Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) may receive, from a base station, a configuration of a plurality of bandwidth parts (BWPs) in a frequency band, wherein the configuration identifies a respective BWP-specific downlink (DL)-uplink (UL) pattern for each BWP of the plurality of BWPs, and wherein at least two of BWPs of the plurality of BWPs are configured with different BWP-specific DL-UL patterns and wherein each DL-UL pattern specifies which time intervals of a plurality of time intervals are dedicated to downlink and which time intervals of the plurality of time intervals are dedicated to uplink. The UE may communicate with the base station in one or more active BWPs of the plurality of BWPs using the respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each of the one or more active BWPs. Numerous other aspects are described.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication and to techniques and apparatuses for bandwidth part (BWP)-specific downlink (DL)-uplink (UL) patterns.

BACKGROUND

SUMMARY

Some aspects described herein relate to a user equipment (UE) for wireless communication. The user equipment may include a memory and one or more processors coupled to the memory. The one or more processors may be configured to receive, from a base station, a configuration of a plurality of bandwidth parts (BWPs) in a frequency band, wherein the configuration identifies a respective BWP-specific downlink (DL)-uplink (UL) pattern for each BWP of the plurality of BWPs, and wherein at least two of BWPs of the plurality of BWPs are configured with different BWP-specific DL-UL patterns and wherein each DL-UL pattern specifies which time intervals of a plurality of time intervals are dedicated to downlink and which time intervals of the plurality of time intervals are dedicated to uplink. The one or more processors may be configured to communicate with the base station in one or more active BWPs of the plurality of BWPs using the respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each of the one or more active BWPs.

Some aspects described herein relate to a base station for wireless communication. The base station may include a memory and one or more processors coupled to the memory. The one or more processors may be configured to transmit, to a UE, a configuration of a plurality of BWPs in a frequency band, wherein the configuration identifies a respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each BWP of the plurality of BWPs, and wherein at least two of BWPs of the plurality of BWPs are configured with different BWP-specific DL-UL patterns and wherein each DL-UL pattern specifies which time intervals of a plurality of time intervals are dedicated to downlink and which time intervals of the plurality of time intervals are dedicated to uplink. The one or more processors may be configured to communicate with the UE in one or more active BWPs of the plurality of BWPs using the respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each of the one or more active BWPs.

Some aspects described herein relate to a method of wireless communication performed by a UE. The method may include receiving, from a base station, a configuration of a plurality of BWPs in a frequency band, wherein the configuration identifies a respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each BWP of the plurality of BWPs, and wherein at least two of BWPs of the plurality of BWPs are configured with different BWP-specific DL-UL patterns and wherein each DL-UL pattern specifies which time intervals of a plurality of time intervals are dedicated to downlink and which time intervals of the plurality of time intervals are dedicated to uplink. The method may include communicating with the base station in one or more active BWPs of the plurality of BWPs using the respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each of the one or more active BWPs.

Some aspects described herein relate to a method of wireless communication performed by a base station. The method may include transmitting, to a UE, a configuration of a plurality of BWPs in a frequency band, wherein the configuration identifies a respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each BWP of the plurality of BWPs, and wherein at least two of BWPs of the plurality of BWPs are configured with different BWP-specific DL-UL patterns and wherein each DL-UL pattern specifies which time intervals of a plurality of time intervals are dedicated to downlink and which time intervals of the plurality of time intervals are dedicated to uplink. The method may include communicating with the UE in one or more active BWPs of the plurality of BWPs using the respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each of the one or more active BWPs.

Some aspects described herein relate to a non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores a set of instructions for wireless communication by a UE. The set of instructions, when executed by one or more processors of the UE, may cause the UE to receive, from a base station, a configuration of a plurality of BWPs in a frequency band, wherein the configuration identifies a respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each BWP of the plurality of BWPs, and wherein at least two of BWPs of the plurality of BWPs are configured with different BWP-specific DL-UL patterns and wherein each DL-UL pattern specifies which time intervals of a plurality of time intervals are dedicated to downlink and which time intervals of the plurality of time intervals are dedicated to uplink. The set of instructions, when executed by one or more processors of the UE, may cause the UE to communicate with the base station in one or more active BWPs of the plurality of BWPs using the respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each of the one or more active BWPs.

Some aspects described herein relate to a non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores a set of instructions for wireless communication by a base station. The set of instructions, when executed by one or more processors of the base station, may cause the base station to transmit, to a UE, a configuration of a plurality of BWPs in a frequency band, wherein the configuration identifies a respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each BWP of the plurality of BWPs, and wherein at least two of BWPs of the plurality of BWPs are configured with different BWP-specific DL-UL patterns and wherein each DL-UL pattern specifies which time intervals of a plurality of time intervals are dedicated to downlink and which time intervals of the plurality of time intervals are dedicated to uplink. The set of instructions, when executed by one or more processors of the base station, may cause the base station to communicate with the UE in one or more active BWPs of the plurality of BWPs using the respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each of the one or more active BWPs.

Some aspects described herein relate to an apparatus for wireless communication. The apparatus may include means for receiving, from a base station, a configuration of a plurality of BWPs in a frequency band, wherein the configuration identifies a respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each BWP of the plurality of BWPs, and wherein at least two of BWPs of the plurality of BWPs are configured with different BWP-specific DL-UL patterns and wherein each DL-UL pattern specifies which time intervals of a plurality of time intervals are dedicated to downlink and which time intervals of the plurality of time intervals are dedicated to uplink. The apparatus may include means for communicating with the base station in one or more active BWPs of the plurality of BWPs using the respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each of the one or more active BWPs.

Some aspects described herein relate to an apparatus for wireless communication. The apparatus may include means for transmitting, to a UE, a configuration of a plurality of BWPs in a frequency band, wherein the configuration identifies a respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each BWP of the plurality of BWPs, and wherein at least two of BWPs of the plurality of BWPs are configured with different BWP-specific DL-UL patterns and wherein each DL-UL pattern specifies which time intervals of a plurality of time intervals are dedicated to downlink and which time intervals of the plurality of time intervals are dedicated to uplink. The apparatus may include means for communicating with the UE in one or more active BWPs of the plurality of BWPs using the respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each of the one or more active BWPs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In some aspects, the UE120may include a communication manager140. As described in more detail elsewhere herein, the communication manager140may receive, from a base station, a configuration of a plurality of bandwidth parts (BWPs) in a frequency band, wherein the configuration identifies a respective BWP-specific downlink (DL)-uplink (UL) pattern for each BWP of the plurality of BWPs, and wherein at least two of BWPs of the plurality of BWPs are configured with different BWP-specific DL-UL patterns and wherein each DL-UL pattern specifies which time intervals of a plurality of time intervals are dedicated to downlink and which time intervals of the plurality of time intervals are dedicated to uplink; and communicate with the base station in one or more active BWPs of the plurality of BWPs using the respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each of the one or more active BWPs. Additionally, or alternatively, the communication manager140may perform one or more other operations described herein.

In some aspects, the base station110may include a communication manager150. As described in more detail elsewhere herein, the communication manager150may transmit, to a UE, a configuration of a plurality of BWPs in a frequency band, wherein the configuration identifies a respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each BWP of the plurality of BWPs, and wherein at least two of BWPs of the plurality of BWPs are configured with different BWP-specific DL-UL patterns and wherein each DL-UL pattern specifies which time intervals of a plurality of time intervals are dedicated to downlink and which time intervals of the plurality of time intervals are dedicated to uplink; and communicate with the UE in one or more active BWPs of the plurality of BWPs using the respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each of the one or more active BWPs. Additionally, or alternatively, the communication manager150may perform one or more other operations described herein.

In some aspects, the UE120includes means for receiving, from a base station, a configuration of a plurality of BWPs in a frequency band, wherein the configuration identifies a respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each BWP of the plurality of BWPs, and wherein at least two of BWPs of the plurality of BWPs are configured with different BWP-specific DL-UL patterns and wherein each DL-UL pattern specifies which time intervals of a plurality of time intervals are dedicated to downlink and which time intervals of the plurality of time intervals are dedicated to uplink (e.g., using antenna252, modem254, MIMO detector256, receive processor258, controller/processor280, memory282, or the like); and/or means for communicating with the base station in one or more active BWPs of the plurality of BWPs using the respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each of the one or more active BWPs (e.g., using antenna252, modem254, MIMO detector256, receive processor258, controller/processor280, transmit processor264, TX MIMO processor266, memory282, or the like). The means for the UE120to perform operations described herein may include, for example, one or more of communication manager140, antenna252, modem254, MIMO detector256, receive processor258, transmit processor264, TX MIMO processor266, controller/processor280, or memory282.

In some aspects, the base station110includes means for transmitting, to a UE, a configuration of a plurality of BWPs in a frequency band, wherein the configuration identifies a respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each BWP of the plurality of BWPs, and wherein at least two of BWPs of the plurality of BWPs are configured with different BWP-specific DL-UL patterns and wherein each DL-UL pattern specifies which time intervals of a plurality of time intervals are dedicated to downlink and which time intervals of the plurality of time intervals are dedicated to uplink (e.g., using controller/processor240, transmit processor220, TX MIMO processor230, modem232, antenna234, memory242, or the like); and/or means for communicating with the UE in one or more active BWPs of the plurality of BWPs using the respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each of the one or more active BWPs (e.g., using controller/processor240, transmit processor220, TX MIMO processor230, modem232, antenna234, MIMO detector236, receive processor238, memory242, or the like). The means for the base station110to perform operations described herein may include, for example, one or more of communication manager150, transmit processor220, TX MIMO processor230, modem232, antenna234, MIMO detector236, receive processor238, controller/processor240, memory242, or scheduler246.

FIG.3is a diagram illustrating examples300,305, and310of full-duplex communication in a wireless network, in accordance with the present disclosure. “Full-duplex communication” in a wireless network refers to simultaneous bi-directional communication between devices in the wireless network. For example, a UE operating in a full-duplex mode may transmit uplink communications and receive downlink communications at the same time (e.g., in the same slot). “Half-duplex communication” in a wireless network refers to unidirectional communications (e.g., downlink or uplink communication) between devices at a given time (e.g., in a given slot). While presently, in NR, frequency bands are often referred to as a frequency division duplex (FDD) band or a time division duplex (TDD) band based on definitions in wireless standards, this distinction may be less useful in a full-duplex communication context where, within a given band (whether presently defined in NR as an FDD band or a TDD band), both uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) communications may be performed simultaneously within various sub-bands within the band.

As shown inFIG.3, examples300and305show examples of in-band full-duplex (IBFD) communication. In IBFD, a UE may transmit uplink communications to a base station and receive downlink communications from the base station on the same time and frequency resources. As shown in example300, in IBFD, the time and frequency resources for uplink communication may fully overlap with the time and frequency resources for downlink communication. Hence, as illustrated in example300, in the box labeled UL, both uplink and downlink communications may be performed simultaneously. As shown in example305, in IBFD, the time and frequency resources for uplink communication may partially overlap with the time and frequency resources for downlink communication.

As further shown inFIG.3, example310shows an example of sub-band full-duplex (SBFD) communication, which may also be referred to as “flexible duplex.” In SBFD, a UE may transmit uplink communications to a base station and receive downlink communications from the base station at the same time, but on different frequency resources (within the same band). For example, the different frequency resources may be sub-bands of a frequency band such as a time division duplexing (TDD) band (i.e., a frequency band currently defined in NR as a TDD band) or a frequency division duplexing (FDD) band (i.e., a frequency band currently defined in NR as a TDD band). In this case, the downlink resource may be separated from the uplink resource, in the frequency domain, by a guard band.

In some examples, multiple BWPs may be configured for a UE in a frequency band or a component carrier (CC). For example, a UE may be configured with multiple downlink BWPs (e.g., up to four) and/or multiple uplink BWPs (e.g., up to four). In this case, one BWP may be activated at a time. For example, a configured downlink BWP may be activated for downlink communications, and a configured uplink BWP may be activated for uplink communications. In some examples, a downlink (DL)-uplink (DL) pattern may also be configured for the UE. A DL-UL pattern is, for example, a pattern of slot formats (e.g., downlink slot, uplink slot, or flexible slot) for a number of slots, however, an DL-UL pattern may be defined over any time interval (symbol, transmission time interval (TTI), sub-slot, slot, etc.). The DL-UL pattern may be applied to all configured BWPs in a frequency band or a CC. For example, an active downlink BWP may be used for a downlink slot and an active uplink BWP may be used for an uplink slot. In some examples, in order to enable full-duplex operation, one or more slots may be configured to be full-duplex slots, in which a configured allocation of frequency resources for full-duplex communication is used for full-duplex communications. Full-duplex communications may provide a benefit of increased bandwidth for communications between a base station and UE by allowing the base station and the UE to transmit and receive in the same set of resources. However, the use of the configured full-duplex slots and the configured allocation of frequency resources for all instances of full-duplex communication may be inflexible, and may not be optimal for scheduling full-duplex downlink and communications.

Some techniques and apparatuses described herein enable BWP-specific DL-UL patterns to be configured for a UE. In some aspects, the UE may receive, from a base station, a configuration of a plurality of BWPs in a frequency band, and the configuration may identify a respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each BWP of the plurality of BWPs. The UE and the base station may communicate in one or more active BWPs using the respective BWP-specific DL-UL patterns for each of the one or more active BWPs. In some aspects, multiple BWPs may be activated at the same time and used together to enable full-duplex operation in one or more slots, and different combinations of BWPs may be activated or deactivated to achieve different configurations for full-duplex operation with low signaling overhead. As a result, the flexibility of allocating resources for full-duplex communications may be increased, which may result in increased network speed and decreased traffic latency for full-duplex communications.

FIG.4is a DL-UL patterns, in accordance with the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.4, example400includes communication between a base station110and a UE120. In some aspects, the base station110and the UE120may be included in a wireless network, such as wireless network100. The base station110and the UE120may communicate via a wireless access link, which may include an uplink and a downlink.

As shown inFIG.4, and by reference number405, the base station110may transmit, to the UE120, a configuration of a plurality of BWPs in a frequency band or CC. A BWP is a configured contiguous set of frequency resources of a carrier, for communication by a UE, that can be activated or deactivated by signaling such as a DCI message. For example, the base station110may transmit the configuration to the UE120in a radio resource control (RRC) message. The UE120may receive the configuration from the base station110. The configuration may identify a respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each BWP in the plurality of BWPs. In some aspects, at least two of the BWPs in the same frequency band or CC may be configured with different BWP-specific DL-UL patterns. In some aspects, at least two of the BWPs configured with respective BWP-specific DL-UL patterns may fully or partially overlap. In some aspects, at least two of the BWPs configured with respective BWP-specific DL-UL patterns may be adjacent. In some aspects, at least two of the BWPs configured with respective BWP-specific DL-UL patterns may be separated by a guard band.

The BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for a BWP is a pattern of time-interval formats for a plurality of time intervals (e.g., symbols, transmission time interval (TTI), sub-slots, slots, etc.) For ease of explanation, the examples described below will be discussed with reference to a time interval being equal to a slot. For a given slot in the BWP-specific DL-UL pattern, the slot format may be downlink (e.g., a downlink slot), uplink (e.g., an uplink slot), or flexible (e.g., a flexible slot). A flexible slot is a slot that may be used as a downlink slot or an uplink slot (e.g., based at least in part on a slot format indicator (SFI) transmitted from the base station110to the UE120). As shown inFIG.4, the configuration may identify a first DL-UL pattern for a first BWP (BWP1) and a second DL-UL pattern for a second BWP (BWP2). For example, as shown inFIG.4, the first DL-UL pattern (for BWP1) may be DDDU (e.g., 3 downlink slots followed by 1 uplink slot), and the second DL-UL pattern (for BWP2) may be DUUU (e.g., 1 downlink slot followed by 3 uplink slots). As illustrated, the first DL-UL pattern is different from the second DL-UL pattern since slots 2 and 3 are illustrated as different. More generally, however, a first DL-UL pattern is considered to be different from a second DL-UL pattern so long as there is at least one slot in which the first pattern specifies a different slot format than the second pattern. In some aspects, one or more of the BWP-specific DL-UL patterns may also include one or more flexible slots.

In some aspects, the configuration may include a common slot format indication to be applied to all of the BWPs and a respective dedicated slot format indication for each of the BWPs. For example, the common slot format indication may indicate a slot format for one or more slots in each BWP-specific DL-UL pattern that are the same for all of the BWP-specific DL-UL patterns (e.g., for all of the BWPs). In some aspects, the common slot format indication may indicate that each BWP-specific DL-UL pattern begins with one or more downlink slots and ends with one or more uplink slots. The respective dedicated slot format indication for a BWP may indicate the slot formats (e.g., downlink, uplink, or flexible) for the remaining slots in the BWP-specific DL-UL pattern that are not configured by the common slot format indication.

In some aspects, the configuration may configure one or more of the BWPs to be active BWPs. In some aspects, the configuration may configure multiple BWPs to be active BWPs at the same time. In some aspects, by indicating multiple active BWPs in the configuration (or in a downlink control information (DCI)-based dynamic indication), the base station110may enable/activate full-duplex operation in one or more slots and/or half-duplex operation in one or more slots based at least in part on the respective BWP-specific DL-UL patterns of the multiple active BWPs. For example, the active BWPs may include a first active BWP configured with a first BWP-specific DL-UL pattern and a second active BWP configured with a second BWP-specific DL-UL pattern. In this case, the UE120and the base station110may operate in a half-duplex (HD) mode in slots having the same slot format in the first BWP-specific DL-UL pattern and the second BWP-specific DL-UL pattern, and the UE120and the base station110may operate in a full-duplex (FD) mode in slots having different slot formats in the first BWP-specific DL-UL pattern and the second BWP-specific DL-UL pattern. In some aspects, in slots in which the UE120and the base station110operate in the full-duplex mode, overlapping active BWPs may be used to enable IBFD communications (e.g., an IBFD mode). In some aspects, in slots in which the UE120and the base station110operate in the full-duplex mode, adjacent BWPs or BWPs separated by a guard band may be used to enable SBFD communications (e.g., an SBFD mode).

In some aspects, the plurality of BWPs configured with respective BWP-specific DL-UL patterns may be a plurality of “flexible” BWPs, and the configuration may also identify one or more configured downlink BWPs and/or one or more configured uplink BWPs. In this case, the flexible BWPs are BWPs that can be used for downlink and/or uplink communications based at least in part on the respective BWP-specific DL-UL patterns.

As further shown inFIG.4, and by reference number410, the base station110may transmit, to the UE120, DCI that includes a BWP activation and/or an SFI. The UE120may receive and decode the DCI transmitted from the base station110.

In some aspects, the DCI may include an indication of one or more of the configured BWPs with respective BWP-specific DL-UL patterns to be activated as the active BWPs. For example, the DCI may include a dynamic indication to activate one or more BWPs, deactivate one or more BWPs, and/or switch one or more active BWPs from one or more current active BWPs to the one or more indicated active BWPs. In some aspects, the DCI may include a dynamic indication of multiple BWPs to be activated. In this case, the multiple active BWPs may be used to enable/activate full-duplex operation in one or more slots and/or half-duplex operation in one or more slots based at least in part on the respective BWP-specific DL-UL patterns of the multiple active BWPs.

In some aspects, the DCI may include an SFI. The SFI may indicate, for at least one BWP with a BWP-specific DL-UL pattern that includes one or more flexible slots, an uplink or downlink slot format for the one or more flexible slots. In some aspects, the DCI including the SFI may be DCI format 2_0 (DCI 2_0) as defined or otherwise fixed by a wireless communication specification, such as one published by the 3GPP. In some aspects, the DCI may further include an indication of which BWP, of the configured BWPs, the UE120is to apply the SFI to. In some aspects, the DCI (e.g., DCI 2_0) may include a bit field for indicating the BWP to which the SFI is to be applied. For example, in a case in which the UE120is configured with 4 BWPs, the DCI may include 2 bits in the DCI field to indicate the BWP to which the SFI is to be applied. In some aspects, the DCI may be a group common DCI, and a location of the SFI in a bit field of the DCI may indicate at least one BWP to which the SFI is to be applied. For example, the UE120may be configured (e.g., in an RRC configuration received from the base station110) with a set of locations in the bit field of the DCI (e.g., DCI 2_0), and each location in the bit field of the DCI that is configured for the UE120may be associated with a respective BWP configured for the UE120. In this case, the UE120may decode the DCI (e.g., DCI 2_0) and scan for SFIs in the locations in the bit field of the DCI that are configured for the UE120to determine the SFI for each configured BWP for the UE120. In some aspects, a location in the bit field of the DCI that is configured for the UE120may be associated with more than one BWP configured for the UE120. In this case, the multiple BWPs associated with a location in the bit field may have the same slot format (e.g., the SFI in the location in the bit field of the DCI may be applied to each of the multiple BWPs associated with the location).

As further shown inFIG.4, and by reference number415, the UE120and the base station110may communicate in the active BWPs using the respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern associated with each active BWP. In some aspects, the UE120and the base station110may communicate using multiple active BWPs at the same time. For example, the active BWPs may include a first active BWP configured with a first BWP-specific DL-UL pattern and a second active BWP configured with a second BWP-specific DL-UL pattern. In this case, the UE120and the base station110may communicate in a half-duplex mode in in slots having the same slot format in the first BWP-specific DL-UL pattern and the second BWP-specific DL-UL pattern, and the UE120and the base station110may communicate in a full-duplex mode in slots having different slot formats in the first BWP-specific DL-UL pattern and the second BWP-specific DL-UL pattern. For example, in a case in which BWP1 and BWP2 shown inFIG.4are the active BWPs, the UE120may receive downlink communications from the base station110in BWP1 and BWP2 in a first slot (e.g., half-duplex mode operation), the UE120may receive downlink communications from the base station110in BWP1 and transmit uplink communications to the UE120in BWP2 in a second slot and a third slot (e.g., full-duplex mode operation), and the UE120may transmit uplink communications in BWP1 and BWP2 in a fourth slot (e.g., half-duplex mode operation).

Although the illustration inFIG.4shows non-overlapping BWPs, for operation in an SBFD mode, it is understood that in some aspects, in a case in which the first active BWP overlaps with the second active BWP, the UE120and the base station110may communicate in an IBFD mode in the slots having different slot formats in the first BWP-specific DL-UL pattern and the second BWP-specific DL-UL pattern. In some aspects, in a case in which the first active BWP is adjacent to the second active BWP or the first active BWP is separated from the second active BWP by a guard band, the UE120and the base station110may communicate in an SBFD mode in the slots having different slot formats in the first BWP-specific DL-UL pattern and the second BWP-specific DL-UL pattern. An IBFD mode may use different transmit or receive parameters (e.g., power control, etc.) than an SBFD mode. An FD mode (such as an IBFD mode or an SBFD mode) may use different transmit or receive parameters than an HD mode.

In some aspects, in slots in which the active BWPs operate in the same direction (e.g., slots having the same slot format in the first BWP-specific DL-UL pattern and the second BWP-specific DL-UL pattern), the UE120and the base station110may communicate in the half-duplex mode (e.g., downlink or uplink) in a combined BWP that includes the first BWP and the second BWP. For example, the UE120and the base station110may communicate in the combined BWP in slots having the same slot format in the first BWP-specific DL-UL pattern and the second BWP-specific DL-UL pattern, in cases in which the first active BWP and the second active BWP are adjacent, partially overlapping, and/or separated by a guard band.

In some aspects, in a case in which the first active BWP and the second active BWP are separated by a guard band, the combined BWP may include the first active BWP, the second active BWP, and the guard band. For example, as shown inFIG.4, and by reference number420, in a case in which the active BWPs (BWP1 and BWP2) are separated by a guard band (GB), the UE120may receive downlink communications from the base station110(e.g., in the half-duplex mode) in a first slot in a combined BWP including BWP1, BWP2, and the guard band, and the UE120may transmit uplink communications to the base station110(e.g., in the half-duplex mode) in a fourth slot in the combined BWP including BWP1, BWP2, and the guard band. In some aspects, the use of the combined BWP (including the guard band) for active BWPs separated by a guard band may be based at least in part on a determination of whether a size (e.g., in terms of resource blocks (RBs)) of the guard band between the active BWPs satisfies a threshold. In this case, the threshold may be configured for the UE120in an RRC configuration (e.g., the configuration of the BWPs or another RRC configuration) received from the base station110.

In some aspects, the UE120may apply configurations (e.g., physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) configurations, physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) configurations, or the like) of the combined BWP (e.g., other than the central frequency and start and end RBs) that are the same as configurations of one or more of the active BWPs included in the combined BWP. For example, which of the active BWPs to use to set the configurations for the combined BWP may be configured for UE120(e.g., in the RRC configuration of the BWPs).

As described above, the UE120may receive, from the base station110, a configuration of a plurality of BWPs in a frequency band, and the configuration may identify a respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each BWP of the plurality of BWPs. The UE120and the base station110may communicate in one or more active BWPs using the respective BWP-specific DL-UL patterns for each of the one or more active BWPs. In some aspects, multiple BWPs may be activated at the same time and used together to enable full-duplex operation in one or more slots, and different combinations of BWPs may be activated or deactivated to achieve different configurations for full-duplex operation with low signaling overhead. As a result, the flexibility of allocating resources for full-duplex communications may be increased, which may result in network speed and decreased traffic latency for full-duplex communications.

While some techniques described inFIG.4are described in the context of enabling full-duplex communication between a UE and a base station (where both the UE and the base station are communicating in full duplex with each other), these techniques can also be used to enable communication between a single UE communicating in full-duplex and multiple UEs or base stations (such as multiple transmit-receive points), where each base station is communicating in half duplex, and to enable communication between a single base station communicating in full duplex and multiple UEs, where each UE is communicating in half duplex. Furthermore, these techniques can be applied for sidelink communications between UEs and for wireless communications between base stations.

FIG.5is a diagram illustrating an example process500performed, for example, by a user equipment (UE), in accordance with the present disclosure. Example process500is an example where the UE (e.g., UE120) performs operations associated with BWP-specific DL-UL patterns.

As shown inFIG.5, in some aspects, process500may include receiving, from a base station, a configuration of a plurality of BWPs in a frequency band, wherein the configuration identifies a respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each BWP of the plurality of BWPs, and wherein at least two of BWPs of the plurality of BWPs are configured with different BWP-specific DL-UL patterns and wherein each DL-UL pattern specifies which time intervals of a plurality of time intervals are dedicated to downlink and which time intervals of the plurality of time intervals are dedicated to uplink (block510). For example, the UE (e.g., using communication manager140and/or reception component702, depicted inFIG.7) may receive, from a base station, a configuration of a plurality of BWPs in a frequency band, wherein the configuration identifies a respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each BWP of the plurality of BWPs, and wherein at least two of BWPs of the plurality of BWPs are configured with different BWP-specific DL-UL patterns and wherein each DL-UL pattern specifies which time intervals of a plurality of time intervals are dedicated to downlink and which time intervals of the plurality of time intervals are dedicated to uplink, as described above, for example, with reference toFIG.4.

As further shown inFIG.5, in some aspects, process500may include communicating with the base station in one or more active BWPs of the plurality of BWPs using the respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each of the one or more active BWPs (block520). For example, the UE (e.g., using communication manager140, reception component702, and/or transmission component704, depicted inFIG.7) may communicate with the base station in one or more active BWPs of the plurality of BWPs using the respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each of the one or more active BWPs, as described above, for example, with reference toFIG.4.

In a first aspect, the one or more active BWPs include multiple BWPs of the plurality of BWPs at a same time.

In a second aspect, alone or in combination with the first aspect, for each of the plurality of BWPs, the respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern indicates a pattern of time-interval formats for the plurality of time intervals and the pattern of time-interval formats includes one or more downlink time intervals and one or more uplink time intervals.

In a third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first and second aspects, the one or more active BWPs include a first active BWP configured with a first BWP-specific DL-UL pattern and a second active BWP configured with a second BWP-specific DL-UL pattern, and communicating with the base station includes communicating with the base station in a half-duplex mode in time intervals having a same time-interval format in the first BWP-specific DL-UL pattern and the second BWP-specific DL-UL pattern, and communicating with the base station in a full-duplex mode in time intervals having different time-interval formats in the first BWP-specific DL-UL pattern and the second BWP-specific DL-UL pattern.

In a fourth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first and third aspects, the first active BWP overlaps with the second active BWP, and communicating with the base station in the full-duplex mode includes communicating with the base station in an IBFD mode in time intervals having different time-interval formats in the first BWP-specific DL-UL pattern and the second BWP-specific DL-UL pattern.

In a fifth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fourth aspects, the first active BWP is adjacent to the second active BWP or the first active BWP is separated from the second active BWP by a guard band, and communicating with the base station in the full-duplex mode includes communicating with the base station in an SBFD mode in time intervals having different time-interval formats in the first BWP-specific DL-UL pattern and the second BWP-specific DL-UL pattern.

In a sixth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fifth aspects, communicating with the base station in the half-duplex mode includes communicating with the base station in the half-duplex mode in a combined BWP that includes the first BWP and the second BWP in the time intervals having the same time-interval format in the first BWP-specific DL-UL pattern and the second BWP-specific DL-UL pattern.

In a seventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through sixth aspects, the first BWP and the second BWP are separated by a guard band, and the combined BWP includes the first BWP, the second BWP, and the guard band.

In an eighth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through seventh aspects, communicating with the base station in the half-duplex mode in a combined BWP communicating with the base station in the half-duplex mode in the combined BWP that includes the first BWP, the second BWP, and the guard band based at least in part on a determination that a size of the guard band satisfies a threshold.

In a ninth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through eighth aspects, for one or more BWPs of the plurality of BWPs, the pattern of time-interval formats further includes one or more flexible time intervals, and process500includes receiving, from the base station, a SFI that indicates, for at least one BWP of the one or more BWPs, that a flexible time interval in the respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern configured for the at least one BWP is to be used as a downlink time interval or an uplink time interval.

In a tenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through a ninth aspects, the SFI is included in DCI, and the DCI further includes an indication of the at least one BWP to which the SFI is to be applied.

In an eleventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through tenth aspects, the SFI is included in DCI, and a location of the SFI in a bit field of the DCI indicates the at least one BWP to which the SFI is applied.

In a twelfth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through eleventh aspects, the plurality of time intervals comprise a plurality of slots, and wherein the DL-UL pattern specifies which slots are dedicated to uplink and which slots are dedicated to downlink.

FIG.6is a diagram illustrating an example process600performed, for example, by a base station, in accordance with the present disclosure. Example process600is an example where the base station (e.g., base station110) performs operations associated with BWP-specific DL-UL patterns.

As shown inFIG.6, in some aspects, process600may include transmitting, to a UE, a configuration of a plurality of BWPs in a frequency band, wherein the configuration identifies a respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each BWP of the plurality of BWPs, and wherein at least two of BWPs of the plurality of BWPs are configured with different BWP-specific DL-UL patterns and wherein each DL-UL pattern specifies which time intervals of a plurality of time intervals are dedicated to downlink and which time intervals of the plurality of time intervals are dedicated to uplink (block610). For example, the base station (e.g., using communication manager150and/or transmission component804, depicted inFIG.8) may transmit, to a UE, a configuration of a plurality of BWPs in a frequency band, wherein the configuration identifies a respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each BWP of the plurality of BWPs, and wherein at least two of BWPs of the plurality of BWPs are configured with different BWP-specific DL-UL patterns and wherein each DL-UL pattern specifies which time intervals of a plurality of time intervals are dedicated to downlink and which time intervals of the plurality of time intervals are dedicated to uplink, as described above, for example, with reference toFIG.4.

As further shown inFIG.6, in some aspects, process600may include communicating with the UE in one or more active BWPs of the plurality of BWPs using the respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each of the one or more active BWPs (block620). For example, the base station (e.g., using communication manager150, reception component802, and/or transmission component804, depicted inFIG.8) may communicate with the UE in one or more active BWPs of the plurality of BWPs using the respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each of the one or more active BWPs, as described above, for example, with reference toFIG.4.

In a first aspect, the one or more active BWPs include multiple BWPs of the plurality of BWPs at a same time.

In a second aspect, alone or in combination with the first aspect, for each of the plurality of BWPs, the respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern indicates a pattern of time-interval formats for the plurality of time intervals and the pattern of time-interval formats includes one or more downlink time intervals and one or more uplink time intervals.

In a third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first and second aspects, the one or more active BWPs include a first active BWP configured with a first BWP-specific DL-UL pattern and a second active BWP configured with a second BWP-specific DL-UL pattern, and communicating with the UE includes communicating with the UE in a half-duplex mode in time intervals having a same time-interval format in the first BWP-specific DL-UL pattern and the second BWP-specific DL-UL pattern, and communicating with the UE in a full-duplex mode in time intervals having different time-interval formats in the first BWP-specific DL-UL pattern and the second BWP-specific DL-UL pattern.

In a fourth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through third aspects, the first active BWP overlaps with the second active BWP, wherein communicating with the UE in the full-duplex mode includes communicating with the UE in an IBFD mode in time intervals having different time-interval formats in the first BWP-specific DL-UL pattern and the second BWP-specific DL-UL pattern.

In a fifth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fourth aspects, the first active BWP is adjacent to the second active BWP or the first active BWP is separated from the second active BWP by a guard band, wherein communicating with the UE in the full-duplex mode includes communicating with the UE in an SBFD mode in time intervals having different time-interval formats in the first BWP-specific DL-UL pattern and the second BWP-specific DL-UL pattern.

In a sixth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fifth aspects, communicating with the UE in the half-duplex mode includes communicating with the UE in the half-duplex mode in a combined BWP that includes the first BWP and the second BWP in the time intervals having the same time-interval format in the first BWP-specific DL-UL pattern and the second BWP-specific DL-UL pattern.

In a seventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through sixth aspects, the first BWP and the second BWP are separated by a guard band, and the combined BWP includes the first BWP, the second BWP, and the guard band.

In an eighth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through seventh aspects, communicating with the UE in the half-duplex mode in a combined BWP communicating with the UE in the half-duplex mode in the combined BWP that includes the first BWP, the second BWP, and the guard band based at least in part on a determination that a size of the guard band satisfies a threshold.

In a ninth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through eighth aspects, for one or more BWPs of the plurality of BWPs, the pattern of time-interval formats further includes one or more flexible time intervals, and process600includes transmitting, to the UE, an SFI that indicates, for at least one BWP of the one or more BWPs, that a flexible time interval in the respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern configured for the at least one BWP is to be used as a downlink time interval or an uplink time interval.

In a tenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through ninth aspects, the SFI is included in DCI, and the DCI further includes an indication of the at least one BWP to which the SFI is to be applied.

In an eleventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through tenth aspects, the SFI is included in DCI, and a location of the SFI in a bit field of the DCI indicates the at least one BWP to which the SFI is applied.

In a twelfth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through eleventh aspects, the plurality of time intervals comprise a plurality of slots, and wherein the DL-UL pattern specifies which slots are dedicated to uplink and which slots are dedicated to downlink.

FIG.7is a diagram of an example apparatus700for wireless communication. The apparatus700may be a UE, or a UE may include the apparatus700. In some aspects, the apparatus700includes a reception component702and a transmission component704, which may be in communication with one another (for example, via one or more buses and/or one or more other components). As shown, the apparatus700may communicate with another apparatus706(such as a UE, a base station, or another wireless communication device) using the reception component702and the transmission component704. As further shown, the apparatus700may include the communication manager140. The communication manager140may a determination component708, among other examples.

The transmission component704may transmit communications, such as reference signals, control information, data communications, or a combination thereof, to the apparatus706. In some aspects, one or more other components of the apparatus700may generate communications and may provide the generated communications to the transmission component704for transmission to the apparatus706. In some aspects, the transmission component704may perform signal processing on the generated communications (such as filtering, amplification, modulation, digital-to-analog conversion, multiplexing, interleaving, mapping, or encoding, among other examples), and may transmit the processed signals to the apparatus706. In some aspects, the transmission component704may include one or more antennas, a modem, a modulator, a transmit MIMO processor, a transmit processor, a controller/processor, a memory, or a combination thereof, of the UE described in connection withFIG.2. In some aspects, the transmission component704may be co-located with the reception component702in a transceiver.

The reception component702may receive, receive, from a base station, a configuration of a plurality of BWPs in a frequency band, wherein the configuration identifies a respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each BWP of the plurality of BWPs, and wherein at least two of BWPs of the plurality of BWPs are configured with different BWP-specific DL-UL patterns and wherein each DL-UL pattern specifies which time intervals of a plurality of time intervals are dedicated to downlink and which time intervals of the plurality of time intervals are dedicated to uplink. The reception component702and/or the transmission component704may communicate with the base station in one or more active BWPs of the plurality of BWPs using the respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each of the one or more active BWPs.

The reception component702may receive, from the base station, an SFI that indicates, for at least one BWP of the one or more BWPs, that a flexible time interval in the respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern configured for the at least one BWP is to be used as a downlink time interval or an uplink time interval.

The determination component708may determine the at least one BWP, of the plurality of BWPs, to which the SFI is applied.

The number and arrangement of components shown inFIG.7are provided as an example. In practice, there may be additional components, fewer components, different components, or differently arranged components than those shown inFIG.7. Furthermore, two or more components shown inFIG.7may be implemented within a single component, or a single component shown inFIG.7may be implemented as multiple, distributed components. Additionally, or alternatively, a set of (one or more) components shown inFIG.7may perform one or more functions described as being performed by another set of components shown inFIG.7.

The transmission component804may transmit, to a UE, a configuration of a plurality of BWPs in a frequency band, wherein the configuration identifies a respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each BWP of the plurality of BWPs, and wherein at least two of BWPs of the plurality of BWPs are configured with different BWP-specific DL-UL patterns and wherein each DL-UL pattern specifies which time intervals of a plurality of time intervals are dedicated to downlink and which time intervals of the plurality of time intervals are dedicated to uplink. The reception component802and/or the transmission component804may communicate with the UE in one or more active BWPs of the plurality of BWPs using the respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each of the one or more active BWPs.

The determination component808may determine the one or more active BWPs.

The transmission component804may transmit, to the UE, an SFI that indicates, for at least one BWP of the one or more BWPs, that a flexible time interval in the respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern configured for the at least one BWP is to be used as a downlink time interval or an uplink time interval.

Aspect 1: A method of wireless communication performed by a user equipment (UE), comprising: receiving, from a base station, a configuration of a plurality of bandwidth parts (BWPs) in a frequency band, wherein the configuration identifies a respective BWP-specific downlink (DL)-uplink (UL) pattern for each BWP of the plurality of BWPs, and wherein at least two of BWPs of the plurality of BWPs are configured with different BWP-specific DL-UL patterns and wherein each DL-UL pattern specifies which time intervals of a plurality of time intervals are dedicated to downlink and which time intervals of the plurality of time intervals are dedicated to uplink; and communicating with the base station in one or more active BWPs of the plurality of BWPs using the respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each of the one or more active BWPs.

Aspect 2: The UE of claim1, wherein the plurality of time intervals comprise a plurality of slots, and wherein the DL-UL pattern specifies which slots are dedicated to uplink and which slots are dedicated to downlink.

Aspect 3: The method of any of Aspects 1-2, wherein the one or more active BWPs include multiple BWPs of the plurality of BWPs at a same time.

Aspect 4: The method of any of Aspects 1-3, wherein, for each of the plurality of BWPs, the respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern indicates a pattern of time-interval formats for the plurality of time intervals and the pattern of time-interval formats includes one or more downlink time intervals and one or more uplink time intervals.

Aspect 5: The method of Aspect 4, wherein the one or more active BWPs include a first active BWP configured with a first BWP-specific DL-UL pattern and a second active BWP configured with a second BWP-specific DL-UL pattern, and wherein communicating with the base station comprises: communicating with the base station in a half-duplex mode in time intervals having a same time-interval format in the first BWP-specific DL-UL pattern and the second BWP-specific DL-UL pattern; and communicating with the base station in a full-duplex mode in time intervals having different time-interval formats in the first BWP-specific DL-UL pattern and the second BWP-specific DL-UL pattern.

Aspect 6: The method of Aspect 5, wherein the first active BWP overlaps with the second active BWP, and wherein communicating with the base station in the full-duplex mode comprises: communicating with the base station in an in-band full-duplex (IBFD) mode in time intervals having different time-interval formats in the first BWP-specific DL-UL pattern and the second BWP-specific DL-UL pattern.

Aspect 7: The method of Aspect 5, wherein the first active BWP is adjacent to the second active BWP or the first active BWP is separated from the second active BWP by a guard band, and wherein communicating with the base station in the full-duplex mode comprises: communicating with the base station in a sub-band full-duplex (SBFD) mode in time intervals having different time-interval formats in the first BWP-specific DL-UL pattern and the second BWP-specific DL-UL pattern.

Aspect 8: The method of any of Aspects 5-7, wherein communicating with the base station in the half-duplex mode comprises: communicating with the base station in the half-duplex mode in a combined BWP that includes the first active BWP and the second active BWP in the time intervals having the same time-interval format in the first BWP-specific DL-UL pattern and the second BWP-specific DL-UL pattern, wherein the first active BWP and the second active BWP are separated by a guard band, and the combined BWP includes the first active BWP, the second active BWP, and the guard band.

Aspect 9: The method of Aspect 8, wherein communicating with the base station in the half-duplex mode in a combined BWP comprises: communicating with the base station in the half-duplex mode in the combined BWP that includes the first active BWP, the second active BWP, and the guard band based at least in part on a determination that a size of the guard band satisfies a threshold.

Aspect 10: The method of any of Aspects 4-9, wherein, for one or more BWPs of the plurality of BWPs, the pattern of time-interval formats further includes one or more flexible time intervals, and wherein the method further comprises: receiving, from the base station, a slot format indicator (SFI) that indicates, for at least one BWP of the one or more BWPs, that a flexible time interval in the respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern configured for the at least one BWP is to be used as a downlink time interval or an uplink time interval.

Aspect 11: The method of Aspect 10, wherein the SFI is included in downlink control information (DCI), and the DCI further includes an indication of the at least one BWP to which the SFI is to be applied.

Aspect 12: The method of Aspect 10, wherein the SFI is included in downlink control information (DCI), and a location of the SFI in a bit field of the DCI indicates the at least one BWP to which the SFI is applied.

Aspect 13: A method of wireless communication performed by a base station, comprising: transmitting, to a user equipment (UE), a configuration of a plurality of bandwidth parts (BWPs) in a frequency band, wherein the configuration identifies a respective BWP-specific downlink (DL)-uplink (UL) pattern for each BWP of the plurality of BWPs, and wherein at least two of BWPs of the plurality of BWPs are configured with different BWP-specific DL-UL patterns and wherein each DL-UL pattern specifies which time intervals of a plurality of time intervals are dedicated to downlink and which time intervals of the plurality of time intervals are dedicated to uplink; and communicating with the UE in one or more active BWPs of the plurality of BWPs using the respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern for each of the one or more active BWPs.

Aspect 14: The method of claim13, wherein the plurality of time intervals comprise a plurality of slots, and wherein the DL-UL pattern specifies which slots are dedicated to uplink and which slots are dedicated to downlink.

Aspect 15: The method of any of Aspects 14, wherein the one or more active BWPs include multiple BWPs of the plurality of BWPs at a same time.

Aspect 16: The method of any of Aspects 13-15, wherein, for each of the plurality of BWPs, the respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern indicates a pattern of time-interval formats for the plurality of time intervals and the pattern of time-interval formats includes one or more downlink time intervals and one or more uplink time intervals.

Aspect 17: The method of Aspect 16, wherein the one or more active BWPs include a first active BWP configured with a first BWP-specific DL-UL pattern and a second active BWP configured with a second BWP-specific DL-UL pattern, and wherein communicating with the UE comprises: communicating with the UE in a half-duplex mode in time intervals having a same time-interval format in the first BWP-specific DL-UL pattern and the second BWP-specific DL-UL pattern; and communicating with the UE in a full-duplex mode in time intervals having different time-interval formats in the first BWP-specific DL-UL pattern and the second BWP-specific DL-UL pattern.

Aspect 18: The method of Aspect 17, wherein the first active BWP overlaps with the second active BWP, and wherein communicating with the UE in the full-duplex mode comprises: communicating with the UE in an in-band full-duplex (IBFD) mode in time intervals having different time-interval formats in the first BWP-specific DL-UL pattern and the second BWP-specific DL-UL pattern.

Aspect 19: The method of Aspect 17, wherein the first active BWP is adjacent to the second active BWP or the first active BWP is separated from the second active BWP by a guard band, and wherein communicating with the UE in the full-duplex mode comprises: communicating with the UE in a sub-band full-duplex (SBFD) mode in time intervals having different time-interval formats in the first BWP-specific DL-UL pattern and the second BWP-specific DL-UL pattern.

Aspect 20: The method of any of Aspects 17-19, wherein communicating with the UE in the half-duplex mode comprises: communicating with the UE in the half-duplex mode in a combined BWP that includes the first active BWP and the second active BWP in the time intervals having the same time-interval format in the first BWP-specific DL-UL pattern and the second BWP-specific DL-UL pattern, wherein the first active BWP and the second active BWP are separated by a guard band, and the combined BWP includes the first active BWP, the second active BWP, and the guard band.

Aspect 21: The method of Aspect 20, wherein communicating with the UE in the half-duplex mode in a combined BWP comprises: communicating with the UE in the half-duplex mode in the combined BWP that includes the first active BWP, the second active BWP, and the guard band based at least in part on a determination that a size of the guard band satisfies a threshold.

Aspect 22: The method of any of Aspects 16-21, wherein, for one or more BWPs of the plurality of BWPs, the pattern of time-interval formats further includes one or more flexible time intervals, and wherein the method further comprises: transmitting, to the UE, a slot format indicator (SFI) that indicates, for at least one BWP of the one or more BWPs, that a flexible time interval in the respective BWP-specific DL-UL pattern configured for the at least one BWP is to be used as a downlink time interval or an uplink time interval.

Aspect 23: The method of Aspect 22, wherein the SFI is included in downlink control information (DCI), and the DCI further includes an indication of the at least one BWP to which the SFI is to be applied.

Aspect 24: The method of Aspect 22, wherein the SFI is included in downlink control information (DCI), and a location of the SFI in a bit field of the DCI indicates the at least one BWP to which the SFI is applied.