Patent Description:
Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication, and more particularly to techniques and apparatuses for synchronization signal block (SSB) and downlink channel multiplexing.

As will be described in more detail herein, a BS may be referred to as a Node B, a gNB, an access point (AP), a radio head, a transmit receive point (TRP), a <NUM> BS, a <NUM> Node B, and/or the like.

The above multiple access technologies have been adopted in various telecommunication standards to provide a common protocol that enables different wireless communication devices to communicate on a municipal, national, regional, and even global level. <NUM>, which may also be referred to as New Radio (NR), is a set of enhancements to the LTE mobile standard promulgated by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). <NUM> is designed to better support mobile broadband Internet access by improving spectral efficiency, lowering costs, improving services, making use of new spectrum, and better integrating with other open standards using OFDM with a cyclic prefix (CP) (CP-OFDM) on the downlink (DL), using CP-OFDM and/or SC-FDM (e.g., also known as discrete Fourier transform spread ODFM (DFT-s-OFDM)) on the uplink (UL), as well as supporting beamforming, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna technology, and carrier aggregation. However, as the demand for mobile broadband access continues to increase, there exists a need for further improvements in LTE and <NUM> technologies.

D1: <NPL>) relates to channels multiplexing;.

D2: <NPL>) relates to handling of multiplexing and collision avoidance in different configurations.

D4: <NPL>) relates to corrections on paging design.

In some aspects, a UE may measure one or more synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) in connection with radio resource management. For example, the UE may measure SSBs of one or more neighbor cells to assist with cell search, cell selection, cell reselection, handover, and/or the like. For radio resource management, a UE may be configured with an SSB measurement timing configuration (SMTC) window, and a base station may indicate a set of SSBs, within the SMTC window, to be measured by the UE for radio resource management. Alternatively, if the base station does not indicate the set of SSBs to be measured in the SMTC window, then the UE may measure all SSBs within the SMTC window (e.g., according to a preconfigured SSB pattern).

Within an SMTC window, the base station may prevent downlink channel communications (e.g., PDSCH communications, PDCCH communications, and/or the like) from being scheduled or transmitted in any symbol in which the UE is configured to measure an SSB, and may further prevent downlink channel communications from being scheduled or transmitted one symbol before and one symbol after the SSB. However, in some cases, a UE may measure one or more SSBs outside of the SMTC window, such as in connection with radio link monitoring. Unlike SSB measurements in the SMTC window, which involve measuring neighbor base station SSBs that may be difficult to multiplex, SSB measurements outside of the SMTC window may be performed on serving base station SSBs, which may be multiplexed with other information, such as downlink channel communications (e.g., PDSCH communications). For example, the serving base station may store information regarding the serving cell SSBs and/or the UEs connected to the serving base station that permit such multiplexing to occur in some situations. Techniques and apparatuses described herein permit selective multiplexing of SSBs outside of an SMTC window with PDSCH communications (also referred to herein as downlink data channel communications) depending on one or more factors, which may increase spectral efficiency due to multiplexing when permitted, and may prevent or reduce collisions and interference when not permitted (e.g., due to quasi co-location constraints, processing constraints, timeline constraints, and/or the like). Additionally, or alternatively, some techniques and apparatuses described herein permit selective multiplexing of SSBs within the SMTC window with PDSCH communications.

According to the invention, a method performed by a user equipment (claim <NUM>), a method performed by a base station (claim <NUM>) and their corresponding apparatuses (claims <NUM> and <NUM>) are provided.

In some aspects, the method is performed by a UE. The method includes receiving an instruction to measure a synchronization signal block (SSB); receiving scheduling information that schedules a downlink channel communication in one or more symbols that overlap with the SSB; determining, based on an indication from a base station, whether to decode the SSB, the downlink channel communication, or both the SSB and the downlink channel communication; and processing one or more signals received in the one or more symbols based at least in part on the determination, wherein processing the one or more signals comprises one of: decoding both the SSB and the downlink channel communication in the one or more symbols, decoding only the SSB and not the downlink channel communication in the one or more symbols, or decoding only the downlink channel communication and not the SSB in the one or more symbols.

In some aspects, the UE includes a memory and one or more processors operatively coupled to the memory. The memory and the one or more processors are configured to receive an instruction to measure a synchronization signal block (SSB); receive scheduling information that schedules a downlink channel communication in one or more symbols that overlap with the SSB; determine, based on an indication from a base station, whether to decode the SSB, the downlink channel communication, or both the SSB and the downlink channel communication; and process one or more signals received in the one or more symbols based at least in part on the determination, the memory and the one or more processors further configured, when processing the one or more signals, to: decode both the SSB and the downlink channel communication in the one or more symbols, or decode only the SSB and not the downlink channel communication in the one or more symbols, or decode only the downlink channel communication and not the SSB in the one or more symbols.

In some aspects, the method is performed by a base station. The method includes transmitting an instruction to a user equipment (UE) to measure a synchronization signal block (SSB); determining whether to transmit a downlink channel communication in one or more symbols that overlap with the SSB; and transmitting one or more signals in the one or more symbols based at least in part on the determination, wherein transmitting the one or more signals comprises transmitting both the SSB and the downlink channel communication in the one or more symbols; and wherein the base station is configured to transmit an indication, to the UE, of whether to prioritize the SSB or the downlink channel communication.

In some aspects, the base station includes a memory and one or more processors operatively coupled to the memory. The memory and the one or more processors are configured to transmit an instruction to a user equipment (UE) to measure a synchronization signal block (SSB); determine whether to transmit a downlink channel communication in one or more symbols that overlap with the SSB; and transmit one or more signals in the one or more symbols based at least in part on the determination, the memory and the one or more processors further configured to: transmit both the SSB and the downlink channel communication in the one or more symbols; and transmit an indication, to the UE, of whether to prioritize the SSB or the downlink channel communication.

It is noted that while aspects may be described herein using terminology commonly associated with <NUM> and/or <NUM> wireless technologies, aspects of the present disclosure can be applied in other generation-based communication systems, such as <NUM> and later, including <NUM> technologies.

The network <NUM> may be an LTE network or some other wireless network, such as a <NUM> network. A BS is an entity that communicates with user equipment (UEs) and may also be referred to as a base station, a <NUM> BS, a Node B, a gNB, a <NUM> NB, an access point, a transmit receive point (TRP), and/or the like.

A UE may also be referred to as an access terminal, a terminal, a mobile station, a subscriber unit, a station, etc. A UE may be a cellular phone (e.g., a smart phone), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless modem, a wireless communication device, a handheld device, a laptop computer, a cordless phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a tablet, a camera, a gaming device, a netbook, a smartbook, an ultrabook, a medical device or equipment, biometric sensors/devices, wearable devices (smart watches, smart clothing, smart glasses, smart wrist bands, smart jewelry (e.g., smart ring, smart bracelet)), an entertainment device (e.g., a music or video device, or a satellite radio), a vehicular component or sensor, smart meters/sensors, industrial manufacturing equipment, a global positioning system device, or any other suitable device that is configured to communicate via a wireless or wired medium.

MTC and eMTC UEs include, for example, robots, drones, remote devices, such as sensors, meters, monitors, location tags, etc., that may communicate with a base station, another device (e.g., remote device), or some other entity.

<NUM> may refer to radios configured to operate according to a new air interface (e.g., other than Orthogonal Frequency Divisional Multiple Access (OFDMA)-based air interfaces) or fixed transport layer (e.g., other than Internet Protocol (IP)). In aspects, <NUM> may utilize OFDM with a CP (herein referred to as cyclic prefix OFDM or CP-OFDM) and/or SC-FDM on the uplink, may utilize CP-OFDM on the downlink and include support for half-duplex operation using TDD. In aspects, <NUM> may, for example, utilize OFDM with a CP (herein referred to as CP-OFDM) and/or discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (DFT-s-OFDM) on the uplink, may utilize CP-OFDM on the downlink and include support for half-duplex operation using TDD. <NUM> may include Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) service targeting wide bandwidth (e.g., <NUM> megahertz (MHz) and beyond), millimeter wave (mmW) targeting high carrier frequency (e.g., <NUM> gigahertz (GHz)), massive MTC (mMTC) targeting non-backward compatible MTC techniques, and/or mission critical targeting ultra-reliable low latency communications (URLLC) service.

A single component carrier bandwidth of <NUM> may be supported. <NUM> resource blocks may span <NUM> sub-carriers with a sub-carrier bandwidth of <NUM> kilohertz (kHz) over a <NUM> duration. Each radio frame may include <NUM> subframes with a length of <NUM>. Consequently, each subframe may have a length of <NUM>. Each subframe may indicate a link direction (e.g., DL or UL) for data transmission and the link direction for each subframe may be dynamically switched. Each subframe may include DL/UL data as well as DL/UL control data.

Alternatively, <NUM> may support a different air interface, other than an OFDM-based interface. <NUM> networks may include entities such central units or distributed units.

In some aspects, a base station <NUM> may schedule and/or transmit synchronization signal blocks and/or downlink channel communications for a UE <NUM>, as described in more detail elsewhere herein.

Other examples are possible and may differ from what is described with regard to <FIG>.

At base station <NUM>, a transmit processor <NUM> may receive data from a data source <NUM> for one or more UEs, select a modulation and coding schemes (MCS) for each UE based at least in part on channel quality indicators (CQIs) received from the UE, process (e.g., encode and modulate) the data for each UE based at least in part on the MCS selected for the UE, and provide data symbols for all UEs. Transmit processor <NUM> may also process system information (e.g., for semi-static resource partitioning information (SRPI), and/or the like) and control information (e.g., CQI requests, grants, upper layer signaling, and/or the like) and provide overhead symbols and control symbols. Transmit processor <NUM> may also generate reference symbols for reference signals (e.g., the CRS) and synchronization signals (e.g., the primary synchronization signal (PSS) and secondary synchronization signal (SSS)).

A receive (RX) processor <NUM> may process (e.g., demodulate and decode) the detected symbols, provide decoded data for UE <NUM> to a data sink <NUM>, and provide decoded control information and system information to a controller/processor <NUM>. A channel processor may determine RSRP, RSSI, RSRQ, CQI, and/or the like.

Controller/processor <NUM> of base station <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM> of UE <NUM>, and/or any other component(s) of <FIG> may perform one or more techniques associated with synchronization signal block (SSB) and downlink channel multiplexing, as described in more detail elsewhere herein. For example, controller/processor <NUM> of base station <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM> of UE <NUM>, and/or any other component(s) of <FIG> may perform or direct operations of, for example, method <NUM> of <FIG>, method <NUM> of <FIG>, and/or other processes as described herein. Memories <NUM> and <NUM> may store data and program codes for BS <NUM> and UE <NUM>, respectively.

<FIG> shows an example frame structure <NUM> for FDD in a telecommunications system (e.g., NR). Each radio frame may have a predetermined duration and may be partitioned into a set of Z (Z ≥ <NUM>) subframes (e.g., with indices of <NUM> through Z-<NUM>). Each subframe may include a set of slots (e.g., two slots per subframe are shown in <FIG>). For example, each slot may include seven symbol periods (e.g., as shown in <FIG>), fifteen symbol periods, and/or the like. In a case where the subframe includes two slots, the subframe may include <NUM> symbol periods, where the <NUM> symbol periods in each subframe may be assigned indices of <NUM> through <NUM>-<NUM>. In some aspects, a scheduling unit for the FDD telecommunications system may be frame-based, subframe-based, slot-based, symbol-based, and/or the like.

While some techniques are described herein in connection with frames, subframes, slots, and/or the like, these techniques may equally apply to other types of wireless communication structures or transmission time intervals, which may be referred to using terms other than "frame," "subframe," "slot," and/or the like in <NUM> NR.

In certain telecommunication systems (e.g., NR), a base station may transmit synchronization signals.

In some aspects, different SS blocks (SSBs) may be beam-formed differently (e.g., targeted in different directions).

In some aspects, an SS block (SSB) includes resources that carry the PSS, the SSS, the PBCH, and/or other synchronization signals (e.g., a tertiary synchronization signal (TSS)) and/or synchronization channels.

Similarly, in some aspects, one or more SS blocks of the SS burst may be transmitted in consecutive radio resources (e.g., consecutive symbol periods) during one or more subframes.

The base station may transmit system information, such as system information blocks (SIBs) on a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) in certain subframes. The base station may transmit control information/data on a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) in C symbol periods of a subframe, where B and/or C may be configurable for each subframe. The base station may transmit traffic data and/or other data on the PDSCH in the remaining symbol periods of each subframe.

In some aspects, a UE <NUM> may measure one or more SSBs in connection with radio resource management. For example, the UE <NUM> may measure SSBs of a serving cell and/or one or more neighbor cells to assist with cell search, cell selection, cell reselection, handover, and/or the like. For radio resource management, a UE <NUM> may be configured with an SSB measurement timing configuration (SMTC) window, and a base station <NUM> may indicate a set of SSBs, within the SMTC window, to be measured by the UE <NUM> for radio resource management. Alternatively, if the base station <NUM> does not indicate the set of SSBs to be measured in the SMTC window, then the UE <NUM> may measure all SSBs within the SMTC window (e.g., according to a preconfigured SSB pattern). Within the SMTC window, the base station <NUM> may prevent downlink channel communications (e.g., PDSCH communications, PDCCH communications, downlink reference signals, and/or the like) from being scheduled or transmitted in any symbol in which the UE <NUM> is configured to measure an SSB, and may further prevent downlink channel communications from being scheduled or transmitted one symbol before and one symbol after the SSB.

However, in some cases, a UE <NUM> may measure one or more SSBs outside of the SMTC window, such as in connection with radio link monitoring. Radio link monitoring may be used to measure a serving cell to maintain a radio link, to determine when radio link failure has occurred, to trigger radio resource control (RRC) connection re-establishment when such radio link failure occurs, and/or the like. Unlike SSB measurements in the SMTC window, which involve measuring neighbor base station SSBs that may be difficult to multiplex, SSB measurements outside of the SMTC window may be performed on serving base station SSBs, which may be multiplexed with other information, such as downlink data channel communications (e.g., PDSCH communications). For example, the serving base station <NUM> may store information regarding the serving cell SSBs and/or the UEs <NUM> connected to the serving base station <NUM> that permit such multiplexing to occur in some situations. Techniques and apparatuses described herein permit selective multiplexing of SSBs outside of an SMTC window with PDSCH communications (also referred to herein as downlink data channel communications) depending on one or more factors, which may increase spectral efficiency due to multiplexing when permitted, and may prevent or reduce collisions and interference when not permitted (e.g., due to quasi co-location constraints, processing constraints, timeline constraints, and/or the like). Additionally, or alternatively, some techniques and apparatuses described herein permit selective multiplexing of SSBs within the SMTC window with PDSCH communications. Additional details are described below.

Other examples are possible and may differ from what is described with regard to <FIG> and <FIG>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example <NUM> of SSB and downlink channel multiplexing.

At <NUM>, a base station <NUM> may transmit, and a UE <NUM> may receive, an instruction to measure a synchronization signal block (SSB) (e.g., outside of an SSB measurement timing configuration (SMTC) window). As described above in connection with <FIG>, the SSB outside of the SMTC window may be associated with radio link monitoring, and the UE <NUM> may measure the SSB outside of the SMTC window to perform one or more operations associated with radio link monitoring (e.g., to measure parameters of a serving cell, to maintain a radio link, to determine when radio link failure has occurred, to trigger RRC connection re-establishment when such radio link failure occurs, and/or the like). As shown, the base station <NUM> may indicate, to the UE <NUM>, one or more SSBs to be measured outside of the SMTC using a list of SSBs. The list of SSBs may include, for example, an SSB index corresponding to each SSB to be measured outside of the SMTC window. An SSB index may map to a set of resources to be used to measure a corresponding SSB, and the base station <NUM> and/or the UE <NUM> may store a table that indicates this mapping. Thus, the UE <NUM> may use an SSB index to identify a set of resources, outside of the SMTC window, to be used to measure an SSB.

At <NUM>, the base station <NUM> may transmit, and the UE <NUM> may receive, scheduling information that schedules a downlink data channel communication (also referred to herein as a PDSCH communication) in one or more symbols that overlap with the SSB (e.g., in the time domain). The scheduling information may be received, for example, in downlink control information (DCI) on a downlink control channel (e.g., the PDCCH), in an RRC configuration message (e.g., for semi-persistent scheduling, configured scheduling, and/or the like), and/or the like. As used herein, an overlap in symbols may refer to an overlap in the time domain. Such an overlap in symbols may or may not include an overlap in the frequency domain (e.g., may or may not include an overlap in sub-carriers used for the PDSCH communication and the SSB).

At <NUM>, in some aspects, a PDSCH communication may fully overlap the SSB (e.g., in time, but not necessarily in frequency, as shown). For example, the PDSCH communication may be scheduled to occur in all of the symbols of the SSB. Thus, the PDSCH communication may fully overlap the SSB in the time domain. In some aspects, the SSB may include four symbols, and the PDSCH communication may be scheduled to occur in all four symbols. Although the fully overlapping PDSCH communication shown in <FIG> (e.g., shown as PDSCH <NUM>) is shown as spanning four symbols, in some aspects, a PDSCH communication that fully overlaps with the SSB may span more than four symbols (e.g., may start earlier and/or end later than the symbols of the SSB).

At <NUM>, in some aspects, a PDSCH communication may partially overlap the SSB (e.g., in time, but not necessarily in frequency, as shown). For example, the PDSCH communication may be scheduled to occur in fewer than all of the symbols of the SSB. Thus, the PDSCH communication may partially overlap the SSB in the time domain. In some aspects, the SSB may include four symbols, and the PDSCH communication may be scheduled to occur in one, two, or three of the four symbols. Although the partially overlapping PDSCH communication shown in <FIG> (e.g., shown as PDSCH <NUM>) is shown as occurring partially in overlapping symbols and partially in non-overlapping symbols, in some aspects, a PDSCH communication that partially overlaps with the SSB may occur only in overlapping symbols.

At <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may determine whether to decode the SSB, the downlink data channel communication, or both the SSB and the downlink data channel communication (e.g., in the one or more overlapping symbols). The determination may be based at least in part on, for example, a capability of the UE <NUM>, properties of respective beams that carry the SSB and the PDSCH communication (e.g., whether the beams are quasi co-located), an indication from the base station <NUM>, a relative priority of the SSB and the PDSCH communication, a configuration of the UE <NUM> to prioritize the SSB or the PDSCH communication (e.g., by default), and/or the like.

In some aspects, the UE <NUM> may determine to decode both the SSB and the PDSCH communication in the overlapping symbols. In some aspects, this determination may be based at least in part on a capability of the UE <NUM>, such as when the UE <NUM> has a capability to process both the SSB and the downlink data channel communication in overlapping symbols regardless of whether beams via which the SSB and the downlink data channel communication are carried are quasi co-located. In this case, if the beams are not quasi co-located, then the UE <NUM> may be capable of tuning different receive beams (e.g., using beamforming, precoding, different antennas, different antenna elements, different antenna subarrays, and/or the like) in different directions to simultaneously or concurrently receive the SSB on a first beam and the PDSCH communication on a second beam. If the beams are quasi co-located, then the UE <NUM> may be capable of using one or more properties of one of the beams to determine one or more properties of the other beam.

Additionally, or alternatively, the UE <NUM> may determine to decode both the SSB and the PDSCH communication based at least in part on a determination that a first beam that carries the SSB and a second beam that carries the PDSCH communication are quasi co-located. When two beams are quasi co-located, one or more properties of one of the beams can be used to infer the corresponding one or more properties of the other beam, such as a delay spread, a Doppler spread, a frequency shift, an average gain, an average delay, an average received power, a received timing, and/or the like. In some aspects, the UE <NUM> may have a capability to process both the SSB and the downlink data channel communication in overlapping symbols only when the beams used to transmit the SSB and the downlink data channel are carried are quasi co-located. In this case, if the beams are quasi co-located, then the UE <NUM> may determine to decode both the SSB and the PDSCH communication in the overlapping symbols. However, if the beams are not quasi-located, then the UE <NUM> may not be capable of decoding both the SSB and the PDSCH communication in the overlapping symbols. In this case, the UE <NUM> may select one of the SSB or the PDSCH communication for decoding, as described in more detail below.

Additionally or alternatively, the UE <NUM> may determine to decode both the SSB and the PDSCH communication in the overlapping symbols based at least in part on an indication received from the base station <NUM>. For example, the base station <NUM> may indicate that the UE <NUM> is to decode both the SSB and the PDSCH communication. In some aspects, the base station <NUM> may transmit this indication based at least in part on a capability of the UE <NUM> (e.g., which may be reported to the base station <NUM>, such as in an RRC configuration message). For example, if the base station <NUM> receives an indication that the UE <NUM> is capable of decoding both the SSB and the PDSCH communication in overlapping symbols (e.g., if the beams are quasi co-located or regardless of whether the beams are quasi co-located), then the base station <NUM> may transmit an indication that the UE <NUM> is to decode both the SSB and the PDSCH communication (e.g., based at least in part on whether or not the beams are quasi co-located). In some aspects, the indication from the base station <NUM> may be transmitted with scheduling information that schedules the PDSCH communication. For example, the indication and the scheduling information may be transmitted in the same signaling message (e.g., DCI or the like).

In some aspects, the UE <NUM> may determine to decode only the SSB and not the PDSCH communication in the overlapping symbols. In some aspects, this determination may be based at least in part on a capability of the UE <NUM>, such as when the UE <NUM> does not have a capability to process both the SSB and the downlink data channel communication in overlapping symbols regardless of whether beams via which the SSB and the downlink data channel communication are carried are quasi co-located, or when the UE <NUM> has a capability to process both the SSB and the downlink data channel communication in overlapping symbols only when beams via which the SSB and the downlink data channel communication are carried are quasi co-located. In this case, if the beams are not quasi co-located, then the UE <NUM> may determine to decode only the SSB and not the PDSCH communication in the overlapping symbols.

In some aspects, the UE <NUM> may have a capability to process only one of the SSB or the downlink data channel communication in overlapping symbols, regardless of whether the beams via which the SSB and the downlink data channel communication are carried are quasi co-located. In this case, the UE <NUM> may determine to decode only the SSB and not the PDSCH communication in the overlapping symbols regardless of whether the beams are quasi co-located.

Additionally, or alternatively, the UE <NUM> may determine to decode only the SSB and not the PDSCH communication in the overlapping symbols based at least in part on an indication received from the base station <NUM>. For example, the base station <NUM> may indicate that the UE <NUM> is to decode only the SSB and is not to decode the PDSCH communication in the overlapping symbols. In some aspects, the base station <NUM> may transmit this indication based at least in part on a capability of the UE <NUM>. For example, if the base station <NUM> receives an indication that the UE <NUM> is not capable of decoding both the SSB and the PDSCH communication in overlapping symbols (e.g., if the beams are not quasi co-located or regardless of whether the beams are quasi co-located), then the base station <NUM> may transmit an indication that the UE <NUM> is to decode only the SSB and not the PDSCH communication (e.g., based at least in part on whether or not the beams are quasi co-located). In some aspects, the indication from the base station <NUM> may be transmitted with scheduling information that schedules the PDSCH communication. Additionally, or alternatively, the indication from the base station <NUM> may be transmitted in DCI or another signaling message. In some aspects, the indication may include a system frame number, an SSB identifier (e.g., an SSB index), one or more resource identifiers, and/or the like, that indicate one or more symbols for which the SSB, and not the PDSCH communication, is to decoded.

Additionally, or alternatively, the UE <NUM> may determine to decode only the SSB and not the PDSCH communication in the overlapping symbols based at least in part on a first priority level of the SSB and a second priority level of the downlink data channel communication. For example, the UE <NUM> may decode the SSB and not the PDSCH communication in the overlapping symbols when the SSB has a higher priority than the PDSCH communication. In some aspects, a priority of the SSB and/or the PDSCH communication may be indicated by the base station <NUM>. Additionally, or alternatively, the SSB and/or the PDSCH communication may be associated with a default priority (e.g., the UE <NUM> may prioritize the SSB over the PDSCH communication by default, unless an indication otherwise is received from the base station <NUM>). In some aspects, the UE <NUM> may indicate the default priority to the base station <NUM>.

In some aspects, the UE <NUM> may determine to decode only the PDSCH communication and not the SSB in the overlapping symbols. In some aspects, this determination may be based at least in part on a capability of the UE <NUM>, such as when the UE <NUM> does not have a capability to process both the SSB and the downlink data channel communication in overlapping symbols regardless of whether beams via which the SSB and the downlink data channel communication are carried are quasi co-located, or when the UE <NUM> has a capability to process both the SSB and the downlink data channel communication in overlapping symbols only when beams via which the SSB and the downlink data channel communication are carried are quasi co-located. In this case, if the beams are not quasi co-located, then the UE <NUM> may determine to decode only the PDSCH communication and not the SSB in the overlapping symbols.

In some aspects, the UE <NUM> may have a capability to process only one of the SSB or the downlink data channel communication in overlapping symbols, regardless of whether the beams via which the SSB and the downlink data channel communication are carried are quasi co-located. In this case, the UE <NUM> may determine to decode only the PDSCH communication and not the SSB in the overlapping symbols regardless of whether the beams are quasi co-located.

Additionally, or alternatively, the UE <NUM> may determine to decode only the PDSCH communication and not the SSB in the overlapping symbols based at least in part on an indication received from the base station <NUM>. For example, the base station <NUM> may indicate that the UE <NUM> is to decode only the PDSCH communication and is not to decode the SSB in the overlapping symbols. In some aspects, the base station <NUM> may transmit this indication based at least in part on a capability of the UE <NUM>. For example, if the base station <NUM> receives an indication that the UE <NUM> is not capable of decoding both the SSB and the PDSCH communication in overlapping symbols (e.g., if the beams are not quasi co-located or regardless of whether the beams are quasi co-located), then the base station <NUM> may transmit an indication that the UE <NUM> is to decode only the PDSCH communication and not the SSB (e.g., based at least in part on whether or not the beams are quasi co-located). In some aspects, the indication from the base station <NUM> may be transmitted with scheduling information that schedules the PDSCH communication. Additionally, or alternatively, the indication may be transmitted in DCI or a similar signaling message. In some aspects, the indication may include a system frame number, an SSB identifier (e.g., an SSB index), one or more resource identifiers, and/or the like, that indicate one or more symbols for which the PDSCH communication, and not the SSB, is to decoded.

Additionally, or alternatively, the UE <NUM> may determine to decode only the PDSCH communication and not the SSB in the overlapping symbols based at least in part on a first priority level of the SSB and a second priority level of the downlink data channel communication. For example, the UE <NUM> may decode the PDSCH communication and not the SSB in the overlapping symbols when the PDSCH communication has a higher priority than the SSB (e.g., when the PDSCH communication carries system information, a system information block, mission critical information, a URLLC communication, and/or the like). In some aspects, a priority of the SSB and/or the PDSCH communication may be indicated by the base station <NUM>. Additionally, or alternatively, the SSB and/or the PDSCH communication may be associated with a default priority. In some aspects, the UE <NUM> may indicate the default priority to the base station <NUM>.

As shown by reference number <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may process one or more signals (e.g., the SSB and/or the PDSCH communication) received in the one or more symbols based at least in part on the determination. As described above, in some aspects, processing the one or more signals may include decoding both the SSB and the downlink data channel communication in the one or more symbols. In this case, the UE <NUM> may configure a first receive beam for reception of the SSB, and may configure a second receive beam for reception of the PDSCH communication. In some aspects, if the beams are quasi co-located, the UE <NUM> may infer one or more properties of one of the beams from a corresponding one or more properties of the other beam.

Alternatively, processing the one or more signals may include decoding only the SSB and not the downlink data channel communication in the one or more symbols. In this case, the UE <NUM> may configure a receive beam for reception of the SSB. Additionally, or alternatively, the UE <NUM> may transmit a negative acknowledgement (NACK) corresponding to the PDSCH communication (e.g., based at least in part on determining that the PDSCH communication is not to be decoded).

Alternatively, processing the one or more signals may include decoding only the downlink data channel communication and not the SSB in the one or more symbols. In this case, the UE <NUM> may configure a receive beam for reception of the PDSCH communication.

By decoding multiplexed SSBs and PDSCH communications outside of an SMTC window in some scenarios (e.g., based at least in part on one or more factors), the UE <NUM> and the base station <NUM> may increase spectral efficiency. Furthermore, when such decoding of multiplexed SSBs and PDSCH communications outside of an SMTC window is not performed in other scenarios (e.g., based at least in part on one or more factors), the UE <NUM> and the base station <NUM> may prevent or reduce collisions, errors, and interference.

While some techniques are described herein in connection with multiplexing an SSB and a downlink data channel communication (or PDSCH communication), similar techniques may apply to, for example, multiplexing an SSB and a downlink control channel communication (e.g., a PDCCH communication), multiplexing a SSB and one or more other types of physical channels (e.g., PBCH and/or the like), multiplexing an SSB and one or more reference signals (e.g., one or more downlink reference signals, such as a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) from a serving base station, an SSB from the serving base station, and/or the like), and/or the like.

Similarly, while some techniques are described herein in connection with multiplexing an SSB outside of an SMTC window, similar techniques may apply to multiplexing an SSB within (e.g., inside of) an SMTC window. For example, the UE <NUM> may receive an SSB from a neighbor base station within the SMTC window (e.g., based at least in part on an instruction and/or SSB configuration indicated by the base station <NUM>, such as in an RRC message) and may receive scheduling information from a serving base station for a downlink data channel communication that overlaps with the SSB (e.g., partially or fully in the time domain), in a similar manner as described elsewhere herein. The UE <NUM> may determine whether to decode the SSB, the downlink data channel communication, or both, in a similar manner as described elsewhere herein. Based at least in part on the determination, the UE <NUM> may process one or more signals in the overlapping symbol(s), in a similar manner as described elsewhere herein.

Other examples are possible and may differ from what is described with respect to <FIG>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating another example <NUM> of SSB and downlink channel multiplexing.

At <NUM>, a base station <NUM> may transmit, and a UE <NUM> may receive, an instruction to measure an SSB outside of an SMTC window, in a similar manner as described above in connection with <FIG>. As described elsewhere herein, the SSB outside of the SMTC window may be associated with radio link monitoring, and the UE <NUM> may measure the SSB outside of the SMTC window to perform one or more operations associated with radio link monitoring.

At <NUM>, the base station <NUM> may determine whether to transmit a downlink data channel communication (also referred to as a PDSCH communication) in one or more symbols that overlap with the SSB (e.g., in the time domain, and not necessarily in the frequency domain). This determination may be based at least in part on, for example, a capability of the UE <NUM> (e.g., which may be indicated to the base station <NUM>, such as in a capability report), properties of respective beams that carry the SSB and the PDSCH communication (e.g., whether the beams are quasi co-located), an indication transmitted by the base station <NUM> to the UE <NUM>, a relative priority of the SSB and the PDSCH communication, and/or the like, in a similar manner as described above in connection with <FIG>.

At <NUM>, in some aspects, the base station <NUM> may receive an indication of a capability of the UE <NUM> with respect to processing multiple communications received in the same symbol. In some aspects, the indication may be included in a UE capability report, which may be indicated in an RRC message during RRC connection configuration or reconfiguration. The base station <NUM> may use the indication of the capability to determine whether to transmit the downlink data channel communication in one or more symbols that overlap with the SSB.

As described above in connection with <FIG>, the capability may include, for example, a capability to process both the SSB and the downlink data channel communication in overlapping symbols (e.g., in the time domain) regardless of whether beams via which the SSB and the downlink data channel communication are carried are quasi co-located, a capability to process both the SSB and the downlink data channel communication in overlapping symbols only when beams via which the SSB and the downlink data channel communication are carried are quasi co-located, a capability to process only one of the SSB or the downlink data channel communication in overlapping symbols, and/or the like. Additionally, or alternatively, when the UE <NUM> is not capable of processing both the SSB and the downlink data channel communication in overlapping symbols regardless of whether respective beams are quasi co-located, then the UE <NUM> may indicate whether the UE <NUM> is configured to prioritize decoding of the SSB or to prioritize decoding of the PDSCH communication when both signals are received in an overlapping symbol. In some aspects, the base station <NUM> may transmit an indication to override this configuration of the UE <NUM>.

Additionally, or alternatively, the base station <NUM> may determine whether to transmit the downlink data channel communication based at least in part on a determination of whether a first beam that is to carry the SSB and a second beam that is to carry the downlink data channel communication are quasi co-located. For example, if the UE <NUM> is not capable of decoding both the SSB and the PDSCH communication when the respective beams are not quasi co-located, then the base station <NUM> may not transmit the PDSCH communication if the PDSCH communication cannot be transmitted on a beam that is not quasi co-located with respect to a beam used to carry the SSB. Similarly, if the UE <NUM> is capable of decoding both the SSB and the PDSCH communication when the respective beams are quasi co-located, then the base station <NUM> may transmit the PDSCH communication if the PDSCH communication on a beam that is quasi co-located with respect to a beam used to carry the SSB.

At <NUM>, the base station <NUM> may transmit one or more signals (e.g., the SSB and/or the PDSCH communication) in the one or more symbols based at least in part on the determination of whether to transmit the downlink data channel communication in the one or more symbols that overlap with one or more symbols of the SSB.

In some aspects, the base station <NUM> may transmit both the SSB and the PDSCH communication in the one or more symbols. In this case, the base station <NUM> may transmit an indication, to the UE <NUM>, of whether to prioritize the SSB or the PDSCH communication. For example, the base station <NUM> may transmit this indication if the UE <NUM> is not capable of decoding both the SSB and the PDSCH communication. Additionally, or alternatively, the base station <NUM> may transmit this indication if the UE <NUM> is capable of decoding both the SSB and the PDSCH communication, but is configured with an option to select only one of the signals to decode (e.g., based at least in part on an operating condition of the UE <NUM>). In some aspects, the indication may include a system frame number, an SSB identifier (e.g., an SSB index), one or more resource identifiers, and/or the like, that indicate one or more symbols for which either only the SSB (and not the PDSCH communication) or for which only the PDSCH communication (and not the SSB) is to prioritized and/or decoded by the UE <NUM>. In some aspects, the base station <NUM> may indicate that the PDSCH communication is to be prioritized when the PDSCH communication includes, for example, system information, a system information block, mission critical information, a URLLC communication, and/or the like.

In some aspects, the base station <NUM> may transmit only the SSB, and not the PDSCH communication, in the one or more symbols. In this case, the base station <NUM> may still schedule and/or transmit PDSCH communications for one or more other UEs <NUM> in the one or more symbols. In some cases, the base station <NUM> may initially schedule a PDSCH communication in the one or more symbols (e.g., partially or fully, as described above in connection with <FIG>), and may later drop the PDSCH communication from the one or more symbols (e.g., by preventing the PDSCH communication from being transmitted in the one or more symbols after being scheduled for the one or more symbols).

For example, the PDSCH communication may be initially scheduled for the UE <NUM> in the one or more symbols using semi-persistent scheduling, configured scheduling, scheduling information transmitted in an RRC message, and/or the like. In this case, if the base station <NUM> later determines that the one or more symbols overlap with an SSB indicated to the UE <NUM>, and that the UE <NUM> is not capable of decoding both the SSB and the PDSCH communication, then the base station <NUM> may drop the PDSCH communication in the one or more symbols. Additionally, or alternatively, the PDSCH communication may be initially scheduled for the UE <NUM> using slot aggregation (e.g., where different redundancy versions of the PDSCH communication are transmitted in different slots). In this case, if the base station <NUM> determines that one or more symbols of one or more slots used to perform slot aggregation for the PDSCH communication overlap with an SSB indicated to the UE <NUM>, and that the UE <NUM> is not capable of decoding both the SSB and the PDSCH communication, then the base station <NUM> may drop the PDSCH communication in the one or more symbols.

In some aspects, the base station <NUM> may fully drop the PDSCH communication by dropping one or more portions of the PDSCH communication that occur in overlapping symbols and also dropping one or more portions of the PDSCH communication that occur in non-overlapping symbols. Alternatively, the base station <NUM> may partially drop the PDSCH communication by dropping one or more portions of the PDSCH communication that occur in overlapping symbols and transmitting one or more portions of the PDSCH communication that occur in non-overlapping symbols.

In some aspects, if the PDSCH communication is initially scheduled using semi-persistent scheduling or configured scheduling, and is later dropped, then the base station <NUM> may reschedule the PDSCH communication for later transmission based at least in part on an assumption of a negative acknowledgement (NACK), from the UE <NUM>, corresponding to the dropped PDSCH communication. For example, the base station <NUM> may reschedule and/or transmit the PDSCH communication for another set of symbols without waiting for acknowledgement or negative acknowledgement (ACK/NACK) feedback from the UE <NUM>, or regardless of ACK/NACK feedback received from the UE <NUM> in connection with the overlapping symbols.

In some aspects, if the PDSCH communication is initially scheduled using slot aggregation, and is later dropped, then the base station <NUM> may reschedule and/or retransmit the PDSCH communication if the base station <NUM> does not receive an ACK for one or more other PDSCH communications that are aggregated with the dropped PDSCH communication. In this case, the UE <NUM> may be able to correctly receive information carried by the dropped PDSCH communication by decoding the one or more other PDSCH communications (e.g., which may be different redundancy versions of the dropped PDSCH communication). In this case, if the UE <NUM> transmits an ACK for one of these communications, then the base station <NUM> may not reschedule or retransmit the dropped PDSCH communication, thereby conserving network resources and resources of the base station <NUM> that would otherwise be used for such rescheduling or retransmission.

By multiplexing SSBs and PDSCH communications outside of an SMTC window in some scenarios (e.g., based at least in part on one or more factors), the UE <NUM> and the base station <NUM> may increase spectral efficiency. Furthermore, when such multiplexing of SSBs and PDSCH communications outside of an SMTC window is not performed in other scenarios (e.g., based at least in part on one or more factors), the UE <NUM> and the base station <NUM> may prevent or reduce collisions, errors, and interference.

While aspects are described herein in connection with multiplexing an SSB and a downlink data channel communication (or PDSCH communication), similar techniques may apply to, for example, multiplexing an SSB and a downlink control channel communication (e.g., a PDCCH communication), multiplexing a SSB and one or more other types of physical channels (e.g., PBCH and/or the like), multiplexing an SSB and one or more reference signals (e.g., a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) and/or the like), and/or the like.

<FIG> is a flow chart of a method <NUM> of wireless communication. The method may be performed by a UE (e.g., the UE <NUM> of <FIG>, the UE <NUM> of <FIG>, the UE <NUM> of <FIG>, the apparatus <NUM>/<NUM>' of <FIG> and/or <FIG>, and/or the like).

At <NUM>, the UE may receive an instruction to measure a synchronization signal block (SSB). For example, the UE (e.g., using antenna <NUM>, DEMOD <NUM>, MIMO detector <NUM>, receive processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, and/or the like) may receive an instruction to measure an SSB, as described above in connection with <FIG>. In some aspects, the SSB may be outside of an SSB measurement timing configuration (SMTC) window. In this case, the UE may receive an instruction to measure an SSB outside of the SMTC window.

At <NUM>, the UE may receive scheduling information that schedules a downlink channel communication in one or more symbols that overlap with the SSB. For example, the UE (e.g., using antenna <NUM>, DEMOD <NUM>, MIMO detector <NUM>, receive processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, and/or the like) may receive scheduling information that schedules a downlink channel communication in one or more symbols that overlap with the SSB, as described above in connection with <FIG>.

At <NUM>, the UE may determine whether to decode the SSB, the downlink channel communication, or both the SSB and the downlink channel communication. For example, the UE (e.g., using controller/processor <NUM> and/or the like) may determine whether to decode the SSB, the downlink channel communication, or both the SSB and the downlink channel communication, as described above in connection with <FIG>.

At <NUM>, the UE may process one or more signals received in the one or more symbols based at least in part on the determination. For example, the UE (e.g., using controller/processor <NUM> and/or the like) may process one or more signals received in the one or more symbols based at least in part on the determination, as described above in connection with <FIG>.

Method <NUM> may include additional aspects, such as any single aspect or any combination of aspects described below and/or in connection with one or more other processes described elsewhere herein.

In some aspects, processing the one or more signals comprises decoding both the SSB and the downlink channel communication in the one or more symbols. In some aspects, processing the one or more signals comprises decoding only the SSB and not the downlink channel communication in the one or more symbols. In some aspects, the UE is configured to send a negative acknowledgement (NACK) corresponding to the downlink channel communication based at least in part on a determination that the downlink channel communication is not to be decoded. In some aspects, processing the one or more signals comprises decoding only the downlink channel communication and not the SSB in the one or more symbols.

In some aspects, the determination of whether to decode the SSB, the downlink channel communication, or both the SSB and the downlink channel communication is based at least in part on a capability of the UE. In some aspects, the capability is indicated to a base station. In some aspects, the capability includes at least one of: a capability to process both the SSB and the downlink channel communication in overlapping symbols regardless of whether beams via which the SSB and the downlink channel communication are carried are quasi co-located, a capability to process both the SSB and the downlink channel communication in overlapping symbols only when beams via which the SSB and the downlink channel communication are carried are quasi co-located, or a capability to process only one of the SSB or the downlink channel communication in overlapping symbols.

In some aspects, the determination of whether to decode the SSB, the downlink channel communication, or both the SSB and the downlink channel communication is based at least in part on a determination of whether a first beam that carries the SSB and a second beam that carries the downlink channel communication are quasi co-located. In some aspects, the determination of whether to decode the SSB, the downlink channel communication, or both the SSB and the downlink channel communication is based at least in part on an indication received from a base station. In some aspects, the indication includes at least one of a system frame number or an SSB identifier.

In some aspects, the determination of whether to decode the SSB, the downlink channel communication, or both the SSB and the downlink channel communication is based at least in part on a first priority level of the SSB and a second priority level of the downlink channel communication. In some aspects, the SSB is associated with radio link monitoring. In some aspects, the downlink channel communication includes at least one of a downlink data channel communication, a downlink control channel communication, or a downlink reference signal from a serving base station of the UE. In some aspects, the one or more symbols of the downlink channel communication overlap with one or more symbols of the SSB in a time domain.

Although <FIG> shows example blocks of a method <NUM> of wireless communication, in some aspects, the method <NUM> may include additional blocks, fewer blocks, different blocks, or differently arranged blocks than those shown in <FIG>. Additionally, or alternatively, two or more blocks shown in <FIG> may be performed in parallel.

<FIG> is a flow chart of a method <NUM> of wireless communication. The method may be performed by a base station (e.g., the base station <NUM> of <FIG>, the base station <NUM> of <FIG>, the base station <NUM> of <FIG>, the apparatus <NUM>/<NUM>' of <FIG> and/or <FIG>, and/or the like).

At <NUM>, the base station may transmit an instruction to a user equipment (UE) to measure a synchronization signal block (SSB). For example, the base station (e.g., using controller/processor <NUM>, transmit processor <NUM>, TX MIMO processor <NUM>, MOD <NUM>, antenna <NUM>, and/or the like) may transmit an instruction to a UE to measure an SSB, as described above in connection with <FIG>. In some aspects, the SSB may be outside of an SMTC window. In this case, the base station may transmit an instruction to the UE to measure the SSB outside of the SMTC window.

At <NUM>, the base station may determine whether to transmit a downlink channel communication in one or more symbols that overlap with the SSB. For example, the base station (e.g., using controller/processor <NUM> and/or the like) may determine whether to transmit a downlink channel communication in one or more symbols that overlap with the SSB, as described above in connection with <FIG>.

At <NUM>, the base station may transmit one or more signals in the one or more symbols based at least in part on the determination. For example, the base station (e.g., using controller/processor <NUM>, transmit processor <NUM>, TX MIMO processor <NUM>, MOD <NUM>, antenna <NUM>, and/or the like) may transmit one or more signals in the one or more symbols based at least in part on the determination, as described above in connection with <FIG>.

In some aspects, transmitting the one or more signals comprises transmitting both the SSB and the downlink channel communication in the one or more symbols. In some aspects, the base station is configured to transmit an indication, to the UE, of whether to prioritize the SSB or the downlink channel communication. In some aspects, the indication includes at least one of a system frame number or an SSB identifier.

In some aspects, transmitting the one or more signals comprises transmitting only the SSB and not the downlink channel communication in the one or more symbols. In some aspects, the base station is configured to transmit one or more downlink channel communications to one or more other UEs in the one or more symbols. In some aspects, the downlink channel communication is scheduled in the one or more symbols but is prevented from being transmitted in the one or more symbols. In some aspects, the downlink channel communication is partially or fully dropped. In some aspects, the downlink channel communication is scheduled via semi-persistent scheduling or configured scheduling. In some aspects, the base station is configured to reschedule or retransmit the downlink channel communication based at least in part on an assumption of a negative acknowledgement (NACK) corresponding to the downlink channel communication. In some aspects, the downlink channel communication is scheduled via slot aggregation. In some aspects, the base station is configured to retransmit the downlink channel communication if an acknowledgement (ACK), corresponding to one or more other downlink channel communications that are aggregated with the downlink channel communication, is not received from the UE.

In some aspects, the determination of whether to transmit the downlink channel communication is based at least in part on a capability of the UE. In some aspects, the capability is indicated to the base station by the UE. In some aspects, the capability includes at least one of: a capability to process both the SSB and the downlink channel communication in overlapping symbols regardless of whether beams via which the SSB and the downlink channel communication are carried are quasi co-located, a capability to process both the SSB and the downlink channel communication in overlapping symbols only when beams via which the SSB and the downlink channel communication are carried are quasi co-located, or a capability to process only one of the SSB or the downlink channel communication in overlapping symbols.

In some aspects, the determination of whether to transmit the downlink channel communication is based at least in part on a determination of whether a first beam that is to carry the SSB and a second beam that is to carry the downlink channel communication are quasi co-located. In some aspects, the SSB is associated with radio link monitoring. In some aspects, the one or more symbols of the downlink channel communication overlap with one or more symbols of the SSB in a time domain.

<FIG> is a conceptual data flow diagram <NUM> illustrating the data flow between different modules/means/components in an example apparatus <NUM>. The apparatus <NUM> may be a UE. In some aspects, the apparatus <NUM> includes a reception module <NUM>, a determination module <NUM>, a signal processing module <NUM>, a transmission module <NUM>, and/or the like.

The reception module <NUM> may receive, as data <NUM> from an apparatus <NUM> (e.g., a base station), an instruction to measure an SSB outside of an SMTC window and/or may receive, as data <NUM> from the apparatus <NUM>, scheduling information that schedules a downlink channel communication in one or more symbols that overlap with the SSB. The determination module <NUM> may receive such information from the reception module <NUM> as data <NUM>, and may determine whether to decode the SSB, the downlink channel communication, or both the SSB and the downlink channel communication. The determination module <NUM> may provide a result of the determination to the signal processing module <NUM> as data <NUM>. The signal processing module <NUM> may use this result and/or information regarding the instruction and/or the scheduling information, received from reception module <NUM> as data <NUM>, to process one or more signals received in the one or more symbols. In some aspects, the signal processing module <NUM> may provide data <NUM> to the transmission module <NUM>, such as a result of the processing the one or more signals. Based at least in part on the result of the processing, the transmission module <NUM> may transmit data <NUM> to the apparatus <NUM> (e.g., ACK/NACK feedback and/or other information).

The apparatus may include additional modules that perform each of the blocks of the algorithm in the aforementioned method <NUM> of <FIG> and/or the like. As such, each block in the aforementioned method <NUM> of <FIG> and/or the like may be performed by a module, and the apparatus may include one or more of those modules. The modules may be one or more hardware components specifically configured to carry out the stated processes/algorithm, implemented by a processor configured to perform the stated processes/algorithm, stored within a computer-readable medium for implementation by a processor, or some combination thereof.

<FIG> is a diagram <NUM> illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for an apparatus <NUM>' employing a processing system <NUM>. The apparatus <NUM>' may be a UE.

The processing system <NUM> may be implemented with a bus architecture, represented generally by the bus <NUM>. The bus <NUM> may include any number of interconnecting buses and bridges depending on the specific application of the processing system <NUM> and the overall design constraints. The bus <NUM> links together various circuits including one or more processors and/or hardware modules, represented by the processor <NUM>, the modules <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM>, and the computer-readable medium / memory <NUM>. The bus <NUM> may also link various other circuits such as timing sources, peripherals, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art, and therefore, will not be described any further.

The processing system <NUM> may be coupled to a transceiver <NUM>. The transceiver <NUM> is coupled to one or more antennas <NUM>. The transceiver <NUM> provides a means for communicating with various other apparatus over a transmission medium. The transceiver <NUM> receives a signal from the one or more antennas <NUM>, extracts information from the received signal, and provides the extracted information to the processing system <NUM>, specifically the reception module <NUM>. In addition, the transceiver <NUM> receives information from the processing system <NUM>, specifically the transmission module <NUM>, and based at least in part on the received information, generates a signal to be applied to the one or more antennas <NUM>. The processing system <NUM> includes a processor <NUM> coupled to a computer-readable medium / memory <NUM>. The processor <NUM> is responsible for general processing, including the execution of software stored on the computer-readable medium / memory <NUM>. The software, when executed by the processor <NUM>, causes the processing system <NUM> to perform the various functions described herein for any particular apparatus. The computer-readable medium / memory <NUM> may also be used for storing data that is manipulated by the processor <NUM> when executing software. The processing system further includes at least one of the modules <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM>. The modules may be software modules running in the processor <NUM>, resident/stored in the computer readable medium / memory <NUM>, one or more hardware modules coupled to the processor <NUM>, or some combination thereof. The processing system <NUM> may be a component of the UE <NUM> and may include the memory <NUM> and/or at least one of the TX MIMO processor <NUM>, the RX processor <NUM>, and/or the controller/processor <NUM>.

In some aspects, the apparatus <NUM>/<NUM>' for wireless communication includes means for receiving an instruction to measure a synchronization signal block (SSB); means for receiving scheduling information that schedules a downlink channel communication in one or more symbols that overlap with the SSB; means for determining whether to decode the SSB, the downlink channel communication, or both the SSB and the downlink channel communication; means for processing one or more signals received in the one or more symbols based at least in part on the determination; and/or the like. The aforementioned means may be one or more of the aforementioned modules of the apparatus <NUM> and/or the processing system <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM>' configured to perform the functions recited by the aforementioned means. As described elsewhere herein, the processing system <NUM> may include the TX MIMO processor <NUM>, the RX processor <NUM>, and/or the controller/processor <NUM>. As such, in one configuration, the aforementioned means may be the TX MIMO processor <NUM>, the RX processor <NUM>, and/or the controller/processor <NUM> configured to perform functions and/or operations described herein.

Other examples are possible and may differ from what is described in connection with <FIG>.

<FIG> is a conceptual data flow diagram <NUM> illustrating the data flow between different modules/means/components in an example apparatus <NUM>. The apparatus <NUM> may be a base station. In some aspects, the apparatus <NUM> includes a reception module <NUM>, a determination module <NUM>, a scheduling module <NUM>, a transmission module <NUM>, and/or the like.

The transmission module <NUM> may transmit an instruction to an apparatus <NUM> (e.g., a UE), as data <NUM>, to measure an SSB outside of an SMTC window. In some aspects, the reception module <NUM> may receive data <NUM> from the apparatus <NUM>, such as an indication of a capability of the apparatus <NUM>. The reception module <NUM> may provide this indication to the determination module <NUM> as data <NUM>. The determination module <NUM> may determine (e.g., based at least in part on the data <NUM>) whether to transmit a downlink channel communication in one or more symbols that overlap with the SSB (e.g., an SSB scheduled by the scheduling module <NUM> and/or to be transmitted by the transmission module <NUM>). The determination module <NUM> may provide a result of the determination to the scheduling module <NUM> as data <NUM>, and the scheduling module <NUM> may selectively schedule (e.g., schedule or not schedule) the downlink channel communication in the one or more symbols based at least in part on the data <NUM>. Additionally, or alternatively, the determination module <NUM> may provide a result of the determination to the transmission module <NUM> as data <NUM>, and the transmission module <NUM> may selectively transmit (e.g., transmit or not transmit) the downlink channel communication in the one or more symbols based at least in part on the data <NUM> and/or scheduling information received from the scheduling module <NUM> as data <NUM>. The transmission module <NUM> may transmit one or more signals to the apparatus <NUM>, as data <NUM>, in the one or more symbols based at least in part on the data <NUM> and/or the data <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram <NUM> illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for an apparatus <NUM>' employing a processing system <NUM>. The apparatus <NUM>' may be a base station.

The processing system <NUM> may be coupled to a transceiver <NUM>. The transceiver <NUM> is coupled to one or more antennas <NUM>. The transceiver <NUM> provides a means for communicating with various other apparatus over a transmission medium. The transceiver <NUM> receives a signal from the one or more antennas <NUM>, extracts information from the received signal, and provides the extracted information to the processing system <NUM>, specifically the reception module <NUM>. In addition, the transceiver <NUM> receives information from the processing system <NUM>, specifically the transmission module <NUM>, and based at least in part on the received information, generates a signal to be applied to the one or more antennas <NUM>. The processing system <NUM> includes a processor <NUM> coupled to a computer-readable medium / memory <NUM>. The processor <NUM> is responsible for general processing, including the execution of software stored on the computer-readable medium / memory <NUM>. The software, when executed by the processor <NUM>, causes the processing system <NUM> to perform the various functions described herein for any particular apparatus. The computer-readable medium / memory <NUM> may also be used for storing data that is manipulated by the processor <NUM> when executing software. The processing system further includes at least one of the modules <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM>. The modules may be software modules running in the processor <NUM>, resident/stored in the computer readable medium / memory <NUM>, one or more hardware modules coupled to the processor <NUM>, or some combination thereof. The processing system <NUM> may be a component of the base station <NUM> and may include the memory <NUM> and/or at least one of the TX MIMO processor <NUM>, the RX processor <NUM>, and/or the controller/processor <NUM>.

In some aspects, the apparatus <NUM>/<NUM>' for wireless communication includes means for transmitting an instruction to a user equipment (UE) to measure a synchronization signal block (SSB); means for determining whether to transmit a downlink channel communication in one or more symbols that overlap with the SSB; means for transmitting one or more signals in the one or more symbols based at least in part on the determination; and/or the like. The aforementioned means may be one or more of the aforementioned modules of the apparatus <NUM> and/or the processing system <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM>' configured to perform the functions recited by the aforementioned means. As described elsewhere herein, the processing system <NUM> may include the TX MIMO processor <NUM>, the receive processor <NUM>, and/or the controller/processor <NUM>. As such, in one configuration, the aforementioned means may be the TX MIMO processor <NUM>, the receive processor <NUM>, and/or the controller/processor <NUM> configured to perform functions and/or operations described herein.

It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of blocks in the processes / flow charts disclosed is an illustration of example approaches. Based upon design preferences, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of blocks in the processes / flow charts may be rearranged.

Claim 1:
A method of wireless communication performed by a user equipment, UE, comprising:
receiving (<NUM>) an instruction to measure a synchronization signal block, SSB;
receiving (<NUM>) scheduling information that schedules a downlink channel communication in one or more symbols that overlap with the SSB;
determining (<NUM>), based on an indication from a base station,
whether to decode the SSB, the downlink channel communication, or both the SSB and the downlink channel communication; and
processing (<NUM>) one or more signals received in the one or more symbols based at least in part on the determination;
wherein processing the one or more signals comprises one of:
decoding both the SSB and the downlink channel communication in the one or more symbols,
decoding only the SSB and not the downlink channel communication in the one or more symbols, or
decoding only the downlink channel communication and not the SSB in the one or more symbols.