Slot Format Indication Alignment for Multi-SCS Bandwidth Parts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently configuring slot formats across different subcarrier spacings in next-generation networks, leading to misalignment and conflicts in slot boundary alignment during bandwidth part switching, which affects transmission direction and resource allocation.
Innovation Solution
The proposed method involves configuring User Equipment (UE) with multiple Downlink Bandwidth Parts (DL BWPs) having different Sub-Carrier Spacings (SCS), and indicating slot format indications with specific offsets and periodicities, ensuring that the time period for consecutive slots aligns with the slot boundary of the reference SCS, thereby avoiding conflicts and ensuring seamless switching between bandwidth parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple DL BWPs with different SCS are configured for slot format indication, then adaptability of slot configuration is improved, but misalignment of slot boundaries occurs between different SCS
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by configuring different slot format indication parameters (monitoring occasion, periodicity, offset) for different DL BWPs with different SCS. Each BWP receives customized SFI configuration tailored to its specific SCS, ensuring that slot boundaries align locally within each BWP while maintaining overall system adaptability across multiple BWPs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes parameters (monitoring occasion, periodicity, offset) of slot format indication based on the SCS of each DL BWP. By adjusting these parameters according to the specific SCS value, the system maintains slot boundary alignment while supporting multiple SCS configurations, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and alignment precision.
2Productivity
If slot format indication is configured for each DL BWP independently, then transmission efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the slot format indication configuration by DL BWP, allowing independent configuration of monitoring occasion, periodicity, and offset for each BWP. This segmentation enables optimized transmission efficiency for each BWP while managing complexity through structured, modular configuration parameters that follow consistent rules across BWPs.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus are disclosed from the perspective of a network. In one embodiment, the method includes the network configuring a UE (User Equipment) with a plurality of DL (Downlink) BWPs (Bandwidth Parts) of a serving cell, wherein the plurality of DL BWPs comprises a first DL BWP with a first SCS (Sub-Carrier Spacing) and a second DL BWP with a second SCS, wherein the second SCS is different from the first SCS. The method further includes the network configuring the UE with a first monitoring occasion for indicating slot format indication (SFI) in the first DL BWP by indicating a first slot offset and a first slot periodicity. The method also includes the network configuring the UE with a second monitoring occasion for indicating slot format indication (SFI) in the second DL BWP by indicating a second slot offset, and a second slot periodicity, wherein the network is not allowed to indicate the second slot offset and the second slot periodicity such that a time period containing a number of consecutive slots associated with a slot format in the combination of slot formats indicated by a SFI index in the second monitoring occasion does not align slot boundary of a slot with the first SCS, and wherein the number is the ratio of the second SCS to the first SCS.