Patent Description:
In a <NUM>th-generation (<NUM>) New Radio (NR) design, a semi-statically configured frame structure has been introduced. The frame structure includes a frame structure configuration with a relatively long periodicity and a frame structure configuration with a relatively short periodicity. The relatively short periodicity is, for example, <NUM>, <NUM> or <NUM>. The periodicities of <NUM> and <NUM> are suitable for a deployment scenario for a middle or high frequency hotspot, and the periodicity of <NUM> is suitable for a deployment scenario for a middle or low frequency macro network. The periodicities may be applied to services such as enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) and ultra-reliable and low latency communications (URLLC). The uplink/downlink switching periodicity of <NUM> is an important enabling technology for achieving a <NUM> air-interface latency of <NUM> in a time division duplexing (TDD) system.

In the above configuration scheme, static resource configurations for all periodicities are identical, and a proportion of static uplink resources to static downlink resources in each periodicity is constant. In order to further improve the resource configuration flexibility, a joint periodicity configuration method may be adopted, so that different proportions of the static uplink resources to the static downlink resources may be employed in at least two consecutive periodicities arranged sequentially in time, thereby improving the resource configuration flexibility. 3GPP contribution R1-<NUM> discloses concatenation of CSI reports; <CIT> discloses a method for providing adaptive transmission time interval.

Further aspects of the present invention are defined in the dependent claims.

The present invention at least has the following beneficial effects. On the basis of a single-periodicity design, a dual-periodicity or multi-periodicity frame structure configuration method is provided, so as to transmit at least two cell-specific frame structure configurations concatenated in the time domain to UE. Different periodicities of cell-specific uplink and/or downlink resources that are concatenated in a time domain are supported, and/or different configurations for the uplink and/or downlink resources within periodicities concatenated in the time domain are supported. As a result, it is able to acquire various new periodicities through the combination of several typical periodicities, thereby improving the system scalability and the resource configuration flexibility.

In order to make the objects, the technical solutions and the advantages of the present disclosure more apparent, the present invention will be described hereinafter in a clear and complete manner in conjunction with the drawings and embodiments.

As shown in <FIG>, the present disclosure provides in some embodiments a frame structure configuration method, which includes a Step <NUM>: transmitting at least two cell-specific frame structure configurations to UE. Each cell-specific frame structure configuration may include a periodicity of cell-specific uplink and/or downlink resources and a configuration for the uplink and/or downlink resources within the periodicity.

In this step, the cell-specific frame structure configuration belongs to a cell-specific configuration, i.e., it is a configuration indicated by system broadcast information and cannot be changed arbitrarily, so the cell-specific configuration may usually be considered as a static configuration. However, the cell-specific configuration may also be changed at a cell level in a system information change process, so the cell-specific configuration may also be considered as a semi-static configuration.

To be specific, the periodicity of uplink and/or downlink resources carried in the cell-specific frame structure configuration may be statically or semi-statically configured at a cell level. In addition, the configuration for the uplink and/or downlink resources carried in the cell-specific frame structure configuration may also be statically or semi-statically configured at a cell level.

Different periodicities of cell-specific uplink and/or downlink resources that are concatenated in a time domain are supported, and/or different configurations for the uplink and/or downlink resources within periodicities concatenated in the time domain are supported.

To be specific, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, when the durations of two periodicities of cell-specific uplink and/or downlink resources that are concatenated in the time domain are different from each other, the configurations for the uplink and/or downlink resources within the two periodicities concatenated in the time domain may be the same or different from each other.

Similarly, when the configurations for the uplink and/or downlink resources within the two periodicities concatenated in the time domain are different from each other, the durations of two periodicities of cell-specific uplink and/or downlink resources that are concatenated in the time domain may be the same or different from each other.

For example, <FIG> shows a combination of two frame structures concatenated in the time domain, in which durations of periodicities are the same and the configurations for the uplink and/or downlink resources are different. <FIG> shows a combination of two frame structures concatenated in the time domain, in which durations of periodicities are different and the configurations for the uplink and/or downlink resources are different too.

Optionally, the at least two cell-specific frame structure configurations are concatenated and repeated in the time domain to provide a configuration of a cell-specific target frame structure.

A periodicity of cell-specific uplink and/or downlink resources in the configuration of the cell-specific target frame structure is a sum of at least two periodicities of cell-specific uplink and/or downlink resources that are concatenated. As shown in <FIG>, when the configuration of a cell-specific target frame structure is acquired by concatenating, in the time domain, cell-specific frame structure configurations of two frame structures concatenated in the time domain and each having a periodicity of <NUM>, a target frame has a periodicity of <NUM> (<NUM>+<NUM>). As shown in <FIG>, when the configuration of a cell-specific target frame structure is acquired by concatenating, in the time domain, cell-specific frame structure configurations of two frame structures concatenated in the time domain and having periodicities of <NUM> and <NUM> respectively, a target frame has a periodicity of <NUM> (<NUM>+<NUM>).

For example, apart from a first cell-specific frame structure configuration broadcast in system information, at least another (i.e., a second) cell-specific frame structure configuration needs to be broadcast in system information. Periodicity in the second cell-specific frame structure configuration may be different from periodicity in the first cell-specific frame structure configuration, and/or the configuration for the uplink and/or downlink resources in the second cell-specific frame structure configuration may be different from the configuration for the uplink and/or downlink resources in the first cell-specific frame structure configuration.

The two identical or different periodicities are sequentially connected in the time domain so as to form a new periodicity, and this new periodicity may be continuously repeated in the time domain.

Optionally, the periodicity of the cell-specific uplink and/or downlink resources may include one of <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>.

To be specific, a periodicity of <NUM> may be acquired through the combination of two periodicities of <NUM>, a periodicity of <NUM> may be acquired through the combination of a periodicity of <NUM> and a periodicity of <NUM>, a periodicity of <NUM> may be acquired through the combination of a periodicity of <NUM> and a periodicity of <NUM>, a periodicity of <NUM> may be acquired through the combination of two periodicities of <NUM>, a periodicity of <NUM> may be acquired through the combination of two periodicities of <NUM>, and so on.

In summary, on the basis of a single-periodicity design, the dual-periodicity or multi-periodicity frame structure configuration method is provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure, so as to transmit at least two cell-specific frame structure configurations concatenated in the time domain to UE. Different periodicities of cell-specific uplink and/or downlink resources that are concatenated in a time domain are supported, and/or different configurations for the uplink and/or downlink resources within periodicities concatenated in the time domain are supported. As a result, it is able to acquire various new periodicities through the combination of several typical periodicities, thereby improving the system scalability and the resource configuration flexibility.

As shown in <FIG>, the present disclosure further provides in some embodiments a frame structure obtaining method, which includes the following steps.

Step <NUM>: receiving at least two cell-specific frame structure configurations from a base station. Each cell-specific frame structure configuration may include a periodicity of cell-specific uplink and/or downlink resources and a configuration for the uplink and/or downlink resources within the periodicity. Different periodicities of cell-specific uplink and/or downlink resources that are concatenated in a time domain are supported, and/or different configurations for the uplink and/or downlink resources within periodicities concatenated in the time domain are supported.

To be specific, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, when the durations of the two periodicities of cell-specific uplink and/or downlink resources that are concatenated in the time domain are different from each other, the configurations for the uplink and/or downlink resources within the two periodicities concatenated in the time domain may be the same or different from each other.

Similarly, when the configurations for the uplink and/or downlink resources within the two periodicities concatenated in the time domain are different, the durations of the two periodicities of cell-specific uplink and/or downlink resources that are concatenated in the time domain may be the same or different from each other.

Step <NUM>: determining a configuration result of a cell-specific target frame structure in accordance with the at least two cell-specific frame structure configurations.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, Step <NUM> may include: determining that the at least two cell-specific frame structure configurations are concatenated and repeated in the time domain to provide a configuration of the cell-specific target frame structure; determining a target periodicity of the cell-specific target frame structure in accordance with the configuration of the cell-specific target frame structure, where the target periodicity is a sum of at least two periodicities of cell-specific uplink and/or downlink resources that are concatenated; and determining a configuration for the uplink and/or downlink resources within the target periodicity in accordance with the configuration of the cell-specific target frame structure.

As shown in <FIG>, when the configuration of a cell-specific target frame structure is acquired by concatenating, in the time domain, cell-specific frame structure configurations of two frame structures concatenated in the time domain and each having a periodicity of <NUM>, a target frame has a periodicity of <NUM> (<NUM>+<NUM>). As shown in <FIG>, when the configuration of a cell-specific target frame structure is acquired by concatenating, in the time domain, cell-specific frame structure configurations of two frame structures concatenated in the time domain and having periodicities of <NUM> and <NUM> respectively, a target frame has a periodicity of <NUM> (<NUM>+<NUM>).

The two identical or different periodicities are sequentially connected in the time domain so as to form a new periodicity, and according to the invention this new periodicity is continuously repeated in the time domain.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the periodicity of the cell-specific uplink and/or downlink resources may include one of <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>.

In summary, on the basis of a single-periodicity design, the dual-periodicity or multi-periodicity frame structure configuration method may be provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure, so as to transmit at least two cell-specific frame structure configurations concatenated in the time domain to UE. Different periodicities of cell-specific uplink and/or downlink resources that are concatenated in a time domain are supported, and/or different configurations for the uplink and/or downlink resources within periodicities concatenated in the time domain are supported. As a result, it is able to acquire various new periodicities through the combination of several typical periodicities, thereby improving the system scalability and the resource configuration flexibility.

As shown in <FIG>, the present disclosure further provides in some embodiments a base station, including a processor <NUM> and a transceiver <NUM>. The transceiver <NUM> is configured to transmit at least two cell-specific frame structure configurations to UE. Each cell-specific frame structure configuration may include a periodicity of cell-specific uplink and/or downlink resources and a configuration for the uplink and/or downlink resources within the periodicity. Different periodicities of cell-specific uplink and/or downlink resources that are concatenated in a time domain are supported, and/or different configurations for the uplink and/or downlink resources within periodicities concatenated in the time domain are supported.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the at least two cell-specific frame structure configurations are concatenated and repeated in the time domain to provide a configuration of a cell-specific target frame structure.

A periodicity of cell-specific uplink and/or downlink resources in the configuration of the cell-specific target frame structure is a sum of at least two periodicities of cell-specific uplink and/or downlink resources that are concatenated.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the periodicity of the cell-specific uplink and/or downlink resources may include one of <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>.

It should be appreciated that, the base station in the embodiments of the present disclosure is capable of implementing the above-mentioned frame structure configuration method, and all embodiments of the frame structure configuration method may be applied to the base station and achieve a same or similar beneficial effect.

As shown in <FIG>, the present disclosure further provides in some embodiments UE, which includes a processor <NUM>, a transceiver <NUM>, and a user interface <NUM>. The transceiver <NUM> is configured to receive at least two cell-specific frame structure configurations from a base station, each cell-specific frame structure configuration may include a periodicity of cell-specific uplink and/or downlink resources and a configuration for the uplink and/or downlink resources within the periodicity, different periodicities of cell-specific uplink and/or downlink resources that are concatenated in a time domain are supported, and/or different configurations for the uplink and/or downlink resources within periodicities concatenated in the time domain are supported. The processor <NUM> is configured to determine a configuration result of a cell-specific target frame structure in accordance with the at least two cell-specific frame structure configurations.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the processor <NUM> is further configured to: determine that the at least two cell-specific frame structure configurations are concatenated and repeated in the time domain to provide a configuration of the cell-specific target frame structure; determine a target periodicity of the cell-specific target frame structure in accordance with the configuration of the cell-specific target frame structure, where the target periodicity is a sum of at least two periodicities of cell-specific uplink and/or downlink resources that are concatenated; and determine a configuration for the uplink and/or downlink resources within the target periodicity in accordance with the configuration of the cell-specific target frame structure.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the periodicity of the cell-specific uplink and/or downlink resources may refer to the periodicity of the uplink and/or downlink resources that is statically configured at a cell level, and the configuration for the uplink and/or downlink resources within the periodicity may refer to the configuration for the uplink and/or downlink resources within the periodicity that is statically configured at a cell level.

In another possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the periodicity of the cell-specific uplink and/or downlink resources may refer to the periodicity of the uplink and/or downlink resources that is semi-statically configured at a cell level, and the configuration for the uplink and/or downlink resources within the periodicity may refer to a configuration for the uplink and/or downlink resources within the periodicity that is semi-statically configured at a cell level.

It should be appreciated that, the UE in the embodiments of the present disclosure is capable of implementing the above-mentioned frame structure obtaining method, and all embodiments of the frame structure obtaining method may be applied to the base station and achieve a same or similar beneficial effect.

The present disclosure further provides in some embodiments a communication device, including a storage, a processor, and a computer program stored in the storage and configured to be executed by the processor. The processor is configured to execute the computer program, to implement various processes of the above-mentioned frame structure configuration method or the above-mentioned frame structure obtaining method and may achieve a same technical effect, which will thus not be particularly defined herein.

The present disclosure further provides in some embodiments a computer-readable storage medium storing therein a computer program. The computer program is configured to be executed by a processor, to implement various processes of the above-mentioned frame structure configuration method or the above-mentioned frame structure obtaining method and may achieve a same technical effect, which will thus not be particularly defined herein. The computer-readable storage medium may be a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, an optical disc or the like.

It should be appreciated that, the present disclosure may be provided as a method, a system or a computer program product, so the present disclosure may be in the form of full hardware embodiments, full software embodiments, or combinations thereof. In addition, the present disclosure may be in the form of a computer program product implemented on one or more computer-readable storage media (including but not limited to disk storage, optical storage and the like) including computer-readable program codes.

The present disclosure has been described with reference to the flow charts and/or block diagrams of the method, device (system) and computer program product according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be understood that computer program instructions may be used to implement each of the work flows and/or blocks in the flow charts and/or the block diagrams, and the combination of the work flows and/or blocks in the flow charts and/or the block diagrams. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general computer, a dedicated computer, an embedded processor or any other programmable data processing devices to create a machine, so that instructions executable by the processor of the computer or the other programmable data processing devices may create a device to achieve the functions defined in one or more work flows in the flow chart and/or one or more blocks in the block diagram.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable storage medium which may guide the computer or the other programmable data process devices to function in a certain way, so that the instructions stored in the computer readable storage medium may create a product including an instruction unit which achieves the functions defined in one or more flows in the flow chart and/or one or more blocks in the block diagram.

Claim 1:
A frame structure configuration method performed by a base station, characterized in that the method comprises:
transmitting (<NUM>) at least two cell-specific frame structure configurations to user equipment (UE), wherein each cell-specific frame structure configuration comprises a periodicity of cell-specific uplink and/or downlink resources and a configuration for the uplink and/or downlink resources within the periodicity, wherein, at least two periodicities of cell-specific uplink and/or downlink resources corresponding to the at least two cell-specific frame structure configurations are sequentially concatenated in a time domain, to form a first period, and the first period is continuously repeated in the time domain, periodicities of cell-specific uplink and/or downlink resources that are concatenated in a time domain are same or different, and/or configurations for the uplink and/or downlink resources within periodicities concatenated in the time domain are same or different.