Patent Description:
A wireless multiple-access communications system may include one or more base stations or one or more network access nodes, each simultaneously supporting communication for multiple communication devices, which may be otherwise known as user equipment (UE). <CIT>) discloses a carrier switching method, a base station, and user equipment, where the method includes: determining, according to carrier switching capability information of user equipment UE, a carrier switching policy according to which the UE performs carrier switching; and sending carrier switching indication information to the UE, where the carrier switching indication information is used for indicating the carrier switching policy, so that the UE performs carrier switching according to the carrier switching policy. In the carrier switching method, the base station and the user equipment according to embodiments of the present invention, the UE having no carrier aggregation capability is enabled to dynamically perform switching between at least two carriers, so that quality of service of a service of the UE can be improved, user experience can be improved, and system performance can be improved. <CIT> describes procedures for handling interruption due to carrier switching for sounding reference signal transmission and for a carrier switching capability indication. A method by a user equipment (UE) is provided, generally including interrupting communication on a first component carrier (CC) to switch between the first CC and a second CC to transmit an uplink reference signal on the second CC and adjusting one or more parameters of an uplink transmission on the first component carrier to account for the interrupting communication on the second CC. In aspects, another method is provided in which, a UE receives a query from a base station for switching capability information of the UE for one or more carrier aggregation (CA) configurations and, in response to the query, provides an indication to the BS of the switching capability information of the UE for the one or more CA configurations.

The invention is defined in the appended claims to which reference should now be made. Preferable features are defined in the dependent claims.

In some systems (e.g., <NUM> New Radio (NR)), a high frequency band (e.g., <NUM>) may be used to transmit uplink and downlink transmissions. In some cases, propagation loss of signals transmitted at these high frequency bands may occur due to obstructions that are not easily penetrated by the signals on these high frequency bands. In some implementations, the system may support time domain multiplexed (TDM) uplink carriers such that a UE may use high frequency bands (e.g., frequency bands associated with <NUM> NR) and low frequency bands (e.g., frequency bands associated with LTE, <NUM>) to sequentially transmit uplink transmissions. Utilizing high frequency bands and low frequency bands may enhance coverage within a cell as low frequency bands may experience less propagation loss compared to high frequency bands. The high frequency band may be referred to as a first component carrier and the low frequency band may be referred to a second component carrier.

In some cases, a UE may have two transmission chains where one of the chains may support a first component carrier and the other transmission chain may support the first and second component carrier. The transmit chain that supports both the first and second component carrier may have two sets of components that may be used depending on the component carrier in use. A UE may switch between the first and second component carriers according to an uplink transmission schedule the UE receives from a base station. To switch between the first and second component carriers of the same transmit chain, the UE may retune the components of the transmit chain to the components associated with the current component carrier. A switching duration may be associated with switching between components of the first component carrier and components of the second component carrier, or vice versa. In some cases, high power consumption may result at a UE if switching between component carriers occurs frequently.

To mitigate power consumption at a UE, the frequency of switching operations may be limited. In some cases, the gap between two consecutive uplink carrier switching operations may be limited to a resource (e.g., slot, symbol), such that the UE may expect to perform at most one switching operation per resource. In some implementations, the gap between two consecutive uplink carrier switching operations may be limited to a duration, such that the UE may expect to perform at most one switching operation per a duration less than or equal to a threshold. Implementing restrictions on uplink carrier component switching may reduce power consumption and mitigate the risk of a UE over-heating.

Particular aspects of the subject matter described herein may be implemented to realize one or more advantages. The described techniques may support improvements in the carrier aggregation framework, and may decrease power consumption at a UE, reduce uplink transmission complexity at a UE, and mitigate the risk of a UE over-heating, among other advantages. As such, supported techniques may include improved network operations and, in some examples, may promote network efficiencies, among other benefits.

Aspects of the disclosure are initially described in the context of wireless communications systems. Aspects are then described with respect to transmit chain architecture, scheduled subframes, and a process flow. Aspects of the disclosure are further illustrated by and described with reference to apparatus diagrams, system diagrams, and flowcharts that relate to uplink carrier switching for wireless devices.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a wireless communications system <NUM> that supports uplink carrier switching for wireless devices in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The wireless communications system <NUM> may include one or more base stations <NUM>, one or more UEs <NUM>, and a core network <NUM>. In some examples, the wireless communications system <NUM> may be a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, an LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) network, an LTE-A Pro network, or a New Radio (NR) network. In some examples, the wireless communications system <NUM> may support enhanced broadband communications, ultra-reliable (e.g., mission critical) communications, low latency communications, communications with low-cost and low-complexity devices, or any combination thereof.

The base stations <NUM> may communicate with the core network <NUM>, or with one another, or both. For example, the base stations <NUM> may interface with the core network <NUM> through one or more backhaul links <NUM> (e.g., via an S1, N2, N3, or other interface). The base stations <NUM> may communicate with one another over the backhaul links <NUM> (e.g., via an X2, Xn, or other interface) either directly (e.g., directly between base stations <NUM>), or indirectly (e.g., via core network <NUM>), or both. In some examples, the backhaul links <NUM> may be or include one or more wireless links.

A carrier may be associated with a frequency channel (e.g., an evolved universal mobile telecommunication system terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) absolute radio frequency channel number (EARFCN)) and may be positioned according to a channel raster for discovery by the UEs <NUM>. A carrier may be operated in a standalone mode where initial acquisition and connection may be conducted by the UEs <NUM> via the carrier, or the carrier may be operated in a non-standalone mode where a connection is anchored using a different carrier (e.g., of the same or a different radio access technology).

The communication links <NUM> shown in the wireless communications system <NUM> may include uplink transmissions from a UE <NUM> to a base station <NUM>, or downlink transmissions from a base station <NUM> to a UE <NUM>. Carriers may carry downlink or uplink communications (e.g., in an FDD mode) or may be configured to carry downlink and uplink communications (e.g., in a TDD mode).

For example, the carrier bandwidth may be one of a number of determined bandwidths for carriers of a particular radio access technology (e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM> megahertz (MHz)). Devices of the wireless communications system <NUM> (e.g., the base stations <NUM>, the UEs <NUM>, or both) may have hardware configurations that support communications over a particular carrier bandwidth or may be configurable to support communications over one of a set of carrier bandwidths. In some examples, the wireless communications system <NUM> may include base stations <NUM> or UEs <NUM> that support simultaneous communications via carriers associated with multiple carrier bandwidths. In some examples, each served UE <NUM> may be configured for operating over portions (e.g., a sub-band, a BWP) or all of a carrier bandwidth.

One or more numerologies for a carrier may be supported, where a numerology may include a subcarrier spacing (Δf) and a cyclic prefix. A carrier may be divided into one or more BWPs having the same or different numerologies. In some examples, a UE <NUM> may be configured with multiple BWPs. In some examples, a single BWP for a carrier may be active at a given time and communications for the UE <NUM> may be restricted to one or more active BWPs.

The time intervals for the base stations <NUM> or the UEs <NUM> may be expressed in multiples of a basic time unit which may, for example, refer to a sampling period of Ts = <NUM>/(Δfmax · Nf) seconds, where Δfmax may represent the maximum supported subcarrier spacing, and Nf may represent the maximum supported discrete Fourier transform (DFT) size. Time intervals of a communications resource may be organized according to radio frames each having a specified duration (e.g., <NUM> milliseconds (ms)). Each radio frame may be identified by a system frame number (SFN) (e.g., ranging from <NUM> to <NUM>).

A subframe, a slot, a mini-slot, or a symbol may be the smallest scheduling unit (e.g., in the time domain) of the wireless communications system <NUM> and may be referred to as a transmission time interval (TTI). In some examples, the TTI duration (e.g., the number of symbol periods in a TTI) may be variable. Additionally or alternatively, the smallest scheduling unit of the wireless communications system <NUM> may be dynamically selected (e.g., in bursts of shortened TTIs (sTTIs)).

The core network <NUM> may be an evolved packet core (EPC) or <NUM> core (5GC), which may include at least one control plane entity that manages access and mobility (e.g., a mobility management entity (MME), an access and mobility management function (AMF)) and at least one user plane entity that routes packets or interconnects to external networks (e.g., a serving gateway (S-GW), a Packet Data Network (PDN) gateway (P-GW), or a user plane function (UPF)). The control plane entity may manage non-access stratum (NAS) functions such as mobility, authentication, and bearer management for the UEs <NUM> served by the base stations <NUM> associated with the core network <NUM>. User IP packets may be transferred through the user plane entity, which may provide IP address allocation as well as other functions. The user plane entity may be connected to the network operators IP services <NUM>. The operators IP services <NUM> may include access to the Internet, Intranet(s), an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), or a Packet-Switched Streaming Service.

The wireless communications system <NUM> may operate using one or more frequency bands, typically in the range of <NUM> megahertz (MHz) to <NUM> gigahertz (GHz). Generally, the region from <NUM> to <NUM> is known as the ultra-high frequency (UHF) region or decimeter band because the wavelengths range from approximately one decimeter to one meter in length. The UHF waves may be blocked or redirected by buildings and environmental features, but the waves may penetrate structures sufficiently for a macro cell to provide service to the UEs <NUM> located indoors. The transmission of UHF waves may be associated with smaller antennas and shorter ranges (e.g., less than <NUM> kilometers) compared to transmission using the smaller frequencies and longer waves of the high frequency (HF) or very high frequency (VHF) portion of the spectrum below <NUM>.

A base station <NUM> or a UE <NUM> may be equipped with multiple antennas, which may be used to employ techniques such as transmit diversity, receive diversity, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communications, or beamforming. The antennas of a base station <NUM> or a UE <NUM> may be located within one or more antenna arrays or antenna panels, which may support MIMO operations or transmit or receive beamforming. In some examples, antennas or antenna arrays associated with a base station <NUM> may be located in diverse geographic locations. Additionally or alternatively, an antenna panel may support radio frequency beamforming for a signal transmitted via an antenna port.

The base stations <NUM> or the UEs <NUM> may use MIMO communications to exploit multipath signal propagation and increase the spectral efficiency by transmitting or receiving multiple signals via different spatial layers. Such techniques may be referred to as spatial multiplexing. Each of the multiple signals may be referred to as a separate spatial stream and may carry bits associated with the same data stream (e.g., the same codeword) or different data streams (e.g., different codewords). MIMO techniques include single-user MIMO (SU-MIMO), where multiple spatial layers are transmitted to the same receiving device, and multiple-user MIMO (MU-MIMO), where multiple spatial layers are transmitted to multiple devices.

Some systems may support TDM'd carriers such that a UE may support multiple component carriers that may be different than each other to transmit uplink transmissions. To support multiple component carriers, a UE may have multiple transmit chains, where one transmit chain may support multiple component carriers. The component carriers of the same transmit chain may each be associated with a set of components. In some cases, a base station may indicate uplink transmission scheduling to a UE, where the schedule may indicate that the UE switches component carriers of a transmit chain. To switch component carriers, the UE may re-tune the transmit chain to the set of components associated with the component carrier indicated in the schedule. Frequent component carrier switching may cause increased power consumption at the UE.

To reduce power consumption, the frequency of component carrier switching may be limited. In some cases, switching may be limited by a resource or a duration. In some cases, the gap between two consecutive uplink carrier switching operations may be limited to a resource (e.g., slot, symbol), such that the UE may expect to perform at most one switching operation per resource. In some implementations, the gap between two consecutive uplink carrier switching operations may be limited to a duration, such that the UE may expect to perform at most one switching operation per a duration less than or equal to a threshold. Implementing restrictions on uplink carrier component switching may reduce power consumption and mitigate the risk of a UE over-heating.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a wireless communications system <NUM> that supports uplink carrier switching for wireless devices in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The wireless communications system <NUM> may include base station <NUM>-a and UE <NUM>-a, which may be examples of a base station <NUM> and UE <NUM> as described with reference to <FIG>. Base station <NUM>-a may serve a geographic coverage area <NUM><NUM>-a. In some cases, base station <NUM>-a may implement a restricted component carrier switching scheme for scheduling uplink transmissions at UE <NUM>-a. Additionally or alternatively, other wireless devices, such as UE <NUM>-a, or some combination of these UEs <NUM>, may implement restricted component carrier switching for uplink transmissions.

In some systems (e.g., <NUM> NR), a UE <NUM> may use higher frequency bands (e.g., <NUM>) to transmit uplink transmissions compared to other systems (e.g., LTE systems). In some implementations, transmissions at high frequency bands may experience propagation loss due to penetration. Propagation loss may decrease the coverage of a cell. To enhance coverage, lower bands (e.g., <NUM>) associated with other systems (e.g., LTE systems) may be used as component carriers in <NUM> NR carrier aggregation. In some cases, carrier aggregation may be implemented to support transmissions on a component carrier associated with the high band and a component carrier associated with the low band. In some cases, conventional carrier aggregation may increase UE <NUM> implementation complexity. For example, conventional carrier aggregation may support one transmission chain for one component carrier associated with the high band and another transmission chain for one component carrier associated with the low band which may limit MIMO capability of the UE <NUM>.

Some systems may implement a TDM'd uplink carrier. A TDM'd uplink carrier may support multiple (e.g., two) transmission chains of component carriers associated with high band and one transmission chain for a component carrier associated with low band according to TDM. In some cases, implementing a TDM'd uplink carrier in carrier aggregation may enhance coverage for cell-edge UEs as component carriers associated with low bands may be used to reduce penetration while maintaining MIMO capability. In some cases, the large frequency band associated with carrier aggregation using a TDM'd uplink carrier may be used for cell-center UEs <NUM> as the UEs <NUM> may be scheduled to a component carrier associated with a high band.

A TDM'd uplink carrier may be implemented in more than one way in carrier aggregation. In some cases, a supplementary uplink (e.g., SUL) carrier may be implemented. In some cases, carrier aggregation using a TDM'd uplink carrier may include two uplink carriers such as a first component carrier (e.g., <NUM> NR TDD carrier) and a second component carrier (e.g., NR SUL carrier), and one downlink carrier. A UE <NUM> may operate on one uplink carrier (e.g., first or second component carrier) at a time. In some cases, a UE <NUM> may be scheduled for an uplink transmission on any uplink carrier in an arbitrary slot. As there is one downlink carrier, supplementary uplink carrier aggregation may operate in co-site case such that the two carriers may be associated with the same base station <NUM>. In some implementations, supplementary uplink carrier aggregation may support one transmission chain associated with first component carrier and another transmission chain associated with the second component carrier. In this case, the transmission chains may not need to be retuned and there may not be a switching duration.

Additionally or alternatively to supplementary uplink carrier aggregation, TDM'd carrier aggregation may be implemented. TDM'd carrier aggregation may support two uplink carriers (e.g., one TDD carrier, and one FDD uplink carrier) and two downlink carriers (e.g., one TDD carrier, and one FDD downlink carrier). As there are multiple downlink carriers, TDM'd carrier aggregation may operate in co-site or non co-site cases. In some cases, the UE <NUM> may operate on one uplink carrier at a time (e.g., semi-statistic pattern or dynamic pattern). In some cases, a UE <NUM> may have better power control operating according to TDM'd carrier aggregation than when operating in supplementary uplink carrier aggregation because TDM'd carrier aggregation supports multiple downlink carriers. In some cases, a UE <NUM> may have multiple timing advances because TDM'd carrier aggregation supports two downlink carriers.

In some implementations, supplementary uplink carrier aggregation and TDM'd carrier aggregation may both support two transmission chains for one component carrier and one transmission chain for the other component carrier. In cases where a UE <NUM> has two antennas, one transmission chain may support both component carriers and one transmission chain may support one component carrier. Each component carrier of a transmit chain may be associated with a set of components. A transmit chain may support one component carrier at a time where the transmit chain uses the set of components associated with the currently supported component carrier. In some cases, a switching time (e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) is associated with retuning a transmit chain between sets of components of component carriers.

For example, base station <NUM>-a may transmit a downlink transmission to UE <NUM>-a via downlink transmission <NUM>. Downlink transmission <NUM> may include message <NUM> that may include scheduling information, or data, or a combination thereof. In some cases, message <NUM> may be a PDCCH, PDSCH, etc. In some cases, downlink transmission <NUM> may be carried on a component carrier associated with high bands, low bands, FDD, TDD, or a combination thereof. UE <NUM>-a may transmit uplink transmissions to base station <NUM>-a via uplink transmissions <NUM>-a and <NUM>-b. Uplink transmissions <NUM>-a and <NUM>-b may carry messages <NUM>-a and <NUM>-b, respectively. In some cases, messages <NUM>-a and <NUM>-b may be sound reference signals (SRSs), physical uplink shared channels (PUSCHs), physical uplink control channels (PUCCHs), random access channels (RACHs), etc..

In some implementations, UE <NUM>-a may simultaneously transmit on one uplink transmission <NUM> and receive a downlink transmission <NUM>. In some cases, more than one downlink transmission may be received simultaneously. In some cases, messages <NUM>-a and <NUM>-b may be carried on component carriers associated with high bands, low bands, FDD, TDD, or a combination thereof. For example, message <NUM>-a may be carried on a first component carrier (e.g., high band carrier, TDD carrier, or a combination thereof) and message <NUM>-b may be transmitted on a second component carrier (e.g., NR SUL carrier, low band carrier, FDD carrier, or a combination thereof). In some cases, the first and second component carrier may be supported by one transmit chain such that one uplink message <NUM> may be transmitted at a time.

In some implementations, switching between component carriers of a transmit chain may be dynamic and base station <NUM>-a may indicate a switching event. UE <NUM>-a may switch between the first and second component carrier based on the uplink transmission schedule indicated by base station <NUM>-a. In some cases, base station <NUM>-a may not account for the switching capability of UE <NUM>-a and may schedule switching events in short durations. In some cases, frequent switching may increase power consumption and cause over-heating at UE <NUM>-a.

To reduce power consumption and mitigate the risk of over-heating at the UE <NUM>, the frequency of component carrier switching may be limited. In some cases, switching may be limited according to a switching rule or based on the capability of the UE <NUM>. In some cases, the switching rule may limit component carrier switching by a resource or a duration (e.g., threshold). In some cases, the gap between two consecutive uplink carrier switching operations may be limited to a resource (e.g., slot, symbol), such that the UE <NUM> may expect to perform at most one switching operation per resource. In some implementations, the gap between two consecutive uplink carrier switching operations may be limited to a duration, such that the UE <NUM> may expect to perform at most one switching operation per a duration less than or equal to a threshold. Implementing restrictions on uplink carrier component switching may reduce power consumption and mitigate the risk of a UE <NUM> over-heating.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a transmit chain architecture <NUM> that supports uplink carrier switching for wireless devices in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The transmit chain architecture <NUM> may include a set of components, which may be components included in base stations or UEs as described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. The set of components may complete one or more transmit chains that may be used to transmit uplink transmissions at a UE. For example, transmit chain architecture <NUM> may implement TDM's carrier aggregation according to a restricted component carrier switching scheme. Additionally or alternatively, other wireless devices may implement restricted component carrier switching for uplink transmissions.

A UE may include one or more transmit chains that may be used to complete an uplink transmission. The path started by digital-to-analog converter (DAC) <NUM>-a may be one transmit chain and the path started by DAC <NUM>-b may be a second transmit chain. A transmit chain may include a DAC (e.g., DAC <NUM>-a or <NUM>-b), a phase lock loop (PLL) (e.g., PLL <NUM>-a or <NUM>-b), a mixer or modulator <NUM>-a or <NUM>-b, a switching component <NUM>, discrete regulator (DR) (e.g., DR <NUM>-a, <NUM>-b, or <NUM>-c), or a power amplifier (PA) (e.g., PA <NUM>-a, <NUM>-b, or <NUM>-c), or a combination thereof. For an uplink transmission, a UE may utilize each component in a transmit chain to transmit an uplink transmission.

A DAC <NUM> may be a system that converts a digital signal into an analog signal. A PLL <NUM> may be a system that may include a phase detector, a filter, an oscillator, etc. The PLL <NUM> may be a negative feedback-based system that may generate a periodic signal that tracks the frequency of an input signal. Switching component <NUM> may switch configurations of the first transmit chain according to the scheduled component carrier from one set of components to a second set of components. A DR <NUM> may maintain a constant voltage level. A PA <NUM> may increase a low power signal to a higher power level.

In some cases, a UE may have more than one (e.g., two) transmit chains. A first component carrier (e.g., high band TDD component carrier) may use both transmission chains. A second component carrier (e.g., low band FDD component carrier) may use one of the transmit chains. For example, a transmit chain may be associated with one component carrier, either the first or second component carrier, such as the transmit chain associated with DAC <NUM>-b (e.g., second transmit chain). In some cases, one transmit chain may be associated with the first component carrier and the second component carrier, such as the transmit chain associated with DAC <NUM>-a (e.g., first transmit chain). The first transmit chain may include two sets of components, where one set of components may be associated with a first component carrier and the other set of components may be associated with the second component carrier. In some cases, the transit chain may re-tune to switch between the components associated with the first component carrier and the components associated with the second component carrier.

For example, the first transmit chain, may include two implementations: one that ends with PA <NUM>-a and another than ends with PA <NUM>-b. Retuning may occur such that the first transmit chain switches from using components leading to PA <NUM>-a to components leading to PA <NUM>-b, or vice versa. Both the first component carrier and the second component carrier may be associated with DAC <NUM>-a (e.g., DAC <NUM>), mixer <NUM>-a, and switch <NUM>. A first component carrier may also be associated with PLL <NUM>-b (e.g., PLL <NUM>), DR <NUM>-b (e.g., DR <NUM>), and PA <NUM>-b (e.g., PA <NUM>). A second component carrier may be associated with PLL <NUM>-a (PLL <NUM>), DR <NUM>-a (e.g., DR <NUM>), and PA <NUM>-a (e.g., PA <NUM>). In some cases, the second transmit chain including DAC <NUM>-b (e.g., DAC <NUM>), PLL <NUM>-b (e.g., PLL <NUM>), mixer <NUM>-b, DR <NUM>-c (e.g., DR <NUM>), and PA <NUM>-c (e.g., PA <NUM>) may be another transmit chain used for the first component carrier.

Component carrier retuning on the first transmit chain may switch between PA <NUM>-a and PA <NUM>-b, and between PLL <NUM>-a and PLL <NUM>-b based on the last component carrier and the currently scheduled component carrier. In some cases, a base station may indicate an uplink transmission schedule that may indicate the component carrier to be used for each uplink transmission. The base station may schedule uplink transmissions such that multiple switching occasions occur in a short duration. In some cases, switching may occur every <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>, or a combination thereof. Frequent switching may cause increased power consumption at the UE. To decrease the power consumption at the UE due to switching between component carriers, restrictions such as a switching rule may be placed on the UE and base station to limit the number of switching occasions in a given duration or resource (e.g., symbol, slot). In some cases, the restricted switching configuration may be based on the capability of the UE.

<FIG> illustrates an example of scheduled subframes <NUM> that support uplink carrier switching for wireless devices in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The scheduled subframes <NUM> may represent uplink and downlink transmissions between base stations or UEs as described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. The uplink transmissions of the scheduled subframes <NUM> may be transmitted on one or more component carriers. Scheduled subframes <NUM> may implement a restricted component carrier switching scheme. Additionally or alternatively, other wireless devices may implement restricted component carrier switching for uplink transmissions.

As described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, a UE may have two transmit chains where a first transmit chain may support a first component carrier (e.g., high band (e.g., <NUM>) TDD component carrier) and a second component carrier (e.g., low band (e.g., <NUM>) FDD component carrier) and a second transmit chain may support the first component carrier. In some cases, a transmit chain may have separate sets of components that each support one component carrier. For example, one set of components of the first transmit chain may support the first component carrier and another set of components of the first transmit chain may support the second component carrier. In some cases, components of the first transmit chain may need to be switched during a retuning duration depending on the component carrier of the next uplink transmission.

For example, CC1 <NUM> may be the first component carrier, and CC2 <NUM> may be the second component carrier. CC1 <NUM> may include multiple resources (e.g., slots, symbols) where each may indicate a downlink transmission <NUM>, switching duration <NUM>, uplink transmission <NUM>, or retuning duration <NUM>. CC2 <NUM> may include multiple resources (e.g., slots, symbols) such as CC2 slots <NUM>, where each may indicate a downlink transmission <NUM>, switching duration <NUM>, uplink transmission <NUM>, and retuning duration <NUM>. In some cases, CC1 <NUM> has a larger subcarrier spacing (SCS) than CC2 <NUM>, so that the slot duration of CC1 <NUM> is smaller than the slot durations of CC2 <NUM>. In some cases, CC1 <NUM> has the same SCS as CC2 <NUM>, so that the slots of CC1 <NUM> and CC2 <NUM> may be the same or similar duration. In some cases, component carrier switching may occur between CC1 <NUM> and CC2 <NUM> such that the UE may retune components of the same transmit chain to transmit one uplink transmission <NUM> over one of the component carriers at a time.

In some cases, the frequency of uplink component carrier switching may be limited to decrease the power consumption at a UE according to a switching rule of UE capability. In some cases, switching may be limited by a gap that may refer to a resource (e.g., symbol, slot) or a duration. In some implementations, the limitation (e.g., resource, or duration) may be channel dependent. For example, if the switching is for SRS carrier switching, a smaller duration gap (e.g., <NUM> symbols), or resource may be defined as the switching rule, or no specific restriction may be defined. In another example, if the switching event is to transmit a PUSCH, PUCCH, or a RACH, a larger gap (e.g., <NUM> symbols) may be defined as the limitation between two switching events due to more preparation time needed for the uplink transmission <NUM>.

In some cases, the gap between two consecutive uplink carrier switching operations may be limited to a resource (e.g., slot, symbol), such that the UE <NUM> may expect to perform at most one switching operation per resource. In some cases, the slot duration set for the component carrier switching frequency may be the CC2 slot <NUM>. For example, the switching rule may indicate that one retuning duration <NUM> may occur per CC2 slot <NUM>. For example, the UE may receive downlink transmission <NUM>-a over CC1 <NUM> at the same time the UE may transmits uplink transmission <NUM>-d over CC2 <NUM>. Following uplink transmission <NUM>-d, retuning duration <NUM>-a may be scheduled to switch between CC2 <NUM> and CC1 <NUM>. During a retuning duration <NUM>, the UE may not be scheduled to transmit or receive to allow for the UE to retune the first transmit chain.

Following retuning duration <NUM>-a, the UE may transmit uplink transmissions <NUM>-a and <NUM>-b. In some implementations, uplink transmission <NUM>-a may be an SRS transmission and uplink transmission <NUM>-b may be a PUSCH, PUCCH, RACH, etc. Uplink transmission <NUM>-a may be transmitted in less symbols than uplink transmission <NUM>-b. Another retuning duration <NUM> (e.g., retuning duration <NUM>-b) may be scheduled following uplink transmissions <NUM>-a and <NUM>-b on CC1 <NUM>. The UE may use retuning duration <NUM>-b to switch components of the first transmit chain to support CC2 <NUM> so that the UE may transmit uplink transmission <NUM>-e on CC2 <NUM>. In this case, one retuning duration was scheduled and occurred per the second CC2 slot <NUM> and one retuning duration occurred during the third CC2 slot <NUM>. This configuration may follow the switching rule.

Alternatively, retuning durations <NUM>-c and <NUM>-d may be scheduled during the same fourth slot associated with CC2 <NUM>. If uplink transmission <NUM>-c is scheduled for an SRS transmission, the UE may follow the schedule, switch component carriers, and transmit uplink transmission <NUM>-c over component carrier CC1 <NUM>. If uplink transmission <NUM>-c is not scheduled for an SRS transmission and is instead scheduled for a PUSCH, PUCCH, or RACH transmission, then the switching rule may not be met and the UE may recognize this as an error case and fail to perform the switch and uplink transmission <NUM>.

Additionally or alternatively, the gap between two consecutive uplink carrier switching operations may be limited to a duration, such that the UE <NUM> may expect to perform at most one switching operation per a duration less than or equal to a threshold. In some cases, the threshold may be channel dependent as described herein.

For example, a UE may be scheduled to transmit an uplink transmission <NUM>-d on CC2 <NUM>, switch component carrier components of the first transmit chain during retuning duration <NUM>-a, transmit uplink transmissions <NUM>-a (e.g., SRS transmission) and <NUM>-b (e.g., a PUSCH, PUCCH, or RACH transmission) on CC1 <NUM>, and then switch component carriers during retuning duration <NUM>-b. Gap <NUM>-a may be defined from the start of retuning duration <NUM>-a to the end of retuning duration <NUM>-b. In some cases, gap <NUM>-a may be defined from the end of the first uplink transmission <NUM>-a on CC1 <NUM> to the start of the third uplink transmission <NUM>-c on CC1 <NUM>. If gap <NUM>-a is greater than or equal to the threshold duration defined by the switching rule for larger uplink channels such as PUSCH, PUCCH, and RACH transmissions (e.g., <NUM> symbols, <NUM>), then the frequency of switching events may comply with the switching rule. If gap <NUM>-a is less than the threshold duration defined by the switching rule, then the frequency of scheduled switching events may not comply with the limitation and the UE may recognize this duration as an error and fail to switch component carriers and transmit uplink transmissions <NUM>-a and <NUM>-b.

In some cases, the UE may be scheduled to switch between CC2 <NUM> and CC1 <NUM> during retuning duration <NUM>-c, transmit SRS uplink transmission <NUM>-c on CC1 <NUM>, and switch between CC1 <NUM> and CC2 <NUM> during retuning duration <NUM>-d. Gap <NUM>-b may be defined from the start of retuning duration <NUM>-c to the end of retuning duration <NUM>-d. If gap <NUM>-b is greater than or equal to the threshold duration defined by the switching rule for smaller transmissions such as SRS transmissions (e.g., <NUM> symbols, <NUM>), then the frequency of switching events may comply with the switching rule. If gap <NUM>-a is less than the threshold duration, then the frequency of scheduled switching events may not comply with the limitation and the UE may recognize this duration as an error and fail to switch component carriers and transmit uplink transmission <NUM>-c.

In some implementations, three uplink transmissions <NUM> may be scheduled. For example, a first uplink transmission <NUM> may be scheduled on CC1 <NUM>, a second uplink transmission <NUM> may be scheduled on CC2 <NUM>, and a third uplink transmission <NUM> may be scheduled on a third component that may be different or the same as CC1 <NUM>. In some cases, the gap between two consecutive carriers may be defined as starting at the end of the first uplink transmission <NUM> and ending at the start of the third uplink transmission <NUM>.

In some cases, the threshold for the gap <NUM> between two uplink carrier switching events may be preconfigured. In some cases, the UE may indicate the threshold as a capability of the UE to a base station and the base station may schedule uplink transmissions on one or more carrier components according to the indicated capability of the UE. In some cases, the restriction may be employed in a preconfigured situation such as to save UE power consumption in some situations. Implementing restrictions on uplink carrier component switching may reduce power consumption and mitigate the risk of a UE <NUM> over-heating.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a process flow <NUM> that supports uplink carrier switching for wireless devices in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The process flow <NUM> may illustrate an example component carrier retuning scheme. For example, base station <NUM>-b may transmit an uplink transmission schedule to UE <NUM>-a that may comply with restricted component carrier switching. Base station <NUM>-b and UE <NUM>-b may be examples of the corresponding wireless devices described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. In some cases, instead of base station <NUM>-a implementing the restricted switching schedule, a different type of wireless device (e.g., a UE <NUM>) may indicate a restricted component carrier switching schedule. Alternative examples of the following may be implemented, where some steps are performed in a different order than described or are not performed at all. In some cases, steps may include additional features not mentioned below, or further steps may be added.

At <NUM>, base station <NUM>-b may determine an uplink schedule for UE <NUM>-b based on a switching rule or based on the capability of UE <NUM>-b.

At <NUM>, UE <NUM>-b receives an uplink schedule (e.g., uplink grant) from base station <NUM>-b. The uplink schedule may schedule uplink transmissions on one or more component carriers. The uplink schedule schedules component carriers such that the frequency of switching between component carriers complies with a switching rule or capability of UE <NUM>-b. For example, the gap between two consecutive uplink carrier switching operations may be limited to a resource (e.g., slot, symbol), such that the UE may expect to perform at most one switching operation per resource. In some implementations, the gap between two consecutive uplink carrier switching operations may be limited to a duration (e.g., <NUM> symbols, <NUM>), such that the UE may expect to perform at most one switching operation per a duration less than or equal to a threshold.

At <NUM>, UE <NUM>-b may identify a first uplink communication on a first uplink carrier. The first uplink carrier may operate in high band, low band, TDD, FDD, or a combination thereof.

In some cases, a UE may have two transmit chains, where one of the transmit chains may support one or more component carriers. The transmit chain may have a separate set of components associated with each supported component carrier. At <NUM>, UE <NUM>-b may optionally tune the components of a transmit chain to the components associated with the first uplink carrier. For example, if the last uplink transmission was on an uplink carrier different than the first uplink carrier (e.g., second uplink carrier, third uplink carrier) then UE <NUM>-b may retune to the components associated with the first uplink carrier.

At <NUM>, UE <NUM>-b transmits a first uplink communication. The first uplink communication is transmitted on the first uplink component carrier.

At <NUM>, UE <NUM>-b may determine a second uplink communication on a second uplink carrier. The second uplink carrier may operate in high band, low band, TDD, FDD, or a combination thereof. In some cases, the second uplink component carrier may be the same as the first uplink component carrier, or the second component carrier may be different.

At <NUM>, UE <NUM>-b may optionally tune the components of a transmit chain to the components associated with the second uplink carrier. For example, if the first uplink carrier and the second uplink carrier are different carriers, then UE <NUM>-b may retune the components of the transmit chain to the components associated with the second uplink carrier.

At <NUM>, UE <NUM>-b may transmit a second uplink communication. The second uplink communication is transmitted on the second uplink component carrier.

At <NUM>, UE <NUM>-b may determine a third uplink communication on a third uplink carrier. The second uplink carrier may operate in high band, low band, TDD, FDD, or a combination thereof. In some cases, the third uplink component carrier may be the same as the first uplink component carrier, or the second uplink component carrier, or the third component carrier may be different.

At <NUM>, UE <NUM>-b may optionally tune the components of a transmit chain to the components associated with the third uplink carrier. For example, if the second uplink carrier and the third uplink carrier are different carriers, then UE <NUM>-b may retune the components of the transmit chain to the components associated with the third uplink carrier at <NUM>.

At <NUM>, UE <NUM>-b transmits a third uplink communication, where a timing relationship between the first uplink communication and the third uplink communication is in accordance with a consecutive uplink switching rule or capability of UE <NUM>-b. The third uplink communication may be transmitted on the third uplink component carrier.

<FIG> shows a block diagram <NUM> of a device <NUM> that supports uplink carrier switching for wireless devices in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device <NUM> may be an example of aspects of a UE <NUM> as described herein. The device <NUM> may include a receiver <NUM>, a communications manager <NUM>, and a transmitter <NUM>. The device <NUM> may also include a processor. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The receiver <NUM> may receive information such as packets, user data, or control information associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, and information related to uplink carrier switching for wireless devices, etc.). Information may be passed on to other components of the device <NUM>. The receiver <NUM> may be an example of aspects of the transceiver <NUM> described with reference to <FIG>. The receiver <NUM> may utilize a single antenna or a set of antennas.

The communications manager <NUM> may determine a first uplink communication to be transmitted on a first uplink carrier, determine, after the first uplink communication, a second uplink communication to be transmitted on a second uplink carrier, determine, after the second uplink communication, a third uplink communication to be transmitted on a third uplink carrier, where a timing relationship between the first uplink communication and the third uplink communication is in accordance with a consecutive uplink switching rule or a UE capability, and transmit at least one of the first, second, or third uplink communications, or a combination thereof based on the determinations. The communications manager <NUM> may be an example of aspects of the communications manager <NUM> described herein.

<FIG> shows a block diagram <NUM> of a device <NUM> that supports uplink carrier switching for wireless devices in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device <NUM> may be an example of aspects of a device <NUM>, or a UE <NUM> as described herein. The device <NUM> may include a receiver <NUM>, a communications manager <NUM>, and a transmitter <NUM>. The device <NUM> may also include a processor. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The communications manager <NUM> may be an example of aspects of the communications manager <NUM> as described herein. The communications manager <NUM> may include a first uplink determination component <NUM>, a second uplink determination component <NUM>, a third uplink determination component <NUM>, and an uplink communications transmitter <NUM>. The communications manager <NUM> may be an example of aspects of the communications manager <NUM> described herein.

The first uplink determination component <NUM> may determine a first uplink communication to be transmitted on a first uplink carrier. The second uplink determination component <NUM> may determine, after the first uplink communication, a second uplink communication to be transmitted on a second uplink carrier. The third uplink determination component <NUM> may determine, after the second uplink communication, a third uplink communication to be transmitted on a third uplink carrier, where a timing relationship between the first uplink communication and the third uplink communication is in accordance with a consecutive uplink switching rule or a UE capability. The uplink communications transmitter <NUM> may transmit at least one of the first, second, or third uplink communications, or a combination thereof based on the determinations.

<FIG> shows a block diagram <NUM> of a communications manager <NUM> that supports uplink carrier switching for wireless devices in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The communications manager <NUM> may be an example of aspects of a communications manager <NUM>, a communications manager <NUM>, or a communications manager <NUM> described herein. The communications manager <NUM> may include a first uplink determination component <NUM>, a second uplink determination component <NUM>, a third uplink determination component <NUM>, an uplink communications transmitter <NUM>, a switching rule manager <NUM>, a gap component <NUM>, a carrier aggregation component <NUM>, a switching capability transmitter <NUM>, and a scheduling configuration receiver <NUM>. Each of these modules may communicate, directly or indirectly, with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The first uplink determination component <NUM> may determine a first uplink communication to be transmitted on a first uplink carrier. The second uplink determination component <NUM> may determine, after the first uplink communication, a second uplink communication to be transmitted on a second uplink carrier.

The third uplink determination component <NUM> may determine, after the second uplink communication, a third uplink communication to be transmitted on a third uplink carrier, where a timing relationship between the first uplink communication and the third uplink communication is in accordance with a consecutive uplink switching rule or a UE capability. In some cases, the first uplink carrier and the third uplink carrier are a same carrier. The uplink communications transmitter <NUM> may transmit at least one of the first, second, or third uplink communications, or a combination thereof based on the determinations.

The switching rule manager <NUM> may identify that the consecutive uplink switching rule limits a number of consecutive uplink switches that occur within a slot of the first uplink carrier, the second uplink carrier, or the third uplink carrier based on a numerology associated with a respective uplink carrier. In some cases, the number of consecutive uplink switches within the slot allowed by the consecutive uplink switching rule is one. In some cases, the consecutive uplink switching rule includes an exception consecutive uplink switching pertaining to transmission of a sounding reference signal communication. In some cases, the channel type is associated with the first uplink communication, the second uplink communication, or the third uplink communication. In some cases, the consecutive uplink switching rule provides a minimum gap between the first uplink communication and the third uplink communication based on the consecutive uplink switching capability.

The gap component <NUM> may identify that the consecutive uplink switching rule provides a minimum gap between the first uplink communication and the third uplink communication. In some cases, the minimum gap between the first uplink communication and the third uplink communication is dependent on channel type. In some cases, the minimum gap corresponds to a first gap when the second uplink communication includes a sounding reference signal. In some cases, the minimum gap corresponds to a second gap when the second uplink communication includes signal other than the sounding reference signal. In some cases, the first gap is less than the second gap. In some cases, the first gap or the second gap is based on a predefined gap configuration, a capability of the UE, a configuration from the base station, or any combination thereof. In some cases, the minimum gap between the first uplink communication and the third uplink communication is associated with symbols between an end of the first uplink communication and a beginning of the third uplink communication.

The carrier aggregation component <NUM> may identify that the UE is configured for time division multiplexed uplink carrier aggregation such that the UE switches between two or more uplink carriers for uplink communications. The switching capability transmitter <NUM> may transmit, to a base station, a consecutive uplink switching capability of the UE, where the consecutive uplink switching capability is the UE capability. The scheduling configuration receiver <NUM> receives a scheduling configuration for the first uplink communication, the second uplink communication, and the third uplink communication that is in accordance with the consecutive uplink switching capability.

<FIG> shows a diagram of a system <NUM> including a device <NUM> that supports uplink carrier switching for wireless devices in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device <NUM> may be an example of or include the components of device <NUM>, device <NUM>, or a UE <NUM> as described herein. The device <NUM> may include components for bi-directional voice and data communications including components for transmitting and receiving communications, including a communications manager <NUM>, an I/O controller <NUM>, a transceiver <NUM>, an antenna <NUM>, memory <NUM>, and a processor <NUM>. These components may be in electronic communication via one or more buses (e.g., bus <NUM>).

The communications manager <NUM> may determine a first uplink communication to be transmitted on a first uplink carrier, determine, after the first uplink communication, a second uplink communication to be transmitted on a second uplink carrier, determine, after the second uplink communication, a third uplink communication to be transmitted on a third uplink carrier, where a timing relationship between the first uplink communication and the third uplink communication is in accordance with a consecutive uplink switching rule or a UE capability, and transmit at least one of the first, second, or third uplink communications, or a combination thereof based on the determinations.

In some cases, the memory <NUM> may contain, among other things, a basic I/O system (BIOS) which may control basic hardware or software operation such as the interaction with peripheral components or devices.

The processor <NUM> may include an intelligent hardware device (e.g., a general-purpose processor, a DSP, a CPU, a microcontroller, an ASIC, an FPGA, a programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic component, a discrete hardware component, or any combination thereof). In some cases, the processor <NUM> may be configured to operate a memory array using a memory controller. In other cases, a memory controller may be integrated into the processor <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory (e.g., the memory <NUM>) to cause the device <NUM> to perform various functions (e.g., functions or tasks supporting uplink carrier switching for wireless devices).

<FIG> shows a block diagram <NUM> of a device <NUM> that supports uplink carrier switching for wireless devices in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device <NUM> may be an example of aspects of a base station <NUM> as described herein. The device <NUM> may include a receiver <NUM>, a communications manager <NUM>, and a transmitter <NUM>. The device <NUM> may also include a processor. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The communications manager <NUM> may determine a first uplink communication to be transmitted on a first uplink carrier from a UE, determine, after the first uplink communication, a second uplink communication to be transmitted on a second uplink carrier, determine, after the second uplink communication, a third uplink communication to be transmitted on a third uplink carrier, where a timing relationship between the first uplink communication and the third uplink communication is in accordance with a consecutive uplink switching rule or a UE capability, transmit a scheduling configuration to the UE for at least one of the first, second, or third uplink communications based on the determinations, and receive at least one of the first, second, or third uplink communications based on the scheduling configuration. The communications manager <NUM> may be an example of aspects of the communications manager <NUM> described herein.

<FIG> shows a block diagram <NUM> of a device <NUM> that supports uplink carrier switching for wireless devices in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device <NUM> may be an example of aspects of a device <NUM>, or a base station <NUM> as described herein. The device <NUM> may include a receiver <NUM>, a communications manager <NUM>, and a transmitter <NUM>. The device <NUM> may also include a processor. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The communications manager <NUM> may be an example of aspects of the communications manager <NUM> as described herein. The communications manager <NUM> may include a first schedule determination component <NUM>, a second schedule determination component <NUM>, a third schedule determination component <NUM>, a scheduling configuration transmitter <NUM>, and an uplink communications receiver <NUM>. The communications manager <NUM> may be an example of aspects of the communications manager <NUM> described herein.

The first schedule determination component <NUM> may determine a first uplink communication to be transmitted on a first uplink carrier from a UE. The second schedule determination component <NUM> may determine, after the first uplink communication, a second uplink communication to be transmitted on a second uplink carrier.

The third schedule determination component <NUM> may determine, after the second uplink communication, a third uplink communication to be transmitted on a third uplink carrier, where a timing relationship between the first uplink communication and the third uplink communication is in accordance with a consecutive uplink switching rule or a UE capability.

The scheduling configuration transmitter <NUM> may transmit a scheduling configuration to the UE for at least one of the first, second, or third uplink communications based on the determinations. The uplink communications receiver <NUM> may receive at least one of the first, second, or third uplink communications based on the scheduling configuration.

<FIG> shows a block diagram <NUM> of a communications manager <NUM> that supports uplink carrier switching for wireless devices in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The communications manager <NUM> may be an example of aspects of a communications manager <NUM>, a communications manager <NUM>, or a communications manager <NUM> described herein. The communications manager <NUM> may include a first schedule determination component <NUM>, a second schedule determination component <NUM>, a third schedule determination component <NUM>, a scheduling configuration transmitter <NUM>, an uplink communications receiver <NUM>, a switching rule component <NUM>, a gap manager <NUM>, a carrier aggregation manager <NUM>, a switching capability receiver <NUM>, an uplink schedule manager <NUM>, and a switching rule transmitter <NUM>. Each of these modules may communicate, directly or indirectly, with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The first schedule determination component <NUM> may determine a first uplink communication to be transmitted on a first uplink carrier from a UE. The second schedule determination component <NUM> may determine, after the first uplink communication, a second uplink communication to be transmitted on a second uplink carrier. The third schedule determination component <NUM> may determine, after the second uplink communication, a third uplink communication to be transmitted on a third uplink carrier, where a timing relationship between the first uplink communication and the third uplink communication is in accordance with a consecutive uplink switching rule or a UE capability. In some cases, the first uplink carrier and the third uplink carrier are a same carrier. The scheduling configuration transmitter <NUM> may transmit a scheduling configuration to the UE for at least one of the first, second, or third uplink communications based on the determinations. The uplink communications receiver <NUM> may receive at least one of the first, second, or third uplink communications based on the scheduling configuration.

The switching rule component <NUM> may identify that the consecutive uplink switching rule limits a number of consecutive uplink switches that occur within a slot of the first uplink carrier, the second uplink carrier, or the third uplink carrier based on a numerology associated with a respective uplink carrier. In some cases, the number of consecutive uplink switches within the slot allowed by the consecutive uplink switching rule is one. In some cases, the consecutive uplink switching rule includes an exception consecutive uplink switching pertaining to transmission of a sounding reference signal communication. In some cases, the consecutive uplink switching rule provides a minimum gap between the first uplink communication and the third uplink communication based on the consecutive uplink switching capability.

The gap manager <NUM> may identify that the consecutive uplink switching rule provides a minimum gap between the first uplink communication and the third uplink communication. In some cases, the minimum gap between the first uplink communication and the third uplink communication is dependent on channel type. In some cases, the channel type is associated with the first uplink communication, the second uplink communication, or the third uplink communication. In some cases, the minimum gap corresponds to a first gap when the second uplink communication includes a sounding reference signal. In some cases, the minimum gap corresponds to a second gap when the second uplink communication includes signal other than the sounding reference signal. In some cases, the first gap is less than the second gap. In some cases, the first gap or the second gap is based on a predefined gap configuration, a capability of the UE signaled by the UE, a configuration from the base station, or any combination thereof. In some cases, the minimum gap between the first uplink communication and the third uplink communication is associated with symbols between an end of the first uplink communication and a beginning of the third uplink communication. In some cases, the minimum number of symbols between the first uplink communication and the third uplink communication is associated with symbols between an end of the first uplink communication and a beginning of the third uplink communication.

The carrier aggregation manager <NUM> may configure a UE for time division multiplexed uplink carrier aggregation such that the UE switches between an uplink frequency division duplex carrier and a time division duplex carrier for uplink communications. The switching capability receiver <NUM> may receive, from the UE, a consecutive uplink switching capability of the UE, where the consecutive uplink switching capability is the UE capability. The uplink schedule manager <NUM> may schedule the first uplink communication, the second uplink communication, and the third uplink communication in accordance with the consecutive uplink switching capability. The switching rule transmitter <NUM> may transmit an indication of the consecutive uplink switching rule to the UE.

<FIG> shows a diagram of a system <NUM> including a device <NUM> that supports uplink carrier switching for wireless devices in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device <NUM> may be an example of or include the components of device <NUM>, device <NUM>, or a base station <NUM> as described herein. The device <NUM> may include components for bi-directional voice and data communications including components for transmitting and receiving communications, including a communications manager <NUM>, a network communications manager <NUM>, a transceiver <NUM>, an antenna <NUM>, memory <NUM>, a processor <NUM>, and an inter-station communications manager <NUM>. These components may be in electronic communication via one or more buses (e.g., bus <NUM>).

The communications manager <NUM> may determine a first uplink communication to be transmitted on a first uplink carrier from a UE, determine, after the first uplink communication, a second uplink communication to be transmitted on a second uplink carrier, determine, after the second uplink communication, a third uplink communication to be transmitted on a third uplink carrier, where a timing relationship between the first uplink communication and the third uplink communication is in accordance with a consecutive uplink switching rule or a UE capability, transmit a scheduling configuration to the UE for at least one of the first, second, or third uplink communications based on the determinations, and receive at least one of the first, second, or third uplink communications based on the scheduling configuration.

The processor <NUM> may include an intelligent hardware device (e.g., a general-purpose processor, a DSP, a CPU, a microcontroller, an ASIC, an FPGA, a programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic component, a discrete hardware component, or any combination thereof). In some cases, the processor <NUM> may be configured to operate a memory array using a memory controller. In some cases, a memory controller may be integrated into processor <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory (e.g., the memory <NUM>) to cause the device <NUM> to perform various functions (e.g., functions or tasks supporting uplink carrier switching for wireless devices).

<FIG> shows a flowchart illustrating a method <NUM> that supports uplink carrier switching for wireless devices in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of method <NUM> may be implemented by a UE <NUM> or its components as described herein. For example, the operations of method <NUM> may be performed by a communications manager as described with reference to <FIG>. In some examples, a UE may execute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of the UE to perform the functions described below. Additionally or alternatively, a UE may perform aspects of the functions described below using special-purpose hardware.

At <NUM>, the UE may determine a first uplink communication to be transmitted on a first uplink carrier. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a first uplink determination component as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM>, the UE may determine, after the first uplink communication, a second uplink communication to be transmitted on a second uplink carrier. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a second uplink determination component as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM>, the UE may determine, after the second uplink communication, a third uplink communication to be transmitted on a third uplink carrier, where a timing relationship between the first uplink communication and the third uplink communication is in accordance with a consecutive uplink switching rule or a UE capability. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a third uplink determination component as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM>, the UE may transmit at least one of the first, second, or third uplink communications, or a combination thereof based on the determinations. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by an uplink communications transmitter as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM>, the UE may identify that a consecutive uplink switching rule provides a minimum gap between a first uplink communication and a third uplink communication. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a gap component as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM>, the UE may determine the first uplink communication to be transmitted on a first uplink carrier. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a first uplink determination component as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM>, the UE may determine, after the second uplink communication, the third uplink communication to be transmitted on a third uplink carrier, where a timing relationship between the first uplink communication and the third uplink communication is in accordance with the consecutive uplink switching rule or a UE capability. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a third uplink determination component as described with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> shows a flowchart illustrating a method <NUM> that supports uplink carrier switching for wireless devices in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of method <NUM> may be implemented by a base station <NUM> or its components as described herein. For example, the operations of method <NUM> may be performed by a communications manager as described with reference to <FIG>. In some examples, a base station may execute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of the base station to perform the functions described below. Additionally or alternatively, a base station may perform aspects of the functions described below using special-purpose hardware.

At <NUM>, the base station may determine a first uplink communication to be transmitted on a first uplink carrier from a UE. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a first schedule determination component as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM>, the base station may determine, after the first uplink communication, a second uplink communication to be transmitted on a second uplink carrier. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a second schedule determination component as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM>, the base station may determine, after the second uplink communication, a third uplink communication to be transmitted on a third uplink carrier, where a timing relationship between the first uplink communication and the third uplink communication is in accordance with a consecutive uplink switching rule or a UE capability. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a third schedule determination component as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM>, the base station may transmit a scheduling configuration to the UE for at least one of the first, second, or third uplink communications based on the determinations. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a scheduling configuration transmitter as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM>, the base station may receive at least one of the first, second, or third uplink communications based on the scheduling configuration. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by an uplink communications receiver as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM>, the base station may receive, from the UE, a consecutive uplink switching capability of the UE, where the consecutive uplink switching capability is the UE capability. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a switching capability receiver as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM>, the base station may schedule the first uplink communication, the second uplink communication, and the third uplink communication in accordance with the consecutive uplink switching capability. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by an uplink schedule manager as described with reference to <FIG>.

For example, due to the nature of software, functions described herein may be implemented using software executed by a processor, hardware, firmware, hardwiring, or combinations of any of these.

By way of example, and not limitation, non-transitory computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), compact disk (CD) ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other non-transitory medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code means in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer, or a general-purpose or special-purpose processor.

As used herein, including in the claims, "or" as used in a list of items (e.g., a list of items prefaced by a phrase such as "at least one of" or "one or more of') indicates an inclusive list such that, for example, a list of at least one of A, B, or C means A or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (i.e., A and B and C). For example, an example step that is described as "based on condition A" may be based on both a condition A and a condition B without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Claim 1:
A method for wireless communication at a user equipment (<NUM>-b), UE, comprising:
receiving a scheduling configuration for a first uplink communication to be transmitted on a first uplink carrier, a second uplink communication to be transmitted on a second uplink carrier after the first uplink communication, and a third uplink communication to be transmitted on a third uplink carrier after the second uplink communication, wherein a timing relationship between the first uplink communication and the third uplink communication is in accordance with a consecutive uplink switching rule, wherein the consecutive uplink switching rule limits a number of consecutive uplink switches that occur within a slot of the first uplink carrier, the second uplink carrier, or the third uplink carrier based at least in part on a numerology associated with a respective uplink carrier and/or wherein the consecutive uplink switching rule provides a minimum gap between the first uplink communication and the third uplink communication; and
transmitting at least one of the first uplink communication, the second uplink communication, or the third uplink communication, or a combination thereof based at least in part on the scheduling configuration.