Patent Description:
This application relates to wireless communication systems, and more particularly to bundling uplink communications (e.g., demodulation reference signals (DMRSs), sounding reference signals (SRSs), physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) communications, physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) communications, etc.) under timing advance (TA) conditions, including associated methods, devices, and systems.

A wireless multiple-access communications system may include a number of base stations (BSs), each simultaneously supporting communications for multiple communication devices, which may be otherwise known as user equipment (UE).

To meet the growing demands for expanded mobile broadband connectivity, wireless communication technologies are advancing from the long-term evolution (LTE) technology to a next generation new radio (NR) technology, which may be referred to as <NUM>th Generation (<NUM>). For example, NR is designed to provide a lower latency, a higher bandwidth or a higher throughput, and a higher reliability than LTE. NR is designed to operate over a wide array of spectrum bands, for example, from low-frequency bands below about <NUM> gigahertz (GHz) and mid-frequency bands from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, to high-frequency bands such as millimeter wave (mmWave) bands. NR is also designed to operate across different spectrum types, from licensed spectrum to unlicensed and shared spectrum. Spectrum sharing enables operators to opportunistically aggregate spectrums to dynamically support high-bandwidth services. Spectrum sharing can extend the benefit of NR technologies to operating entities that may not have access to a licensed spectrum.

To facilitate successful communications between a transmitter and a receiver, the transmitter may transmit one or more reference signals (alone or along with a data transmission). The reference signal(s) may include a predetermined sequence and may be transmitted at predetermined time and/or frequency locations. The receiver may estimate a channel response from the reference signal(s). Based on the channel estimation from processing the reference signal(s), either separately or bundled, the receiver can receive and decode communications from the transmitter.

In some instances, multiple reference signals may be bundled in the time domain across multiple time slots. When the reference signals are bundled, the receiver may perform joint channel estimation using the reference signals received across the multiple time slots, as opposed to performing a separate channel estimation for each individual slot based on the reference signal(s) received in the slot. When reference signals are bundled in the time domain, the transmitter can transmit the different reference signals with phase coherence to allow the receiver to perform the joint channel estimation. However, in some instances, the transmitter may be scheduled to implement a timing advance (TA) between the transmissions of the reference signals that are to be transmitted with phase coherence. In this regard, implementing the TA may cause the reference signals transmitted after implementation of the TA to be out of phase with the reference signals transmitted before the implementation of the TA. However, not implementing the TA may cause the transmitter and receiver to be out of synchronization. Accordingly, improved techniques for bundling uplink communication signals, including reference signals, under TA conditions are provided by the present disclosure. <CIT> discloses methods for improving phase continuity in an uplink transmit time interval (TTI) bundle. A first method may include identifying a segment of UL subframes in the TTI bundle and maintaining substantially the same transmit power/timing/frequency when transmitting data to a node over the segment of UL subframes in the TTI bundle. Another method may include ignoring reception of downlink subframes for a duration of the TTI bundle. <CIT> discloses techniques for facilitating and performing frequency-offset estimation, wherein methods and apparatus for maintaining phase coherence among reference symbols on different transmission-time intervals (TTI) for an accurate estimation of frequency offset are disclosed.

The underlying problem of the present invention is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims.

The following summarizes some aspects of the present disclosure to provide a basic understanding of the discussed technology. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated features of the disclosure and is intended neither to identify key or critical elements of all aspects of the disclosure nor to delineate the scope of any or all aspects of the disclosure. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects of the disclosure in summary form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

Aspects of the present disclosure provide mechanisms for bundling uplink communications (e.g., demodulation reference signals (DMRSs), sounding reference signals (SRSs), physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) communications, physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) communications, etc.) under timing advance (TA) conditions. In this regard, aspects of the present disclosure can enhance uplink cell coverage, especially towards the boundaries of the cell, by facilitating bundling of phase coherent uplink communications, while also maintaining synchronization between the user equipment (UE) and base station (BS) via timing advance (TA). uplink communications scheduled with phase coherence and before a start of a second uplink communication of the group of bundled uplink communications; determining whether to implement the TA at the first time or a second time, the second time being after transmission of the second uplink communication; and implementing the TA based on the determining.

In an additional aspect of the disclosure, a method of wireless communication performed by a base station includes transmitting, to a user equipment, a timing advance (TA), wherein the TA is scheduled to be implemented by the user equipment at a first time, the first time being after a start of a first uplink communication of a group of bundled uplink communications scheduled with phase coherence and before a start of a second uplink communication of the group of bundled uplink communications; receiving, from the user equipment, the first uplink communication; receiving, from the user equipment, the second uplink communication; and processing the first uplink communication and the second uplink communication based on when the TA was implemented by the user equipment.

In an additional aspect of the disclosure, a user equipment includes a transceiver configured to: receive, from a base station, a timing advance (TA), wherein the TA is scheduled to be implemented by the user equipment at a first time, the first time being after a start of a first uplink communication of a group of bundled uplink communications scheduled with phase coherence and before a start of a second uplink communication of the group of bundled uplink communications; and a processor in communication with the transceiver, the processor configured to: determine whether to implement the TA at the first time or a second time, the second time being after transmission of the second uplink communication; and implement the TA based on the determination.

In an additional aspect of the disclosure, a base station includes a transceiver configured to: transmit, to a user equipment, a timing advance (TA), wherein the TA is scheduled to be implemented by the user equipment at a first time, the first time being after a start of a first uplink communication of a group of bundled uplink communications scheduled with phase coherence and before a start of a second uplink communication of the group of bundled uplink communications; receive, from the user equipment, the first uplink communication; and receive, from the user equipment, the second uplink communication; and a processor in communication with the transceiver, the processor configured to: process the first uplink communication and the second uplink communication based on when the TA was implemented by the user equipment.

In an additional aspect of the disclosure, a user equipment includes means for receiving, from a base station, a timing advance (TA), wherein the TA is scheduled to be implemented by the user equipment at a first time, the first time being after a start of a first uplink communication of a group of bundled uplink communications scheduled with phase coherence and before a start of a second uplink communication of the group of bundled uplink communications; means for determining whether to implement the TA at the first time or a second time, the second time being after transmission of the second uplink communication; and means for implementing the TA based on the determining.

In an additional aspect of the disclosure, a base station includes means for transmitting, to a user equipment, a timing advance (TA), wherein the TA is scheduled to be implemented by the user equipment at a first time, the first time being after a start of a first uplink communication of a group of bundled uplink communications scheduled with phase coherence and before a start of a second uplink communication of the group of bundled uplink communications; means for receiving, from the user equipment, the first uplink communication; means for receiving, from the user equipment, the second uplink communication; and means for processing the first uplink communication and the second uplink communication based on when the TA was implemented by the user equipment.

In an additional aspect of the disclosure, a non-transitory computer-readable medium has program code recorded thereon for wireless communication by a user equipment, the program code including code for causing the user equipment to receive, from a base station, a timing advance (TA), wherein the TA is scheduled to be implemented by the user equipment at a first time, the first time being after a start of a first uplink communication of a group of bundled uplink communications scheduled with phase coherence and before a start of a second uplink communication of the group of bundled uplink communications; code for causing the user equipment to determine whether to implement the TA at the first time or a second time, the second time being after transmission of the second uplink communication; and code for causing the user equipment to implement the TA based on the determining.

Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, upon reviewing the following description of specific, exemplary embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures. The scope of the present invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims.

This disclosure relates generally to wireless communications systems, also referred to as wireless communications networks. In various embodiments, the techniques and apparatus may be used for wireless communication networks such as code division multiple access (CDMA) networks, time division multiple access (TDMA) networks, frequency division multiple access (FDMA) networks, orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA) networks, single-carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA) networks, LTE networks, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) networks, <NUM>th Generation (<NUM>) or new radio (NR) networks, as well as other communications networks. As described herein, the terms "networks" and "systems" may be used interchangeably.

An OFDMA network may implement a radio technology such as evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) <NUM>, IEEE <NUM>, IEEE <NUM>, flash-OFDM and the like. UTRA, E-UTRA, and GSM are part of universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS). 3GPP long term evolution (LTE) is a 3GPP project which was aimed at improving the UMTS mobile phone standard.

In particular, <NUM> networks contemplate diverse deployments, diverse spectrum, and diverse services and devices that may be implemented using an OFDM-based unified, air interface. In order to achieve these goals, further enhancements to LTE and LTE-A are considered in addition to development of the new radio technology for <NUM> NR networks. The <NUM> NR will be capable of scaling to provide coverage (<NUM>) to a massive Internet of things (IoTs) with a ULtra-high density (e.g., ~<NUM> nodes/km<NUM>), ultra-low complexity (e.g., ~<NUM> of bits/sec), ultra-low energy (e.g., ~<NUM>+ years of battery life), and deep coverage with the capability to reach challenging locations; (<NUM>) including mission-critical control with strong security to safeguard sensitive personal, financial, or classified information, ultra-high reliability (e.g., ~<NUM>% reliability), ultra-low latency (e.g., ~ <NUM>), and users with wide ranges of mobility or lack thereof; and (<NUM>) with enhanced mobile broadband including extreme high capacity (e.g., ~ <NUM> Tbps/km<NUM>), extreme data rates (e.g., multi-Gbps rate, <NUM>+ Mbps user experienced rates), and deep awareness with advanced discovery and optimizations.

The <NUM> NR may be implemented to use optimized OFDM-based waveforms with scalable numerology and transmission time interval (TTI); having a common, flexible framework to efficiently multiplex services and features with a dynamic, low-latency time division duplex (TDD)/frequency division duplex (FDD) design; and with advanced wireless technologies, such as massive multiple input, multiple output (MIMO), robust millimeter wave (mmWave) transmissions, advanced channel coding, and device-centric mobility. Scalability of the numerology in <NUM> NR, with scaling of subcarrier spacing, may efficiently address operating diverse services across diverse spectrum and diverse deployments. For example, in various outdoor and macro coverage deployments of less than <NUM> FDD/TDD implementations, subcarrier spacing may occur with <NUM>, for example over <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and the like bandwidth (BW). For other various outdoor and small cell coverage deployments of TDD greater than <NUM>, subcarrier spacing may occur with <NUM> over <NUM>/<NUM> BW. For other various indoor wideband implementations, using a TDD over the unlicensed portion of the <NUM> band, the subcarrier spacing may occur with <NUM> over a <NUM> BW. Finally, for various deployments transmitting with mmWave components at a TDD of <NUM>, subcarrier spacing may occur with <NUM> over a <NUM> BW.

Aspects of the present disclosure provide mechanisms for bundling uplink communications (e.g., demodulation reference signals (DMRSs), sounding reference signals (SRSs), physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) communications, physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) communications, etc.) under timing advance (TA) conditions. In this regard, aspects of the present disclosure can enhance uplink cell coverage, especially towards the boundaries of the cell, by facilitating bundling of phase coherent uplink communications, while also maintaining synchronization between the user equipment (UE) and base station (BS) via timing advance (TA).

In this regard, to facilitate successful communications between a transmitter and a receiver, the transmitter may transmit one or more reference signals (alone or along with a data transmission). The reference signal(s) may include a predetermined sequence and may be transmitted at predetermined time and/or frequency locations. The receiver may estimate a channel response from the reference signal(s). Based on the channel estimation from processing the reference signal(s), either separately or bundled, the receiver can receive and decode communications from the transmitter.

In some instances, multiple reference signals may be bundled in the time domain across multiple time slots. When the reference signals are bundled, the receiver may perform joint channel estimation using the reference signals received across the multiple time slots, as opposed to performing a separate channel estimation for each individual slot based on the reference signal(s) received in the slot. When reference signals are bundled in the time domain, the transmitter can transmit the different reference signals with phase coherence to allow the receiver to perform the joint channel estimation. However, in some instances, the transmitter may be scheduled to implement a timing advance (TA) between the transmissions of the reference signals that are to be transmitted with phase coherence. In this regard, implementing the TA may cause the reference signals transmitted after implementation of the TA to be out of phase with the reference signals transmitted before the implementation of the TA. However, not implementing the TA may cause the transmitter and receiver to be out of synchronization. The present disclosure provides improved techniques for bundling uplink communication signals, including reference signals, under TA conditions.

In some instances, the TA is implemented when scheduled, while in other instances the TA implementation is delayed. When to implement the TA can be determined based on a configuration. The configuration may be a dynamic configuration and/or a predetermined/pre-programmed configuration stored in the memory of the UE and/or BS. The configuration may provide one or more rules for determining when to implement the TA. In this regard, the rules may be based on whether bundled uplink communications are scheduled with phase coherence, the number of bundled uplink communications, the length of time necessary for the bundled uplink communications, a magnitude of the TA, one or more other factors, and/or combinations thereof. In this regard, the configuration may provide rules for selecting the timing for a delayed TA implementation. In this regard, the delayed timing can be based on one or more of an uplink-to-downlink switch, a downlink-to-uplink switch, a time gap between the uplink communications, a power change between the uplink communications, and/or uplink communications not being scheduled with phase coherence. Additional features and benefits of the present disclosure are set forth in the following description.

<FIG> illustrates a wireless communication network <NUM> according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The network <NUM> may be a <NUM> network. The network <NUM> includes a number of base stations (BSs) <NUM> (individually labeled as 105a, 105b, 105c, 105d, 105e, and 105f) and other network entities. A BS <NUM> may be a station that communicates with UEs <NUM> and may also be referred to as an evolved node B (eNB), a next generation eNB (gNB), an access point, and the like. Each BS <NUM> may provide communication coverage for a particular geographic area. In 3GPP, the term "cell" can refer to this particular geographic coverage area of a BS <NUM> and/or a BS subsystem serving the coverage area, depending on the context in which the term is used.

The UEs <NUM> are dispersed throughout the wireless network <NUM>, and each UE <NUM> may be stationary or mobile. A UE <NUM> may also be referred to as a terminal, a mobile station, a subscriber unit, a station, or the like. A UE <NUM> may be a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless modem, a wireless communication device, a handheld device, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a cordless phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, or the like. In one aspect, a UE <NUM> may be a device that includes a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC). In another aspect, a UE may be a device that does not include a UICC. In some aspects, the UEs <NUM> that do not include UICCs may also be referred to as IoT devices or internet of everything (IoE) devices. The UEs 115a-115d are examples of mobile smart phone-type devices accessing network <NUM>. A UE <NUM> may also be a machine specifically configured for connected communication, including machine type communication (MTC), enhanced MTC (eMTC), narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) and the like. The UEs 115e-<NUM> are examples of various machines configured for communication that access the network <NUM>. A UE <NUM> may be able to communicate with any type of the BSs, whether macro BS, small cell, or the like. In <FIG>, a lightning bolt (e.g., communication links) indicates wireless transmissions between a UE <NUM> and a serving BS <NUM>, which is a BS designated to serve the UE <NUM> on the downlink and/or uplink, or desired transmission between BSs, and backhaul transmissions between BSs.

The BSs <NUM> may also communicate with a core network. The core network may provide user authentication, access authorization, tracking, Internet Protocol (IP) connectivity, and other access, routing, or mobility functions. At least some of the BSs <NUM> (e.g., which may be an example of a gNB or an access node controller (ANC)) may interface with the core network through backhaul links (e.g., NG-C, NG-U, etc.) and may perform radio configuration and scheduling for communication with the UEs <NUM>. In various examples, the BSs <NUM> may communicate, either directly or indirectly (e.g., through core network), with each other over backhaul links (e.g., X1, X2, etc.), which may be wired or wireless communication links.

The network <NUM> may also support mission critical communications with ultra-reliable and redundant links for mission critical devices, such as the UE 115e, which may be a drone. Redundant communication links with the UE 115e may include links from the macro BSs 105d and 105e, as well as links from the small cell BS 105f. Other machine type devices, such as the UE 115f (e.g., a thermometer), the UE <NUM> (e.g., smart meter), and UE <NUM> (e.g., wearable device) may communicate through the network <NUM> either directly with BSs, such as the small cell BS 105f, and the macro BS 105e, or in multi-hop configurations by communicating with another user device which relays its information to the network, such as the UE 115f communicating temperature measurement information to the smart meter, the UE <NUM>, which is then reported to the network through the small cell BS 105f. The network <NUM> may also provide additional network efficiency through dynamic, low-latency TDD/FDD communications, such as in a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V).

In some implementations, the network <NUM> utilizes OFDM-based waveforms for communications. An OFDM-based system may partition the system BW into multiple (K) orthogonal subcarriers, which are also commonly referred to as subcarriers, tones, bins, or the like. Each subcarrier may be modulated with data. In some instances, the subcarrier spacing between adjacent subcarriers may be fixed, and the total number of subcarriers (K) may be dependent on the system BW. The system BW may also be partitioned into subbands. In other instances, the subcarrier spacing and/or the duration of TTIs may be scalable.

In an embodiment, the BSs <NUM> can assign or schedule transmission resources (e.g., in the form of time-frequency resource blocks (RB)) for downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) transmissions in the network <NUM>. DL refers to the transmission direction from a BS <NUM> to a UE <NUM>, whereas UL refers to the transmission direction from a UE <NUM> to a BS <NUM>. The communication can be in the form of radio frames. A radio frame may be divided into a plurality of subframes or slots, for example, about <NUM>. Each slot may be further divided into mini-slots. In a FDD mode, simultaneous UL and DL transmissions may occur in different frequency bands. For example, each subframe includes a UL subframe in a UL frequency band and a DL subframe in a DL frequency band. In a TDD mode, UL and DL transmissions occur at different time periods using the same frequency band. For example, a subset of the subframes (e.g., DL subframes) in a radio frame may be used for DL transmissions and another subset of the subframes (e.g., UL subframes) in the radio frame may be used for UL transmissions.

The DL subframes and the UL subframes can be further divided into several regions. For example, each DL or UL subframe may have pre-defined regions for transmissions of reference signals, control information, and data. Reference signals are predetermined signals that facilitate the communications between the BSs <NUM> and the UEs <NUM>. For example, a reference signal can have a particular pilot pattern or structure, where pilot tones may span across an operational BW or frequency band, each positioned at a pre-defined time and a pre-defined frequency. For example, a BS <NUM> may transmit cell specific reference signals (CRSs) and/or channel state information - reference signals (CSI-RSs) to enable a UE <NUM> to estimate a DL channel. Similarly, a UE <NUM> may transmit sounding reference signals (SRSs) to enable a BS <NUM> to estimate a UL channel. Control information may include resource assignments and protocol controls. Data may include protocol data and/or operational data. In some embodiments, the BSs <NUM> and the UEs <NUM> may communicate using self-contained subframes. A self-contained subframe may include a portion for DL communication and a portion for UL communication. A self-contained subframe can be DL-centric or UL-centric. A DL-centric subframe may include a longer duration for DL communication than for UL communication. A UL-centric subframe may include a longer duration for UL communication than for UL communication.

In an embodiment, the network <NUM> may be an NR network deployed over a licensed spectrum. The BSs <NUM> can transmit synchronization signals (e.g., including a primary synchronization signal (PSS) and a secondary synchronization signal (SSS)) in the network <NUM> to facilitate synchronization. The BSs <NUM> can broadcast system information associated with the network <NUM> (e.g., including a master information block (MIB), remaining system information (RMSI), and other system information (OSI)) to facilitate initial network access. In some instances, the BSs <NUM> may broadcast the PSS, the SSS, and/or the MIB in the form of synchronization signal block (SSBs) over a physical broadcast channel (PBCH) and may broadcast the RMSI and/or the OSI over a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH).

In an embodiment, a UE <NUM> attempting to access the network <NUM> may perform an initial cell search by detecting a PSS from a BS <NUM>. The PSS may enable synchronization of period timing and may indicate a physical layer identity value. The UE <NUM> may then receive a SSS. The SSS may enable radio frame synchronization, and may provide a cell identity value, which may be combined with the physical layer identity value to identify the cell. The PSS and the SSS may be located in a central portion of a carrier or any suitable frequencies within the carrier.

After receiving the PSS and SSS, the UE <NUM> may receive a MIB. The MIB may include system information for initial network access and scheduling information for RMSI and/or OSI. After decoding the MIB, the UE <NUM> may receive RMSI and/or OSI. The RMSI and/or OSI may include radio resource control (RRC) information related to random access channel (RACH) procedures, paging, control resource set (CORESET) for physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring, physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), power control, and SRS.

After obtaining the MIB, the RMSI and/or the OSI, the UE <NUM> can perform a random access procedure to establish a connection with the BS <NUM>. In some examples, the random access procedure may be a four-step random access procedure. For example, the UE <NUM> may transmit a random access preamble and the BS <NUM> may respond with a random access response. The random access response (RAR) may include a detected random access preamble identifier (ID) corresponding to the random access preamble, timing advance (TA) information, a UL grant, a temporary cell-radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI), and/or a backoff indicator. Upon receiving the random access response, the UE <NUM> may transmit a connection request to the BS <NUM> and the BS <NUM> may respond with a connection response. The connection response may indicate a contention resolution. In some examples, the random access preamble, the RAR, the connection request, and the connection response can be referred to as a message <NUM> (MSG <NUM>), a message <NUM> (MSG <NUM>), a message <NUM> (MSG <NUM>), and a message <NUM> (MSG <NUM>), respectively. In some examples, the random access procedure may be a two-step random access procedure, where the UE <NUM> may transmit a random access preamble and a connection request in a single transmission and the BS <NUM> may respond by transmitting a random access response and a connection response in a single transmission. The combined random access preamble and connection request in the two-step random access procedure may be referred to as a message A (MSG A). The combined random access response and connection response in the two-step random access procedure may be referred to as a message B (MSG B).

After establishing a connection, the UE <NUM> may initiate an initial network attachment procedure with the network <NUM>. When the UE <NUM> has no active data communication with the BS <NUM> after the network attachment, the UE <NUM> may return to an idle state (e.g., RRC idle mode). Alternatively, the UE <NUM> and the BS <NUM> can enter an operational state or active state, where operational data may be exchanged (e.g., RRC connected mode). For example, the BS <NUM> may schedule the UE <NUM> for UL and/or DL communications. The BS <NUM> may transmit UL and/or DL scheduling grants to the UE <NUM> via a PDCCH. The BS <NUM> may transmit a DL communication signal to the UE <NUM> via a PDSCH according to a DL scheduling grant. The UE <NUM> may transmit a UL communication signal to the BS <NUM> via a PUSCH and/or PUCCH according to a UL scheduling grant. In some embodiments, the BS <NUM> and the UE <NUM> may employ hybrid automatic request (HARQ) techniques for communications to improve reliability. Additionally, the UE <NUM> and/or the BS <NUM> can utilize DRX (e.g., during RRC idle mode), including connected mode DRX (C-DRX) (e.g., during RRC connected mode), and/or DTX operating modes.

In an embodiment, the network <NUM> may operate over a system BW or a component carrier (CC) BW. The network <NUM> may partition the system BW into multiple BWPs (e.g., portions). A BS <NUM> may dynamically assign a UE <NUM> to operate over a certain BWP (e.g., a certain portion of the system BW). The assigned BWP may be referred to as the active BWP. The UE <NUM> may monitor the active BWP for signaling information from the BS <NUM>. The BS <NUM> may schedule the UE <NUM> for UL or DL communications in the active BWP. In some instances, a BS <NUM> may assign a pair of BWPs within the CC to a UE <NUM> for UL and DL communications. For example, the BWP pair may include one BWP for UL communications and one BWP for DL communications. In some instances, the BS <NUM> may dynamically switch the UE <NUM> from one BWP to another BWP, for example, from a wideband BWP to a narrowband BWP for power savings or from a narrowband BWP to a wideband BWP for communication.

The BS <NUM> may additionally configure the UE <NUM> with one or more CORESETs in a BWP. A CORESET may include a set of frequency resources spanning a number of symbols in time. The BS <NUM> may configure the UE <NUM> with one or more search spaces for PDCCH monitoring based on the CORESETS. The UE <NUM> may perform blind decoding in the search spaces to search for DL control information from the BS. The BS <NUM> may configure the UE <NUM> with various different CORSETs and/or search spaces for different types of PDCCH monitoring (e.g., DL/UL schedules and/or wake-up information). In an example, the BS <NUM> may configure the UE <NUM> with the BWPs, the CORESETS, and/or the PDCCH search spaces via RRC configurations.

In an embodiment, the BS <NUM> may establish a RRC connection with the UE <NUM> in a primary cell (PCell) (e.g., over a primary frequency carrier) and may subsequently configure the UE <NUM> to communicate over a secondary cell (SCell) (e.g., over a secondary frequency carrier). In an embodiment, the BS <NUM> may trigger the UE <NUM> to report channel information based on channel-state-information-reference signal (CSI-RS) transmitted by the BS <NUM>. In some instances, the triggering may be aperiodic, which may be referred to as aperiodic-CSI-RS (A-CSI-RS) triggering.

The network <NUM> may operate over a shared frequency band or an unlicensed frequency band, for example, at about <NUM> gigahertz (GHz), sub-<NUM> or higher frequencies in the mm Wave band. The network <NUM> may partition a frequency band into multiple channels, for example, each occupying about <NUM> megahertz (MHz). The BSs <NUM> and the UEs <NUM> may be operated by multiple network operating entities sharing resources in the shared communication medium and may acquire channel occupancy time (COT) in the share medium for communications. A COT may be non-continuous in time and may refer to an amount of time a wireless node can send frames when it has won contention for the wireless medium. Each COT may include a plurality of transmission slots. A COT may also be referred to as a transmission opportunity (TXOP).

In some aspects, to facilitate successful communications between a transmitter and a receiver, such as a BS <NUM> and a UE <NUM> or vice versa, the transmitter may transmit one or more reference signals (alone or along with a data transmission), such as demodulation reference signals (DMRSs), sounding reference signals (SRSs), and/or the like. The reference signal(s) may include a predetermined sequence and may be transmitted at predetermined time and/or frequency locations. The receiver may then estimate a channel response from the reference signal(s). Based on the channel estimation from processing the reference signal(s), the receiver can receive and decode communications from the transmitter.

Further, in some aspects, multiple reference signals may be bundled in the time domain across multiple time slots. When the reference signals are bundled, the receiver (e.g., a BS <NUM> or a UE <NUM>) may perform joint channel estimation using the reference signals received across the multiple time slots, as opposed to performing a separate channel estimation for each individual slot based on the reference signal(s) received in the slot. When reference signals are bundled in the time domain, the transmitter (e.g., a BS <NUM> or a UE <NUM>) can transmit the different reference signals with phase coherence to allow the receiver to perform the joint channel estimation. However, as described below with reference to <FIG>, in some instances, the transmitter may be scheduled to implement a timing advance (TA) between the transmissions of the reference signals that are to be transmitted with phase coherence. In this regard, implementing the TA may cause the reference signals transmitted after implementation of the TA to be out of phase with the reference signals transmitted before the implementation of the TA. However, not implementing the TA may cause the transmitter and receiver (e.g., the BS <NUM> and the UE <NUM>) to be out of synchronization.

Accordingly, the present disclosure provides improved techniques for bundling uplink communication signals, including reference signals, under TA conditions (e.g., while maintaining synchronization between a UE <NUM> and a BS <NUM>). In particular, the present disclosure provides mechanisms for a UE <NUM> and a BS <NUM> to determine whether to implement a TA as scheduled or with a delay such that synchronization between the UE <NUM> and the BS <NUM> is maintained and bundled uplink communications between the UE <NUM> and the BS <NUM> may be properly received and decoded (e.g., processed).

<FIG> illustrates uplink bundling and timing advance scheduling <NUM> according to some aspects of the present disclosure. The uplink bundling and timing advance scheduling <NUM> of <FIG> illustrates aspects of one or more uplink channels <NUM> (e.g., physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), etc.), one or more downlink channels <NUM> (e.g., physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), etc.), a timing advance (TA) <NUM>, and uplink communications <NUM> (e.g., PUSCH communications, PUCCH communications, demodulation reference signals (DMRSs), sounding reference signals (SRSs), etc.). In <FIG>, the x-axis represents time in some arbitrary units as shown.

In some instances, DMRS bundling can be an effective technique for enhancing cell coverage, including for uplink communications near the edge or boundary of a cell. At the UE, the DMRSs can be coherently transmitted over different time instants corresponding to different uplink transmissions (e.g., PUSCH transmissions and/or PUCCH transmissions). At the BS, the DMRSs received over different time instants can be coherently filtered and/or combined to enhance the accuracy of channel estimation. That is, the DMRSs received over the different time instants can be processed jointly instead of separately or individually. Similar types of bundling techniques can be applied to other types of uplink communications <NUM>, including without limitation bundling between SRSs, bundling between an SRS and a PUCCH, bundling between an SRS and PUSCH, bundling between PUCCHs, bundling between PUSCHs, bundling between PUSCH and PUCCH, etc..

Timing advance is a technique that can be utilized to achieve uplink and/or downlink synchronization in a cell. In this regard, due to propagation delay, the timing at which the downlink signal is transmitted by the BS and the timing at which the uplink signal is received at the BS may exhibit a large delay, potentially creating an uplink/downlink conflict. Moreover, since the propagation delay from different UEs is typically different, then the timing for uplink signals transmitted from different UEs can be different, which may create undesired inter-symbol interference at the BS. To address this issue, the TA <NUM> can be utilized. In this regard, the UE can advance (or delay) its uplink transmissions by a certain amount of time (which roughly corresponds to twice the propagation delay between the UE and BS). In some instances, the BS indicates a TA value (e.g., in the unit of multiples of transmission samples (based on the sampling rate, which can depend on the subcarrier spacing)) in the TA <NUM> transmitted over the downlink channel(s) <NUM>. In some instances, the TA <NUM> is transmitted in a media access control control element (MAC CE) over the PDSCH. After receiving the TA with the TA value, the UE can implement the TA value by adjusting (e.g., delaying or advancing) its transmission timing.

As shown in <FIG>, in some instances a TA <NUM>-a is scheduled to be applied by the UE at a time <NUM>. In this regard, in some instances the TA-230a is scheduled to be implemented by the UE starting with an uplink transmission that is at least a time gap <NUM> (e.g., T_gap) after the UE receives the TA <NUM>-a. In some instances, the length of the time gap <NUM> is based on a TA processing time of the UE. Accordingly, the time <NUM> at which the TA is scheduled to implemented by the UE can be based upon when the UE receives the TA from the BS, the time gap <NUM>, a TA processing time of the UE, and/or a communication schedule of the UE. In the illustrated example of <FIG>, the time gap <NUM> ends during slot <NUM>-a where uplink communication <NUM>-a is transmitted. Accordingly, in some instances the UE is scheduled to implement the TA <NUM>-a prior to the slot <NUM>-b and the transmission of the associated uplink communication <NUM>-b.

Although the TA <NUM>-a that gets applied by the UE is provided by the BS, in some instances there can still be some slack or difference in the synchronization timing between the UE and the BS. For example, in some instances, this difference can be caused because the UE applies the TA <NUM>-a based on its estimated downlink receive timing, which is not always estimated accurately. As a consequence, upon the implementation of the TA <NUM>-a by the UE, the BS may need to re-estimate the uplink timing and adjust the phase of the received symbols accordingly. In other words, when the UE applies the TA <NUM>-a on an uplink transmission the BS may need to re-estimate the uplink timing. Because the timing and phase of uplink communications are highly correlated, the change in timing resulting from implementing the TA <NUM>-a can result in a corresponding phase change in the uplink communication. Accordingly, in the example of <FIG>, if the uplink communications <NUM>-a and <NUM>-b are bundled communications scheduled to be transmitted with phase coherence, implementing the TA <NUM>-a at the scheduled time <NUM> could cause the uplink communications <NUM>-a and <NUM>-b to not have phase coherence and, therefore, prevent the BS from coherently processing the consecutive slots <NUM>-a and <NUM>-b and associated communications <NUM>-a and <NUM>-b. This can be the case even where the UE transmits the uplink communications <NUM>-a and <NUM>-b with phase coherence/continuity. Accordingly, aspects of the present disclosure provide mechanisms for handling uplink bundling and TA scheduling when a TA (e.g., TA <NUM>-a) is scheduled to be implement by a UE between uplink communications that are scheduled to be transmitted with phase coherency (e.g., uplink communications <NUM>-a and <NUM>-b).

<FIG> illustrates uplink bundling and timing advance scheduling <NUM> according to some aspects of the present disclosure. The uplink bundling and timing advance scheduling <NUM> of <FIG> may be similar to and implement aspects of uplink bundling and timing advance scheduling <NUM> of <FIG>. The uplink bundling and timing advance scheduling <NUM> of <FIG> illustrates aspects of one or more uplink channels <NUM> (e.g., physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), etc.), one or more downlink channels <NUM> (e.g., physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), etc.), a timing advance (TA) <NUM>, and uplink communications <NUM> (e.g., PUSCH communications, PUCCH communications, demodulation reference signals (DMRSs), sounding reference signals (SRSs), etc.). In <FIG>, the x-axis represents time in some arbitrary units as shown.

As shown, a TA <NUM>-a is transmitted over the downlink channel(s) <NUM>. In some instances, the TA <NUM>-a is transmitted in a MAC CE over the PDSCH. After receiving the TA <NUM>-a, the UE can implement the TA value by adjusting (e.g., delaying or advancing) its transmission timing.

As shown in <FIG>, in some instances the TA <NUM>-a is scheduled to be applied by the UE at a time <NUM>. In some instances, the TA-330a is scheduled to be implemented by the UE starting with an uplink transmission that is at least a time gap <NUM> (e.g., T_gap) after the UE receives the TA <NUM>-a. In some instances, the length of the time gap <NUM> is based on a TA processing time of the UE. Accordingly, the time <NUM> at which the TA is scheduled to implemented by the UE can be based upon when the UE receives the TA <NUM>-a from the BS, the time gap <NUM>, a TA processing time of the UE, and/or a communication schedule of the UE. In the illustrated example of <FIG>, the time gap <NUM> ends during slot <NUM>-a where uplink communication <NUM>-a is transmitted. Accordingly, in some instances the UE is scheduled to implement the TA <NUM>-a prior to the slot <NUM>-b and the transmission of the associated uplink communication <NUM>-b.

In some instances, the UE determines whether to implement the TA <NUM>-a at the time <NUM> or delay the implementation to a later time (e.g., after transmission of the uplink communication <NUM>-b). In some instances, the UE determines when to implement the TA <NUM>-a based on a configuration. The configuration may be a dynamic configuration received from a BS (e.g., via RRC signaling, MAC CE, DCI, or otherwise) or a predetermined/pre-programmed configuration stored in the memory of the UE. The configuration may provide one or more rules for the UE to utilize in determining when to implement the TA <NUM>-a. In this regard, the rules may be based on whether bundled uplink communications are scheduled with phase coherence, the number of bundled uplink communications, the length of time necessary for the bundled uplink communications, a magnitude of the TA, one or more other factors, and/or combinations thereof. The configuration may also provide rules for the UE to utilize in selecting the timing for implementing the TA <NUM>-a when the implementation is to be delayed from time <NUM>. In this regard, the timing can be based on one or more of an uplink-to-downlink switch, a downlink-to-uplink switch, a time gap between uplink communications, a power change between uplink communications, and/or the uplink communications not being scheduled with phase coherence.

In the illustrated example of <FIG>, the UE implements the TA <NUM>-a at time <NUM> as indicated by adjustment <NUM>. Note that adjustment <NUM> shows an exaggerated delay period simply to illustrate the concept and is not necessarily to scale. It is understood that the adjustment <NUM> can be an advance or a delay in the uplink timing of the UE and will be based on the value included in the TA <NUM>-a. Implementing the TA <NUM>-a at the scheduled time <NUM> can cause the uplink communication <NUM>-b to not have phase coherency with uplink communication <NUM>-a. In other words, the UE is not expected to keep the phase coherence between uplink communications <NUM>-a and <NUM>-b if the UE applies the TA <NUM>-a for uplink communication <NUM>-b. Therefore, in some instances the BS processes the uplink communications <NUM>-a and <NUM>-b separately, instead of coherently processing them together.

In some instances, the BS determines when the TA <NUM>-a was implemented by the UE based on the received uplink communications <NUM>-a and <NUM>-b, the TA processing capabilities of the UE, a configuration implemented by the UE, and/or other factors. In some instances, the timing of the implementation of the TA <NUM>-a by the UE is based on a configuration, as discussed above. In some instances, the BS utilizes aspects of the configuration to estimate and/or determine when the UE will implement the TA <NUM>-a. In this regard, as shown in the example of <FIG>, the BS may determine that the UE will implement the TA at time <NUM> and, therefore, determine to process the uplink communications <NUM>-a and <NUM>-b separately.

<FIG> illustrates uplink bundling and timing advance scheduling <NUM> according to some aspects of the present disclosure. The uplink bundling and timing advance scheduling <NUM> of <FIG> may be similar to and implement aspects of uplink bundling and timing advance schedulings <NUM> and <NUM> of <FIG> and <FIG>. The uplink bundling and timing advance scheduling <NUM> of <FIG> illustrates aspects of one or more uplink channels <NUM> (e.g., physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), etc.), one or more downlink channels <NUM> (e.g., physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), etc.), a timing advance (TA) <NUM>, and uplink communications <NUM> (e.g., PUSCH communications, PUCCH communications, demodulation reference signals (DMRSs), sounding reference signals (SRSs), etc.). In <FIG>, the x-axis represents time in some arbitrary units as shown.

As shown in <FIG>, in some instances the TA <NUM>-a is scheduled to be applied by the UE at a time <NUM>-a. In some instances, the TA-430a is scheduled to be implemented by the UE starting with an uplink transmission that is at least a time gap <NUM> (e.g., T_gap) after the UE receives the TA <NUM>-a. In some instances, the length of the time gap <NUM> is based on a TA processing time of the UE. Accordingly, the time <NUM>-a at which the TA is scheduled to implemented by the UE can be based upon when the UE receives the TA <NUM>-a from the BS, the time gap <NUM>, a TA processing time of the UE, and/or a communication schedule of the UE. In the illustrated example of <FIG>, the time gap <NUM> ends during slot <NUM>-a where uplink communication <NUM>-a is transmitted. Accordingly, in some instances the UE is scheduled to implement the TA <NUM>-a prior to the slot <NUM>-b and the transmission of the associated uplink communication <NUM>-b.

In some instances, the UE determines whether to implement the TA <NUM>-a at the time <NUM>-a or delay the implementation to a later time, such as time <NUM>-b. In some instances, the UE determines when to implement the TA <NUM>-a based on a configuration. The configuration may be a dynamic configuration received from a BS (e.g., via RRC signaling, MAC CE, DCI, or otherwise) or a predetermined/preprogrammed configuration stored in the memory of the UE. The configuration may provide one or more rules for the UE to utilize in determining when to implement the TA <NUM>-a. In this regard, the rules may be based on whether bundled uplink communications are scheduled with phase coherence, the number of bundled uplink communications, the length of time necessary for the bundled uplink communications, a magnitude of the TA, one or more other factors, and/or combinations thereof. The configuration may also provide rules for the UE to utilize in selecting the timing for implementing the TA <NUM>-a when the implementation is to be delayed from time <NUM>-a. In this regard, the time <NUM>-b can be selected based on one or more of an uplink-to-downlink switch, a downlink-to-uplink switch, a time gap between uplink communications, a power change between uplink communications, and/or the uplink communications not being scheduled with phase coherence.

In some instances, the configuration may dictate that the UE should transmit a certain number (e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, etc.) of bundled uplink communications scheduled with phase coherency prior to implementing the TA <NUM>-a. The number of bundled uplink communications to transmit with phase coherency may be less than all the bundled uplink communications scheduled in some instances. As another example, the configuration may indicate that the UE should transmit any bundled uplink communications scheduled within a certain time period (e.g., number of slots, x ms, etc.) with phase coherency prior to implementing the TA <NUM>-a. Again, the number of bundled uplink communications in the time period may be less than all the bundled uplink communications scheduled in some instances. In some instances, delay in implementing the TA <NUM>-a may be partially based on the magnitude of the TA <NUM>-a. In this regard, a smaller magnitude TA <NUM>-a may be allowed a longer delay period for implementation than a larger magnitude TA <NUM>-a. In some instances, if a magnitude of the TA <NUM>-a is above a threshold, then the UE delays implementation of the TA; otherwise the UE applies the TA at <NUM>-a and keeps the phase coherence across the uplink communications <NUM>-a and <NUM>-b. In some instances, the UE is configured to implement the TA <NUM>-a following an uplink-to-downlink switch. In some instances, the UE is configured to implement the TA <NUM>-a following a downlink-to-uplink switch. In some instances, the UE is configured to implement the TA <NUM>-a when a gap (e.g., time and/or number of slots/sub-slots) between uplink communications exceeds a threshold. That is, if the gap between two uplink communications is sufficiently large the UE can implement the TA <NUM>-a. In some instances, the UE is configured to implement the TA <NUM>-a when there is a power change between uplink communications. In some instances, the UE is configured to implement the TA <NUM>-a between uplink communications when the uplink communications are not scheduled with phase coherence.

As a result of delaying the implementation of the TA <NUM>-a in accordance with any of the techniques discussed above, there can be a time gap <NUM> between the initially scheduled implementation time <NUM>-a and the actual implementation time <NUM>-b. In some instances, the time gap <NUM> may be a fixed and/or predetermined amount of time and operate in a similar manner to time gap <NUM>. That is, the UE may implement the TA <NUM>-a after the time gap <NUM> ends following the scheduled time <NUM>-a. In some instances, the time gap <NUM> and/or the time gap <NUM> is implemented by the UE using a timer.

In the illustrated example of <FIG>, the UE determines to delay the implementation of the TA <NUM>-a from time <NUM>-a to time <NUM>-b. Accordingly, in some instances the uplink communication <NUM>-b is transmitted before implementing the TA <NUM>-a. In this regard, the uplink communication <NUM>-b may be transmitted with phase coherence with the uplink communication <NUM>-a as a result of delaying implementation of the TA <NUM>-a until after transmitting the uplink communication <NUM>-b. Therefore, the BS receiving the uplink communications <NUM>-a and <NUM>-b may process the uplink communications <NUM>-a and <NUM>-b jointly, instead of separately, because of the phase continuity.

In some instances, the BS determines when the TA <NUM>-a was implemented by the UE based on the received uplink communications <NUM>-a and <NUM>-b, the TA processing capabilities of the UE, a configuration implemented by the UE, and/or other factors. In some instances, the timing of the implementation of the TA <NUM>-a by the UE is based on a configuration, as discussed above. In some instances, the BS utilizes aspects of the configuration to estimate and/or determine when the UE will implement the TA <NUM>-a. In this regard, as shown in the example of <FIG>, the BS may determine that the UE will implement the TA <NUM>-a at time <NUM>-b and, therefore, determine to process the uplink communications <NUM>-a and <NUM>-b jointly.

<FIG> illustrates uplink bundling and timing advance scheduling <NUM> according to some aspects of the present disclosure. The uplink bundling and timing advance scheduling <NUM> of <FIG> may be similar to and implement aspects of uplink bundling and timing advance schedulings <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> of <FIG>. The uplink bundling and timing advance scheduling <NUM> of <FIG> illustrates aspects of one or more uplink channels <NUM> (e.g., physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), etc.), one or more downlink channels <NUM> (e.g., physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), etc.), a timing advance (TA) <NUM>, and uplink communications <NUM> (e.g., PUSCH communications, PUCCH communications, demodulation reference signals (DMRSs), sounding reference signals (SRSs), etc.). In <FIG>, the x-axis represents time in some arbitrary units as shown.

As shown in <FIG>, in some instances the TA <NUM>-a is scheduled to be applied by the UE at a time <NUM>-a. In some instances, the TA-530a is scheduled to be implemented by the UE starting with an uplink transmission that is at least a time gap <NUM> (e.g., T_gap) after the UE receives the TA <NUM>-a. In some instances, the length of the time gap <NUM> is based on a TA processing time of the UE. Accordingly, the time <NUM>-a at which the TA is scheduled to implemented by the UE can be based upon when the UE receives the TA <NUM>-a from the BS, the time gap <NUM>, a TA processing time of the UE, and/or a communication schedule of the UE. In the illustrated example of <FIG>, the time gap <NUM> ends during slot <NUM>-a where uplink communication <NUM>-a is transmitted. Accordingly, in some instances the UE is scheduled to implement the TA <NUM>-a prior to the slot <NUM>-b and the transmission of the associated uplink communication <NUM>-b.

In some instances, the UE determines whether to implement the TA <NUM>-a at the time <NUM>-a or delay the implementation to a later time, such as time <NUM>-b. In some instances, the UE determines when to implement the TA <NUM>-a based on a configuration as discussed above with respect to <FIG> and <FIG>. In this regard, the configuration may provide one or more rules for the UE to utilize in determining when to implement the TA <NUM>-a. In this regard, the rules may be based on whether bundled uplink communications are scheduled with phase coherence, the number of bundled uplink communications, the length of time necessary for the bundled uplink communications, a magnitude of the TA, one or more other factors, and/or combinations thereof. The configuration may also provide rules for the UE to utilize in selecting the timing for implementing the TA <NUM>-a when the implementation is to be delayed from time <NUM>-a. In this regard, the time <NUM>-b can be selected based on one or more of an uplink-to-downlink switch, a downlink-to-uplink switch, a time gap between uplink communications, a power change between uplink communications, and/or the uplink communications not being scheduled with phase coherence.

<FIG> illustrates some examples of how the time <NUM>-b can be selected in accordance with the present disclosure. For example, in some instances, the UE may be configured to transmit a certain number (e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, etc.) of bundled uplink communications scheduled with phase coherency prior to implementing the TA <NUM>-a. The number of bundled uplink communications to transmit with phase coherency may be all or less than all the bundled uplink communications scheduled. For example, in <FIG> the UE may be configured to transmit both uplink communications <NUM>-a and <NUM>-b with phase coherency prior to implementing the TA <NUM>-a.

As another example, the UE may be configured to transmit any bundled uplink communications scheduled within a certain time period (e.g., number of slots, x ms, etc.) with phase coherency prior to implementing the TA <NUM>-a. Again, the number of bundled uplink communications in the time period may be less than all the bundled uplink communications scheduled in some instances. In <FIG>, for example, the UE may be configured to transmit both uplink communications <NUM>-a and <NUM>-b with phase coherency during the allotted time period, then implement the TA <NUM>-a. In some instances, the UE may be configured to determine the amount of allowable delay for implementing the TA <NUM>-a based on the magnitude of the TA <NUM>-a. In this regard, a smaller magnitude TA <NUM>-a may be allowed a longer delay period for implementation than a larger magnitude TA <NUM>-a. In some instances, if a magnitude of the TA <NUM>-a is above a threshold, then the UE delays implementation of the TA <NUM>-a; otherwise the UE applies the TA <NUM>-a at <NUM>-a and keeps the phase coherence across the uplink communications <NUM>-a and <NUM>-b.

In some instances, the UE may be configured to implement the TA <NUM>-a following an uplink-to-downlink switch. In <FIG>, for example, the UE may be configured to implement the TA <NUM>-a following a switch from uplink slot <NUM>-b to downlink slot <NUM>-c. Accordingly, prior to the next uplink communication (e.g., uplink communication <NUM>-d) and/or uplink slot (e.g., slot <NUM>-d) following the uplink-to-downlink switch the UE can implement the TA <NUM>-a.

In some instances, the UE may be configured to implement the TA <NUM>-a following a downlink-to-uplink switch. In <FIG>, for example, the UE may be configured to implement the TA <NUM>-a following a switch from downlink slot <NUM>-c to uplink slot <NUM>-d. Accordingly, prior to the next uplink communication (e.g., uplink communication <NUM>-d) and/or the uplink slot (e.g., slot <NUM>-d) following the downlink-to-uplink switch the UE can implement the TA <NUM>-a.

In some instances, the UE may be configured to implement the TA <NUM>-a when a gap (e.g., time and/or number of slots/sub-slots) between uplink communications exceeds a threshold. That is, if the gap between two uplink communications is sufficiently large the UE can implement the TA <NUM>-a. In <FIG>, for example, the UE may be configured to implement the TA <NUM>-a between uplink communications <NUM>-b and <NUM>-d because the gap satisfies a threshold (e.g., <NUM> slot), whereas the gap between uplink communications <NUM>-a and <NUM>-b does not satisfy the threshold.

In some instances, the UE may be configured to implement the TA <NUM>-a when there is a power change between uplink communications. In <FIG>, for example, the UE may be configured to implement the TA <NUM>-a between uplink communications <NUM>-b and <NUM>-d because of power change or difference between the uplink communications <NUM>-b and <NUM>-d, whereas uplink communications <NUM>-a and <NUM>-b may be transmitted using the same power level.

In some instances, the UE may be configured to implement the TA <NUM>-a between uplink communications when the uplink communications are not scheduled with phase coherence. In <FIG>, for example, the UE may be configured to implement the TA <NUM>-a between uplink communications <NUM>-b and <NUM>-d because of the uplink communications <NUM>-b and <NUM>-d are not scheduled with phase coherency, whereas uplink communications <NUM>-a and <NUM>-b may be scheduled with phase coherency.

<FIG> illustrates a signal diagram <NUM> illustrating uplink bundling and timing advance communications according to some aspects of the present disclosure. Aspects of the signal diagram <NUM> can be used for the uplink bundling and timing advance schedulings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> of <FIG>.

At <NUM>, the BS <NUM> transmits a timing advance configuration to the UE <NUM>. In some instances, the timing advance configuration is a dynamic configuration determined by the BS. The timing advance configuration may be transmitted to the UE <NUM> via RRC signaling, MAC CE, DCI, or other suitable communication. In some instances, the BS <NUM> does not transmit the timing advance configuration to the UE <NUM>. For example, the configuration may be a predetermined/pre-programmed configuration stored in the memory of the UE in some instances. The timing advance configuration, at <NUM>, can indicate when to delay implementation of a TA in accordance with the present disclosure. In this regard, the timing advance configuration may provide one or more rules for determining when to implement the TA. In this regard, the configuration may be based on whether bundled uplink communications are scheduled with phase coherence, the number of bundled uplink communications, the length of time necessary for the bundled uplink communications, a magnitude of the TA, one or more other factors, and/or combinations thereof. Further, the configuration, at <NUM>, may provide one or more rules for determining the timing for implementing the TA when the TA implementation will be delayed. In this regard, the timing of the delayed implementation can be based on one or more of an uplink-to-downlink switch, a downlink-to-uplink switch, a time gap between the second uplink communication and a third uplink communication, a power change between the second uplink communication and the third uplink communication, and/or the third uplink communication not being scheduled with phase coherence with the first uplink communication and/or the second uplink communication.

At <NUM>, the BS <NUM> can schedule uplink communications for the UE <NUM>. In this regard, the BS <NUM> may allocate resources to the UE <NUM> for use by the UE <NUM> in transmitting uplink communications. The allocated resources can include time and frequency resources that can be utilized by the UE <NUM> for any suitable communications, including without limitation DMRS, SRS, PUCCH, PUSCH, and other uplink communications. At <NUM>, the BS <NUM> can indicate the resources allocated to the UE <NUM> via an uplink grant.

At <NUM>, the BS <NUM> transmits a timing advance (TA) to the UE <NUM>. In some instances, the TA is transmitted, at <NUM>, via a media access control control element (MAC CE) communication (e.g., via PDSCH) or other suitable communication. As discussed above, in some instances the TA is scheduled to be implemented by the UE at a time that is after the start of a first uplink communication of a group of bundled uplink communications scheduled with phase coherence, but before the start of a second uplink communication of the group of bundled uplink communications (see, e.g., <FIG>). In some instances, the time at which the TA is scheduled to be implemented by the UE is based on when the UE receives the TA from the BS, a TA processing time of the UE, and/or a communication schedule of the UE. In some instances, the UE may transmit a capability report indicating the BS the TA processing time of the UE and/or other information allowing the BS to determine when the UE will be scheduled to implement the TA based on when the BS transmits the TA to the UE.

At <NUM>, the UE <NUM> processes the TA. In some instances, the UE processes the TA to determine a TA value and/or when to implement the TA. In this regard, the UE can determine whether to implement the TA at the first time or a second time, the second time being after transmission of the second uplink communication. In some instances, the UE determines whether to implement the TA at an initially scheduled time or delay the implementation to a later time in accordance with the present disclosure (see, e.g., <FIG>).

At <NUM>, the UE <NUM> implements the TA based on the processing of the TA at <NUM>. In this regard, the UE <NUM> may implement the TA at a suitable time relative to the uplink communications <NUM>-a, <NUM>-b, and/or <NUM>-c. In some instances, two or more of the uplink communications <NUM>-a, <NUM>-b, and/or <NUM>-c are bundled and scheduled to be transmitted with phase coherence. The uplink communications <NUM>-a, <NUM>-b, and/or <NUM>-c can include at least one of a demodulation reference signal (DMRS), a sounding reference signal (SRS), a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) communication, a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) communication, and/or another uplink communication. In some instances, the uplink communications <NUM>-a, <NUM>-b, and/or <NUM>-c are each the same type of uplink communication (e.g., DMRS, SRS, etc.). In some instances, at least one of the uplink communications <NUM>-a, <NUM>-b, and/or <NUM>-c includes a different type of uplink communication than one of the other uplink communications <NUM>-a, <NUM>-b, and/or <NUM>-c.

In some instances, at step <NUM>, the UE <NUM> determines to implement the TA at an initially scheduled time between the uplink communication <NUM>-a and the uplink communication <NUM>-b (see, e.g., <FIG>). Accordingly, in some instances the uplink communication <NUM>-b is transmitted by the UE <NUM> after implementing the TA. In this regard, the uplink communication <NUM>-b is transmitted without phase coherence with the uplink communication <NUM>-a. Therefore, the BS <NUM> may process, at <NUM>, the uplink communications <NUM>-a and <NUM>-b separately, instead of jointly, even if the uplink communications <NUM>-a and <NUM>-b were initially scheduled to be transmitted with phase coherence.

In some instances, at step <NUM>, the UE <NUM> determines to delay implementation of the TA from an initially scheduled time between the uplink communication <NUM>-a and the uplink communication <NUM>-b to a later time (see, e.g., <FIG> and <FIG>). Accordingly, in some instances the uplink communication <NUM>-b is transmitted by the UE <NUM> before implementing the TA. In this regard, the uplink communication <NUM>-b may be transmitted with phase coherence with the uplink communication <NUM>-a as a result of delaying the implementation of the TA until after transmitting the uplink communication <NUM>-b. Therefore, the BS <NUM>, at <NUM>, may process the uplink communications <NUM>-a and <NUM>-b jointly, instead of separately.

<FIG> is a block diagram of an exemplary UE <NUM> according to aspects of the present disclosure. The UE <NUM> may be a UE <NUM> as discussed above in <FIG>. As shown, the UE <NUM> may include a processor <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, an uplink scheduling and control module <NUM>, a transceiver <NUM> including a modem subsystem <NUM> and a radio frequency (RF) unit <NUM>, and one or more antennas <NUM>. These elements may be in direct or indirect communication with each other, for example via one or more buses.

The memory <NUM> may include a cache memory (e.g., a cache memory of the processor <NUM>), random access memory (RAM), magnetoresistive RAM (MRAM), read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), flash memory, solid state memory device, hard disk drives, other forms of volatile and non-volatile memory, or a combination of different types of memory. In an embodiment, the memory <NUM> includes a non-transitory computer-readable medium. The memory <NUM> may store, or have recorded thereon, instructions <NUM>. The instructions <NUM> may include instructions that, when executed by the processor <NUM>, cause the processor <NUM> to perform the operations described herein with reference to the UEs <NUM> in connection with aspects of the present disclosure, for example, aspects of <FIG> and <FIG>. Instructions <NUM> may also be referred to as program code. The program code may be for causing a wireless communication device (or specific component(s) of the wireless communication device) to perform these operations, for example by causing one or more processors (such as processor <NUM>) to control or command the wireless communication device (or specific component(s) of the wireless communication device) to do so. The terms "instructions" and "code" should be interpreted broadly to include any type of computer-readable statement(s). For example, the terms "instructions" and "code" may refer to one or more programs, routines, subroutines, functions, procedures, etc. "Instructions" and "code" may include a single computer-readable statement or many computer-readable statements.

The uplink scheduling and control module <NUM> may be implemented via hardware, software, or combinations thereof. For example, uplink scheduling and control module <NUM> may be implemented as a processor, circuit, and/or instructions <NUM> stored in the memory <NUM> and executed by the processor <NUM>. In some examples, the uplink scheduling and control module <NUM> can be integrated within the modem subsystem <NUM>. For example, the uplink scheduling and control module <NUM> can be implemented by a combination of software components (e.g., executed by a DSP or a general processor) and hardware components (e.g., logic gates and circuitry) within the modem subsystem <NUM>.

The uplink scheduling and control module <NUM> may be used for various aspects of the present disclosure, for example, aspects of <FIG> and <FIG>. The uplink scheduling and control module <NUM> is configured to communicate with other components of the UE <NUM> to receive a TA configuration, process the TA configuration, receive a TA, receive a MAC CE, determine when to implement the TA, implement the TA, transmit uplink communications (e.g., DMRS, SRS, PUCCH, PUSCH, etc.), perform PDCCH monitoring, perform PDSCH monitoring, determine whether a timer has expired, cancel a timer, determine whether a condition has occurred or is met, and/or perform other functionalities related to the uplink bundling and TA configurations and associated wireless communication techniques of a UE described in the present disclosure.

As shown, the transceiver <NUM> may include the modem subsystem <NUM> and the RF unit <NUM>. The transceiver <NUM> can be configured to communicate bi-directionally with other devices, such as the BSs <NUM>. The modem subsystem <NUM> may be configured to modulate and/or encode the data from the memory <NUM>, and/or the uplink scheduling and control module <NUM> according to a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) (e.g., a low-density parity check (LDPC) coding scheme, a turbo coding scheme, a convolutional coding scheme, a digital beamforming scheme, etc.). The RF unit <NUM> may be configured to process (e.g., perform analog to digital conversion or digital to analog conversion, etc.) modulated/encoded data (e.g., UL control information, UL data) from the modem subsystem <NUM> (on outbound transmissions) or of transmissions originating from another source such as a UE <NUM> or a BS <NUM>. The RF unit <NUM> may be further configured to perform analog beamforming in conjunction with the digital beamforming. Although shown as integrated together in transceiver <NUM>, the modem subsystem <NUM> and the RF unit <NUM> may be separate devices that are coupled together at the UE <NUM> to enable the UE <NUM> to communicate with other devices.

The RF unit <NUM> may provide the modulated and/or processed data (e.g., data packets or, more generally, data messages that may contain one or more data packets and other information) to the antennas <NUM> for transmission to one or more other devices. The antennas <NUM> may further receive data messages transmitted from other devices. The antennas <NUM> may provide the received data messages for processing and/or demodulation at the transceiver <NUM>. The transceiver <NUM> may provide the demodulated and decoded data (e.g., PDCCH signals, radio resource control (RRC) signals, media access control (MAC) control element (CE) signals, DCI, PDSCH signals, DL/UL scheduling grants, DL data, etc.) to the uplink scheduling and control module <NUM> for processing. The antennas <NUM> may include multiple antennas of similar or different designs in order to sustain multiple transmission links. The RF unit <NUM> may configure the antennas <NUM>. The RF unit <NUM> and/or the transceiver <NUM> may include components and/or circuitries that can be powers on and/or off dynamically for power savings. Additionally, or alternatively, the RF unit <NUM> and/or the transceiver <NUM> may include components and/or circuitries with multiple power states that can be configured to transition from one power state (e.g., a higher-power state) to another power state (e.g., a lower-power state) for power savings.

In an embodiment, the UE <NUM> can include multiple transceivers <NUM> implementing different RATs (e.g., NR and LTE). In an embodiment, the UE <NUM> can include a single transceiver <NUM> implementing multiple RATs (e.g., NR and LTE). In an embodiment, the transceiver <NUM> can include various components, where different combinations of components can implement different RATs.

<FIG> is a block diagram of an exemplary BS <NUM> according to aspects of the present disclosure. The BS <NUM> may be a BS <NUM> as discussed above in <FIG>. As shown, the BS <NUM> may include a processor <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, an uplink scheduling and control module <NUM>, a transceiver <NUM> including a modem subsystem <NUM> and a RF unit <NUM>, and one or more antennas <NUM>. These elements may be in direct or indirect communication with each other, for example via one or more buses.

In some instances, the memory <NUM> may include a non-transitory computer-readable medium. The instructions <NUM> may include instructions that, when executed by the processor <NUM>, cause the processor <NUM> to perform operations described herein, for example, aspects of <FIG> and <FIG>. Instructions <NUM> may also be referred to as code, which may be interpreted broadly to include any type of computer-readable statement(s) as discussed above.

The uplink scheduling and control module <NUM> may be implemented via hardware, software, or combinations thereof. For example, the uplink scheduling and control module <NUM> may be implemented as a processor, circuit, and/or instructions <NUM> stored in the memory <NUM> and executed by the processor <NUM>. In some examples, the uplink scheduling and control module <NUM> can be integrated within the modem subsystem <NUM>. For example, the uplink scheduling and control module <NUM> can be implemented by a combination of software components (e.g., executed by a DSP or a general processor) and hardware components (e.g., logic gates and circuitry) within the modem subsystem <NUM>.

The uplink scheduling and control module <NUM> may be used for various aspects of the present disclosure, for example, aspects of <FIG> and <FIG>. The uplink scheduling and control module <NUM> can be configured to determine a TA configuration for one or more UEs, transmit the TA configuration to the one or more UEs, perform uplink scheduling for the one or more UEs, generate TAs for the one or more UEs, transmit the TAs to the one or more UEs, transmit MAC CE, transmit PDCCH communications, transmit PDSCH communications, determine when a UE has or will implement the TA, monitor for uplink communications (e.g., DMRS, SRS, PUCCH, PUSCH, etc.), process uplink communications (either separately or jointly), determine whether a timer has expired, cancel a timer, determine whether a condition has occurred or is met, and/or perform other functionalities related to the uplink bundling and TA configurations and associated wireless communication techniques of a base station described in the present disclosure.

As shown, the transceiver <NUM> may include the modem subsystem <NUM> and the RF unit <NUM>. The transceiver <NUM> can be configured to communicate bi-directionally with other devices, such as the UEs <NUM> and/or <NUM> and/or another core network element. The modem subsystem <NUM> may be configured to modulate and/or encode data according to a MCS (e.g., a LDPC coding scheme, a turbo coding scheme, a convolutional coding scheme, a digital beamforming scheme, etc.). The RF unit <NUM> may be configured to process (e.g., perform analog to digital conversion or digital to analog conversion, etc.) modulated/encoded data (e.g., PDCCH signals, RRC signals, MAC CE signals, DCI, PDSCH signals, etc.) from the modem subsystem <NUM> (on outbound transmissions) or of transmissions originating from another source, such as a UE <NUM> or <NUM>. The RF unit <NUM> may be further configured to perform analog beamforming in conjunction with the digital beamforming. Although shown as integrated together in transceiver <NUM>, the modem subsystem <NUM> and/or the RF unit <NUM> may be separate devices that are coupled together at the BS <NUM> to enable the BS <NUM> to communicate with other devices.

The RF unit <NUM> may provide the modulated and/or processed data, (e.g., data packets or, more generally, data messages that may contain one or more data packets and other information) to the antennas <NUM> for transmission to one or more other devices. This may include, for example, transmission of information to a UE <NUM> or <NUM> according to aspects of the present disclosure. The antennas <NUM> may further receive data messages transmitted from other devices and provide the received data messages for processing and/or demodulation at the transceiver <NUM>. The transceiver <NUM> may provide the demodulated and decoded data (e.g., RACH message(s), ACK/NACKs for PDCCH signals, UL data, ACK/NACKs for DL data, etc.) to the uplink scheduling and control module <NUM> for processing. The antennas <NUM> may include multiple antennas of similar or different designs in order to sustain multiple transmission links.

In an embodiment, the BS <NUM> can include multiple transceivers <NUM> implementing different RATs (e.g., NR and LTE). In an embodiment, the BS <NUM> can include a single transceiver <NUM> implementing multiple RATs (e.g., NR and LTE). In an embodiment, the transceiver <NUM> can include various components, where different combinations of components can implement different RATs.

<FIG> is a flow diagram of a communication method <NUM> according to some aspects of the present disclosure. Aspects of the method <NUM> can be executed by a wireless communication device, such as the UEs <NUM> and/or <NUM> utilizing one or more components, such as the processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the uplink scheduling and control module <NUM>, the transceiver <NUM>, the modem <NUM>, the one or more antennas <NUM>, and various combinations thereof. As illustrated, the method <NUM> includes a number of enumerated steps, but the method <NUM> may include additional steps before, after, and in between the enumerated steps. The uplink bundling and timing advance schedulings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM> and/or signaling diagram <NUM> are implemented as part of method <NUM>.

At step <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes the UE receiving, from a BS, a timing advance (TA). In some instances, the TA is received via a media access control control element (MAC CE) communication (e.g., via PDSCH) or other suitable communication from the BS. The TA is scheduled to be implemented by the UE at a time that is after the start of a first uplink communication of a group of bundled uplink communications scheduled with phase coherence, but before the start of a second uplink communication of the group of bundled uplink communications (see, e.g., <FIG>). In some instances, the time at which the TA is scheduled to be implemented by the UE is based on when the UE receives the TA from the BS, a TA processing time of the UE, and/or a communication schedule of the UE. In some instances, the UE may transmit a capability report indicating the BS the TA processing time of the UE and/or other information allowing the BS to determine when the UE will be scheduled to implement the TA based on when the BS transmits the TA to the UE.

The first uplink communication can include at least one of a demodulation reference signal (DMRS), a sounding reference signal (SRS), a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) communication, a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) communication, and/or another uplink communication. The second uplink communication can include at least one of a DMRS, an SRS, a PUCCH communication, a PUSCH communication, and/or another uplink communication. In some instances, the first and second uplink communications are the same type of uplink communication (e.g., DMRS and DMRS, SRS and SRS, etc.). In some instances, the first and second uplink communications are the different types of uplink communications (e.g., DMRS and SRS, DMRS and PUSCH communication, SRS and PUCCH communication, PUCCH communication and PUSCH communication, etc.). Accordingly, the bundled uplink communications scheduled with phase coherence may include the same and/or different types of uplink communications.

At step <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes the UE determining whether to implement the TA at the first time or a second time, the second time being after transmission of the second uplink communication. The UE determines whether to implement the TA at the first time or the second time based on a configuration. The configuration may be a dynamic configuration received from the BS (e.g., via RRC signaling, MAC CE, DCI, or otherwise) or a predetermined/pre-programmed configuration stored in the memory of the UE. In this regard, the method <NUM> can include the UE receiving, from the BS, a configuration indicating when to delay implementation of the TA from the first time to the second time. The configuration may provide one or more rules for the UE to utilize in determining when to implement the TA at the first time and when to delay implementing the TA to a second time. In this regard, the rules may be based on whether bundled uplink communications are scheduled with phase coherence, the number of bundled uplink communications, the length of time necessary for the bundled uplink communications, a magnitude of the TA (e.g., if the TA has a magnitude greater than a threshold, then the TA is implemented at the first time), one or more other factors, and/or combinations thereof.

Further, the configuration may provide rules for the UE to utilize in selecting the timing of the second time when the TA implementation is to be delayed. In this regard, the timing of the second time can be based on one or more of an uplink-to-downlink switch, a downlink-to-uplink switch, a time gap between the second uplink communication and a third uplink communication, a power change between the second uplink communication and the third uplink communication, and/or the third uplink communication not being scheduled with phase coherence with the first uplink communication and/or the second uplink communication.

At step <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes the UE implementing the TA based on the determining. In this regard, the UE may implement the TA at the first time or delay implementation of the TA to a later time (e.g., the second time). When the UE implements the TA, the UE adjusts its transmission timing in accordance with the TA received from the BS. In this regard, implementing the TA helps to ensure that the UE and the BS are in synchronization and, as a result, that the UE's uplink communications are successfully received by the BS.

The method <NUM> includes determining, at step <NUM>, to implement the TA at the first time and implementing, at step <NUM>, the TA at the first time. Accordingly, in some instances the second uplink communication is transmitted after implementing the TA. In this regard, the second uplink communication is transmitted without phase coherence with the first uplink communication as a result of implementing the TA prior to transmitting the second uplink communication. Therefore, the BS receiving the first and second uplink communications may process the first and second uplink communications separately, instead of jointly.

The method <NUM> includes the UE determining, at step <NUM>, to implement the TA at the second time and implementing, at step <NUM>, the TA at the second time. Accordingly, in some instances the second uplink communication is transmitted before implementing the TA. In this regard, the second uplink communication may be transmitted with phase coherence with the first uplink communication as a result of implementing the TA after transmitting the second uplink communication. Therefore, the BS receiving the first and second uplink communications may process the first and second uplink communications jointly, instead of separately.

In some instances, the method <NUM> includes the UE determining a timing for the second time. For example, the timing of the second time can be based on one or more of an uplink-to-downlink switch, a downlink-to-uplink switch, a time gap between the second uplink communication and a third uplink communication, a power change between the second uplink communication and the third uplink communication, and/or whether the third uplink communication is scheduled with phase coherence with the first uplink communication and/or the second uplink communication. In this regard, the UE may determine to implement the TA after an uplink-to-downlink switch occurs, after a downlink-to-uplink switch occurs, when a time gap between the second uplink communication and a third uplink communication satisfies a threshold amount, when there is a power change between the second uplink communication and the third uplink communication, and/or prior to the third uplink communication when the third uplink communication is not scheduled with phase coherence with the first uplink communication and/or the second uplink communication. In some instances, the UE implements the TA prior to an uplink transmission following the occurrence of one or more of these events. That is, upon occurrence of one or more of these events, the UE may delay implementing the TA until closer in time to when the UE is scheduled to transmit an uplink communication.

<FIG> is a flow diagram of a communication method <NUM> according to some aspects of the present disclosure. Aspects of the method <NUM> can be executed by a wireless communication device, such as the BSs <NUM> and/or <NUM> utilizing one or more components, such as the processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the uplink scheduling and control module <NUM>, the transceiver <NUM>, the modem <NUM>, the one or more antennas <NUM>, and various combinations thereof. As illustrated, the method <NUM> includes a number of enumerated steps, but the method <NUM> may include additional steps before, after, and in between the enumerated steps. For example, in some instances one or more aspects of uplink bundling and timing advance schedulings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM> and/or signaling diagram <NUM> may be implemented as part of method <NUM>. In some instances, one or more of the enumerated steps may be omitted or performed in a different order.

At step <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes the BS transmitting, to a UE, a timing advance (TA). In some instances, the TA is transmitted to the UE via a media access control control element (MAC CE) communication (e.g., via PDSCH) or other suitable communication. The TA is scheduled to be implemented by the UE after the start of a first uplink communication of a group of bundled uplink communications scheduled with phase coherence and before the start of a second uplink communication of the group of bundled uplink communications (see, e.g., <FIG>). In some instances, the time at which the TA is scheduled to be implemented by the UE is based on when the UE receives the TA from the BS, a TA processing time of the UE, and/or a communication schedule of the UE. In some instances, the BS may receive a capability report from the UE indicating the TA processing time of the UE and/or other information allowing the BS to determine when the UE will be scheduled to implement the TA based on when the BS transmits the TA to the UE.

At step <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes the BS receiving, from the UE, the first uplink communication. The first uplink communication can include at least one of a demodulation reference signal (DMRS), a sounding reference signal (SRS), a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) communication, a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) communication, and/or another uplink communication.

At step <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes the BS receiving, from the UE, the second uplink communication. The second uplink communication can include at least one of a DMRS, an SRS, a PUCCH communication, a PUSCH communication, and/or another uplink communication.

In some instances, the first and second uplink communications are the same type of uplink communication (e.g., DMRS and DMRS, SRS and SRS, etc.). In some instances, the first and second uplink communications are the different types of uplink communications (e.g., DMRS and SRS, DMRS and PUSCH communication, SRS and PUCCH communication, PUCCH communication and PUSCH communication, etc.). Accordingly, the bundled uplink communications scheduled with phase coherence may include the same and/or different types of uplink communications.

At step <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes the BS processing the first uplink communication and the second uplink communication based on when the TA was implemented by the UE. In some instances, the BS determines when the TA was implemented by the UE based on the received first and second uplink communication signals, the TA processing capabilities of the UE, a configuration implemented by the UE, and/or other factors. In some instances, the timing of the implementation of the TA is based on a configuration. The configuration may be a dynamic configuration determined by the BS and transmitted to the UE (e.g., via RRC signaling, MAC CE, DCI, or otherwise) or a predetermined/pre-programmed configuration stored in the memory of the BS and/or UE. In this regard, the method <NUM> can include the BS transmitting, to the UE, a configuration indicating when to delay implementation of the TA from the first time to the second time.

The configuration may provide one or more rules for determining when to implement the TA at the first time and when to delay implementing the TA to a second time. In this regard, the rules may be based on whether bundled uplink communications are scheduled with phase coherence, the number of bundled uplink communications, the length of time necessary for the bundled uplink communications, a magnitude of the TA (e.g., if the TA has a magnitude greater than a threshold, then the TA is implemented at the first time), one or more other factors, and/or combinations thereof. Further, the configuration may provide rules for selecting the timing for implementing the TA when the TA implementation is to be delayed. In this regard, the timing of the TA implementation can be based on one or more of an uplink-to-downlink switch, a downlink-to-uplink switch, a time gap between the second uplink communication and a third uplink communication, a power change between the second uplink communication and the third uplink communication, and/or the third uplink communication not being scheduled with phase coherence with the first uplink communication and/or the second uplink communication.

In some instances, the BS utilizes aspects of the configuration to estimate and/or determine when the UE will implement the TA. For example, the BS may determine that the UE will implement the TA after an uplink-to-downlink switch occurs, after a downlink-to-uplink switch occurs, when a time gap between the second uplink communication and a third uplink communication satisfies a threshold amount, when there is a power change between the second uplink communication and the third uplink communication, and/or prior to the third uplink communication when the third uplink communication is not scheduled with phase coherence with the first uplink communication and/or the second uplink communication. In some instances, the BS estimates and/or determines the UE will implement the TA prior to an uplink transmission following the occurrence of one or more of these events. That is, the BS estimates and/or determines that upon occurrence of one or more of these events, the UE may delay implementing the TA until closer in time to when the UE is scheduled to transmit an uplink communication.

In some instances, the UE implements the TA at the first time. Accordingly, in some instances the second uplink communication is transmitted after the UE has implemented the TA. In this regard, the second uplink communication is received by the BS, at step <NUM>, without phase coherence with the first uplink communication. Therefore, the BS, at step <NUM>, may process the first and second uplink communications separately, instead of jointly.

In some instances, the UE implements the TA at the second time. Accordingly, in some instances the second uplink communication is transmitted by the UE before implementing the TA. In this regard, the second uplink communication may be received by the BS, at step <NUM>, with phase coherence with the first uplink communication as a result of the UE implementing the TA after transmitting the second uplink communication. Therefore, the BS, at step <NUM>, may process the first and second uplink communications jointly, instead of separately.

Also, as used herein, including in the claims, "or" as used in a list of items (for example, 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).

Claim 1:
A method (<NUM>) of wireless communication performed by a user equipment (<NUM>), the method comprising:
receiving (<NUM>), from a base station (<NUM>), a timing advance, TA, wherein the TA is scheduled to be implemented by the user equipment at a first time, the first time being after a start of a first uplink communication of a group of bundled uplink communications scheduled with phase coherence and before a start of a second uplink communication of the group of bundled uplink communications;
determining (<NUM>) whether to implement the TA at the first time or a second time, the second time being after transmission of the second uplink communication;
implementing (<NUM>) the TA based on the determining; and
transmitting the second uplink communication without phase coherence with the first uplink communication.