Uplink in-band tone reservation coordination

Abstract

Frequency and time resource assignments and a transmitter power control value are selected to configure a reserved tone to be received at a network entity from a user equipment (UE) in a scheduled uplink transmission. The parameters are transmitted to the UE in a downlink control information (DCI). The UE receives the frequency and time resource assignments and the transmitter power control value and configures the reserved tone. The UE clips a signal having peaks above a peak threshold value to produce a clipped signal, subtracts the clipped signal from the signal having the peaks to produce a second signal representative of a difference between the clipped signal and the signal having the peaks, modulates the second signal onto the reserved tone, maps the signal having the peaks to the second signal to generate a composite signal having the peaks removed, and transmits the composite signal to the network entity.

Description

Qualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 1 / 63UPLINK IN-BAND TONE RESERVATION COORDINATIONCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present Application for Patent claims priority to pending Israel Application no. 320348, filed April 18, 2025, and assigned to the assignee hereof and hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth below and for all applicable purposes.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] This disclosure relates generally to wireless communication, and more specifically, to uplink in-band tone reservation coordination.INTRODUCTION

[0003] Wireless communication utilizing orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) techniques and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) techniques have revolutionized the way people and machines communicate with each other. These techniques allow multiple users to be served simultaneously by dividing a single channel into multiple subcarriers and facilitation parallel data transmission between the multiple users and networks. These techniques are efficient and fast and have improved the user experience in all aspects. However, an OFDMA waveform may inherently possess a large peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR). Large PAPR may require an output of a power amplifier to be backed off, to ensure that the signals amplified by the power amplifier are being amplified in the linear region of the power amplifier. The greater the PAPR, the greater the backoff. Additionally, high PAPR reduces power amplifier efficiency by requiring the power amplifier to amplify the full dynamic range of the amplified signal. Scientists and engineers continue to search for processes that may be implemented to reduce the PAPR realized via the use of the OFDMA waveform and thereby improve the performance and efficiency of wireless communication equipment.BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME EXAMPLES

[0004] The systems, methods, and devices disclosed herein each have several innovative aspects, no single one of which is solely responsible for the desirable attributes disclosed herein.

[0005] The following presents a summary of one or more aspects of the present disclosure, in order to provide a basic understanding of such aspects. This summary is notL&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 2 / 63an extensive overview of all contemplated features of the disclosure and is intended neither to identify key or critical elements of all aspects of the disclosure nor to delineate the scope of any or all aspects of the disclosure. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects of the disclosure in a form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

[0006] In one example, an apparatus is described. The apparatus includes one or more memories, and one or more processors coupled to the one or more memories. The one or more processors are configured to, individually or collectively, based at least in part on information stored in the one or more memories: select a frequency resource assignment, a time resource assignment, and a transmitter power control value to configure a reserved tone to be received from one of a plurality of user equipments (UEs) in a scheduled uplink transmission. The one or more processors are further configured to transmit a downlink control information (DCI) to the one of the plurality of UEs, the DCI configured to indicate the frequency resource assignment, the time resource assignment, and the transmitter power control value to configure the reserved tone in the scheduled uplink transmission.

[0007] In one example, a method is described. The method may take place at an apparatus, such as, for example, a network entity. In the example, the method includes selecting a frequency resource assignment, a time resource assignment, and a transmitter power control value to configure a reserved tone to be received from one of a plurality of user equipments (UEs) in a scheduled uplink transmission. The method further includes transmitting a downlink control information (DCI) to the one of the plurality of UEs, the DCI configured to indicate the frequency resource assignment, the time resource assignment, and the transmitter power control value to configure the reserved tone in the scheduled uplink transmission.

[0008] In one example, an apparatus is described. The apparatus includes one or more memories, and one or more processors coupled to the one or more memories. The one or more processors are configured to, individually or collectively, based at least in part on information stored in the one or more memories: receive a frequency resource assignment, a time resource assignment, and a transmitter power control value to configure a reserved tone included in an uplink transmission to a network entity; clip a signal having peaks above a peak threshold value to produce a clipped signal; subtract the clipped signal from the signal having the peaks to produce a second signal representative of a difference between the clipped signal and the signal having the peaks; modulate the second signalL&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 3 / 63onto the reserved tone; map the signal having the peaks to the second signal to generate a composite signal having the peaks removed; and transmit the composite signal to the network entity.

[0009] In one example, a method is described. The method may take place at an apparatus, such as, for example, a user equipment. In the example, the method includes receiving a frequency resource assignment, a time resource assignment, and a transmitter power control value to configure a reserved tone included in an uplink transmission to a network entity; clipping a signal having peaks above a peak threshold value to produce a clipped signal; subtracting the clipped signal from the signal having the peaks to produce a second signal representative of a difference between the clipped signal and the signal having the peaks; modulating the second signal onto the reserved tone; mapping the signal having the peaks to the second signal to generate a composite signal having the peaks removed; and transmitting the composite signal to the network entity.

[0010] These and other aspects will become more fully understood upon a review of the detailed description, which follows. Other aspects, features, and examples will become apparent to persons having ordinary skill in the art, upon reviewing the following description of specific examples in conjunction with the accompanying figures. While features may be discussed relative to certain examples and figures below, all examples can include one or more of the advantageous features discussed herein. In other words, while one or more examples may be discussed as having certain advantageous features, one or more of such features may also be used in accordance with the various examples discussed herein. In a similar fashion, while examples described herein may be discussed below in terms of specific device, system, or method examples, such exemplary examples can be implemented in various devices, systems, and methods.

[0011] Details of one or more implementations of the subject matter described in this disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an example of a wireless communication system according to some aspects of the disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of an example of a radio access network according to some aspects of the disclosure.L&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 4 / 63

[0014] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of an example of a disaggregated base station architecture according to some aspects of the disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 4 is an expanded view of an exemplary subframe, showing an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) resource grid according to some aspects of the disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are a first graph and a second graph, respectively, showing power out versus power in of a power amplifier according to some aspects of the disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a UE transmitter according to some aspects of the disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating selections of resources for tone reservation allocations made by a network entity to a plurality of UEs according to some aspects of the disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware implementation of network entity employing one or more processing systems according to some aspects of the disclosure.

[0020] FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating an example process of wireless communication at a network entity according to some aspects of the disclosure.

[0021] FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware implementation of an apparatus (e.g., a UE) employing one or more processing systems according to some aspects of the disclosure.

[0022] FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating an example process of wireless communication at an apparatus according to some aspects of the disclosure.

[0023] Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is directed to some particular examples for the purpose of describing innovative aspects of this disclosure. However, a person having ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the teachings herein can be applied in a multitude of different ways. Some or all of the described examples may be implemented in any device, system, or network that is capable of transmitting and receiving radio frequency (RF) signals according to one or more of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards, theL&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 5 / 63IEEE 802.15 standards, the Bluetooth® standards as defined by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), or the Long Term Evolution (LTE), 3G, 4G or 5G (New Radio (NR)) standards promulgated by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), among others. The described examples can be implemented in any device, system, or network that is capable of transmitting and receiving RF signals according to one or more of the following technologies or techniques: code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA), single-carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA), spatial division multiple access (SDMA), rate- splitting multiple access (RSMA), multi-user shared access (MUSA), single-user (SU) multiple input multiple output (MIMO) and multi-user (MU)- MIMO. The described examples also can be implemented using other wireless communication protocols or RF signals suitable for use in one or more of a wireless personal area network (WPAN), a wireless local area network (WLAN), a wireless wide area network (WWAN), a wireless metropolitan area network (WMAN), or an internet of things (loT) network.

[0025] The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of various configurations and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the concepts described herein may be practiced. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of various concepts. However, it will be apparent to persons having ordinary skill in the art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. In some examples, well-known structures and components are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring such concepts.

[0026] While aspects and examples are described in this application by illustration to some examples, persons having ordinary skill in the art will understand that additional implementations and use cases may come about in many different arrangements and scenarios. Innovations described herein may be implemented across many differing platform types, devices, systems, shapes, sizes, and packaging arrangements. For example, aspects and / or uses may come about via integrated chip examples and other non-module-component-based devices (e.g., end-user devices, vehicles, communication devices, computing devices, industrial equipment, retail / purchasing devices, medical devices, artificial intelligence (Al) enabled devices, machine learning (ML) enabled devices, etc.). While some examples may or may not be specifically directed to use cases or applications, a wide assortment of applicability of described innovations may occur.L&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 6 / 63Implementations may range a spectrum from chip-level or modular components to non- modular, non-chip-level implementations and further to aggregated, distributed, or original equipment manufacturer (OEM) devices or systems incorporating one or more aspects of the described innovations. In some practical settings, devices incorporating described aspects and features may also necessarily include additional components and features for implementation and practice of claimed and described examples. For example, transmission and reception of wireless signals necessarily includes a number of components for analog and digital purposes (e.g., hardware components including antenna, RF-chains, power amplifiers, modulators, buffer, processor(s), interleaver, adders / summers, etc.). It is intended that innovations described herein may be practiced in a wide variety of devices, chip-level components, systems, distributed arrangements, aggregated arrangements, disaggregated arrangements (e.g., base station and / or user equipment (UE)), end-user devices, etc. of varying sizes, shapes, and constitution.

[0027] Described herein are methods and apparatus that employ tone reservation processes to reduce the peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) of a waveform (such as an OFDM waveform) to reduce the backoff of an output of a power amplifier and the dynamic range of the waveform input to the power amplifier.

[0028] The various concepts presented throughout this disclosure may be implemented across a broad variety of telecommunication systems, network architectures, and communication standards. Referring now to FIG. 1, as an illustrative example without limitation, a schematic illustration of an example of a wireless communication system 100 according to some aspects of the disclosure is presented. The wireless communication system 100 includes three interacting domains: a core network 102, a radio access network (RAN) 104, and a user equipment (UE) 106 (e.g., of a plurality of UEs). By virtue of the wireless communication system 100, the UE 106 (also referred to herein as a wireless communication device or an apparatus) may be enabled to carry out data communication with an external data network 110, such as (but not limited to) the Internet.

[0029] The RAN 104 may implement any suitable wireless communication technology or technologies to provide radio access to the UE 106. As one example, the RAN 104 may operate according to 3rdGeneration Partnership Project (3GPP) New Radio (NR) technical requirements and specifications, often referred to as 5G. As another example, the RAN 104 may operate under a hybrid of 5G NR and Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (eUTRAN) standards, often referred to as Long Term EvolutionL&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 7 / 63(LTE). The 3GPP refers to this hybrid RAN as a next-generation RAN, or NG-RAN. As still another example, the RAN 104 may operate under standards referred to as 6G by 3GPP and as International Mobile Telecommunications 2030 (IMT-2030) by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Of course, many other examples may be utilized within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0030] As illustrated, the RAN 104 includes a plurality of network entities 108. Broadly, a network entity may be implemented in an aggregated or monolithic base station architecture, or in a disaggregated base station architecture, and may include one or more of a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a radio unit (RU), a Near-Real Time (Near- RT) RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC), or a Non-Real Time (Non-RT) RIC. In some examples, a network entity may be a network element in a radio access network responsible for radio transmission and reception in one or more cells to or from a UE. In different technologies, standards, or contexts, a network entity may variously be referred to by persons having ordinary skill in the art as a base transceiver station (BTS), a radio base station, a base station, a radio transceiver, a transceiver function, a basic service set (BSS), an extended service set (ESS), an access point (AP), a Node B (NB), an eNode B (eNB), a gNode B (gNB), a transmission and reception point (TRP), a scheduling entity, a network access point, or some other suitable terminology. In some examples, a network entity 108 may include two or more TRPs that may be collocated or non-collocated. Each TRP may communicate on the same or different carrier frequency within the same or different frequency band. In examples where the RAN 104 operates according to LTE, 5G NR, and / or 6G standards, one of the network entities may be an LTE network entity, another network entity may be a 5G NR network entity, and still another network entity may be a 6G network entity.

[0031] The RAN 104 is further illustrated supporting wireless communication for multiple mobile apparatuses, one of which may be identified as UE 106. A mobile apparatus may be referred to as user equipment (UE) in 3GPP standards, but may also be referred to by persons having ordinary skill in the art as a mobile station (MS), a subscriber station, a mobile unit, a subscriber unit, a wireless unit, a remote unit, a mobile device, a wireless device, a wireless communication device, a remote device, a mobile subscriber station, an access terminal (AT), a mobile terminal, a wireless terminal, a remote terminal, a handset, a terminal, a user agent, a mobile client, a client, a scheduled entity, or some other suitable terminology. The UE 106 may be an apparatus (e.g., aL&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 8 / 63mobile apparatus, a wireless communication device) that provides a user with access to network services.

[0032] Within the present disclosure, a “mobile” apparatus need not necessarily have a capability to move and may be stationary. Terms such as mobile apparatus or mobile device broadly refer to a diverse array of devices and technologies. UEs may include a number of hardware structural components sized, shaped, and arranged to help in communication; such components can include antennas, antenna arrays, RF chains, amplifiers, one or more processors, etc., electrically coupled to each other. For example, some non-limiting examples of a mobile apparatus include a mobile, a cellular (cell) phone, a smartphone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a laptop, a personal computer (PC), a notebook, a netbook, a smartbook, a tablet, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a broad array of embedded systems, e.g., corresponding to an “Internet of Things” (loT).

[0033] A mobile apparatus (e.g., UE 106) may additionally be an automotive or other transportation vehicle, a remote sensor or actuator, a robot or robotics device, a satellite radio, a global positioning system (GPS) device, an object tracking device, a drone, a multi-copter, a quad-copter, a remote control device, a consumer and / or wearable device, such as eyewear, a wearable camera, a virtual reality device, a smartwatch, a health or fitness tracker, a digital audio player (e.g., MP3 player), a camera, a game console, etc. A mobile apparatus may additionally be a digital home or smart home device such as a home audio, video, and / or multimedia device, an appliance, a vending machine, intelligent lighting, a home security system, a smart meter, etc. A mobile apparatus may additionally be a smart energy device, a security device, a solar panel or solar array, a municipal infrastructure device controlling electric power (e.g., a smart grid), lighting, water, etc., an industrial automation and enterprise device, a logistics controller, and / or agricultural equipment, etc. Still further, a mobile apparatus may provide for connected medicine or telemedicine support, e.g., health care at a distance. Telehealth devices may include telehealth monitoring devices and telehealth administration devices, whose communication may be given preferential treatment or prioritized access over other types of information, e.g., in terms of prioritized access for transport of critical service data and / or relevant QoS for transport of critical service data.

[0034] Wireless communication between the RAN 104 and the UE 106 may be described as utilizing an air interface. Transmissions over the air interface from a network entity (e.g., similar to network entity 108) to one or more UEs (e.g., similar to UE 106) may beL&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 9 / 63referred to as downlink (DL) transmission. In accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure, the term downlink may refer to a point-to-multipoint transmission or a point-to-point transmission (e.g., groupcast, multicast, or unicast) originating at a network entity (e.g., network entity 108). Another way to describe this scheme may be to use the term broadcast channel multiplexing. Transmissions from a UE (e.g., UE 106) to a network entity (e.g., network entity 108) may be referred to as uplink (UL) transmissions. In accordance with further aspects of the present disclosure, the term uplink may refer to a point-to-point transmission originating at a UE (e.g., UE 106).

[0035] In some examples, access to the air interface may be scheduled, where a network entity (e.g., a network entity 108) allocates resources for communication among some or all devices and equipment within its service area or cell. Within the present disclosure, as discussed further below, the network entity (e.g., network entity 108) may be responsible for scheduling, assigning, reconfiguring, and releasing resources for one or more scheduled entities (e.g., UEs 106). That is, for scheduled communication, a plurality of UEs 106, which may be scheduled entities, may utilize resources allocated by the network entity 108.

[0036] Network entities 108 are not the only entities that may function as scheduling entities. That is, in some examples, a UE may function as a scheduling entity, scheduling resources for one or more scheduled entities (e.g., one or more other UEs). For example, UEs may communicate directly with other UEs in a peer-to-peer or device-to-device fashion and / or in a relay configuration.

[0037] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the network entity 108 may broadcast downlink traffic 112 (also referred to as downlink data traffic) to one or more UEs 106. Broadly, the network entity 108 may be a node or device responsible for scheduling traffic (e.g., data traffic, user data traffic) in a wireless communication network, including the downlink traffic 112 and, in some examples, uplink traffic 116 (also referred to as uplink data traffic) from one or more UEs 106 to the network entity 108. On the other hand, the UE 106 (e.g., the scheduled entity) may be a node or device that receives downlink control 114 information, including but not limited to scheduling information (e.g., a grant), synchronization or timing information, or other control information from another entity in the wireless communication network such as the network entity 108. The UE 106 may further transmit uplink control 118 information, including but not limited to a scheduling request or feedback information, or other control information to the network entity 108.L&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 10 / 63

[0038] In addition, the uplink control 118 information, downlink control 114 information, uplink traffic 116, and / or downlink traffic 112 may be transmitted on a waveform that may be time-divided into frames, subframes, slots, and / or symbols. As used herein, a symbol may refer to a unit of time that, in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) waveform, carries one resource element (RE) per sub-carrier. A slot may carry 7 or 14 OFDM symbols. A subframe may refer to a duration of 1 ms. Multiple subframes or slots may be grouped together to form a single frame or radio frame. Within the present disclosure, a frame may refer to a predetermined duration (e.g., 10 ms) for wireless transmissions, with each frame consisting of, for example, 10 subframes of 1 ms each. Of course, these definitions are not required, and any suitable scheme for organizing waveforms may be utilized, and various time divisions of the waveform may have any suitable duration.

[0039] In general, the network entity 108 may include a backhaul interface (not shown) for communication with a backhaul portion 120 of the wireless communication system 100. The backhaul portion 120 may provide a link between a network entity 108 and the core network 102. Further, in some examples, a backhaul network may provide interconnection between respective network entities 108. Various types of backhaul interfaces may be employed, such as a direct physical connection, a virtual network, or the like using any suitable transport network.

[0040] The core network 102 may be a part of the wireless communication system 100 and may be independent of the radio access technology used in the RAN 104. In some examples, the core network 102 may be configured according to 5G standards (e.g., 5G core (5GC)). In other examples, the core network 102 may be configured according to a 4G evolved packet core (EPC) or any other suitable standard or configuration.

[0041] Referring now to FIG. 2, as an illustrative example without limitation, a schematic illustration of an example of a radio access network (RAN) 200 according to some aspects of the disclosure is provided. In some examples, the RAN 200 may be the same as the RAN 104 described above and illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0042] The geographic region covered by the RAN 200 may be divided into a number of cellular regions (cells) that can be uniquely identified by a user equipment (UE) based on an identification broadcasted over a geographical area from one access point or network entity. FIG. 2 illustrates cells 202, 204, 206, and 208, each of which may include one or more sectors (not shown). A sector is a sub-area of a cell. All sectors within one cell are served by the same network entity. A radio link within a sector can be identified by aL&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 11 / 63single logical identification belonging to that sector. In a cell that is divided into sectors, the multiple sectors within a cell can be formed by groups of antennas, with each antenna responsible for communication with UEs in a portion of the cell.

[0043] Various network entity arrangements can be utilized. For example, in FIG. 2, two network entities, referred to as base station 210 and base station 212, are shown in cells 202 and 204. A third network entity, referred to as base station 214, is shown controlling a remote radio head (RRH) 216 in cell 206. That is, a network entity can have an integrated antenna or can be connected to an antenna or RRH 216 by feeder cables. In the illustrated example, cells 202, 204, and 206 may be referred to as macrocells, as the base stations 210, 212, and 214 support cells having a large size. Further, a base station 218 is shown in the cell 208, which may overlap with one or more macrocells. In this example, the cell 208 may be referred to as a small cell (e.g., a small cell, a microcell, picocell, femtocell, home base station, home Node B, home eNode B, etc.), as the base station 218 supports a cell having a relatively small size. Cell sizing can be done according to system design as well as component constraints.

[0044] It is to be understood that the RAN 200 may include any number of network entities (e.g., base stations, gNBs, TRPs, scheduling entities) and cells. Further, a relay node may be deployed to extend the size or coverage area of a given cell. The base stations 210, 212, 214, 218 provide wireless access points to a core network for any number of mobile apparatuses. In some examples, the base stations 210, 212, 214, and / or 218 may be the same as or similar to the network entity 108 described above and illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0045] FIG. 2 further includes an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) 220, which may be a drone, quadcopter, octocopter, etc. The UAV 220 may be configured to function as a base station, or more specifically as a mobile base station. That is, in some examples, a cell may not necessarily be stationary, and the geographic area of the cell may move according to the location of a mobile base station, such as the UAV 220.

[0046] Within the RAN 200, the cells may include UEs that may be in communication with one or more sectors of each cell. Further, each base station 210, 212, 214, 218, and 220 may be configured to provide an access point to a core network 102 (see FIG. 1) for all the UEs in the respective cells. For example, UEs 222 and 224 may be in communication with base station 210, UEs 226 and 228 may be in communication with base station 212, UEs 230 and 232 may be in communication with base station 214 by way of RRH 216, UE 234 may be in communication with base station 218, and UE 236L&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 12 / 63may be in communication with mobile base station 220. In some examples, the UEs 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, 236, 238, 240, and / or 242 may be the same as or similar to the one or more UEs 106 described above and illustrated in FIG. 1. In some examples, the UAV 220 may be a mobile network entity and may be configured to function as a UE. For example, the UAV 220 may operate within cell 202 by communicating with base station 210.

[0047] In a further aspect of the RAN 200, sidelink signals may be used between UEs without necessarily relying on scheduling or control information from a base station. Sidelink communication may be utilized, for example, in a device-to-device (D2D) network, peer-to-peer (P2P) network, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) network, vehicle-to- everything (V2X) network, and / or other suitable sidelink network. For example, two or more UEs (e.g., UEs 238, 240, and 242) may communicate with each other using sidelink signals 237 without relaying that communication through a base station. In some examples, the UEs 238, 240, and 242 may each function as a scheduling entity or transmitting sidelink device and / or a scheduled entity or a receiving sidelink device to schedule resources and communicate sidelink signals 237 therebetween without relying on scheduling or control information from a base station (e.g., a network entity). In other examples, two or more UEs (e.g., UEs 226 and 228) within the coverage area of a network entity (e.g., base station 212) may also communicate sidelink signals 227 over a direct link (sidelink) without conveying that communication through the network entity (e.g., base station 212). In this example, the base station 212 may allocate resources to the UEs 226 and 228 for the sidelink communication.

[0048] In order for transmissions over the air interface to obtain a low block error rate (BLER) while still achieving very high data rates, channel coding may be used. That is, wireless communication may generally utilize a suitable error correcting block code. In a typical block code, an information message or sequence is split up into code blocks (CBs), and an encoder (e.g., a CODEC) at the transmitting device then mathematically adds redundancy to the information message. The exploitation of this redundancy in the encoded information message can improve the reliability of the message, enabling correction for any bit errors that may occur due to the noise.

[0049] Data coding may be implemented in multiple manners. In early 5G NR specifications, user data is coded using quasi-cyclic low-density parity check (LDPC) with two different base graphs: one base graph is used for large code blocks and / or high code rates, while the other base graph is used otherwise. Control information and theL&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 13 / 63physical broadcast channel (PBCH) are coded using Polar coding, based on nested sequences. For these channels, puncturing, shortening, and repetition are used for rate matching.

[0050] Aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented utilizing any suitable channel code. Various implementations of network entities and UEs may include suitable hardware and capabilities (e.g., an encoder, a decoder, and / or a CODEC) to utilize one or more of these channel codes for wireless communication.

[0051] In the RAN 200, the ability of UEs to communicate while moving, independent of their location, is referred to as mobility. The various physical channels between the UE and the RAN 200 are generally set up, maintained, and released under the control of an access and mobility management function (AMF). In some scenarios, the AMF may include a security context management function (SCMF) and a security anchor function (SEAF) that performs authentication. The SCMF can manage, in whole or in part, the security context for both the control plane and the user plane functionality.

[0052] In various aspects of the disclosure, the RAN 200 may utilize DL-based mobility or UL-based mobility to enable mobility and handovers (i.e., the transfer of a UE’s connection from one radio channel to another). In a network configured for DL-based mobility, during a call with a network entity (e.g., an apparatus, an aggregated or disaggregated base station, a gNB, an eNB, a TRP, a scheduling entity, etc.), or at any other time, a UE may monitor various parameters of the signal from its serving cell as well as various parameters of neighboring cells. Depending on the quality of these parameters, the UE may maintain communication with one or more of the neighboring cells. During this time, if the UE moves from one cell to another, or if the signal quality from a neighboring cell exceeds that from the serving cell for a given amount of time, the UE may undertake a handoff or handover from the serving cell to the neighboring (target) cell. For example, the UE 224 may move from the geographic area corresponding to its serving cell (e.g., cell 202) to the geographic area corresponding to a neighbor cell (e.g., cell 206). When the signal strength or quality from the neighbor cell exceeds that of its serving cell for a given amount of time, the UE 224 may transmit a reporting message to its serving network entity (e.g., base station 210) indicating this condition. In response, the UE 224 may receive a handover command, and the UE may undergo a handover to the cell 206.

[0053] In a network configured for UL-based mobility, UL reference signals from each UE may be utilized by the network to select a serving cell for each UE. In some examples,L&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 14 / 63the base stations 210, 212, and 214 / 216 may broadcast unified synchronization signals (e.g., unified Primary Synchronization Signals (PSSs), unified Secondary Synchronization Signals (SSSs) and unified Physical Broadcast Channels (PBCHs)). The UEs 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, and 232 may receive the unified synchronization signals, derive the carrier frequency, and slot timing from the synchronization signals, and in response to deriving timing, transmit an uplink pilot or reference signal. The uplink pilot signal transmitted by a UE (e.g., UE 224) may be concurrently received by two or more cells (e.g., base stations 210 and 214 / 216) within the RAN 200. Each of the cells may measure a strength of the pilot signal, and the radio access network (e.g., one or more of the base stations 210 and 214 / 216 and / or a central node within the core network) may determine a serving cell for the UE 224. As the UE 224 moves through the RAN 200, the RAN 200 may continue to monitor the uplink pilot signal transmitted by the UE 224. When the signal strength or quality of the pilot signal measured by a neighboring cell exceeds that of the signal strength or quality measured by the serving cell, the RAN 200 may hand over the UE 224 from the serving cell to the neighboring cell, with or without informing the UE 224.

[0054] Although the synchronization signal transmitted by the base stations 210, 212, and 214 / 216 may be unified, the synchronization signal may not identify a particular cell but rather may identify a zone of multiple cells operating on the same frequency and / or with the same timing. The use of zones in 5G networks or other next generation communication networks enable the uplink-based mobility framework and improves the efficiency of both the UE and the network, since the number of mobility messages that need to be exchanged between the UE and the network may be reduced.

[0055] In various implementations, the air interface in the radio access network 200 may utilize licensed spectrum, unlicensed spectrum, or shared spectrum. Licensed spectrum provides for exclusive use of a portion of the spectrum, generally by virtue of a mobile network operator purchasing a license from a government regulatory body. Unlicensed spectrum provides for shared use of a portion of the spectrum without need for a government-granted license. While compliance with some technical rules is generally still required to access unlicensed spectrum, generally, any operator or device may gain access. Shared spectrum may fall between licensed and unlicensed spectrum, where technical rules or limitations may be required to access the spectrum, but the spectrum may still be shared by multiple operators and / or multiple radio access technologies (RATs). For example, the holder of a license for a portion of licensed spectrum mayL&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 15 / 63provide licensed shared access (LSA) to share that spectrum with other parties, e.g., with suitable licensee-determined conditions to gain access.

[0056] The electromagnetic spectrum is often subdivided, based on frequency / wavelength, into various classes, bands, channels, etc. In 5G NR two initial operating bands have been identified as frequency range designations FR1 (410 MHz - 7.125 GHz) and FR2 (24.25 GHz - 52.6 GHz). It should be understood that although a portion of FR1 is greater than 6 GHz, FR1 is often referred to (interchangeably) as a “Sub- 6 GHz” band in various documents and articles. A similar nomenclature issue sometimes occurs with regard to FR2, which is often referred to (interchangeably) as a “millimeter wave” band in documents and articles, despite being different from the extremely high frequency (EHF) band (30 GHz - 300 GHz) which is identified by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) as a “millimeter wave” band.

[0057] The frequencies between FR1 and FR2 are often referred to as mid-band frequencies. Recent 5G NR studies have identified an operating band for these mid-band frequencies as frequency range designation FR3 (7.125 GHz - 24.25 GHz). Frequency bands falling within FR3 may inherit FR1 characteristics and / or FR2 characteristics and thus may effectively extend features of FR1 and / or FR2 into the mid-band frequencies. In addition, higher frequency bands are currently being explored to extend 5G NR operation beyond 52.6 GHz. For example, three higher operating bands have been identified as frequency range designations FR4-a or FR4-1 (52.6 GHz - 71 GHz), FR4 (52.6 GHz - 114.25 GHz), and FR5 (114.25 GHz - 300 GHz). Each of these higher frequency bands falls within the EHF band.

[0058] With the above aspects in mind, unless specifically stated otherwise, it should be understood that the term “sub-6 GHz” or the like if used herein may broadly represent frequencies that may be less than 6 GHz, may be within FR1, or may include mid-band frequencies. Further, unless specifically stated otherwise, it should be understood that the term “millimeter wave” or the like if used herein may broadly represent frequencies that may be within FR2, FR4, FR4-a or FR4-1, and / or FR5, or may be within the EHF band.

[0059] Devices communicating in the radio access network 200 may utilize one or more multiplexing techniques and multiple access algorithms to enable simultaneous communication of the various devices. For example, 5G NR specifications provide multiple access for UL transmissions from UEs 222 and 224 to base station 210, and for multiplexing for DL transmissions from base station 210 to one or more UEs 222 and 224, utilizing orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) with a cyclic prefixL&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 16 / 63(CP). In addition, for UL transmissions, 5G NR specifications provide support for discrete Fourier transform- spread-OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) with a CP (also referred to as singlecarrier FDMA (SC-FDMA)). However, within the scope of the present disclosure, multiplexing and multiple access are not limited to the above schemes and may be provided utilizing time division multiple access (TDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), sparse code multiple access (SCMA), resource spread multiple access (RSMA), or other suitable multiple access schemes. Further, multiplexing DL transmissions from the base station 210 to UEs 222 and 224 may be provided utilizing time division multiplexing (TDM), code division multiplexing (CDM), frequency division multiplexing (FDM), orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), sparse code multiplexing (SCM), or other suitable multiplexing schemes.

[0060] Devices in the radio access network 200 may also utilize one or more duplexing algorithms. Duplex refers to a point-to-point communication link where both endpoints can communicate with one another in both directions. Full-duplex means both endpoints can simultaneously communicate with one another. Half-duplex means only one endpoint can send information to the other at a time. Half-duplex emulation is frequently implemented for wireless links utilizing time division duplex (TDD). In TDD, transmissions in different directions on a given channel are separated from one another using time division multiplexing. That is, in some scenarios, a channel is dedicated for transmissions in one direction, while at other times the channel is dedicated for transmissions in the other direction, where the direction may change very rapidly, e.g., several times per slot. In a wireless link, a full-duplex channel generally relies on physical isolation of a transmitter and receiver, and suitable interference cancellation technologies. Full-duplex emulation is frequently implemented for wireless links by utilizing frequency division duplex (FDD) or spatial division duplex (SDD). In FDD, transmissions in different directions may operate at different carrier frequencies (e.g., within paired spectrum). In SDD, transmissions in different directions on a given channel are separated from one another using spatial division multiplexing (SDM). In other examples, full- duplex communication may be implemented within unpaired spectrum (e.g., within a single carrier bandwidth), where transmissions in different directions occur within different subbands of the carrier bandwidth. This type of full-duplex communication may be referred to herein as subband full-duplex (SBFD), also known as flexible duplex.L&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 17 / 63

[0061] Deployment of communication systems, such as 5G new radio (NR) systems, may be arranged in multiple manners with various components or constituent parts. In a 5G NR system, or network, a network entity, a mobility element of a network, a radio access network (RAN) node, a core network entity, a network element, or a network equipment, such as a base station (BS), or one or more units (or one or more components) performing base station functionality, may be implemented in an aggregated or disaggregated architecture. For example, a BS (such as a Node B (NB), evolved NB (eNB), gNB, NR BS, 5G NB, access point (AP), a transmit receive point (TRP), or a cell, etc.) may be implemented as an aggregated base station (also known as a standalone BS or a monolithic BS) or a disaggregated base station.

[0062] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of an example disaggregated base station 300 architecture according to some aspects of the disclosure. The disaggregated base station 300 architecture may include one or more central units (CUs) 310 that can communicate directly with a core network 320 via a backhaul link, or indirectly with the core network 320 through one or more disaggregated base station units (such as a Near-Real Time (Near-RT) RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) 325 via an E2 link, or a Non-Real Time (Non-RT) RIC 315 associated with a Service Management and Orchestration (SMO) Framework 305, or both). A CU 310 may communicate with one or more distributed units (DUs) 330 via respective midhaul links, such as an Fl interface. The DUs 330 may communicate with one or more radio units (RUs) 340 via respective fronthaul links. The RUs 340 may communicate with respective UEs 342 via one or more radio frequency (RF) access links. In some implementations, the UE 342 may be simultaneously served by multiple RUs 340. UE 342 may be the same or similar to any of the UEs or scheduled entities illustrated and described in connection with FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, for example.

[0063] Each of the units, i.e., the CUs 310, the DUs 330, the RUs 340, as well as the Near-RT RICs 325, the Non-RT RICs 315, and the SMO Framework 305, may include one or more interfaces or be coupled to one or more interfaces configured to receive or transmit signals, data, or information (collectively, signals) via a wired or wireless transmission medium. Each of the units, or an associated processor or controller providing instructions to the communication interfaces of the units, can be configured to communicate with one or more of the other units via the transmission medium. For example, the units can include a wired interface configured to receive or transmit signals over a wired transmission medium to one or more of the other units. Additionally, the units can include a wireless interface, which may include a receiver, a transmitter orL&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 18 / 63transceiver (such as a radio frequency (RF) transceiver), configured to receive or transmit signals, or both, over a wireless transmission medium to one or more of the other units.

[0064] In some aspects, the CU 310 may host one or more higher layer control functions.Such control functions can include radio resource control (RRC), packet data convergence protocol (PDCP), service data adaptation protocol (SDAP), or the like. Each control function can be implemented with an interface configured to communicate signals with other control functions hosted by the CU 310. The CU 310 may be configured to handle user plane functionality (i.e., Central Unit - User Plane (CU-UP)), control plane functionality (i.e., Central Unit - Control Plane (CU-CP)), or a combination thereof. In some implementations, the CU 310 can be logically split into one or more CU-UP units and one or more CU-CP units. The CU-UP unit can communicate bidirectionally with the CU-CP unit via an interface, such as the El interface when implemented in an O-RAN configuration. The CU 310 can be implemented to communicate with the DU 330, as necessary, for network control and signaling.

[0065] The DU 330 may correspond to a logical unit that includes one or more base station functions to control the operation of one or more RUs 340. In some aspects, the DU 330 may host one or more of a radio link control (RLC) layer, a medium access control (MAC) layer, and one or more high physical (PHY) layers (such as modules for forward error correction (FEC) encoding and decoding, scrambling, modulation, and demodulation, or the like) depending, at least in part, on a functional split, such as those defined by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). In some aspects, the DU 330 may further host one or more low-PHY layers. Each layer (or module) can be implemented with an interface configured to communicate signals with other layers (and modules) hosted by the DU 330, or with the control functions hosted by the CU 310.

[0066] Lower-layer functionality can be implemented by one or more RUs 340. In some deployments, an RU 340, controlled by a DU 330, may correspond to a logical node that hosts RF processing functions, or low-PHY layer functions (such as performing fast Fourier transform (FFT), inverse FFT (IFFT), digital beamforming, physical random access channel (PRACH) extraction and filtering, or the like), or both, based at least in part on the functional split, such as a lower layer functional split. In such an architecture, the RU(s) 340 can be implemented to handle over-the-air (OTA) communication with one or more UEs 342. In some implementations, real-time and non-real-time aspects of control and user plane communication with the RU(s) 340 can be controlled by the corresponding DU 330. In some scenarios, this configuration can enable the DU(s) 330L&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 19 / 63and the CU 310 to be implemented in a cloud-based RAN architecture, such as a vRAN architecture.

[0067] The SMO Framework 305 may be configured to support RAN deployment and provisioning of non-virtualized and virtualized network elements. For non-virtualized network elements, the SMO Framework 305 may be configured to support the deployment of dedicated physical resources for RAN coverage requirements which may be managed via an operations and maintenance interface (such as an 01 interface). For virtualized network elements, the SMO Framework 305 may be configured to interact with a cloud computing platform (such as an open cloud (O-Cloud) 390) to perform network element life cycle management (such as to instantiate virtualized network elements) via a cloud computing platform interface (such as an 02 interface). Such virtualized network elements can include, but are not limited to, CUs 310, DUs 330, RUs 340 and Near-RT RICs 325. In some implementations, the SMO Framework 305 can communicate with a hardware aspect of a 3G RAN, such as an open eNB (O-eNB) 311, via an 01 interface. Additionally, in some implementations, the SMO Framework 305 can communicate directly with one or more RUs 340 via an 01 interface. The SMO Framework 305 also may include a Non-RT RIC 315 configured to support functionality of the SMO Framework 305.

[0068] The Non-RT RIC 315 may be configured to include a logical function that enables non-real-time control and optimization of RAN elements and resources, Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning (AI / ML) workflows including model training and updates, or policy-based guidance of applications / features in the Near-RT RIC 325. The Non-RT RIC 315 may be coupled to or communicate with (such as via an Al interface) the Near-RT RIC 325. The Near-RT RIC 325 may be configured to include a logical function that enables near-real-time control and optimization of RAN elements and resources via data collection and actions over an interface (such as via an E2 interface) connecting one or more CUs 310, one or more DUs 330, or both, as well as an O-eNB, with the Near-RT RIC 325.

[0069] In some implementations, to determine (e.g., derive, generate) AI / ML models to be deployed in the Near-RT RIC 325, the Non-RT RIC 315 may receive parameters or external enrichment information from external servers. Such information may be utilized by the Near-RT RIC 325 and may be received at the SMO Framework 305 or the Non- RT RIC 315 from non-network data sources or from network functions. In some examples, the Non-RT RIC 315 or the Near-RT RIC 325 may be configured to tune RANL&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 20 / 63behavior or performance. For example, the Non-RT RIC 315 may monitor long-term trends and patterns for performance and employ AI / ML models to perform corrective actions through the SMO Framework 305 (such as reconfiguration via 01) or via creation of RAN management policies (such as Al policies).

[0070] Various aspects of the present disclosure will be described with reference to an OFDM waveform, schematically illustrated in FIG. 4. It should be understood by persons having ordinary skill in the art that the various aspects of the present disclosure may be applied to an SC-FDMA waveform in substantially the same way as described hereinbelow. That is, while some examples of the present disclosure may focus on an OFDM link for clarity, it should be understood that the same principles may be applied as well to SC-FDMA waveforms.

[0071] Referring now to FIG. 4, an expanded view of an exemplary subframe 402 is illustrated, showing an OFDM resource grid 404 according to some aspects of the disclosure. However, as persons having ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate, the physical (PHY) transmission structure for any particular application may vary from the example described here, depending on any number of factors. Here, time is in the horizontal direction with units of OFDM symbols; and frequency is in the vertical direction with units of subcarriers of the carrier.

[0072] The resource grid 404 may be used to schematically represent time-frequency resources for a given antenna port. That is, in a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) implementation with multiple antenna ports available, a corresponding multiple number of resource grids 404 may be available for communication. The resource grid 404 is divided into multiple resource elements (REs) 406. An RE, which is 1 subcarrier x 1 symbol, is the smallest discrete part of the time-frequency grid and contains a single complex value representing data from a physical channel or signal. Depending on the modulation utilized in a particular implementation, each RE may represent one or more bits of information. In some examples, a block of REs may be referred to as a physical resource block (PRB) or more simply a resource block (RB) 408, which contains any suitable number of consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain. In one example, an RB may include 12 subcarriers, a number independent of the numerology used. In some examples, depending on the numerology, an RB may include any suitable number of consecutive OFDM symbols in the time domain.

[0073] A set of continuous or discontinuous resource blocks may be referred to herein as a Resource Block Group (RBG), subband, or bandwidth part (BWP). A set of subbandsL&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 21 / 63or BWPs may span the entire bandwidth. Scheduling of wireless communication devices (e.g., V2X devices, sidelink devices, or other UEs, hereinafter generally referred to as UEs) for downlink, uplink, or sidelink transmissions may involve scheduling one or more resource elements 406 within one or more subbands or bandwidth parts (BWPs). Thus, a UE generally utilizes only a subset of the resource grid 404. In some examples, an RB may be the smallest unit of resources that can be allocated to a UE. Thus, the more RBs scheduled for a UE, and the higher the modulation scheme chosen for the air interface, the higher the data rate for the UE. The RBs may be scheduled by a network entity (e.g., an aggregated or disaggregated base station, gNB, eNB, TRP, scheduling entity, etc.) or may be self- scheduled by a UE / sidelink device implementing D2D sidelink communication.

[0074] In this illustration, the RB 408 is shown as occupying less than the entire bandwidth of the subframe 402, with some subcarriers illustrated above and below the RB 408. In a given implementation, the subframe 402 may have a bandwidth corresponding to any number of one or more RBs 408. Further, in this illustration, the RB 408 is shown as occupying less than the entire duration of the subframe 402, although this is merely one possible example.

[0075] Each 1 ms subframe 402 may consist of one or multiple adjacent slots. In the example shown in FIG. 4, one subframe 402 includes four slots 410, as an illustrative example. In some examples, a slot may be defined according to a specified number of OFDM symbols with a given cyclic prefix (CP) length. For example, a slot may include 7 or 14 OFDM symbols with a nominal CP. An additional example may include minislots, sometimes referred to as shortened transmission time intervals (TTIs), having a shorter duration (e.g., one to three OFDM symbols). These mini-slots or shortened transmission time intervals (TTIs) may in some cases be transmitted occupying resources scheduled for ongoing slot transmissions for the same or for different UEs. Any number of resource blocks may be utilized within a subframe or slot.

[0076] An expanded view of slot 410 illustrates that the slot 410 includes a control region 412 and a data region 414. In general, the control region 412 may carry control channels, and the data region 414 may carry data channels. In some examples, a Uu slot (e.g., slot 410) may contain all DL, all UL, or at least one DL portion and at least one UL portion. The structures illustrated in FIG. 4 are merely exemplary in nature, and different slot structures may be utilized, and may include one or more of each of the control region(s) and data region(s).L&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 22 / 63

[0077] Although not illustrated in FIG. 4, the various REs 406 within a RB 408 may be scheduled to carry one or more physical channels, including control channels, shared channels, data channels, etc. Other REs 406 within the RB 408 may also carry pilots or reference signals. These pilots or reference signals may provide for a receiving device to perform channel estimation of the corresponding channel, which may enable coherent demodulation / detection of the control and / or data channels within the RB 408.

[0078] In some examples, the slot 410 may be utilized for broadcast, multicast, groupcast, or unicast communication. For example, a broadcast, multicast, or groupcast communication may refer to a point-to-multipoint transmission by one device (e.g., a network entity, UE, or other similar device) to other devices. Here, a broadcast communication is delivered to all devices, whereas a multicast or groupcast communication is delivered to multiple intended recipient devices. A unicast communication may refer to a point-to-point transmission by one device to a single other device.

[0079] In an example of cellular communication over a cellular carrier via a Uu interface, for a DL transmission, the network entity may allocate one or more REs 406 (e.g., within the control region 412) of the slot 410 to carry DL control information including one or more DL control channels, such as a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), to one or more UEs (e.g., scheduled entities). The PDCCH carries downlink control information (DCI) including but not limited to power control commands (e.g., one or more open loop power control parameters and / or one or more closed loop power control parameters), scheduling information, a grant, and / or an assignment of REs for DL and UL transmissions. The PDCCH may further carry hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback transmissions such as an acknowledgment (ACK) or negative acknowledgment (NACK). HARQ is a technique well-known to persons having ordinary skill in the art, where the integrity of packet transmissions may be checked at the receiving side for accuracy, e.g., utilizing any suitable integrity checking mechanism, such as a checksum or a cyclic redundancy check (CRC). If the integrity of the transmission is confirmed, an ACK may be transmitted, whereas if not confirmed, a NACK may be transmitted. In response to a NACK, the transmitting device may send a HARQ retransmission, which may implement chase combining, incremental redundancy, etc.

[0080] The network entity may further allocate one or more REs 406 (e.g., in the control region 412 or the data region 414) of the Uu slot 410 to carry other DL signals, such as a demodulation reference signal (DMRS); a phase-tracking reference signal (PT-RS); aL&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 23 / 63channel state information (CSI) reference signal (CSI-RS); and a synchronization signal block (SSB). SSBs may be broadcast at regular intervals based on a periodicity (e.g., 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, or 160 ms). An SSB includes a primary synchronization signal (PSS), a secondary synchronization signal (SSS), and a physical broadcast control channel (PBCH). A UE may utilize the PSS and SSS to achieve radio frame, subframe, slot, and symbol synchronization in the time domain, identify the center of the channel (system) bandwidth in the frequency domain, and identify the physical cell identity (PCI) of the cell.

[0081] The PBCH in the SSB may further include a master information block (MIB) that includes various system information, along with parameters for decoding a system information block (SIB). The SIB may be, for example, a SystemlnformationType 1 (SIB1) that may include various additional system information. The MIB and SIB1 together provide the minimum system information (MSI) for initial access. Examples of system information transmitted in the MIB may include, but are not limited to, a subcarrier spacing (e.g., default downlink numerology), system frame number, a configuration of a PDCCH control resource set (CORESET) (e.g., PDCCH CORESETO), a cell barred indicator, a cell reselection indicator, a raster offset, and a search space for SIB1. Examples of remaining minimum system information (RMSI) transmitted in the SIB1 may include, but are not limited to, a random access search space, a paging search space, downlink configuration information, and uplink configuration information. A network entity may transmit other system information (OSI) as well.

[0082] In an UL transmission, the UE (e.g., scheduled entity) may utilize one or more REs 406 of the Uu slot 410 to carry UL control information (UCI) including one or more UL control channels, such as a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), to the scheduling entity. UCI may include a variety of packet types and categories, including pilots, reference signals, and information configured to enable or assist in decoding uplink data transmissions. Examples of uplink reference signals may include a sounding reference signal (SRS) and an uplink DMRS. In some examples, the UCI may include a scheduling request (SR), i.e., request for the scheduling entity to schedule uplink transmissions. In response to the SR transmitted on the UCI, the scheduling entity may transmit downlink control information (DCI) that may schedule resources for uplink packet transmissions. UCI may also include HARQ feedback, channel state feedback (CSF), such as a CSI report, a measurement report (e.g., a Layer 1 (LI) measurement report), or any other suitable UCI.L&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 24 / 63

[0083] In addition to control information, one or more REs 406 (e.g., within the data region 414) of the Uu slot 410 may be allocated for data traffic. Such data traffic may be carried on one or more traffic channels, such as, for a DL transmission, a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH); or for a UL transmission, a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH). In some examples, one or more REs 406 within the data region 414 may be configured to carry other signals, such as one or more SIBs and DMRSs. In some examples, the PDSCH may carry a plurality of SIBs, not limited to SIB 1, discussed above. For example, the OSI may be provided in these SIBs, e.g., SIB2 and above.

[0084] In an example of sidelink communication over a sidelink carrier via a PC5 interface, the control region 412 of the slot 410 may include a physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH) including sidelink control information (SCI) transmitted by an initiating (transmitting) sidelink device (e.g., Tx V2X device or other Tx UE) towards a set of one or more other receiving sidelink devices (e.g., Rx V2X device or other Rx UE). The data region 414 of the slot 410 may include a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH) including sidelink data traffic transmitted by the initiating (transmitting) sidelink device within resources reserved over the sidelink carrier by the transmitting sidelink device via the SCI. Other information may further be transmitted over various REs 406 within slot 410. For example, sidelink MAC-CEs may be transmitted in the data region 414 of the slot 410. In addition, HARQ feedback information may be transmitted in a physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH) within the slot 410 from the receiving sidelink device to the transmitting sidelink device. In addition, one or more reference signals, such as a sidelink SSB, a sidelink CSI-RS, a sidelink SRS, and / or a sidelink positioning reference signal (PRS) may be transmitted within the slot 410.

[0085] The physical channels described above are generally multiplexed and mapped to transport channels for handling at the medium access control (MAC) layer. Transport channels carry blocks of information called transport blocks (TB). The transport block size (TBS), which may correspond to a number (e.g., a quantity) of bits of information, may be a controlled parameter based on the modulation and coding scheme (MCS) and the number of RBs in a given transmission.

[0086] The channels or carriers described above in connection with FIGs. 1 - 4 are not necessarily all of the channels or carriers that may be utilized between a scheduling entity and scheduled entities, and persons having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other channels or carriers may be utilized in addition to those illustrated, such as other traffic, control, and feedback channels.L&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 25 / 63

[0087] Orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) is a technique used for access. OFDMA enables multiple devices to transmit simultaneously over the same frequency bands in wireless technologies, including but not limited to 5G NR. Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is a modulation technique that employs multiple closely spaced subcarriers within the same communication channel. In 5G NR, for instance, OFDM is the primary modulation technique, leading to the use of OFDMA for multiple access in both the uplink and downlink.

[0088] In cellular applications, such as, but not limited to 5G NR cellular applications, the OFDMA technique may be utilized. OFDMA enables efficient signal processing, supports scalable bandwidth and multiple input multiple output (MIMO), including SU- MIMO and MU-MIMO. However, the OFDMA waveform may inherently possess a large peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR). In other words, the OFDMA waveform may inherently possess a characteristic of presenting a large difference between the peak power that a power amplifier may need to transmit and the average power the power amplifier may need to transmit. To compensate for the large PAPR, a power backoff may be applied to a signal prior to the signal being input to a power amplifier. The power backoff reduces the input power to the power amplifier and may be configured to keep peak power excursions out of the power amplifier’s non-linear and saturation regions. The power amplifier may be one amplifier of one of a plurality of amplifiers in an output RF-chain of an apparatus or device transmitting the OFDMA waveform.

[0089] FIG. 5 A and FIG. 5B are a first graph 500 and a second graph 501, respectively, showing power out versus power in of a power amplifier according to some aspects of the disclosure. In both FIGs. 5A and 5B the input power (Pin) is on the horizontal axis in units of dBm (logarithmic decibel (dB) respective to one milliwatt (mW)) and the output power (Pout) is on the vertical axis in units of dBm. In FIG. 5 A and 5B, a power transfer function 502 of the power amplifier is shown in dashed line. For ease of explanation and comparison, the power transfer function 502 that is shown in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are identical. In other words, FIGs. 5A and 5B are two graphs representing one power transfer function 502 of one power amplifier. The saturation power (Psat) 504 of the power amplifier is identified as a dash-dot line.

[0090] The relationship between the power amplifier's Pout and Pin relative to its Psat 504 may be described with reference to three regions of operation depicted in the power transfer function 502. Initially, when the Pin is small (e.g., the left end of the first graph 500 and second graph 501), the power amplifier operates in a linear region. In the linearL&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 26 / 63region, the output power increases proportionally with the input power according to the amplifier's gain (G). Expressed in dB, this means Pout = G + Pin. In the linear region, each dB increase in Pin results in the same dB increase in Pout.

[0091] This linear behavior continues until the output power approaches Psat 504. Psat 504 represents the maximum output power the power amplifier can provide. The Psat region corresponds to flat region toward the right sides of the first graph 500 and the second graph 501. As the power amplifier nears this Psat region, it begins to saturate, causing the gain to diminish, and Pout no longer increases linearly with Pin. The region between the linear region and the Psat region may be referred to as a non-linear region. In the simple exemplary first graph 500 and second graph 501, the linear region changes to the non-linear region around the input power level identified on the Pin axis as Pmax. The non-linear region extends from about Pmax to a saturation point (not shown) that may be found toward the right end of the Pin axis. Beyond the saturation point, even substantial increases in input power result in only marginal increases in output power, as the output asymptotically approaches Psat 504. Operation of the power amplifier in the non-linear region between about Pmax and the saturation point (not shown) produces distortion and unwanted signals, such as intermodulation products, at the output of the power amplifier. The distortion and unwanted signals, unwanted intermodulation products may be caused by the non-linearity of the transistor(s) used as the amplifying elements of the power amplifier.

[0092] As mentioned above, the OFDMA waveform may have inherently large PAPR.FIG. 5A depicts the input versus output power of a first signal 506. FIG. 5B depicts the input versus output power of a second signal 508. For ease of illustration and not limitation, the maximum power input to the power amplifier is represented as Pmax in both the first graph 500 and the second graph 501. The minimum power input to the power amplifier in the first graph 500 is represented as PminA and the minimum power input to the power amplifier (the same power amplifier) in the second graph 501 is represented as PminB. The magnitudes of PminA and Pmax shown in the first graph 500 may represent the upper and lower peak powers of the first signal 506 represented in the first graph 500. The magnitudes of PminB and Pmax shown in the second graph 501 may represent the upper and lower peak powers of the second signal 508 represented in the second graph 501.

[0093] The first difference in input power between PminA and Pmax depicted in the first graph 500 may be representative of the lower and upper peak powers, respectively, of theL&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 27 / 63first signal 506. The average power of the first signal 506 falls somewhere between PminA and Pmax in the first graph 500. The second difference in input power between PminB and Pmax depicted in the second graph 501 may be representative of the lower and upper peak powers, respectively, of the second signal 508. The average power of the second signal 508 falls somewhere between PminB and Pmax in the second graph 501.

[0094] In a comparison between FIG. 5 A and FIG. 5B, the longer first horizontal doubleheaded arrow in the first graph 500 may be representative of a first PAPR 510 of the first signal 506. The (relatively) shorter second horizontal double-headed arrow in the second graph 501 may be representative of a second PAPR 512 of the second signal 508. In may be said, for purposes of discussion and not limitation, that the first PAPR 510 exemplified in FIG. 5A is higher (e.g., has a greater magnitude) that the second PAPR 512 exemplified in FIG. 5B.

[0095] Also depicted in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are a first backoff 514 and a second backoff 516. Backoff (also referred to as power backoff or amplifier backoff) refers to an intentional reduction of a power amplifier's output power below its saturation power 504 so that the power amplifier provides a maximized capacity to maintain signal quality and prevent distortion by operating within the linear region. In other words, the power amplifier’s output power backed off of its saturation power to avoid subjecting the output signal to the distortion, clipping, an unwanted output encountered by operation in the nonlinear and / or saturation regions. Backoff may be measured in decibels (dB).

[0096] As illustrated by comparison of FIG. 5A to FIG. 5B, the first backoff 514 is greater than the second backoff 516, because, in this example, the first PAPR 510 is higher than (i.e., greater than) the second PAPR 512 (where the terms higher, greater, and lower are made relative to the magnitudes illustrated in FIGs. 5A and 5B).

[0097] Operating in the region of the second signal 508 in the second graph 501 may provide better power amplifier efficiency than operation in the region of the first signal 506 in the first graph 500 because, for at least one reason, even though the peak powers are equal as depicted by Pmax, the overall output power of the second signal 508 is greater than the overall output power of the first signal 506 because the second PAPR 512 is less than the first PAPR 510. Regardless of whether the power of the signal is a peak or an average power, a UE may be configured with a power backoff that helps to ensure that the output of the power amplifier minimizes distortion, out-of-band emission, and intermodulation products, etc. The configuration should account for the full dynamic range of the signal input to the power amplifier. Reducing that dynamic range correspondsL&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 28 / 63to reducing the PAPR. Accordingly, scientists and engineers are seeking ways to reduce PAPR and consequently increase power amplifier efficiency.

[0098] There may be several techniques (e.g., ways to manipulate the signal) that result in a reduction of PAPR. As may be deduced from the discussion above, a reduced PAPR may result in lower backoff and the lower backoff may mean that the power amplifier may operate at a more efficient working point.

[0099] The more efficient working point of the power amplifier may correspond to more power efficiency, which may translate into savings of battery power at a UE. The more efficient working point, and improved power efficiency, of the power amplifier may allow the UE to transmit at a higher power level (because lower backoff would be required, and as shown in FIG. 5B, the lower backoff provides for an overall reduction in signal dynamic range and effectively permits all components of the signal to be transmitted at higher power levels compared to the example of FIG. 5A). Still further, the more efficient working point may support energy saving as it relates to the cellular network. For example, the more efficient working point may allow a base station power amplifier to transmit (in the downlink direction) at a higher power level, because a lower backoff would be used, and by doing the coverage of the cellular network footprint may be extended.

[0100] One technique to reduce the PAPR is to enable crest factor reduction techniques.There may be several techniques that may be used to implement crest factor reduction, including, for example, clipping and filtering, peak windowing, and peak cancelation. However, crest factor reduction, in all of its implementations, may be limited due to, for example and without limitation, its creation of in-band distortion and out-of-band emissions, as well as its limiting of a maximum modulation that may be used by a given system.

[0101] Described herein are examples of implementations of tone reservation techniques used in (e.g., applied to, implemented on) uplink signals. These tone reservation techniques used in uplink signals may provide superior PAPR reduction outcomes in comparison to, for example, at least crest factor reduction techniques. For example, when comparing PAPR reduction based on crest factor reduction techniques on uplink signals versus tone reservation techniques on uplink signals greater PAPR reduction (lower PAPR results) were observed with tone reservation techniques on uplink signals.

[0102] Reduction of PAPR permits a UE to reduce power headroom for the UEs power amplifier and utilize higher transmit power (e.g., approximately 2dB higher). Use ofL&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 29 / 63higher transmit power may have benefits, including, for example, increasing an area of coverage per cell (i.e., in a cellular communication network). Alternatively, a UE may leverage the reduced PAPR (compared to the PAPR realized without tone reservation techniques) to sustain the same transmit power with lower power supply draining to drive the power amplifier for additional battery saving. Alternatively, a user may manifest the reduced PAPR of the signal to obtain superior transmit error vector magnitude (EVM) and achieve higher modulations in the uplink transmission. Here, the transmit EVM may be described as a measure of how much an actual transmitted signal deviates from its ideal, intended form in terms of both amplitude and phase. Transmit EVM may therefore be a useful metric for evaluating the quality of a digital communication signal at the transmitter level.

[0103] However, utilizing the tone reservation technique may require the system to allocate physical resources (i.e., time-frequency resources as depicted in the OFDM resource grid 404 of FIG. 4) for the reserved tones, where the allocated physical resources may have been used for purposes other than tone reservation. The allocation of the physical resources may result in downgraded system uplink capacity (because, for example, certain time-frequency resources that could have been used for uplink are being reserved by a tone reservation process) and may impose constrains on a system scheduler, such as a network entity (e.g., a scheduling entity) because, for example, the system scheduler may need to use some of its processing power and memory to allocate and keep track of the reserved tones.

[0104] Described herein are examples of tone reservation processing that may reduce the magnitude of the PAPR associated with an uplink OFDMA waveform. In these examples, a network entity may utilize signaling (e.g., control information) to inform a UE certain details about reserved tone resources (i.e., time-frequency resources, such as those graphically organized in the OFDM resource grid 404 of FIG. 4) including, but not limited to, tone power scaling and tone spatial direction.

[0105] The network entity is the entity that schedules resources for all UEs, possibly with the exception of 5G NR sidelink UEs operating in sidelink mode 2. In sidelink mode 2, the sidelink UE autonomously selects the resources it will use from a predefined sidelink resource pool without the network entity allocating specific resources to any given sidelink mode 2 UE within the predefined sidelink pool. However, because the network entity allocates the resources for the predefined sidelink resource pool, it effectively atL&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 30 / 63least recognizes that the resources in the predefined sidelink resource pool are not available for a tone reservation process.

[0106] Because the network entity schedules resources for all UEs, the network entity may be able to select resources in which one or more UEs may transmit, on the uplink, on reserved tones in overlapping resources. The network entity may be able to schedule the use of the overlapping resources after giving a specific UE scheduled to transmit on the reserved tones in the uplink certain values related to one or more of: allowed (e.g., permitted, acceptable) transmit power, and allowed spatial direction.

[0107] In some examples, the values may be signaled to a given UE in downlink control information (DCI); however, the values may be signaled to the given UE in other ways, for example and without limitation, the values may be conveyed to the given UE in RRC signaling.

[0108] Returning to the example of use of DCI, persons having skill in the art will understand that, for example, in 5G NR, DCI may be conveyed in a unit of resources referred to as a Control Channel Element (CCE). A CCE may include smaller units referred to as Resource Element Groups (REGs). Each REG may include a block of 12 resource elements within a single OFDM symbol in the frequency domain and one OFDM symbol in the time domain. The CCE may include a group of REGs that may be used to transmit DCI data on the Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH). A single DCI may occupy 1, 2, 4, 8, or 16 CCEs to accommodate various amounts of data. In even greater detail, CCEs may be mapped to a CORSET, which is a specific set of resource elements in the resource grid where the PDCCH (carrying the DCI) is allocated.

[0109] A DCI may be used by the network entity to, among other things, schedule physical resources on an uplink (PUSCH resources) and / or a downlink (PDSCH resources). Namly, DCI Format 0_0 and 0_l may be used to schedule a PUSCH in one cell. DCI Format l_0 and 1_1 may be used to schedule a PDSCH in one cell. DCI Formats 0_l and l_0 utilize cyclic redundancy check (CRC) bits scrambled by various Radio Network Temporary Identifiers (RNTIs). The CRC bits may be attached to DCI payloads. RNTIs may be used to identify a UE or group of UEs. Other DCI formats (e.g., Formats 2_0 through 2_6, 3_1, and 3_1, without limitation) may be used to communicate various notifications and commands to the UEs.

[0110] In some examples of implementations of an uplink in-band tone reservation coordination process according to some aspects described herein, an existing DCI format may be modified to accommodate a use of the process. For example, an additional indexL&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 31 / 63value, field value, or resource allocation type may be added to indicate that the frequency domain resource assignment field, the time domain resource assignment field, and / or some other field(s) conveyed by the DCI are for use in conjunction with an uplink in- band tone reservation coordination process. In some examples of implementations of an uplink in-band tone reservation coordination process according to some aspects described herein, a new DCI format may be implemented. Because formats with a 0 prefix (e.g., 0_0, 0_l) are already used for scheduling of a PUSCH, the new format may also use the 0 prefix. For example, the new DCI format may be denoted Format 0_3, or Format 0_X, where X is any positive integer greater than 1 (because 0 and 1 are already used). For example, a Format 0_X, used to schedule uplink in-band tones used in connection with an uplink in-band tone reservation coordination process may carry one or more of the fields listed in Table 1, below. Other fields are within the scope of the disclosure.FIELDIdentifier for DCI formats _Frequency domain resource assignment _Time domain resource assignment _Frequency Hopping Flag _Transmitter Power Control (TPC) command for tone reservation (TR) purposes _Precoding information and number of layers (Transmit Precoding Matrix Indicator (TPMI))Antenna port _TABLE 1 - Example of Format 0_X

[0111] It is noted that the TPMI may indicate which precoding matrix the network is using to transmit data to the UE, essentially specifying the preferred precoding scheme for the uplink transmission.

[0112] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a UE transmitter 600 according to some aspects of the disclosure. An environment in which the UE transmitter 600 may find service is a multiple access environment, in which several users (where each user may use a UE transmitter the same as or similar to the UE transmitter 600 of FIG. 6). All users may be transmitting their own waveforms (e.g., OFDMA waveforms) in the uplink direction simultaneously. All transmissions would be combined in a wireless channel and received at a network entity. The network entity may need to demodulate and decode all of the waveforms from all of the users simultaneously.L&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 32 / 63

[0113] According to some aspects of the disclosure, the UE transmitter 600 may apply OFDM techniques for modulation and OFDMA techniques for access, meaning that a network entity schedules physical resources (i.e., time and frequency resource elements, subcarriers, or some portion of a carrier band) upon which the user may transmit uplink traffic. For example, the carrier may be a 100 MHz carrier. The network entity may grant the user a bandwidth of 1 MHz within which all of the uplink transmissions from the UE will be carried.

[0114] Tone reservation relates to a process to utilize other frequencies, other tones, within the carrier and use them to suppress (e.g., lower, reduce) the PAPR of the uplink transmission waveform. To employ a tone reservation process, the UE transmitter 600 acquires a signal (such as uplink traffic in an active carrier at the PHY layer) prior to transmission in the spectrum that was assigned to the user by the network entity and transform that signal from the frequency domain to the time domain.

[0115] Accordingly, the UE transmitter 600 includes an active carrier low-PHY 602 circuit / function, which obtains the signal, in the frequency domain (because all of the traffic in an OFDMA waveform is modulated in the frequency domain), the signal being configured for transmission on the active carrier (e.g., one of a plurality of component carriers that is identified as an active carrier in contrast to a component carrier that is identified as a non-active carrier), the signal being obtained prior to transmission. According to some aspects, the active carrier low-PHY 602 circuit / function may designate the sub-carriers carrying data. The output of the active carrier low-PHY 602 circuit / function may be split.

[0116] One portion (e.g., one copy, one sample) of the signal in the frequency domain may be coupled to a map 614 circuit / function that will be described below. Another portion (e.g., a second copy, a second sample) of the frequency domain representation of the active carrier may be coupled to a first inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) 604 circuit / function. The first IFFT 604 circuit / function may convert the frequency domain representation of the active carrier to a time domain representation of the active carrier.

[0117] In the time domain representation output from the first IFFT 604 circuit / function, there may be observed many peaks, some higher than others. It has been observed that the high peaks correlate to high PAPR in the transmitted signal. However, according to aspects described herein, there is an opportunity to effectively remodulate the signal on other tones (i.e., the reserved tones), in a way that the peaks in the original time domain representation of the signal will be canceled, then the PAPR of the transmitted signalL&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 33 / 63would be reduced because those peaks would eventually be canceled from the transmitted signal.

[0118] Returning to the output of the first IFFT 604 circuit / function, the time domain representation of the active carrier may be split. One portion (e.g., a first copy, a first sample) of the time domain representation of the active carrier may be coupled to a subtractor 608 circuit / function. The other portion (e.g., a second copy, a second sample) may be coupled to a clip 606 circuit / function. The clip 606 circuit / function may clip the highest one or more peaks of time domain representation of the active carrier above a predetermined clipping threshold level. The predetermined clipping threshold level may be fixed or variable. The clipped time domain representation of the active carrier output from the clip 606 circuit / function may be coupled to the subtractor 608 circuit / function.

[0119] The subtractor 608 circuit / function may determine a gap (a difference) between the clipped time domain representation of the active carrier and the original time domain representation of the active carrier to isolate the peaks (i.e., only the signal samples that pass the peak threshold are identified, these signal samples that passed the peak threshold define the peaks). In short, the subtractor 608 circuit / function subtracts the original time domain representation of the active carrier from the clipped time domain representation of the active carrier. The output of the subtractor 605 circuit / function represents the time domain representation of the clipped peaks (clipped from the original signal). The output of the subtractor 608 circuit / function may be coupled to a fast Fourier transform (FFT) 610 circuit / function.

[0120] The FFT 610 circuit / function may convert the time domain representation of the clipped peaks to a frequency domain representation of the clipped peaks. The output of the FFT 610 may be coupled to a mask and precode 612 circuit / function.

[0121] The mask and precode 612 circuit / function may be configured by signaling conveyed to the UE from a network entity. The application of the signaling to the mask and precode 612 circuit / function (e.g., the configuring of the mask and precode 612 circuit / function utilizing the signaling) is represented in FIG. 6 by the block arrow 611. The signaling may include values that indicate one or more masks and / or one or more precoding matrices. The mask and precode 612 circuit / function produces a signal that is the opposite of the frequency domain representation of the clipped peaks.

[0122] The output of the mask and precode 612 circuit / function may be coupled to an input of the previously identified map 614 circuit / function. In general, the map 614 circuit / function may cause, generate, or bring about the mapping of time and frequencyL&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 34 / 63(e.g., spectrum resource element or sub-carriers) resources to an OFDMA waveform. In greater detail, the map 614 circuit / function produces a compound or composite signal that includes the original frequency domain representation of the active carrier signal and the signal that is the opposite of the frequency domain representation of the clipped peaks (also referred to herein as the second signal). The second signal may be mapped onto the reserved tones. According to some examples, the resources including the original signal (configured for uplink transmission) and the separate resources configured as reserved tones including the signal that is the opposite of the frequency domain representation of the clipped peaks, are transmitted together, and may be referred to herein as the composite signal.

[0123] The composite signal output from the map 614 circuit / function has reduced peaks compared to the signal output from the active carrier low-PHY 602 circuit / function because the highest peaks were canceled by the signal that is the opposite of the frequency domain representation of the clipped peaks (output from the mask and precode 612 circuit / function). The composite signal output from the map 614 circuit / function may be coupled to a second IFFT 616 circuit / function.

[0124] The output of the second IFFT 616 circuit / function may be coupled to a mixer / upconverter 618 circuit / function, which may upconvert the (baseband) signal from the second IFFT 616 circuit / function to a transmission frequency prior to power amplifier amplification and transmission. An active carrier designates the sub-carriers carrying data. The transmission frequency may be controlled by changing a frequency of the local oscillator 619 circuit / function, which is mixed with the signal from the second IFFT 616 circuit / function to upconvert the signal from the second IFFT 616 circuit / function to the transmission frequency.

[0125] The output of the mixer / upconverter 618 circuit / function may be coupled to a power amplifier 620. The output of the power amplifier 620 may be coupled to a filter, such as a bandpass filter 622 circuit / function having a pass band tuned to the transmission frequency. The output of the bandpass filter 622 circuit / function may be coupled to an antenna or an antenna array, represented in FIG. 6 by the antenna 624.

[0126] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram 700 illustrating selections of resources 701, 702, 703 for tone reservation (TR) allocations made by a network entity 714 to a plurality of UEs 704, 705, 706 according to some aspects of the disclosure. Those having skill in the art will recognize that a network entity utilizes antennas to transmit to and receive from the plurality of UEs 704, 705, 706. In FIG. 7, the network entity 714 (including itsL&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 35 / 63antennas) are represented as an antenna tower for ease of illustration and to not clutter the drawing.

[0127] A first UE 704 and the network entity 714 communicate via a first uplink 707 and a first downlink 708 utilizing unicast communication. A second UE 705 and the network entity 714 communicate via a second uplink 709 and a second downlink 710 utilizing unicast communication. A third UE 706 and the network entity 714 communicate via a third uplink 711 and a third downlink 712 utilizing unicast communication. According to some aspects, the network entity 714 may communicate with all UEs via a broadcast transmission in the downlink direction, in which case the first downlink 708, the second downlink 710, and the third downlink 712 would be one downlink. According to some aspects, the network entity 714 may communicate with a subset of the UEs, such as the first UE 704 and the third UE 706, via a multicast transmission in the downlink direction, in which case the first downlink 708 and the third downlink 712 would be one downlink. Use of unicast, multicast, and broadcast transmission from any of the first UE 704, the second UE 705, the third UE 706. and / or the network entity 714 is within the scope of the disclosure.

[0128] According to a multiple access technique, the network entity 714 may schedule the first UE 704 to transmit first uplink data 721 on a first set of resources (Rsrcs 1). The network entity 714 may schedule the second UE 705 to transmit second uplink data 722 on a second set of resources (Rsrcs 2). The network entity 714 may schedule the third UE 706 to transmit third uplink data 723 on a third set of resources (Rsrcs 3). According to some aspects described herein, the network entity may additionally transmit signaling (for example in a DCI on a PDCCH) to each UE to indicate which resources each UE may use for a tone reservation process. In addition to indicating which resources, the network entity 714 may also indicate a power level permitted for each indicated resource. For example, the signaling may indicate that the power level permitted for a given resource may be increased (e.g., boosted) or decreased by some amount relative to a current power level or that the power level may be a fixed value, or that the power level may not exceed a given value. In addition to indicating which resource and / or which power level for the indicated resource, the network entity 714 may additionally or alternatively indicate a spatial direct for transmission utilizing the indicated resource. The signaling is not limited to indications of resource, power level, and spatial direction, other indication of other aspects are within the scope of the disclosure.L&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 36 / 63

[0129] The network entity has the ability to make determinations about granting resources, transmission power levels, and / or transmission spatial directions, for example, to a given UE because the network entity 714 schedules all resources and transmission features (e.g., power, direction, etc.) for all UEs in its coverage space. Additionally, via reports received from the UEs or other mechanisms, the network entity knows the channel conditions of each channel associated with each UE (i.e., where the channel is a wireless communication channel between a given UE and the network entity 714). Because the network entity 714 knows the channel conditions for each UE, the network entity 714 may estimate a predicted signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) or signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) that it will experience with each UE.

[0130] For example, the network entity 714 may determine that an uplink transmission (transmitted on the second uplink 709) from the second UE 705 using the second resources (Rsrcs 2) will be received with a low SINR or SNR. The network entity 714 may further determine that other users (e.g., the first UE 704 and the third UE 706) may use the same resources at a power level that the network entity 714 determines will not pollute or degrade the SINR or SNR predicted for the second UE 705 utilizing those same resources. The network entity 714 may allocate a robust MCS such that other noise components, like those due to interference from the other users, will not degrade the overall SINR or SNR of the second UE.

[0131] So, by way of example and not limitation, the network entity 714 may schedule the first UE 704 to use the first resources (Rsrcs 1) for transmission of first uplink data 721 and, based on its knowledge of at least the channel established with the second UE 705 using the second resources (Rsrcs 2) to transmit second uplink data 722, the network entity 714 may transmit signaling to the first UE 704 indicating that the first UE 704 may use the second resources (Rsrcs 2) for tone reservation 724 (e.g., with limits possibly imposed on power and / or spatial direction of the transmitted tone). Simultaneously, based on its knowledge of at least the channel established with the third UE 706 using the third resources (Rsrcs 3) to transmit third uplink data 723, the network entity 714 may transmit signaling to the first UE 704 indicating that the first UE 704 may use the third resources (Rsrcs 3) for tone reservation 725 (e.g., with limits possibly imposed on power and / or spatial direction of the transmitted tone).

[0132] Still further, by way of an additional example and not limitation, the network entity 714 may schedule the second UE 705 to use the second resources (Rsrcs 2) for transmission of second uplink data 722 and, based on its knowledge of at least the channelL&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 37 / 63established with the first UE 704 using the first resources (Rsrcs 1) to transmit first uplink data 721, the network entity 714 may transmit signaling to the second UE 705 indicating that the second UE 705 may use the first resources (Rsrcs 1) for tone reservation 726 (e.g., with limits possibly imposed on power and / or spatial direction of the transmitted tone). Simultaneously, based on its knowledge of at least the channel established with the third UE 706 using the third resources (Rsrcs 3) to transmit third uplink data 723, the network entity 714 may transmit signaling to the second UE 705 indicating that the second UE 705 may use the third resources (Rsrcs 3) for tone reservation 727 (e.g., with limits possibly imposed on power and / or spatial direction of the transmitted tone).

[0133] By way of still another example and without limitation, the network entity 714 may schedule the third UE 706 to use the third resources (Rsrcs 3) for transmission of third uplink data 723 and, based on its knowledge of at least the channel established with the first UE 704 using the first resources (Rsrcs 1) to transmit first uplink data 721, the network entity 714 may transmit signaling to the third UE 706 indicating that the third UE 706 may use the first resources (Rsrcs 1) for tone reservation 728 (e.g., with limits possibly imposed on power and / or spatial direction of the transmitted tone). Simultaneously, based on its knowledge of at least the channel established with the second UE 705 using the second resources (Rsrcs 2) to transmit second uplink data 722, the network entity 714 may transmit signaling to the third UE 706 indicating that the third UE 706 may use the second resources (Rsrcs 2) for tone reservation 729 (e.g., with limits possibly imposed on power and / or spatial direction of the transmitted tone).

[0134] In implementations of UEs with directional antennas, the network entity 714 may determine that a given UE may transmit a tone (a reserved tone) in a direction that would not adversely affect the channels of other users. Accordingly, the signaling associated with a tone reservation process sent to a UE with directional antennas may include an indication of transmission spatial direction.

[0135] The examples provided in connection with FIG. 7 are illustrated using frequency resources for ease of illustration and description and not with any intent to limit the scope of the disclosure. Aspects described herein are equally applicable to the use of time resources, and both time and frequency resources. The examples provided in connection with FIG. 7 are illustrated using contiguous (e.g., adjacent) frequency resources for ease of illustration and description and not with any intent to limit the scope of the disclosure. Aspects described herein are equally applicable to the use of non-contiguous frequency resources (e.g., channels that are not adjacent to each other). Aspects described herein areL&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 38 / 63also equally applicable to non-contiguous time resources, and both contiguous and noncontiguous time resources and contiguous and non-contiguous frequency resources.

[0136] FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware implementation of network entity 800 (e.g., an apparatus, a base station, an aggregated or disaggregated base station, a gNB, a TRP, a scheduling entity) employing one or more processing systems (generally represented by processing system 814 and alternatively referred to hereinafter as processing system 814 or one or more processing systems 814) according to some aspects of the disclosure. The network entity 800 may be similar to, for example, any of the scheduling entities of FIGs. 1, 2, and / or 3.

[0137] In accordance with various aspects of the disclosure, an element, any portion of an element, or any combination of elements may be implemented with a processing system 814 that includes one or more processors (generally represented by processor 804 and alternatively referred to hereinafter as processor 804 or one or more processors 804), and one or more memories (generally represented by the memory 805 and alternatively referred to hereinafter as memory 805 or one or more memories 805). Examples of processor 804 include microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), state machines, gated logic, discrete hardware circuits, and other suitable hardware configured to perform the various functionality described throughout this disclosure.

[0138] In various examples, the network entity 800 may be configured to perform any one or more of the functions described herein. That is, the one or more processors 804, as utilized in the network entity 800, may be configured to, individually or collectively, based at least in part on information stored in the one or more memories 805, implement (e.g., perform) any one or more of the methods or processes described and illustrated, for example, in FIGs. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and / or 7.

[0139] In this example, the processing system 814 may be implemented with a bus architecture, represented generally by the bus 802. The bus 802 may include any number of interconnecting buses and bridges depending on the specific application of the processing system 814 and the overall design constraints. The bus 802 communicatively couples together various circuits, including the one or more processors 804, the one or more memories, and one or more computer-readable media (generally represented by the computer-readable medium 806 and alternatively referred to hereinafter as the computer- readable medium 806 or the one or more computer-readable media 806). The bus 802 may also link various other circuits such as timing sources, peripherals, voltageL&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 39 / 63regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known to persons having ordinary skill in the art and, therefore, will not be described any further.

[0140] A bus interface 808 provides an interface between the bus 802, transmitter circuitry 820 (including tone reservation circuitry / function(s) 822), receiver circuitry 824, a duplexer or a transmit / receive switch 826, and / or one or more antenna array(s) 828. The tone reservation circuitry / function(s) 822 may be similar to the circuitry / functions present in the UE transmitter 600 as shown and described in connection with FIG. 6. The transmitter circuitry 820 and receiver circuitry 824 may be, for example, wireless transmitter and receiver circuitry, respectively. The transmitter circuitry 820 and receiver circuitry 824 may be operational with multiple RATs (e.g., LTE, 5G NR, IEEE 802.11 (WiFi®), etc.). The transmitter circuitry 820 and receiver circuitry 824 may provide respective means for communicating with various other apparatus, UEs, network entities, and core networks over a transmission medium (e.g., air interface). The transmitter circuitry 820 and receiver circuitry 824 may be coupled to one or more antenna array(s) 828. The bus interface 808 may also provide an interface between the bus 802 and a user interface 812 (e.g., keypad, display, touch screen, speaker, microphone, control features, vibration circuit / device, etc.). Of course, such a user interface 812 is optional and may be omitted in some examples.

[0141] The one or more processors 804 may be responsible for managing the bus 802 and general processing, including the execution of software stored on or residing in the one or more computer-readable media 806 or in the one or more memories 805. Software shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executables, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc., whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise. The software, when executed by the one or more processors 804, causes the one or more processing systems 814 to perform the various processes and functions described herein for any particular apparatus.

[0142] The one or more computer-readable media 806 may be a non-transitory computer- readable media and may be referred to as computer-readable storage medium or a non- transitory computer-readable medium. The non-transitory computer-readable medium may store computer-executable code (e.g., processor-executable code). The computer executable code may include code for causing a computer (e.g., one or more processors 804) to implement one or more of the functions described herein (e.g., in connection withL&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 40 / 63FIGs. 1, 2, 3,5, 6, and / or 7). A non-transitory computer-readable medium includes, by way of example, a magnetic storage device (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk, magnetic strip), an optical disk (e.g., a compact disc (CD) or a digital versatile disc (DVD)), a smart card, a flash memory device (e.g., a card, a stick, or a key drive), a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a programmable ROM (PROM), an erasable PROM (EPROM), an electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), a register, a removable disk, and any other suitable medium for storing software and / or instructions that may be accessed and read by a computer. The computer-readable medium 806 may reside in the processing system 814, external to the processing system 814, or distributed across multiple entities, including the processing system 814. The computer-readable medium 806 may be embodied in a computer program product or article of manufacture. For example, a computer program product or article of manufacture may include a computer-readable medium in packaging materials. In some examples, the computer-readable medium 806 may be part of the memory 805. Persons having ordinary skill in the art will recognize how best to implement the described functionality presented throughout this disclosure depending on the particular application and the overall design constraints imposed on the overall system. The computer-readable medium 806 and / or the memory 805 may also be used for storing data that is manipulated by the processor 804 when executing software.

[0143] In some aspects of the disclosure, the processor 804 may include communication and processing circuitry 841 configured for various functions, including, for example, communicating with a UE (e.g., an apparatus, a wireless communication device, a scheduled entity, a sidelink entity, a core network, etc.) as described and illustrated in any of FIGs. 1, 2, 3, and / or 7. In some examples, the communication and processing circuitry 841 may include one or more hardware components that provide the physical structure that performs processes related to wireless communication (e.g., signal reception and / or signal transmission) and signal processing (e.g., processing a received signal and / or processing a signal for transmission). The communication and processing circuitry 841 may further be configured to execute communication and processing instructions 851 (e.g., software) stored, for example, on the computer-readable medium 806 to implement one or more functions described herein.

[0144] In some aspects of the disclosure, the processor 804 may include a channel interference circuit / function 842 that may include one or more hardware components that provide the physical structure that performs processes related to various functions, including, for example, determining that a first UE may use a resource for a toneL&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 41 / 63reservation process, where the use of the resource overlaps with a second UE’s use of the same resource as a channel for uplink data / traffic communication. In some aspects of the disclosure, the channel interference circuit / function 842 may include one or more hardware components that provide the physical structure that performs other processes, including, for example, scheduling a different UE, distinct from the one of the plurality of UEs, to transmit reserved tones in overlapping resources. The overlapping resources may be resources simultaneously used by the UE and the different UE. In some aspects, the scheduling includes conveying signaling to the different UE, the signaling comprising at least one of transmitter power limits or transmitted signal spatial direction. The channel interference circuit / function 842 may further be configured to execute channel interference instructions 852 (e.g., software) stored, for example, on the computer- readable medium 806 to implement one or more functions described herein.

[0145] In some aspects of the disclosure, the processor 804 may include a reserved tone and associated parameters selection circuit / function 843 that may include one or more hardware components that provide the physical structure that performs processes related to various functions, including, for example, selecting one or more of a frequency resource assignment, a time resource assignment, and a transmitter power control value to configure a reserved tone to be received from one of a plurality of user equipments (UEs) in a scheduled uplink transmission. According to some aspects, the reserved tone is one of a plurality of reserved tones, and the reserved tone and associated parameters selection circuit / function 843 may further include one or more hardware components that provide the physical structure that performs processes related to other various functions, including, for example, scheduling respective uses of respective ones of the plurality of reserved tones among the plurality of UEs, where the respective uses of the respective ones of the plurality of reserved tones by the plurality of the UEs reduces an uplink PAPR of each of the plurality of UEs.

[0146] The reserved tone and associated parameters selection circuit / function 843 may further include one or more hardware components that provide the physical structure that performs processes related to other various functions, including, for example, selecting a spatial direction to configure the scheduled uplink transmission including the reserved tone, and, in cooperation with, for example, the transmitter circuitry 820 (including the tone reservation circuit / function 822), may be utilized in the transmitting (e.g., in the signaling) of the DCI, the spatial direction to further configure the scheduled uplink transmission including the reserved tone.L&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 42 / 63

[0147] According to some aspects, the reserved tone and associated parameters selection circuit / function 843 may include one or more hardware components that provide the physical structure that performs processes related to selecting the frequency resource assignment, the time resource assignment, and the transmitter power control value on a per UE basis, coordinating a use of a plurality of reserved tones including the reserved tone, among the plurality of UEs, and configuring, on the per UE basis, in association with the coordinating the use of the plurality of reserved tones, the one of the plurality of UEs to utilize one or more of the plurality of reserved tones, where the configuring may result in a reduction of an uplink peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) of the scheduled uplink transmission. According to some examples, the reduction may be measured relative to a determined PAPR of the scheduled uplink transmission in an absence of the use of the reserved tone.

[0148] The reserved tone and associated parameters selection circuit / function 843 may further be configured to execute reserved tone and associated parameters selection instructions 853 (e.g., software) stored, for example, on the computer-readable medium 806 to implement one or more functions described herein.

[0149] In some aspects of the disclosure, the processor 804 may include a downlink control information (DCI) format population 844 circuit / function that may include one or more hardware components that provide the physical structure that performs processes related to various functions, including, for example, populating a downlink control information (DCI) configured to be transmitted (e.g., signaled) to the one of a plurality of UEs, the DCI configured (e.g., populated with values) to indicate the one or more of the frequency resource assignment, the time resource assignment, and the transmitter power control value to configure the reserved tone in the scheduled uplink transmission. The one or more hardware components that provide the physical structure that performs processes may further perform process related to, for example, configuring the UE, by the transmitting of (e.g., by the signaling of) the DCI, to apply the frequency resource assignment, the time resource assignment, and the transmitter power control value to a reserved tone carrying a signal that cancels a peak signal of the scheduled uplink transmission. The DCI format population 844 circuit / function may further be configured to execute DCI format population instructions 854 (e.g., software) stored on the computer-readable medium 806 to implement one or more functions described herein.

[0150] FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating an example process 900 (e.g., a method) of wireless communication at a network entity (e.g., an apparatus, an aggregated orL&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 43 / 63disaggregated base station, a gNB, an eNB, a TRP, a scheduling entity, etc.) according to some aspects of the disclosure. As described below, some or all illustrated features may be omitted in a particular implementation within the scope of the present disclosure, and some illustrated features may not be required for implementation of all embodiments. In some examples, the process 900 may be carried out by the network entity 800, as shown and described in connection with FIG. 8. The apparatus may be similar to, for example, any of the network entities, scheduled entities, or base stations of FIGs. 1, 2, 3, 7, and / or 8. In some examples, the process 900 may be carried out by any suitable apparatus or means for carrying out the functions or algorithm described below.

[0151] At block 902, the network entity selects a frequency resource assignment, a time resource assignment, and a transmitter power control value to configure a reserved tone to be received from one of a plurality of user equipments (UEs) in a scheduled uplink transmission. For example, the Channel interference circuit / function 842 in association with the reserved tone and associated parameters selection circuit / function 843 as shown and described in connection with FIG. 8, may provide a means for selecting a frequency resource assignment, a time resource assignment, and a transmitter power control value to configure a reserved tone to be received from one of a plurality of user equipments (UEs) in a scheduled uplink transmission.

[0152] According to some aspects, the network entity may further select a spatial direction to configure the scheduled uplink transmission including the reserved tone, and transmit (e.g., convey in signaling) in the DCI, the spatial direction to further configure the scheduled uplink transmission including the reserved tone.

[0153] According to some aspects, the network entity may still further select the frequency resource assignment, the time resource assignment, and the transmitter power control value on a per UE basis, coordinate a use of a plurality of reserved tones including the reserved tone, among the plurality of UEs, and configure, on the per UE basis, in association with the coordinating the use of the plurality of reserved tones, the one of the plurality of UEs to utilize one or more of the plurality of reserved tones, where the configuring causes a reduction of an uplink PAPR of the scheduled uplink transmission. In some examples, the reduction is measured relative to a determined PAPR of the scheduled uplink transmission in an absence of the use of the reserved tone.

[0154] According to some examples, the reserved tone is one of a plurality of reserved tones and the network entity further schedules respective uses of respective ones of the plurality of reserved tones among the plurality of UEs, where the respective uses of theL&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 44 / 63respective ones of the plurality of reserved tones by the plurality of the UEs reduces an uplink PAPR of each of the plurality of UEs.

[0155] According to some examples, the network entity may schedule a different UE, distinct from the one of the plurality of UEs, to transmit reserved tones in overlapping resources. According to some examples, the scheduling may include conveying signaling to the different UE, the signaling comprising at least one of transmitter power limits or transmitted signal spatial direction.

[0156] At block 904, the network entity transmits (e.g., signals) a downlink control information (DCI) to the one of the plurality of UEs, the DCI configured to indicate (or signal) the frequency resource assignment, the time resource assignment, and the transmitter power control value to configure the reserved tone in the scheduled uplink transmission. For example, the transmitter circuitry 820 (including the tone reservation circuit / function 822) in association with the downlink control information (DCI) format population 844 circuit / function, as shown and described in connection with FIG. 8, may provide a means for transmitting (e.g., signaling) a downlink control information (DCI) to the one of the plurality of UEs, the DCI configured to indicate (or signal) the frequency resource assignment, the time resource assignment, and the transmitter power control value to configure the reserved tone in the scheduled uplink transmission.

[0157] According to some examples, the network entity may further configure the UE, by the transmitting of the DCI, to apply the frequency resource assignment, the time resource assignment, and the transmitter power control value to a reserved tone carrying a signal that cancels a peak signal of the scheduled uplink transmission.

[0158] Thereafter, the process 900 ends.

[0159] FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware implementation of an apparatus 1000 (e.g., a user equipment, a wireless device, a mobile device, a scheduled entity, a sidelink entity, etc.) employing one or more processing systems (generally represented by processing system 1014 and alternatively referred to hereinafter as processing system 1014 or one or more processing systems 1014) according to some aspects of the disclosure. The apparatus 1000 may be similar to, for example, any of the user equipment, scheduled entities, or sidelink entities, vehicles, infrastructure, as shown and described in connection with FIGs. 1, 2, 3, and / or 7.

[0160] The processing system 1014 may be substantially the same as the processing system 814 as illustrated and described in connection with FIG. 8. Similar to the processing system 814, the processing system 1014 includes a bus interface 1008, a busL&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 45 / 631002, one or more memories (generally represented by memory 1005 and alternatively referred to hereinafter as memory 1005 or one or more memories 1005), one or more processors (generally represented by processors 1004 and alternatively referred to hereinafter as processor 1004 or one or more processors 1004), one or more computer- readable media (generally represented by computer-readable medium 1006 and alternatively referred to hereinafter as computer-readable medium 1006 or one or more computer-readable media 1006), and a user interface 1012.

[0161] A bus interface 1008 provides an interface between the bus 1002, transmitter circuitry 1020 (including tone reservation circuitry / function(s) 1022), receiver circuitry 1024, a duplexer or a transmit / receive switch 1026, and / or one or more antenna array(s) 1028. The tone reservation circuitry / function(s) 1022 may be similar to the circuitry / functions present in the UE transmitter 600 as shown and described in connection with FIG. 6. The transmitter circuitry 1020 and receiver circuitry 1024 may be, for example, wireless transmitter and receiver circuitry, respectively. The transmitter circuitry 1020 and receiver circuitry 1024 may be operational with multiple RATs (e.g., LTE, 5G NR, IEEE 1002.11 (WiFi®), etc.). The transmitter circuitry 1020 and receiver circuitry 1024 may provide respective means for communicating with various other apparatus, UEs, network entities, and core networks over a transmission medium (e.g., air interface). The transmitter circuitry 1020 and receiver circuitry 1024 may be coupled to one or more antenna array(s) 1028. The bus interface 1008 may also provide an interface between the bus 1002 and a user interface 1012 (e.g., keypad, display, touch screen, speaker, microphone, control features, vibration circuit / device, etc.). Of course, such a user interface 1012 is optional and may be omitted in some examples.

[0162] In accordance with various aspects of the disclosure, an element, any portion of an element, or any combination of elements may be implemented with one or more processing systems 1014 that includes one or more processors 1004. The one or more processors 1004, as utilized in the apparatus 1000, may be configured to, individually or collectively, based at least in part on information stored in the one or more memories 1005 or additionally or alternatively stored in the one or more computer-readable media 1006, implement any one or more of the methods or processes described herein and illustrated, for example, in FIGs. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and / or 7.

[0163] According to some aspects of the disclosure, the processor 1004 may include communication and processing circuitry 1041 configured for various functions, including, for example, communicating with a network entity (e.g., a scheduling entity)L&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 46 / 63or another UE. In some examples, the communication and processing circuitry 1041 may include one or more hardware components that provide the physical structure that performs processes related to communication (e.g., data reception and / or data transmission) and signal processing (e.g., processing received data and / or processing data for transmission). The communication and processing circuitry 1041, and / or the tone reservation circuit / function 1022, may include one or more hardware components that provide the physical structure that performs processes related to subtracting a clipped signal from a signal having the peaks to produce a second signal representative of a difference between the clipped signal and the signal having the peaks. The clipped signal may be obtained, for example, from the clip circuit / function 1043 described below. The clip circuit / function 1043 may include one or more hardware components that provide the physical structure that performs processes related to clipping the signal having the peaks above a peak threshold value to produce the clipped signal. The communication and processing circuitry 1041, and / or the tone reservation circuit / function 1022, may include one or more hardware components that provide the physical structure that performs processes related to modulating the second signal (representative of a difference between the clipped signal and the signal having the peaks) onto a reserved tone. According to some examples, modulating the second signal onto the reserved tone may include applying masking and precoding to the second signal.

[0164] The communication and processing circuitry 1041, and / or transmitter circuitry 1020 (including the tone reservation circuit / function 1022), may include one or more hardware components that provide the physical structure that performs processes related to transmitting a composite signal to a network entity. In some examples, a peak-to- average power ratio (PAPR) of the composite signal may be less than the PAPR of the signal having the peaks (where the signal having the peaks is part of the composite signal).

[0165] In some examples, the communication and processing circuitry 1041 (e.g., alone or in cooperation with other circuitry of the processor 1004 and / or the transmitter circuitry 1020) may include one or more hardware components that provide the physical structure that performs processes related to applying an inverse fast Fourier transform to a frequency domain representation of the signal having the peaks to obtain a time domain representation of the signal having the peaks prior to clipping, performing the clipping in the time domain, and subtracting the clipped signal from the signal having the peaks to produce a second signal representative of a difference between the clipped signal and the signal having the peaks. The second signal may be modulated onto a reserved tone (e.g.,L&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 47 / 63one or more reserved tones). The one or more hardware components may provide the physical structure that performs processes related to applying a fast Fourier transform to the second signal on the reserved tone to transform a time domain representation of the second signal to a frequency domain representation of the second signal, and to performing the mapping of the signal having the peaks to the second signal in the frequency domain. The communication and processing circuitry 1041 may further be configured to execute communication and processing instructions 1051 (e.g., software) stored, for example, on the computer-readable medium 1006 to implement one or more functions described herein.

[0166] According to some aspects of the disclosure, the processor 1004 may include a downlink control information (DCI) signaling reception 1042 circuit / function that, in association with the receiver circuitry 1024, may include one or more hardware components that provide the physical structure that performs processes related to various functions, including, for example, receiving a frequency resource assignment, a time resource assignment, and a transmitter power control value to configure a reserved tone included in an uplink transmission to a network entity. The DCI signaling reception 1042 circuit / function may further be configured to execute DCI signaling reception instructions 1052 (e.g., software) stored, for example, on the computer-readable medium 1006 to implement one or more functions described herein.

[0167] According to some aspects of the disclosure, the processor 1004 may include a clip 1043 circuit / function that may include one or more hardware components that provide the physical structure that performs processes related to various functions, including, for example, clipping a signal having peaks above a peak threshold value to produce a clipped signal. The clip 1043 circuit / function may further be configured to execute clip instructions 1053 (e.g., software) stored, for example, on the computer- readable medium 1006 to implement one or more functions described herein.

[0168] According to some aspects of the disclosure, the processor 1004 may include a map circuit / function 1044 that may include one or more hardware components that provide the physical structure that performs processes related to various functions, including, for example, mapping the signal having the peaks to the second signal (e.g., on the reserved tone) to generate a composite signal having the peaks removed. Or including, for example, mapping the signal having the peaks and the second signal on the reserved tone to generate a composite signal having the peaks removed. The map circuit / function 1044 may further be configured to execute map instructions 1054 (e.g., software) stored,L&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 48 / 63for example, on the computer-readable medium 1006 to implement one or more functions described herein.

[0169] FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating an example process 1100 (e.g., a method) of wireless communication at an apparatus 1000 (e.g., a user equipment, a wireless device, a mobile device, a scheduled entity, a sidelink entity, etc.) according to some aspects of the disclosure. As described below, some or all illustrated features may be omitted in a particular implementation within the scope of the present disclosure, and some illustrated features may not be required for implementation of all embodiments. In some examples, the process 1100 may be carried out by the apparatus 1000, as shown and described in connection with FIG. 10. The user equipment 10 may be similar to, for example, any of the UEs and scheduled entities of FIGs. 1, 2, 3, and / or 7. In some examples, the process 1100 may be carried out by any suitable apparatus or means for carrying out the functions or algorithm described below.

[0170] At block 1102, the UE may receive a frequency resource assignment, a time resource assignment, and a transmitter power control value to configure a reserved tone included in an uplink transmission to a network entity. For example, the downlink control information (DCI) signaling reception 1042 circuit / function, as shown and described in connection with FIG. 10, may provide a means for receiving a frequency resource assignment, a time resource assignment, and a transmitter power control value to configure a reserved tone included in an uplink transmission to a network entity.

[0171] At block 1104, the UE may clip a signal having peaks above a peak threshold value to produce a clipped signal. For example, the clip 1043 circuit / function, as shown and described in connection with FIG. 10, may provide a means for clipping a signal having peaks above a peak threshold value to produce a clipped signal.

[0172] At block 1106, the UE may subtract the clipped signal from the signal having the peaks to produce a second signal representative of a difference between the clipped signal and the signal having the peaks. For example, the communication and processing circuitry 1041, as shown and described in connection with FIG. 10, may provide a means for subtracting the clipped signal from the signal having the peaks to produce a second signal representative of a difference between the clipped signal and the signal having the peaks.

[0173] At block 1108, the UE may modulate the second signal onto the reserved tone.For example, the communication and processing circuitry 1041, as shown and described in connection with FIG. 10, may provide a means for modulating the second signal onto the reserved tone.L&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 49 / 63

[0174] At block 1110, the UE may map the signal having the peaks to the second signal (e.g., on the reserved tone) to generate a composite signal having the peaks removed. Or, for example, the UE may map the signal having the peaks and the second signal on the reserved tone to generate a composite signal having the peaks removed. For example, the map circuit / function 1044, as shown and described in connection with FIG. 10, may provide a means for mapping the signal having the peaks to the second signal to generate a composite signal having the peaks removed.

[0175] At block 1112, the UE may transmit the composite signal to the network entity.For example, the communication and processing circuitry 1041, in association with the transmitter circuitry 1020 (including the tone reservation circuit / function 1022), as shown and described in connection with FIG. 10, may provide a means for transmitting the composite signal to the network entity.

[0176] Thereafter, the process 1100 ends.

[0177] In accordance with various aspects of the disclosure, an element, any portion of an element, or any combination of elements may be implemented with a processing system (e.g., 814 in FIG. 8, 1014 in FIG. 10) that includes one or more processors (e.g., 804 in FIG. 8, 1004 in FIG. 10). The one or more processors, as utilized in the network entity 800, or the apparatus 1000 (e.g., the UE), may be configured to, individually or collectively, based at least in part on information stored in one or more memories (e.g., 805 in FIG. 8, 1005 in FIG. 10, respectively) and additionally or alternatively stored in one or more computer-readable media (806 in FIG. 8, 1006 in FIG. 10, respectively) may implement any one or more of the methods or processes described herein and illustrated, for example, in FIGs. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, and / or 11.

[0178] Of course, in the above examples, the circuitry included in the one or more processors 804 of FIG. 8, and the one or more processors 1004 of FIG. 10, is merely provided as an example. Other means for carrying out the described processes or functions may be included within various aspects of the present disclosure, including but not limited to the instructions stored in the one or more computer-readable media 806 of FIG. 8 and the one or more computer-readable media 1006 of FIG. 10, or any other suitable apparatus or means described in any one of the FIGs. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, and / or 10 utilizing, for example, the processes and / or algorithms described herein in relation to FIGs. 5, 6, 7, 9, and / or 11.

[0179] The following provides an overview of aspects of the present disclosure:L&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 50 / 63

[0180] Aspect 1: An apparatus, comprising: one or more memories; and one or more processors coupled to the one or more memories, the one or more processors being configured to, individually or collectively, based at least in part on information stored in the one or more memories: select a frequency resource assignment, a time resource assignment, and a transmitter power control value to configure a reserved tone to be received from one of a plurality of user equipments (UEs) in a scheduled uplink transmission; and transmit a downlink control information (DCI) to the one of the plurality of UEs, the DCI configured to indicate the frequency resource assignment, the time resource assignment, and the transmitter power control value to configure the reserved tone in the scheduled uplink transmission.

[0181] Aspect 2: The apparatus of aspect 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: select a spatial direction to configure the scheduled uplink transmission including the reserved tone; and transmit in the DCI, the spatial direction to further configure the scheduled uplink transmission including the reserved tone.

[0182] Aspect 3: The apparatus of aspect 1 or aspect 2, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: select the frequency resource assignment, the time resource assignment, and the transmitter power control value on a per UE basis; coordinate a use of a plurality of reserved tones including the reserved tone, among the plurality of UEs; and configure, on the per UE basis, in association with the coordinating the use of the plurality of reserved tones, the one of the plurality of UEs to utilize one or more of the plurality of reserved tones, wherein the configuring causes a reduction of an uplink peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) of the scheduled uplink transmission.

[0183] Aspect 4: The apparatus of aspect 3, wherein the reduction is measured relative to a determined PAPR of the scheduled uplink transmission in an absence of the use of the reserved tone.

[0184] Aspect 5: The apparatus of any of aspects 1 through 4, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: schedule a different UE, distinct from the one of the plurality of UEs, to transmit reserved tones in overlapping resources.

[0185] Aspect 6: The apparatus of aspect 5, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: convey signaling to the different UE, the signaling comprising at least one of transmitter power limits or transmitted signal spatial direction.

[0186] Aspect 7: The apparatus of any of aspects 1 through 6, wherein the reserved tone is one of a plurality of reserved tones, and the one or more processors are further configured to: schedule respective uses of respective ones of the plurality of reservedL&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 51 / 63tones among the plurality of UEs, wherein the respective uses of the plurality of reserved tones by the plurality of the UEs reduces an uplink peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) of each of the plurality of UEs.

[0187] Aspect 8: The apparatus of any of aspects 1 through 7, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: configure the UE, by the transmitting of the DCI, to apply the frequency resource assignment, the time resource assignment, and the transmitter power control value to the reserved tone carrying a signal that cancels a peak signal of the scheduled uplink transmission.

[0188] Aspect 9: A method at a network entity, comprising: selecting a frequency resource assignment, a time resource assignment, and a transmitter power control value to configure a reserved tone to be received from one of a plurality of user equipments (UEs) in a scheduled uplink transmission; and transmitting a downlink control information (DCI) to the one of the plurality of UEs, the DCI configured to indicate the frequency resource assignment, the time resource assignment, and the transmitter power control value to configure the reserved tone in the scheduled uplink transmission.

[0189] Aspect 10: The method of aspect 9, further comprising: selecting a spatial direction to configure the scheduled uplink transmission including the reserved tone; and transmitting in the DCI, the spatial direction to further configure the scheduled uplink transmission including the reserved tone.

[0190] Aspect 11: The method of aspect 9 or aspect 10, further comprising: selecting the frequency resource assignment, the time resource assignment, and the transmitter power control value on a per UE basis; coordinating a use of a plurality of reserved tones including the reserved tone, among the plurality of UEs; and configuring, on the per UE basis, in association with the coordinating the use of the plurality of reserved tones, the one of the plurality of UEs to utilize one or more of the plurality of reserved tones, wherein the configuring causes a reduction of an uplink peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) of the scheduled uplink transmission.

[0191] Aspect 12: The method of aspect 11, wherein the reduction is measured relative to a determined PAPR of the scheduled uplink transmission in an absence of the use of the reserved tone.

[0192] Aspect 13: The method of any of aspects 9 through 12, further comprising:scheduling a different UE, distinct from the one of the plurality of UEs, to transmit reserved tones in overlapping resources.L&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 52 / 63

[0193] Aspect 14: The method of aspect 13, further comprising: conveying signaling to the different UE, the signaling comprising at least one of transmitter power limits or transmitted signal spatial direction.

[0194] Aspect 15: The method of any of aspects 9 through 14, wherein the reserved tone is one of a plurality of reserved tones, the method further comprising: scheduling respective uses of respective ones of the plurality of reserved tones among the plurality of UEs, wherein the respective uses of the plurality of reserved tones by the plurality of the UEs reduces an uplink peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) of each of the plurality of UEs.

[0195] Aspect 16: The method of any of aspects 9 through 15, further comprising:configuring the one of the plurality of UEs, by the transmitting of the DCI, to apply the frequency resource assignment, the time resource assignment, and the transmitter power control value to the reserved tone carrying a signal that cancels a peak signal of the scheduled uplink transmission.

[0196] Aspect 17: An apparatus, comprising: one or more memories; and one or more processors coupled to the one or more memories, the one or more processors being configured to, individually or collectively, based at least in part on information stored in the one or more memories: receive a frequency resource assignment, a time resource assignment, and a transmitter power control value to configure a reserved tone included in an uplink transmission to a network entity; clip a signal having peaks above a peak threshold value to produce a clipped signal; subtract the clipped signal from the signal having the peaks to produce a second signal representative of a difference between the clipped signal and the signal having the peaks; modulate the second signal onto the reserved tone; map the signal having the peaks to the second signal to generate a composite signal having the peaks removed; and transmit the composite signal to the network entity.

[0197] Aspect 18: The apparatus of aspect 17, wherein a peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) of the composite signal is less than the PAPR of the signal having the peaks.

[0198] Aspect 19: The apparatus of aspect 17 or aspect 18, wherein, to modulate the second signal onto the reserved tone, the one or more processors are further configured to: apply masking and precoding to the second signal.

[0199] Aspect 20: The apparatus of any of aspects 17 through 19, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: apply an inverse fast Fourier transform to a frequency domain representation of the signal having the peaks to obtain a time domainL&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 53 / 63representation of the signal having the peaks prior to clipping; and perform the clipping in the time domain.

[0200] Aspect 21: The apparatus of any of aspects 17 through 20, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: apply a fast Fourier transform to the second signal to transform a time domain representation of the second signal to a frequency domain representation of the second signal; and perform the mapping of the signal having the peaks to the second signal in the frequency domain.

[0201] Aspect 22: The apparatus of any of aspects 17 through 21, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: receive a spatial direction to further configure the reserved tone.

[0202] Aspect 23: The apparatus of any of aspects 17 through 22, wherein the composite signal has an uplink peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) that is less than the PAPR obtained in an absence of the use of the reserved tone.

[0203] Aspect 24: A method at a user equipment, comprising: receiving a frequency resource assignment, a time resource assignment, and a transmitter power control value to configure a reserved tone included in an uplink transmission to a network entity; clipping a signal having peaks above a peak threshold value to produce a clipped signal; subtracting the clipped signal from the signal having the peaks to produce a second signal representative of a difference between the clipped signal and the signal having the peaks; modulating the second signal onto the reserved tone; mapping the signal having the peaks to the second signal to generate a composite signal having the peaks removed; and transmitting the composite signal to the network entity.

[0204] Aspect 25: The method of aspect 24, wherein a peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) of the composite signal is less than the PAPR of the signal having the peaks.

[0205] Aspect 26: The method of aspect 24 or aspect 25, wherein the modulating the second signal onto the reserved tone comprises: applying masking and precoding to the second signal.

[0206] Aspect 27: The method of any of aspects 24 through 26, further comprising:applying an inverse fast Fourier transform to a frequency domain representation of the signal having the peaks to obtain a time domain representation of the signal having the peaks prior to clipping; and performing the clipping in the time domain.

[0207] Aspect 28: The method of any of aspects 24 through 27, further comprising:applying a fast Fourier transform to the second signal to transform a time domain representation of the second signal to a frequency domain representation of the secondL&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 54 / 63signal; and performing the mapping of the signal having the peaks to the second signal in the frequency domain.

[0208] Aspect 29: The method of any of aspects 24 through 28, further comprising:receiving a spatial direction to further configure the reserved tone.

[0209] Aspect 30: The method of any of aspects 24 through 29, wherein the composite signal has an uplink peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) that is less than the PAPR obtained in an absence of the use of the reserved tone.

[0210] Aspect 31: An apparatus configured for wireless communication comprising at least one means for performing a method of any one of aspects 9 through 16 or 24 through 30.

[0211] Aspect 32: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computerexecutable code, comprising code for causing an apparatus to perform a method of any one of aspects 9 through 16 or 24 through 30.

[0212] Several aspects of a wireless communication network have been presented with reference to an exemplary implementation. As persons having skill in the art will readily appreciate, various aspects described throughout this disclosure may be extended to other telecommunication systems, network architectures, and communication standards.

[0213] By way of example, various aspects may be implemented within other systems defined by 3GPP, such as 6g, 5G NR, Long Term Evolution (LTE), the Evolved Packet System (EPS), the Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), and / or the Global System for Mobile (GSM). Various aspects may also be extended to systems defined by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2), such as CDMA 2000 and / or Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO). Other examples may be implemented within systems employing IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, Ultra- Wideband (UWB), Bluetooth, and / or other suitable systems. The actual telecommunication standard, network architecture, and / or communication standard employed will depend on the specific application and the overall design constraints imposed on the system.

[0214] Within the present disclosure, the word “exemplary” is used to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation or aspect described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects of the disclosure. Likewise, the term “aspects” does not require that all aspects of the disclosure include the discussed feature, advantage, or mode of operation. The term “coupled” is used herein to refer to the direct or indirect coupling between two objects.L&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 55 / 63For example, if object A physically touches object B, and object B touches object C, then objects A and C may still be considered coupled to one another — even if they do not directly physically touch each other. For instance, a first object may be coupled to a second object even though the first object is never directly physically in contact with the second object. The terms “circuit” and “circuitry” are used broadly, and intended to include both hardware implementations of electrical devices and conductors that, when connected and configured, enable the performance of the functions described in the present disclosure, without limitation as to the type of electronic circuits, as well as software implementations of information and instructions that, when executed by a processor, enable the performance of the functions described in the present disclosure.

[0215] One or more of the components, steps, features, and / or functions illustrated in FIGs. 1-11 may be rearranged and / or combined into a single component, step, feature, or function or embodied in several components, steps, or functions. Additional elements, components, steps, and / or functions may also be added without departing from novel features disclosed herein. The apparatus, devices, and / or components illustrated in FIGs. 1-11 may be configured to perform one or more of the methods, features, or steps described herein. The novel algorithms described herein may also be efficiently implemented in software and / or embedded in hardware.

[0216] It is to be understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the methods disclosed is an illustration of exemplary processes. Based upon design preferences, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the methods may be rearranged. The method claims present elements of the various steps in a sample order and are not meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented unless specifically recited therein. While some examples illustrated herein depict only time and frequency domains, additional domains such as a spatial domain are also contemplated in this disclosure.

[0217] The previous description is provided to enable persons having skill in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to persons having skill in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of the claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “one or more.” Unless specifically stated otherwise, the term “some” refers to one or more.L&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 56 / 63

[0218] The word “obtain” as used herein may mean, for example, acquire, calculate, construct, derive, determine, receive, and / or retrieve. The preceding list is exemplary and not limiting. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various aspects described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to persons having skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or, in the case of a method claim, the element is recited using the phrase “step for.”

[0219] As used herein, the term “determine” or “determining” encompasses a wide variety of actions and, therefore, “determining” can include calculating, computing, processing, deriving, investigating, looking up (such as via looking up in a table, a database, or another data structure), inferring, ascertaining, measuring, and the like. Also, “determining” can include receiving (such as receiving information), accessing (such as accessing data stored in memory), transmitting (such as transmitting information) and the like. Also, “determining” can include resolving, selecting, obtaining, choosing, establishing, and other similar actions.

[0220] As used herein, a phrase referring to “at least one of’ a list of items refers to any combination of those items, including single members. As an example, “at least one of: a, b, or c” is intended to cover: a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, and a-b-c. As used herein, “or” is intended to be interpreted in the inclusive sense, unless otherwise explicitly indicated. For example, “a or b” may include a only, b only, or a combination of a and b. Similarly, a phrase referring to A and / or B may include A only, B only, or a combination of A and B.

[0221] As used herein, “based on” is intended to be interpreted in the inclusive sense, unless otherwise explicitly indicated. For example, “based on” may be used interchangeably with “based at least in part on,” “associated with,” or “in accordance with” unless otherwise explicitly indicated. Specifically, unless a phrase refers to “based on only ‘a,’” or the equivalent in context, whatever it is that is “based on ‘a,’” or “based at least in part on ‘a,’” may be based on “a” alone or based on a combination of “a” and one or more other factors, conditions, or information.

[0222] The various illustrative components, logic, logical blocks, modules, circuits, operations, and algorithm processes described in connection with the examples disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, firmware, software, or combinationsL&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 57 / 63of hardware, firmware, or software, including the structures disclosed in this specification and the structural equivalents thereof. The interchangeability of hardware, firmware and software has been described generally, in terms of functionality, and illustrated in the various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits and processes described above. Whether such functionality is implemented in hardware, firmware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system.

[0223] Various modifications to the examples described in this disclosure may be readily apparent to persons having ordinary skill in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other examples without departing from the spirit or scope of this disclosure. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the examples shown herein but are to be accorded the widest scope consistent with this disclosure, the principles and the novel features disclosed herein.

[0224] Additionally, various features that are described in this specification in the context of separate examples also can be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation also can be implemented in multiple examples separately or in any suitable subcombination. As such, although features may be described above as acting in particular combinations, and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

[0225] Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. Further, the drawings may schematically depict one or more example processes in the form of a flowchart or flow diagram. However, other operations that are not depicted can be incorporated in the example processes that are schematically illustrated. For example, one or more additional operations can be performed before, after, simultaneously, or between any of the illustrated operations. In some circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Moreover, the separation of various system components in the examples described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all examples, and it should be understood that the described program components and systems can generally be integrated together in a single software product or packaged into multiple software products.L&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WO

Claims

Qualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 58 / 63CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. An apparatus, comprising:one or more memories; andone or more processors coupled to the one or more memories, the one or more processors being configured to, individually or collectively, based at least in part on information stored in the one or more memories:select a frequency resource assignment, a time resource assignment, and a transmitter power control value to configure a reserved tone to be received from one of a plurality of user equipments (UEs) in a scheduled uplink transmission; andtransmit a downlink control information (DCI) to the one of the plurality of UEs, the DCI configured to indicate the frequency resource assignment, the time resource assignment, and the transmitter power control value to configure the reserved tone in the scheduled uplink transmission.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:select a spatial direction to configure the scheduled uplink transmission including the reserved tone; andtransmit in the DCI, the spatial direction to further configure the scheduled uplink transmission including the reserved tone.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:select the frequency resource assignment, the time resource assignment, and the transmitter power control value on a per UE basis;coordinate a use of a plurality of reserved tones including the reserved tone, among the plurality of UEs; andconfigure, on the per UE basis, in association with the coordinating the use of the plurality of reserved tones, the one of the plurality of UEs to utilize one or more of the plurality of reserved tones,wherein the configuring causes a reduction of an uplink peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) of the scheduled uplink transmission.L&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 59 / 634. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the reduction is measured relative to a determined PAPR of the scheduled uplink transmission in an absence of the use of the reserved tone.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:schedule a different UE, distinct from the one of the plurality of UEs, to transmit reserved tones in overlapping resources.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:convey signaling to the different UE, the signaling comprising at least one of transmitter power limits or transmitted signal spatial direction.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reserved tone is one of a plurality of reserved tones, and the one or more processors are further configured to:schedule respective uses of respective ones of the plurality of reserved tones among the plurality of UEs,wherein the respective uses of the plurality of reserved tones by the plurality of the UEs reduces an uplink peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) of each of the plurality of UEs.

8. An apparatus, comprising:one or more memories; andone or more processors coupled to the one or more memories, the one or more processors being configured to, individually or collectively, based at least in part on information stored in the one or more memories:receive a frequency resource assignment, a time resource assignment, and a transmitter power control value to configure a reserved tone included in an uplink transmission to a network entity;clip a signal having peaks above a peak threshold value to produce a clipped signal;L&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 60 / 63subtract the clipped signal from the signal having the peaks to produce a second signal representative of a difference between the clipped signal and the signal having the peaks;modulate the second signal onto the reserved tone;map the signal having the peaks to the second signal to generate a composite signal having the peaks removed; andtransmit the composite signal to the network entity.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein a peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) of the composite signal is less than the PAPR of the signal having the peaks.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein, to modulate the second signal onto the reserved tone, the one or more processors are further configured to:apply masking and precoding to the second signal.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:apply an inverse fast Fourier transform to a frequency domain representation of the signal having the peaks to obtain a time domain representation of the signal having the peaks prior to clipping; andperform the clipping in the time domain.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:apply a fast Fourier transform to the second signal to transform a time domain representation of the second signal to a frequency domain representation of the second signal; andperform the mapping of the signal having the peaks to the second signal in the frequency domain.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:receive a spatial direction to further configure the reserved tone.L&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 61 / 6314. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the composite signal has an uplink peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) that is less than the PAPR obtained in an absence of the use of the reserved tone.

15. A method at a user equipment, comprising:receiving a frequency resource assignment, a time resource assignment, and a transmitter power control value to configure a reserved tone included in an uplink transmission to a network entity;clipping a signal having peaks above a peak threshold value to produce a clipped signal;subtracting the clipped signal from the signal having the peaks to produce a second signal representative of a difference between the clipped signal and the signal having the peaks;modulating the second signal onto the reserved tone;mapping the signal having the peaks to the second signal to generate a composite signal having the peaks removed; andtransmitting the composite signal to the network entity.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein a peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) of the composite signal is less than the PAPR of the signal having the peaks.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the modulating the second signal onto the reserved tone comprises:applying masking and precoding to the second signal.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:applying an inverse fast Fourier transform to a frequency domain representation of the signal having the peaks to obtain a time domain representation of the signal having the peaks prior to clipping; andperforming the clipping in the time domain.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:L&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WOQualcomm Ref. No. 2500423WO 62 / 63applying a fast Fourier transform to the second signal to transform a time domain representation of the second signal to a frequency domain representation of the second signal; andperforming the mapping of the signal having the peaks to the second signal in the frequency domain.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:receiving a spatial direction to further configure the reserved tone.L&L Ref. No. QCOM-5414WO

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