Patent Description:
"Downlink" or "forward link" refers to the communication link from the BS to the UE, and "uplink" or "reverse link" refers to the communication link from the UE to the BS. 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 New Radio (NR) BS, or a <NUM> Node B.

However, as the demand for mobile broadband access continues to increase, there exists a need for further improvements in LTE, NR, and other radio access technologies.

<CIT> relates to E-UTRA systems under high rate fading environments. In this regard, a second pilot symbol is transmitted in a state without interference from an adjacent cell, and channel compensation of data symbol is performed using a channel estimation value obtained from a second pilot symbol. In detail, a terminal, in a state where the second pilot symbol is not transmitted, measures and compares reception CQI of the first pilot symbol and that of the data symbol. At this time, when the reception CQI of the data symbol is higher by the predetermined threshold value or more than the reception CQI of the first pilot symbol, the terminal judges that there is no interference from the adjacent cell, and requests the base station to transmit the second pilot symbol. On the other hand, when the difference between the reception CQI of the data symbol and that of the first pilot symbol becomes less than the predetermined threshold value, the terminal judges that there is the interference from the adjacent cell, and does not request the base station to transmit the second pilot symbol, since the channel compensation using the channel estimation value obtained from the first pilot symbol is performed in this case.

Advantageous embodiments are subject to the dependent claims.

In the following, each of the described methods, apparatuses, systems, examples and aspects, which does not fully correspond to the invention as defined in the appended claims, is thus not according to the invention and is, as well as the whole following description, present for illustration purposes only or to highlight specific aspects or features of the appended claims.

Each of the figures is provided for the purposes of illustration and description.

It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only certain typical aspects of this disclosure, for the description may admit to other equally effective aspects.

Rather, these aspects are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete For example, an apparatus may be implemented or a method may be practiced using any number of the aspects set forth herein.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless network <NUM> in accordance with the present disclosure. A base station (BS) is an entity that communicates with user equipment (UEs) and may also be referred to as an NR BS, a Node B, a gNB, a <NUM> node B (NB), an access point, or a transmit receive point (TRP).

In some aspects, the BSs may be interconnected to one another and/or to one or more other BSs or network nodes (not shown) in the wireless network <NUM> through various types of backhaul interfaces such as a direct physical connection, or a virtual network using any suitable transport network.

A relay BS may also be referred to as a relay station, a relay base station, or a relay.

Wireless network <NUM> may be a heterogeneous network that includes BSs of different types, such as macro BSs, pico BSs, femto BSs, and/or relay BSs.

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

A RAT may also be referred to as a radio technology, and/or an air interface. A frequency may also be referred to as a carrier, and/or a frequency channel.

For example, the UEs <NUM> may communicate using peer-to-peer (P2P) communications, device-to-device (D2D) communications, a vehicle-to-everything (V2X) protocol (e.g., which may include a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) protocol, or a vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) protocol), and/or a mesh network.

Transmit processor <NUM> may also process system information (e.g., for semi-static resource partitioning information (SRPI)) and control information (e.g., CQI requests, grants, upper layer signaling) and provide overhead symbols and control symbols. Transmit processor <NUM> may also generate reference symbols for reference signals (e.g., a cell-specific reference signal (CRS), a demodulation reference signal (DMRS)) and synchronization signals (e.g., the primary synchronization signal (PSS) or a secondary synchronization signal (SSS)).

A channel processor may determine reference signal received power (RSRP), received signal strength indicator (RSSI), reference signal received quality (RSRQ), and/or CQI, among other examples.

The symbols from transmit processor <NUM> may be precoded by a TX MIMO processor <NUM> if applicable, further processed by modulators 254a through 254r (e.g., for DFT-s-OFDM, CP-OFDM), and transmitted to base station <NUM>. In some aspects, a modulator and a demodulator (e.g., MOD/DEMOD <NUM>) of the UE <NUM> may be included in a modem of UE <NUM>. In some aspects, UE <NUM> includes a transceiver. The transceiver may be used by a processor (e.g., controller/processor <NUM>) and memory <NUM> to perform aspects of any of the methods described herein, for example, as described with reference to <NUM>-<NUM>.

In some aspects, a modulator and a demodulator (e.g., MOD/DEMOD <NUM>) of base station <NUM> may be included in a modem of the base station <NUM>. In some aspects, base station <NUM> includes a transceiver.

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 preempting, overwriting, or canceling symbols in a slot format indicator (SFI) allocation, 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, process <NUM> of <FIG>, process <NUM> of <FIG>, process <NUM> of <FIG>, process <NUM> of <FIG>, and/or other processes as described herein. Memories <NUM> and <NUM> may store data and program codes for base station <NUM> and UE <NUM>, respectively. In some aspects, memory <NUM> and/or memory <NUM> may include a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing one or more instructions (e.g., code and/or program code) for wireless communication. For example, the one or more instructions, when executed (e.g., directly, or after compiling, converting, and/or interpreting) by one or more processors of base station <NUM> and/or UE <NUM>, may cause the one or more processors, UE <NUM>, and/or base station <NUM> to perform or direct operations of, for example, process <NUM> of <FIG>, process <NUM> of <FIG>, process <NUM> of <FIG>, process <NUM> of <FIG>, and/or other processes as described herein. In some aspects, executing instructions may include running the instructions, converting the instructions, compiling the instructions, and/or interpreting the instructions, among other examples.

In some aspects, UE <NUM> may include means for generating a request to overwrite or cancel a communication mode of a symbol in a slot of a communication with a base station based at least in part on interference in communications with the base station on one or more frequency bands used for carrier aggregation (CA), means for transmitting the request to the base station, and/or the like. In some aspects, such means may include one or more components of UE <NUM> described in connection with <FIG>, such as controller/processor <NUM>, transmit processor <NUM>, TX MIMO processor <NUM>, MOD <NUM>, antenna <NUM>, DEMOD <NUM>, MIMO detector <NUM>, and/or receive processor <NUM>.

In some aspects, base station <NUM> may include means for determining to overwrite or cancel a communication mode of a symbol in a slot of a communication with a UE based at least in part on receiving a request from the UE to overwrite or cancel the communication mode of the symbol, means for communicating with the UE using another communication mode for the symbol in the slot based at least in part on determining to overwrite or cancel the communication mode of the symbol, and/or the like. In some aspects, such means may include one or more components of base station <NUM> described in connection with <FIG>, such as antenna <NUM>, DEMOD <NUM>, MIMO detector <NUM>, receive processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, transmit processor <NUM>, TX MIMO processor <NUM>, MOD <NUM>, and/or antenna <NUM>.

In some aspects, UE <NUM> may include means for generating a request for an SFI for a slot of a communication with a base station based at least in part on interference in communications with the base station on one or more frequency bands used for CA, means for transmitting the request to the base station, and/or the like. In some aspects, such means may include one or more components of UE <NUM> described in connection with <FIG>, such as controller/processor <NUM>, transmit processor <NUM>, TX MIMO processor <NUM>, MOD <NUM>, antenna <NUM>, DEMOD <NUM>, MIMO detector <NUM>, and/or receive processor <NUM>.

In some aspects, base station <NUM> may include means for determining to use an SFI for a slot of a communication with a UE based at least in part on receiving a request from the UE to use the SFI for the slot, means for communicating with the UE using the SFI for the slot based at least in part on determining to use the SFI for the slot. and/or the like. In some aspects, such means may include one or more components of base station <NUM> described in connection with <FIG>, such as antenna <NUM>, DEMOD <NUM>, MIMO detector <NUM>, receive processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, transmit processor <NUM>, TX MIMO processor <NUM>, MOD <NUM>, and/or antenna <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example <NUM> of a slot format, in accordance with the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, time-frequency resources in a radio access network may be partitioned into resource blocks, shown by a single resource block (RB) <NUM>. An RB <NUM> is sometimes referred to as a physical resource block (PRB). An RB <NUM> includes a set of subcarriers (e.g., <NUM> subcarriers) and a set of symbols (e.g., <NUM> symbols) that are schedulable by a base station <NUM> as a unit. In some aspects, an RB <NUM> may include a set of subcarriers in a single slot. As shown, a single time-frequency resource included in an RB <NUM> may be referred to as a resource element (RE) <NUM>. An RE <NUM> may include a single subcarrier (e.g., in frequency) and a single symbol (e.g., in time). A symbol may be referred to as an OFDM symbol. An RE <NUM> may be used to transmit one modulated symbol, which may be a real value or a complex value.

In some telecommunication systems (e.g., NR), RBs <NUM> may span <NUM> subcarriers with a subcarrier spacing of, for example, <NUM> kilohertz (kHz), <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>, among other examples, over a <NUM> millisecond (ms) duration. A radio frame may include <NUM> slots and may have a length of <NUM>. However, a slot length may vary depending on a numerology used to communicate (e.g., a subcarrier spacing, a cyclic prefix format). A slot may be configured with a link direction (e.g., downlink or uplink) for transmission. In some aspects, the link direction for a slot may be dynamically configured.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example <NUM> of a slot format with communication modes, in accordance with the present disclosure.

A UE configured for time division duplexing (TDD) may transmit or receive a communication at each symbol of a time slot. Each symbol of the slot may have a communication mode, which may be an uplink communication mode (U), a downlink communication mode (D), a gap symbol (blank), or a flexible symbol (F). For example, <FIG> shows a slot with a D for a first <NUM> symbols and a U for a last <NUM> symbols. A combination of communication modes for a slot may have a slot format indicator (SFI). <FIG> shows an SFI of <NUM> with F symbols <NUM> and <NUM> being U. By contrast, an SFI for all Ds may be <NUM>, and an SFI for all Us may be <NUM>.

Dynamic TDD is a flexible transmission technology in NR. In LTE, a slot format is usually the same for all UEs within the cell. NR, by contrast, provides maximum flexibility in terms of subframe structure, where different UEs can have different slot formats. That is, they can have different permutations of either D, U or F symbols in a slot, depending on instantaneous traffic load. For example, one UE may have <NUM> Ds and <NUM> in a slot, while another UE may have <NUM> Ds and <NUM> in the same slot. As a result, some UEs transmitting uplink communications can interfere with other UEs receiving downlink communications at the same time. This interference may be referred to as cross-link interference (CLI).

There is a tradeoff between flexible slot formats and increased interference. To help illustrate this interference, <FIG> and <FIG> show transmission beams for two base stations (e.g., gNBs) and a UE.

<FIG> illustrates an example <NUM> of two base stations, in accordance with the present disclosure.

A first antenna panel of the UE for a first frequency band (Band<NUM>) may have a first module, a second module, and a third module for transmitting and/or receiving communications on beams. The first module may establish a link with a first base station (gNB<NUM>) with a beam that is associated with a first transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state <NUM> and a link with a second beam associated with a second TCI state <NUM>. The second and third modules may also establish a link with gNB<NUM> with beams associated with TCI states <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively. A second antenna panel of the UE for a second frequency band (Band<NUM>) may also have a first module, a second module, and a third module for transmitting and/or receiving communications on beams. The first module may establish a link with gNB<NUM> with a beam associated with a first TCI state A and a second TCI state D. The second and third modules may also establish the link with beams associated with TCI states B and C, respectively.

The first and second base stations (gNB<NUM> and gNB<NUM>) may be co-located or non-co-located. If gNB<NUM> and gNB<NUM> are co-located, or if they are non-co-located (but see a similar local environment that is typically the case in a small cell scenario), and if Band<NUM> and Band<NUM> are in millimeter wave (mmWave) bands, such as in FR2 or frequency range <NUM> (FR4), then the TCI states may be correlated. That is, TCI state <NUM> may be comparable with TCI state A, TCI state <NUM> may be comparable with TCI state B, and so forth. That is, the steering angle of energy for TCI state A and TCI state <NUM> may be closely related, comparable, or correlated. Interference that affects these beams will be explained in connection with <FIG>.

<FIG> illustrates an example <NUM> of a UE experiencing interference, in accordance with the present disclosure. <FIG> shows an antenna (spatial filter) configuration for a UE for uplink communications on Band<NUM> and a configuration for the UE for downlink communications on Band<NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, a module of the UE may be mapped to a beam from gNB<NUM> that is identified by TCI state <NUM> for transmitting an uplink transmission. The module may also be mapped to a beam from gNB<NUM> that is identified by TCI state A for receiving a downlink transmission. For high data rate cases of contiguous or non-contiguous intra-band and inter-band CA, different SFIs may be used in different frequency bands.

While the UE may experience some CLI caused by communications from other UEs, the UE may also experience some signal "clutter" from other objects (e.g., buildings) and therefore experience self-interference in some symbols with uplink communications. For example, if TCI state <NUM> and TCI state A are dominant clusters in Band<NUM> and Band<NUM> (due to beam correlation), there may be self-interference issues due to clutter in these channels in symbols where UL and DL mode operations are mismatched. That is, if an SFI for Band<NUM> is set to UL and an SFI for Band<NUM> is set to DL on some symbols of configured SFIs across Band<NUM> and Band<NUM>, clutter in the environment may cause self-interference from Band<NUM> and Band<NUM> due to similar signal directions. While clutter requires the presence of reflective or diffractive or scattering objects in the environment that "re-transmits" energy back to the receiver from the transmitter, it is not always necessary if those objects are absent. Thus, system design for good quality-of-service has to encompass the possibility of clutter without optimistically ignoring their presence.

As explained in connection with <FIG> and <FIG>, a UE may experience interference for certain symbols in a slot. This interference may cause a degradation of communications between the UE and the gNBs. While the gNB may select slot formats for UEs, the gNB may not select a best slot format to mitigate the degradation.

According to various aspects described herein, the UE requests that a communication mode of a symbol in a slot be overwritten or canceled. The UE determines that a communication mode of a symbol in a slot should be overwritten, or changed, from a U to a D due to interference by another UE or due to self-interference at the D symbol caused by the U symbol. The UE requests that the communication mode be overwritten, and the gNB may grant the request. As a result of the request by the UE, a communication may be more successful at the symbol and may not be degraded by interference.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example <NUM> of overwriting or canceling symbols in an SFI allocation, in accordance with the invention. <FIG> shows a base station (BS) <NUM> (e.g. a BS <NUM> depicted in <FIG> and <FIG>, a gNB depicted in <FIG> and <FIG>) and a UE <NUM> (e.g., a UE <NUM> depicted in <FIG> and <FIG>, the UE depicted in <FIG>) that may communicate with one another.

As show by reference number <NUM>, UE <NUM> generates a request to overwrite a communication mode of a symbol in a slot of a communication with BS <NUM>. UE <NUM> generates the request based at least in part on interference in communications with BS <NUM>. The interference may be due to movement of UE <NUM> and associated Doppler fading, clutter in the channel environment, beam blockage, or a combination thereof. The request is for BS <NUM> to overwrite a D with a U in the symbol, or overwrite a U with a D in the symbol. For example, <FIG> shows a U at symbol <NUM>, and UE <NUM> may request that the U at symbol <NUM> be overwritten with a D. In some aspects, the request may be for BS <NUM> to prioritize a D over a U for the symbol, or to prioritize a U over a D for the symbol. In some aspects, the request is specific to one or more frequency bands.

As shown by reference number <NUM>, UE <NUM> transmits the request to BS <NUM>. The request may be dynamically altered based at least in part on changes in channel conditions (e.g., movement of UE <NUM>, clutter, clusters, blockage). For example, UE <NUM> may transmit the request in uplink control information (UCI) on a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) or a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) for the slot. In some aspects, UE <NUM> may jointly indicate an overwrite or cancelation with a CI. In some aspects, the request may be semi-static, or may correspond to a specific set of symbols in a plurality of slots. For example, the request may apply to the tenth symbol in each of a quantity of consecutive slots.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a continuation of example <NUM>, in accordance with the invention.

As show by reference number <NUM>, BS <NUM> determines to overwrite the communication mode of the symbol in the slot of the communication based at least in part on the request from UE <NUM>. The request is for overwriting a communication mode from a D to a U, or overwriting a U to a D. BS <NUM> may grant the request from UE <NUM> based at least in part on information about the interference, such as measurements of communications at the symbol or information about failed communications or increased bit or block error rates observed. BS <NUM> may also consider movement of UE <NUM>, clutter in the channel environment, beam blockage, or a combination thereof. BS <NUM> may further consider information about other UEs affecting communications with UE <NUM> and/or information from other base stations.

As shown by reference number <NUM>, BS <NUM> may transmit an indication to UE <NUM> that the request is granted. The indication may be in downlink control information (DCI) or a medium access channel control element (MAC-CE). The indication may apply to multiple slots and/or may be in a radio resource control (RRC) message. Alternatively, BS <NUM> may transmit an indication that the request is not granted.

As shown in <FIG> and by reference number <NUM>, UE <NUM> may overwrite the U at symbol <NUM> with a D. UE <NUM> may thus receive a downlink communication at symbol <NUM> rather than transmit an uplink communication. As a result, communications at symbol <NUM> for a slot or multiple slots may improve between BS <NUM> and UE <NUM>.

In some aspects, BS <NUM> may make some adjustments based on the request. For example, BS <NUM> may perform rate control based at least in part on the request. BS <NUM> may increase or decrease a rate based at least in part on whether the request is for changing a communication mode from a D to a U, or changing a U to a D. In some aspects, BS <NUM> may adapt a modulation and coding scheme based at least in part on the request.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example process <NUM> performed, for example, by a UE, in accordance with the invention. Process <NUM> is an example where the UE (e.g., UE <NUM> depicted in <FIG> and <FIG>, the UE depicted in <FIG>, UE <NUM> depicted in <FIG>) performs operations associated with overwriting or canceling symbols in an SFI allocation.

As shown in <FIG>, process <NUM> includes generating a request to overwrite a communication mode of a symbol in a slot of a communication with a base station based at least in part on interference in communications with the base station on one or more frequency bands used for CA (block <NUM>). For example, the UE (e.g., using receive processor <NUM>, transmit processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>) may generate a request to overwrite a communication mode of a symbol in a slot of a communication with a base station based at least in part on interference in communications with the base station on one or more frequency bands used for CA, as described above.

The communication mode is an uplink communication mode, and the request is to overwrite the uplink communication mode of the symbol with a downlink communication mode.

Alternatively, the communication mode is a downlink communication mode, and the request is to overwrite the downlink communication mode of the symbol with an uplink communication mode.

As further shown in <FIG>, process <NUM> includes transmitting the request to the base station (block <NUM>). For example, the UE (e.g., using receive processor <NUM>, transmit processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>) may transmit the request to the base station, as described above.

In a first aspect, process <NUM> includes receiving an indication that the request was granted, and communicating with the base station using another communication mode for the symbol in the slot based at least in part on receiving the indication.

In a second aspect, alone or in combination with the first aspect, the request is for the base station to prioritize a downlink communication mode over an uplink communication mode for the symbol.

In a third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through second aspects, the request is for the base station to prioritize an uplink communication mode over a downlink communication mode for the symbol.

In a fourth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through third aspects, the request corresponds to the symbol in a plurality of slots.

In an fifth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fourth aspects, the interference is based at least in part on one or more of movement of the UE associated with Doppler fading, clutter in a channel environment, beam blockage, or a combination thereof.

In a sixth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fifth aspects, transmitting the request includes transmitting the request in uplink control information on a physical uplink channel for the slot.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example process <NUM> performed, for example, by a base station, in accordance with the invention. Process <NUM> is an example where the base station (e.g., BS <NUM> depicted in <FIG> and <FIG>, a gNB depicted in <FIG> and <FIG>, BS <NUM> depicted in <FIG>) performs operations associated with overwriting or canceling symbols in an SFI allocation.

As shown in <FIG>, process <NUM> includes determining to overwrite a communication mode of a symbol in a slot of a communication with a UE based at least in part on receiving a request from the UE to overwrite the communication mode of the symbol (block <NUM>). For example, the base station (e.g., using transmit processor <NUM>, receive processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>) may determine to overwrite or cancel a communication mode of a symbol in a slot of a communication with a UE based at least in part on receiving a request from the UE to overwrite or cancel the communication mode of the symbol, as described above.

As further shown in <FIG>, process <NUM> include communicating with the UE using another communication mode for the symbol in the slot based at least in part on determining to overwrite the communication mode of the symbol (block <NUM>). For example, the base station (e.g., using transmit processor <NUM>, receive processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>) may communicate with the UE to use another communication mode for the symbol in the slot based at least in part on determining to overwrite or cancel the communication mode of the symbol, as described above.

In a first aspect, process <NUM> includes transmitting an indication that the request was granted to the UE.

In a second aspect, alone or in combination with the first aspect, the request from the UE is for the base station to prioritize a downlink communication mode over an uplink communication mode for the symbol.

In a third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through second aspects, the request from the UE is for the base station to prioritize an uplink communication mode over a downlink communication mode for the symbol.

In an fifth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fourth aspects, determining to overwrite or cancel the communication mode of the symbol includes determining to overwrite or cancel the communication mode of the symbol based at least in part on movement of the UE, clutter detected by the UE, beam blockage, or a combination thereof.

In a sixth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fourth aspects, receiving the request includes receiving the request in uplink control information on a physical uplink channel for the slot.

In a seventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through sixth aspects, process <NUM> includes performing one or more of rate control or modulation and coding scheme adaptation based at least in part on the request.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example <NUM> of SLI preemption in accordance with aspects useful for understanding the invention. <FIG> shows a base station (BS) <NUM> (e.g., a BS <NUM> depicted in <FIG> and <FIG>, a gNB depicted in <FIG> and <FIG>) and a UE <NUM> (e.g., a UE <NUM> depicted in <FIG> and <FIG>, the UE depicted in <FIG>) that may communicate with one another.

As show by reference number <NUM>, UE <NUM> may generate a request for an SFI for a slot of a communication with BS <NUM> based at least in part on interference in communications with BS <NUM>. In some aspects, the request is for BS <NUM> to replace a first SFI with a second SFI, so as to preempt the first SFI. The request may be a preempt indication (PI) notification or a PI-CI notification, and may be part of an intra-band or inter-band CA request. In some aspects, the request is for BS <NUM> to indicate preferred SFIs or non-preferred (e.g., disallowed) SFIs. If non-preferred or disallowed SFIs are used, these SFIs may cause significant degradation in a quality of service (QoS) in CA.

UE <NUM> may generate the request based at least in part on interference in communications with BS <NUM>. The interference may be due to movement of UE <NUM> and the consequent Doppler fading, signaling clutter (local reflections, scattering, diffraction, etc.), beam blockage, or a combination thereof. UE <NUM> may generate the request based at least in part on an expected QoS. For example, a higher QoS may necessitate a change in the SFI.

The preferred SFIs or non-preferred SFIs may be for two frequency bands used for CA. In some aspects, the request may be to use a first SFI for a first frequency band and to use a second SFI for a second frequency band. BS <NUM> may coordinate SFIs with another base station so that self-interference is minimized.

In some aspects, BS <NUM> may assist UE <NUM> with SFI selection. BS <NUM> may transmit one or more training symbols for UE <NUM> to measure relative signal strengths. UE <NUM> may select the SFI for the slot based at least in part on one or more measurements. The measurements may be based at least in part on CLI and/or self-interference. UE <NUM> may report the measurements.

As shown by reference number <NUM>, UE <NUM> may transmit the request to BS <NUM>. UE <NUM> may transmit the request in uplink control information on a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) or a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH). Uplink control information can also be shared in other bands in a coexisting non-standalone system (e.g., sub-<NUM> bands, LTE bands, <NUM> bands, WiFi bands). In some aspects, the request is semi-static, or corresponds to the symbol or a specific set of symbols in a plurality of slots. UE <NUM> may transmit the request with a CA request.

In some aspects, UE <NUM> may transmit the request jointly with a request to change (e.g., overwrite or cancel) a communication mode for a particular symbol in a slot. BS <NUM> may coordinate joint indications of SFI preemption and symbol communication mode changes with other base stations, TRPs, remote radio heads (RRHs) for a single UE across one or more frequency bands and/or across one or more layers, data streams, radio frequency chains, and/or ports.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a continuation of example <NUM>, in accordance with aspects useful for understanding the invention.

As show by reference number <NUM>, BS <NUM> may determine to use an SFI for a slot of a communication with UE <NUM> based at least in part on receiving a request from UE <NUM> to use the SFI for the slot. BS <NUM> may grant the request from UE <NUM> based at least in part on information about the interference, such as measurements of communications at the symbol or information about failed communications, increased bit or block error rates, and/or the like. BS <NUM> may also consider movement of UE <NUM>, signaling clutter, beam blockage, or a combination thereof. BS <NUM> may further consider information about other UEs affecting communications with UE <NUM> and/or information from other base stations.

As shown by reference number <NUM>, BS <NUM> may transmit an indication to UE <NUM> that the request is granted. The indication may be in DCI or a MAC-CE. The indication may apply to multiple slots and/or may be in an RRC message. In some aspects, the indication may instruct UE <NUM> to switch beams. Alternatively, BS <NUM> may transmit an indication that the request is not granted.

As shown in <FIG>, and by reference number <NUM>, UE <NUM> may use the second SFI rather than the first SFI. The second SFI may be considered a new SFI <NUM>, and the first SFI may be considered the preempted SFI <NUM>. For example, preempted SFI <NUM> may be slot format <NUM> with flexible symbols (F) <NUM> and <NUM> set to UL, and new SFI <NUM> may be slot format <NUM> with flexible symbols <NUM> and <NUM> set to UL. As shown in <FIG>, there is a difference between preempted SFI <NUM> and new SFI <NUM>. New SFI <NUM> may have <NUM> additional ULs (symbols <NUM>-<NUM>). UE <NUM> may thus transmit more uplink communications in the slot. UE <NUM> may have determined that there is or was significant interference degrading downlink communications in symbols <NUM>-<NUM> and thus determined that symbols <NUM>-<NUM> should be uplink communications to make use of the symbols in the slot. As a result, communications for a slot or multiple slots may improve between BS <NUM> and UE <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example process <NUM> performed, for example, by a UE, in accordance with the present disclosure. Example process <NUM> is an example where the UE (e.g., a UE <NUM> depicted in <FIG> and <FIG>, the UE depicted in <FIG>, a UE <NUM> depicted in <FIG> and <FIG>) performs operations associated with SFI preemption.

As shown in <FIG>, in some aspects, process <NUM> may include generating a request for an SFI for a slot of a communication with a base station based at least in part on interference in communications with the base station on one or more frequency bands used for CA (block <NUM>). For example, the UE (e.g., using receive processor <NUM>, transmit processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>) may generate a request for an SFI for a slot of a communication with a base station based at least in part on interference in communications with the base station on one or more frequency bands used for CA, as described above.

As further shown in <FIG>, in some aspects, process <NUM> may include transmitting the request to the base station (block <NUM>). For example, the UE (e.g., using receive processor <NUM>, transmit processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>) may transmit the request to the base station, as described above.

In a first aspect, process <NUM> includes receiving an indication that the request was granted, and communicating with the base station using the SFI for the slot based at least in part on receiving the indication.

In a second aspect, alone or in combination with the first aspect, the indication includes an instruction for the UE to switch beams.

In a third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first and second aspects, the request is to use a first SFI for a first band of the one or more frequency bands and a second SFI for a second band of the one or more frequency bands.

In a fourth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through third aspects, generating the request includes generating the request for the SFI based at least in part on one or more of an expected quality of service, achievable data rate, achievable bit rate, or block error rate (BLER) with CA.

In a fifth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fourth aspects, process <NUM> includes receiving one or more training symbols for one or more measurements of the interference on the communications with the base station, and selecting the SFI for the slot based at least in part on the one or more measurements.

In a sixth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fifth aspects, the request indicates one or more non-preferred SFIs for the slot.

In a seventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through sixth aspects, transmitting the request to the base station includes transmitting the request jointly with a request to overwrite or cancel a communication mode of a symbol in the slot.

In an eighth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through seventh aspects, the interference is based at least in part on one or more of movement of the UE, signaling clutter, a cluster of beams, beam blockage, or a combination thereof.

In a ninth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through eighth aspects, transmitting the request includes transmitting the request with a CA request.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example process <NUM> performed, for example, by a base station, in accordance with the present disclosure. Example process <NUM> is an example where the base station (e.g., a BS <NUM> depicted in <FIG> and <FIG>, a gNB in <FIG> and <FIG>, a BS <NUM> depicted in <FIG> and <FIG>) performs operations associated with slot format indicator preemption.

As shown in <FIG>, in some aspects, process <NUM> may include determining to use an SFI for a slot of a communication with a UE based at least in part on receiving a request from the UE to use the SFI for the slot (block <NUM>). For example, the base station (e.g., using transmit processor <NUM>, receive processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>) may determine to use an SFI for a slot of a communication with a UE based at least in part on receiving a request from the UE to use the SFI for the slot, as described above.

As further shown in <FIG>, in some aspects, process <NUM> may include communicating with the UE using the SFI for the slot based at least in part on determining to use the SFI for the slot (block <NUM>). For example, the base station (e.g., using transmit processor <NUM>, receive processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>) may communicate with the UE using the SFI for the slot based at least in part on determining to use the SFI for the slot, as described above.

In a second aspect, alone or in combination with the first aspect, the indication includes an instruction to switch beams.

In a third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first and second aspects, the request is to use a first SFI for a first frequency band and a second SFI for a second frequency band.

In a fourth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through third aspects, the request corresponds to one or more of an expected quality of service, achievable data rate, achievable bit rate, or BLER with CA.

In a fifth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fourth aspects, process <NUM> includes transmitting one or more training symbols to the UE for the UE to measure interference on communications with the base station.

In a sixth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fifth aspects, the request indicates one or more non-preferred SFIs for the slot, and process <NUM> includes selecting an SFI for the slot based at least in part on the one or more non-preferred SFIs.

In a seventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through sixth aspects, receiving the request includes receiving the request jointly with a request to overwrite or cancel a communication mode of a symbol in the slot.

In an eighth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through seventh aspects, receiving the request includes receiving the request with a CA request.

In a ninth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through eighth aspects, determining to use the SFI includes determining to use the SFI based at least in part on slot information from one of another base station, a TRP, or an RRH.

It will be apparent that systems and/or methods described herein may be implemented in different forms of hardware, and/or a combination of hardware and software.

A used herein, a phrase referring to "at least one of" a list of items refers to any combination of those items, including single members.

Claim 1:
A user equipment, UE, (<NUM>) for wireless communication, comprising:
a memory (<NUM>); and
one or more processors (<NUM>) configured to:
generate (<NUM>) a request to overwrite a communication mode of a symbol in a slot of a communication with a base station based at least in part on interference in communications with the base station on one or more frequency bands used for carrier aggregation,
wherein the communication mode is an uplink communication mode, and the request is to overwrite the uplink communication mode of the symbol with a downlink communication mode, or
wherein the communication mode is a downlink communication mode, and the request is to overwrite the downlink communication mode of the symbol with an uplink communication mode; and
transmit (<NUM>) the request to the base station, and communicate with the base station using another communication mode for the symbol in the slot.