Patent Description:
Typical wireless communication systems may employ multiple-access technologies capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing available system resources (for example, bandwidth, transmit power, or the like, or a combination thereof).

The above multiple access technologies have been adopted in various telecommunication standards to provide a common protocol that enables different user equipments (UEs) to communicate on a municipal, national, regional, and even global level. New Radio (NR), which may also be referred to as <NUM>, is a set of enhancements to the LTE mobile standard promulgated by the 3GPP. NR is designed to better support mobile broadband Internet access by improving spectral efficiency, lowering costs, improving services, making use of new spectrum, and better integrating with other open standards using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) with a cyclic prefix (CP) (CP-OFDM) on the downlink (DL), using CP-OFDM or SC-FDM (for example, also known as discrete Fourier transform spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM)) on the uplink (UL), as well as supporting beamforming, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna technology, and carrier aggregation. Preferably, these improvements are applicable to other multiple access technologies and the telecommunication standards that employ these technologies.

Physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) skipping is a technique for providing power savings at a user equipment (UE). PDCCH skipping occurs when a UE skips PDCCH monitoring during a period of time (for example, one or more slots) during which the UE would otherwise monitor for a PDCCH. Here, by skipping PDCCH monitoring during the period of time, battery power is conserved at the UE (for example, because the UE does not monitor for PDCCH). In the presence of aperiodic or relatively irregular traffic, dynamic (that is, non-static, non-semi-persistent) PDCCH skipping is desirable in order to better control performance of PDCCH skipping by the UE.

<NPL>) discusses the procedures of power saving signal for PDCCH skipping and switching the PDCCH monitoring periodicity.

<NPL>) discusses, in relation to UE power saving, the aspects of potential techniques for time domain, frequency domain, antenna domain, and reducing PDCCH monitoring.

<NPL>) discusses power saving schemes by reducing PDCCH monitoring, including DCI based PDCCH skipping, and provides the simulation performance compared with DRX command MAC CE based scheme.

In some aspects, a method of wireless communication, performed by a user equipment (UE), includes receiving a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) including an indication to skip PDCCH monitoring during at least one of a first period of time between the PDCCH and a first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH, a second period of time between the first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH and a second physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH, or a third period of time between the PDCCH and a third physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH, wherein the indication is a one bit indication carried in a single bit of the PDCCH or a two bit indication carried in two bits of the PDCCH, and wherein: based on the indication being the one bit indication and the one bit indication is set to a first value, the one bit indication indicates that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during the first period of time and the second period of time, based on the indication being the one bit indication and the one bit indication is set to a second value, the one bit indication indicates that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during the third period of time, based on the indication being the two bit indication and the two bit indication is set to a first value, the two bit indication indicates that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during the first period of time, based on the indication being the two bit indication and the two bit indication is set to a second value, the two bit indication indicates that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during the second period of time, based on the indication being the two bit indication and the two bit indication is set to a third value, the two bit indication indicates that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during the third period of time, based on the indication being the two bit indication and the two bit indication is set to a fourth value, the two bit indication indicates that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during the first period of time, the second period of time, and the third period of time, and skipping PDCCH monitoring based at least in part on the indication.

In some aspects, a method of wireless communication, performed by a base station, includes determining that a UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during at least one of a first period of time between a PDCCH and a first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH, a second period of time between the first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH and a second physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH, or a third period of time between the PDCCH and a third physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH, wherein the indication is a one bit indication carried in a single bit of the PDCCH or a two bit indication carried in two bits of the PDCCH, and wherein: based on the indication being the one bit indication and the one bit indication is set to a first value, the one bit indication indicates that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during the first period of time and the second period of time, based on the indication being the one bit indication and the one bit indication is set to a second value, the one bit indication indicates that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during the third period of time, based on the indication being the two bit indication and the two bit indication is set to a first value, the two bit indication indicates that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during the first period of time, based on the indication being the two bit indication and the two bit indication is set to a second value, the two bit indication indicates that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during the second period of time, based on the indication being the two bit indication and the two bit indication is set to a third value, the two bit indication indicates that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during the third period of time, based on the indication being the two bit indication and the two bit indication is set to a fourth value, the two bit indication indicates that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during the first period of time, the second period of time, and the third period of time, and transmitting the PDCCH including an indication that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring based at least in part on the determination.

In some aspects, a UE for wireless communication includes memory and one or more processors operatively coupled to the memory. The memory and the one or more processors are configured to receive a PDCCH including an indication to skip PDCCH monitoring during at least one of a first period of time between the PDCCH and a first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH, a second period of time between the first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH and a second physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH, or a third period of time between the PDCCH and a third physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH, wherein the indication is a one bit indication carried in a single bit of the PDCCH or a two bit indication carried in two bits of the PDCCH, and wherein: based on the indication being the one bit indication and the one bit indication is set to a first value, the one bit indication indicates that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during the first period of time and the second period of time, based on the indication being the one bit indication and the one bit indication is set to a second value, the one bit indication indicates that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during the third period of time, based on the indication being the two bit indication and the two bit indication is set to a first value, the two bit indication indicates that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during the first period of time, based on the indication being the two bit indication and the two bit indication is set to a second value, the two bit indication indicates that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during the second period of time, based on the indication being the two bit indication and the two bit indication is set to a third value, the two bit indication indicates that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during the third period of time, based on the indication being the two bit indication and the two bit indication is set to a fourth value, the two bit indication indicates that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during the first period of time, the second period of time, and the third period of time, and skip PDCCH monitoring based at least in part on the indication.

In some aspects, a base station for wireless communication includes memory and one or more processors operatively coupled to the memory. The memory and the one or more processors are configured to determine that a UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during at least one of a first period of time between a PDCCH and a first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH, a second period of time between the first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH and a second physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH, or a third period of time between the PDCCH and a third physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH, wherein the indication is a one bit indication carried in a single bit of the PDCCH or a two bit indication carried in two bits of the PDCCH, and wherein: based on the indication being the one bit indication and the one bit indication is set to a first value, the one bit indication indicates that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during the first period of time and the second period of time, based on the indication being the one bit indication and the one bit indication is set to a second value, the one bit indication indicates that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during the third period of time, based on the indication being the two bit indication and the two bit indication is set to a first value, the two bit indication indicates that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during the first period of time, based on the indication being the two bit indication and the two bit indication is set to a second value, the two bit indication indicates that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during the second period of time, based on the indication being the two bit indication and the two bit indication is set to a third value, the two bit indication indicates that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during the third period of time, based on the indication being the two bit indication and the two bit indication is set to a fourth value, the two bit indication indicates that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during the first period of time, the second period of time, and the third period of time, and transmit the PDCCH including an indication that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring based at least in part on the determination.

In some aspects, a non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon, the program code comprising executable instructions which when executed by a processor of a user equipment, UE, cause the UE to perform the method as indicated above.

In some aspects, a non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon, the program code comprising executable instructions which when executed by a processor of a base station, cause the base station to perform the method as indicated above.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of examples in accordance with the disclosure in order that the detailed description that follows may be better understood.

It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only some typical aspects of this disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the description may admit to other equally effective aspects.

This disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and are not to be construed as limited to any specific structure or function presented throughout this disclosure. Based on the teachings herein one skilled in the art may appreciate that the scope of the disclosure is intended to cover any aspect of the disclosure disclosed herein, whether implemented independently of or combined with any other aspect of the disclosure. For example, an apparatus may be implemented or a method may be practiced using any quantity of the aspects set forth herein. Any aspect of the disclosure disclosed herein may be embodied by one or more elements of a claim.

These apparatuses and techniques will be described in the following detailed description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings by various blocks, modules, components, circuits, steps, processes, algorithms, or the like, or combinations thereof (collectively referred to as "elements").

In some wireless communication systems, physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) skipping may be implemented as a technique for providing power savings at a user equipment (UE). PDCCH skipping occurs when a UE skips PDCCH monitoring during a period of time (for example, one or more slots) during which the UE would otherwise monitor for a PDCCH. Here, by skipping PDCCH monitoring during the period of time, battery power is conserved at the UE (for example, because the UE does not monitor for PDCCH).

Dynamic (that is, non-static, non-semi-persistent) PDCCH skipping is desirable for implementing PDCCH skipping in the presence of aperiodic or relatively irregular traffic. Some aspects described herein provide techniques and apparatuses for a dynamic PDCCH skipping indication with minimal signaling overhead. In some aspects, as described in further detail below, a UE may receive a PDCCH including an indication to skip PDCCH monitoring during at least one of: a period of time between the PDCCH and a first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH (for example, a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH)), a period of time between the first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH and a second physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH (for example, a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH)), or a period of time between the PDCCH and a third physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH (for example, a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH). The UE may then skip PDCCH monitoring based at least in part on the indication.

Particular aspects of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented to realize one or more of the following potential advantages. In some aspects, the dynamic PDCCH skipping indication described herein requires minimal overhead (for example, <NUM> bit or <NUM> bits), thereby minimizing a signaling overhead associated with providing a dynamic PDCCH skipping indication. Further, the dynamic PDCCH skipping indication enables PDCCH skipping to realize UE power savings, even in the presence of aperiodic or relatively irregular traffic.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating an example wireless network in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. The wireless network may be a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network or some other wireless network, such as a <NUM> or NR network. The wireless network may include a quantity of base stations (BSs) <NUM> (shown as BS 110a, BS 110b, BS 110c, and BS 110d) and other network entities. A BS is an entity that communicates with user equipment (UE(s)) and may also be referred to as a Node B, an eNodeB, an eNB, a gNB, a NR BS, a <NUM> node B (NB), an access point (AP), a transmit receive point (TRP), or the like, or combinations thereof (these terms are used interchangeably herein). In 3GPP, the term "cell" can refer to a coverage area of a BS or a BS subsystem serving this coverage area, depending on the context in which the term is used.

A BS may provide communication coverage for a macro cell, a pico cell, a femto cell, or another type of cell. A macro cell may cover a relatively large geographic area (for example, several kilometers in radius) and may allow unrestricted access by UEs with service subscription. A femto cell may cover a relatively small geographic area (for example, a home) and may allow restricted access by UEs having association with the femto cell (for example, UEs in a closed subscriber group (CSG)). A BS may support one or multiple (for example, three) cells.

The wireless network may be a heterogeneous network that includes BSs of different types, for example, macro BSs, pico BSs, femto BSs, relay BSs, or the like, or combinations thereof. These different types of BSs may have different transmit power levels, different coverage areas, and different impacts on interference in the wireless network. For example, macro BSs may have a high transmit power level (for example, <NUM> to <NUM> Watts) whereas pico BSs, femto BSs, and relay BSs may have lower transmit power levels (for example, <NUM> to <NUM> Watts). A network controller <NUM> may couple to the set of BSs 102a, 102b, 110a and <NUM>10b, and may provide coordination and control for these BSs. The BSs may also communicate with one another, for example, directly or indirectly via a wireless or wireline backhaul.

In some aspects, a cell may not be stationary, rather, the geographic area of the cell may move in accordance with the location of a mobile BS. In some aspects, the BSs may be interconnected to one another or to one or more other BSs or network nodes (not shown) in the wireless network through various types of backhaul interfaces such as a direct physical connection, a virtual network, or the like, or combinations thereof using any suitable transport network.

The wireless network may also include relay stations. A relay station is an entity that can receive a transmission of data from an upstream station (for example, a BS or a UE) and send a transmission of the data to a downstream station (for example, a UE or a BS). A relay station may also be referred to as a relay BS, a relay base station, a relay, or the like, or combinations thereof.

UEs <NUM> (for example, 120a, 120b, 120c) may be dispersed throughout the wireless network, and each UE may be stationary or mobile. A UE may also be referred to as an access terminal, a terminal, a mobile station, a subscriber unit, a station, or the like, or combinations thereof. A UE may be a cellular phone (for example, a smart phone), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless modem, a wireless communication device, a handheld device, a laptop computer, a cordless phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a tablet, a camera, a gaming device, a netbook, a smartbook, an ultrabook, a medical device or equipment, biometric sensors/devices, wearable devices (smart watches, smart clothing, smart glasses, smart wrist bands, smart jewelry (for example, smart ring, smart bracelet)), an entertainment device (for example, a music or video device, or a satellite radio), a vehicular component or sensor, smart meters/sensors, industrial manufacturing equipment, a global positioning system device, or any other suitable device that is configured to communicate via a wireless medium.

MTC and eMTC UEs include, for example, robots, drones, remote devices, sensors, meters, monitors, location tags, or the like, or combinations thereof, that may communicate with a base station, another device (for example, remote device), or some other entity. A wireless node may provide, for example, connectivity for or to a network (for example, a wide area network such as Internet or a cellular network) via a wired or wireless communication link. Some UEs may be considered Internet-of Things (IoT) devices, or may be implemented as NB-IoT (narrowband internet of things) devices. UE <NUM> may be included inside a housing that houses components of UE <NUM>, such as processor components, memory components, or the like, or combinations thereof.

In general, any quantity of wireless networks may be deployed in a given geographic area. Each wireless network may support a particular radio access technology (RAT) and may operate on one or more frequencies or frequency channels. A frequency may also be referred to as a carrier or the like, or combinations thereof.

In some aspects, two or more UEs <NUM> (for example, shown as UE 120a and UE 120e) may communicate directly with one another using one or more sidelink channels (for example, without using a base station <NUM> as an intermediary). For example, the UEs <NUM> may communicate using peer-to-peer (P2P) communications, device-to-device (D2D) communications, a vehicle-to-everything (V2X) protocol (for example, which may include a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) protocol, a vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) protocol, or the like, or combinations thereof), a mesh network, or the like, or combinations thereof. In this case, the UE <NUM> may perform scheduling operations, resource selection operations, or other operations described elsewhere herein as being performed by the base station <NUM>.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating an example base station (BS) in communication with a user equipment (UE) in a wireless network in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

At base station <NUM>, a transmit processor <NUM> may receive data from a data source <NUM> for one or more UEs, select one or more modulation and coding schemes (MCSs) for each UE based at least in part on channel quality indicators (CQIs) received from the UE, process (for example, encode) the data for each UE based at least in part on the MCS(s) selected for the UE, and provide data symbols for all UEs. Transmit processor <NUM> may also process system information (for example, for semi-static resource partitioning information (SRPI) or the like, or combinations thereof) and control information (for example, CQI requests, grants, upper layer signaling, or the like, or combinations thereof) and provide overhead symbols and control symbols. Transmit processor <NUM> may also generate reference symbols for reference signals (for example, the cell-specific reference signal (CRS)) and synchronization signals (for example, the primary synchronization signal (PSS) and secondary synchronization signal (SSS)). A transmit (TX) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) processor <NUM> may perform spatial processing (for example, precoding) on the data symbols, the control symbols, the overhead symbols, or the reference symbols, if applicable, and may provide T output symbol streams to T modulators (MODs) 232a through 232t. Each MOD <NUM> may process a respective output symbol stream (for example, for OFDM or the like, or combinations thereof) to obtain an output sample stream. Each MOD <NUM> may further process (for example, convert to analog, amplify, filter, and upconvert) the output sample stream to obtain a downlink signal. T downlink signals from MODs 232a through 232t may be transmitted via T antennas 234a through 234t, respectively. In accordance with various aspects described in more detail below, the synchronization signals can be generated with location encoding to convey additional information.

At UE <NUM>, antennas 252a through 252r may receive the downlink signals from base station <NUM> or other base stations and may provide received signals to R demodulators (DEMODs) 254a through 254r, respectively. Each DEMOD <NUM> may condition (for example, filter, amplify, downconvert, and digitize) a received signal to obtain input samples. Each DEMOD <NUM> may further process the input samples (for example, for OFDM or the like, or combinations thereof) to obtain received symbols. A MIMO detector <NUM> may obtain received symbols from all R DEMODs 254a through 254r, perform MIMO detection on the received symbols if applicable, and provide detected symbols. A receive processor <NUM> may process (for example, decode) the detected symbols, provide decoded data for UE <NUM> to a data sink <NUM>, and provide decoded control information and system information to a controller/processor <NUM>. A channel processor may determine a reference signal received power (RSRP), a received signal strength indicator (RSSI), a reference signal received quality (RSRQ), a channel quality indicator (CQI), or the like, or combinations thereof.

On the uplink, at UE <NUM>, a transmit processor <NUM> may receive and process data from a data source <NUM> as well as control information (for example, for reports including RSRP, RSSI, RSRQ, CQI, or the like, or combinations thereof) from controller/processor <NUM>. The symbols from transmit processor <NUM> may be precoded by a TX MIMO processor <NUM> if applicable, further processed by MODs 254a through 254r (for example, for discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (DFT-s-OFDM), orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) with a cyclic prefix (CP) (CP-OFDM), or the like, or combinations thereof), and transmitted to base station <NUM>. At base station <NUM>, the uplink signals from UE <NUM> and other UEs may be received by antennas <NUM>, processed by DEMODs <NUM>, detected by a MIMO detector <NUM> if applicable, and further processed by a receive processor <NUM> to obtain decoded data and control information sent by UE <NUM>.

Controller/processor <NUM> of base station <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM> of UE <NUM>, or any other component(s) of <FIG> may perform one or more techniques associated with a dynamic PDCCH skipping indication, as described in more detail elsewhere herein. For example, controller/processor <NUM> of base station <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM> of UE <NUM>, or any other component(s) of <FIG> may perform or direct operations of, for example, the process of <FIG>, the process of <FIG>, or other processes as described herein. Memories <NUM> and <NUM> may store data and program codes for base station <NUM> and UE <NUM>, respectively. A scheduler <NUM> may schedule UEs for data transmission on the downlink or uplink.

In some aspects, UE <NUM> may include means for receiving a PDCCH including an indication to skip PDCCH monitoring during at least one of: a period of time between the PDCCH and a first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH, a period of time between the first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH and a second physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH, or a period of time between the PDCCH and a third physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH; means for skipping PDCCH monitoring based at least in part on the indication; or the like, or combinations thereof. In some aspects, such means may include one or more components of UE <NUM> described in connection with <FIG>.

In some aspects, base station <NUM> may include means for determining that a UE <NUM> is to skip PDCCH monitoring during at least one of: a period of time between a PDCCH and a first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH, a period of time between the first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH and a second physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH, or a period of time between the PDCCH and a third physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH; means for transmitting the PDCCH including an indication that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring based at least in part on the determination; or the like, or combinations thereof. In some aspects, such means may include one or more components of base station <NUM> described in connection with <FIG>.

<FIG> is a diagram showing an example downlink (DL)-centric slot or communication structure in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. The DL-centric slot (or wireless communication structure) may include a control portion <NUM> during which the scheduling entity (for example, UE or BS) transmits various scheduling information or control information corresponding to various portions of the DL-centric slot to the subordinate entity (for example, UE). The control portion <NUM> may exist in the initial or beginning portion of the DL-centric slot. In some configurations, the control portion <NUM> may be a physical DL control channel PDCCH, as indicated in <FIG>. In some aspects, the control portion <NUM> may include legacy PDCCH information, shortened PDCCH (sPDCCH) information), a control format indicator (CFI) value (for example, carried on a physical control format indicator channel (PCFICH)), one or more grants (for example, downlink grants, uplink grants, or the like, or combinations thereof), or the like, or combinations thereof.

The DL-centric slot may also include a DL data portion <NUM> during which the scheduling entity (for example, UE or BS) transmits DL data to the subordinate entity (for example, UE) using communication resources utilized to communicate DL data. The DL data portion <NUM> may sometimes be referred to as the payload of the DL-centric slot. In some configurations, the DL data portion <NUM> may be a PDSCH.

The DL-centric slot may also include an UL short burst portion <NUM> during which the subordinate entity (for example, UE) transmits reference signals or feedback to the scheduling entity (for example, UE or BS) using communication resources utilized to communicate UL data. The UL short burst portion <NUM> may sometimes be referred to as an UL burst, an UL burst portion, a common UL burst, a short burst, an UL short burst, a common UL short burst, a common UL short burst portion, or various other suitable terms. In some aspects, the UL short burst portion <NUM> may include one or more reference signals. Additionally or alternatively, the UL short burst portion <NUM> may include feedback information corresponding to various other portions of the DL-centric slot. For example, the UL short burst portion <NUM> may include feedback information corresponding to the control portion <NUM> or the data portion <NUM>. Nonlimiting examples of information that may be included in the UL short burst portion <NUM> include an acknowledgement (ACK) signal (for example, a PUCCH ACK, a PUSCH ACK, or an immediate ACK), a negative acknowledgement (NACK) signal (for example, a PUCCH NACK, a PUSCH NACK, or an immediate NACK), a scheduling request (SR), a buffer status report (BSR), a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) indicator, a channel state indication (CSI), a channel quality indicator (CQI), a sounding reference signal (SRS), a demodulation reference signal (DMRS), PUSCH data, or various other suitable types of information. The UL short burst portion <NUM> may include additional or alternative information, such as information pertaining to RACH procedures, scheduling requests, and various other suitable types of information.

This time separation may sometimes be referred to as a gap, a guard period, a guard interval, or various other suitable terms. This separation provides time for the switch-over from DL communication (for example, reception operation by the subordinate entity (for example, BS or UE)) to UL communication (for example, transmission by the subordinate entity (for example, UE)). The foregoing provides some examples of a DL-centric wireless communication structure, but alternative structures having similar features may exist without deviating from the aspects described herein.

<FIG> is a diagram showing an example uplink (UL)-centric slot or communication structure in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. The UL-centric slot (or wireless communication structure) may include a control portion <NUM>. The control portion <NUM> may exist in the initial or beginning portion of the UL-centric slot. The control portion <NUM> in <FIG> may be similar to the control portion <NUM> described above with reference to <FIG>. The UL-centric slot may also include an UL long burst portion <NUM>. The UL long burst portion <NUM> may sometimes be referred to as the payload of the UL-centric slot. The UL portion may refer to the communication resources utilized to communicate UL data from the subordinate entity (for example, UE) to the scheduling entity (for example, UE or BS). In some configurations, the control portion <NUM> may be a physical DL control channel PDCCH.

This time separation may sometimes be referred to as a gap, guard period, guard interval, or various other suitable terms. This separation provides time for the switch-over from DL communication (for example, reception operation by the scheduling entity) to UL communication (for example, transmission operation by the scheduling entity).

The UL-centric slot may also include an UL short burst portion <NUM>. The UL short burst portion <NUM> in <FIG> may be similar to the UL short burst portion <NUM> described above with reference to <FIG>, and may include any of the information described above in connection with <FIG>. The foregoing is merely one example of an UL-centric wireless communication structure, and alternative structures having similar features may exist without deviating from the aspects described herein.

In some circumstances, two or more subordinate entities (for example, UEs) may communicate with each other using sidelink signals. Real-world applications of such sidelink communications may include public safety, proximity services, UE-to-network relaying, V2V communications, Internet of Everything (IoE) communications, IoT communications, mission-critical mesh, or various other suitable applications. Generally, a sidelink signal may refer to a signal communicated from one subordinate entity (for example, UE1) to another subordinate entity (for example, UE2) without relaying that communication through the scheduling entity (for example, UE or BS), even though the scheduling entity may be utilized for scheduling or control purposes. In some aspects, the sidelink signals may be communicated using a licensed spectrum band; in other aspects, the sidelink signals may be communicated using an unlicensed spectrum band.

In one example, a wireless communication structure, such as a frame, may include both UL-centric slots and DL-centric slots. In this example, the ratio of UL-centric slots to DL-centric slots in a frame may be dynamically adjusted based at least in part on the amount of UL data and the amount of DL data that are transmitted. For example, if there is more UL data, then the ratio of UL-centric slots to DL-centric slots may be increased. Conversely, if there is more DL data, then the ratio of UL-centric slots to DL-centric slots may be decreased.

In some wireless communication systems, PDCCH skipping may be implemented as a technique for providing power savings at a UE. PDCCH skipping occurs when a UE skips PDCCH monitoring during a period of time (for example, one or more slots) during which the UE would otherwise monitor for a PDCCH. Here, by skipping PDCCH monitoring during the period of time, battery power is conserved at the UE (for example, because the UE does not monitor for PDCCH).

In some cases, a slot format indicator (SFI) configuration can be used as a semi-persistent indication to inform the UE to skip PDCCH monitoring (for example, for certain slots). Such a semi-persistent indication is well-suited for periodic or relatively regular traffic, but is not well-suited for PDCCH skipping in the presence of aperiodic or relatively irregular traffic. Alternatively, a joint adaptation of PDCCH periodicity and minimum scheduling offset can be used to implement PDCCH skipping. However, this approach increases complexity associated with implementing PDCCH skipping and, moreover, is also not well-suited for PDCCH skipping in the presence of aperiodic or relatively irregular traffic.

Therefore, dynamic PDCCH skipping is desirable for implementing PDCCH skipping in the presence of aperiodic or relatively irregular traffic. In some such cases, a downlink control information (DCI) format with one or more fields that allow for identification of number of slots to be skipped during PDCCH monitoring may be used. However, creating and implementing such a DCI format requires an undesirable amount of signaling overhead (for example, because all UEs would have to be configured with the DCI format).

Some aspects described herein provide techniques and apparatuses for a dynamic PDCCH skipping indication with minimal signaling overhead. In some aspects, as described in further detail below, a UE may receive a PDCCH including an indication to skip PDCCH monitoring during at least one of: a period of time between the PDCCH and a first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH (for example, a PDSCH), a period of time between the first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH and a second physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH (for example, a PUCCH), or a period of time between the PDCCH and a third physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH (for example, a PUSCH. The UE may then skip PDCCH monitoring based at least in part on the indication.

In some aspects, the dynamic PDCCH skipping indication described herein is used in a cross-slot scheduling scenario that utilizes one or more scheduling delays. Here, the one or more scheduling delays are defined by a parameter that identifies a delay between a PDCCH and a PUSCH scheduled by the PDCCH (referred to as a k2 parameter), a parameter that identifies a delay between the PDCCH and a PDSCH scheduled by the PDCCH (referred to as a k0 parameter), or a parameter that identifies a delay between the PDSCH scheduled by the PDCCH and a PUCCH associated with the PDSCH (referred to as a k1 parameter), as described below.

<FIG> are diagrams illustrating examples associated with a dynamic PDCCH skipping indication in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

As shown in <FIG>, in a first operation <NUM>, a base station (for example, a base station <NUM>) may determine that a UE (for example, a UE <NUM>) is to skip PDCCH monitoring during one or more periods of time. In some aspects, the one or more periods of time may include a period of time between a PDCCH and a first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH, such as a PDSCH. Additionally or alternatively, the one or more periods of time may include a period of time between the first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH (for example, the PDSCH) and a second physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH, such as a PUCCH. Additionally or alternatively, the one or more periods of time may include or a period of time between the PDCCH and a third physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH, such as a PUSCH. Further examples and details regarding the physical channels and the associated one or more periods of time are provided below.

In some aspects, the base station determines that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during the one or more periods of time based at least in part on scheduling (for example, using scheduler <NUM>) the physical channels to be used for transmitting a communication to the UE (for example, a PDSCH) or receiving a communication from the UE (for example, a PUCCH, a PUSCH). For example, the base station schedules one or more physical channels using cross-slot scheduling that utilizes one or more scheduling delays (for example, defined by a k0 parameter, a k1 parameter, a k2 parameter, among other possibilities). Here, based at least in part on information associated with the cross-slot scheduling (for example, based at least in part on delays associated with the k0 parameter, the k1 parameter, or the k2 parameter), the base station determines that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during the one or more periods of time.

In a second operation <NUM>, based at least in part on the determination, the base station may transmit the PDCCH including an indication that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during the one or more periods of time. As indicated in <FIG>, the UE may receive the PDCCH including the indication. In some aspects, the indication may be carried in (that is, transmitted by the base station, and received by the UE) DCI included in the PDCCH that schedules the first physical channel, the second physical channel, or the third physical channel.

As further shown, in a third operation <NUM>, the UE may skip PDCCH monitoring based at least in part on the indication. In other words, the UE may skip PDCCH monitoring during the one or more periods of time indicated by the indication.

In some aspects, the indication is a one bit indication and, therefore, it is carried in a single bit in the PDCCH. As an example, the first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH is a PDSCH, the second physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH is a PUCCH, and the third physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH is a PUSCH. Here, the one bit indication indicates that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during either (<NUM>) the period of time between the PDCCH and the PDSCH and the period of time between the PDSCH and the PUCCH (for example, when the one bit indication is set to a value of <NUM>), or (<NUM>) the period of time between the PDCCH and the PUSCH (for example, when the one bit indication is set to a value of <NUM>).

As a more particular example, a UE configured with a discontinuous reception (DRX) mode of operation can receive, in a PDCCH, a wake-up indication bit. A '<NUM>' value for the wake-up indication bit may cause the UE to not start (that is, refrain from starting) an on-duration timer for a next long DRX cycle, while a '<NUM>' value for the wake-up indication bit indicates that the UE is to start the on-duration timer for the next long DRX cycle. Therefore, the one-bit wake-up indication bit can act as an indication to skip PDCCH monitoring PDCCH monitoring for a particular time period.

In some aspects, the indication is a two bit indication and, therefore, it is carried in two bits in the PDCCH. As an example, the first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH is a PDSCH, the second physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH is a PUCCH, and the third physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH is a PUSCH. Here, the two bit indication indicates that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during one of: (<NUM>) the period of time between the PDCCH and the PDSCH (for example, when the two bit indication is set to a value of <NUM>), (<NUM>) the period of time between the PDSCH and the PUCCH (for example, when the two bit indication is set to a value of <NUM>), (<NUM>) the period of time between the PDCCH and the PUSCH (for example, when the two bit indication is set to a value of <NUM>), or (<NUM>) the period of time between the PDCCH and the PDSCH, the period of time between the PDSCH and the PUCCH, and the period of time between the PDCCH and the PUSCH (for example, when the two bit indication is set to a value of <NUM>).

In some aspects, using the indication described above (for example, the one bit indication or the two bit indication) incurs a minimal signaling overhead while enabling a dynamic PDCCH skipping indication (using an existing DCI format). In some aspects, the UE may resume PDCCH monitoring after the reception or transmission of a physical channel (for example, the PDSCH, the PUCCH, or the PUSCH).

As a particular example of utilizing the dynamic PDCCH skipping described herein, when cross-slot scheduling is enabled at the UE (for example, when the k0 parameter is greater than <NUM>), there may be a gap between decoding of the PDCCH and reception of the PDSCH scheduled by the PDCCH. This gap is preserved when there is no successive cross-slot scheduling (staggered) between the PDCCH and the PDSCH (which is likely when cross-slot scheduling is enabled). Further, when the k1 parameter is greater than <NUM>, there may be a significant gap between the PDSCH and the PUCCH (for example, to be used for carrying an acknowledgment (ACK) or negative acknowledgment (NACK) of a communication included in the PDSCH). <FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of this situation. In this case, the base station may determine, and may indicate to the UE (for example, using a one bit indication or a two bit indication), that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring for a period of time between the PDCCH and the PDSCH scheduled by the PDCCH and a period of time between the PDSCH and the PUCCH scheduled by the PDCCH. The UE may receive the indication in the PDCCH and skip PDCCH monitoring during these periods of time, accordingly.

As another particular example of utilizing the dynamic PDCCH skipping described herein, when the k2 parameter is greater than <NUM>, there may be a significant gap between the PDCCH and the PUSCH scheduled by the PDCCH. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of this situation. In this case, the base station may determine, and may indicate to the UE (for example, using a one bit indication or a two bit indication), that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring for a period of time between the PDCCH and the PUSCH. The UE may receive the indication in the PDCCH and skip PDCCH monitoring during the period of time, accordingly.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example process <NUM> performed, for example, by a UE, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. The example process of <FIG> is an example where the UE (for example, UE <NUM>) performs operations associated with a dynamic PDCCH skipping indication.

As shown in <FIG>, in some aspects, the example process may include receiving a PDCCH including an indication to skip PDCCH monitoring during at least one of: a period of time between the PDCCH and a first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH, a period of time between the first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH and a second physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH, or a period of time between the PDCCH and a third physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH (block <NUM>). For example, the UE (for example, using receive processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, among other possibilities) may receive a PDCCH including an indication to skip PDCCH monitoring during at least one of: a period of time between the PDCCH and a first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH, a period of time between the first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH and a second physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH, or a period of time between the PDCCH and a third physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH, as described above.

As further shown in <FIG>, in some aspects, the example process may include skipping PDCCH monitoring based at least in part on the indication (block <NUM>). For example, the UE (for example, using receive processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, among other possibilities) may skip PDCCH monitoring based at least in part on the indication, as described above.

The example process of <FIG> may include additional aspects, such as any single aspect or any combination of aspects described below and/or in connection with one or more other processes described elsewhere herein.

In a first additional aspect, the indication is carried in DCI included in the PDCCH.

In a second additional aspect, alone or in combination with the first aspect, the first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH is a PDSCH.

In a third additional aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first and second aspects, the first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH is a PDSCH and the second physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH is a PUCCH.

In a fourth additional aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through third aspects, the third physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH is a PUSCH.

In a fifth additional aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fourth aspects, the indication is a one bit indication carried in a single bit of the PDCCH.

In a sixth additional aspect, in combination with the fifth aspect, the first physical channel is a PDSCH, the second physical channel is a PUCCH, and the third physical channel is a PUSCH, and the one bit indication indicates that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during either: the period of time between the PDCCH and the PDSCH and the period of time between the PDSCH and the PUCCH, or the period of time between the PDCCH and the PUSCH.

In a seventh additional aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fourth aspects, the indication is a two bit indication carried in two bits of the PDCCH.

In an eighth additional aspect, in combination with the seventh aspect, the first physical channel is a PDSCH, the second physical channel is a PUCCH, and the third physical channel is a PUSCH, and the two bit indication indicates that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during one of: the period of time between the PDCCH and the PDSCH, the period of time between the PDSCH and the PUCCH, the period of time between the PDCCH and the PUSCH, or the period of time between the PDCCH and the PDSCH, the period of time between the PDSCH and the PUCCH, and the period of time between the PDCCH and the PUSCH.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example process <NUM> performed, for example, by a base station, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. The example process of <FIG> is an example where the base station (for example, base station <NUM>) performs operations associated with a dynamic PDCCH skipping indication.

As shown in <FIG>, in some aspects, the example process may include determining that a UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during at least one of: a period of time between a PDCCH and a first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH, a period of time between the first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH and a second physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH, or a period of time between the PDCCH and a third physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH (block <NUM>). For example, the base station (for example, using transmit processor <NUM>, receive processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, among other possibilities) may determine that a user UE (for example, a UE <NUM>) is to skip PDCCH monitoring during at least one of: a period of time between a PDCCH and a first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH, a period of time between the first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH and a second physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH, or a period of time between the PDCCH and a third physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH, as described above.

As further shown in <FIG>, in some aspects, the example process may include transmitting the PDCCH including an indication that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring based at least in part on the determination (block <NUM>). For example, the base station (for example, using transmit processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, among other possibilities) may transmit the PDCCH including an indication that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring based at least in part on the determination, as described above.

<FIG> is a block diagram of an example apparatus <NUM> for wireless communication in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. The apparatus <NUM> may be a UE, or a UE may include the apparatus <NUM>. In some aspects, the apparatus <NUM> includes a reception component <NUM>, a communication manager <NUM>, and a transmission component <NUM>, which may be in communication with one another (for example, via one or more buses). As shown, the apparatus <NUM> may communicate with another apparatus <NUM> (such as a UE, a base station, or another wireless communication device) using the reception component <NUM> and the transmission component <NUM>.

In some aspects, the apparatus <NUM> may be configured to perform one or more operations described herein in connection with <FIG>. Additionally or alternatively, the apparatus <NUM> may be configured to perform one or more processes described herein, such as process <NUM> of <FIG>. In some aspects, the apparatus <NUM> may include one or more components of the UE described above in connection with <FIG>.

The reception component <NUM> may provide received communications to one or more other components of the apparatus <NUM>, such as the communication manager <NUM>. In some aspects, the reception component <NUM> may perform signal processing on the received communications (such as filtering, amplification, demodulation, analog-to-digital conversion, demultiplexing, deinterleaving, de-mapping, equalization, interference cancellation, or decoding, among other examples), and may provide the processed signals to the one or more other components.

In some aspects, the communication manager <NUM> may generate communications and may transmit the generated communications to the transmission component <NUM> for transmission to the apparatus <NUM>.

In some aspects, the communication manager <NUM> may receive or may cause the reception component <NUM> to receive a PDCCH including an indication to skip PDCCH monitoring during at least one of a period of time between the PDCCH and a first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH, a period of time between the first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH and a second physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH, or a period of time between the PDCCH and a third physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH. In some aspects, the communication manager <NUM> may skip PDCCH monitoring based at least in part on the indication. In some aspects, the communication manager <NUM> may include a controller/processor, a memory, or a combination thereof, of the UE described above in connection with <FIG>.

In some aspects, the communication manager <NUM> may include a set of components, such as a PDCCH monitoring component <NUM>. Alternatively, the set of components may be separate and distinct from the communication manager <NUM>. In some aspects, one or more components of the set of components may include or may be implemented within a controller/processor, a memory, or a combination thereof, of the UE described above in connection with <FIG>. Additionally or alternatively, one or more components of the set of components may be implemented at least in part as software stored in a memory. For example, a component (or a portion of a component) is implemented as instructions or code stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium and executable by a controller or a processor to perform the functions or operations of the component.

In some aspects, the reception component <NUM> may receive a PDCCH including an indication to skip PDCCH monitoring during at least one of a period of time between the PDCCH and a first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH, a period of time between the first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH and a second physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH, or a period of time between the PDCCH and a third physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH. In some aspects, the PDCCH monitoring component <NUM> may skip PDCCH monitoring based at least in part on the indication.

<FIG> is a block diagram of an example apparatus <NUM> for wireless communication in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. The apparatus <NUM> may be a base station, or a base station may include the apparatus <NUM>. In some aspects, the apparatus <NUM> includes a reception component <NUM>, a communication manager <NUM>, and a transmission component <NUM>, which may be in communication with one another (for example, via one or more buses). As shown, the apparatus <NUM> may communicate with another apparatus <NUM> (such as a UE, a base station, or another wireless communication device) using the reception component <NUM> and the transmission component <NUM>.

In some aspects, the apparatus <NUM> may be configured to perform one or more operations described herein in connection with <FIG>. Additionally or alternatively, the apparatus <NUM> may be configured to perform one or more processes described herein, such as process <NUM> of <FIG>. In some aspects, the apparatus <NUM> may include one or more components of the base station described above in connection with <FIG>.

The reception component <NUM> may provide received communications to one or more other components of the apparatus <NUM>, such as the communication manager <NUM>. In some aspects, the reception component <NUM> may perform signal processing on the received communications (such as filtering, amplification, demodulation, analog-to-digital conversion, demultiplexing, deinterleaving, de-mapping, equalization, interference cancellation, or decoding, among other examples), and may provide the processed signals to the one or more other components. In some aspects, the reception component <NUM> may include one or more antennas, a demodulator, a MIMO detector, a receive processor, a controller/processor, a memory, or a combination thereof, of the base station described above in connection with <FIG>.

In some aspects, the communication manager <NUM> may generate communications and may transmit the generated communications to the transmission component <NUM> for transmission to the apparatus <NUM>. In some aspects, the transmission component <NUM> may include one or more antennas, a modulator, a transmit MIMO processor, a transmit processor, a controller/processor, a memory, or a combination thereof, of the base station described above in connection with <FIG>.

In some aspects, the communication manager <NUM> may determine that a UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during at least one of: a period of time between a PDCCH and a first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH, a period of time between the first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH and a second physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH, or a period of time between the PDCCH and a third physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH. In some aspects, the communication manager <NUM> may transmit or may cause the transmission component <NUM> to transmit the PDCCH including an indication that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring based at least in part on the determination. In some aspects, the communication manager <NUM> may include a controller/processor, a memory, a scheduler, a communication unit, or a combination thereof, of the base station described above in connection with <FIG>.

In some aspects, the communication manager <NUM> may include a set of components, such as a skipping determination component <NUM>. Alternatively, the set of components may be separate and distinct from the communication manager <NUM>. In some aspects, one or more components of the set of components may include or may be implemented within a controller/processor, a memory, a scheduler, a communication unit, or a combination thereof, of the base station described above in connection with <FIG>. Additionally or alternatively, one or more components of the set of components may be implemented at least in part as software stored in a memory. For example, a component (or a portion of a component) is implemented as instructions or code stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium and executable by a controller or a processor to perform the functions or operations of the component.

In some aspects, the skipping determination component <NUM> may determine that a UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during at least one of: a period of time between a PDCCH and a first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH, a period of time between the first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH and a second physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH, or a period of time between the PDCCH and a third physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH. In some aspects, the transmission component <NUM> to transmit the PDCCH including an indication that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring based at least in part on the determination.

As used herein, satisfying a threshold may refer to a value being greater than the threshold, greater than or equal to the threshold, less than the threshold, less than or equal to the threshold, equal to the threshold, not equal to the threshold, or the like, or combinations thereof.

It will be apparent that methods described herein may be implemented in different forms of hardware, firmware, or a combination of hardware and software. However, the protection scope of this application shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Even though particular combinations of features are recited in the claims or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are not intended to limit the disclosure of various aspects. In fact, many of these features may be combined in ways not specifically recited in the claims or disclosed in the specification. As an example, "at least one of: a, b, or c" is intended to cover a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, and a-b-c, as well as any combination with multiples of the same element (for example, a-a, a-a-a, a-a-b, a-a-c, a-b-b, a-c-c, b-b, b-b-b, b-b-c, c-c, and c-c-c or any other ordering of a, b, and c).

Claim 1:
A method (<NUM>) of wireless communication performed by a user equipment, UE, comprising:
receiving (<NUM>) a physical downlink control channel, PDCCH, arranged to include an indication to skip PDCCH monitoring during at least one of:
a first period of time being a first scheduling delay between the PDCCH and a first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH,
a second period of time being a second scheduling delay between the first physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH and a second physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH, or
a third period of time being a third scheduling delay between the PDCCH and a third physical channel scheduled by the PDCCH,
wherein the indication is a one bit indication carried in a single bit of the PDCCH or a two bit indication carried in two bits of the PDCCH, and
wherein:
based on the indication being the one bit indication and the one bit indication is set to a first value, the one bit indication indicates that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during the first period of time and the second period of time,
based on the indication being the one bit indication and the one bit indication is set to a second value, the one bit indication indicates that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during the third period of time,
based on the indication being the two bit indication and the two bit indication is set to a first value, the two bit indication indicates that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during the first period of time,
based on the indication being the two bit indication and the two bit indication is set to a second value, the two bit indication indicates that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during the second period of time,
based on the indication being the two bit indication and the two bit indication is set to a third value, the two bit indication indicates that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during the third period of time,
based on the indication being the two bit indication and the two bit indication is set to a fourth value, the two bit indication indicates that the UE is to skip PDCCH monitoring during the first period of time, the second period of time, and the third period of time; and
skipping (<NUM>) PDCCH monitoring based at least in part on the indication.