Patent Description:
The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to wireless communications and more particularly relates to determining maximum power reduction for non-contiguous radio resource allocations.

The following abbreviations are herewith defined, at least some of which are referred to within the following description.

The following abbreviations are herewith defined, at least some of which are referred to within the following description: Third Generation Partnership Project ("3GPP"), Fifth-Generation Core ("5GC"), Access and Mobility Management Function ("AMF"), Access Point Name ("APN"), Access Stratum ("AS"), Adjacent Channel Leakage Ratio ("ACLR"), Bandwidth Adaptation ("BA"), Bandwidth Part ("BWP"), Beam Failure Detection ("BFD"), Beam Failure Recovery Request ("BFRR"), Binary Phase Shift Keying ("BPSK"), Buffer Status Report ("BSR"), Block Error Rate ("BLER"), Carrier Aggregation ("CA"), Cell-Specific Radio Network Temporary Identifier ("C-RNTI"), Clear Channel Assessment ("CCA"), Cyclic Prefix ("CP"), Common Search Space ("C-SS"), Control Element ("CE"), Cyclical Redundancy Check ("CRC"), Channel State Information ("CSI"), Common Search Space ("CSS"), Data Radio Bearer ("DRB," e.g., carrying user plane data), Demodulation Reference Signal ("DM-RS"), Discontinuous Reception ("DRX"), Discrete Fourier Transform Spread ("DFTS"), Downlink Control Information ("DCI"), Downlink ("DL"), Downlink Pilot Time Slot ("DwPTS"), Enhanced Clear Channel Assessment ("eCCA"), Enhanced Licensed Assisted Access ("eLAA"), Enhanced Mobile Broadband ("eMBB"), Evolved Node B ("eNB"), Evolved Packet Core ("EPC"), Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network ("E-UTRAN"), Frame Based Equipment ("FBE"), Frequency Division Duplex ("FDD"), Frequency Division Multiple Access ("FDMA"), Frequency Division Orthogonal Cover Code ("FD-OCC"), Guard Period ("GP"), General Packet Radio Service ("GPRS"), Global System for Mobile Communications ("GSM"), Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request ("HARQ"), Internet-of-Things ("IoT"), Licensed Assisted Access ("LAA"), Load Based Equipment ("LBE"), Listen-Before-Talk ("LBT"), Logical Channel ("LCH"), Long Term Evolution ("LTE"), Master Information Block ("MIB"), Multiple Access ("MA"), Medium Access Control ("MAC"), Master Cell Group ("MCG"), Modulation Coding Scheme ("MCS"), Machine Type Communication ("MTC"), Mobility management Entity ("MME"), Multiple Input Multiple Output ("MIMO"), Multi User Shared Access ("MUSA"), Narrowband ("NB"), Next Generation (e.g., <NUM>) Node-B ("gNB"), Next Generation Radio Access Network ("NG-RAN"), New Radio ("NR", e.g., <NUM> radio access), New Data Indicator ("NDI"), Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access ("NOMA"), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing ("OFDM"), Packet Data Convergence Protocol ("PDCP"), Primary Cell ("PCell"), Physical Broadcast Channel ("PBCH"), Packet Data Network ("PDN"), Protocol Data Unit ("PDU"), Physical Downlink Control Channel ("PDCCH"), Physical Downlink Shared Channel ("PDSCH"), Pattern Division Multiple Access ("PDMA"), Physical Hybrid ARQ Indicator Channel ("PHICH"), Physical Random Access Channel ("PRACH"), Physical Resource Block ("PRB"), Physical Uplink Control Channel ("PUCCH"), Physical Uplink Shared Channel ("PUSCH"), Quality of Service ("QoS"), Quadrature Phase Shift Keying ("QPSK"), Radio Link Control ("RLC"), Radio Link Failure ("RLF"), Radio Link Monitoring ("RLM"), Radio Resource Control ("RRC"), Random-Access Procedure ("RACH"), Random Access Response ("RAR"), Radio Network Temporary Identifier ("RNTI"), Reference Signal ("RS"), Reference Signal Received Power ("RSRP"), Remaining Minimum System Information ("RMSI"), Resource Block Assignment ("RBA"), Resource Spread Multiple Access ("RSMA"), Round Trip Time ("RTT"), Receive ("RX"), Sparse Code Multiple Access ("SCMA"), Scheduling Request ("SR"), Signaling Radio Bearer ("SRB," e.g., carrying control plane data), Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access ("SC-FDMA"), Secondary Cell ("SCell"), Secondary Cell Group ("SCG"), Shared Channel ("SCH"), Signal-to-Interference-Plus-Noise Ratio ("SINR"), Serving Gateway ("SGW"), Service Data Unit ("SDU"), Sequence Number ("SN"), Session Management Function ("SMF"), System Information ("SI"), System Information Block ("SIB"), Synchronization Signal ("SS"), Transport Block ("TB"), Transport Block Size ("TBS"), Time-Division Duplex ("TDD"), Time Division Multiplex ("TDM"), Time Division Orthogonal Cover Code ("TD-OCC"), Transmission Time Interval ("TTI"), Transmit ("TX"), Uplink Control Information ("UCI"), User Entity/Equipment (Mobile Terminal) ("the UE"), Uplink ("UL"), User Plane ("UP"), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System ("UMTS"), Uplink Pilot Time Slot ("UpPTS"), Ultra-reliability and Low-latency Communications ("URLLC"), Wireless Local Area Network ("WLAN"), and Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access ("WiMAX"). As used herein, "HARQ-ACK" may represent collectively the Positive Acknowledge ("ACK") and the Negative Acknowledge ("NACK"). ACK means that a TB is correctly received while NACK (or NAK) means a TB is erroneously received.

In LTE, maximum power reduction is defined for the UE DFT-s-OFDM uplink transmission in order to enable the UE to meet emissions requirements such as the spectral emissions mask (SEM), adjacent channel leakage requirements UTRA ACLR1, UTRA ACLR2, E-UTRA ACLR, NR ACLR, and the spurious emissions requirements. Additional maximum power reduction (A-MPR) is allowed when additional emission constraints are signaled using network signaling (NS). MPR is defined for the UE in order to enable the UE uplink transmission to meet the SEM, UTRA ACLR1, UTRA ACLR2, E-UTRA ACLR, NR ACLR and spurious emissions requirements. An example is given in document <CIT>.

Methods for determining maximum power reduction for non-contiguous radio resource allocations are disclosed. Apparatuses and systems also perform the functions of the methods. The methods may also be embodied in one or more computer program products comprising executable code.

The invention is defined by the subject-matter of independent claims.

This code may be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, special-purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the schematic flowchart diagrams and/or schematic block diagrams.

The code may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other devices to produce a computer implemented process such that the code which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes for implementing the functions/acts specified in the schematic flowchart diagrams and/or schematic block diagram.

As noted above, <NUM> NR supports BWP, namely a group of contiguous PRBs whose collective bandwidth is smaller than or equal to the maximum UE bandwidth capability, but at least as large as a bandwidth of a SS/PBCH block. Different UEs' BWPs may fully or partially overlap, and it is up to a network entity, e.g., a gNodeB ("gNB") or other suitable RAN node, to coordinate scheduling of different UEs' BWPs. Configuration parameters of a BWP may include numerology (e.g., subcarrier spacing), a frequency location (e.g., center frequency), and a bandwidth (e.g., number of PRBs). A given BWP may or may not contain a SS/PBCH block.

Multiple SS/PBCH blocks can be transmitted within a bandwidth of a carrier. However, from UE perspective, a cell is associated with a single SS/PBCH block in frequency domain. Further, a cell-defining SS/PBCH block has an associated essential system information block(s), for example, System Information Block Type1 ("SIB1") and/or System Information Block Type2 ("SIB2") which includes, so called, 'remaining minimum system information ("RMSI")', system information not included in a master information block ("MIB") but essential to accessing to a cell. Multiple cell-defining SS/PBCH blocks associated with a common NE and transmitted in the bandwidth of the carrier may or may not have common system information.

System information ("SI") messages, each of which includes at least one system information block, may be transmitted within periodically occurring time domain windows (referred to as SI-windows) using dynamic scheduling. Each SI message is associated with a SI-window and the SI-windows of different SI messages may or may not overlap. A SI-window length may be configurable and may or may not be common for all SI messages. Within a given SI-window, a corresponding SI message can be transmitted a number of times. UE can acquire detailed time and frequency domain scheduling and other information from decoding physical downlink control channel ("PDCCH") addressed by a system information-radio network temporary identifier ("SI-RNTI"). For a secondary cell ("SCell"), a network entity provides UE with the required SI by dedicated signaling. Upon change of relevant SI, the network entity releases and adds back the concerned SCell with the updated SI for the UE. However, signaling of updated SI via cell release and addition procedures may not be suitable for a primary cell ("PCell") or primary secondary cell ("PSCell").

Disclosed herein are methods, apparatuses, systems, and computer-program products to perform (re)-acquiring system information ("SI") within a wideband carrier, wherein the wideband carrier refers to a carrier which includes one or more cell-defining SS/PBCH blocks associated with a common network entity (e.g., a base station).

<FIG> depicts a wireless communication system <NUM> for determining maximum power reduction for non-contiguous radio resource allocations, according to embodiments of the disclosure. In one embodiment, the wireless communication system <NUM> includes at least one remote unit <NUM>, a radio access network ("RAN") <NUM>, and a mobile core network <NUM>. The RAN <NUM> and the mobile core network <NUM> form a mobile communication network. The RAN <NUM> may be composed of a base unit <NUM> with which the remote unit <NUM> communicates using wireless communication links <NUM>. Even though a specific number of remote units <NUM>, base units <NUM>, wireless communication links <NUM>, RANs <NUM>, and mobile core networks <NUM> are depicted in <FIG>, one of skill in the art will recognize that any number of remote units <NUM>, base units <NUM>, wireless communication links <NUM>, RANs <NUM>, and mobile core networks <NUM> may be included in the wireless communication system <NUM>.

In one implementation, the wireless communication system <NUM> is compliant with the <NUM> system specified in the 3GPP specifications. More generally, however, the wireless communication system <NUM> may implement some other open or proprietary communication network, for example, LTE or WiMAX, among other networks.

In one embodiment, the remote units <NUM> may include computing devices, such as desktop computers, laptop computers, personal digital assistants ("PDAs"), tablet computers, smart phones, smart televisions (e.g., televisions connected to the Internet), smart appliances (e.g., appliances connected to the Internet), set-top boxes, game consoles, security systems (including security cameras), vehicle on-board computers, network devices (e.g., routers, switches, modems), or the like. Moreover, the remote units <NUM> may be referred to as the UEs, subscriber units, mobiles, mobile stations, users, terminals, mobile terminals, fixed terminals, subscriber stations, user terminals, wireless transmit/receive unit ("WTRU"), a device, or by other terminology used in the art.

The remote units <NUM> may communicate directly with one or more of the base units <NUM> in the RAN <NUM> via uplink ("UL") and downlink ("DL") communication signals. Furthermore, the UL and DL communication signals may be carried over the wireless communication links <NUM>. Here, the RAN <NUM> is an intermediate network that provides the remote units <NUM> with access to the mobile core network <NUM>. Note that UL transmissions <NUM> by the remote unit <NUM> may be subject to a maximum power reduction to comply with various emissions requirements. Here, the emission requirements vary from one jurisdiction to another.

In some embodiments, the remote units <NUM> communicate with an application server <NUM> via a network connection with the mobile core network <NUM>. For example, an application <NUM> (e.g., web browser, media client, telephone/VoIP application) in a remote unit <NUM> may trigger the remote unit <NUM> to establish a PDU session (or other data connection) with the mobile core network <NUM> via the RAN <NUM>. The mobile core network <NUM> then relays traffic between the remote unit <NUM> and the application server <NUM> in the packet data network <NUM> using the PDU session. Note that the remote unit <NUM> may establish one or more PDU sessions (or other data connections) with the mobile core network <NUM>. As such, the remote unit <NUM> may concurrently have at least one PDU session for communicating with the packet data network <NUM> and at least one PDU session for communicating with another data network (not shown).

The base units <NUM> may be distributed over a geographic region. In certain embodiments, a base unit <NUM> may also be referred to as an access terminal, an access point, a base, a base station, a Node-B, an eNB, a gNB, a Home Node-B, a relay node, or by any other terminology used in the art. The base units <NUM> are generally part of a radio access network ("RAN"), such as the RAN <NUM>, that may include one or more controllers communicably coupled to one or more corresponding base units <NUM>. These and other elements of radio access network are not illustrated but are well known generally by those having ordinary skill in the art. The base units <NUM> connect to the mobile core network <NUM> via the RAN <NUM>.

The base units <NUM> may serve a number of remote units <NUM> within a serving area, for example, a cell or a cell sector, via a wireless communication link <NUM>. The base units <NUM> may communicate directly with one or more of the remote units <NUM> via communication signals. Generally, the base units <NUM> transmit DL communication signals to serve the remote units <NUM> in the time, frequency, and/or spatial domain. Furthermore, the DL communication signals may be carried over the wireless communication links <NUM>. The wireless communication links <NUM> may be any suitable carrier in licensed or unlicensed radio spectrum. The wireless communication links <NUM> facilitate communication between one or more of the remote units <NUM> and/or one or more of the base units <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the mobile core network <NUM> is a <NUM> core ("5GC") or the evolved packet core ("EPC"), which may be coupled to a packet data network <NUM>, like the Internet and private data networks, among other data networks. A remote unit <NUM> may have a subscription or other account with the mobile core network <NUM>. Each mobile core network <NUM> belongs to a single public land mobile network ("PLMN").

The mobile core network <NUM> includes several network functions ("NFs"). As depicted, the mobile core network <NUM> includes multiple user plane functions ("UPFs") <NUM>. The mobile core network <NUM> also includes multiple control plane functions including, but not limited to, an Access and Mobility Management Function ("AMF") <NUM> that serves the RAN <NUM>, a Session Management Function ("SMF") <NUM>, and a Policy Control Function ("PCF") <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the mobile core network <NUM> may also include an Authentication Server Function ("AUSF"), a Unified Data Management function ("UDM") <NUM>, a Network Repository Function ("NRF") (used by the various NFs to discover and communicate with each other over APIs), or other NFs defined for the 5GC.

Although specific numbers and types of network functions are depicted in <FIG>, one of skill in the art will recognize that any number and type of network functions may be included in the mobile core network <NUM>. Moreover, where the mobile core network <NUM> is an EPC, the depicted network functions may be replaced with appropriate EPC entities, such as an MME, S-GW, P-GW, HSS, and the like. In certain embodiments, the mobile core network <NUM> may include a AAA server.

In various embodiments, the mobile core network <NUM> supports different types of mobile data connections and different types of network slices, wherein each mobile data connection utilizes a specific network slice. Here, a "network slice" refers to a portion of the mobile core network <NUM> optimized for a certain traffic type or communication service. In certain embodiments, the various network slices may include separate instances of network functions, such as the SMF <NUM> and UPF <NUM>. In some embodiments, the different network slices may share some common network functions, such as the AMF <NUM>. The different network slices are not shown in <FIG> for ease of illustration, but their support is assumed.

While <FIG> depicts components of a <NUM> RAN and a <NUM> core network, the described embodiments for determining maximum power reduction for non-contiguous radio resource allocations apply to other types of communication networks, including IEEE <NUM> variants, UMTS, LTE variants, CDMA <NUM>, Bluetooth, and the like. For example, in an LTE variant, the AMF <NUM> may be mapped to an MME, the SMF mapped to a control plane portion of a PGW, the UPF map to a STW and a user plane portion of the PGW, etc..

Generally, the present disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for determining a maximum power reduction for non-contiguous radio resource allocations, particularly in a network that uses CP-OFDM. As used herein, a "non-contiguous resource allocation" is defined as a resource allocation which is not a contiguous resource allocation. Moreover, a "contiguous resource allocation" is defined as a resource allocation of consecutive resource blocks within one carrier or across contiguously aggregated carriers. Note that the gap between contiguously aggregated carriers due to the nominal channel spacing is allowed within the definition of a "contiguous resource allocation.

For LTE, only the DFT-s-OFDM waveform is used for transmission of the uplink PUSCH. However, in NR (e.g., 3GPP <NUM> RAT), the UE can transmit the uplink using DFT-s-OFDM as in LTE, or alternatively, can transmit using cyclic prefix OFDM (CP-OFDM). In order to meet the ACLR emissions requirement, MPR is to be specified for both DFT-s-OFDM and CP-OFDM.

In various embodiments, the allowed MPR is defined based on a modulation and waveform used for the UL PUSCH. Here, the waveform may be DFT-s-OFDM or CP-OFDM. Examples of modulations include: π/<NUM> BPSK, QPSK, <NUM> QAM, <NUM> QAM, and <NUM> QAM. Note that the following parameters may be used to specify valid RB allocation ranges for Outer and Inner RB allocations: LCRBmax, RBStartLow, RBStartHigh, and RBStartInner.

These parameters may be defined as follows: LCRBmax refers to the maximum number of RB for a given Channel bandwidth and sub-carrier spacing derived from spectrum utilization. RBStartLow is equal to LCRB/<NUM> rounded down to next integer with floor at <NUM>. RBStartHigh is equal to LCRBmax - RBStartLow - LCRB. RBStartInner refers to valid RBSTART values for Inner RB allocations.

Here, the Inner RB allocation range is specified as follows: Inner RB allocations are LCRB/<NUM> away from each edge of the maximum RB allocation for all LCRB ≤ LCRBmax/<NUM> rounded up to the next integer. For LCRB ≤ LCRBmax/<NUM> rounded up to the next integer, RBStartLow ≤ RBStartInner ≤ RBStartHigh. Additionally, the Outer RB allocation range is all allocations which are not Inner RB allocations.

For current <NUM> systems, MPR is only defined for contiguous RB allocations. Here, the MPR is a function of the waveform type, either DFT-s-OFDM or CP-OFDM, and the modulation type which can be PI/<NUM> BPSK, QPSK, <NUM> QAM, <NUM> QAM, or <NUM> QAM.

In 3GPP New Radio ("NR"), a bandwidth part consisting of a group of contiguous physical resource blocks ("PRBs") is used in 3GPP New Radio ("NR") to support at least: reduced user equipment ("UE") bandwidth ("BW") capability, UE BW adaptation, frequency division multiplexing ("FDM") of multiple numerologies (subcarrier spacings), and use of non-contiguous spectrum. Moreover, the use of bandwidth part allows the UE to reduce power consumption. It should be noted that bandwidth parts are UE specific and are not restricted to the allowed channel carrier bandwidths in NR, such as <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>. It should also be noted that each bandwidth part may have its own PUCCH resources which can be used for the transmission of acknowledgements or for the transmission of channel state feedback, such as Precoding Matrix Indicators, Rank Indicators, and/or Channel Quality Information ("PMI/RI/CQI").

In some embodiments, a remote unit <NUM> may use a maximum power reduction to meet emissions requirements such as the spectral emissions mask (SEM), adjacent channel leakage requirements UTRA ACLR1, UTRA ACLR2, E-UTRA ACLR, NR ACLR, and the spurious emissions requirements. Additional maximum power reduction (A-MPR) is allowed when additional emission constraints are signaled using network signaling.

For example, the remote unit <NUM> identifies a smallest contiguous allocation containing the non-contiguous allocation and a fraction of RBs punctured from the smallest containing contiguous allocation, e.g., due to PUCCH for other remote units <NUM>. Moreover, the remote unit <NUM> may identify a threshold α and determine whether the fraction of RBs punctured from the smallest containing contiguous allocation is less than the threshold α. Where the fraction is less than the threshold α, the remote unit <NUM> determines an MPR for the non-contiguous allocation, wherein the MPR for the non-contiguous allocation is based on the MPR for the smallest containing contiguous allocation.

Described herein are UE behavior for determining a maximum power reduction for a non-contiguous resource allocation, particularly for a CP-OFDM allocation in a <NUM> wireless communication system, such as one compliant with the 3GPP NR.

<FIG> depicts a network architecture <NUM> comprising a gNB <NUM> (or other suitable base station) and multiple UEs, namely a first UE ("UE1") <NUM>, a second UE ("UE2") <NUM>, and a third UE ("UE3") <NUM>. to different UEs, according to various embodiments of the disclosure. Here, three UEs are being served in the illustrated frequency band: a first UE <NUM> having a narrowband allocation <NUM>, a second UE <NUM> also having a narrowband allocation <NUM>, and a third UE <NUM> having a wideband allocation <NUM>.

Note that the narrowband allocations <NUM> and <NUM> include long PUCCH <NUM> with frequency hopping. Because of the need for the narrowband UE to transmit on its PUCCH even when the narrowband UE is not given an uplink PUSCH allocation, it will not in general be possible to allocate a contiguous full-bandwidth block of resources to the wideband third UE <NUM>. The PUCCH requirement of narrowband UEs results in punctured resources <NUM> in the wideband allocation <NUM>. This puncturing results in a first contiguous part <NUM> and a second contiguous part <NUM> in the wideband allocation <NUM>.

Thus, there are two options for the allocation to the third UE <NUM>: the first option is to allocate a non-contiguous wideband allocation in which the narrowband UE PUCCH resources have been punctured from the third UE <NUM>'s allocation; the second option is to allocation only contiguous RBs (e.g., one of the first contiguous part <NUM> and the second contiguous part <NUM>), however, this will result in a smaller bandwidth allocation. Unless a non-contiguous allowed MPR or A-MPR is defined for NR CP-OFDM, it is not possible to give the wideband UE a non-contiguous wideband allocation from which the narrowband UE PUCCH resources have been punctured. Accordingly, techniques for defining allowed MPR for non-contiguous allocations are disclosed herein.

One way to define MPR or A-MPR for a non-contiguous allocation is to use the contiguous MPR (or A-MPR) when the non-contiguous allocation is an almost-contiguous allocation. Here, the assumption is that the number of punctured RBs within the otherwise contiguous allocation are limited so that the normal MPR is sufficient. As used herein, an "almost-contiguous" allocation refers to an allocation where the number of punctured RBs within the smallest containing contiguous allocation are limited. A non-contiguous allocation may be determined to be an "almost-contiguous" allocation if the amount of punctured resource blocks meets certain criteria, such as a ratio of punctured RBs to the number of RBs in the smallest containing contiguous allocation being less than a threshold, the size (number) of Punctured RBs being less than a threshold, the largest number of contiguously punctured RBs being less than a threshold, the location of the allocation (e.g., inner or outer) being in a certain location in the carrier/channel, the modulation associated with the allocation being a certain type, the number of RBs in the smallest containing contiguous allocation being within a predetermined amount of the channel bandwidth, and other criteria discussed herein.

In one embodiment, a CP-OFDM allocation is determined to be an almost-contiguous if LCRB of the smallest containing contiguous allocation satisfies LCRB > LCRBmax/ FFS of the given channel bandwidth and the number of resource blocks which are not transmitted within the smallest containing contiguous allocation are less than or equal to LCRB/FFS. In such embodiments, the allowed MPR for the almost-contiguous allocation is that of a contiguous block of RBs starting and ending with the same RBs as the almost-contiguous allocation.

Above, LCRBmax is intended to mean the maximum number of RBs allowed for the given channel bandwidth. For a contiguous allocation, LCRB is the number of allocated RBs. For a non-contiguous allocation, LCRB may be defined to be the number of RBs of the smallest containing contiguous allocation. As used herein, the "smallest containing contiguous allocation" refers to a contiguous allocation that encompasses the non-contiguous allocation. One example of a smallest containing contiguous allocation is shown at <NUM>. In certain embodiments, a smallest containing contiguous allocation ("SCCA") is a contiguous allocation having the same starting RBs and ending RBs as the non-contiguous allocation.

<FIG> depicts bandwidth parts <NUM> for different UEs, according to various embodiments of the disclosure. Here, the bandwidth parts ("BWPs") include a first BWP <NUM> of a first UE ("UE1"), a second BWP <NUM> of a second UE ("UE2"), a third BWP <NUM> of a third UE ("UE3"), and a fourth BWP <NUM> of a fourth UE ("UE4"). Note that <FIG> may be an oversimplified representation of the concept of bandwidth part. Because BWPs are UE specific, there is no requirement that BWPs of different UE's be aligned.

As depicted in <FIG>, the bandwidth parts for different UE's may have different widths and the boundaries may not be aligned. Furthermore, some bandwidth parts may be fully contained within other bandwidth parts (e.g., the BWPs <NUM> and <NUM> are fully contained within the BWP <NUM>). From <FIG>, it is apparent that the left PUCCH region for the UE1 and the UE3 overlap so that the PUCCH resources for these two UEs collide (PUCCH collision 330A), and a similar situation exists for the right PUCCH region of the UE2 and the UE3 (PUCCH collision 330B). In one embodiment, this problem may be alleviated by overprovisioning (moving inwards) the PUCCH region, e.g., of the UE2. The point of this observation is to note that for bandwidth parts, the PUCCH region may not be in the edge RBs of the bandwidth part.

In some embodiments, in order for normal MPR to apply, it must be that LCRB > a portion of the LCRBmax for the given channel bandwidth. In one example, LCRBmax / X for the given channel bandwidth, where the value of X is predefined in the wireless network. However, the above does not allow non-contiguous allocations for bandwidth parts containing other bandwidth parts either in whole or in part as is shown in above.

Note that, in <FIG>, the bandwidth part for the UE2 is punctured by the PUCCH region of the bandwidth parts for the UE3 and UE4. Similarly, the bandwidth part for the UE3 is punctured by the PUCCH region of bandwidth part for the UE2. Thus, for the more general cases illustrated in <FIG>, it may not be desirable to require that LCRB > LCRBmax / X, as with this requirement, it may not be possible to allow non-contiguous allocations for smaller bandwidth parts.

Because different emissions constraints limit the transmit power (and thus determine the needed MPR), it will in general be true that a greater fraction of RBs can be punctured from the contiguous RB allocations located in some parts of the table of 3GPP TS <NUM> while still meeting emissions requirements, than can be punctured from the contiguous RB allocations located in other parts of the table.

In various embodiments, the UE <NUM> may support non-contiguous MPR for CP-OFDM based on the MPR for the smallest contiguous allocation containing the non-contiguous allocation. For a non-contiguous allocation of span LCRB, let LCRB denote the number of RBs in the smallest contiguous allocation containing the non-contiguous allocation.

MPR is defined for the non-contiguous allocation if the fraction of RBs punctured from the smallest containing contiguous allocation is less than a threshold α which is strictly less than <NUM>. Let NRB_GAP represent the number of unallocated RBs between allocated RBs (e.g., the number of punctured RBs) and let NRB_ALLOC is number of allocated RBs. The non-contiguous allocation may be considered an almost-contiguous allocation, and have a defined allowed MPR, if the following is satisfied: <MAT>.

Note that that quantity "NRB_GAP + NRB_ALLOC" represents the number of RBs in the smallest containing contiguous allocation ("SCCA"). Accordingly, the SCCA may be defined as follows: <MAT>.

In certain embodiments, Equation <NUM> may apply only if the size of the SCCA as above a minimum amount. Here, the minimum amount may be based on the subcarrier spacing of the non-contiguous allocation. In one embodiment, threshold α be <NUM> or less. In certain embodiments, the value of α may depend on whether the smallest containing contiguous allocation is an inner allocation or an outer allocation. In some embodiments, the threshold α may depend on the modulation of the non-contiguous allocation, e.g., QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM, <NUM> QAM.

In certain embodiments, the value of α may depend on the center frequency of the carrier, Fc. In certain embodiments, the value of α may depend on LCRB. In certain embodiments, the value of α may depend on the lowest index RB, RBSTART. In certain embodiments, the value of α may depend on the NS value signaled.

Note that for some contiguous allocations, MPR may not be defined for any non-contiguous allocation resulting from puncturing the contiguous allocation. For example, if the SCCA is located in certain portions of the frequency band, then MPR may not be defined for the non-contiguous allocation. In one embodiment, the MPR is defined based on a starting (e.g., lowest) or ending (e.g., highest) resource block index of the allocation.

In various embodiments, the allowed MPR for the non-contiguous allocation may be allowed to increase by a value β dB relative to the allowed MPR for the SCCA. Here, the value β may be as large as the negative of <NUM> times the base <NUM> logarithm of the fraction of the LCRB RBs punctured. Here, the value of β is based on the ratio of RBs punctured. In certain embodiments, the value of β may be defined using a ceiling function to map the fraction of RBs punctured from the smallest containing contiguous allocation to a decibel value in steps of <NUM> dB as follows: <MAT>.

<FIG> depicts one embodiment of a user equipment apparatus <NUM> that may be used for determining maximum power reduction for non-contiguous radio resource allocations. The user equipment apparatus <NUM> may be one embodiment of the remote unit <NUM>. Furthermore, the user equipment apparatus <NUM> may include a processor <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, an input device <NUM>, an output device <NUM>, and a transceiver <NUM>. In some embodiments, the input device <NUM> and the output device <NUM> are combined into a single device, such as a touchscreen. In certain embodiments, the user equipment apparatus <NUM> may not include any input device <NUM> and/or output device <NUM>. In various embodiments, the user equipment apparatus <NUM> may include one or more of: the processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, and the transceiver <NUM>, and may not include the input device <NUM> and/or the output device <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the transceiver <NUM> receives a non-contiguous resource allocation, e.g., from a gNB <NUM> in a wireless communication system. The gNB <NUM> may be one embodiment of the base unit <NUM>, described above. Moreover, the processor <NUM> is configured to identify the non-contiguous resource allocation. In certain embodiments, the non-contiguous resource allocation comprises a plurality of smaller contiguous resource allocations. Here, the non-contiguous resource allocation is contained within a smallest containing contiguous allocation ("SCCA"), such that the SCCA is defined as that smallest set of contiguous resource blocks that encompasses the non-contiguous resource allocation.

The processor <NUM> determines a maximum power reduction for the non-contiguous resource allocation based on whether a fraction of resource blocks punctured from the SCCA is less than a threshold α. Here, the value of alpha may be predetermined or configured by the gNB <NUM>. In various embodiments, the allowed MPR for the non-contiguous resource allocation is based on the allowed MPR for the SCCA. In various embodiments, the SCCA is a set of contiguous resource block that encompasses the non-contiguous resource allocation, wherein the non-contiguous resource allocation comprises a plurality of smaller contiguous resource allocations.

In some embodiments, determining the MPR for the non-contiguous resource allocation includes selecting an allowed MPR defined for the SCCA in response to the fraction of resource blocks punctured from the SCCA being less than a threshold α. In further embodiments, determining the maximum power reduction for the non-contiguous resource allocation comprises increasing a selected maximum power reduction for the SCCA by a value β. In one embodiment, the value β is a function of the fraction of resource blocks punctured from the SCCA. In further embodiments, the value β is the negative of <NUM> times the base <NUM> logarithm of the fraction of resource blocks punctured from the SCCA.

However, the processor <NUM> may determine that no MPR is defined for the non-contiguous allocation if the fraction of resource blocks punctured from the SCCA is not less than the threshold value. Alternatively, the processor <NUM> may determine that the MPR of the non-contiguous allocation does not depend on the allowed MPR of the SCCA if the fraction of resource blocks punctured from the SCCA is not less than the threshold value. In such embodiments, the allowed MPR of the non-contiguous allocation may be determined using a lookup table, by network signaling, or the like.

In some embodiments, the transceiver <NUM> receives, from the wireless communication system, an indication of additional emission requirements, such that an additional MPR (e.g., A-MPR) is allowed. Here, the maximum power reduction (e.g., total MPR) for the non-contiguous resource allocation is further based on the indication. In various embodiments, the indication of additional emission requirements is received by NS signaling, for example by the gNB <NUM> sending a NS value.

In certain embodiments, the threshold α is based on a lowest resource block index of the allocation. In certain embodiments, the threshold α is based on a number of resource blocks in the SCCA. In certain embodiments, the threshold α is based on a center frequency of a carrier to which the non-contiguous resource allocation belongs. In certain embodiments, the threshold α is based on a modulation of the non-contiguous resource allocation.

Moreover, the processor <NUM> controls the transceiver <NUM> to transmit uplink signals on the non-contiguous resource allocation using the determined maximum power reduction. In certain embodiments, transmitting uplink signals on the non-contiguous resource allocation using the maximum power reduction comprises transmitting the uplink signals using a cyclic prefix orthogonal frequency division multiplexing ("CP-OFDM") waveform.

In some embodiments, the memory <NUM> stores data related to determining maximum power reduction for non-contiguous radio resource allocations. For example, the memory <NUM> may store one or more MPR tables, resource allocations, and the like. In certain embodiments, the memory <NUM> also stores program code and related data, such as an operating system or other controller algorithms operating on the remote unit <NUM>.

The transceiver <NUM> includes at least transmitter <NUM> and at least one receiver <NUM>. One or more transmitters <NUM> may be used to provide UL communication signals to a base unit <NUM>, such as the AUL transmissions described herein. Similarly, one or more receivers <NUM> may be used to receive DL communication signals from the base unit <NUM>, as described herein. Although only one transmitter <NUM> and one receiver <NUM> are illustrated, the user equipment apparatus <NUM> may have any suitable number of transmitters <NUM> and receivers <NUM>. Further, the transmitter(s) <NUM> and the receiver(s) <NUM> may be any suitable type of transmitters and receivers. In one embodiment, the transceiver <NUM> includes a first transmitter/receiver pair used to communicate with a mobile communication network over licensed radio spectrum and a second transmitter/receiver pair used to communicate with a mobile communication network over unlicensed radio spectrum.

<FIG> depicts one procedure <NUM> for determining a threshold α for a non-contiguous allocation. The procedure <NUM> begins with identifying <NUM> the smallest containing contiguous allocation ("SCCA") that encompasses a non-contiguous allocation. In some embodiments, the procedure <NUM> includes determining <NUM> whether SCCA is an inner allocation or an outer allocation. Such determination may be based on the lowest RB index of the SCCA. In certain embodiments, the procedure <NUM> includes determining <NUM> a waveform type and a modulation type of the non-contiguous allocation. In some embodiments, procedure <NUM> includes determining <NUM>CRB, Carrier Center Frequency (FC), and RBSTART values for the non-contiguous allocation. Moreover, in certain embodiments the procedure <NUM> includes determining <NUM> whether additional emissions restrictions are signaled by the network. Based one or more of the above factors, the procedure <NUM> calculates <NUM> the value of α. The procedure <NUM> ends.

<FIG> depicts one example of a table <NUM> of additional maximum power reduction ("A-MPR") for a non-contiguous resource allocation. Here, the A-MPR values are used for the case that there are additional emissions restrictions in addition to the normal restrictions on the spectral emissions mask (SEM), adjacent channel leakage ratio (ACLR) limits, in-band emissions limits, and spurious emissions limits. For the case of additional emissions restrictions, the gNB <NUM> send an indication of the additional emissions restrictions (e.g., an indication of an additional power reduction) to the UE. These additional restrictions may be indicated by network signaling (NS), e.g., by sending a NS value. The UE then determines the A-MPR and the allowed MPR based on the determined A-MPR. In certain embodiments, the determined A-MPR is added to the (normal) allowed MPR for the non-contiguous allocation to arrive at the total MPR. The UE then uses the total MPR when transmitting signals in the network.

For contiguous allocations, MPR for CP-OFDM with contiguous allocations will be specified in the form of table similar to that of Table <NUM>. Here, Table <NUM> may apply when the network entity (e.g., gNB or other RAN node) signals the value "NS_07". From Table <NUM>, it can be seen that MPR for a contiguous allocation depends on RBSTART, the location of the first RB of the contiguous allocation, and LCRB, the number of RBs in the contiguous allocation. In certain embodiments, the A-MPR value may be adjusted by the value β discussed above.

Note that in the Table <NUM>, the parameter 'RBSTART' indicates the lowest RB index of transmitted resource blocks and the parameter 'LCRB' is the length of a contiguous resource block allocation. Note that for intra-subframe frequency hopping which intersects regions, the parameter 'RBSTART' and the parameter 'LCRB' apply on a per slot basis. Additionally, for intra-subframe frequency hopping which intersects regions, the larger A-MPR value may be applied for both slots in the subframe.

<FIG> depicts another example of a table <NUM> of A-MPR for a non-contiguous resource allocation, here associated with a different NS value. In various embodiments, the table <NUM> may apply when a value of "NS_04" signaled. In the table <NUM>, it can be seen that the MPR depends on RBSTART and LCRB, as in the example above, but also depends on the center frequency of the carrier, Fc.

Moreover, for NR with CP-OFDM modulation, the MPR tables for contiguous allocations with additional emissions restrictions (indicated using NS signaling) may also depend on the parameters RBSTART, LCRB, and Fc, in addition to the modulation order.

When NS-signaled additional emissions constraints are used with CP-OFDM modulation, the existing MPR table defined for general emissions requirements may not be sufficient to meet these requirements. Thus, when additional emission requirements are signaled, it may be necessary to define additional MPR tables for CP-OFDM that depend on RBSTART, LCRB, and Fc, in addition to the modulation order. Examples, of such tables are depicted above, in Tables <NUM> and <NUM>. From these tables defining MPR for CP-OFDM with additional emissions constraints, it will also be necessary to define MPR for non-contiguous allocations due to the need to puncture out the PUCCH region of bandwidth parts which lie within the full channel bandwidth as shown in <FIG>.

It can be noted that in different regions of these tables, different emissions constraints may limit the power that can be transmitted and thus determine the required MPR. For example, for higher order modulations such as <NUM>-QAM, it may be that in-band emissions requirements are the gating factor on the amount of power that can be transmitted. Conversely for large allocations, the ACLR requirements may limit the transmit power. Thus, in different regions of the table, it may be possible to puncture a smaller or larger number of RBs and still meet emissions requirements. Thus, the fraction of RBs α that can be punctured from the allocation while still meeting emissions requirements will depend on the region of the table as determined by the parameters RBSTART, LCRB, and Fc, in addition to the modulation order. A non-contiguous allocation has a span of LCRB, where LCRB is the number of RBs in the smallest contiguous allocation containing the non-contiguous allocation.

<FIG> is a flowchart diagram of a method <NUM> for determining an MPR for a non-contiguous allocation. The method <NUM> includes receiving <NUM>, at a remote unit in a wireless communication system, a non-contiguous resource allocation. The method <NUM> includes determining <NUM> a maximum power reduction for the non-contiguous resource allocation based on whether a fraction of resource blocks punctured from a smallest containing contiguous allocation ("SCCA") is less than a threshold α. The method <NUM> also includes transmitting <NUM> uplink signals on the non-contiguous resource allocation using the determined maximum power reduction.

Disclosed herein is a first apparatus for determining a maximum power reduction for non-contiguous radio resource allocations. The first apparatus may be a user terminal, such as the remote unit <NUM>, the UE <NUM>, and/or the user equipment apparatus <NUM>. The first apparatus includes a processor that identifies a received non-contiguous resource allocation and determines a maximum power reduction for the non-contiguous resource allocation based on whether a fraction of resource blocks punctured from a smallest containing contiguous allocation ("SCCA") is less than a threshold value. The first apparatus includes a transceiver that transmits uplink signals on the non-contiguous resource allocation using the determined maximum power reduction.

In various embodiments, the SCCA is a set of contiguous resource block that encompasses the non-contiguous resource allocation, wherein the non-contiguous resource allocation comprises a plurality of smaller contiguous resource allocations. In certain embodiments, the threshold α is based on at least one of: a lowest resource block index of the allocation and a number of resource blocks in the SCCA. In certain embodiments, the threshold α is based on at least one of: a center frequency of a carrier to which the non-contiguous resource allocation belongs, and a modulation of the non-contiguous resource allocation.

In certain embodiments, determining the maximum power reduction for the non-contiguous resource allocation comprises increasing a selected maximum power reduction for the SCCA by a value β. In certain embodiments, the value β is a function of the fraction of resource blocks punctured from the SCCA. In one embodiment, the value β is the negative of <NUM> times the base <NUM> logarithm of the fraction of resource blocks punctured from the SCCA.

In some embodiments, determining a maximum power reduction for the non-contiguous resource allocation includes: a) selecting a maximum power reduction defined for the SCCA as the MPR for the entire non-contiguous resource allocation in response to the fraction of resource blocks punctured from the SCCA being less than the threshold value, and b) selecting no maximum power reduction defined for the SCCA as the MPR for the entire non-contiguous resource allocation in response to the fraction of resource blocks punctured from the SCCA not being less than the threshold value.

In some embodiments the transceiver receives an indication of an additional power reduction from a wireless communication system. In such embodiments, transmitting uplink signals on the non-contiguous resource allocation using the determined maximum power reduction comprises further reducing output power based on the indication. In some embodiments, transmitting uplink signals on the non-contiguous resource allocation using the maximum power reduction includes the transceiver transmitting the uplink signals using a cyclic prefix orthogonal frequency division multiplexing ("CP-OFDM") waveform.

Disclosed herein is a first method for determining a maximum power reduction for non-contiguous radio resource allocations. The first method may be performed by a user terminal, such as the remote unit <NUM>, the UE <NUM>, and/or the user equipment apparatus <NUM>. The first method includes receiving, at a remote unit in a wireless communication system, a non-contiguous resource allocation and determining a maximum power reduction for the non-contiguous resource allocation based on whether a fraction of resource blocks punctured from a smallest containing contiguous allocation ("SCCA") is less than a threshold value. The method includes transmitting uplink signals on the non-contiguous resource allocation using the determined maximum power reduction.

In some embodiments the first method includes receiving an indication of an additional power reduction from a wireless communication system. In such embodiments, transmitting uplink signals on the non-contiguous resource allocation using the determined maximum power reduction comprises further reducing output power based on the indication. In some embodiments, transmitting uplink signals on the non-contiguous resource allocation using the maximum power reduction includes transmitting the uplink signals using a cyclic prefix orthogonal frequency division multiplexing ("CP-OFDM") waveform.

Claim 1:
A method comprising:
receiving (<NUM>), at a remote unit, a non-contiguous resource allocation; calculating a fraction of resource blocks punctured from a smallest containing contiguous allocation, "SCCA", wherein the SCCA is a smallest set of contiguous resource blocks that encompasses the non-contiguous resource allocation, and wherein the non-contiguous resource allocation comprises a plurality of smaller contiguous resource allocations;
determining a first maximum power reduction, MPR, for the non-contiguous resource allocation in response to the fraction of punctured resource blocks being less than a threshold value; and
transmitting (<NUM>) uplink signals on the non-contiguous resource allocation using the first MPR in response to the fraction of punctured resource blocks being less than the threshold value,
characterized in that
determining the first MPR for the non-contiguous resource allocation comprises increasing a selected MPR for the SCCA by a value β.