Patent Description:
The following abbreviations are herewith defined, at least some of which are referred to within the following description: Third Generation Partnership Project ("3GPP"), Positive-Acknowledgment ("ACK"), Binary Phase Shift Keying ("BPSK"), Clear Channel Assessment ("CCA"), Cyclic Prefix ("CP"), Channel State Information ("CSI"), Common Search Space ("CSS"), Discrete Fourier Transform Spread ("DFTS"), Downlink Control Information ("DCI"), Downlink ("DL"), Downlink Pilot Time Slot ("DwPTS"), Enhanced Clear Channel Assessment ("eCCA"), Enhanced Mobile Broadband ("eMBB"), Evolved Node B ("eNB"), European Telecommunications Standards Institute ("ETSI"), Frame Based Equipment ("FBE"), Frequency Division Duplex ("FDD"), Frequency Division Multiple Access ("FDMA"), Guard Period ("GP"), Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request ("HARQ"), Intemet-of-Things ("IoT"), Licensed Assisted Access ("LAA"), Load Based Equipment ("LBE"), Listen-Before-Talk ("LBT"), Long Term Evolution ("LTE"), Multiple Access ("MA"), Modulation Coding Scheme ("MCS"), Machine Type Communication ("MTC"), Multiple Input Multiple Output ("MIMO"), Multi User Shared Access ("MUSA"), Narrowband ("NB"), Negative-Acknowledgment ("NACK") or ("NAK"), Next Generation Node B ("gNB"), Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access ("NOMA"), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing ("OFDM"), Primary Cell ("PCell"), Physical Broadcast Channel ("PBCH"), Physical Downlink Control Channel ("PDCCH"), Physical Downlink Shared Channel ("PDSCH"), Pattern Division Multiple Access ("PDMA"), Physical Hybrid ARQ Indicator Channel ("PHICH"), Physical Random Access Channel ("PRACH"), Physical Resource Block ("PRB"), Primary Synchronization Signal ("PSS"), Physical Uplink Control Channel ("PUCCH"), Physical Uplink Shared Channel ("PUSCH"), Quality of Service ("QoS"), Quadrature Phase Shift Keying ("QPSK"), Radio Resource Control ("RRC"), Random Access Procedure ("RACH"), Random Access Response ("RAR"), Reference Signal ("RS"), Resource Spread Multiple Access ("RSMA"), Round Trip Time ("RTT"), Receive ("RX"), Secondary Synchronization Signal ("SSS"), Sparse Code Multiple Access ("SCMA"), Scheduling Request ("SR"), Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access ("SC-FDMA"), Secondary Cell ("SCell"), Shared Channel ("SCH"), Signal-to-Interference-Plus-Noise Ratio ("SINR"), System Information Block ("SIB"), Transport Block ("TB"), Transport.

Block Size ("TBS"), Time-Division Duplex ("TDD"), Time Division Multiplex ("TDM"), Transmission Time Interval ("TTI"), Transmit ("TX"), Uplink Control Information ("UCI"), User Entity/Equipment (Mobile Terminal) ("UE"), Uplink ("UL"), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System ("UMTS"), Uplink Pilot Time Slot ("UpPTS"), Ultra-reliability and Low-latency Communications ("URLLC"), and Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access ("WiMAX"). As used herein, "HARQ-ACK" may represent collectively the Positive Acknowledge ("ACK") and the Negative Acknowledge ("NAK"). ACK means that a TB is correctly received while NAK means a TB is erroneously received.

In certain wireless communications networks, a high carrier frequency (e.g., ><NUM>) may be used, such as millimeter wave. In some networks, a downlink frame structure for FDD may include: NB-PSS/SSS/PBCH/SIB1 transmitted in anchor PRB/carrier; NB-PSS transmitted in subframe <NUM> with a period of <NUM>; NB-SSS transmitted in subframe <NUM> with a period of <NUM>; NB-PBCH transmitted in subframe <NUM>; NB-SIB1 transmitted in subframe <NUM> in every other <NUM>-frame; and the period of NB-SIB1 being <NUM> radios with repetition {<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>}.

In some configurations, a downlink frame structure for TDD may include: the PSS/SSS/PBCH/SIB1 may be designed to be transmitted in subframes <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>; subframe <NUM> and subframe <NUM> are special subframes, if subframe <NUM> and <NUM> is used for PSS/SSS transmission; and PBCH may be transmitted in subframe <NUM> and subframe <NUM> only if long downlink pilot time slot ("DwPTS") is configured in a special subframe configuration, so there may be no sufficient physical resource for SI transmission. In the FDD and TDD downlink frame structures described, NB-PSS/SSS/PBSCH/SIB1 are limited thereby limiting their availability to UEs.

Draft R1-<NUM>, agenda item <NUM>. <NUM>, from the <NPL>, considers NB-SIB1 design for NB-IoT. Draft R1-<NUM>, agenda item <NUM>. <NUM>, from the<NPL>, proposes a design for NB-IoT physical broadcast channel (NB-PBCH).

The present invention defines a method performed by a remote unit according to independent claim <NUM>, thereby receiving narrowband system information on a time-frequency resource wherein the time-frequency resource on which the narrowband system information is received is determined by a system parameter. Furthermore, the present invention defines a corresponding remote unit according to independent claim <NUM>, a corresponding method performed by an inter-related base unit according to independent claim <NUM>, and a corresponding base unit according to independent claim <NUM>.

In all embodiments of the present invention, the system parameter includes a cell identification, a number of a system frame, and a system duplex mode.

The system operation mode is selected from a group including in-band, guard band, and standalone operation. In a further embodiment, the system operation mode is determined by a system broadcast channel message. In certain embodiments, the system subframe is a base time unit of system information and the number of the system subframe is a nonnegative number and is determined and/or derived by a system synchronization signal. In various embodiments, the system frame includes multiple system subframes and the number of the system frame is a nonnegative number and is determined and/or derived by a system broadcast channel signal. In some embodiments, the cell identification is determined by a system synchronization signal. In one embodiment, the system duplex mode is selected from a group including frequency division duplex, time division duplex, half-frequency division duplex mode.

A method for determining a time-frequency resource using a system parameter, in one embodiment, includes receiving system information on a time-frequency resource. In some embodiments, the time-frequency resource is determined by a system parameter, and the system parameter includes a system operation mode.

In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a transmitter that transmits system information on a time-frequency resource. In some embodiments, the time-frequency resource is determined by a system parameter, and the system parameter includes a system operation mode.

In various embodiments, the system parameter includes a cell identification, a number of a system frame, a number of a system subframe, a system duplex mode, or some combination thereof. In one embodiment, the system operation mode is selected from a group including in-band, guard band, and standalone operation. In a further embodiment, the system operation mode is determined by a system broadcast channel message. In certain embodiments, the system subframe is a base time unit of system information and the number of the system subframe is a nonnegative number and is determined and/or derived by a system synchronization signal. In various embodiments, the system frame includes multiple system subframes and the number of the system frame is a nonnegative number and is determined and/or derived by a system broadcast channel signal. In some embodiments, the cell identification is determined by a system synchronization signal. In one embodiment, the system duplex mode is selected from a group including frequency division duplex, time division duplex, half-frequency division duplex mode.

A method for determining a time-frequency resource using a system parameter, in one embodiment, includes transmitting system information on a time-frequency resource. In some embodiments, the time-frequency resource is determined by a system parameter, and the system parameter includes a system operation mode.

<FIG> depicts an embodiment of a wireless communication system <NUM> for determining a time-frequency resource using a system parameter. In one embodiment, the wireless communication system <NUM> includes remote units <NUM> and base units <NUM>. Even though a specific number of remote units <NUM> and base units <NUM> are depicted in <FIG>, one of skill in the art will recognize that any number of remote units <NUM> and base units <NUM> may be included in the wireless communication system <NUM>.

The base units <NUM> may be distributed over a geographic region. In certain embodiments, a base unit <NUM> may also be referred to as an access point, an access terminal, a base, a base station, a Node-B, an eNB, a gNB, a Home Node-B, a relay node, a device, or by any other terminology used in the art. The base units <NUM> are generally part of a radio access network that includes one or more controllers communicably coupled to one or more corresponding base units <NUM>.

In one implementation, the wireless communication system <NUM> is compliant with the LTE of the 3GPP protocol, wherein the base unit <NUM> transmits using an OFDM modulation scheme on the DL and the remote units <NUM> transmit on the UL using a SC-FDMA scheme or an OFDM scheme. More generally, however, the wireless communication system <NUM> may implement some other open or proprietary communication protocol, for example, WiMAX, among other protocols.

In certain embodiments, a remote unit <NUM> may receive system information on a time-frequency resource. In some embodiments, the time-frequency resource is determined by a system parameter, and the system parameter includes a system operation mode. Accordingly, a remote unit <NUM> may be used for determining a time-frequency resource using a system parameter.

In various embodiments, a base unit <NUM> may transmit system information on a time-frequency resource. In some embodiments, the time-frequency resource is determined by a system parameter, and the system parameter includes a system operation mode. Accordingly, a base unit <NUM> may be used for determining a time-frequency resource using a system parameter.

<FIG> depicts one embodiment of an apparatus <NUM> that may be used for determining a time-frequency resource using a system parameter. The apparatus <NUM> includes one embodiment of the remote unit <NUM>. Furthermore, the remote unit <NUM> may include a processor <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, an input device <NUM>, a display <NUM>, a transmitter <NUM>, and a receiver <NUM>. In some embodiments, the input device <NUM> and the display <NUM> are combined into a single device, such as a touchscreen. In certain embodiments, the remote unit <NUM> may not include any input device <NUM> and/or display <NUM>. In various embodiments, the remote unit <NUM> may include one or more of the processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the transmitter <NUM>, and the receiver <NUM>, and may not include the input device <NUM> and/or the display <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the memory <NUM> stores data relating to system parameters.

The transmitter <NUM> is used to provide UL communication signals to the base unit <NUM> and the receiver <NUM> is used to receive DL communication signals from the base unit <NUM>. In various embodiments, the receiver <NUM> may be used to receive system information on a time-frequency resource. In some embodiments, the time-frequency resource is determined by a system parameter, and the system parameter includes a system operation mode.

<FIG> depicts one embodiment of an apparatus <NUM> that may be used for determining a time-frequency resource using a system parameter. The apparatus <NUM> includes one embodiment of the base unit <NUM>. Furthermore, the base unit <NUM> may include a processor <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, an input device <NUM>, a display <NUM>, a transmitter <NUM>, and a receiver <NUM>. As may be appreciated, the processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the input device <NUM>, the display <NUM>, the transmitter <NUM>, and the receiver <NUM> may be substantially similar to the processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the input device <NUM>, the display <NUM>, the transmitter <NUM>, and the receiver <NUM> of the remote unit <NUM>, respectively.

In various embodiments, the transmitter <NUM> is used to transmit system information on a time-frequency resource. In some embodiments, the time-frequency resource is determined by a system parameter, and the system parameter includes a system operation mode. Although only one transmitter <NUM> and one receiver <NUM> are illustrated, the base unit <NUM> may have any suitable number of transmitters <NUM> and receivers <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a frame structure <NUM>. The frame structure <NUM> includes a first frame <NUM> and a second frame <NUM>. Each of the first and second frames <NUM> and <NUM> may be transmitted over a <NUM> period. Moreover, each of the first and second frames <NUM> and <NUM> includes <NUM> subframes labeled <NUM> through <NUM> and each being transmitted over a <NUM> period. In some embodiments, the frame structure <NUM> for FDD includes: NB-PBCH <NUM> in subframe <NUM> of the first frame <NUM>, NB-SIB1 <NUM> in subframe <NUM> of the first frame <NUM>, NB-PSS <NUM> in subframe <NUM> of the first frame <NUM>, NB-SSS <NUM> in subframe <NUM> of the first frame <NUM>, NB-PBCH <NUM> in subframe <NUM> of the second frame <NUM>, an additional NB-PBCH <NUM> in subframe <NUM> of the second frame <NUM>, NB-PSS <NUM> in subframe <NUM> of the second frame <NUM>, and an additional NB-SSS <NUM> in subframe <NUM> of the second frame <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the additional NB-PBCH <NUM> and the additional NB-SSS <NUM> may be in every other <NUM> frame, as illustrated. Moreover, the additional NB-PBCH <NUM> and the additional NB-SSS <NUM> may, in certain embodiments, be additional elements to increase the availability of NB-PBCH and NB-SSS.

In some embodiments, NB-SIB1 may be transmitted in a non-anchor PRB or another potential subframe. In certain embodiments, if a system operation mode is in-band, an additional NB-SIB1 may be transmitted in a non-anchor PRB. In various embodiments, if a system operation mode is guard band or stand-alone, an additional NB-SIB1 may be transmitted in a potential subframe except subframes <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. In some embodiments, a non-anchor PRB and potential subframe may be determined based on a cell identification, a number of a system frame, a number of a system subframe, a system duplex mode, and/or a system operation mode. In certain embodiments, a system operation mode and/or a number of a system frame may be determined by NB-PBCH. In various embodiments, a cell identification and/or a number of a system subframe may be determined by NB-PSS and/or NB-SSS.

<FIG> is a schematic block diagram illustrating another embodiment of a frame structure <NUM>. The frame structure <NUM> includes a first frame <NUM> and a second frame <NUM>. Each of the first and second frames <NUM> and <NUM> may be transmitted over a <NUM> period. Moreover, each of the first and second frames <NUM> and <NUM> includes <NUM> subframes labeled <NUM> through <NUM> and each being transmitted over a <NUM> period. In some embodiments, the frame structure <NUM> may be for an in-band operation mode and may include: NB-PBCH <NUM> in subframe <NUM> of the first frame <NUM>, NB-SIB1 <NUM> in subframe <NUM> of the first frame <NUM>, NB-PSS <NUM> in subframe <NUM> of the first frame <NUM>, NB-SSS <NUM> in subframe <NUM> of the first frame <NUM>, NB-PBCH <NUM> in subframe <NUM> of the second frame <NUM>, an additional NB-PBCH <NUM> in subframe <NUM> of the second frame <NUM>, NB-PSS <NUM> in subframe <NUM> of the second frame <NUM>, and an additional NB-SSS <NUM> in subframe <NUM> of the second frame <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the additional NB-PBCH <NUM> and the additional NB-SSS <NUM> may be in every other <NUM> frame, as illustrated. Moreover, the additional NB-PBCH <NUM> and the additional NB-SSS <NUM> may, in certain embodiments, be additional elements to increase the availability of NB-PBCH and NB-SSS.

In some embodiments, NB-SIB1 may be transmitted in a non-anchor PRB. For example, in one embodiment, if a system operation mode is in-band and a cell identification is even, NB-SIB1 may be transmitted in an upper neighboring PRB of subframe <NUM> (e.g., subframe <NUM> of the second frame <NUM>). In certain embodiments, if a system operation mode is in-band and a cell identification is odd, NB-SIB1 may be transmitted in a lower neighboring PRB of subframe <NUM> (e.g., subframe <NUM> of the first frame <NUM>).

<FIG> is a schematic block diagram illustrating a further embodiment of a frame structure <NUM>. The frame structure <NUM> includes a first frame <NUM> and a second frame <NUM>. Each of the first and second frames <NUM> and <NUM> may be transmitted over a <NUM> period. Moreover, each of the first and second frames <NUM> and <NUM> includes <NUM> subframes labeled <NUM> through <NUM> and each being transmitted over a <NUM> period. In some embodiments, the frame structure <NUM> may be for a guardband, standalone, or in-band operation mode and may include: NB-PBCH <NUM> in subframe <NUM> of the first frame <NUM>, NB-SIB1 <NUM> in subframe <NUM> of the first frame <NUM>, NB-PSS <NUM> in subframe <NUM> of the first frame <NUM>, an additional NB-SIB1 <NUM> in subframe <NUM> of the first frame <NUM>, NB-SSS <NUM> in subframe <NUM> of the first frame <NUM>, NB-PBCH <NUM> in subframe <NUM> of the second frame <NUM>, an additional NB-PBCH <NUM> in subframe <NUM> of the second frame <NUM>, NB-PSS <NUM> in subframe <NUM> of the second frame <NUM>, an additional NB-SIB1 <NUM> in subframe <NUM> of the second frame <NUM>, and an additional NB-SSS <NUM> in subframe <NUM> of the second frame <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the additional NB-PBCH <NUM> and the additional NB-SSS <NUM> may be in every other <NUM> frame, as illustrated. Moreover, the additional NB-PBCH <NUM> and the additional NB-SSS <NUM> may, in certain embodiments, be additional elements to increase the availability of NB-PBCH and NB-SSS. Further, while the additional NB-SIB1 <NUM> and the additional NB-SIB <NUM> are illustrated as being in subframe <NUM>, in some embodiments, the additional NB-SIB1 <NUM> and the additional NB-SIB <NUM> may be in one of subframes <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>.

In some embodiments, NB-SIB1 may be transmitted in an anchor PRB. For example, in one embodiment, if a cell identification is even, a number of the frame is even, and a system operation mode is guardband and/or standalone, NB-SIB <NUM> may be transmitted in an anchor PRB of subframe <NUM>. In certain embodiments, if a cell identification is odd, a number of the frame is even, and a system operation mode is guardband and/or standalone, NB-SIB <NUM> may be transmitted in an anchor PRB of subframe <NUM>. In some embodiments, if a cell identification is even, a number of the frame is odd, and a system operation mode is guardband and/or standalone, NB-SIB <NUM> may be transmitted in an anchor PRB of subframe <NUM>. In certain embodiments, if a cell identification is odd, a number of the frame is odd, and a system operation mode is guardband and/or standalone, NB-SIB <NUM> may be transmitted in an anchor PRB of subframe <NUM>. As may be appreciated, the embodiments described herein are merely examples of possibilities and other combinations of system parameters may be used to determine subframes for various system information.

<FIG> is a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating another embodiment of a method <NUM> for determining a time-frequency resource using a system parameter. In some embodiments, the method <NUM> is performed by an apparatus, such as the remote unit <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the method <NUM> may be performed by a processor executing program code, for example, a microcontroller, a microprocessor, a CPU, a GPU, an auxiliary processing unit, a FPGA, or the like.

The method <NUM> includes receiving <NUM> system information on a time-frequency resource. In all embodiments of the present invention, the time-frequency resource is determined by a system parameter, and the system parameter includes a system operation mode.

In all embodiments of the present invention, the system operation mode is selected from a group including in-band, guard band, and standalone operation. In a further embodiment, the system operation mode is determined by a system broadcast channel message. In certain embodiments, the system subframe is a base time unit of system information and the number of the system subframe is a nonnegative number and is determined and/or derived by a system synchronization signal. In various embodiments, the system frame includes multiple system subframes and the number of the system frame is a nonnegative number and is determined and/or derived by a system broadcast channel signal. In some embodiments, the cell identification is determined by a system synchronization signal. In one embodiment, the system duplex mode is selected from a group including frequency division duplex, time division duplex, half-frequency division duplex mode.

<FIG> is a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating a further embodiment of a method <NUM> for determining a time-frequency resource using a system parameter. In some embodiments, the method <NUM> is performed by an apparatus, such as the base unit <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the method <NUM> may be performed by a processor executing program code, for example, a microcontroller, a microprocessor, a CPU, a GPU, an auxiliary processing unit, a FPGA, or the like.

The method <NUM> includes transmitting <NUM> system information on a time-frequency resource. In all embodiments of the present invention, the time-frequency resource is determined by a system parameter, and the system parameter includes a system operation mode.

In all embodiments of the present invention, the system parameter includes a cell identification, a number of a system frame, and system duplex mode.

In all embodiments of the present invention, the system operation mode is selected from a group including in-band, guard band, and standalone operation. In a further embodiment, the system operation mode is determined by a system broadcast channel message. In certain embodiments,
the system subframe is a base time unit of system information and the number of the system subframe is a nonnegative number and is determined and/or derived by a system synchronization signal. In various embodiments, the system frame includes multiple system subframes and the number of the system frame is a nonnegative number and is determined and/or derived by a system broadcast channel signal. In some embodiments, the cell identification is determined by a system synchronization signal. In one embodiment, the system duplex mode is selected from a group including frequency division duplex, time division duplex, half-frequency division duplex mode.

Claim 1:
A method performed by a remote unit (<NUM>), the method comprising:
receiving narrowband system information on a time-frequency resource, wherein the time-frequency resource on which the narrowband system information is received is determined by a system parameter,
wherein the system parameter, by which the time-frequency resource on which the narrowband system information is received is determined, comprises:
a system operation mode which is selected from a group comprising in-band, guard band, and standalone operation, and
a cell identification, a number of a system frame, and a system duplex mode which is selected from frequency division duplex and time division duplex.