Patent Description:
In order to provide a larger system and a better user experience in a fifth-generation (<NUM>) new radio (NR) network, NR base stations can often support a large bandwidth. For example, below <NUM>, a NR base station can support a maximum bandwidth of <NUM> by a single carrier; above <NUM>, a NR base station can support a maximum bandwidth of <NUM> by a single carrier.

Due to factors such as terminal cost, power consumption, and cell coverage, the base station can configure multiple sets of bandwidth parts (BWPs) for the terminal on one carrier. At a same time, the terminal in an existing system only activates one set of BWPs and uses this set for data reception and transmission. Here, each set of BWPs includes an uplink BWP and a downlink BWP. That is, the BWPs allocated by the base station to the terminal are paired. If the downlink BWP resource of a terminal is released or deactivated by the base station, the uplink BWP corresponding to the downlink BWP will also be released or deactivated.

Compared with a fourth-generation (<NUM>) long-term evolution (LTE) system, the application scenarios, service types, and spectrum supported by the NR system are more diverse. For example, some terminals only support downlink service reception, and some terminals support two-way services, one-way services, and even both. The uplink and downlink carriers may have different attributes, where the downlink carrier is a licensed carrier and the uplink carrier is an un-licensed carrier. Correspondingly, for the set of BWPs allocated by the base station to the terminal, the downlink BWP and the uplink BWP are on the licensed and unlicensed carriers, respectively. Due to the huge difference in spectrum usage rules and interference conditions, according to an existing method of using BWP in a NR system, the downlink BWP will often be deactivated due to a deactivation of the uplink BWP. This induces very large negative effects on the user experience and spectral efficiency of the wireless system.

Thus, existing systems and methods for BWP allocation in a wireless communication are not entirely satisfactory.

The exemplary embodiments disclosed herein are directed to solving the issues relating to one or more of the problems presented in the prior art, as well as providing additional features that will become readily apparent by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompany drawings. In accordance with various embodiments, exemplary systems, methods, devices and computer program products are disclosed herein. It is understood, however, that these embodiments are presented by way of example and not limitation, and it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art who read the present disclosure that various modifications to the disclosed embodiments can be made while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure.

In one embodiment, a method performed by a wireless communication node is disclosed. The method comprises: configuring a first set of bandwidth part (BWP) for a wireless communication device, wherein the first set of BWP includes a single BWP configured for either uplink or downlink transmission regarding the wireless communication device; and configuring at least one second set of BWPs for the wireless communication device, wherein each of the second set of BWPs includes a pair of BWPs configured respectively for uplink and downlink transmissions regarding the wireless communication device. The first set of BWP is associated with the at least one second set of BWPs based on at least one predetermined relationship, in which when one of the pair of BWPs of at least one of the second set of BWPs is active, the first set of BWP is active, wherein among the at least one second set of BWPs, at most one of the pair of BWPs is active.

In a further embodiment, a method performed by a wireless communication device is disclosed. The method comprises: receiving a configuration of a first set of bandwidth part (BWP) from a wireless communication node, wherein the first set of BWP includes a single BWP configured for either uplink or downlink transmission regarding the wireless communication device; and receiving a configuration of at least one second set of BWPs from the wireless communication node, wherein each of the second set of BWPs includes a pair of BWPs configured respectively for uplink and downlink transmissions regarding the wireless communication device. The first set of BWP is associated with the at least one second set of BWPs based on at least one predetermined relationship, in which when one of the pair of BWPs of at least one of the second set of BWPs is active, the first set of BWP is active, wherein among the at least one second set of BWPs, at most one of the pair of BWPs is active.

In a different embodiment, a wireless communication node configured to carry out a disclosed method in some embodiment is disclosed.

In yet another embodiment, a wireless communication device configured to carry out a disclosed method in some embodiment is disclosed.

In still another embodiment, a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for carrying out a disclosed method in some embodiment is disclosed.

Various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described below with reference to the accompanying figures to enable a person of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the present disclosure. As would be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, after reading the present disclosure, various changes or modifications to the examples described herein can be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

A typical wireless communication network includes one or more base stations (typically known as a "BS") that each provides a geographical radio coverage, and one or more wireless user equipment devices (typically known as a "UE") that can transmit and receive data within the radio coverage. The present teaching discloses a method for configuring a bandwidth part (BWP) that is not paired for a UE on a carrier. In one embodiment, a BS configures for a UE a first type BWP and at least one set of second type BWPs. Each set of the second type BWPs comprises a downlink BWP and a corresponding uplink BWP. At most one set of the second type BWPs has active status at a time.

The first type BWP and the second type BWP have a predetermined relationship including one or more of the following: (<NUM>) if a set of second type BWPs is activated, the first type BWP is also activated; and (<NUM>) if all sets of second type BWPs are deactivated, the first type BWP is also deactivated.

A first type BWP has no paired first type BWP corresponding to an opposite link direction. Alternatively, each first type BWP is paired with a second type BWP that is active and associated with the first type BWP based on the predetermined relationship. The first type BWP and the paired second type BWP have opposite link directions, one is uplink and the other is downlink. When the active second type BWP switches to a new BWP, the first type BWP may be paired with the new BWP. If the resource of a second type BWP paired with the first type BWP is released, the resource of the first type BWP is also released.

In one embodiment, the first type BWP and the second type BWP are on a same carrier. In another embodiment, the carrier of the first type BWP is a subset of the carriers of the second type BWPs. If the carrier of the second type BWP is a time division duplex (TDD) carrier, the first type BWP is located on the same carrier as the second type BWP; if the carriers of the second type BWPs are frequency division duplex (FDD) carriers, the carrier of first type BWP is either the uplink carrier or the downlink carrier in the carriers of the second type BWPs. For the carrier where the first type BWP is located, there are two active BWPs for the terminal. But at a same time, the terminal will use one of the two active BWPs for data reception or data transmission.

In one embodiment, the first type BWP is a downlink BWP. When the terminal initiates a random access on an uplink BWP of the second type BWPs, such as a random access preamble (PRACH) signal, the terminal expects that the base station does not transmit a random access response on the first type BWP paired with or associated with the uplink second type BWP. Correspondingly, the base station will send the random access response on a downlink BWP of the second type paired with the uplink second type BWP.

Further in another embodiment, the first type BWP is an uplink BWP. When the terminal initiates a random access on the uplink first type BWP, such as a random access preamble (PRACH) signal, the terminal expects that the base station will send the random access response on a downlink BWP of the second type paired with the uplink first type BWP.

The methods disclosed in the present teaching can be implemented in a wireless communication network, where a BS and a UE can communicate with each other via a communication link, e.g., via a downlink radio frame from the BS to the UE or via an uplink radio frame from the UE to the BS. In various embodiments, a BS in the present disclosure can be referred to as a network side and can include, or be implemented as, a next Generation Node B (gNB), an E-UTRAN Node B (eNB), a Transmission/Reception Point (TRP), an Access Point (AP), etc.; while a UE in the present disclosure can be referred to as a terminal and can include, or be implemented as, a mobile station (MS), a station (STA), etc. A BS and a UE may be described herein as non-limiting examples of "wireless communication nodes," and "wireless communication devices" respectively, which can practice the methods disclosed herein and may be capable of wireless and/or wired communications, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

<FIG> illustrates an exemplary communication network <NUM> in which techniques disclosed herein may be implemented, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the exemplary communication network <NUM> includes a base station (BS) <NUM> and a plurality of UEs, UE <NUM><NUM>, UE <NUM><NUM>. UE <NUM><NUM>, where the BS <NUM> can communicate with the UEs according to wireless protocols. Each UE may be configured with a first type BWP and one or more sets of second type BWPs. The first type BWP is a single BWP that is not paired with another first type BWP, but may be paired with an active second type BWP. Each set of second type BWPs includes a pair of BWPs with opposite link directions, one uplink BWP and one downlink BWP. The first type BWP and the second type BWPs have a predetermined relationship including one or more of the following: (<NUM>) if any set of second type BWPs is active, the first type BWP is also active; and (<NUM>) if all sets of second type BWPs are inactive, the first type BWP is also inactive. In one embodiment, a UE may be configured with multiple first type BWPs and one or more sets of second type BWPs. In this case, each first type BWP has the predetermined relationship with the second type BWPs and may be paired with an active second type BWP.

<FIG> illustrates a block diagram of a base station (BS) <NUM>, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The BS <NUM> is an example of a node or device that can be configured to implement the various methods described herein. As shown in <FIG>, the BS <NUM> includes a housing <NUM> containing a system clock <NUM>, a processor <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, a transceiver <NUM> comprising a transmitter <NUM> and receiver <NUM>, a power module <NUM>, a BWP configurator <NUM>, a BWP relationship determiner <NUM>, a BWP activator <NUM>, a random access request analyzer <NUM>, a random access response generator <NUM> and a transmission configuration determiner <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the system clock <NUM> provides the timing signals to the processor <NUM> for controlling the timing of all operations of the BS <NUM>. The processor <NUM> controls the general operation of the BS <NUM> and can include one or more processing circuits or modules such as a central processing unit (CPU) and/or any combination of general-purpose microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs), field programmable gate array (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), controllers, state machines, gated logic, discrete hardware components, dedicated hardware finite state machines, or any other suitable circuits, devices and/or structures that can perform calculations or other manipulations of data.

The instructions (a. As used herein, "software" means any type of instructions, whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, etc., which can configure a machine or device to perform one or more desired functions or processes.

The transceiver <NUM>, which includes the transmitter <NUM> and receiver <NUM>, allows the BS <NUM> to transmit and receive data to and from a remote device (e.g., a UE or another BS). An antenna <NUM> is typically attached to the housing <NUM> and electrically coupled to the transceiver <NUM>. In various embodiments, the BS <NUM> includes (not shown) multiple transmitters, multiple receivers, and multiple transceivers. In one embodiment, the antenna <NUM> is replaced with a multi-antenna array <NUM> that can form a plurality of beams each of which points in a distinct direction. The transmitter <NUM> can be configured to wirelessly transmit packets having different packet types or functions, such packets being generated by the processor <NUM>. Similarly, the receiver <NUM> is configured to receive packets having different packet types or functions, and the processor <NUM> is configured to process packets of a plurality of different packet types. For example, the processor <NUM> can be configured to determine the type of packet and to process the packet and/or fields of the packet accordingly.

In a wireless communication, the BS <NUM> may transmit data to and receive data from a UE using BWPs. The BWP configurator <NUM> in this example can configure a first set of BWP for a UE and at least one second set of BWPs for the UE. The first set of BWP includes a single BWP configured for either uplink or downlink transmission regarding the UE; while each of the second set of BWPs includes a pair of BWPs configured respectively for uplink and downlink transmissions regarding the UE. The first set of BWP is associated with the at least one second set of BWPs based on at least one predetermined relationship.

In one embodiment, the BWP relationship determiner <NUM> can determine that the at least one predetermined relationship includes a relationship that: when one of the at least one second set of BWPs is active, the first set of BWP is also active. When the active BWP in the first set is for downlink transmission, the active BWP is associated with an active uplink BWP in the second set; and when the active BWP in the first set is for uplink transmission, the active BWP is associated with an active downlink BWP in the second set. There are two active BWPs configured for the UE; and the UE utilizes one of the two active BWPs once upon a time for data communication.

In another embodiment, the BWP relationship determiner <NUM> can determine that the at least one predetermined relationship includes a relationship that: when all of the at least one second set of BWPs are inactive, the first set of BWP is also inactive. In yet another embodiment, the BWP relationship determiner <NUM> can determine that the at least one predetermined relationship includes a relationship that: when resources of all of the at least one second set of BWPs are released, resource of the first set of BWP is also released.

In one embodiment, the random access request analyzer <NUM> receives, via the receiver <NUM>, a request for random access from the UE on an uplink BWP in the second set. In this case, the active BWP in the first set is for downlink transmission. After the random access request analyzer <NUM> analyzes the request and forwards it to the random access response generator <NUM>, the random access response generator <NUM> in this example can generate and transmit, via the transmitter <NUM>, a response for the random access to the UE on a downlink BWP in the second set.

In another embodiment, the random access request analyzer <NUM> receives, via the receiver <NUM>, a request for random access from the UE on the active BWP in the first set. In this case, the active BWP in the first set is for uplink transmission. After the random access request analyzer <NUM> analyzes the request and forwards it to the random access response generator <NUM>, the random access response generator <NUM> in this example can generate and transmit, via the transmitter <NUM>, a response for the random access to the UE on a downlink BWP in the second set.

When the UE is in a time division duplex (TDD) system, the first set of BWP and the at least one second set of BWPs are on a same carrier. When the UE is in a frequency division duplex (FDD) system, the pair of BWPs in each of the second set of BWPs are on a first carrier and a second carrier, respectively for uplink and downlink transmissions; the first set of BWP is on the first carrier when the first set of BWP is for uplink transmission; and the first set of BWP is on the second carrier when the first set of BWP is for downlink transmission.

In one embodiment, the first set of BWP is configured for an uplink transmission of: a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ), a channel state information (CSI), and/or a scheduling request (SR). A control resource set (CORESET) of the single BWP in the first set may be on an active BWP in the at least one second set. The CORESET of the single BWP in the first set has same numbers of symbols and resource blocks as those of a CORESET of the active BWP in the at least one second set. When the active BWP in the at least one second set changes to a new BWP, the CORESET of the single BWP in the first set has same numbers of symbols and resource blocks as those of a CORESET of the new BWP.

In another embodiment, a CORESET of the single BWP in the first set is on the single BWP. The CORESET of the single BWP in the first set has same numbers of symbols and resource blocks as those of a CORESET of an active BWP in the at least one second set. When the active BWP in the at least one second set changes to a new BWP, the CORESET of the single BWP in the first set has same numbers of symbols and resource blocks as those of a CORESET of the new BWP.

In yet another embodiment, the at least one second set of BWPs comprises at least two sets of BWPs that are different from each other. They may have different resource mapping manners of their control resource sets (CORESETs) and/or different bundle sizes of their CORESETs. When an active BWP in the at least one second set changes to a new BWP, the single BWP in the first set changes its resource mapping manner of CORESET and/or bundle size of CORESET accordingly based on the new BWP's resource mapping manner of CORESET and/or bundle size of CORESET.

The BWP activator <NUM> in this example may activate or deactivate a BWP configured for the UE. Among the at least one second set of BWPs, at most one set of BWPs is active at any time. In one embodiment, the BWP activator <NUM> may activate the single BWP in the first set based on a first signaling and/or a second signaling. The first signaling is specifically configured for activating the single BWP; and the second signaling is configured for activating a BWP that is in the at least one second set and associated with or paired with the single BWP. The UE performs detection on a control channel of the activated single BWP based on a BWP configuration associated with a latest signaling received by the UE for activating the single BWP. The latest signaling may be either the first signaling or the second signaling, whichever received last by the UE.

The transmission configuration determiner <NUM> in this example may determine a configuration to be utilized for a transmission on a physical shared channel using an overlapping time frequency resource. The overlapping time frequency resource belongs to both the single BWP in the first set and a second BWP in the at least one second set. When both the single BWP and the second BWP are active, the configuration is determined based on a predetermined one of the single BWP and the second BWP. In another embodiment, when both the single BWP and the second BWP are active, the configuration is determined based on a search space of a physical control channel corresponding to the physical shared channel. In one example, if the search space of the physical control channel belongs to a search space of the single BWP, the configuration follows a configuration of the single BWP. In another example, if the search space of the physical control channel belongs to a search space of the second BWP, the configuration follows a configuration of the second BWP.

The power module <NUM> can include a power source such as one or more batteries, and a power regulator, to provide regulated power to each of the above-described modules in <FIG>. In some embodiments, if the BS <NUM> is coupled to a dedicated external power source (e.g., a wall electrical outlet), the power module <NUM> can include a transformer and a power regulator.

The various modules discussed above are coupled together by a bus system <NUM>. The bus system <NUM> can include a data bus and, for example, a power bus, a control signal bus, and/or a status signal bus in addition to the data bus. It is understood that the modules of the BS <NUM> can be operatively coupled to one another using any suitable techniques and mediums.

Although a number of separate modules or components are illustrated in <FIG>, persons of ordinary skill in the art will understand that one or more of the modules can be combined or commonly implemented. For example, the processor <NUM> can implement not only the functionality described above with respect to the processor <NUM>, but also implement the functionality described above with respect to the BWP configurator <NUM>. Conversely, each of the modules illustrated in <FIG> can be implemented using a plurality of separate components or elements.

<FIG> illustrates a flow chart for a method <NUM> performed by a BS, e.g. the BS <NUM> in <FIG>, for data transmission using BWPs, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. At operation <NUM>, the BS configures for a UE a first set of BWP including a single BWP for either uplink or downlink transmission of the UE. At operation <NUM>, the BS configures for the UE at least one second set of BWPs each including a pair of BWPs configured respectively for uplink and downlink transmissions of the UE, wherein the first set of BWP is associated with the at least one second set of BWPs based on at least one predetermined relationship, in which when one of the pair of BWPs of at least one of the second set of BWPs is active, the first set of BWP is active, wherein among the at least one second set of BWPs, at most one of the pair of BWPs is active. The BS activates at operation <NUM> one pair of BWPs from the at least one second set and the single BWP in the first set. At operation <NUM>, the BS receives a request for random access from the UE on an uplink BWP that is activated in either set. At operation <NUM>, the BS transmits a response for the random access to the UE on a downlink BWP that is activated in the second set. The order of the steps shown in <FIG> may be changed according to different embodiments of the present disclosure.

<FIG> illustrates a block diagram of a UE <NUM>, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The UE <NUM> is an example of a device that can be configured to implement the various methods described herein. As shown in <FIG>, the UE <NUM> includes a housing <NUM> containing a system clock <NUM>, a processor <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, a transceiver <NUM> comprising a transmitter <NUM> and a receiver <NUM>, a power module <NUM>, a BWP configuration determiner <NUM>, a BWP relationship determiner <NUM>, a BWP activator <NUM>, a random access request generator <NUM>, a random access response analyzer <NUM>, and a transmission configuration determiner <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the system clock <NUM>, the processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the transceiver <NUM> and the power module <NUM> work similarly to the system clock <NUM>, the processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the transceiver <NUM> and the power module <NUM> in the BS <NUM>. An antenna <NUM> or a multi-antenna array <NUM> is typically attached to the housing <NUM> and electrically coupled to the transceiver <NUM>.

The BWP configuration determiner <NUM> in this example receives from a BS a first set of BWP and at least one second set of BWPs. The first set of BWP includes a single BWP configured for either uplink or downlink transmission regarding the UE <NUM>; while each of the second set of BWPs includes a pair of BWPs configured respectively for uplink and downlink transmissions regarding the UE <NUM>. The first set of BWP is associated with the at least one second set of BWPs based on at least one predetermined relationship.

In one embodiment, the BWP relationship determiner <NUM> can determine that the at least one predetermined relationship includes a relationship that: when one of the at least one second set of BWPs is active, the first set of BWP is also active. When the active BWP in the first set is for downlink transmission, the active BWP is associated with an active uplink BWP in the second set; and when the active BWP in the first set is for uplink transmission, the active BWP is associated with an active downlink BWP in the second set. There are two active BWPs configured for the UE <NUM>; and the UE <NUM> utilizes one of the two active BWPs once upon a time for data communication.

In one embodiment, the random access request generator <NUM> generates and transmits, via the transmitter <NUM>, a request for random access to the BS on an uplink BWP in the second set. In this case, the active BWP in the first set is for downlink transmission. Then the random access response analyzer <NUM> in this example can receive, via the receiver <NUM>, and analyze a response for the random access from the BS on a downlink BWP in the second set.

In another embodiment, the random access request generator <NUM> generates and transmits, via the transmitter <NUM>, a request for random access to the BS on the active BWP in the first set. In this case, the active BWP in the first set is for uplink transmission. Then the random access response analyzer <NUM> in this example can receive, via the receiver <NUM>, and analyze a response for the random access from the BS on a downlink BWP in the second set.

When the UE <NUM> is in a time division duplex (TDD) system, the first set of BWP and the at least one second set of BWPs are on a same carrier. When the UE <NUM> is in a frequency division duplex (FDD) system, the pair of BWPs in each of the second set of BWPs are on a first carrier and a second carrier, respectively for uplink and downlink transmissions; the first set of BWP is on the first carrier when the first set of BWP is for uplink transmission; and the first set of BWP is on the second carrier when the first set of BWP is for downlink transmission.

The BWP activator <NUM> in this example may activate or deactivate a BWP configured for the UE <NUM>. Among the at least one second set of BWPs, at most one set of BWPs is active at any time. In one embodiment, the BWP activator <NUM> may activate the single BWP in the first set based on a first signaling and/or a second signaling. The first signaling is specifically configured for activating the single BWP; and the second signaling is configured for activating a BWP that is in the at least one second set and associated with or paired with the single BWP. The UE <NUM> may perform detection on a control channel of the activated single BWP based on a BWP configuration associated with a latest signaling received by the UE <NUM> for activating the single BWP. The latest signaling may be either the first signaling or the second signaling, whichever received last by the UE <NUM>.

The transmission configuration determiner <NUM> in this example may determine a transmission configuration to be utilized for a transmission on a physical shared channel using an overlapping time frequency resource. The overlapping time frequency resource belongs to both the single BWP in the first set and a second BWP in the at least one second set. When both the single BWP and the second BWP are active, the configuration is determined based on a predetermined one of the single BWP and the second BWP. In another embodiment, when both the single BWP and the second BWP are active, the configuration is determined based on a search space of a physical control channel corresponding to the physical shared channel. In one example, if the search space of the physical control channel belongs to a search space of the single BWP, the configuration follows a configuration of the single BWP. In another example, if the search space of the physical control channel belongs to a search space of the second BWP, the configuration follows a configuration of the second BWP.

The various modules discussed above are coupled together by a bus system <NUM>. The bus system <NUM> can include a data bus and, for example, a power bus, a control signal bus, and/or a status signal bus in addition to the data bus. It is understood that the modules of the UE <NUM> can be operatively coupled to one another using any suitable techniques and mediums.

Although a number of separate modules or components are illustrated in <FIG>, persons of ordinary skill in the art will understand that one or more of the modules can be combined or commonly implemented. For example, the processor <NUM> can implement not only the functionality described above with respect to the processor <NUM>, but also implement the functionality described above with respect to the BWP configuration determiner <NUM>. Conversely, each of the modules illustrated in <FIG> can be implemented using a plurality of separate components or elements.

<FIG> illustrates a flow chart for a method <NUM> performed by a UE, e.g. the UE <NUM> in <FIG>, for data transmission using BWPs, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. At operation <NUM>, the UE receives from a BS a configuration of a first set of BWP including a single BWP for either uplink or downlink transmission of the UE. At operation <NUM>, the UE receives from a BS a configuration of at least one second set of BWPs each including a pair of BWPs configured respectively for uplink and downlink transmissions of the UE, wherein the first set of BWP is associated with the at least one second set of BWPs based on at least one predetermined relationship, in which when one of the pair of BWPs of at least one of the second set of BWPs is active, the first set of BWP is active, wherein among the at least one second set of BWPs, at most one of the pair of BWPs is active. At operation <NUM>, the UE activates one pair of BWPs from the at least one second set and the single BWP in the first set based on signaling from the BS. At operation <NUM>, the UE transmits a request for random access to the BS on an uplink BWP that is activated in either set. At operation <NUM>, the UE receives a response for the random access from the BS on a downlink BWP that is activated in the second set. The order of the steps shown in <FIG> may be changed according to different embodiments of the present disclosure.

In a first embodiment, a BS configures for a UE a first type BWP and at least one set of second type BWPs. Each set of the second type BWPs comprises a downlink BWP and a corresponding uplink BWP. At most one set of the second type BWPs has active status at a time.

The first type BWP and the second type BWP have a predetermined relationship including one or more of the following: (<NUM>) if a set of second type BWPs is active, the first type BWP is also active; and (<NUM>) if all sets of second type BWPs are inactive, the first type BWP is also inactive.

A first type BWP has no paired first type BWP corresponding to an opposite link direction. In other words, each first type BWP is paired with a second type BWP that is active and associated with the first type BWP based on the predetermined relationship. The first type BWP and the paired second type BWP have opposite link directions, one is uplink and the other is downlink. When the active second type BWP switches to a new BWP, the first type BWP will be paired with the new BWP. If the resource of a second type BWP paired with the first type BWP is released, the resource of the first type BWP is also released.

In one example, the first type BWP and the second type BWP are on a same carrier. In another example, the carrier of the first type BWP is a subset of the carriers of the second type BWPs. If the carrier of the second type BWP is a TDD carrier, the first type BWP is located on the same carrier as the second type BWP; if the carriers of the second type BWPs are FDD carriers, the carrier of first type BWP is either the uplink carrier or the downlink carrier in the carriers of the second type BWPs. For the carrier where the first type BWP is located, there are two active BWPs for the terminal. But at a same time, the terminal will use one of the two active BWPs for data reception or data transmission.

In one example, the first type BWP is a downlink BWP. When the terminal initiates a random access on an uplink BWP of the second type BWPs, such as a random access preamble (PRACH) signal, the terminal expects that the base station does not transmit a random access response on the first type BWP paired with or associated with the uplink BWP. Correspondingly, the base station will send the random access response on a downlink BWP of the second type paired with the uplink BWP.

Further in another example, the first type BWP is an uplink BWP. When the terminal initiates a random access on the uplink first type BWP, such as a random access preamble (PRACH) signal, the terminal expects that the base station will send the random access response on a downlink BWP of the second type paired with the uplink first type BWP.

In one scenario, whether the first type BWP is active or inactive does not impact the associated second type BWP.

In one example, the base station configures a set of first type BWP (hereinafter "BWP <NUM>-<NUM>") and <NUM> sets of second type BWPs (hereinafter "BWP <NUM>-<NUM>" and "BWP <NUM>-<NUM>") for the terminal. In this example, BWP <NUM>-<NUM> has a predetermined relationship with both BWP <NUM>-<NUM> and BWP <NUM>-<NUM>. In a TDD system, the uplink and downlink BWPs included in the BWP <NUM>-<NUM> and BWP <NUM>-<NUM> are on a same carrier (referred to as "carrier C"). Correspondingly, BWP <NUM>-<NUM> is also on carrier C. In a FDD system, the downlink BWPs included in the BWP <NUM>-<NUM> and BWP <NUM>-<NUM> are on a downlink carrier (referred to as "carrier C1"); and the uplink BWPs included in the BWP <NUM>-<NUM> and BWP <NUM>-<NUM> are on an uplink carrier (referred to as "carrier C2"). If BWP <NUM>-<NUM> is used to transmit data to the terminal, BWP <NUM>-<NUM> is on carrier C1; and if BWP <NUM>-<NUM> is used for the terminal to transmit data, BWP <NUM>-<NUM> is on carrier C2.

For example, BWP <NUM>-<NUM> may be used to support the base station to send the downlink ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC) service to the terminal. The BWP <NUM>-<NUM> has a corresponding BWP with opposite link direction. BWP <NUM>-<NUM> and BWP <NUM>-<NUM> are used to support bidirectional enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) services. In an initial stage, BWP2-<NUM> is active, and BWP <NUM>-<NUM> is also active. The corresponding BWP with opposite link direction of BWP <NUM>-<NUM> is the uplink BWP in the BWP <NUM>-<NUM>. The uplink BWP can be used for BWP <NUM>-<NUM> related channel measurement feedback, HARQ feedback, etc. After a period of time, the terminal is switched from BWP <NUM>-<NUM> to BWP <NUM>-<NUM> due to a change of eMBB service. In this process, BWP <NUM>-<NUM> changes from active state to inactive state; and BWP <NUM>-<NUM> changes from inactive state to active state. BWP <NUM>-<NUM> is still active. But the corresponding BWP with opposite link direction of BWP <NUM>-<NUM> becomes the uplink BWP in the BWP <NUM>-<NUM>. After a while, the base station deactivates both BWP <NUM>-<NUM> and BWP <NUM>-<NUM>. Since BWP <NUM>-<NUM> is only associated with BWP <NUM>-<NUM> and BWP <NUM>-<NUM>, BWP <NUM>-<NUM> is also deactivated. After a while, the base station releases the resources of BWP <NUM>-<NUM> and BWP <NUM>-<NUM>, which may be released at a same time or at different times. Then the resources of BWP <NUM>-<NUM> are also released.

In this embodiment, the first type BWP is associated with multiple second type BWPs. The active state of the first type BWP does not change as the active second type BWP switches. This can well preserve the service continuity on the first type BWP while saving signaling overhead. The above example can also be applied to scenarios where the downlink BWP of the second type BWP is on a licensed spectrum and the uplink BWP of the second type BWP is on an un-licensed spectrum. Further, depending on the service needs, the first type BWP may have no corresponding BWP with the opposite direction at all, where the technical effects of the above scenarios still exist.

In a second embodiment, a first type BWP is dedicated to transmitting uplink control information. A BS configures for a UE a first type BWP and at least one set of second type BWPs. Each set of the second type BWPs comprises a downlink BWP and a corresponding uplink BWP. At most one set of these second type BWPs has active status at a time.

Further, the first type BWP is a BWP dedicated for the terminal to transmit one or more of: hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ), channel state information (CSI), scheduling request (SR), etc. When the terminal needs to send one of the above information, and the terminal does not have a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) to transmit on its second type BWP at this time, the terminal use the above mentioned first type BWP to transmit the information. Otherwise, when the terminal has a PUSCH to transmit on its second type BWP, the information is transmitted on the PUSCH of the second type BWP. In this embodiment, regardless how the second type BWP switches, so long as the terminal does not have a PUSCH to transmit on its second type BWP, one or more of HARQ, CSI, SR information are transmitted on a fixed BWP. This mechanism can effectively reduce the impact on the service data scheduling while improving the performance of HARQ, CSI, SR, etc..

Unless otherwise contradicted by this embodiment, the first type BWP and the second type BWP in this embodiment may also have all or part of the properties and relationships described in other embodiments of the present specification. The same applies to other embodiments.

In a third embodiment, a design of a control resource set (CORESET) of a first type BWP is discussed. A BS configures for a UE a first type BWP and at least one set of second type BWPs. Each set of the second type BWPs comprises a downlink BWP and a corresponding uplink BWP. At most one set of these second type BWPs has active status at a time.

The CORESET time-frequency information is used to indicate, in the time domain and the frequency domain, range information of resources that can be used to transmit physical downlink control channel (PDCCH). The time domain range is represented by the number of symbols; and the frequency domain range is represented by the number of resource blocks. The CORESET time-frequency information of the first type BWP is the same as the CORESET time-frequency information of the activated or active second type BWP and these CORESET time-frequency information are on a same BWP. Below are some examples for illustration.

In a first example, the base station configures for the terminal one set of first type BWP (referred to as "BWP <NUM>") and K sets of second type BWPs (referred to as "BWP <NUM>-<NUM>", "BWP <NUM>-<NUM>". "BWP <NUM>-K"), where K is a positive integer not less than <NUM>. It is assumed the CORESET of BWP <NUM>-k comprises s(k) symbols and r(k) resource blocks, k=<NUM>. When BWP <NUM>-k is activated, the CORESET of BWP <NUM> is on BWP <NUM>-k and includes s(k) symbols and r(k) resource blocks just like the CORESET of the BWP <NUM>-k. If the terminal-activated second type BWP is switched from BWP <NUM>-k to BWP <NUM>-j (j, k are positive integers, and j is not equal to k), the CORESET of BWP <NUM> is changed to be on BWP <NUM>-j. In addition, the CORESET time-frequency information of the BWP <NUM> is the same as the CORESET time-frequency information of BWP <NUM>-j, such that they both include s(j) symbols and r(j) resource blocks.

In a second example, the base station configures for the terminal one set of first type BWP (referred to as "BWP <NUM>") and K sets of second type BWPs (referred to as "BWP <NUM>-<NUM>", "BWP <NUM>-<NUM>". "BWP <NUM>-K"), where K is a positive integer not less than <NUM>. It is assumed the CORESET of BWP <NUM>-k comprises s(k) symbols and r(k) resource blocks, k=<NUM>. When BWP <NUM>-k is activated, the CORESET of BWP <NUM> is on BWP <NUM> and its CORESET time-frequency information is the same as the CORESET time-frequency information of BWP <NUM>-k. That is, the CORESET of BWP <NUM> also includes s(k) symbols and r(k) resource blocks. If the activated BWP of the second type BWP at the terminal is switched from BWP <NUM>-k to BWP <NUM>-j (j, k are positive integers, and j is not equal to k), the CORESET of BWP <NUM> remains on BWP <NUM>. But the values of the CORESET time-frequency information are changed to be the same as the values of the CORESET time-frequency information of BWP <NUM>-j. That is, the CORESET of BWP <NUM> includes s(j) symbols and r(j) resource blocks. In this example, while the CORESET time-frequency information of BWP <NUM> has same value as the CORESET time-frequency information of the second type BWP, the two CORESETs may not be on a same BWP. That is, the CORESET of the second type BWP may be on the first type BWP or on its own BWP, which may be determined by the configuration of the base station.

Further, when the base station configures for the terminal multiple sets of second type BWPs, the resource mapping manners or modes and/or bundle sizes of the CORESETs of these BWPs may be different. For example, a CORESET of one BWP uses interleaving mapping mode, while a CORESET of another BWP uses a non-interleaving mapping mode. For example, a CORESET of one BWP has a bundle size of <NUM> control channel elements (CCEs), while a CORESET of another BWP has a bundle size of <NUM> CCEs. In some embodiments, the resource mapping manner or bundle size of the first type BWP may also vary according to the change of the active second type BWP. That is, the configuration of the first type BWP follows the configuration of the latest activated second type BWP.

In this embodiment, the CORESETs of the first type BWP and the second type BWPs may have the same time-frequency values and be on a same BWP. The CORESET of the first type BWP has a configuration that changes as the CORESET configuration of the activated second type BWP varies. This mechanism simplifies the configuration overhead of the first type BWP and makes the CORESET of the first type BWP very flexible. This is ideal for situations where two types of BWPs cooperate to support transmission of a same type of service.

In a fourth embodiment, how to switch CORESET configuration of a first type BWP is discussed. A BS configures for a UE a first type BWP and at least one set of second type BWPs. Each set of the second type BWPs comprises a downlink BWP and a corresponding uplink BWP. At most one set of these second type BWPs has active status at a time. The first type BWP and the second type BWP have a predetermined relationship including one or more of the following: (<NUM>) if a set of second type BWPs is active, the first type BWP is also active; and (<NUM>) if all sets of second type BWPs are inactive, the first type BWP is also inactive.

Furthermore, for the first type BWP, the base station may activate the first type BWP by either activating the associated second type BWP or using a dedicated activation signaling to activate the first type BWP. At the receiving end, the terminal determines the CORESET configuration after the activation of the first type BWP, according to the last received activation signaling, which may be the dedicated activation signaling or an activation signaling for activating the associated second type BWP.

For example, the base station configures for the terminal a first type BWP (referred to as "BWP <NUM>") and two sets of the second type BWP (referred to as "BWP <NUM>-<NUM>" and "BWP <NUM>-<NUM>" respectively). The CORESET configuration corresponding to these BWP are referred to as Config <NUM>, Config <NUM>-<NUM> and Config <NUM>-<NUM>, respectively. The terminal first receives a dedicated activation signaling for activating the BWP <NUM>. After the dedicated signaling takes effect, the terminal detects the control channel of the BWP <NUM> according to Config <NUM>. After a period of time, the terminal receives a signaling for activating the BWP <NUM>-<NUM>. After the signaling takes effect, the terminal detects the control channel of the BWP <NUM> according to Config <NUM>-<NUM>. After a period of time, the terminal receives again the dedicated activation signaling for activating the BWP <NUM>. After the dedicated signaling takes effect, the terminal detects the control channel of the BWP <NUM> according to Config <NUM>. Then when the terminal receives the activation signaling for activating the BWP <NUM>-<NUM>. After the signaling takes effect, the terminal detects the control channel of the BWP <NUM> according to Config <NUM>-<NUM>.

In a fifth embodiment, how to handle an overlapping resource of the first type BWP and a second type BWP is discussed. A BS configures for a UE a first type BWP and at least one set of second type BWPs. Each set of the second type BWPs comprises a downlink BWP and a corresponding uplink BWP. At most one set of these second type BWPs has active status at a time. The first type BWP and the second type BWP have a predetermined relationship including one or more of the following: (<NUM>) if a set of second type BWPs is active, the first type BWP is also active; and (<NUM>) if all sets of second type BWPs are inactive, the first type BWP is also inactive.

Further, when the time-frequency resource of the first type BWP overlaps with the time-frequency resource of the second type BWP, the data transmission on physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) or physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) on the overlapping resources may follow one of the following principles.

According to a first principle, if the first type BWP and the second type BWP covering the overlapping resource are both active, the configuration of the transmitted PDSCH or PUSCH follows the configuration of the second type BWP. Alternatively, the base station predetermines and indicates in advance whether the transmitted PDSCH or PUSCH follows the first type BWP configuration or the second type BWP configuration in this case. When only one of the first type BWP and the second type BWP covering the overlapping resource is active, the configuration of the transmitted PDSCH or PUSCH follows the configuration of the active BWP, which may be either the first type BWP or the second type BWP.

According to a second principle, if the first type BWP and the second type BWP covering the overlapping resource are both active, the configuration of the transmitted PDSCH or PUSCH is determined based on a search space where a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) is located, where the PDCCH corresponds to the transmitted PDSCH or PUSCH. If the PDCCH search space belongs to a search space of the first type BWP, then the configuration of the transmitted PDSCH or PUSCH follows the configuration of the first type BWP. If the PDCCH search space belongs to a search space of a second type BWP, then the configuration of the transmitted PDSCH or PUSCH follows the configuration of the second type BWP.

Further, when a search space of the PDCCH of the first type BWP overlaps with a search space of a PDCCH of the second type BWP, the configuration of the transmitted PDSCH or PUSCH follows the configuration of the second type BWP. Alternatively, the base station predetermines and indicates in advance whether the transmitted PDSCH or PUSCH follows the first type BWP configuration or the second type BWP configuration in this case.

Claim 1:
A method performed by a wireless communication node, the method comprising:
configuring a first set of bandwidth part, BWP, for a wireless communication device, wherein the first set of BWP includes a single BWP configured for either uplink or downlink transmission regarding the wireless communication device; and
configuring at least one second set of BWPs for the wireless communication device, wherein each of the second set of BWPs includes a pair of BWPs configured respectively for uplink and downlink transmissions regarding the wireless communication device,
wherein the first set of BWP is associated with the at least one second set of BWPs based on at least one predetermined relationship, in which when one of the pair of BWPs of at least one of the second set of BWPs is active, the first set of BWP is active, wherein among the at least one second set of BWPs, at most one of the pair of BWPs is active.