Patent Description:
The disclosed subject matter relates generally to telecommunications. Certain embodiments relate more particularly to uplink control channel configuration for unlicensed carriers.

The standalone Long-Term Evolution (LTE) in unlicensed spectrum (LTE-U) forum and <NUM>rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Release <NUM> (Rel-<NUM>) work item on Uplink Licensed-Assisted Access (LAA) intends to allow LTE User Equipments (UEs) to transmit on the uplink in the unlicensed <NUM> or license-shared <NUM> radio spectrum. For standalone LTE-U, initial random access and subsequent UL transmissions take place entirely on unlicensed spectrum. Regulatory requirements may prohibit transmissions in the unlicensed spectrum without prior channel sensing.

Because the unlicensed spectrum is typically shared with other radios of similar or dissimilar wireless technologies, a so-called listen-before-talk (LBT) method may be applied. LBT involves sensing the medium for a pre-defined minimum amount of time and backing off if the channel is busy.

Today, unlicensed <NUM> spectrum is mainly used by equipment implementing the IEEE <NUM> Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) standard, also known as Wi-Fi.

LTE uses Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) in the downlink and Discrete Fourier Transform spread (DFT-spread) OFDM (also referred to as single-carrier FDMA [SC-FDMA]) in the uplink. The basic LTE downlink physical resource can thus be seen as a time-frequency grid as illustrated in Figure (<FIG>, where each resource element corresponds to one OFDM subcarrier during one OFDM symbol interval. The uplink subframe has the same subcarrier spacing (<NUM>) as the downlink and the same number of SC-FDMA symbols in the time domain as OFDM symbols in the downlink.

In the time domain, LTE downlink transmissions are organized into radio frames of <NUM>, each radio frame comprising ten equally-sized subframes of length Tsubframe = <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. Each subframe comprises two slots of duration <NUM> each, and the slot numbering within a frame ranges from <NUM> to <NUM>. For normal cyclic prefix, one subframe comprises <NUM> OFDM symbols. The duration of each symbol is approximately <NUM> when including the cyclic prefix.

Furthermore, the resource allocation in LTE is typically described in terms of resource blocks, where a resource block corresponds to <NUM> contiguous subcarriers in the frequency domain. Resource blocks are numbered in the frequency domain, starting from <NUM> at one end of the system bandwidth.

Up to now, the spectrum used by LTE is dedicated to LTE. This has the benefit of allowing LTE to avoid complications from sharing the spectrum and to achieve commensurate gains in spectrum efficiency. However, the spectrum allocated to LTE is limited and cannot meet the ever increasing demand for larger throughput from applications/services. Consequently, a new study item has been initiated in 3GPP on extending LTE to exploit unlicensed spectrum in addition to licensed spectrum.

Unlicensed spectrum can, by definition, be simultaneously used/shared by multiple different technologies. Therefore, LTE should consider coexistence with other systems such as IEEE <NUM> (Wi-Fi). Operating LTE in the same manner in unlicensed spectrum as in licensed spectrum can seriously degrade the performance of Wi-Fi as Wi-Fi will not transmit once it detects the channel is occupied.

Furthermore, one way to utilize unlicensed spectrum reliably is to transmit essential control signals and channels on a licensed carrier. For example, as shown in <FIG>, a UE is connected to a PCell in the licensed band and one or more SCells in the unlicensed band. In this description, a secondary cell in unlicensed spectrum is referred to as a licensed-assisted access secondary cell (LAA SCell).

A new industry forum has been initiated on extending LTE to operate entirely on unlicensed spectrum in a standalone mode, which is referred to as "MuLTEfire". In MuLTEfire there is no licensed carrier for essential control signals transmissions and control channels. Accordingly, all transmission occurs on unlicensed spectrum with no guaranteed channel access availability, yet it must also fulfill the regulatory requirements on the unlicensed spectrum.

Some background information can be found in <NPL>, <NPL>, and <NPL>.

The drawings illustrate selected embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. In the drawings, like reference labels denote like features.

For example, certain details of the described embodiments may be modified, omitted, or expanded upon without departing from the scope of the disclosed subject matter.

In LAA/standalone LTE-U, uplink control information (UCI) such as HARQ-ACK, CSI are sent from UE to eNB on the control channel PUCCH when there is no UL-SCH data scheduled. The PUCCH design up to Rel-<NUM> is only for carriers in licensed spectrum, which is not possible to be reused for carriers in unlicensed spectrum due to regulatory requirements. In addition, because there is no longer any guaranteed channel access availability for PUCCH, special consideration should be given when designing the PUCCH on carriers in unlicensed spectrum.

Certain embodiments of the disclosed subject matter provide a physical layer design of uplink control channel (e.g., PUCCH) format for LAA/standalone LTE-U. Various alternative embodiments may employ either or both of two PUCCH formats, including a short PUCCH and a long PUCCH. The two different PUCCH formats can be considered for UCI transmission depending on e.g. eNB timing configuration and/or HARQ protocol. Although several of the described embodiments relate to PUCCH, the described concepts could nevertheless be applied to other types of uplink control channels.

The short PUCCH typically occupies less than one subframe (e.g. <NUM>-<NUM> SC-FDMA/OFDM symbols) in the time domain, while the long PUCCH typically occupies <NUM> subframe. Both formats span the entire bandwidth with interlacing. UE multiplexing is supported on both formats using Orthogonal Cover Codes (OCC) and Cyclic Shifts (CS) on data symbols and reference symbols. The normal PUCCH can also be multiplexed with PUSCH transmission from same or different UEs.

In certain embodiments, the establishment and/or use of a particular PUCCH format may be coordinated by one or more radio access nodes. Such coordination may include, for instance, determining the format and signaling scheduling and/or format information from the one or more radio access nodes to one or more wireless communication devices. The determining of the format may include e.g. selecting a PUCCH format according to an eNB timing configuration or a HARQ protocol. The signaling may take the form of e.g. downlink control signaling or radio resource control (RRC) configuration signaling.

The described embodiments may provide various potential benefits compared to conventional approaches. Some embodiments may, for instance, allow UCI to be transmitted on PUCCH on carriers in unlicensed spectrum; some embodiments may allow similar functionality as legacy LTE PUCCH to be maintained; and some embodiments may allow UE multiplexing to be supported on new PUCCH formats.

The following embodiments include physical layer configuration of PUCCH in unlicensed spectrum. Certain methods or concepts described below may be used for both single- and multi-carrier transmissions. The proposed approaches may also apply to different variations of LTE operating in unlicensed spectrum, such as LAA, LTE-U and standalone LTE-U.

In the following description, the term "short PUCCH" refers to a PUCCH that is relatively short in the time domain, e.g., less than <NUM> subframe. For example, a short PUCCH may occupy <NUM>-<NUM> SC-FDMA or OFDM symbols depending on eNB configuration. In the frequency domain, a short PUCCH may span the whole bandwidth by interlacing. Similarly, the term "long PUCCH" refers to a PUCCH that is relatively long in the time domain, e.g., <NUM> subframe. In the frequency domain, a long PUCCH may span the whole bandwidth by interlacing.

A short PUCCH or long PUCCH is considered to span the whole bandwidth by interlacing if the interlaces of the short PUCCH or long PUCCH are included in an interlacing pattern that spans the entire bandwidth, as illustrated e.g. in <FIG>. Terms such as "whole bandwidth", "entire bandwidth", "entire system bandwidth", and so on, generally refer to the transmission bandwidth of a carrier. For instance, such terms may refer to the transmission bandwidth of a <NUM> or <NUM> carrier, which may be slightly less than <NUM> or <NUM>, respectively.

The term "interlacing" refers to a technique in which physical resources are assigned or allocated according to a pattern such as one of those illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, for instance. The term "interlace" refers to a set of physical resources that forms part of an interlacing pattern, with an example interlace being two symbols of a resource block as shown in <FIG> or two resource blocks as shown in <FIG>. In general, interlacing is considered to be performed at a resource block level if an interlace spans a set of subcarriers that corresponds to the size of a resource block in the frequency domain. For instance, <FIG> and <FIG> both show examples of interlacing at a resource block level. In contrast, interlacing is considered to be performed at a subcarrier level if an interlace only spans a subcarrier in the frequency domain. In the context of LTE and related systems, interlacing at a resource block level can also be referred to as block-interleaved frequency division multiple access (B-IFDMA), with which an inverse Fourier transform (IFFT) of the illustrated PUCCH physical resources with zero values in between, create a time domain waveform being referred to as a B-IFDMA symbol. The size of the mentioned IFFT (in the transmitter) typically corresponds to the system bandwidth. An example of B-IFDMA is shown in <FIG>, which is a simplified block diagram of an B-IFDMA transmitter for short/long PUCCH, where for example M=<NUM> and N=<NUM> with a <NUM> system bandwidth when using <NUM> interlace of <NUM> RBs. In the example of <FIG>, a third interlace is assigned out of <NUM> possible.

<FIG> shows an example of short PUCCH occupying two symbols in the time domain and one interlace in the frequency domain. In one example, demodulation reference signal (DMRS) is sent on all subcarriers within a B-IFDMA symbol on the assigned interlace(s) or on all interlaces across the whole bandwidth, e.g. across the whole maximum transmission bandwidth or system bandwidth. In another example, DMRS is sent on every few number of subcarriers, e.g., <NUM> subcarriers (e.g. to enable more PUCCH data) whose pattern can be shifted or unshifted on different B-IFDMA symbols, as illustrated in the right-most part of <FIG>.

Multiple PUCCH UEs can be multiplexed on a PUCCH resource by various alternative approaches as explained below. PUCCH UEs can also be multiplexed with PUSCH UEs in the same subframe in a way that PUSCH transmission for other UEs occupying other interlacing patterns as shown in <FIG>.

For PUCCH multiplexing, in one example PUCCH UEs are assigned different interlacing patterns, i.e., frequency division multiplexing.

In another example, multiple PUCCH UEs are assigned the same interlacing pattern, in which case UEs apply different Orthogonal Cover Codes (OCC) to enable multiplexing of PUCCH data on the same time-frequency resources. In this context, the OCCs can be employed in two different ways, or in a combination of both, i.e., via inter-symbol OCC or and/or via intra-symbol OCC. <FIG> shows examples of inter-DS OCC length-<NUM> (top of <FIG>) and intra-DS OCC length-<NUM> (bottom of <FIG>) with bipolar Hadamard OCC.

<FIG> shows an example of two PUCCH UEs DS multiplexing on the same interlace(s) with NPRB PRBs. In this example, with OFDM modulation, OCC spreading is applied within a symbol in the frequency domain for the total number of allocated subcarriers (SC). In case of B-IFDMA modulation, the OCC spreading within a symbol is similar to <FIG> but instead typically applied per physical resource block (PRB) and furthermore before the transmitter DFT. This latter case of intra-symbol OCC corresponds to OCC on a per PRB-basis by essentially assuming NPRB =<NUM> in <FIG> for each PRB within the allocated interlace(s).

It should be emphasized that <FIG> exemplifies the case where <NUM> UEs are multiplexed. For B-IFDMA and intra-symbol OCC on a PRB-basis, the <NUM> UE multiplexing case corresponds to that each UE applies an OCC-length of <NUM> (i.e., <NUM> repeated symbols). An extension to multiplexing e.g. <NUM> or <NUM> UEs with B-IFDMA using intra-symbol OCC on a PRB-basis follows directly by instead applying an OCC of length-<NUM> or length-<NUM> (i.e., repeating <NUM> or <NUM> subcarriers within each PRB). The OCC sequences can for example be based on a Hadamard matrix with +<NUM>, -<NUM> as in <FIG> or based on the columns/rows of an orthogonal matrix such as the DFT matrix. The latter may be preferred with e.g. <NUM> or <NUM> intra-symbol OCC multiplexed UEs. As another example, OCC spreading is applied between B-IFDMA symbols which contain data symbols (DS). In the latter case, the OCC can be applied after the transmitter modulation, i.e., in the time domain. Equivalently, the inter-symbol OCC can be applied in the frequency domain or before the transmitter DFT, since it corresponds to scalar multiplication. The reference symbols (RS or so called DMRS) are using existing DMRS sequences in LTE uplink based on Zadoff-Chu sequence (assuming > <NUM> PRBs, for fewer PRBs other sequences are used). Multiple UEs are typically using the same root sequence and transmit RS on the same time-frequency resources. For RS multiplexing, different cyclic shifts are applied for different UEs.

The HARQ feedback and the corresponding process IDs could either be listed explicitly or e.g. be provided as a bitmap (one or two bits per process). To align the design with 3GPP Rel-<NUM> CA, the UCI on short PUCCH (sPUCCH) is attached with an <NUM>-bit CRC and encoded using Tail Biting Convolutional Code (TBCC) for medium to large payload size, e.g., > <NUM>-<NUM> bits payload. For shorter payloads, e.g. < <NUM>-<NUM> bits, a block code may be used without CRC to improve the performance, for instance, a Reed-Muller code as utilized by LTE. Other encoding types could also be used. The encoded symbols are mapped to available resource elements (Res), e.g., in a frequency first time second manner. Similar features may also be used in relation to long PUCCH.

<FIG> shows an example of a long PUCCH, where the PUCCH occupies one interlace in one subframe with two DMRS symbols per subframe. Other number of DMRS per subframe could also be used, e.g. <NUM> symbols per subframe as in LTE PUCCH format <NUM>. In general, long PUCCH occupies <NUM> subframe in the time domain, and it spans the whole bandwidth by interlacing in the frequency domain. Demodulation reference signal (DMRS) is sent on all subcarriers within a B-IFDMA symbol on the assigned interlace(s) or on all interlaces across the whole bandwidth.

Similar to short PUCCH, multiple PUCCH UEs can also be multiplexed using long PUCCH. PUCCH UEs can also be multiplexed with PUSCH UEs in the same subframe using different interlacing patterns for PUCCH data and PUSCH data transmissions as shown in <FIG> without frequency hopping. In another example, frequency hopping is enabled and UEs are multiplexed by using the hopped resources. One example is to have symbol-based frequency hopping as shown in <FIG> (where the interlace numbering refers to the location used at the first symbol in the subframe).

For PUCCH multiplexing, in one example, PUCCH UEs are assigned different interlacing patterns compared to PUSCH UEs and other PUCCH UEs.

In another example, multiple PUCCH UEs are assigned the same interlacing pattern. For data symbols (DS), UEs apply different Orthogonal Cover Codes (OCC) to be multiplexed on the same time-frequency resources. As one example, OCC spreading is applied within a B-IFDMA symbol before the transmitter DFT/IFFT for the total number of allocated subcarriers as shown in <FIG>, or per PRB-basis by essentially assuming NPRB =<NUM> for each PRB within the allocated interlace(s), as previously explained In case there is a B-IFDMA, OCC is applied before DFT. As another example, OCC spreading is applied between B-IFDMA symbols which contain DS.

The reference symbols (RS or so called DMRS) use existing DMRS sequences in LTE uplink based on Zadoff-Chu sequence (assuming > <NUM> PRBs). Multiple UEs use the same root sequence and transmit RS on the same time-frequency resources. For RS multiplexing, in one example, the multiple PUCCH and PUSCH UEs apply different cyclic shifts within one RS symbol.

In another example, two UEs are multiplexed using OCC [<NUM><NUM>] and [<NUM> -<NUM>] on the two DMRS symbols. In a further example, multiple UEs apply both OCC between DMRS symbols and cyclic shifts within one DMRS symbol as shown in <FIG>. More specifically, the PUSCH UEs can apply OCC [<NUM><NUM>] for the DMRSs while the PUCCH UEs apply OCC [<NUM> -<NUM>]. In this way, the total number of DMRS CS (i.e., resources) can be split among all PUCCH UEs independently of the number of PUSCH UEs, and vice versa.

The described embodiments may be implemented in any appropriate type of communication system supporting any suitable communication standards and using any suitable components. As one example, certain embodiments may be implemented in an LTE network, such as that illustrated in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, a communication network <NUM> comprises a plurality of wireless communication devices <NUM> (e.g., conventional UEs, machine type communication [MTC] / machine-to-machine [M2M] UEs) and a plurality of radio access nodes <NUM> (e.g., eNodeBs or other base stations). Communication network <NUM> is organized into cells <NUM>, which are connected to a core network <NUM> via corresponding to radio access nodes <NUM>. Radio access nodes <NUM> are capable of communicating with wireless communication devices <NUM> along with any additional elements suitable to support communication between wireless communication devices or between a wireless communication device and another communication device (such as a landline telephone).

Although wireless communication devices <NUM> may represent communication devices that include any suitable combination of hardware and/or software, these wireless communication devices may, in certain embodiments, represent devices such as an example wireless communication device illustrated in greater detail by <FIG>. Similarly, although the illustrated radio access node may represent network nodes that include any suitable combination of hardware and/or software, these nodes may, in particular embodiments, represent devices such as the example radio access node illustrated in greater detail by <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, a wireless communication device <NUM> comprises a processor <NUM>, a memory, a transceiver <NUM>, and an antenna <NUM>. In certain embodiments, some or all of the functionality described as being provided by UEs, MTC or M2M devices, and/or any other types of wireless communication devices may be provided by the device processor executing instructions stored on a computer-readable medium, such as the memory shown in <FIG>. Alternative embodiments may include additional components beyond those shown in <FIG> that may be responsible for providing certain aspects of the device's functionality, including any of the functionality described herein.

Referring to <FIG>, a radio access node <NUM> comprises a node processor <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, a network interface <NUM>, a transceiver <NUM>, and an antenna <NUM>. In certain embodiments, some or all of the functionality described as being provided by a base station, a node B, an enodeB, and/or any other type of network node may be provided by node processor <NUM> executing instructions stored on a computer-readable medium, such as memory <NUM> shown in <FIG>. Alternative embodiments of radio access node <NUM> may comprise additional components to provide additional functionality, such as the functionality described herein and/or related supporting functionality.

<FIG> illustrate various methods and apparatuses in which some or all of the above features may potentially be implemented.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating a method <NUM> of operating a wireless communication device. The method of <FIG> could be performed by a wireless communication device as illustrated in any of <FIG>, <FIG> or <FIG>, for instance.

Referring to <FIG>, method <NUM> comprises identifying a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format for transmission of uplink control information (UCI) in unlicensed spectrum, wherein the PUCCH format is short PUCCH or long PUCCH, wherein the short PUCCH occupies less than <NUM> subframe in the time domain and spans an entire system bandwidth in the frequency domain with interlacing on a resource block level, and wherein the long PUCCH occupies one subframe in the time domain and spans the entire system bandwidth in the frequency domain with interlacing on a resource block level (S1405), and transmitting the UCI to a radio access node in accordance with the identified PUCCH format (S1410). In this and other embodiments, "identifying" or "determining" a PUCCH format may be performed in various alternative ways, such as determining the format based on information available to the wireless communication device, reading an indication of the format from a memory in the wireless communication device, being preconfigured to use the format, receiving signaling from a radio access node that identifies the format, and so on.

In certain embodiments, the UCI is transmitted to the radio access node in coordination with one or more other wireless communication devices. In certain related embodiments, transmitting the UCI in coordination with the one or more other wireless communication devices comprises multiplexing with the one or more other wireless communication devices using orthogonal cover codes (OCC) and cyclic shifts (CS) on control-data symbols and reference symbols, respectively, in the short PUCCH or long PUCCH. In certain other related embodiments, transmitting the UCI to the radio access node in coordination with the one or more other wireless communication devices comprises multiplexing the one or more other wireless communication devices on the same interlace as the short PUCCH or the long PUCCH. In certain other related embodiments, the wireless communication device and the one or more other wireless communication devices are assigned different interlacing patterns. In certain other related embodiments, the wireless communication device and the one or more other wireless communication devices are assigned the same interlacing pattern, and they apply different orthogonal cover codes (OCC) to enable PUCCH control-data on the same time-frequency resources.

In certain embodiments, the PUCCH format is short PUCCH and the short PUCCH comprises at least one demodulation reference signal (DMRS) symbol and at least one control-data symbol in the time domain. In certain related embodiments, the short PUCCH comprises a sequence of symbols at the end of a downlink partial subframe.

In certain embodiments, the PUCCH format is short PUCCH and the transmitting comprises transmitting a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) symbol on all subcarriers within a block-interleaved frequency division multiple access (B-IFDMA) symbol on an assigned interlace or on all assigned interlaces across the entire system bandwidth.

In certain embodiments, the PUCCH format is short PUCCH and the transmitting comprises transmitting a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) symbol once per "n" subcarriers with a pattern that can be shifted or unshifted on different B-IFDMA symbols, where "n" is an integer greater than <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a wireless communication device <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, wireless communication device <NUM> comprises an identification module <NUM> configured to identify a PUCCH format as in S1405, and a transmission module <NUM> configured to transmit the UCI as in S1410. Wireless communication device <NUM> may further comprise additional modules configured to perform additional functions as described above in relation to <FIG>, for instance.

As used herein, the term "module" denotes any suitable combination of hardware and/or software configured to perform a designated function. For instance, the modules in <FIG> and other figures may be implemented by at least one processor and memory, one or more controllers, etc..

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating a method <NUM> of operating a radio access node. The method of <FIG> could be performed by a radio access node as illustrated in any of <FIG>, <FIG> or <FIG>, for instance.

Referring to <FIG>, method <NUM> comprises identifying a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format to be used by at least one wireless communication device for transmission of uplink control information (UCI) in unlicensed spectrum, wherein the PUCCH format is short PUCCH or long PUCCH, wherein the short PUCCH occupies less than <NUM> subframe in the time domain and spans an entire system bandwidth in the frequency domain with interlacing on a resource block level, and wherein the long PUCCH occupies one subframe in the time domain and spans the entire system bandwidth in the frequency domain with interlacing on a resource block level (S1605), and receiving the UCI from the at least one wireless communication device in accordance with the identified PUCCH format (S1610).

In certain embodiments, identifying the PUCCH format comprises selecting between short PUCCH and long PUCCH according to at least one of an eNodeB timing configuration and a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) protocol.

In certain embodiments, the received UCI is multiplexed on the same interlace as the short PUCCH or the long PUCCH with information transmitted from at least one other wireless communication device.

In certain embodiments, the received UCI is multiplexed in the short PUCCH or long PUCCH with information transmitted from at least one other wireless communication device. In certain related embodiments, the UCI and the information transmitted from the at least one other wireless communication device are multiplexed using orthogonal cover codes (OCC) and cyclic shifts (CS) on control-data symbols and reference symbols, respectively.

In certain embodiments, the PUCCH format comprises a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) symbol on all subcarriers within a block-interleaved frequency division multiple access (B-IFDMA) symbol on an assigned interlace or on all assigned interlaces across the entire system bandwidth. In certain embodiments, the PUCCH format comprises a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) symbol once per "n" subcarriers with a pattern that can be shifted or unshifted on different B-IFDMA symbols, where "n" is an integer greater than <NUM>.

In certain embodiments, the UCI is multiplexed with UCI from at least one other wireless communication device using different interlacing patterns within the same subframe.

In certain embodiments, the UCI is multiplexed with UCI from at least one other wireless communication device using the same interlacing pattern within the same subframe. In certain related embodiments, the UCI from the at least one wireless communication device and the at least one other wireless communication device are subject to different orthogonal cover codes (OCC).

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a radio access node <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, radio access node <NUM> comprises a determining module <NUM> configured to determine or identify a PUCCH format as in S <NUM>, and a receiving/decoding module <NUM> configured to receive and decode the UCI as in S1610. Radio access node <NUM> may further comprise additional modules configured to perform additional functions as described above in relation to <FIG>, for instance.

As indicated by the foregoing, certain embodiments of the disclosed subject matter provide two PUCCH formats to be transmitted on carriers in unlicensed spectrum for LAA/Standalone LTE-U. Both formats use interlaced UL resources and can be multiplexed with other PUCCH/PUSCH UEs.

The following abbreviations are used in this description.

Claim 1:
A method (<NUM>) of operating a wireless communication device, comprising:
identifying a physical uplink control channel, PUCCH, format for transmission of uplink control information, UCI, in unlicensed spectrum, wherein the PUCCH format is short PUCCH, wherein the short PUCCH occupies less than <NUM> subframe in the time domain, spans an entire system bandwidth in the frequency domain with interlacing on a resource block level and comprises at least one demodulation reference signal, DMRS, symbol and at least one control-data symbol in the time domain (S1405); and
transmitting the UCI to a radio access node in accordance with the identified PUCCH format (S1410).