot configuration pattern is repeated) is 5 slots, where "D" represents a DL slot composed of DL symbols, "F" represents a Flexible slot composed of Flexible symbols, and "U" represents a UL slot composed of UL symbols.

[0023] Figure 2(b) shows an example of a slot configuration in an SBFD-compatible terminal. In the example in Figure 2(b), Slots #1, #2, #3, and #6 are SBFD slots composed of SBFD symbols. The subband configuration of each SBFD slot is {DUD}. The SBFD time period shown in Figure 2(b) (the period during which the SBFD slot configuration pattern is repeated) is 5 slots, similar to the TDD UL-DL pattern period shown in Figure 2(a).

[0024] Non-SBFD compatible terminals and SBFD compatible terminals may share symbols. For example, in Figure 2, in slot #1, non-SBFD compatible terminals may recognize it as a DL slot, and SBFD compatible terminals may recognize it as an SBFD slot, and then transmit and receive data. Note that in the example in Figure 2, for simplicity, the case where the symbol types included in the slot are the same was explained, but this is not the only case, and different symbol types (for example, SBFD symbols and UL symbols) may be mixed within a slot.

[0025] [Transmission and Reception Across SBFD and Non-SBFD Symbols] The following two configurations may be supported for setting up transmission and reception across SBFD and non-SBFD symbols: "Configuration 1": A method that transmits and receives only within the same symbol type (either SBFD or non-SBFD symbol) (a method that does not transmit or receive across different symbol types) "Configuration 2": A method that allows transmission and reception across different symbol types (SBFD and non-SBFD symbols)

[0026] The above configuration method may be applied to, for example, Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) repetition, Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) repetition, Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) repetition, TB processing over multiple slots (TBoMS), etc.

[0027] Furthermore, whether a terminal supports Configuration 2 may be configured, for example, according to its UE capability (terminal capabilities). Configuration 1 may also be, for example, the default capabilities set for the terminal.

[0028] Figure 3 shows examples of Configuration 1 and Configuration 2 operation. Slots 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 8 in Figure 3 are SBFD slots, and slots 0, 4, 5, and 9 are non-SBFD slots. In Figure 3, the subband configuration of the SBFD symbol is {DUD}. Figure 3 also shows an example where the transmission of a push repetition starts from slot 1.

[0029] As shown in Figure 3, in Configuration 1, PUSCH repetition is transmitted in SBFD slots but not in non-SBFD slots. On the other hand, as shown in Figure 3, in Configuration 2, PUSCH repetition is transmitted not only in SBFD slots but also in non-SBFD slots, such as UL slots (e.g., slots 4 and 9).

[0030] Thus, in Configuration 1, signals are transmitted using the same symbol type (SBFD symbols in Figure 3) (and not using different symbol types), which reduces the complexity of the terminal implementation. Furthermore, in Configuration 2, signals can be transmitted across both SBFD and non-SBFD symbols, which can lead to reduced latency or improved UL performance by increasing the number of repetitions.

[0031] [Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS) Bundling] DMRS bundling is used to improve the channel estimation accuracy of UL. In DMRS bundling, channel estimation (also called "joint channel estimation") is performed using the DMRS of the uplink signal (e.g., PUSCH or PUCCH) with multiple slots (e.g., consecutive slots). DMRS bundling can improve channel estimation accuracy compared to using the DMRS of a single uplink signal (e.g., PUSCH or PUCCH) for channel estimation.

[0032] DMRS bundling is applicable, for example, to PUSCH repetition type A, PUSCH repetition type B, TBoMS, and PUCCH repetition.

[0033] The period over which DMRS bundling is applied (e.g., time interval, duration, number of slots, or number of symbols) is determined based on the "Nominal Time Domain Window (TDW)" and the "Actual TDW".

[0034] The duration of the Nominal TDW may be set by signaling at a higher layer (e.g., Radio Resource Control (RRC)) (e.g., by push-TimeDomainWindowLength or Pucch-TimeDomainWindowLength). Alternatively, if it is not set by signaling at a higher layer, the Nominal TDW may be implicitly determined by, for example, the repetition factor or the length of the TBoMS.

[0035] The duration of the Actual TDW is determined by events occurring within the Nominal TDW. Examples of such events include DL reception, different UL transmissions, and changes in UL transmission timing. When an event occurs, the Nominal TDW is divided into multiple Actual TDWs.

[0036] Terminals supporting DMRS bundling are expected to maintain power consistency and phase continuity during uplink transmission (e.g., push or push transmission) within the Actual TDW. Base stations can perform joint channel estimation within the Actual TDW.

[0037] Figure 4 shows examples of Nominal TDW and Actual TDW.

[0038] Figure 4 shows an example where a terminal sends a PUSCH repetition from slot 2. As shown in Figure 4, PUSCH repetitions are sent in UL slots 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, and 9. In the example in Figure 4, the Nominal TDW size is set to 8 slots. In this case, the Nominal TDW ranges from slot 2 to slot 9.

[0039] Here, as shown in Figure 4, a PDSCH reception occurs in slot 5. In this case, the terminal determines that an event occurred in slot 5. As a result, the Nominal TDW is divided into multiple Actual TDWs. In the example in Figure 4, the first Actual TDW within the Nominal TDW is the period of slots 2, 3, and 4, and the next Actual TDW starts from slot 7, where a PUSCH repetition is sent after slot 4, and is the period of slots 7, 8, and 9.

[0040] In this way, the terminal determines the period during which power consistency and phase continuity are maintained as the Actual TDW.

[0041] [DMRS Bundling in SBFD] There is room for further consideration regarding DMRS bundling control (e.g., how to determine the Actual TDW) under conditions where SBFD and non-SBFD symbols are mixed.

[0042] One possible approach is to always consider the boundary between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols (e.g., the switching of symbol types) as an event. Figure 5 shows an example of this method. In Figure 5, events are determined to occur at the boundaries between slot 3 and slot 4, between slot 4 and slot 5, and between slot 8 and slot 9, where SBFD and non-SBFD symbols switch.

[0043] However, when always treating the boundary between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols as an event as shown in FIG. 5, in the transmission of an uplink signal (e.g., PUSCH transmission or PUCCH transmission) that spans SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols, Nominal TDW is more likely to be divided into more Actual TDWs, and it is difficult to improve the uplink channel estimation accuracy by DMRS bundling.

[0044] Here, even in the transmission of an uplink signal that spans SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols, if several conditions are met, the terminal may be able to maintain power consistency and phase continuity between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols. For example, the conditions are assumed to include that the same frequency domain resources are allocated for the uplink signal between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols, or that the terminal applies the same analog filter between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols. There is room for consideration regarding the method for determining Actual TDW in such a case.

[0045] In a non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for improving the UL channel estimation accuracy by DMRS bundling will be described by appropriately setting Actual TDW when SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols are mixed.

[0046] [Overview of Communication System] A communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include, for example, a base station 100 (e.g., corresponding to a gNB, a communication device) shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, and a terminal 200 (e.g., corresponding to a UE, a communication device) shown in FIGS. 7 and 9. There may be a plurality of base stations 100 and terminals 200 in the communication system, respectively.

[0047] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a part of the base station 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the base station 100 shown in FIG. 6, a control unit (for example, corresponding to a control circuit) determines a time interval (for example, Actual TDW) for performing channel estimation (for example, DMRS bundling or joint channel estimation) by synthesizing reference signals based on information regarding a communication method (information regarding SBFD) that supports communication in different directions for each of a plurality of frequency bands in a first time resource (for example, SBFD slot or SBFD symbol) in which the frequency band is divided into a plurality of bands. A receiving unit (for example, corresponding to a receiving circuit) receives an uplink signal (for example, PUSCH or PUCCH) including a reference signal based on the determined time interval.

[0048] FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a part of the terminal 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the terminal 200 shown in FIG. 7, a control unit (for example, corresponding to a control circuit) determines a time interval (for example, Actual TDW) for performing channel estimation (for example, DMRS bundling or joint channel estimation) by synthesizing reference signals based on information regarding a communication method (information regarding SBFD) that supports communication in different directions for each of a plurality of frequency bands in a first time resource (for example, SBFD slot or SBFD symbol) in which the frequency band is divided into a plurality of bands. A transmitting unit (for example, corresponding to a transmitting circuit) transmits an uplink signal (for example, PUSCH or PUCCH) including a reference signal based on the determined time interval.

[0049] [Configuration of Base Station] FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the base station 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In FIG. 8, the base station 100 includes a receiving unit 101, a demapping unit 102, a channel estimation unit 103, a demodulation / decoding unit 104, a scheduling unit 105, a control information holding unit 106, a DMRS bundling control unit 107, a data / control information generation unit 108, an encoding / modulation unit 109, a mapping unit 110, and a transmitting unit 111.

[0050] For example, at least one of the following may be included in the control unit shown in Figure 6: the demapping unit 102, the channel estimation unit 103, the demodulation / decoding unit 104, the scheduling unit 105, the control information holding unit 106, the DMRS bundling control unit 107, the data / control information generation unit 108, the encoding / modulation unit 109, and the mapping unit 110; and the receiving unit 101 may be included in the receiving unit shown in Figure 6.

[0051] The receiving unit 101 performs reception processing on the received signal received via the antenna, for example, such as down-conversion or A / D conversion, and outputs the processed received signal to the demapping unit 102.

[0052] The demapping unit 102 resource demapping the received signal (for example, the uplink signal) input from the receiving unit 101, and outputs the modulated signal to the channel estimation unit 103 and the demodulation / decoding unit 104.

[0053] The channel estimation unit 103 performs channel estimation based on actual TDM information (e.g., the start position (e.g., the start symbol) and duration of the actual TDM) input from the DMRS bundling control unit 107, and outputs channel information (propagation path information) to the demodulation / decoding unit 104. For example, the channel estimation unit 103 may perform joint channel estimation using DMRS included in multiple PUSCH or PUCCH based on the actual TDM information.

[0054] The demodulation / decoding unit 104 performs demodulation and decoding based, for example, the modulated signal input from the demapping unit 102 and the channel information input from the channel estimation unit 103, and outputs the decoding result to the scheduling unit 105.

[0055] The scheduling unit 105 may, for example, perform scheduling for the terminals 200. Based on, for example, the decoding result input from the demodulation / decoding unit 104 and at least one of the control information input from the control information holding unit 106, the scheduling unit 105 schedules the transmission and reception of each terminal 200 and instructs the data / control information generation unit 108 to generate at least one of the data and control information. The scheduling unit 105 also outputs scheduling information (for example, resource allocation information for PUSCH or PUCCH) to the DMRS bundling control unit 107. The scheduling unit 105 also instructs the data / control information generation unit 108 to transmit the control information input from the control information holding unit 106 (for example, information related to DMRS bundling) to the terminals 200 as signaling information. The scheduling unit 105 also outputs control information related to the terminals 200 to the control information holding unit 106.

[0056] The control information holding unit 106 holds, for example, control information set for each terminal 200. The control information may include, for example, information regarding the slot configuration, information regarding SBFD, and information regarding DMRS bundling. The control information holding unit 106 may, for example, output the held information to each component of the base station 100 (for example, the scheduling unit 105 and the DMRS bundling control unit 107) as needed.

[0057] The DMRS bundling control unit 107 determines the actual TDM information based on the control information input from the control information holding unit 106 (for example, information regarding slot configuration, information regarding SBFD, information regarding DMRS bundling, etc.) and the scheduling information input from the scheduling unit 105. The DMRS bundling control unit 107 outputs the determined actual TDM information to the channel estimation unit 103.

[0058] The data and control information generation unit 108 generates at least one of data and control information in accordance with instructions from, for example, the scheduling unit 105, and outputs a signal containing the generated data or control information to the encoding and modulation unit 109. The generated data may include, for example, signaling information from a higher layer (e.g., DMRS bundling information).

[0059] The encoding and modulation unit 109 encodes and modulates signals (e.g., data and control information) input from the data and control information generation unit 108, and outputs the modulated signal to the transmission unit 111.

[0060] The mapping unit 110, for example, performs resource mapping on the modulated signal input from the encoding / modulation unit 109 and outputs the transmission signal to the transmission unit 111.

[0061] The transmitting unit 111 performs transmission processing such as D / A conversion, upconversion, or amplification on the signal input from the mapping unit 110, and transmits the resulting wireless signal from the antenna to the terminal 200.

[0062] [Terminal Configuration] Figure 9 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a terminal 200 according to one aspect of the present disclosure. In Figure 9, the terminal 200 includes a receiving unit 201, a demapping unit 202, a demodulation / decoding unit 203, a control unit 204, a control information holding unit 205, a DMRS bundling control unit 206, a data / control information generation unit 207, an encoding / modulation unit 208, a mapping unit 209, and a transmission unit 210.

[0063] For example, at least one of the demapping unit 202, demodulation / decoding unit 203, control unit 204, control information holding unit 205, DMRS bundling control unit 206, data / control information generation unit 207, encoding / modulation unit 208, and mapping unit 209 may be included in the control unit shown in Figure 7, and the transmission unit 210 may be included in the transmission unit shown in Figure 7.

[0064] The receiving unit 201 performs reception processing on the received signal received via the antenna, for example, such as down-conversion or A / D conversion, and outputs the processed received signal to the demapping unit 202.

[0065] The demapping unit 202, for example, resource demapping of the received signal input from the receiving unit 201, and outputs the modulated signal to the demodulation / decoding unit 203.

[0066] The demodulation / decoding unit 203 demodulates and decodes the modulated signal input from the demapping unit 202, for example, and outputs the decoding result to the control unit 204. The decoding result may include, for example, at least one of the signaling information of the upper layer and the downlink control information.

[0067] The control unit 204 may, for example, issue a generation instruction for at least one of the data and control information based on the decoded result (e.g., data or control information) input from the demodulation / decoded unit 203 and the control information input from the control information holding unit 205. The control unit 204 may also, for example, output scheduling information to the DMRS bundling control unit 206. Furthermore, the control unit 204 may, for example, output control information relating to the terminal 200 to the control information holding unit 205.

[0068] The control information holding unit 205, for example, holds control information input from the control unit 204 and outputs the held information to each component (for example, the control unit 204 and the DMRS bundling control unit 206) as needed.

[0069] The DMRS bundling control unit 206 determines Actual TDM information (e.g., Actual TDM start symbol and period) based on control information input from the control information holding unit 205 (e.g., information regarding slot configuration, information regarding SBFD, information regarding DMRS bundling, etc.) and scheduling information input from the control unit 204 (e.g., resource allocation information for PUSCH or PUCCH, etc.). The DMRS bundling control unit 206 outputs the determined Actual TDM information to the data / control information generation unit 207 and the transmission unit 210.

[0070] The data and control information generation unit 207 generates data or control information according to, for example, Actual TDW information input from the DMRS bundling control unit 206 and instructions from the control unit 204, and outputs a signal containing the generated data or control information to the encoding and modulation unit 208.

[0071] The encoding and modulation unit 208 encodes and modulates the signal input from, for example, the data and control information generation unit 207, and outputs the modulated signal to the mapping unit 209.

[0072] The mapping unit 209 performs resource mapping on the modulated signal input from the encoding / modulation unit 208 and outputs the transmission signal to the transmission unit 210.

[0073] The transmitting unit 210 performs transmission processing such as D / A conversion, upconversion, or amplification on the signal input from the mapping unit 209, and transmits the resulting radio signal from the antenna to the base station 100. At this time, the transmitting unit 210 sets a period for maintaining the consistency of the transmitted power and the continuity of the phase based on the Actual TDW information input from the DMRS bundling control unit 206.

[0074] [Operation of Base Station 100 and Terminal 200] An example of operation of the base station 100 and terminal 200 having the above configuration will be described below.

[0075] Figure 10 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of the base station 100 and the terminal 200.

[0076] In Figure 10, the base station 100 determines, for example, the settings (configuration) related to SBFD and DMRS bundling (S101). The base station 100 transmits, for example, higher-layer signaling information including the determined configuration information to the terminal 200 (S102). The transmission of the signaling information may be, for example, broadcast by System Information Block (SIB), or it may be notification by terminal-specific (individually terminal) signaling information.

[0077] The base station 100 transmits a PDCCH to notify PUSCH scheduling information (S103).

[0078] Terminal 200 determines the Actual TDW based on, for example, the configuration information included in the signaling information transmitted from base station 100 (S104). Terminal 200 may also determine, for example, the number of Actual TDWs, the start position of the Actual TDWs, and the duration.

[0079] For example, terminal 200 transmits a PUSCH (e.g., a PUSCH repetition) within the Actual TDM while maintaining consistency of the transmitted power and phase continuity based on the determined Actual TDM information (S105).

[0080] The base station 100 performs joint channel estimation using the DMRS of multiple PUSCHs received (S106).

[0081] [DMRS Bundling Control Method] An example of a DMRS bundling control method (for example, a method for determining the Actual TDW) in terminal 200 (for example, DMRS bundling control unit 206) will be described. Note that base station 100 (for example, DMRS bundling control unit 107) may, for example, set DMRS bundling for terminal 200, assuming the DMRS bundling control method performed by terminal 200.

[0082] The following describes an example of a DMRS bundling control method.

[0083] [Control Method 1] In Control Method 1, the terminal 200 determines the Actual TDW according to the transmission and reception settings (for example, Configuration 1 and Configuration 2) that span SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols.

[0084] In control method 1, whether or not the boundary between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols is treated as an event is determined according to Configuration 1 or Configuration 2.

[0085] For example, in Configuration 1 (where sending and receiving of either SBFD symbols or non-SBFD symbols is supported), terminal 200 does not need to treat the boundary between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols as an event (or does not need to determine it as an event).

[0086] In Configuration 1, repetitions of PUSCH or PUCCH are transmitted using the same symbol type (e.g., either an SBFD symbol or a non-SBFD symbol), and not with different symbol types. Therefore, unless other events occur, such as the boundary between SBFD and non-SBFD symbols, terminal 200 will transmit PUSCH or PUCCH using the same symbol type, making it easier to maintain power consistency and phase continuity at the boundary between SBFD and non-SBFD symbols.

[0087] Therefore, in Configuration 1, the terminal 200 does not treat the boundary between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols as an event, which allows for setting the Actual TDW across multiple PUSCH or PUCCH events and improves channel estimation accuracy.

[0088] For example, in Configuration 2 (which supports sending and receiving both SBFD and non-SBFD symbols), terminal 200 may treat (or determine as) the boundary between SBFD and non-SBFD symbols as an event.

[0089] In Configuration 2, PUSCH or PUCCH repetitions can be transmitted across different symbol types, for example, across SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols. In this case, it may be difficult to maintain power consistency and phase continuity, for example, depending on the parameter settings by upper-layer signaling or the implementation of terminal 200.

[0090] Therefore, in Configuration 2, the terminal 200 treats the boundary between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols as an event, so that the Actual TDW is set based on the boundary between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols, and DMRS bundling is performed in the interval of the same symbol type, thereby reducing the complexity of the implementation of the terminal 200.

[0091] Figure 11 shows an example of the operation of terminal 200 in control method 1.

[0092] In Figure 11, the condition is that PUSCH repetition type B is scheduled for 4 repetitions (repeated transmissions) from slot 3. In slot 4 shown in Figure 11, the first half (7 symbols) consists of SBFD symbols, and the second half (7 symbols) consists of non-SBFD symbols. The first symbol in the second half of slot 4 is a Flexible symbol, and the remaining 6 symbols are UL symbols. Also, in Figure 11, no other events occur during the PUSCH repetition transmission.

[0093] Figure 11(a) shows an example of the Actual TDW settings for Configuration 1.

[0094] In Figure 11(a), in Configuration 1, the PUSCH repetition is transmitted using SBFD symbols and not using non-SBFD symbols. For example, as shown in Figure 11(a), the PUSCH repetition is transmitted in slot 3, the first half of slot 4, and slot 5.

[0095] In Configuration 1, the boundaries between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols (for example, the boundary between the first and second half symbols within slot 4, and the boundary between slot 4 and slot 5) are not treated as events. Therefore, as shown in Figure 11(a), terminal 200 does not recognize the boundary between the first and second half symbols within slot 4, and the boundary between slot 4 and slot 5, as events. Also, since no other events occur, as shown in Figure 11(a), terminal 200 sets the period from the start position of the PUSCH transmission in slot 3 to slot 5 (the end position of the PUSCH transmission) as the Actual TDW. As a result, as shown in Figure 11(a), one Actual TDW contains four PUSCH transmissions.

[0096] In Figure 11(a), base station 100 can apply joint channel estimation during four PUSCH receptions. This improves the UL channel estimation accuracy through DMRS bundling in Configuration 1.

[0097] Figure 11(b) shows an example of the Actual TDW settings for Configuration 2.

[0098] In Figure 11(b), in Configuration 2, the PUSCH repetition is transmitted across SBFD and non-SBFD symbols. For example, as shown in Figure 11(b), the PUSCH repetition is transmitted in slot 3, the first half of slot 4, the second half of slot 4, and slot 5.

[0099] In Configuration 2, the boundaries between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols (for example, the boundary between the first and second half symbols within slot 4, and the boundary between slot 4 and slot 5) are treated as events. Therefore, as shown in Figure 11(b), terminal 200 determines the boundaries between the first and second half symbols within slot 4, and the boundary between slot 4 and slot 5, as events. Thus, as shown in Figure 11(b), terminal 200 sets three Actual TDWs based on the location where each event occurs. As a result, as shown in Figure 11(b), there are three Actual TDWs during PUSCH repetition transmission.

[0100] In Figure 11(b), base station 100 applies joint channel estimation when receiving PUSCH#0 and PUSCH#1 within the first Actual TDW, for example, but does not apply joint channel estimation to other Actual TDWs. This reduces the complexity of the terminal 200 implementation because, in Configuration 2, channel estimation (including DMRS bundling, for example) is performed within intervals (Actual TDWs) of the same symbol type.

[0101] Thus, according to control method 1, terminal 200 changes the method for determining the Actual TDW (event determination method) according to Configuration 1 and Configuration 2. This allows, for example, to improve the accuracy of channel estimation of the Actual TDW in Configuration 1 and to reduce the complexity of terminal 200 in Configuration 2.

[0102] [Control Method 2] In Control Method 2, the terminal 200 determines the Actual TDW according to its UE capability (terminal capability) regarding the transmission and reception settings (e.g., Configuration 1 and Configuration 2) that span between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols.

[0103] In control method 2, whether or not the boundary between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols is treated as an event may be associated with UE capability as follows.

[0104] For example, "UE capability 1" is a UE capability that indicates that in Configuration 1, the boundary between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols is not treated as an event. A terminal 200 supporting UE capability 1 maintains power consistency and phase continuity in Configuration 1, even when a PUSCH or PUCCH transmission spans between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols, by not determining the boundary between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols as an event.

[0105] For example, "UE capability 2" is a UE capability that indicates that in Configuration 2, the boundary between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols is not treated as an event. A terminal 200 supporting UE capability 2 maintains power consistency and phase continuity in Configuration 2, even when a PUSCH or PUCCH transmission spans between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols, by not determining the boundary between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols as an event.

[0106] For example, terminal 200 may notify base station 100 in advance whether or not it supports UE capabilities (e.g., UE capability 1 and UE capability 2). Terminal 200 may use both UE capability 1 and UE capability 2, or use either one of the UE capabilities. For example, let's consider the case where terminal 200 uses UE capability 2 instead of UE capability 1. In this case, terminal 200 may define in Configuration 1 that the boundary between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols will not be treated as an event, and in Configuration 2, it may notify base station 100 via UE capability whether or not the boundary between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols will be treated as an event.

[0107] Alternatively, two UE capabilities (UE capability 1 and UE capability 2) may be combined into a single UE capability. For example, this single UE capability may indicate whether or not to treat the boundary between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols as an event in all cases (e.g., cases including both Configuration 1 and Configuration 2).

[0108] Figure 12 shows an example of terminal 200 operation in Configuration 1.

[0109] In Figure 12, as in Figure 11, the condition is that PUSCH repetition type B is scheduled for 4 repetitions from slot 3. Also, in Figure 12, no other events occur while PUSCH repetition is being transmitted.

[0110] Figure 12(a) shows an example of the Actual TDW configuration when terminal 200 supports UE capability 1.

[0111] If UE capability 1 is supported in terminal 200, the boundaries between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols (for example, the boundary between the first and second halves of symbols in slot 4, and the boundary between slot 4 and slot 5) are not treated as events. Therefore, as shown in Figure 12(a), terminal 200 does not recognize the boundary between the first and second halves of symbols in slot 4, and the boundary between slot 4 and slot 5, as events. Also, since no other events occur, as shown in Figure 12(a), terminal 200 sets the period from the start position of the PUSCH transmission in slot 3 to slot 5 (the end position of the PUSCH transmission) as the Actual TDW. As a result, as shown in Figure 12(a), one Actual TDW contains four PUSCH transmissions.

[0112] In Figure 12(a), the base station 100 can apply joint channel estimation during four PUSCH receptions. This allows DMRS bundling to improve the channel estimation accuracy of UL if the terminal 200 supports UE capability 1.

[0113] Figure 12(b) shows an example of the Actual TDW configuration when terminal 200 does not support UE capability 1.

[0114] If UE capability 1 is not supported in terminal 200, the boundaries between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols (for example, the boundary between the first and second halves of a symbol in slot 4, and the boundary between slot 4 and slot 5) are treated as events. Therefore, as shown in Figure 12(b), terminal 200 determines the boundaries between the first and second halves of a symbol in slot 4, and the boundary between slot 4 and slot 5, as events. Thus, as shown in Figure 12(b), terminal 200 sets two Actual TDWs based on the location where each event occurs. As a result, as shown in Figure 12(b), there are two Actual TDWs during PUSCH repetition transmission.

[0115] In Figure 12(b), the base station 100 applies joint channel estimation, for example, when receiving PUSCH#0 and PUSCH#1 in the first Actual TDW, and when receiving PUSCH#2 and PUSCH#3 in the second Actual TDW. This reduces the complexity of the terminal 200 implementation because channel estimation (including DMRS bundling, for example) is performed within the same symbol type interval (Actual TDW) if the terminal 200 does not support UE capability 1.

[0116] Figure 13 shows an example of the operation of terminal 200 in Configuration 2.

[0117] In Figure 13, as in Figure 11, the condition is that PUSCH repetition type B is scheduled for 4 repetitions from slot 3. Also, in Figure 13, no other events occur while the PUSCH repetition is being transmitted.

[0118] Figure 13(a) shows an example of the Actual TDW configuration when terminal 200 supports UE capability 2.

[0119] If UE capability 2 is supported in terminal 200, the boundaries between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols (for example, the boundary between the first and second halves of symbols in slot 4, and the boundary between slot 4 and slot 5) are not treated as events. Therefore, as shown in Figure 13(a), terminal 200 does not recognize the boundary between the first and second halves of symbols in slot 4, and the boundary between slot 4 and slot 5, as events. Also, since no other events occur, as shown in Figure 13(a), terminal 200 sets the period from the start position of the PUSCH transmission in slot 3 to the end position of the PUSCH transmission in slot 5 as the Actual TDW. As a result, as shown in Figure 13(a), one Actual TDW contains four PUSCH transmissions.

[0120] In Figure 13(a), base station 100 can apply joint channel estimation during four PUSCH receptions. This allows DMRS bundling to improve the channel estimation accuracy of UL if terminal 200 supports UE capability 2.

[0121] Figure 13(b) shows an example of the Actual TDW configuration when terminal 200 does not support UE capability 2.

[0122] If UE capability 2 is not supported in terminal 200, the boundaries between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols (for example, the boundary between the first and second halves of symbols in slot 4, and the boundary between slot 4 and slot 5) are treated as events. Therefore, as shown in Figure 13(b), terminal 200 determines the boundaries between the first and second halves of symbols in slot 4, and the boundary between slot 4 and slot 5, as events. Thus, as shown in Figure 13(b), terminal 200 sets three Actual TDWs based on the location where each event occurs. As a result, as shown in Figure 13(b), there are three Actual TDWs during PUSCH repetition transmission.

[0123] In Figure 13(b), base station 100 applies joint channel estimation, for example, when receiving PUSCH#0 and PUSCH#1 within the first Actual TDW, but does not apply joint channel estimation for other Actual TDWs. This reduces the complexity of the terminal 200 implementation because channel estimation (including DMRS bundling, for example) is performed within the same symbol type interval (Actual TDW) if terminal 200 does not support UE capability 2.

[0124] Thus, according to control method 2, terminal 200 changes the method for determining the Actual TDW (event determination method) according to its UE capability. For example, control method 2 allows terminal 200 to select between a method that improves UL performance (e.g., a method that supports UE capability 1 or UE capability 2 and does not treat the boundary between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols as an event) and a method that reduces UE complexity (e.g., a method that does not support UE capability 1 or UE capability 2 and treats the boundary between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols as an event), depending on the UE capability of terminal 200. This improves the flexibility of the implementation of terminal 200.

[0125] [Control Method 3] In Control Method 3, the terminal 200 determines the Actual TDW depending on whether it applies a quasi-static or dynamic method to determine whether to treat the boundary between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols as an event.

[0126] In control method 3, whether or not the boundary between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols is treated as an event may be determined by applying the following determination method.

[0127] In the "quasi-static determination method," terminal 200 treats the boundary between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols as an event (for example, always treat it as an event) based on the quasi-statically configured SBFD symbol configuration (for example, the positions of SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols). When the quasi-static determination method is applied, terminal 200 can decide to treat the boundary between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols as an event at the time the SBFD symbol configuration is set, thereby reducing the complexity of the terminal 200's implementation.

[0128] In the "dynamic decision method," terminal 200 dynamically decides whether or not to treat the boundary between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols as an event, in response to the occurrence of dynamic events near the boundary between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols. For example, if a dynamic event occurs near the boundary between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols, terminal 200 may treat the boundary between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols as an event. On the other hand, if no dynamic event occurs near the boundary between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols, terminal 200 does not need to treat the boundary between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols as an event.

[0129] Dynamic events may include, for example, events triggered by PDCCH or MAC CE. Dynamic events may also include, for example, DL reception or UL reception scheduled by PDCCH.

[0130] Compared to quasi-static decision methods, dynamic decision methods allow for longer-term setting of Actual TDW (Actual TDW) when no dynamic events occur (i.e., when the boundary between SBFD and non-SBFD symbols is not treated as an event), thereby improving channel estimation accuracy.

[0131] For example, whether to apply a quasi-static decision method or a dynamic decision method may be defined in the standard (specification), or it may be set in the terminal 200 by signaling at a higher layer.

[0132] For example, the terminal 200 may notify the base station 100 in advance, via UE capability, whether it supports either a quasi-static determination method or a dynamic determination method, or both. Then, for example, the terminal 200 may be configured to apply either a quasi-static or dynamic determination method through upper-layer signaling. This configuration via upper-layer signaling allows for configuration depending on whether the complexity of the terminal 200's implementation or the accuracy of UL channel estimation is prioritized, thereby improving the flexibility of DMRS bundling application.

[0133] Furthermore, the quasi-static and dynamic decision methods may be applied individually to Configuration 1 and Configuration 2, or the same method may be applied to both Configuration 1 and Configuration 2.

[0134] Figure 14 shows an example of the operation of terminal 200 in control method 3.

[0135] In Figure 14, as in Figure 11, the condition is that PUSCH repetition type B is scheduled for 4 repetitions starting from slot 3. Also, in Figure 14, the symbol configuration is set quasi-statically.

[0136] Figure 14(a) shows an example of the Actual TDW settings when a quasi-static determination method is applied.

[0137] In the quasi-static determination method, the boundary between SBFD symbols and non-SBFD symbols is treated as an event. Therefore, as shown in Figure 14(a), terminal 200 determines the boundary between the first and second half symbols within slot 4, and the boundary between slot 4 and slot 5, as events. Thus, as shown in Figure 14(a), terminal 200 sets two Actual TDWs based on the location where each event occurs. As a result, as shown in Figure 14(a), there are two Actual TDWs during PUSCH repetition transmission. In Figure 14(a), base station 100 applies joint channel estimation, for example, when receiving PUSCH#0 and PUSCH#1 in the first Actual TDW, and when receiving PUSCH#2 and PUSCH#3 in the second Actual TDW. As a result, when a quasi-static decision method is applied to terminal 200, channel estimation (including DMRS bundling, for example) is performed within the same symbol type interval (Actual TDW), thereby reducing the complexity of the terminal 200 implementation.

[0138] Figure 14(b) shows an example of the Actual TDW settings when a dynamic decision method is applied and no dynamic events occur.

[0139] In Figure 14(b), no dynamic events occur near the boundary between the first and second halves of the symbols in slot 4, or near the boundary between slot 4 and slot 5. Therefore, terminal 200 does not identify the boundary between the first and second halves of the symbols in slot 4, or the boundary between slot 4 and slot 5, as events. Thus, as shown in Figure 14(b), terminal 200 sets the period from the start position of the PUSCH transmission in slot 3 to slot 5 (the end position of the PUSCH) as the Actual TDW. As a result, as shown in Figure 14(b), one Actual TDW contains four PUSCH transmissions. In Figure 14(b), base station 100 can apply joint channel estimation when receiving four PUSCHs. This allows DMRS bundling to improve the channel estimation accuracy of UL when a dynamic determination method is applied to terminal 200 and no dynamic events occur near the boundaries.

[0140] Figure 14(c) shows an example of the Actual TDW configuration when a dynamic decision method is applied and dynamic events occur.

[0141] As shown in Figure 14(c), PUCCH transmission is scheduled as a dynamic event in the latter half of the UL symbols in slot 4. Therefore, as shown in Figure 14(c), terminal 200 determines the boundary between the first and second half symbols in slot 4, and the boundary between slot 4 and slot 5, as events. Thus, as shown in Figure 14(c), terminal 200 sets two Actual TDWs based on the location where each event occurs. Thus, as shown in Figure 14(c), there are two Actual TDWs during PUSCH repetition transmission. In Figure 14(c), base station 100 applies joint channel estimation, for example, when receiving PUSCH#0 and PUSCH#1 in the first Actual TDW, and when receiving PUSCH#2 and PUSCH#3 in the second Actual TDW. This allows a dynamic decision method to be applied to terminal 200, and when a dynamic event occurs near the boundary, channel estimation (including DMRS bundling, for example) is performed in the interval of the same symbol type (Actual TDW), thereby reducing the complexity of the implementation of terminal 200.

[0142] Thus, according to control method 3, terminal 200 changes the method for determining Actual TDW (event determination method) depending on whether a quasi-static determination method or a dynamic determination method is applied. This reduces the complexity of terminal 200, for example, when a quasi-static determination method is applied. When a dynamic determination method is applied, it increases the opportunities to improve channel estimation accuracy in response to the occurrence of dynamic events.

[0143] [Control Method 4] In control method 4, the terminal 200 determines the Actual TDW according to the Link direction (communication direction) setting set for the SBFD symbol.

[0144] In SBFD, terminal 200 supports Half Duplex communication, so in the SBFD symbol, terminal 200 selects either DL reception or UL transmission.

[0145] Therefore, in control method 4, for example, by setting the Link direction for each SBFD symbol for each terminal 200, the terminal 200 may decide whether to select DL reception or UL transmission.

[0146] The Link direction setting may be set quasi-statically on terminal 200 by signaling from a higher layer, for example, or it may be set dynamically on terminal 200 by PDCCH.

[0147] In control method 4, when Link direction is set to terminal 200, terminal 200 treats the boundary between UL and DL in Link direction as an event, even if the symbol type remains an SBFD symbol (even if it does not switch from an SBFD symbol to a non-SBFD symbol). For example, terminal 200 treats the boundary where Link direction changes from DL to UL, and the boundary where Link direction changes from UL to DL, as events.

[0148] Figure 15 shows an example of the operation of terminal 200 in control method 4.

[0149] In the example in Figure 15, a link direction is set for the SBFD symbols in slots 0 through 4. For example, DL is set as the link direction for slots 0, 1, and 4 (specifically the first half of the symbols in slot 4), while UL is set as the link direction for slots 2 and 3.

[0150] In the example shown in Figure 15, terminal 200 determines the boundary between slot 1 and slot 2 where DL changes to UL, and the boundary between slot 3 and slot 4 where UL changes to DL, as events. For example, terminal 200 may set the Actual TDW based on the location where the determined events occurred (not shown).

[0151] Thus, according to control method 4, terminal 200 determines an event based on the Link direction to the SBFD symbol (and also sets the Actual TDW). This allows terminal 200 to easily determine whether or not an event has occurred in the SBFD symbol, thereby reducing the complexity of the terminal 200's implementation.

[0152] The above describes an example of a DMRS bundling control method.

[0153] In this embodiment, the terminal 200 determines an Actual TDW for joint channel estimation by combining DMRS based on information related to SBFD (for example, transmission and reception settings spanning SBFD and non-SBFD symbols, or UE capability), and transmits an uplink signal including DMRS (for example, PUSCH or PUCCH) based on the determined Actual TDW. The base station 100 receives the uplink signal including DMRS based on the Actual TDW determined in the same manner as the terminal 200, and performs joint channel estimation using multiple DMRS. As a result, according to this embodiment, the Actual TDW can be appropriately set even when SBFD and non-SBFD symbols are mixed, thereby improving the channel estimation accuracy of UL by DMRS bundling.

[0154] (Other Embodiments) Each of the control methods described above may be applied in conjunction with other existing events. For example, each control method may be applied when the interval between consecutive PUSCH or PUCCH transmissions is short (for example, when the interval is less than a threshold). For example, each control method may be applied when the interval between consecutive PUSCH or PUCCH transmissions is 13 symbols or less in a normal CP (for example, when there are symbols that have not been transmitted between PUSCH or PUCCH transmissions and the number of such symbols is 13 symbols or less).

[0155] Furthermore, at least two of the control methods described above may be combined and applied.

[0156] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the units of time-domain resources are not limited to symbols and slots, but may be other resources in the time domain, or other combinations of time-domain resources.

[0157] Furthermore, although the above embodiment described channel estimation for the uplink, the communication direction to which this embodiment applies is not limited to the uplink, but may also apply to other communication directions.

[0158] Furthermore, although the above embodiment describes the case in which SBFD is applied, any method in which the transmission direction (e.g., DL or UL) is set in multiple bands (e.g., subbands) obtained by dividing the frequency band is not limited to SBFD and any embodiment of this disclosure may be applied.

[0159] Furthermore, in the embodiments described above, values ​​such as the number of subbands, the number of DL subbands, the number of UL subbands, the number of slots, the number of symbols, the number of repetitions, and parameters related to DMRS bundling (e.g., Nominal TDW, Actual TDW) are examples only and are not limited. Also, the subband configuration used in the embodiments described above is an example only, and the number of subbands, the order of arrangement of DL subbands and UL subbands are not limited thereto. Also, the slot configuration used in the embodiments described above is an example only, and the arrangement of SBFD slots and non-SBFD slots is not limited thereto.

[0160] (Supplement) Information indicating whether or not the terminal 200 supports the functions, operations, or processes described in the above-described embodiment may be transmitted (or notified) from the terminal 200 to the base station 100 as, for example, capability information or capability parameters of the terminal 200.

[0161] The capability information may include an information element (IE) that individually indicates whether the terminal 200 supports at least one of the functions, operations, or processes shown in the embodiments described above. Alternatively, the capability information may include an information element that indicates whether the terminal 200 supports any two or more combinations of the functions, operations, or processes shown in the embodiments described above.

[0162] The base station 100 may, for example, determine (or decide or assume) which functions, operations, or processes the source terminal 200 supports (or does not support) based on capability information received from the terminal 200. The base station 100 may perform operations, processes, or controls in accordance with the determination result based on the capability information. For example, the base station 100 may control DMRS bundling based on capability information received from the terminal 200.

[0163] Furthermore, the fact that the terminal 200 does not support some of the functions, operations, or processes shown in the embodiments described above may be interpreted as the terminal 200 having restrictions on such some functions, operations, or processes. For example, information or requests regarding such restrictions may be notified to the base station 100.

[0164] Information regarding the capabilities or limitations of terminal 200 may, for example, be defined in a standard, or it may be implicitly communicated to base station 100 in association with information known at base station 100 or information transmitted to base station 100.

[0165] (Control Signals) In this disclosure, the downlink control signals (or downlink control information) relating to one embodiment of this disclosure may be, for example, signals (or information) transmitted in a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) at the physical layer, or signals (or information) transmitted in a Medium Access Control Control Element (MAC CE) or Radio Resource Control (RRC) at a higher layer. Furthermore, the signals (or information) are not limited to being notified by downlink control signals, but may be predetermined in a specification (or standard), or may be pre-configured in base stations and terminals.

[0166] In this disclosure, the uplink control signal (or uplink control information) related to one embodiment of this disclosure may be, for example, a signal (or information) transmitted in the physical layer PUCCH, or a signal (or information) transmitted in the upper layer MAC CE or RRC. Furthermore, the signal (or information) is not limited to being notified by the uplink control signal, but may be predetermined in the specification (or standard), or may be pre-configured in the base station and terminal. In addition, the uplink control signal may be replaced with, for example, uplink control information (UCI), 1st stage sidelink control information (SCI), or 2nd stage SCI.

[0167] (Base Station) In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the base station may be a Transmission Reception Point (TRP), cluster head, access point, Remote Radio Head (RRH), eNodeB (eNB), gNodeB (gNB), Base Station (BS), Base Transceiver Station (BTS), master unit, gateway, etc. Also, in side-link communication, the terminal may assume the role of a base station. Alternatively, instead of a base station, there may be a relay device that relays communication between the upper node and the terminal. There may also be a roadside unit.

[0168] (Uplink / Downlink / Sidelink) An embodiment of the present disclosure may be applied to, for example, an uplink, a downlink, or a sidelink. For example, an embodiment of the present disclosure may be applied to a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH), Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH), Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) of an uplink, a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH), PDCCH, Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH) of a downlink, or a Physical Sidelink Shared Channel (PSSCH), Physical Sidelink Control Channel (PSCCH), Physical Sidelink Broadcast Channel (PSBCH) of a sidelink.

[0169] PDCCH, PDSCH, PUSCH, and PUCCH are examples of downlink control channels, downlink data channels, uplink data channels, and uplink control channels, respectively. PSCCH and PSSCH are examples of sidelink control channels and sidelink data channels. PBCH and PSBCH are examples of broadcast channels, and PRACH is an example of a random access channel.

[0170] (Data Channel / Control Channel) One embodiment of the present disclosure may be applied to either a data channel or a control channel, for example. For example, the channel in one embodiment of the present disclosure may be replaced with any of the data channels PDSCH, PUSCH, PSSCH, or the control channels PDCCH, PUCCH, PBCH, PSCCH, PSBCH.

[0171] (Reference Signal) In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the reference signal is, for example, a signal known to both the base station and the mobile station, and may be called a Reference Signal (RS) or pilot signal. The reference signal may be any of the following: Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS), Channel State Information - Reference Signal (CSI-RS), Tracking Reference Signal (TRS), Phase Tracking Reference Signal (PTRS), Cell-specific Reference Signal (CRS), or Sounding Reference Signal (SRS).

[0172] (Time Interval) In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the unit of time resource is not limited to one or a combination of slots and symbols, but may be a time resource unit such as a frame, superframe, subframe, slot, time slot, subslot, minislot, or symbol, Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbol, Single Carrier - Frequency Division Multiplexing Access (SC-FDMA) symbol, or any other time resource unit. Furthermore, the number of symbols contained in one slot is not limited to the number of symbols exemplified in the above embodiment, but may be any other number of symbols.

[0173] (Frequency Band) One embodiment of the present disclosure may be applied to either a licensed band or an unlicensed band.

[0174] (Communication) One embodiment of the present disclosure may be applied to communication between a base station and a terminal (Uu-link communication), communication between terminals (Sidelink communication), or Vehicle to Everything (V2X) communication. For example, the channel in one embodiment of the present disclosure may be replaced with any of PSCCH, PSSCH, Physical Sidelink Feedback Channel (PSFCH), PSBCH, PDCCH, PUCCH, PDSCH, PUSCH, or PBCH.

[0175] Furthermore, one embodiment of this disclosure may be applied to any of the following: a terrestrial network, a satellite, or a non-terrestrial network (NTN) using a high-altitude pseudo-satellite (HAPS). Also, one embodiment of this disclosure may be applied to terrestrial networks with large cell sizes, ultra-wideband transmission networks, and other networks where transmission delay is large relative to symbol length or slot length.

[0176] (SBFD) In ​​one embodiment of the present disclosure, the operation for uplink, downlink, and sidelink symbols may also be applied to symbols (e.g., SBFD symbols) on which SBFD (Subband non-overlapping full duplex, Subband full duplex) operation or control is performed. In an SBFD symbol, a frequency domain (or frequency resource, frequency band) is divided into multiple frequency domains (e.g., also called subbands, RB sets, subbands, or sub-BWPs (Bandwidth parts)). A terminal transmits and receives in different directions (e.g., downlink or uplink) on a subband basis. In an SBFD symbol, a terminal may transmit and receive in either the uplink or downlink direction only, and not in the other direction. On the other hand, a base station may be able to transmit and receive both uplink and downlink simultaneously. An SBFD symbol may have a smaller frequency domain available for downlink transmission compared to a symbol that transmits and receives only downlink. Similarly, an SBFD symbol may have a smaller frequency domain available for uplink transmission compared to a symbol that transmits and receives only uplink.

[0177] Furthermore, in the SBFD symbol, a terminal may transmit and receive both uplink and downlink simultaneously. In this case, the frequency domains in which the terminal transmits and the frequency domains in which it receives may not be adjacent, and a frequency gap (also called a frequency interval) may be maintained between them.

[0178] Furthermore, sidelink transmission and reception may be included as different transmission and reception directions for each subband unit, which is a divided region.

[0179] (XDD: cross division duplex) In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the operation for uplink, downlink, and sidelink symbols may be applied to symbols (e.g., full duplex symbols) on which full duplex operation or control is performed. In full duplex symbols, both the terminal and the base station can transmit and receive uplink and downlink simultaneously. In full duplex symbols, the terminal and base station may transmit and receive simultaneously in the available frequency domain (or frequency resource, frequency band), or they may transmit and receive simultaneously in some frequency domains (i.e., they may transmit or receive in other frequency domains). In this case, the frequency domain on which the base station or terminal transmits and the frequency domain on which it receives may not be adjacent, and a frequency gap (also called a frequency gap) may be maintained between them. Alternatively, for example, to reduce interference, either the terminal or the base station may transmit and receive simultaneously (i.e., the other may transmit or receive).

[0180] Furthermore, full duplex operation may be applied to operations where the terminal can simultaneously transmit and receive sidelinks. Also, full duplex operation may be applied to operations where the terminal can simultaneously transmit and receive sidelinks and uplinks or downlinks.

[0181] (Antenna Port) In one embodiment of the present disclosure, an antenna port refers to a logical antenna (antenna group) composed of one or more physical antennas. For example, an antenna port does not necessarily refer to a single physical antenna, but may refer to an array antenna composed of multiple antennas. For example, the number of physical antennas that make up an antenna port is not specified, and it may be defined as the smallest unit on which a terminal station can transmit a reference signal. An antenna port may also be defined as the smallest unit on which the weighting of a precoding vector is multiplied.

[0182] <5G NR System Architecture and Protocol Stack> The 5G NR system architecture, as a whole, assumes an NG-RAN (Next Generation - Radio Access Network) with gNBs. The gNBs provide the UE-side termination for the user plane (SDAP / PDCP / RLC / MAC / PHY) and control plane (RRC) protocols of NG radio access. The gNBs are connected to each other by Xn interfaces. Furthermore, the gNBs are connected to the NGC (Next Generation Core) by Next Generation (NG) interfaces, more specifically to the AMF (Access and Mobility Management Function) (e.g., a specific core entity performing the AMF) by NG-C interfaces, and to the UPF (User Plane Function) (e.g., a specific core entity performing the UPF) by NG-U interfaces. The NG-RAN architecture is shown in Figure 16 (see, for example, 3GPP TS 38.300 v15.6.0, section 4).

[0183] <RRC Connection Setup and Reconfiguration Procedure> This describes the communication between the UE, gNB, and AMF (5GC entity) when the UE transitions from RRC_IDLE to RRC_CONNECTED in the NAS section (see TS 38.300 v15.6.0).

[0184] RRC is a higher-layer signaling (protocol) used for configuring the UE and gNB. The AMF prepares the UE context data (which includes, for example, the PDU session context, security key, UE Radio Capability, UE Security Capabilities, etc.) and sends it to the gNB along with an Initial Context Setup Request. The gNB then activates AS security together with the UE. This is done by the gNB sending a SecurityModeCommand message to the UE, and the UE responding to the gNB with a SecurityModeComplete message. Subsequently, the gNB sends an RRCReconfiguration message to the UE, and upon receiving an RRCReconfigurationComplete from the UE, the gNB reconfigures itself to set up the Signaling Radio Bearer 2 (SRB2) and Data Radio Bearer (DRB). For signaling-only connections, the SRB2 and DRB are not set up, so the RRCReconfiguration step is omitted. Finally, the gNB notifies the AMF that the setup procedure is complete with an Initial Context Setup Response.

[0185] Accordingly, this disclosure provides a 5th Generation Core (5GC) entity (e.g., AMF, SMF, etc.) comprising a control circuit that establishes a Next Generation (NG) connection with gNodeB during operation, and a transmission unit that sends an initial context setup message to gNodeB via the NG connection during operation so that a signaling radio bearer between gNodeB and User Equipment (UE) is set up. Specifically, gNodeB transmits Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, including a Resource Allocation Setting Information Element (IE), to the UE via the signaling radio bearer. The UE then transmits on the uplink or receives on the downlink based on the resource allocation setting.

[0186] <QoS Control> The 5G QoS (Quality of Service) model is based on QoS flows and supports both QoS flows where a guaranteed flow bit rate is required (GBR: Guaranteed Bit Rate QoS flows) and QoS flows where a guaranteed flow bit rate is not required (non-GBR QoS flows). Therefore, at the NAS level, a QoS flow is the finest granularity of QoS within a PDU session. QoS flows are identified within a PDU session by a QoS Flow ID (QFI: QoS Flow ID) carried in the encapsulation header via the NG-U interface.

[0187] For each UE, the 5GC establishes one or more PDU sessions. For each UE, the NG-RAN establishes, for example, at least one Data Radio Bearers (DRB) in accordance with the PDU session. Additional DRBs for the QoS flow of that PDU session can be configured later (when this is done is up to the NG-RAN). The NG-RAN maps packets belonging to various PDU sessions to various DRBs. NAS-level packet filters in the UE and 5GC associate UL packets and DL packets with QoS flows, while AS-level mapping rules in the UE and NG-RAN associate UL QoS flows and DL QoS flows with DRBs.

[0188] (Open-RAN) The base station described in each embodiment (for example, a 5G NR base station called a gNB) may consist of three functional modules: a Centralized Unit (CU), a Distributed Unit (DU), and a Radio Unit (RU).

[0189] CU may be referred to as, for example, a central node, aggregation node, central station, aggregation station, or central unit. DU may be referred to as, for example, an O-DU (O-RAN Distributed Unit), a distributed node, a distributed station, or a distributed unit. RU may be referred to as, for example, an O-RU (O-RAN Radio Unit), a radio device, a radio node, a radio station, an antenna unit, or a radio unit.

[0190] The functional division configuration (or functional division point) between CU, DU, and RU has multiple division options defined. The term "functional division point" is sometimes referred to as "split," "option," or "split option."

[0191] Examples of "splitting options" include the following splitting options 1 to 8. The functions of the base station described in each embodiment may be split into CU, DU, and RU functions according to any of the following splitting options 1 to 8. For example, CU, DU, and RU may be functionally split individually, or functional split may occur only between CU and DU, or only between DU and RU. (1) Splitting option 1: Between RRC (radio resource control) and PDCP (2) Splitting option 2: Between PDCP and RLC (High-RLC) (3) Splitting option 3: Between High-RLC and Low-RLC (4) Splitting option 4: Between RLC (Low-RLC) and MAC (High-MAC) (5) Splitting option 5: Between High-MAC and Low-MAC (6) Splitting option 6: Between MAC (Low-MAC) and PHY (High-PHY) (7) Splitting option 7: Between High-PHY and Low-PHY (8) Splitting option 8: Between PHY (Low-PHY) and RF

[0192] The functional division point between the CU and O-DU may be Split Option 2. The section between the CU and O-DU is called the midhaul, and the F1 interface is defined by 3GPP. The section between the O-DU and O-RU is called the fronthaul, and its functional division point may be Split Option 7-2x, which has been adopted as the O-RAN fronthaul specification.

[0193] Figure 17 shows an example of splitting the base station functions of a gNB into CU, O-DU, and O-RU using Split Option 2 and Split Option 7-2x.

[0194] The CU may, for example, include RRC (radio resource control) functionality, SDAP (service data adaptation protocol) functionality, and PDCP (packet data convergence protocol) functionality.

[0195] The O-DU may include, for example, RLC (radio link control) functionality, MAC functionality, and high-level physical layer (HIGH-PHY) functionality. The HIGH-PHY functionality may also include encoding functionality, scrambling functionality, modulation functionality, layer mapping functionality, precoding functionality, and RE (resource element) mapping functionality for downlink (DL) transmission. The HIGH-PHY functionality may also include decoding functionality, descrambling functionality, demodulation functionality, layer demapping functionality, and RE (resource element) demapping functionality for uplink (UL) reception.

[0196] The O-RU may, for example, be equipped with a LOW-PHY function and an RF function. The LOW-PHY function may also be equipped with a beamforming function, an IFFT (Inverse Fast Fourier Transform) + CP (Cyclic Prefix) application function, and a D / A (Digital to Analog) conversion function for downlink transmission. The LOW-PHY function may also be equipped with an A / D (Analog to Digital) conversion function, a CP removal + FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) function, and a beamforming function for uplink reception.

[0197] If the O-DU does not have a precoding function, the O-RU may have a precoding function.

[0198] The O-RU may also be equipped with LBT (listen before talk) functionality. In Split Option 7-2x, eCPRI (Evolved Common Public Radio Interface) is specified as the communication method between the O-DU and O-RU. In Split Option 7-2x, eCPRI transmits and receives not only the sampling sequence of the in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) components of the OFDM signal in the frequency domain, but also information used for beamforming in the antenna and time synchronization signals.

[0199] The information transmitted by the signals described in each embodiment (PDCCH, PUCCH, PDSCH, PUSCH, MAC CE, RRC, etc.) may be transmitted between the O-DU and O-RU via the eCPRI's User Plane (U-Plan) or Control Plane (C-Plane).

[0200] If the functions described in each embodiment are executed in the O-RU by functional partitioning, the O-DU may control the O-RU by transmitting information for controlling the functions via a control signal (e.g., eCPRI) between the O-DU and the O-RU.

[0201] If the functions described in each embodiment are executed in the O-DU by functional partitioning, the O-RU may receive the result of the execution of the function in the O-DU via a control signal (e.g., eCPRI) and control the O-RU based on the received result.

[0202] The CU, O-DU, and O-RU may be deployed in physically different devices connected by optical fibers or the like, or some or all of their functions may be deployed in the same physical device.

[0203] CU and O-DU may be logical entities implemented as software running on a server such as a cloud, as a virtualized RAN (virtual Radio Access Network: vRAN). Furthermore, some or all of the functions of CU and O-DU may be provided as a service of virtualized network functions (NFV).

[0204] The transceiver does not have to be a wireless transceiver; for example, it may be a network transceiver, an optical transceiver, etc. The wireless resources allocated by the O-DU may be resources for wireless communication between the O-RU and the UE.

[0205] This disclosure can be implemented using software, hardware, or software integrated with hardware.

[0206] Each functional block used in the description of the above embodiments may be implemented partially or entirely as an integrated circuit (LSI), and each process described in the above embodiments may be controlled partially or entirely by a single LSI or a combination of LSIs. An LSI may consist of individual chips, or it may consist of a single chip that includes some or all of the functional blocks. An LSI may have data inputs and outputs. Depending on the degree of integration, LSIs may also be referred to as ICs, system LSIs, super LSIs, or ultra LSIs.

[0207] The integrated circuit implementation method is not limited to LSIs; it may also be implemented using dedicated circuits, general-purpose processors, or dedicated processors. Furthermore, a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) that can be programmed after LSI manufacturing, or a reconfigurable processor that allows for the reconfiguration of the connections and settings of circuit cells within the LSI, may also be used. This disclosure may be implemented as digital or analog processing.

[0208] Furthermore, if advancements in semiconductor technology or related technologies lead to the emergence of integrated circuit technologies that can replace LSIs, then naturally, these technologies can be used to integrate functional blocks. The application of biotechnology, for example, is a possibility.

[0209] This disclosure is applicable to all types of devices, systems, and equipment having communication capabilities (collectively referred to as communication equipment). Communication equipment may include a radio transceiver and a processing / control circuit. The radio transceiver may include a receiver and a transmitter, or both as functions. The radio transceiver (transmitter, receiver) may include an RF (Radio Frequency) module and one or more antennas. The RF module may include an amplifier, an RF modulator / demodulator, or similar. Non-exclusive examples of communication devices include telephones (mobile phones, smartphones, etc.), tablets, personal computers (PCs) (laptops, desktops, notebooks, etc.), cameras (digital still / video cameras, etc.), digital players (digital audio / video players, etc.), wearable devices (wearable cameras, smartwatches, tracking devices, etc.), game consoles, digital book readers, telehealth / telemedicine devices, vehicles or mobile transport with communication capabilities (cars, airplanes, ships, etc.), and combinations of the above-mentioned devices.

[0210] Communication devices are not limited to portable or movable devices, but also include all kinds of non-portable or fixed devices, devices, and systems, such as smart home devices (appliances, lighting fixtures, smart meters or measuring instruments, control panels, etc.), vending machines, and any other "things" that may exist on an IoT (Internet of Things) network.

[0211] Communication includes data communication via cellular systems, wireless LAN systems, and communication satellite systems, as well as data communication using combinations of these.

[0212] Furthermore, the communication device also includes devices such as controllers and sensors that are connected to or linked to a communication device that performs the communication functions described in this disclosure. For example, this includes controllers and sensors that generate control signals and data signals used by the communication device that performs the communication functions of the communication device.

[0213] Furthermore, communication equipment includes infrastructure facilities such as base stations, access points, and any other devices, devices, and systems that communicate with or control the aforementioned non-limited types of equipment.

[0214] A communication device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a control circuit that determines a time interval for channel estimation by synthesizing a reference signal based on information about a communication scheme that supports communication in different directions for each of the multiple frequency bands in a first time resource in which the frequency band is divided into multiple bands, and a transmission circuit that transmits an uplink signal including the reference signal based on the time interval.

[0215] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the information relating to the communication method is a transmission and reception setting that spans a first time resource and a second time resource different from the first time resource, and the control circuit determines the time interval according to the transmission and reception setting.

[0216] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the time interval is set by dividing the setting interval for channel estimation according to the occurrence of an event, and the control circuit does not determine the boundary between the first time resource and the second time resource as the event if the transmission / reception setting supports transmission / reception on either the first time resource or the second time resource, and determines the boundary as the event if the transmission / reception setting supports transmission / reception on both the first time resource and the second time resource.

[0217] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the information relating to the communication method is terminal capability for transmission and reception spanning a first time resource and a second time resource different from the first time resource, and the control circuit determines the time interval according to the terminal capability.

[0218] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the time interval is set by dividing the setting interval for channel estimation according to the occurrence of an event, the terminal capability indicates that the boundary between the first time resource and the second time resource is not treated as the event, and the control circuit does not determine the boundary as the event if the communication device supports the terminal capability, and determines the boundary as the event if the communication device does not support the terminal capability.

[0219] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the time interval is set by dividing the setting interval for channel estimation in response to the occurrence of an event, the information relating to the communication method is information relating to a method for determining whether or not to treat the boundary between the first time resource and a second time resource different from the first time resource as the event, and the control circuit determines the time interval according to either a first method for quasi-statically determining whether or not to treat the boundary as the event, or a second method for dynamically determining whether or not to treat the boundary as the event in response to the occurrence of other events near the boundary.

[0220] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the information relating to the communication method is a setting of the direction of communication set for the first time resource, and the control circuit determines the time interval according to the direction of communication.

[0221] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the time interval is set by dividing the setting interval for channel estimation according to the occurrence of an event, and the control circuit determines the boundary between uplink communication and downlink communication in setting the direction of communication as the event.

[0222] A communication device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is a communication device comprising one or more processors and one or more memories coupled to the one or more processors for storing instructions, wherein the instructions are executable by the one or more processors to cause the communication device to determine a time interval for performing channel estimation by synthesizing a reference signal based on information about a communication scheme that supports communication in different directions for each of the multiple bands in a first time resource in which the frequency band is divided into multiple bands, and to transmit an uplink signal including the reference signal based on the time interval.

[0223] In a communication method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the communication device determines a time interval for performing channel estimation by synthesizing a reference signal based on information about a communication scheme that supports communication in different directions for each of the multiple frequency bands in a first time resource in which the frequency band is divided into multiple bands, and transmits an uplink signal including the reference signal based on the time interval.

[0224] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the method is controlled by an integrated circuit.

[0225] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication method controlled by an integrated circuit, wherein the communication device determines a time interval for performing channel estimation by synthesizing a reference signal based on information about a communication scheme that supports communication in different directions for each of the multiple frequency bands in a first time resource in which the frequency band is divided into multiple bands, and transmits an uplink signal including the reference signal based on the time interval.

[0226] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, an integrated circuit comprising a circuit controls the determination of a time interval for performing channel estimation by synthesizing a reference signal, based on information about a communication scheme that supports communication in different directions for each of the multiple frequency bands in a first time resource in which the frequency band is divided into multiple bands, and controls the transmission of an uplink signal including the reference signal based on the time interval.

[0227] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the integrated circuit comprises at least one input coupled to the circuit for inputting data, and at least one output coupled to the circuit for outputting data.

[0228] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the circuit comprises a control circuit that determines a time interval for performing channel estimation by synthesizing a reference signal based on information about a communication scheme that supports communication in different directions for each of the multiple bands in a first time resource in which the frequency band is divided into multiple bands, and a transmission circuit that transmits an uplink signal including the reference signal based on the time interval.

[0229] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a non-temporary computer-readable recording medium having content that causes a processing circuit to perform a method, wherein the method involves a communication device determining a time interval for performing channel estimation by synthesizing a reference signal based on information about a communication scheme that supports communication in different directions for each of the multiple frequency bands in a first time resource in which the frequency band is divided into multiple bands, and transmitting an uplink signal including the reference signal based on the time interval.

[0230] In the non-temporary computer-readable recording medium according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the contents include configuration settings.

[0231] A communication device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a control circuit that determines a time interval for channel estimation by synthesizing a reference signal based on information about a communication scheme that supports communication in different directions for each of the multiple frequency bands in a first time resource in which the frequency band is divided into multiple bands, and a receiving circuit that receives an uplink signal including the reference signal based on the time interval.

[0232] A communication device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is a communication device comprising one or more processors and one or more memories coupled to the one or more processors for storing instructions, wherein the instructions are executable by the one or more processors to cause the communication device to determine a time interval for performing channel estimation by synthesizing a reference signal based on information about a communication scheme that supports communication in different directions for each of the multiple bands in a first time resource in which the frequency band is divided into multiple bands, and to receive an uplink signal including the reference signal based on the time interval.

[0233] In a communication method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the communication device determines a time interval for performing channel estimation by synthesizing a reference signal based on information about a communication scheme that supports communication in different directions for each of the multiple frequency bands in a first time resource in which the frequency band is divided into multiple bands, and receives an uplink signal including the reference signal based on the time interval.

[0234] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the method is controlled by an integrated circuit.

[0235] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication method controlled by an integrated circuit, wherein the communication device determines a time interval for performing channel estimation by synthesizing a reference signal based on information about a communication scheme that supports communication in different directions for each of the multiple frequency bands in a first time resource in which the frequency band is divided into multiple bands, and receives an uplink signal including the reference signal based on the time interval.

[0236] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, an integrated circuit comprising a circuit controls the determination of a time interval for performing channel estimation by synthesizing a reference signal, based on information about a communication scheme that supports communication in different directions for each of the multiple frequency bands in a first time resource in which the frequency band is divided into multiple bands, and controls the reception of an uplink signal including the reference signal based on the time interval.

[0237] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the integrated circuit comprises at least one input coupled to the circuit for inputting data, and at least one output coupled to the circuit for outputting data.

[0238] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the circuit comprises a control circuit that determines a time interval for channel estimation by synthesizing a reference signal based on information about a communication scheme that supports communication in different directions for each of the multiple bands in a first time resource in which the frequency band is divided into multiple bands, and a receiving circuit that receives an uplink signal including the reference signal based on the time interval.

[0239] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a non-temporary computer-readable recording medium having content that causes a processing circuit to perform a method, wherein the method involves a communication device determining a time interval for performing channel estimation by synthesizing a reference signal based on information about a communication scheme that supports communication in different directions for each of the multiple frequency bands in a first time resource in which the frequency band is divided into multiple bands, and receiving an uplink signal including the reference signal based on the time interval.

[0240] In the non-temporary computer-readable recording medium according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the contents include configuration settings.

[0241] All disclosures in the specification, drawings, and abstract contained in the Japanese application No. 2025-018394, filed on February 6, 2025, are incorporated herein by reference.

[0242] One embodiment of this disclosure is useful for wireless communication systems.

[0243] 100 Base station 101, 201 Receiving unit 102, 202 Demapping unit 103 Channel estimation unit 104, 203 Demodulation / decoding unit 105 Scheduling unit 106, 205 Control information holding unit 107, 206 DMRS bundling control unit 108, 207 Data / control information generation unit 109, 208 Encoding / modulation unit 110, 209 Mapping unit 111, 210 Transmitting unit 200 Terminal 204 Control unit

Claims

1. A communication device comprising: a control circuit that determines a time interval for channel estimation by synthesizing a reference signal based on information about a communication method that supports communication in different directions for each of the multiple bands in a first time resource in which the frequency band is divided into multiple bands; and a transmission circuit that transmits an uplink signal including the reference signal based on the time interval.

2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the information relating to the communication method is a transmission and reception setting that spans a first time resource and a second time resource different from the first time resource, and the control circuit determines the time interval according to the transmission and reception setting.

3. The time interval is set by dividing the setting interval for channel estimation in accordance with the occurrence of an event, and the control circuit does not determine the boundary between the first time resource and the second time resource as the event if the transmission / reception setting supports transmission / reception on either the first time resource or the second time resource, and determines the boundary as the event if the transmission / reception setting supports transmission / reception on both the first time resource and the second time resource, according to claim 2.

4. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the information relating to the communication method is terminal capability relating to transmission and reception spanning a first time resource and a second time resource different from the first time resource, and the control circuit determines the time interval according to the terminal capability.

5. The time interval is set by dividing the setting interval for channel estimation according to the occurrence of an event, the terminal capability indicates that the boundary between the first time resource and the second time resource is not treated as the event, and the control circuit does not determine the boundary as the event if the communication device supports the terminal capability, and determines the boundary as the event if the communication device does not support the terminal capability, according to claim 4.

6. The time interval is set by dividing the setting interval for channel estimation in accordance with the occurrence of an event, the information relating to the communication method is information relating to a method for determining whether or not to treat the boundary between the first time resource and a second time resource different from the first time resource as the event, and the control circuit determines the time interval according to either a first method for quasi-statically determining whether or not to treat the boundary as the event, or a second method for dynamically determining whether or not to treat the boundary as the event in accordance with the occurrence of other events near the boundary, the communication device according to claim 1.

7. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the information relating to the communication method is a setting of the direction of communication set for the first time resource, and the control circuit determines the time interval according to the direction of communication.

8. The communication device according to claim 7, wherein the time interval is set by dividing the setting interval for channel estimation in accordance with the occurrence of an event, and the control circuit determines the boundary between uplink communication and downlink communication in setting the direction of communication as the event.

9. A communication device comprising: one or more processors; and one or more memories coupled to the one or more processors for storing instructions, wherein the instructions are executable by the one or more processors to cause the communication device to determine a time interval for performing channel estimation by synthesizing a reference signal based on information about a communication scheme that supports communication in different directions for each of the multiple bands in a first time resource in which the frequency band is divided into multiple bands; and to transmit an uplink signal including the reference signal based on the time interval.

10. A communication device determines a time interval for performing channel estimation by synthesizing a reference signal based on information about a communication scheme that supports communication in different directions for each of the multiple frequency bands in a first time resource in which the frequency band is divided into multiple bands, and transmits an uplink signal including the reference signal based on the time interval.

11. A communication device comprising: a control circuit that determines a time interval for channel estimation by synthesizing a reference signal based on information about a communication method that supports communication in different directions for each of the multiple frequency bands in a first time resource in which the frequency band is divided into multiple bands; and a receiving circuit that receives an uplink signal including the reference signal based on the time interval.

12. A communication device comprising one or more processors, and one or more memories coupled to the one or more processors for storing instructions, wherein the instructions are executable by the one or more processors to cause the communication device to determine a time interval for performing channel estimation by synthesizing a reference signal based on information about a communication scheme that supports communication in different directions for each of the multiple bands in a first time resource in which the frequency band is divided into multiple bands, and to receive an uplink signal including the reference signal based on the time interval.

13. A communication method comprising: a communication device that determines a time interval for channel estimation by synthesizing a reference signal based on information about a communication scheme that supports communication in different directions for each of the multiple frequency bands in a first time resource in which the frequency band is divided into multiple bands; and receiving an uplink signal including the reference signal based on the time interval.

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