ENHANCED FREQUENCY HOPPING FOR DATA TRANSMISSIONS

Information

  • Patent Application
  • 20240146473
  • Publication Number
    20240146473
  • Date Filed
    March 09, 2022
    3 years ago
  • Date Published
    May 02, 2024
    a year ago
Abstract
Various embodiments herein are directed to enhanced frequency hopping for data transmissions, such as transmissions above a 52.6 GHz carrier frequency. Other embodiments may be disclosed or claimed.
Description
FIELD

Various embodiments generally may relate to the field of wireless communications. For example, some embodiments may relate to enhanced frequency hopping for data transmissions, such as transmissions above a 52.6 GHz carrier frequency.


BACKGROUND

Mobile communication has evolved significantly from early voice systems to today's highly sophisticated integrated communication platform. The next generation wireless communication system, 5G, or new radio (NR) will provide access to information and sharing of data anywhere, anytime by various users and applications. NR is expected to be a unified network/system that target to meet vastly different and sometime conflicting performance dimensions and services. Such diverse multi-dimensional requirements are driven by different services and applications. In general, NR will evolve based on 3GPP LTE-Advanced with additional potential new Radio Access Technologies (RATs) to enrich people lives with better, simple and seamless wireless connectivity solutions. NR will enable everything connected by wireless and deliver fast, rich content and services.





BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. To facilitate this description, like reference numerals designate like structural elements. Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings.



FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a Long PDSCH transmission duration in accordance with various embodiments.



FIG. 2 illustrates an example of an early termination of a PDSCH transmission in accordance with various embodiments.



FIG. 3 illustrates an example of components of a PDSCH transmission and required signaling in accordance with various embodiments.



FIG. 4 illustrates an example of an indication of a number of scheduled TBs and differentiation of new transmissions or retransmissions in accordance with various embodiments.



FIG. 5 illustrates an example of an indication of a number of scheduled TBs and differentiation of new transmissions or retransmissions in accordance with various embodiments.



FIG. 6 illustrates an example of an indication of a number of scheduled TBs and differentiation of new transmissions or retransmissions in accordance with various embodiments.



FIG. 7 illustrates an example of intra-slot frequency hopping for PUSCH in NR in accordance with various embodiments.



FIG. 8 illustrates an example of frequency hopping on the unit of a TB group in accordance with various embodiments.



FIG. 9 illustrates an example of frequency hopping on a mixed TB in accordance with various embodiments.



FIG. 10 illustrates an example of frequency hopping on the unit of a TB in accordance with various embodiments.



FIG. 11 illustrates an example of frequency hopping for retransmission and initial transmission in accordance with various embodiments.



FIG. 12 schematically illustrates a wireless network in accordance with various embodiments.



FIG. 13 schematically illustrates components of a wireless network in accordance with various embodiments.



FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating components, according to some example embodiments, able to read instructions from a machine-readable or computer-readable medium (e.g., a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium) and perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.



FIGS. 15, 16, and 17 depict examples of procedures for practicing the various embodiments discussed herein.





DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers may be used in different drawings to identify the same or similar elements. In the following description, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, specific details are set forth such as particular structures, architectures, interfaces, techniques, etc. in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various aspects of various embodiments. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure that the various aspects of the various embodiments may be practiced in other examples that depart from these specific details. In certain instances, descriptions of well-known devices, circuits, and methods are omitted so as not to obscure the description of the various embodiments with unnecessary detail. For the purposes of the present document, the phrases “A or B” and “A/B” mean (A), (B), or (A and B).


The NR system operates based on a concept of slot. A physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) or a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) is restricted within a slot. Such restriction on PDSCH or PUSCH may still applies in high frequency. On the other hand, for a system operating above 52.6 GHz carrier frequency, especially for Terahertz communication, it is envisioned that a larger subcarrier spacing is needed to combat severe phase noise. In case when a larger subcarrier spacing, e.g., 1.92 MHz or 3.84 MHz is employed, the slot duration can be very short. For instance, for 1.92 MHz subcarrier spacing, one slot duration is approximately 7.8 μs. This extremely short slot duration may not be sufficient for higher layer processing, including Medium Access Layer (MAC) and Radio Link Control (RLC), etc. In order to address this issue, gNB may schedule the DL or UL data transmission across slot boundary with long transmission duration. In other words, slot concept may not be needed when scheduling data transmission.



FIG. 1 illustrates one example of long PDSCH transmission duration. In a DL transmission, more DL traffic may arrive at the gNB when the gNB already sends out a DL downlink control information (DCI) or a previous PDSCH transmission is still ongoing. The gNB has to send a new DL DCI to schedule a PDSCH which results in the delay of data transmissions. One solution could be to allow a gNB to schedule more DL resources than that required to transmit the current DL data in the buffer. Consequently, if new DL traffic arrives, gNB can continue the PDSCH transmission for the new DL traffic on the scheduled DL resource. On the other hand, if there is no new incoming DL traffic, the scheduled DL resources needs to be released earlier, e.g. early termination of the PDSCH transmission. In fact, besides the case of lacking new DL traffic, there may also exist other reasons that gNB needs to terminate a DL transmission earlier. FIG. 2 illustrates an example for which the allocated DL resources could carry 10 CBs. However, the DL transmission may be terminated only after the transmission of 6 CBs.


For the hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) based data transmission with long duration, the number of transport blocks (TB) is also increased correspondingly for efficient HARQ retransmission. Further, gNB needs to have the flexibility to control the number of TBs in the scheduled data transmission by a DCI. Embodiments herein provide solutions for efficient indication of the scheduling information in the DCI.


Various embodiments herein include techniques to schedule multiple transport block transmissions for above 52.6 GHz carrier frequency.


In the following descriptions, a downlink or uplink data transmission scheduled by a DCI consists of M transport blocks (TB) or TB groups. M may be ranged from 1 to Mmax. Mmax is the maximum number of scheduled TBs or TB groups by the DCI. Each TB consists of one or multiple consecutive code block (CB)s. CRC is added for each CB respectively. A TB may correspond to a MAC PDU. A separate HARQ process number (HPN) may be assigned to each TB. A TB could be mapped to all time/frequency resources of L consecutive data symbols. For example, L equals to 1. By this way, symbol alignment is achieved for a TB.


To schedule a DL or UL transmission by a DCI, the DCI needs to indicate the start symbol (S) of the allocated time resource, the number of symbols for a TB or a TB group (L), the total number of symbols (X) of the allocated time resource or the number of scheduled TBs or TB groups (M). FIG. 3 shows an example of the allocated time resource which carries M TBs. The value of start symbol S may be defined by an offset relative to the last symbol of the PDCCH carrying the DCI. Alternatively, the start symbol S may be defined by the start symbol index in a slot. In the latter case, the number of slots of the scheduling delay from the PDCCH to the allocated time resource, e.g. K0 in NR needs to be indicated in the DCI. Further, the DCI includes a field to differentiate new transmission or retransmission for each of the M scheduled TBs or TB groups. In the following descriptions, this field is named as new transmission or retransmission indication (NRI). If early termination is enabled, less than M TBs or TB groups may be transmitted. UE can simply ignore the NRI after early termination.


The above information S, L, X or M, and NRI can be indicated by separate fields in a DCI. A drawback is the overhead in the DCI may be increased. Therefore, it is necessary to do joint coding for some or all of the information to reduce the overhead. On the other hand, flexibility for gNB scheduling and the simplicity for the configuration should also be considered.


TDRA Field to Indicate the Number of Scheduled TBs or TB Groups

In one embodiment, the time domain resource allocation (TDRA) field in the DCI can indicate the number of scheduled TBs or TB groups, e.g. M, where a number of TBs in a TB group can be configured by higher layers via RRC signalling. A TDRA table may be configured by high layer. Each entry of the TDRA table may have same or different information M. The total number of symbols in the allocated time resource can be calculated, e.g. X=L·M+R. R is the number of DMRS symbols in the allocated time resource which can be derived by L, M or X. The size of NRI field can be determined by the maximum of value M among all entries of the TDRA table.


In one option, each entry of TDRA field indicates the information S, L, M for the allocated data transmission. On the other hand, the information NRI is indicated by separate field in the DCI.


In another option, each entry of TDRA field indicate S, M for the allocated data transmission. On the other hand, L and NRI can be respectively indicated by separate fields in the DCI.


In one embodiment, the time domain resource allocation (TDRA) field in the DCI can indicate the total number of symbols for the allocated time resource, e.g. X. A TDRA table may be configured by high layer. Each entry of the TDRA table may have same or different information X. The total number of scheduled TBs can be calculated, e.g. M=(X−R)/L. R is the number of DMRS symbols in the allocated time resource which can be derived by X. The size of NRI field can be determined by the maximum of value M among all entries of the TDRA table.


In another option, each entry of TDRA field indicates the information S, L, X for the allocated data transmission. On the other hand, the information NRI is indicated by separate field in the DCI.


In another option, each entry of TDRA field indicate S, X for the allocated data transmission. On the other hand, L and NRI can be respectively indicated by separate fields in the DCI.


NRI Field to Indicate the Number of Scheduled TBs or TB Groups

The NRI field in the DCI can indicate the number of scheduled TBs or TB groups, e.g. M, where a number of TBs in a TB group can be configured by higher layers via RRC signaling, and differentiate each of the M TBs or TB groups as a new transmission or retransmission. The size of NRI field can be configured by high layer signaling. The total number of symbols in the allocated time resource can be calculated, e.g. X=L·M+R. R is the number of DMRS symbols in the allocated time resource which can be derived by L, M or X. Note that one HARQ-ACK bit may be reported for a TB or a TB group.


Each entry of TDRA field indicate the information S, L for the allocated data transmission. On the other hand, the information NRI is indicated by separate field in the DCI. Since the number of scheduled TBs or TB groups is not indicated by each entry of TDRA table, it simplifies the configuration of the TDRA table. The size of TDRA table is expected to be decreased without impacting the scheduling flexibility. Alternatively, the information S, L and NRI can be respectively indicated by separate fields in the DCI.


In one embodiment, the NRI field in the DCI can be interpreted into a bitmap of length Mmax and one special bit. Mmax is the maximum number of scheduled TBs or TB groups by the DCI. Denote the number of scheduled TBs or TB groups as M, the first M bits, e.g. bk, k=0, 1, . . . M−1 in the bitmap respectively indicate a corresponding TB or TB group as a new transmission or retransmission, either by indicating 0 or 1. The ‘M+1’th bit, e.g. bM if existed in the bitmap which does not have a corresponding TB or TB group will be set to a value different from the ‘M’th bit, e.g. bM−1. Each of the last Mmax−M bits in the bitmap, if existed, are set to same value as the ‘M+1’th bit.


The NRI field can be directly configured to include a bitmap of length Mmax and one special bit.


Alternatively, the NRI field can be directly configured as a bitmap of length Mmax+1. The last bit serves as the special bit.


Alternatively, Mmax may be explicitly indicated in the DCI.


Alternatively, the NRI field can be configured to include a sub-field of less than Mmax bits and one special bit. The sub-field can be interpreted into Mmax bits, so that it can differentiate new transmission or retransmission for up to Mmax TBs or TB groups. For example, the sub-field may indicate a group of consecutive TBs that are all new transmissions or all retransmission. In this case, a start TB index and number of TBs in the group can be used for the indication.


In one option, the special bit is set to a value that is different from the ‘M’th bit, e.g. bM−1 in the bitmap. Accordingly, UE considers the TBs or TB groups corresponding to the last Mmax−M bits in the bitmap, if existed, that have the same value as the special bit to not have been scheduled. The last bit within the bitmap to have a different value compared to the special bit indicates the last scheduled TB or TB group.



FIG. 4 illustrates the scheme to indicate the number of the scheduled TBs (M) based on a bitmap of Mmax=20 bits and a special bit. The new transmission or retransmission is indicated by value ‘0’ and ‘1’ respectively. In FIG. 4A, since the last scheduled TB is for new transmission, all remaining bits in the bitmap are set to ‘1’. The special bit is set to ‘1’. UE considers TBs that are associated with the last bits in the bitmap having same value as the special bit, e.g. ‘1’ are not scheduled. As a comparison, in FIG. 4B, if the last scheduled TB is for retransmission, all remaining bits in the bitmap are set to ‘0’. The special bit is set to ‘0’ too. In an extreme case, assuming Mmax=20 TBs are scheduled by the DCI, all 20 bits in the bitmap are useful. In this case, the special bit is set to a different value from the last bit of the bitmap. As shown in FIG. 4C, since the last TB is a new transmission, the special bit can be set to ‘1’.


In another option, the special bit indicates whether the last bits in the bitmap that have the same value are valid to indicate schedule TBs or TB groups or not. For example, value ‘0’ or ‘1’ respectively means the last bits are valid or not valid. Accordingly, if the special bit is ‘1’, UE considers that the TBs or TB groups corresponding to the last Mmax−M bits in the bitmap that have the same value to not have been scheduled. The last bit within the bitmap that has a different value compared to the last bit of the bitmap indicates the last scheduled TB or TB group. On the other hand, if the special bit is ‘0’, UE considers all bits in the bitmap indicate scheduled TB or TB groups.



FIG. 5 illustrates the scheme to indicate the number of the scheduled TBs (M) based on a bitmap of Mmax=20 bits and a special bit as validation indication. The new transmission or retransmission is indicated by value ‘0’ and ‘1’ respectively. In FIG. 5A, since the last scheduled TB is for new transmission, all remaining bits in the bitmap are set to ‘1’. The special bit is set to ‘1’ to indicate the last consecutive ‘1’ in the bitmap are not valid to indicate scheduled TBs. As a comparison, in FIG. 5B, if the last scheduled TB is for retransmission, all remaining bits in the bitmap are set to ‘0’. Again, the special bit is set to ‘1’ to indicate the last consecutive ‘0’ in the bitmap are not valid to indicate scheduled TBs. In an extreme case, assuming Mmax=20 TBs are scheduled by the DCI, all 20 bits in the bitmap are useful. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5C, the special bit is set to ‘0’ to indicate all bits in the bitmap are valid indicate scheduled TBs.


In one embodiment, the NRI field in the DCI can be interpreted into a bitmap of length Mmax+1. Mmax is the maximum number of scheduled TBs or TB groups by the DCI. Denote the number of scheduled TBs as M, the first M bits, e.g. bk, k=0, 1, . . . M−1 in the bitmap respectively indicate a corresponding TB or TB group as a new transmission or retransmission, either by indicating 0 or 1. The ‘M+1’th bit, e.g. bM in the bitmap which does not have a corresponding TB or TB group will be set to a value different from the ‘M’th bit, e.g. bM−1. Each of the last Mmax+1−M bits in the bitmap are set to same value as the ‘M+1’th bit. Accordingly, UE considers the last Mmax+1−M bits in the bitmap that have the same value as the last bit of the bitmap are not associated with scheduled TBs. The last bit within the bitmap to have a different value compared to the last bit of the bitmap indicates the last scheduled TB or TB group.


The NRI field can be directly configured as a bitmap of length Mmax+1.


Alternatively, the NRI field can be configured to include a sub-field of less than Mmax bits and one special bit. The sub-field can be interpreted into Mmax bits, so that it can differentiate new transmission or retransmission for up to Mmax TBs or TB groups. For example, the sub-field may indicate a group of consecutive TBs that are all new transmissions or all retransmission. In this case, a start TB index and number of TBs in the group can be used for the indication. The Mmax bits and the special bit are combined into the bitmap of length Mmax+1.



FIG. 6 illustrates the scheme to indicate the number of the scheduled TBs (M) based on a bitmap of Mmax+1=21 bits. The new transmission or retransmission is indicated by value ‘0’ and ‘1’ respectively. In FIG. 6A, since the last scheduled TB is for new transmission, all remaining bits in the bitmap are set to ‘1’. UE considers TBs that are associated with the last bits in the bitmap having same value as the last bit, e.g. ‘1’ are not scheduled. As a comparison, in FIG. 6B, if the last scheduled TB is for retransmission, all remaining bits in the bitmap are set to ‘0’. In an extreme case, assuming Mmax=20 TBs are scheduled by the DCI, all 20 bits in the bitmap are useful. In this case, the last bit is set to a different value from the last bit of the bitmap. As shown in FIG. 6C, since the last TB is a new transmission, the last bit can be set to ‘1’.


Zero Padding for NRI Field and Allowing Potential Early Termination

The NRI field in the DCI can be interpreted into a bitmap of length Mmax. Mmax is the maximum number of scheduled TBs or TB groups by the DCI. Each bit in the bitmap respectively indicate a corresponding TB or TB group as a new transmission or retransmission, either by indicating 0 or 1. In this way, up to Mmax TBs or TB groups can be transmitted. However, if early termination happens, the number of transmitted TBs or TB groups can be less than Mmax. The max number of symbols in the allocated time resource can be calculated, e.g. Xmax=L·Mmax+R. R is the number of DMRS symbols in the allocated time resource which can be derived by L, Mmax or Xmax. Note that one HARQ-ACK bit may be reported for a TB or a TB group.


The NRI field can be directly configured as a bitmap of length Mmax. Alternatively, the NRI field can be configured with less than Mmax bits. The NRI field is then interpreted into Mmax bits, so that it can differentiate new transmission or retransmission for up to Mmax TBs or TB groups. For example, NRI may indicate a group of consecutive TBs that are all new transmissions or all retransmission. In this case, a start TB index and number of TBs in the group can be used for the indication


Each entry of TDRA field indicate the information S, L for the allocated data transmission. On the other hand, the information NRI is indicated by separate field in the DCI. Since the number of scheduled TBs or TB groups is not indicated by each entry of TDRA table, it simplifies the configuration of the TDRA table. The size of TDRA table is expected to be decreased without impacting the scheduling flexibility. Alternatively, the information S, L and NRI can be respectively indicated by separate fields in the DCI.


Enhanced Frequency Hopping for Data Transmissions

In NR Release 15, system design is targeted for carrier frequencies up to 52.6 GHz with a waveform choice of cyclic prefix-orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (CP-OFDM) for DL and UL, and additionally, Discrete Fourier Transform-spread-OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) for UL. However, for carrier frequency above 52.6 GHz, it is envisioned that single carrier based waveform is needed in order to handle issues including low power amplifier (PA) efficiency and large phase noise.


For single carrier based waveform, DFT-s-OFDM can be considered for both DL and UL. For OFDM based transmission scheme including DFT-s-OFDM, a cyclic prefix (CP) is inserted at the beginning of each block, where the last data symbols in a block is repeated as the CP. Typically, the length of CP exceeds the maximum expected delay spread in order to overcome the inter-symbol interference (ISI).


In NR, for physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) without repetition, intra-slot frequency hopping can be employed to exploit the benefit of frequency diversity. For PUSCH repetition type A, inter-slot frequency hopping can also be used to improve the performance, where frequency hopping is performed every slot for PUSCH repetition. Further, for PUSCH repetition type B, inter-repetition frequency hopping can be used, where frequency hopping is performed on the basis of nominal repetition. FIG. 7 illustrates one example of intra-slot frequency hopping for PUSCH in NR. In the example shown in FIG. 7, frequency hopping is performed at the half of the duration for PUSCH transmission within a slot.


For systems operating above 52.6 GHz carrier frequency or 6G communication systems, it is envisioned that a larger subcarrier spacing is needed to combat severe phase noise. In case when a larger subcarrier spacing, e.g., 1.92 MHz or 3.84 MHz is employed, the slot duration can be very short. This extremely short slot duration may not be sufficient for higher layer processing, including Medium Access Layer (MAC) and Radio Link Control (RLC), etc. To address this issue, gNB may schedule the DL or UL data transmission across slot boundary, which may indicate that the concept of slot may not be necessary.


Further, it can be expected that a relatively large number of transport blocks (TB) may be scheduled by a single downlink control information (DCI) for physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) and physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) for high data throughput. In this case, certain enhancements on frequency hopping may need to be considered for the transmission of PDSCH or PUSCH to exploit the benefit of frequency diversity.


Various embodiments herein provide enhanced frequency hopping mechanisms for system operating at higher carrier frequency.


Enhanced Frequency Hopping Mechanism

As mentioned above, for system operating above 52.6 GHz carrier frequency or 6G communication system, it is envisioned that a larger subcarrier spacing is needed to combat severe phase noise. In case when a larger subcarrier spacing, e.g., 1.92 MHz or 3.84 MHz is employed, the slot duration can be very short. This extremely short slot duration may not be sufficient for higher layer processing, including Medium Access Layer (MAC) and Radio Link Control (RLC), etc. To address this issue, gNB may schedule the DL or UL data transmission across slot boundary, which may indicate that the concept of slot may not be necessary.


Further, it can be expected that a relatively large number of transport blocks (TB) may be scheduled by a single downlink control information (DCI) for physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) and physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) for high data throughput. In this case, certain enhancements on the frequency hopping may need to be considered for PDSCH or PUSCH to exploit the benefit of frequency diversity.


Embodiments of enhanced frequency hopping mechanisms are provided as follows:


In one embodiment, a number of transport blocks (TB) can be grouped into a TB group. Further, frequency hopping is performed within the TB group. In particular, the number of TBs in the TB group can be configured by higher layers via minimum system information (MSI), remaining minimum system information (RMSI), other system information (OSI) or dedicated radio resource control (RRC) signalling or dynamically indicated in the downlink control information (DCI) or a combination thereof.


To enable frequency hopping, a first part of a TB is transmitted in a first hop and a second part of the TB is transmitted in a second hop. In this case, mapping order of a TB can be defined in a time first and frequency second manner. More specifically, a TB is first mapped into time domain and then frequency domain in the allocated resource.


In addition, dedicated DMRS symbols are allocated in each hop before the transmitted of a first TB within the TB group or a whole hopping boundary where UE one frequency hopping. In case when a relatively large number of symbols is allocated in each hop, additional DMRS symbols may be allocated in the middle of the TBs in each hop.



FIG. 8 illustrates one example of frequency hopping on the unit of a TB group. In the example, a TB spans 4 symbols. Further, the number of TBs for time domain HARQ-ACK bundling is 2. In this case, a first part of TB0 and TB1 is transmitted in a first hop and a second part of TB0 and TB1 is transmitted in a second hop. This frequency hopping pattern continues until all the TBs are allocated.


Note that depending on the number of symbols allocated for a TB, e.g., when one symbol is allocated for a TB, one or more TBs may be mixed into the same symbol when frequency hopping is applied.



FIG. 9 illustrates one example of frequency hopping on a mixed TB. In the example, the number of symbols allocated for a TB is 1 and the number of TBs for a TB group for frequency hopping is 4. In this case, a first part of TB0 and TB1 is transmitted in a first hop in a same symbol and a second part of TB0 and TB1 is transmitted in a second hop in a same symbol.


In another embodiment, to allow fast processing, transmission of a TB may be aligned with symbol boundary. In this case, frequency hopping may be performed within a number of symbols within a PDSCH or PUSCH transmission. Further, the number of symbols for the whole hopping boundary where UE performs one frequency hopping can be configured by higher layers via MSI, RMSI (SIB1), OSI or RRC signalling or dynamically indicated in the DCI or a combination thereof. Note that the configured or indicated number of symbols for a whole hopping boundary may or may not include the demodulation reference symbol (DMRS).


Similarly, dedicated DMRS symbols are allocated in each hop before the transmitted of a first TB within the TB group or a whole hopping boundary where UE one frequency hopping. In case when a relatively large number of symbols is allocated in each hop, additional DMRS symbols may be allocated in the middle of the TBs in each hop.



FIG. 10 illustrates one example of frequency hopping on the unit of a TB. In the example, a TB spans 8 symbols. Further, when frequency hopping is enabled, a TB is divided into two part, where the first 4 symbols are transmitted in the first hop and the second 4 symbols are transmitted in the second hop. In this case, the number of symbols for a whole hopping boundary is 8, which can be dynamically indicated in the DCI.


In another embodiment, if time domain bundling for hybrid automatic repeat request-acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) feedback is enabled, the number of symbols for a whole hopping boundary or the number of TBs within a TB group for frequency hopping can be determined in accordance with the configured or indicated time domain bundling size for HARQ-ACK feedback.


In one example, when HARQ-ACK feedback for two TBs is bundled into a single HARQ-ACK bit, and when the number of symbols for a TB is 4 symbols, then the number of symbols for frequency hopping is 8, which may or may not include the demodulation reference symbol (DMRS).


In another embodiment, for the mixed initial transmission and retransmission in a PDSCH or PUSCH, gNB may schedule different modulation orders for initial transmission and retransmission of TBs. In this case, dedicated DMRS(s) are allocated for the initial transmission and retransmission of the TBs, respectively.


In this case, when frequency hopping is enabled, retransmission of the TBs is grouped first for frequency hopping and followed by initial transmission of the TBs on PDSCH or PUSCH.



FIG. 11 illustrates one example of frequency hopping for retransmission and initial transmission. In the example, 2 TBs are retransmitted and located at the beginning of the PDSCH or PUSCH. 4 TBs are initially transmitted after the retransmitted TBs.


Note that similar mechanism can be straightforwardly extended to the case when dedicated DMRS symbols are used for UCI, initial transmission and retransmission. In this case, UCI may be equally divided into two parts, where the first part is transmitted in the first hop and the second part is transmitted in the second hop. Further, retransmitted TBs follows the UCI and then initial transmission of the TBs.


Systems and Implementations


FIGS. 12-14 illustrate various systems, devices, and components that may implement aspects of disclosed embodiments.



FIG. 12 illustrates a network 1200 in accordance with various embodiments. The network 1200 may operate in a manner consistent with 3GPP technical specifications for LTE or 5G/NR systems. However, the example embodiments are not limited in this regard and the described embodiments may apply to other networks that benefit from the principles described herein, such as future 3GPP systems, or the like.


The network 1200 may include a UE 1202, which may include any mobile or non-mobile computing device designed to communicate with a RAN 1204 via an over-the-air connection. The UE 1202 may be communicatively coupled with the RAN 1204 by a Uu interface. The UE 1202 may be, but is not limited to, a smartphone, tablet computer, wearable computer device, desktop computer, laptop computer, in-vehicle infotainment, in-car entertainment device, instrument cluster, head-up display device, onboard diagnostic device, dashtop mobile equipment, mobile data terminal, electronic engine management system, electronic/engine control unit, electronic/engine control module, embedded system, sensor, microcontroller, control module, engine management system, networked appliance, machine-type communication device, M2M or D2D device, IoT device, etc.


In some embodiments, the network 1200 may include a plurality of UEs coupled directly with one another via a sidelink interface. The UEs may be M2M/D2D devices that communicate using physical sidelink channels such as, but not limited to, PSBCH, PSDCH, PSSCH, PSCCH, PSFCH, etc.


In some embodiments, the UE 1202 may additionally communicate with an AP 1206 via an over-the-air connection. The AP 1206 may manage a WLAN connection, which may serve to offload some/all network traffic from the RAN 1204. The connection between the UE 1202 and the AP 1206 may be consistent with any IEEE 802.11 protocol, wherein the AP 1206 could be a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi®) router. In some embodiments, the UE 1202, RAN 1204, and AP 1206 may utilize cellular-WLAN aggregation (for example, LWA/LWIP). Cellular-WLAN aggregation may involve the UE 1202 being configured by the RAN 1204 to utilize both cellular radio resources and WLAN resources.


The RAN 1204 may include one or more access nodes, for example, AN 1208. AN 1208 may terminate air-interface protocols for the UE 1202 by providing access stratum protocols including RRC, PDCP, RLC, MAC, and L1 protocols. In this manner, the AN 1208 may enable data/voice connectivity between CN 1220 and the UE 1202. In some embodiments, the AN 1208 may be implemented in a discrete device or as one or more software entities running on server computers as part of, for example, a virtual network, which may be referred to as a CRAN or virtual baseband unit pool. The AN 1208 be referred to as a BS, gNB, RAN node, eNB, ng-eNB, NodeB, RSU, TRxP, TRP, etc. The AN 1208 may be a macrocell base station or a low power base station for providing femtocells, picocells or other like cells having smaller coverage areas, smaller user capacity, or higher bandwidth compared to macrocells.


In embodiments in which the RAN 1204 includes a plurality of ANs, they may be coupled with one another via an X2 interface (if the RAN 1204 is an LTE RAN) or an Xn interface (if the RAN 1204 is a 5G RAN). The X2/Xn interfaces, which may be separated into control/user plane interfaces in some embodiments, may allow the ANs to communicate information related to handovers, data/context transfers, mobility, load management, interference coordination, etc.


The ANs of the RAN 1204 may each manage one or more cells, cell groups, component carriers, etc. to provide the UE 1202 with an air interface for network access. The UE 1202 may be simultaneously connected with a plurality of cells provided by the same or different ANs of the RAN 1204. For example, the UE 1202 and RAN 1204 may use carrier aggregation to allow the UE 1202 to connect with a plurality of component carriers, each corresponding to a Pcell or Scell. In dual connectivity scenarios, a first AN may be a master node that provides an MCG and a second AN may be secondary node that provides an SCG. The first/second ANs may be any combination of eNB, gNB, ng-eNB, etc.


The RAN 1204 may provide the air interface over a licensed spectrum or an unlicensed spectrum. To operate in the unlicensed spectrum, the nodes may use LAA, eLAA, and/or feLAA mechanisms based on CA technology with PCells/Scells. Prior to accessing the unlicensed spectrum, the nodes may perform medium/carrier-sensing operations based on, for example, a listen-before-talk (LBT) protocol.


In V2X scenarios the UE 1202 or AN 1208 may be or act as a RSU, which may refer to any transportation infrastructure entity used for V2X communications. An RSU may be implemented in or by a suitable AN or a stationary (or relatively stationary) UE. An RSU implemented in or by: a UE may be referred to as a “UE-type RSU”; an eNB may be referred to as an “eNB-type RSU”; a gNB may be referred to as a “gNB-type RSU”; and the like. In one example, an RSU is a computing device coupled with radio frequency circuitry located on a roadside that provides connectivity support to passing vehicle UEs. The RSU may also include internal data storage circuitry to store intersection map geometry, traffic statistics, media, as well as applications/software to sense and control ongoing vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The RSU may provide very low latency communications required for high speed events, such as crash avoidance, traffic warnings, and the like. Additionally or alternatively, the RSU may provide other cellular/WLAN communications services. The components of the RSU may be packaged in a weatherproof enclosure suitable for outdoor installation, and may include a network interface controller to provide a wired connection (e.g., Ethernet) to a traffic signal controller or a backhaul network.


In some embodiments, the RAN 1204 may be an LTE RAN 1210 with eNBs, for example, eNB 1212. The LTE RAN 1210 may provide an LTE air interface with the following characteristics: SCS of 15 kHz; CP-OFDM waveform for DL and SC-FDMA waveform for UL; turbo codes for data and TBCC for control; etc. The LTE air interface may rely on CSI-RS for CSI acquisition and beam management; PDSCH/PDCCH DMRS for PDSCH/PDCCH demodulation; and CRS for cell search and initial acquisition, channel quality measurements, and channel estimation for coherent demodulation/detection at the UE. The LTE air interface may operating on sub-6 GHz bands.


In some embodiments, the RAN 1204 may be an NG-RAN 1214 with gNBs, for example, gNB 1216, or ng-eNBs, for example, ng-eNB 1218. The gNB 1216 may connect with 5G-enabled UEs using a 5G NR interface. The gNB 1216 may connect with a 5G core through an NG interface, which may include an N2 interface or an N3 interface. The ng-eNB 1218 may also connect with the 5G core through an NG interface, but may connect with a UE via an LTE air interface. The gNB 1216 and the ng-eNB 1218 may connect with each other over an Xn interface.


In some embodiments, the NG interface may be split into two parts, an NG user plane (NG-U) interface, which carries traffic data between the nodes of the NG-RAN 1214 and a UPF 1248 (e.g., N3 interface), and an NG control plane (NG-C) interface, which is a signaling interface between the nodes of the NG-RAN 1214 and an AMF 1244 (e.g., N2 interface).


The NG-RAN 1214 may provide a 5G-NR air interface with the following characteristics: variable SCS; CP-OFDM for DL, CP-OFDM and DFT-s-OFDM for UL; polar, repetition, simplex, and Reed-Muller codes for control and LDPC for data. The 5G-NR air interface may rely on CSI-RS, PDSCH/PDCCH DMRS similar to the LTE air interface. The 5G-NR air interface may not use a CRS, but may use PBCH DMRS for PBCH demodulation; PTRS for phase tracking for PDSCH; and tracking reference signal for time tracking. The 5G-NR air interface may operating on FR1 bands that include sub-6 GHz bands or FR2 bands that include bands from 24.25 GHz to 52.6 GHz. The 5G-NR air interface may include an SSB that is an area of a downlink resource grid that includes PSS/SSS/PBCH.


In some embodiments, the 5G-NR air interface may utilize BWPs for various purposes. For example, BWP can be used for dynamic adaptation of the SCS. For example, the UE 1202 can be configured with multiple BWPs where each BWP configuration has a different SCS. When a BWP change is indicated to the UE 1202, the SCS of the transmission is changed as well. Another use case example of BWP is related to power saving. In particular, multiple BWPs can be configured for the UE 1202 with different amount of frequency resources (for example, PRBs) to support data transmission under different traffic loading scenarios. A BWP containing a smaller number of PRBs can be used for data transmission with small traffic load while allowing power saving at the UE 1202 and in some cases at the gNB 1216. A BWP containing a larger number of PRBs can be used for scenarios with higher traffic load.


The RAN 1204 is communicatively coupled to CN 1220 that includes network elements to provide various functions to support data and telecommunications services to customers/subscribers (for example, users of UE 1202). The components of the CN 1220 may be implemented in one physical node or separate physical nodes. In some embodiments, NFV may be utilized to virtualize any or all of the functions provided by the network elements of the CN 1220 onto physical compute/storage resources in servers, switches, etc. A logical instantiation of the CN 1220 may be referred to as a network slice, and a logical instantiation of a portion of the CN 1220 may be referred to as a network sub-slice.


In some embodiments, the CN 1220 may be an LTE CN 1222, which may also be referred to as an EPC. The LTE CN 1222 may include MME 1224, SGW 1226, SGSN 1228, HSS 1230, PGW 1232, and PCRF 1234 coupled with one another over interfaces (or “reference points”) as shown. Functions of the elements of the LTE CN 1222 may be briefly introduced as follows.


The MME 1224 may implement mobility management functions to track a current location of the UE 1202 to facilitate paging, bearer activation/deactivation, handovers, gateway selection, authentication, etc.


The SGW 1226 may terminate an S1 interface toward the RAN and route data packets between the RAN and the LTE CN 1222. The SGW 1226 may be a local mobility anchor point for inter-RAN node handovers and also may provide an anchor for inter-3GPP mobility. Other responsibilities may include lawful intercept, charging, and some policy enforcement.


The SGSN 1228 may track a location of the UE 1202 and perform security functions and access control. In addition, the SGSN 1228 may perform inter-EPC node signaling for mobility between different RAT networks; PDN and S-GW selection as specified by MME 1224; MME selection for handovers; etc. The S3 reference point between the MME 1224 and the SGSN 1228 may enable user and bearer information exchange for inter-3GPP access network mobility in idle/active states.


The HSS 1230 may include a database for network users, including subscription-related information to support the network entities' handling of communication sessions. The HSS 1230 can provide support for routing/roaming, authentication, authorization, naming/addressing resolution, location dependencies, etc. An S6a reference point between the HSS 1230 and the MME 1224 may enable transfer of subscription and authentication data for authenticating/authorizing user access to the LTE CN 1220.


The PGW 1232 may terminate an SGi interface toward a data network (DN) 1236 that may include an application/content server 1238. The PGW 1232 may route data packets between the LTE CN 1222 and the data network 1236. The PGW 1232 may be coupled with the SGW 1226 by an S5 reference point to facilitate user plane tunneling and tunnel management. The PGW 1232 may further include a node for policy enforcement and charging data collection (for example, PCEF). Additionally, the SGi reference point between the PGW 1232 and the data network 1236 may be an operator external public, a private PDN, or an intra-operator packet data network, for example, for provision of IMS services. The PGW 1232 may be coupled with a PCRF 1234 via a Gx reference point.


The PCRF 1234 is the policy and charging control element of the LTE CN 1222. The PCRF 1234 may be communicatively coupled to the app/content server 1238 to determine appropriate QoS and charging parameters for service flows. The PCRF 1232 may provision associated rules into a PCEF (via Gx reference point) with appropriate TFT and QCI.


In some embodiments, the CN 1220 may be a 5GC 1240. The 5GC 1240 may include an AUSF 1242, AMF 1244, SMF 1246, UPF 1248, NSSF 1250, NEF 1252, NRF 1254, PCF 1256, UDM 1258, and AF 1260 coupled with one another over interfaces (or “reference points”) as shown. Functions of the elements of the 5GC 1240 may be briefly introduced as follows.


The AUSF 1242 may store data for authentication of UE 1202 and handle authentication-related functionality. The AUSF 1242 may facilitate a common authentication framework for various access types. In addition to communicating with other elements of the 5GC 1240 over reference points as shown, the AUSF 1242 may exhibit an Nausf service-based interface.


The AMF 1244 may allow other functions of the 5GC 1240 to communicate with the UE 1202 and the RAN 1204 and to subscribe to notifications about mobility events with respect to the UE 1202. The AMF 1244 may be responsible for registration management (for example, for registering UE 1202), connection management, reachability management, mobility management, lawful interception of AMF-related events, and access authentication and authorization. The AMF 1244 may provide transport for SM messages between the UE 1202 and the SMF 1246, and act as a transparent proxy for routing SM messages. AMF 1244 may also provide transport for SMS messages between UE 1202 and an SMSF. AMF 1244 may interact with the AUSF 1242 and the UE 1202 to perform various security anchor and context management functions. Furthermore, AMF 1244 may be a termination point of a RAN CP interface, which may include or be an N2 reference point between the RAN 1204 and the AMF 1244; and the AMF 1244 may be a termination point of NAS (N1) signaling, and perform NAS ciphering and integrity protection. AMF 1244 may also support NAS signaling with the UE 1202 over an N3 IWF interface.


The SMF 1246 may be responsible for SM (for example, session establishment, tunnel management between UPF 1248 and AN 1208); UE IP address allocation and management (including optional authorization); selection and control of UP function; configuring traffic steering at UPF 1248 to route traffic to proper destination; termination of interfaces toward policy control functions; controlling part of policy enforcement, charging, and QoS; lawful intercept (for SM events and interface to LI system); termination of SM parts of NAS messages; downlink data notification; initiating AN specific SM information, sent via AMF 1244 over N2 to AN 1208; and determining SSC mode of a session. SM may refer to management of a PDU session, and a PDU session or “session” may refer to a PDU connectivity service that provides or enables the exchange of PDUs between the UE 1202 and the data network 1236.


The UPF 1248 may act as an anchor point for intra-RAT and inter-RAT mobility, an external PDU session point of interconnect to data network 1236, and a branching point to support multi-homed PDU session. The UPF 1248 may also perform packet routing and forwarding, perform packet inspection, enforce the user plane part of policy rules, lawfully intercept packets (UP collection), perform traffic usage reporting, perform QoS handling for a user plane (e.g., packet filtering, gating, UL/DL rate enforcement), perform uplink traffic verification (e.g., SDF-to-QoS flow mapping), transport level packet marking in the uplink and downlink, and perform downlink packet buffering and downlink data notification triggering. UPF 1248 may include an uplink classifier to support routing traffic flows to a data network.


The NSSF 1250 may select a set of network slice instances serving the UE 1202. The NSSF 1250 may also determine allowed NSSAI and the mapping to the subscribed S-NSSAIs, if needed. The NSSF 1250 may also determine the AMF set to be used to serve the UE 1202, or a list of candidate AMFs based on a suitable configuration and possibly by querying the NRF 1254. The selection of a set of network slice instances for the UE 1202 may be triggered by the AMF 1244 with which the UE 1202 is registered by interacting with the NS SF 1250, which may lead to a change of AMF. The NSSF 1250 may interact with the AMF 1244 via an N22 reference point; and may communicate with another NSSF in a visited network via an N31 reference point (not shown). Additionally, the NSSF 1250 may exhibit an Nnssf service-based interface.


The NEF 1252 may securely expose services and capabilities provided by 3GPP network functions for third party, internal exposure/re-exposure, AFs (e.g., AF 1260), edge computing or fog computing systems, etc. In such embodiments, the NEF 1252 may authenticate, authorize, or throttle the AFs. NEF 1252 may also translate information exchanged with the AF 1260 and information exchanged with internal network functions. For example, the NEF 1252 may translate between an AF-Service-Identifier and an internal 5GC information. NEF 1252 may also receive information from other NFs based on exposed capabilities of other NFs. This information may be stored at the NEF 1252 as structured data, or at a data storage NF using standardized interfaces. The stored information can then be re-exposed by the NEF 1252 to other NFs and AFs, or used for other purposes such as analytics. Additionally, the NEF 1252 may exhibit an Nnef service-based interface.


The NRF 1254 may support service discovery functions, receive NF discovery requests from NF instances, and provide the information of the discovered NF instances to the NF instances. NRF 1254 also maintains information of available NF instances and their supported services. As used herein, the terms “instantiate,” “instantiation,” and the like may refer to the creation of an instance, and an “instance” may refer to a concrete occurrence of an object, which may occur, for example, during execution of program code. Additionally, the NRF 1254 may exhibit the Nnrf service-based interface.


The PCF 1256 may provide policy rules to control plane functions to enforce them, and may also support unified policy framework to govern network behavior. The PCF 1256 may also implement a front end to access subscription information relevant for policy decisions in a UDR of the UDM 1258. In addition to communicating with functions over reference points as shown, the PCF 1256 exhibit an Npcf service-based interface.


The UDM 1258 may handle subscription-related information to support the network entities' handling of communication sessions, and may store subscription data of UE 1202. For example, subscription data may be communicated via an N8 reference point between the UDM 1258 and the AMF 1244. The UDM 1258 may include two parts, an application front end and a UDR. The UDR may store subscription data and policy data for the UDM 1258 and the PCF 1256, and/or structured data for exposure and application data (including PFDs for application detection, application request information for multiple UEs 1202) for the NEF 1252. The Nudr service-based interface may be exhibited by the UDR 221 to allow the UDM 1258, PCF 1256, and NEF 1252 to access a particular set of the stored data, as well as to read, update (e.g., add, modify), delete, and subscribe to notification of relevant data changes in the UDR. The UDM may include a UDM-FE, which is in charge of processing credentials, location management, subscription management and so on. Several different front ends may serve the same user in different transactions. The UDM-FE accesses subscription information stored in the UDR and performs authentication credential processing, user identification handling, access authorization, registration/mobility management, and subscription management. In addition to communicating with other NFs over reference points as shown, the UDM 1258 may exhibit the Nudm service-based interface.


The AF 1260 may provide application influence on traffic routing, provide access to NEF, and interact with the policy framework for policy control.


In some embodiments, the 5GC 1240 may enable edge computing by selecting operator/3rd party services to be geographically close to a point that the UE 1202 is attached to the network. This may reduce latency and load on the network. To provide edge-computing implementations, the 5GC 1240 may select a UPF 1248 close to the UE 1202 and execute traffic steering from the UPF 1248 to data network 1236 via the N6 interface. This may be based on the UE subscription data, UE location, and information provided by the AF 1260. In this way, the AF 1260 may influence UPF (re)selection and traffic routing. Based on operator deployment, when AF 1260 is considered to be a trusted entity, the network operator may permit AF 1260 to interact directly with relevant NFs. Additionally, the AF 1260 may exhibit an Naf service-based interface.


The data network 1236 may represent various network operator services, Internet access, or third party services that may be provided by one or more servers including, for example, application/content server 1238.



FIG. 13 schematically illustrates a wireless network 1300 in accordance with various embodiments. The wireless network 1300 may include a UE 1302 in wireless communication with an AN 1304. The UE 1302 and AN 1304 may be similar to, and substantially interchangeable with, like-named components described elsewhere herein.


The UE 1302 may be communicatively coupled with the AN 1304 via connection 1306. The connection 1306 is illustrated as an air interface to enable communicative coupling, and can be consistent with cellular communications protocols such as an LTE protocol or a 5G NR protocol operating at mmWave or sub-6 GHz frequencies.


The UE 1302 may include a host platform 1308 coupled with a modem platform 1310. The host platform 1308 may include application processing circuitry 1312, which may be coupled with protocol processing circuitry 1314 of the modem platform 1310. The application processing circuitry 1312 may run various applications for the UE 1302 that source/sink application data. The application processing circuitry 1312 may further implement one or more layer operations to transmit/receive application data to/from a data network. These layer operations may include transport (for example UDP) and Internet (for example, IP) operations


The protocol processing circuitry 1314 may implement one or more of layer operations to facilitate transmission or reception of data over the connection 1306. The layer operations implemented by the protocol processing circuitry 1314 may include, for example, MAC, RLC, PDCP, RRC and NAS operations.


The modem platform 1310 may further include digital baseband circuitry 1316 that may implement one or more layer operations that are “below” layer operations performed by the protocol processing circuitry 1314 in a network protocol stack. These operations may include, for example, PHY operations including one or more of HARQ-ACK functions, scrambling/descrambling, encoding/decoding, layer mapping/de-mapping, modulation symbol mapping, received symbol/bit metric determination, multi-antenna port precoding/decoding, which may include one or more of space-time, space-frequency or spatial coding, reference signal generation/detection, preamble sequence generation and/or decoding, synchronization sequence generation/detection, control channel signal blind decoding, and other related functions.


The modem platform 1310 may further include transmit circuitry 1318, receive circuitry 1320, RF circuitry 1322, and RF front end (RFFE) 1324, which may include or connect to one or more antenna panels 1326. Briefly, the transmit circuitry 1318 may include a digital-to-analog converter, mixer, intermediate frequency (IF) components, etc.; the receive circuitry 1320 may include an analog-to-digital converter, mixer, IF components, etc.; the RF circuitry 1322 may include a low-noise amplifier, a power amplifier, power tracking components, etc.; RFFE 1324 may include filters (for example, surface/bulk acoustic wave filters), switches, antenna tuners, beamforming components (for example, phase-array antenna components), etc. The selection and arrangement of the components of the transmit circuitry 1318, receive circuitry 1320, RF circuitry 1322, RFFE 1324, and antenna panels 1326 (referred generically as “transmit/receive components”) may be specific to details of a specific implementation such as, for example, whether communication is TDM or FDM, in mmWave or sub-6 gHz frequencies, etc. In some embodiments, the transmit/receive components may be arranged in multiple parallel transmit/receive chains, may be disposed in the same or different chips/modules, etc.


In some embodiments, the protocol processing circuitry 1314 may include one or more instances of control circuitry (not shown) to provide control functions for the transmit/receive components.


A UE reception may be established by and via the antenna panels 1326, RFFE 1324, RF circuitry 1322, receive circuitry 1320, digital baseband circuitry 1316, and protocol processing circuitry 1314. In some embodiments, the antenna panels 1326 may receive a transmission from the AN 1304 by receive-beamforming signals received by a plurality of antennas/antenna elements of the one or more antenna panels 1326.


A UE transmission may be established by and via the protocol processing circuitry 1314, digital baseband circuitry 1316, transmit circuitry 1318, RF circuitry 1322, RFFE 1324, and antenna panels 1326. In some embodiments, the transmit components of the UE 1304 may apply a spatial filter to the data to be transmitted to form a transmit beam emitted by the antenna elements of the antenna panels 1326.


Similar to the UE 1302, the AN 1304 may include a host platform 1328 coupled with a modem platform 1330. The host platform 1328 may include application processing circuitry 1332 coupled with protocol processing circuitry 1334 of the modem platform 1330. The modem platform may further include digital baseband circuitry 1336, transmit circuitry 1338, receive circuitry 1340, RF circuitry 1342, RFFE circuitry 1344, and antenna panels 1346. The components of the AN 1304 may be similar to and substantially interchangeable with like-named components of the UE 1302. In addition to performing data transmission/reception as described above, the components of the AN 1308 may perform various logical functions that include, for example, RNC functions such as radio bearer management, uplink and downlink dynamic radio resource management, and data packet scheduling.



FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating components, according to some example embodiments, able to read instructions from a machine-readable or computer-readable medium (e.g., a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium) and perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein. Specifically, FIG. 14 shows a diagrammatic representation of hardware resources 1400 including one or more processors (or processor cores) 1410, one or more memory/storage devices 1420, and one or more communication resources 1430, each of which may be communicatively coupled via a bus 1440 or other interface circuitry. For embodiments where node virtualization (e.g., NFV) is utilized, a hypervisor 1402 may be executed to provide an execution environment for one or more network slices/sub-slices to utilize the hardware resources 1400.


The processors 1410 may include, for example, a processor 1412 and a processor 1414. The processors 1410 may be, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a reduced instruction set computing (RISC) processor, a complex instruction set computing (CISC) processor, a graphics processing unit (GPU), a DSP such as a baseband processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, a radio-frequency integrated circuit (RFIC), another processor (including those discussed herein), or any suitable combination thereof.


The memory/storage devices 1420 may include main memory, disk storage, or any suitable combination thereof. The memory/storage devices 1420 may include, but are not limited to, any type of volatile, non-volatile, or semi-volatile memory such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), Flash memory, solid-state storage, etc.


The communication resources 1430 may include interconnection or network interface controllers, components, or other suitable devices to communicate with one or more peripheral devices 1404 or one or more databases 1406 or other network elements via a network 1408. For example, the communication resources 1430 may include wired communication components (e.g., for coupling via USB, Ethernet, etc.), cellular communication components, NFC components, Bluetooth® (or Bluetooth® Low Energy) components, Wi-Fi® components, and other communication components.


Instructions 1450 may comprise software, a program, an application, an applet, an app, or other executable code for causing at least any of the processors 1410 to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein. The instructions 1450 may reside, completely or partially, within at least one of the processors 1410 (e.g., within the processor's cache memory), the memory/storage devices 1420, or any suitable combination thereof. Furthermore, any portion of the instructions 1450 may be transferred to the hardware resources 1400 from any combination of the peripheral devices 1404 or the databases 1406. Accordingly, the memory of processors 1410, the memory/storage devices 1420, the peripheral devices 1404, and the databases 1406 are examples of computer-readable and machine-readable media.


Example Procedures

In some embodiments, the electronic device(s), network(s), system(s), chip(s) or component(s), or portions or implementations thereof, of FIGS. 12-14, or some other figure herein, may be configured to perform one or more processes, techniques, or methods as described herein, or portions thereof. One such process is depicted in FIG. 15. In this example, the process 1500 includes, at 1505, retrieving configuration information that includes a number of transport blocks (TBs) for frequency hopping for a data transmission associated with a user equipment (UE) from memory, wherein the configuration information includes an indication of a TB group containing the TBs, wherein the configuration information is to indicate that the frequency hopping for the data transmission is to be performed within the TB group, and wherein the configuration information is to indicate a first part of a TB is to be transmitted in a first hop and a second part of the TB is to be transmitted in a second hop. The process further includes, at 1510, encoding a message for transmission to the UE that includes the configuration information.


Another such process is illustrated in FIG. 16. In this example, the process 1600 includes, at 1605, determining configuration information that includes a number of transport blocks (TBs) for frequency hopping for a data transmission associated with a user equipment (UE), wherein the configuration information includes an indication of a TB group containing the TBs, wherein the configuration information is to indicate that the frequency hopping for the data transmission is to be performed within the TB group, and wherein the configuration information is to indicate a first part of a TB is to be transmitted in a first hop and a second part of the TB is to be transmitted in a second hop. The process further includes, at 1610, encoding a message for transmission to the UE that includes the configuration information.


Another such process is illustrated in FIG. 17. In this example, the process 1700 includes, at 1705, receiving a message from a next-generation NodeB (gNB) comprising configuration information that includes a number of transport blocks (TBs) for frequency hopping for a data transmission associated with the UE, wherein the configuration information includes an indication of a TB group containing the TBs, wherein the configuration information is to indicate that the frequency hopping for the data transmission is to be performed within the TB group, and wherein the configuration information is to indicate a first part of a TB is to be transmitted in a first hop and a second part of the TB is to be transmitted in a second hop. The process further includes, at 1710, receiving a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) message, or encoding a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) message for transmission, based on the configuration information.


For one or more embodiments, at least one of the components set forth in one or more of the preceding figures may be configured to perform one or more operations, techniques, processes, and/or methods as set forth in the example section below. For example, the baseband circuitry as described above in connection with one or more of the preceding figures may be configured to operate in accordance with one or more of the examples set forth below. For another example, circuitry associated with a UE, base station, network element, etc. as described above in connection with one or more of the preceding figures may be configured to operate in accordance with one or more of the examples set forth below in the example section.


EXAMPLES

Example 1 may include a method of wireless communication to schedule multiple transport block transmissions for above 52.6 GHz carrier frequency, the method comprising:


UE detects a downlink control information (DCI); and


UE determine the scheduling information carried in the DCI.


Example 2 may include the method of example 1 or some other example herein, wherein the DCI includes information on the start symbol (S) of the allocated time resource, the number of symbols for a TB or a TB group (L), the total number of symbols (X) of the allocated time resource or the number of scheduled TBs or TB groups (M), and the differentiation on new transmission or retransmission for each of the M scheduled TBs or TB groups (NRI).


Example 3 may include the method of example 2 or some other example herein, wherein each entry of time domain resource allocation (TDRA) field in the DCI indicates the information S, L, M for the allocated data transmission, however, NRI is a separate field in the DCI.


Example 4 may include the method of example 2 or some other example herein, wherein each entry of TDRA field indicate S, M for the allocated data transmission, however, L and NRI are separate fields in the DCI.


Example 5 may include the method of example 2 or some other example herein, wherein each entry of TDRA field indicates the information S, L, X for the allocated data transmission, however, NRI is a separate field in the DCI.


Example 6 may include the method of example 2 or some other example herein, wherein each entry of TDRA field indicate S, X for the allocated data transmission, however, L and NRI are separate fields in the DCI.


Example 7 may include the method of example 1 or some other example herein, wherein NRI field in the DCI indicates the number of scheduled TBs or TB groups, e.g. M, and differentiates each of the M TBs or TB groups as a new transmission or retransmission.


Example 8 may include the method of example 7 or some other example herein, wherein Each entry of TDRA field in the DCI indicates the information S, L for the allocated data transmission.


Example 9 may include the method of example 7 or some other example herein, wherein the information S and L are respectively indicated by separate fields in the DCI.


Example 10 may include the method of example 7 or some other example herein, wherein the NRI field is interpreted into a bitmap of length Mmax and one special bit, Mmax is the maximum number of scheduled TBs or TB groups by the DCI.


Example 11 may include the method of example 10 or some other example herein, wherein the first M bits in the bitmap respectively indicate a corresponding TB or TB group is a new transmission or retransmission. The ‘M+1’th bit, if existed in the bitmap which does not have a corresponding TB or TB group is set to a value different from the ‘M’th bit. Each of the last Mmax−M bits in the bitmap, if existed, are set to same value as the ‘M+1’th bit.


Example 12 may include the method of example 11 or some other example herein, wherein the special bit has a value that is different from the ‘M’th bit in the bitmap.


Example 13 may include the method of example 12 or some other example herein, wherein UE considers the TBs corresponding to the last Mmax−M bits in the bitmap, if existed, that have the same value as the special bit to not have been scheduled.


Example 14 may include the method of example 11 or some other example herein, wherein the special bit indicates whether the last bits in the bitmap that have the same value are valid to indicate schedule TBs or TB groups or not.


Example 15 may include the method of example 14 or some other example herein, wherein if the special bit is ‘1’, UE considers that the TBs corresponding to the last Mmax−M bits in the bitmap that have the same value to not have been scheduled. Otherwise, if the special bit is ‘0’, UE considers all bits in the bitmap indicate scheduled TB or TB groups.


Example 16 may include the method of example 7 or some other example herein, wherein the NRI field in the DCI is interpreted into a bitmap of length Mmax+1, Mmax is the maximum number of scheduled TBs or TB groups by the DCI.


Example 17 may include the method of example 16 or some other example herein, wherein the first M bits in the bitmap respectively indicate a corresponding TB or TB group is a new transmission or retransmission. The ‘M+1’th bit in the bitmap which does not have a corresponding TB or TB group is set to a value different from the ‘M’th bit. Each of the last Mmax+1−M bits in the bitmap are set to same value as the ‘M+1’th bit.


Example 18 may include the method of example 17 or some other example herein, wherein UE considers the last Mmax+1−M bits in the bitmap that have the same value as the last bit of the bitmap are not associated with scheduled TBs.


Example 19 may include the method of example 1 or some other example herein, wherein the NRI field in the DCI is interpreted into a bitmap of length Mmax, Mmax is the maximum number of scheduled TBs or TB groups by the DCI. Each bit in the bitmap respectively indicate a corresponding TB or TB group as a new transmission or retransmission.


Example 20 may include the method of example 19 or some other example herein, wherein if early termination happens, the number of transmitted TBs or TB groups is less than Mmax.


Example 21 may include a method comprising:

    • receiving or transmitting a downlink control information (DCI) to schedule transmission of multiple transport blocks (TBs), wherein the DCI indicates one or more of: a start symbol (S) of an allocated time resource, a number of symbols for a TB or a TB group (L), a total number of symbols (X) of the allocated time resource, a number of scheduled TBs or TB groups (M), and/or a new transmission or retransmission indicator (NRI) to indicate whether the respective TBs are a new transmission or a retransmission; and
    • receiving or transmitting the transport blocks based on the DCI.


Example 22 may include the method of example 21 or some other example herein, wherein one or more of S, L, X, M, or NRI are included in a time domain resource allocation (TDRA) field for the respective TB, and one or more other of S, L, X, M, or NRI are included in a separate field in the DCI.


Example 23 may include the method of example 21-22 or some other example herein, wherein the method is performed by a user equipment (UE) or a portion thereof.


Example 24 may include the method of example 21-22 or some other example herein, wherein the method is performed by a next generation Node B (gNB) or a portion thereof.


Example X1 may include a method of a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:

    • receiving, from gNodeB (gNB), a number of transport blocks (TB) for frequency hopping; and
    • performing frequency hopping for transmission of a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) in accordance with the indicated number of TBs; or
    • receiving a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) with frequency hopping in accordance with the indicated number of TBs.


Example X2 may include the method of example X1 or some other example herein, wherein frequency hopping is applied for a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) or PUSCH transmission.


Example X3 may include wherein a number of transport blocks (TB) can be grouped into a TB group, wherein frequency hopping is performed within the TB group.


Example X4 may include the method of example X1 or some other example herein, wherein the number of TBs in the TB group can be configured by higher layers via minimum system information (MSI), remaining minimum system information (RMSI), other system information (OSI) or dedicated radio resource control (RRC) signalling or dynamically indicated in the downlink control information (DCI) or a combination thereof.


Example X5 may include the method of example X1 or some other example herein, wherein a first part of a TB is transmitted in a first hop and a second part of the TB is transmitted in a second hop.


Example X6 may include the method of example X1 or some other example herein, wherein mapping order of a TB can be defined in a time first and frequency second manner.


Example X7 may include the method of example X1 or some other example herein, wherein dedicated DMRS symbols are allocated in each hop before the transmitted of a first TB within the TB group or a whole hopping boundary where UE one frequency hopping.


Example X8 may include the method of example X1 or some other example herein, wherein when one symbol is allocated for a TB, one or more TBs may be mixed into the same symbol when frequency hopping is applied.


Example X9 may include the method of example X1 or some other example herein, wherein frequency hopping may be performed within a number of symbols within a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) or PUSCH transmission.


Example X10 may include the method of example X1 or some other example herein, wherein the number of symbols for the whole hopping boundary where UE performs one frequency hopping can be configured by higher layers via MSI, RMSI (SIB1), OSI or RRC signalling or dynamically indicated in the DCI or a combination thereof.


Example X11 may include the method of example X1 or some other example herein, wherein if time domain bundling for hybrid automatic repeat request-acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) feedback is enabled, the number of symbols for a whole hopping boundary or the number of TBs within a TB group for frequency hopping can be determined in accordance with the configured or indicated time domain bundling size for HARQ-ACK feedback.


Example XX12 may include the method of example X1 or some other example herein, wherein for the mixed initial transmission and retransmission in a PDSCH or PUSCH, when frequency hopping is enabled, retransmission of the TBs is grouped first for frequency hopping and followed by initial transmission of the TBs on PDSCH or PUSCH.


Example X13 may include the method of example X1 or some other example herein, wherein for uplink control channel (UCI) multiplexed on PUSCH, UCI may be equally divided into two parts, where the first part is transmitted in the first hop and the second part is transmitted in the second hop, wherein retransmitted TBs follows the UCI and then initial transmission of the TBs.


Example X14 may include a method of a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:

    • receiving an indication of a number of transport blocks (TBs) for frequency hopping; and
    • encoding a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) for transmission with frequency hopping in accordance with the indicated number of TBs; or
    • receiving a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) with frequency hopping in accordance with the indicated number of TBs.


Example X15 may include the method of example X14 or some other example herein, wherein TBs are grouped into respective TB groups based on the indicated number of TBs, wherein the frequency hopping is performed within the respective TB groups.


Example X16 may include the method of example X14-X15 or some other example herein, wherein the indication of the number of TBs is received via minimum system information (MSI), remaining minimum system information (RMSI), other system information (OSI) or dedicated radio resource control (RRC) signalling or dynamically indicated in the downlink control information (DCI) or a combination thereof.


Example X17 may include the method of example X14-X16 or some other example herein, wherein, as part of the frequency hopping, a first part of a TB is transmitted in a first hop and a second part of the TB is transmitted in a second hop.


Example Y1 includes an apparatus comprising:

    • memory to store configuration information that includes a number of transport blocks (TBs) for frequency hopping for a data transmission associated with a user equipment (UE); and
    • processing circuitry, coupled with the memory, to:
      • retrieve the configuration information from memory, wherein the configuration information includes an indication of a TB group containing the TBs, wherein the configuration information is to indicate that the frequency hopping for the data transmission is to be performed within the TB group, and wherein the configuration information is to indicate a first part of a TB is to be transmitted in a first hop and a second part of the TB is to be transmitted in a second hop; and
      • encode a message for transmission to the UE that includes the configuration information.


Example Y2 includes the apparatus of example Y1 or some other example herein, wherein the data transmission associated with the UE is a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) transmission, or a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmission.


Example Y3 includes the apparatus of example Y1 or some other example herein, wherein the configuration information in the message is included in downlink control information (DCI), or the message is encoded for transmission via: minimum system information (MSI), remaining minimum system information (RMSI), other system information (OSI), or dedicated radio resource control (RRC) signaling.


Example Y4 includes the apparatus of example Y1 or some other example herein, wherein the configuration information includes a TB mapping order defined in a time-first and frequency-second manner.


Example Y5 includes the apparatus of example Y1 or some other example herein, wherein the configuration information is to indicate that a respective dedicated demodulation reference signal (DMRS) symbol is allocated in each respective hop before transmission of a first TB within the TB group.


Example Y6 includes the apparatus of example Y1 or some other example herein, wherein the configuration information is to indicate that one or more TBs are mixed into a common symbol when frequency hopping is applied.


Example Y7 includes the apparatus of example Y1 or some other example herein, wherein the configuration information is to indicate a number of symbols for a hopping boundary, or a number of TBs within a TB group for frequency hopping, based on a time domain bundling size for hybrid automatic repeat request-acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) feedback.


Example Y8 includes the apparatus of any of examples Y1-Y7 or some other example herein, wherein the configuration information is to indicate:

    • for a mixed initial transmission and retransmission in a PDSCH or PUSCH, when frequency hopping is enabled: retransmission of TBs is grouped first for frequency hopping, followed by an initial transmission of the TBs on PDSCH or PUSCH; or
    • for uplink control channel (UCI) multiplexed on PUSCH: UCI is equally divided into a first part and a second part, wherein the first part is transmitted in the first hop and the second part is transmitted in the second hop, and wherein retransmitted TBs follow the UCI and initial transmission of the TBs follow retransmitted TBs .


Example Y9 includes one or more computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause a next-generation NodeB (gNB) to:

    • determine configuration information that includes a number of transport blocks (TBs) for frequency hopping for a data transmission associated with a user equipment (UE), wherein the configuration information includes an indication of a TB group containing the TBs, wherein the configuration information is to indicate that the frequency hopping for the data transmission is to be performed within the TB group, and wherein the configuration information is to indicate a first part of a TB is to be transmitted in a first hop and a second part of the TB is to be transmitted in a second hop; and
      • encode a message for transmission to the UE that includes the configuration information.


Example Y10 includes the one or more computer-readable media of example Y9 or some other example herein, wherein the data transmission associated with the UE is a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) transmission, or a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmission.


Example Y11 includes the one or more computer-readable media of example Y9 or some other example herein, wherein the configuration information in the message is included in downlink control information (DCI), or the message is encoded for transmission via: minimum system information (MSI), remaining minimum system information (RMSI), other system information (OSI), or dedicated radio resource control (RRC) signaling.


Example Y12 includes the one or more computer-readable media of example Y9 or some other example herein, wherein the configuration information includes a TB mapping order defined in a time-first and frequency-second manner.


Example Y13 includes the one or more computer-readable media of example Y9 or some other example herein, wherein the configuration information is to indicate that a respective dedicated demodulation reference signal (DMRS) symbol is allocated in each respective hop before transmission of a first TB within the TB group.


Example Y14 includes the one or more computer-readable media of example Y9 or some other example herein, wherein the configuration information is to indicate that one or more TBs are mixed into a common symbol when frequency hopping is applied.


Example Y15 includes the one or more computer-readable media of example Y9 or some other example herein, wherein the configuration information is to indicate a number of symbols for a hopping boundary, or a number of TBs within a TB group for frequency hopping, based on a time domain bundling size for hybrid automatic repeat request-acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) feedback.


Example Y16 includes the one or more computer-readable media of any of examples Y9-Y15 or some other example herein, wherein the configuration information is to indicate:

    • for a mixed initial transmission and retransmission in a PDSCH or PUSCH when frequency hopping is enabled: retransmission of TBs is grouped first for frequency hopping, followed by an initial transmission of the TBs on PDSCH or PUSCH; or
    • for uplink control channel (UCI) multiplexed on PUSCH: UCI is equally divided into a first part and a second part, wherein the first part is transmitted in the first hop and the second part is transmitted in the second hop, and wherein retransmitted TBs follow the UCI and initial transmission of the TBs follow retransmitted TBs.


Example Y17 includes one or more computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause a user equipment (UE) to:

    • receive a message from a next-generation NodeB (gNB) comprising configuration information that includes a number of transport blocks (TBs) for frequency hopping for a data transmission associated with the UE, wherein the configuration information includes an indication of a TB group containing the TBs, wherein the configuration information is to indicate that the frequency hopping for the data transmission is to be performed within the TB group, and wherein the configuration information is to indicate a first part of a TB is to be transmitted in a first hop and a second part of the TB is to be transmitted in a second hop; and
    • receive a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) message, or encode a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) message for transmission, based on the configuration information.


Example Y18 includes the one or more computer-readable media of example Y17 or some other example herein, wherein the configuration information is included in downlink control information (DCI), or the configuration information is received via: minimum system information (MSI), remaining minimum system information (RMSI), other system information (OSI), or dedicated radio resource control (RRC) signaling.


Example Y19 includes the one or more computer-readable media of example Y17 or some other example herein, wherein the configuration information includes a TB mapping order defined in a time-first and frequency-second manner.


Example Y20 includes the one or more computer-readable media of example Y17 or some other example herein, wherein the configuration information is to indicate that a respective dedicated demodulation reference signal (DMRS) symbol is allocated in each respective hop before transmission of a first TB within the TB group.


Example Y21 includes the one or more computer-readable media of example Y17 or some other example herein, wherein the configuration information is to indicate that one or more TBs are mixed into a common symbol when frequency hopping is applied.


Example Y22 includes the one or more computer-readable media of example Y17 or some other example herein, wherein the configuration information is to indicate a number of symbols for a hopping boundary, or a number of TBs within a TB group for frequency hopping, based on a time domain bundling size for hybrid automatic repeat request-acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) feedback.


Example Y23 includes the one or more computer-readable media of any of examples Y17-Y24 or some other example herein, wherein the configuration information is to indicate:

    • for a mixed initial transmission and retransmission in a PDSCH or PUSCH when frequency hopping is enabled: retransmission of TBs is grouped first for frequency hopping, followed by an initial transmission of the TBs on PDSCH or PUSCH; or
    • for uplink control channel (UCI) multiplexed on PUSCH: UCI is equally divided into a first part and a second part, wherein the first part is transmitted in the first hop and the second part is transmitted in the second hop, and wherein retransmitted TBs follow the UCI and initial transmission of the TBs follow retransmitted TBs.


Example Z01 may include an apparatus comprising means to perform one or more elements of a method described in or related to any of examples 1-Y24, or any other method or process described herein.


Example Z02 may include one or more non-transitory computer-readable media comprising instructions to cause an electronic device, upon execution of the instructions by one or more processors of the electronic device, to perform one or more elements of a method described in or related to any of examples 1-Y24, or any other method or process described herein.


Example Z03 may include an apparatus comprising logic, modules, or circuitry to perform one or more elements of a method described in or related to any of examples 1-Y24, or any other method or process described herein.


Example Z04 may include a method, technique, or process as described in or related to any of examples 1-Y24, or portions or parts thereof.


Example Z05 may include an apparatus comprising: one or more processors and one or more computer-readable media comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the method, techniques, or process as described in or related to any of examples 1-Y24, or portions thereof.


Example Z06 may include a signal as described in or related to any of examples 1-Y24, or portions or parts thereof.


Example Z07 may include a datagram, packet, frame, segment, protocol data unit (PDU), or message as described in or related to any of examples 1-Y24, or portions or parts thereof, or otherwise described in the present disclosure.


Example Z08 may include a signal encoded with data as described in or related to any of examples 1-Y24, or portions or parts thereof, or otherwise described in the present disclosure.


Example Z09 may include a signal encoded with a datagram, packet, frame, segment, protocol data unit (PDU), or message as described in or related to any of examples 1-Y24, or portions or parts thereof, or otherwise described in the present disclosure.


Example Z10 may include an electromagnetic signal carrying computer-readable instructions, wherein execution of the computer-readable instructions by one or more processors is to cause the one or more processors to perform the method, techniques, or process as described in or related to any of examples 1-Y24, or portions thereof.


Example Z11 may include a computer program comprising instructions, wherein execution of the program by a processing element is to cause the processing element to carry out the method, techniques, or process as described in or related to any of examples 1-Y24, or portions thereof.


Example Z12 may include a signal in a wireless network as shown and described herein.


Example Z13 may include a method of communicating in a wireless network as shown and described herein.


Example Z14 may include a system for providing wireless communication as shown and described herein.


Example Z15 may include a device for providing wireless communication as shown and described herein.


Any of the above-described examples may be combined with any other example (or combination of examples), unless explicitly stated otherwise. The foregoing description of one or more implementations provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the scope of embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of various embodiments.


ABBREVIATIONS

Unless used differently herein, terms, definitions, and abbreviations may be consistent with terms, definitions, and abbreviations defined in 3GPP TR 21.905 v16.0.0 (2019-06). For the purposes of the present document, the following abbreviations may apply to the examples and embodiments discussed herein.


















3GPP
Third Generation Partnership




Project



4G
Fourth Generation



5G
Fourth Generation



5GC
5G core network



AC
Application Client



ACK
Acknowledgement



ACID
Application Client Identification



AF
Application Function



AM
Acknowledged Mode



AMBR
Aggregate Maximum Bit Rate



AMF
Access and Mobility




Management Function



AN
Access Network



ANR
Automatic Neighbour Relation



AP
Application Protocol,




Antenna Port, Access Point



API
Application Programming




Interface



APN
Access Point Name



ARP
Allocation and Retention




Priority



ARQ
Automatic Repeat Request



AS
Access Stratum



ASP
Application Service Provider



ASN.1
Abstract Syntax Notation One



AUSF
Authentication Server Function



AWGN
Additive White Gaussian




Noise



BAP
Backhaul Adaptation Protocol



BCH
Broadcast Channel



BER
Bit Error Ratio



BFD
Beam Failure Detection



BLER
Block Error Rate



BPSK
Binary Phase Shift Keying



BRAS
Broadband Remote Access




Server



BSS
Business Support System



BS
Base Station



BSR
Buffer Status Report



BW
Bandwidth



BWP
Bandwidth Part



C-RNTI
Cell Radio Network Temporary




Identity



CA
Carrier Aggreation,




Certification Authority



CAPEX
CAPital EXpenditure



CBRA
Contention Based Random




Access



CC
Component Carrier, Country




Code, Cryptographic Checksum



CCA
Clear Channel Assessment



CCE
Control Channel Element



CCCH
Common Control Channel



CE
Coverage Enhancement



CDM
Content Delivery Network



CDMA
Code-Division Multiple Access



CFRA
Contention Free Random




Access



CG
Cell Group



CGF
Charging Gateway Function



CHF
Charging Function



CI
Cell Identity



CID
Cell-ID (e.g., positioning




method)



CIM
Common Information Model



CIR
Carrier to Interference Ratio



CK
Cipher Key



CM
Connection Management,




Conditional Mandatory



CMAS
Commercial Mobile Alert




Service



CMD
Command



CMS
Cloud Management System



CO
Conditional Optional



CoMP
Coordinated Multi-Point



CORESET
Control Resource Set



COTS
Commercial Off-The-Shelf



CP
Control Plane, Cyclic Prefix,




Connection Point



CPD
Connection Point Descriptor



CPE
Customer Premise Equipment



CPICHC
Common Pilot Channel



CQI
Channel Quality Indicator



CPU
CSI processing unit, Central




processing unit,



C/R
Command/Response field bit



CRAN
Cloud Radio Access Network,




Cloud RAN



CRB
Common Resource Block



CRC
Cyclic Redundancy Check



CRI
Channel-State Information




Resource Indicator, CSI-RS




Resource Indicator



C-RNTI
Cell RNTI



CS
Circut Switched



CSCF
call session control function



CSAR
Cloud Service Archive



CSI
Channel-State Information



CSI-IM
CSI Interference Measurement



CSI-RS
CSI Reference Signal



CSI-RSRP
CSI reference signal received




power



CSI-SINR
CSI signal-to-noise and




interference ratio



CSMA
Carrier Sense Multiple Access



CSMA/CA
CSMA with collision




avoidance



CSS
Common Search Space, Cell-




specific Search Space



CTF
Charging Trigger Function



CTS
Clear-to-Send



CW
Codeword



CWS
Contention Window Size



D2D
Device-to-Device



DC
Dual Connectivity, Direct




Current



DCI
Downlink Control Information



DF
Deployment Flavour



DL
Downlink



DMTF
Distributed Management




Task Force



DPDK
Data Plane Development Kit



DM-RS, DMRS
Demodulation Reference




Signal



DN
Data network



DNN
Data Network Name



DNAI
Data Network Access Identifier



DRB
Data Radio Bearer



DRS
Discovery Reference Signal



DRX
Discontinuous Reception



DSL
Domain Specific Language.




Digital Subscriber Line



DSLAM
DSL Access Multiplexer



DwPTS
Downlink Pilot Time Slot



E-LAN
Ethernet Local Area Network



E2E
End-to-End



ECCA
extended clear channel




assessment, extended CCA



ECCE
Ehanced Control Channel




Element, Enhanced CCE



ED
Energy Detection



EDGE
Enhanced Datarates for GSM




Evolution (GSM Evolution)



EAS
Edge Application Server



EASID
Edge Application Server




Identification



ECS
Edge Configuration Server



ECSP
Edge Computing Service




Provider



EDN
Edge Data Network



EEC
Edge Enabler Client



EECID
Edge Enabler Client




Identification



EES
Edge Enabler Client Server



EESID
Edge Enabler Client Server




Identification



EHE
Edge Hosting Enviornment



EGMF
Exposure Governance




Management Function



EGPRS
Enhanced GPRS



EIR
Equipment Identity Register



eLAA
enhanced Licensed Assisted




Access, ehanced LAA



EM
Element Manager



eMBB
Enhanced Mobile Broadband



EMS
Element Management System



eNB
evolved NodeB, E-UTRAN




Node B



EN-DC
E-UTRA-NR Dual Connectivity



EPC
Evolved Packet Core



EPDCCH
enhanced PDCCH, enhanced




Physical Downlink Control




Cannel



EPRE
Energy per resource element



EPS
Evolved Packet System



EREG
enhanced REG, enhanced




resource element groups



ETSI
European Telecommunications




Standards Institue



ETWS
Earthquake and Tsunami




Warning System



eUICC
embedded UICC, embedded




Universal Integrated Circut




Card



E-UTRA
Evolved UTRA



E-UTRAN
Evolved UTRAN



EV2X
Enhanced V2X



F1AP
F1 Application Protocol



F1-C
F1 Control plane interface



F1-U
F1 User plane interface



FACCH
Fast Associated Control




CHannel



FACCH/F
Fast Associated Control




Channel/Full rate



FACCH/F
Fast Associated Control




Channel/Half rate



FACH
Foward Access Channel



FAUSCH
Fast Uplink Signalling Channel



FB
Functional Block



FBI
Feeback Information



FCC
Federal Communications




Commission



FCCH
Frequency Correction CHannel



FDD
Frequency Division Duplex



FDM
Frequency Division Multiplex



FDMA
Frequency Division Multiplex




Access



FE
Front End



FEC
Forward Error Correction



FFS
For Further Study



FFT
Fast Fourier Transformation



feLAA
further enhanced Licensed




Assisted Access, further




enhanced LAA



FN
Frame Number



FPGA
Field-Programmable Gate Array



FR
Frequency Range



FQDN
Fully Qualified Domain Name



G-RNTI
GERAN Radio Network




Temporary Identity



GERAN
GSM EDGE RAN, GSM




EDGE Radio Access




Network



GGSN
Gateway GPRS Support Node



GLONASS
GLObal'naya NAvigatsionnay




a Sputnikovaya Sistema (Engl.:




Global Navigation Satellite




System)



gNB
Next Generation NodeB



gNB-CU
gNB-centralized unit, Next




Generation NodeB centralized




unit



gNB-DU
gNB-distributed unit, Next




Generation NodeB distributed




unit



GNSS
Global Navigation Satellite




System



GPRS
General Packet Radio Service



GPSI
Generic Public Subscription




Identifier



GSM
Global System for Mobile




Communications, Groupe




Spécial Mobile



GTP
GPRS Tunneling Protocol



GTP-UGPRS
Tunneling Protocol for User




Plane



GTS
Go To Sleep Signal (related to




WUS)



GUMMEI
Globally Unique MME




identifier



GUTI
Globally Unique Temporary UE




Identity



HARQ
Hybrid ARQ, Hybrid Automatic




Repeat Request



HANDO
Handover



HFN
HyperFrame Number



HHO
Hard Handover



HLR
Home Location Register



HN
Home Network



HO
Handover



HPLMN
Home Public Land Mobile




Network



HSDPA
High Speed Downlink Packet




Access



HSN
Hopping Sequence Number



HSPA
High Speed Packet Access



HSS
Home Subscriber Server



HSUPA
High Speed Uplink Packet




Access



HTTP
Hyper Text Transfer Protocol



HTTPS
Hyper Text Transfer Protocol




Secure (https is http/1.1 over




SSL, i.e. port 443)



I-Block
Information Block



ICCID
Integrated Circut Card




Identification



IAB
Integrated Access and Blackhaul



ICIC
Inter-Cell Interference




Coordination



ID
Identity, identifier



IDFT
Inverse Discrete Fourier




Transform



IE
Information element



IBE
In-Band Emission



IEEE
Institute of Electrical and




Electronics Engineers



IEI
Information Element Identifier



IEIDL
Information Element Identifier




Data Length



IETF
Internet Engineering Task




Force



IF
Infrastructure



IM
Interference Measurement,




Intermodulation, IP Multimedia



IMC
IMS Credentials



IMEI
International Mobile Equipment




Identity



IMGI
International mobile group




identity



IMPI
IP Multimedia Private Identity



IMPU
IP Multimedia Private Identity



IMS
IP Multimedia Subsystem



IMSI
International Mobile Subscriber




Identity



IoT
Internet of Things



IP
Internet Protocol



Ipsec
IP Security,




Internet Protocol




Security



IP-CAN
IP-Connectivity Access




Network



IP-M
IP Multicast



IPv4
Internet Protocol




Version 4



IPv6
Internet Protocol




Version 6



IR
Infrared



IS
In Sync



IRP
Integration Reference




Point



ISDN
Integrated Services




Digital Network



ISIM
IM Services Identity




Module



ISO
International




Organisation for




Standardisation



ISP
Internet Service




Provider



IWF
Interworking-




Function



I-WLAN
Interworking WLAN




Constraint length of




the convolutional




code, USIM




Individual key



kB
Kilobyte (1000 bytes)



kbps
kilo-bits per second



Kc
Ciphering key



Ki
Individual subscriber




authentication key



KPI
Key Performance




Indicator



KQI
Key Quality Indicator



KSI
Key Set Identifier



ksps
kilo-symbols per




second



KVM
Kernel Virtual




Machine



L1
Layer 1




(physical layer)



L1-RSRP
Layer 1




reference signal




received power



L2
Layer 2




(data link layer)



L3
Layer 3




(network layer)



LAA
Licensed Assisted




Access



LAN
Local Area Network



LADN
Local Area Data




Network



LBT
Listen Before Talk



LCM
LifeCycle Management



LCR
Low Chip Rate



LCS
Location Services



LCID
Logical Channel ID



LI
Layer Indicator



LLC
Logical Link Control,




Low Layer Compatibility



LPLMN
Local PLMN



LPP
LTE Positioning




Protocol



LSB
Least Significant Bit



LTE
Long Term Evolution



LWA
LTE-WLAN




aggregation



LWIP
LTE/WLAN Radio




Level Integration




with IPsec Tunnel



LTE
Long Term Evolution



M2M
Machine-to-Machine



MAC
Medium Access Control




(protocol layering




context)



MAC
Message authentication




code (security/encryption




context)



MAC-A
MAC used for




authentication and key




agreement




(TSG T WG3 context)



MAC-IMAC
used for data integrity of




signalling messages




(TSG T WG3 context)



MANO
Management and




Orchestration



MBMS
Multimedia Broadcast




and Multicast Service



MBSFN
Multimedia Broadcast




multicast service Single




Frequency Network



MCC
Mobile Country Code



MCG
Master Cell Group



MCOT
Maximum Channel




Occupancy Time



MCS
Modulation and




coding scheme



MDAF
Management Data




Analytics Function



MDAS
Management Data




Analytics Service



MDT
Minimization of




Drive Tests



ME
Mobile Equipment



MeNB
master eNB



MER
Message Error Ratio



MGL
Measurement Gap




Length



MGRP
Measurement Gap




Repetition Period



MIB
Master Information




Block, Management




Information Base



MIMO
Multiple Input




Multiple Output



MLC
Mobile Location Centre



MM
Mobility Management



MME
Mobility Management




Entity



MN
Master Node



MNO
Mobile Network




Operator



MO
Measurement Object,




Mobile Originated



MPBCH
MTC Physical Broadcast




CHannel



MPDCCH
MTC Physical Downlink




Control CHannel



MPDSCH
MTC Physical Downlink




Shared CHannel



MPRACH
MTC Physical Random




Access CHannel



MPUSCH
MTC Physical Uplink




Shared Channel



MPLS
MultiProtocol Label




Switching



MS
Mobile Station



MSB
Most Significant Bit



MSC
Mobile Switching Centre



MSI
Minimum System




Information, MCH




Scheduling Information



MSID
Mobile Station




Identifier



MSIN
Mobile Station




Identification




Number



MSISDN
Mobile Subscriber




ISDN Number



MT
Mobile Terminated,




Mobile Termination



MTC
Machine-Type




Communications



mMTC
massive MTC,




massive Machine-Type




Communications



MU-MIMO
Multi User MIMO



MWUS
MTC wake-up signal,




MTC WUS



NACK
Negative




Acknowledgement



NAI
Network Access




Identifier



NAS
Non-Access Stratum,




Non- Access Stratum




layer



NCT
Network Connectivity




Topology



NC-JT
Non-Coherent Joint




Transmission



NEC
Network Capability




Exposure



NE-DC
NR-E-UTRA Dual




Connectivity



NEF
Network Exposure




Function



NF
Network Function



NFP
Network Forwarding




Path



NFPD
Network Forwarding




Path Descriptor



NFV
Network Functions




Virtualization



NFVI
NFV Infrastructure



NFVO
NFV Orchestrator



NG
Next Generation,




Next Gen



NGEN-DC
NG-RAN E-UTRA-NR




Dual Connectivity



NM
Network Manager



NMS
Network Management




System



N-PoP
Network Point of




Presence NMIB,




N-MIB Narrowband




MIB



NPBCH
Narrowband Physical




Broadcast CHannel



NPDCCH
Narrowband Physical




Downlink Control




CHannel



NPDSCH
Narrowband Physical




Downlink Shared




CHannel



NPRACH
Narrowband Physical




Random Access




CHannel



NPUSCH
Narrowband Physical




Uplink Shared




CHannel



NPSS
Narrowband Primary




Synchronization




Signal



NSSS
Narrowband Secondary




Synchronization




Signal



NR
New Radio,




Neighbour Relation



NRF
NF Repository




Function



NRS
Narrowband Reference




Signal



NS
Network Service



NSA
Non-Standalone




operation mode



NSD
Network Service




Descriptor



NSR
Network Service




Record



NSSAI
Network Slice Selection




Assistance Information



S-NNSAI
Single-NSSAI



NSSF
Network Slice




Selection Function



NW
Network



NWUS
Narrowband wake-up




signal, Narrowband




WUS



NZP
Non-Zero Power



O&M
Operation and




Maintenance



ODU2
Optical channel Data




Unit-type 2



OFDM
Orthogonal Frequency




Division Multiplexing



OFDMA
Orthogonal Frequency




Division Multiple




Access



OOB
Out-of-band



OOS
Out of Sync



OPEX
OPerating EXpense



OSI
Other System




Information



OSS
Operations Support




System



OTA
over-the-air



PAPR
Peak-to-Average




Power Ratio



PAR
Peak to Average




Ratio



PBCH
Physical Broadcast




Channel



PC
Power Control,




Personal Computer



PCC
Primary Component




Carrier, Primary CC



P-CSCF
Proxy CSCF



PCell
Primary Cell



PCI
Physical Cell ID,




Physical Cell Identity



PCEF
Policy and Charging




Enforcement Function



PCF
Policy Control Function



PCRF
Policy Control and




Charging Rules Function



PDCP
Packet Data




Convergence Protocol,




Packet Data




Convergence




Protocol layer



PDCCH
Physical Downlink




Control Channel



PDCP
Packet Data




Convergence Protocol



PDN
Packet Data Network,




Public Data Network



PDSCH
Physical Downlink




Shared Channel



PDU
Protocol Data Unit



PEI
Permanent Equipment




Identifiers



PFD
Packet Flow




Description



P-GW
PDN Gateway



PHICH
Physical hybrid-ARQ




indicator channel



PHY
Physical layer



PLMN
Public Land Mobile




Network



PIN
Personal Identification




Number



PM
Performance




Measurement



PMI
Precoding Matrix




Indicator



PNF
Physical Network




Function



PNFD
Physical Network




Function Descriptor



PNFR
Physical Network




Function Record



POC
PTT over Cellular



PP, PTP
Point-to-Point



PPP
Point-to-point Protocol



PRACH
Physical RACH



PRB
Physical resource block



PRG
Physical resource block




group



ProSe
Proximity Services,




Proximity-Based




Service



PRS
Positioning Reference




Signal



PRR
Packet Reception




Radio



PS
Packet Services



PSBCH
Physical Sidelink




Broadcast Channel



PSDCH
Physical Sidelink




Downlink Channel



PSCCH
Physical Sidelink




Control Channel



PSSCH
Physical Sidelink




Shared Channel



PSCell
Primary SCell



PSS
Primary Synchronization




Signal



PSTN
Public Switched




Telephone Network



PT-RS
Phase-tracking




reference signal



PTT
Push-to-Talk



PUCCH
Physical Uplink Control




Channel



PUSCH
Physical Uplink Shared




Channel



QAM
Quadrature Amplitude




Modulation



QCI
QoS class of identifier



QCL
Quasi co-location



QFI
QoS Flow ID,




QoS Flow Identifier



QoS
Quality of Service



QPSK
Quadrature (Quaternary)




Phase Shift Keying



QZSS
Quasi-Zenith




Satellite System



RA-RNTI
Random Access RNTI



RAB
Radio Access Bearer,




Random Access Burst



RACH
Random Access




Channel



RADIUS
Remote Authentication




Dial In User Service



RAN
Radio Access




Network



RAND
RANDom number




(used for authentication)



RAR
Random Access




Response



RAT
Radio Access




Technology



RAU
Routing Area Update



RB
Resource block,




Radio Bearer



RBG
Resource block group



REG
Resource Element Group



Rel
Release



REQ
REQuest



RF
Radio Frequency



RI
Rank Indicator



RIV
Resource indicator value



RL
Radio Link



RLC
Radio Link Control,




Radio Link Control




layer



RLC AM
RLC Acknowledged




Mode



RLC UM
RLC Unacknowledged




Mode



RLF
Radio Link Failure



RLM
Radio Link Monitoring



RLM-RS
Reference Signal for




RLM



RM
Registration




Management



RMC
Reference Measurement




Channel



RMSI
Remaining MSI,




Remaining Minimum




System Information



RN
Relay Node



RNC
Radio Network




Controller



RNL
Radio Network Layer



RNTI
Radio Network




Temporary Identifier



ROHC
RObust Header




Compression



RRC
Radio Resource Control,




Radio Resource Control




layer



RRM
Radio Resource




Management



RS
Reference Signal



RSRP
Reference Signal




Received Power



RSRQ
Reference Signal




Received Quality



RSSI
Reference Signal




Strength Indicator



RSU
Road Side Unit



RSTD
Reference Signal




Time difference



RTP
Real Time Protocol



RTS
Ready-To-Send



RTT
Round Trip Time



Rx
Reception, Receiving,




Receiver



S1AP
S1 Application Protocol



S1-MME
S1 for the control plane



S1-U
S1 for the user plane



S-CSCF
serving CSCF



S-GW
Serving Gateway



S-RNTI
SRNC Radio Network




Temporary Identity



S-TMSI
SAE Temporary Mobile




Station Identifier



SA
Standalone operation




mode



SAE
System Architecture




Evolution



SAP
Service Access Point



SAPD
Service Access Point




Descriptor



SAPI
Service Access Point




Identifier



SCC
Secondary Component




Carrier, Secondary CC



SCell
Secondary Cell



SCEF
Service Capability




Exposure Function



SC-FDMA
Single Carrier Frequency




Division Multiple Access



SCG
Secondary Cell Group



SCM
Security Context




Management



SCS
Subcarrier Spacing



SCTP
Stream Control




Transmission Protocol



SDAP
Service Data Adaption




Protocol, Service Dara




Adaption Protocol layer



SDL
Supplementary




Downlink



SDNF
Structured Data Storage




Network Function



SDP
Session Description




Protocol



SDSF
Structured Data Storage




Function



SDU
Service Data Unit



SEAF
Security Anchor




Function



SeNB
secondary eNB



SEPP
Secuirty Edge Protection




Proxy



SFI
Slot format indication



SFTD
Space-Frequency Time




Diversity, SFN and




frame timing difference



SFN
System Frame Number



SgNB
Secondary gNB



SGSN
Serving GPRS




Support Node



S-GW
Serving Gateway



SI
System Information



SI-RNTI
System Information




RNTI



SIB
System Information




Block



SIM
Subscriber Identity




Module



SIP
Session Initiated




Protocol



SiP
System in Package



SL
Sidelink



SLA
Service Level




Agreement



SM
Session Management



SMF
Session Management




Function



SMS
Short Message Service



SMSF
SMS Function



SMTC
SSB-based Measurement




Timing Configuration



SN
Secondary Node,




Sequence Number



SoC
System on Chip



SON
Self-Organizing




Network



SpCell
Special Cell



SP-CSI-RNTI
Semi-Persistent




CSI RNTI



SPS
Semi-Persistent




Scheduling



SQN
Sequence number



SR
Scheduling Request



SRB
Signalling Radio Bearer



SRS
Sounding Reference




Signal



SS
Synchronization




Signal



SSB
Synchronization




Signal Block



SSID
Service Set Identifier



SS/PBCH
Block



SSBRI SS/
Block Resource Indicator,



PBCH
Synchronization Signal Block




Resource Indicator



SSC
Session and Service



SS-RSRP
Synchronization




Signal based Reference




Signal Received



SS-RSRQ
Synchronization




Signal based Reference




Signal Received Quality



SS-SINR
Synchronization




Signal based Reference Signal to




Noise and Interference




Ratio



SSS
Secondary




Synchronization Signal



SSSG
Search Space Set Group



SSSIF
Search Space Set




Indicator



SST
Slice/Service Types



SU-MIMO
Single User MIMO



SUL
Supplementary




Uplink



TA
Timing Advance,




Tracking Area



TAC
Tracking Area Code



TAG
Timing Advance Group



TAI
Tracking Area Identity



TAU
Tracking Area Update



TB
Transport Block



TBS
Transport Block Size



TBD
To Be Defined



TCI
Transmission




Configuration




Indicator



TCP
Transmission




Communication




Protocol



TDD
Time Division Duplex



TDM
Time Division




Multiplexing



TDMA
Time Division




Multiple Access



TE
Terminal Equipment



TEID
Tunnel End Point




Identifier



TFT
Traffic Flow Template



TMSI
Temporary Mobile




Subscriber Identity



TNL
Transport Network Layer



TPC
Transmit Power Control



TPMI
Transmitted Precoding




Matrix Indicator



TR
Technical Report



TRP, TRxP
Transmission




Reception Point



TRS
Tracking Reference




Signal



TRx
Transceiver



TS
Technical Specifications,




Technical Standard



TTI
Transmission Time




Interval



Tx
Transmission,




Transmitting,




Transmitter



U-RNTI
UTRAN Radio Network




Temporary Identity



UART
Universal Asynchronous




Receiver and Transmitter



UCI
Uplink Control




Information



UE
User Equipment



UDM
Unified Data




Management



UDP
User Datagram Protocol



UDSF
Unstructured Data




Storage Network




Function



UICC
Universal Integrated




Circuit Card



UL
Uplink



UM
Unacknowledged Mode



UML
Unified Modelling




Language



UMTS
Universal Mobile




Telecommunications




System



UP
User Plane



UPF
User Plane Function



URI
Uniform Resource




Identifier



URL
Uniform Resource




Locator



URLLC
Ultra-Reliable and




Low Latency



USB
Universal Serial Bus



USIM
Universal Subscriber




Identity Module



USS
UE-specific search space



UTRA
UMTS Terrestrial Radio



UTRAN
Universal Terrestrial




Radio Access




Network



UwPTS
Uplink Pilot Time Slot



V2I
Vehicle-to-Infrastruction



V2P
Vehicle-to-Pedestrian



V2V
Vehicle-to-Vehicle



V2X
Vehicle-to-everything



VIM
Virtualized Infrastructure




Manager



VL
Virtual Link



VLAN
Virtual LAN,




Virtual Local Area




Network



VM
Virtual Machine



VNF
Virtualized Network




Function



VNFFG
VNF Forwarding Graph



VNFFGD
VNF Forwarding Graph




Descriptor



VNFM
VNF Manager



VoIP
Voice-over-IP,




Voice-over-Internet




Protocol



VPLMN
Visited Public Land




Mobile Network



VPN
Virtual Private




Network



VRB
Virtual Resource Block



WiMAX
Worldwide




Interoperability




for Microwave Access



WLAN
Wireless Local Area




Network



WMAN
Wireless Metropolitan




Area Network



WPAN
Wireless Personal Area




Network



X2-C
X2-Control plane



X2-U
X2-User plane



XML
eXtensible Markup




Language



XRES
EXpected user RESponse



XOR
eXclusive OR



ZC
Zadoff-Chu



ZP
Zero Power










TERMINOLOGY

For the purposes of the present document, the following terms and definitions are applicable to the examples and embodiments discussed herein.


The term “circuitry” as used herein refers to, is part of, or includes hardware components such as an electronic circuit, a logic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) and/or memory (shared, dedicated, or group), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable device (FPD) (e.g., a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic device (PLD), a complex PLD (CPLD), a high-capacity PLD (HCPLD), a structured ASIC, or a programmable SoC), digital signal processors (DSPs), etc., that are configured to provide the described functionality. In some embodiments, the circuitry may execute one or more software or firmware programs to provide at least some of the described functionality. The term “circuitry” may also refer to a combination of one or more hardware elements (or a combination of circuits used in an electrical or electronic system) with the program code used to carry out the functionality of that program code. In these embodiments, the combination of hardware elements and program code may be referred to as a particular type of circuitry.


The term “processor circuitry” as used herein refers to, is part of, or includes circuitry capable of sequentially and automatically carrying out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations, or recording, storing, and/or transferring digital data. Processing circuitry may include one or more processing cores to execute instructions and one or more memory structures to store program and data information. The term “processor circuitry” may refer to one or more application processors, one or more baseband processors, a physical central processing unit (CPU), a single-core processor, a dual-core processor, a triple-core processor, a quad-core processor, and/or any other device capable of executing or otherwise operating computer-executable instructions, such as program code, software modules, and/or functional processes. Processing circuitry may include more hardware accelerators, which may be microprocessors, programmable processing devices, or the like. The one or more hardware accelerators may include, for example, computer vision (CV) and/or deep learning (DL) accelerators. The terms “application circuitry” and/or “baseband circuitry” may be considered synonymous to, and may be referred to as, “processor circuitry.”


The term “interface circuitry” as used herein refers to, is part of, or includes circuitry that enables the exchange of information between two or more components or devices. The term “interface circuitry” may refer to one or more hardware interfaces, for example, buses, I/O interfaces, peripheral component interfaces, network interface cards, and/or the like.


The term “user equipment” or “UE” as used herein refers to a device with radio communication capabilities and may describe a remote user of network resources in a communications network. The term “user equipment” or “UE” may be considered synonymous to, and may be referred to as, client, mobile, mobile device, mobile terminal, user terminal, mobile unit, mobile station, mobile user, subscriber, user, remote station, access agent, user agent, receiver, radio equipment, reconfigurable radio equipment, reconfigurable mobile device, etc. Furthermore, the term “user equipment” or “UE” may include any type of wireless/wired device or any computing device including a wireless communications interface.


The term “network element” as used herein refers to physical or virtualized equipment and/or infrastructure used to provide wired or wireless communication network services. The term “network element” may be considered synonymous to and/or referred to as a networked computer, networking hardware, network equipment, network node, router, switch, hub, bridge, radio network controller, RAN device, RAN node, gateway, server, virtualized VNF, NFVI, and/or the like.


The term “computer system” as used herein refers to any type interconnected electronic devices, computer devices, or components thereof. Additionally, the term “computer system” and/or “system” may refer to various components of a computer that are communicatively coupled with one another. Furthermore, the term “computer system” and/or “system” may refer to multiple computer devices and/or multiple computing systems that are communicatively coupled with one another and configured to share computing and/or networking resources.


The term “appliance,” “computer appliance,” or the like, as used herein refers to a computer device or computer system with program code (e.g., software or firmware) that is specifically designed to provide a specific computing resource. A “virtual appliance” is a virtual machine image to be implemented by a hypervisor-equipped device that virtualizes or emulates a computer appliance or otherwise is dedicated to provide a specific computing resource.


The term “resource” as used herein refers to a physical or virtual device, a physical or virtual component within a computing environment, and/or a physical or virtual component within a particular device, such as computer devices, mechanical devices, memory space, processor/CPU time, processor/CPU usage, processor and accelerator loads, hardware time or usage, electrical power, input/output operations, ports or network sockets, channel/link allocation, throughput, memory usage, storage, network, database and applications, workload units, and/or the like. A “hardware resource” may refer to compute, storage, and/or network resources provided by physical hardware element(s). A “virtualized resource” may refer to compute, storage, and/or network resources provided by virtualization infrastructure to an application, device, system, etc. The term “network resource” or “communication resource” may refer to resources that are accessible by computer devices/systems via a communications network. The term “system resources” may refer to any kind of shared entities to provide services, and may include computing and/or network resources. System resources may be considered as a set of coherent functions, network data objects or services, accessible through a server where such system resources reside on a single host or multiple hosts and are clearly identifiable.


The term “channel” as used herein refers to any transmission medium, either tangible or intangible, which is used to communicate data or a data stream. The term “channel” may be synonymous with and/or equivalent to “communications channel,” “data communications channel,” “transmission channel,” “data transmission channel,” “access channel,” “data access channel,” “link,” “data link,” “carrier,” “radiofrequency carrier,” and/or any other like term denoting a pathway or medium through which data is communicated. Additionally, the term “link” as used herein refers to a connection between two devices through a RAT for the purpose of transmitting and receiving information.


The terms “instantiate,” “instantiation,” and the like as used herein refers to the creation of an instance. An “instance” also refers to a concrete occurrence of an object, which may occur, for example, during execution of program code.


The terms “coupled,” “communicatively coupled,” along with derivatives thereof are used herein. The term “coupled” may mean two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact with one another, may mean that two or more elements indirectly contact each other but still cooperate or interact with each other, and/or may mean that one or more other elements are coupled or connected between the elements that are said to be coupled with each other. The term “directly coupled” may mean that two or more elements are in direct contact with one another. The term “communicatively coupled” may mean that two or more elements may be in contact with one another by a means of communication including through a wire or other interconnect connection, through a wireless communication channel or link, and/or the like.


The term “information element” refers to a structural element containing one or more fields. The term “field” refers to individual contents of an information element, or a data element that contains content.


The term “SMTC” refers to an SSB-based measurement timing configuration configured by SSB-MeasurementTimingConfiguration.


The term “SSB” refers to an SS/PBCH block.


The term “a “Primary Cell” refers to the MCG cell, operating on the primary frequency, in which the UE either performs the initial connection establishment procedure or initiates the connection re-establishment procedure.


The term “Primary SCG Cell” refers to the SCG cell in which the UE performs random access when performing the Reconfiguration with Sync procedure for DC operation.


The term “Secondary Cell” refers to a cell providing additional radio resources on top of a Special Cell for a UE configured with CA.


The term “Secondary Cell Group” refers to the subset of serving cells comprising the PSCell and zero or more secondary cells for a UE configured with DC.


The term “Serving Cell” refers to the primary cell for a UE in RRC_CONNECTED not configured with CA/DC there is only one serving cell comprising of the primary cell.


The term “serving cell” or “serving cells” refers to the set of cells comprising the Special Cell(s) and all secondary cells for a UE in RRC_CONNECTED configured with CA/.


The term “Special Cell” refers to the PCell of the MCG or the PSCell of the SCG for DC operation; otherwise, the term “Special Cell” refers to the Pcell.

Claims
  • 1.-23. (canceled)
  • 24. An apparatus comprising: memory to store configuration information that includes a number of transport blocks (TBs) for frequency hopping for a data transmission associated with a user equipment (UE); andprocessing circuitry, coupled with the memory, to: retrieve the configuration information from the memory, wherein the configuration information includes an indication of a TB group containing the TBs, wherein the configuration information is to indicate that the frequency hopping for the data transmission is to be performed within the TB group, and wherein the configuration information is to indicate a first part of a TB is to be transmitted in a first hop and a second part of the TB is to be transmitted in a second hop; andencode a message for transmission to the UE that includes the configuration information.
  • 25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the data transmission associated with the UE is a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) transmission, or a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmission.
  • 26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the configuration information in the message is included in downlink control information (DCI), or the message is encoded for transmission via: minimum system information (MSI), remaining minimum system information (RMSI), other system information (OSI), or dedicated radio resource control (RRC) signaling.
  • 27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the configuration information includes a TB mapping order defined in a time-first and frequency-second manner.
  • 28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the configuration information is to indicate that a respective dedicated demodulation reference signal (DMRS) symbol is allocated in each respective hop before transmission of a first TB within the TB group.
  • 29. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the configuration information is to indicate that one or more TBs are mixed into a common symbol when frequency hopping is applied.
  • 30. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the configuration information is to indicate a number of symbols for a hopping boundary, or a number of TBs within a TB group for frequency hopping, based on a time domain bundling size for hybrid automatic repeat request-acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) feedback.
  • 31. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the configuration information is to indicate: for a mixed initial transmission and retransmission in a PDSCH or PUSCH, when frequency hopping is enabled: retransmission of TBs is grouped first for frequency hopping, followed by an initial transmission of the TBs on PDSCH or PUSCH; orfor uplink control channel (UCI) multiplexed on PUSCH: UCI is equally divided into a first part and a second part, wherein the first part is transmitted in the first hop and the second part is transmitted in the second hop, and wherein retransmitted TB s follow the UCI and initial transmission of the TBs follow retransmitted TBs.
  • 32. One or more computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause a next-generation NodeB (gNB) to: determine configuration information that includes a number of transport blocks (TBs) for frequency hopping for a data transmission associated with a user equipment (UE), wherein the configuration information includes an indication of a TB group containing the TBs, wherein the configuration information is to indicate that the frequency hopping for the data transmission is to be performed within the TB group, and wherein the configuration information is to indicate a first part of a TB is to be transmitted in a first hop and a second part of the TB is to be transmitted in a second hop; and encode a message for transmission to the UE that includes the configuration information.
  • 33. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 32, wherein the data transmission associated with the UE is a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) transmission, or a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmission.
  • 34. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 32, wherein the configuration information in the message is included in downlink control information (DCI), or the message is encoded for transmission via: minimum system information (MSI), remaining minimum system information (RMSI), other system information (OSI), or dedicated radio resource control (RRC) signaling.
  • 35. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 32, wherein the configuration information includes a TB mapping order defined in a time-first and frequency-second manner.
  • 36. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 32, wherein the configuration information is to indicate that a respective dedicated demodulation reference signal (DMRS) symbol is allocated in each respective hop before transmission of a first TB within the TB group.
  • 37. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 32, wherein the configuration information is to indicate that one or more TBs are mixed into a common symbol when frequency hopping is applied.
  • 38. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 32, wherein the configuration information is to indicate a number of symbols for a hopping boundary, or a number of TBs within a TB group for frequency hopping, based on a time domain bundling size for hybrid automatic repeat request-acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) feedback.
  • 39. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 32, wherein the configuration information is to indicate: for a mixed initial transmission and retransmission in a PDSCH or PUSCH when frequency hopping is enabled: retransmission of TBs is grouped first for frequency hopping, followed by an initial transmission of the TBs on PDSCH or PUSCH; orfor uplink control channel (UCI) multiplexed on PUSCH: UCI is equally divided into a first part and a second part, wherein the first part is transmitted in the first hop and the second part is transmitted in the second hop, and wherein retransmitted TB s follow the UCI and initial transmission of the TBs follow retransmitted TBs.
  • 40. One or more computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause a user equipment (UE) to: receive a message from a next-generation NodeB (gNB) comprising configuration information that includes a number of transport blocks (TBs) for frequency hopping for a data transmission associated with the UE, wherein the configuration information includes an indication of a TB group containing the TBs, wherein the configuration information is to indicate that the frequency hopping for the data transmission is to be performed within the TB group, and wherein the configuration information is to indicate a first part of a TB is to be transmitted in a first hop and a second part of the TB is to be transmitted in a second hop; andreceive a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) message, or encode a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) message for transmission, based on the configuration information.
  • 41. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 40, wherein the configuration information is included in downlink control information (DCI), or the configuration information is received via: minimum system information (MSI), remaining minimum system information (RMSI), other system information (OSI), or dedicated radio resource control (RRC) signaling.
  • 42. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 40, wherein the configuration information includes a TB mapping order defined in a time-first and frequency-second manner.
  • 43. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 40, wherein the configuration information is to indicate that a respective dedicated demodulation reference signal (DMRS) symbol is allocated in each respective hop before transmission of a first TB within the TB group.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/160,583, which was filed Mar. 12, 2021; and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/161,334, which was filed Mar. 15, 2021.

PCT Information
Filing Document Filing Date Country Kind
PCT/US2022/019613 3/9/2022 WO
Provisional Applications (2)
Number Date Country
63160583 Mar 2021 US
63161334 Mar 2021 US