Patent Description:
Wireless networking systems have become a prevalent means by which a majority of people worldwide has come to communicate. A typical wireless communication network (e.g., employing frequency, time, and/or code division techniques) includes one or more base stations (typically known as a "BS") that each provides a geographical radio coverage, and one or more wireless user equipment devices (typically know as a "UE") that can transmit and receive data within the radio coverage.

In a wireless communication system, e.g. the fifth-generation (<NUM>) new radio (NR) network, a transport block (TB) is usually encoded and then sent. The UE obtains the modulation order, code rate and the number of layers from the downlink control information (DCI) and can calculate the number of resource elements from the allocated time and frequency domain ranges in the DCI. The UE can obtain an intermediate transport block size (TBS) based on these transmission parameters and determine the actual transmitted TBS according to a requirement of channel coding. Coding gains are different for different transport block sizes. Generally, a smaller transport block can obtain a coding gain smaller than that obtained by a larger transport block. But when the size of the transport block exceeds a certain value, the increase of coding gain is not obvious.

In an existing system, the transport block size (TBS) is calculated through a formula, wherein when the number of physical resource blocks (PRBs) is smaller, and when the level of modulation and coding scheme (MCS) is lower, the TBS is smaller and the performance of the resulting small transport block is poor. That is, to achieve the same target block error rate (BLER), a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) required for a smaller transport block is higher than an SNR required for a large transport block. Therefore, when the calculated TBS is small, once the TBS slightly deviates from the actual TBS that can be transmitted, the SNR required to reach the same target BLER is greatly changed, which causes an unstable link performance.

In addition, the TBS calculated under different modulation orders and the SNR required to achieve the same target BLER follow some rules in an MCS table. When the number of PRBs is constant and the modulation order is constant, the value of SNR increases with the increase of spectrum efficiency (SE) or code rate (CR). In addition, the SNR change, referred to as ΔSNR, of adjacent MCSs is balanced with the SE change, referred to as ΔSE , of the adjacent MCSs. But in an actual MCS table, in order to ensure the same spectrum efficiency of adjacent MCSs of different modulation orders, it may result in a non-uniform distribution of ΔSE values of adjacent MCSs of the same modulation order, which leads to a non-uniform ΔSNR value of at the modulation order hopping, and again impacting the stability of the link.

Further, for any number of PRBs and any MCS modulation order, after the TBS is calculated by using an existing formula, if any one of the parameters in the formula changes, the calculated TBS will change. Because the two calculated TBSs during an initial transmission and a retransmission may be different, the transmission cannot be continued.

Thus, existing systems and methods for determining a transport block size in a wireless communication are not entirely satisfactory.

<CIT> is a related prior art document. 3GPP document <NPL>" discloses TBS calculation in NR.

The exemplary embodiments disclosed herein are directed to solving the issues relating to one or more of the problems presented in the prior art, as well as providing additional features that will become readily apparent by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompany drawings. In accordance with various embodiments, exemplary systems, methods, devices and computer program products are disclosed herein. It is understood, however, that these embodiments are presented by way of example and not limitation, and it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art who read the present disclosure that various modifications to the disclosed embodiments can be made while remaining within the scope of the appended claims.

Various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described below with reference to the accompanying figures to enable a person of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the present disclosure. As would be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, after reading the present disclosure, various changes or modifications to the examples described herein can be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

In a wireless communication system, e.g. the fifth-generation (<NUM>) new radio (NR) network, a transport block (TB) is usually encoded and then sent. Coding gains are different for different transport block sizes. Generally, a smaller transport block can obtain a coding gain smaller than that obtained by a larger transport block. The coding gain of a transport block having a length of <NUM> bits may be nearly <NUM> dB different from that of a transport block having a length of about <NUM> bits. But when the size of the transport block exceeds a certain value (for example, <NUM> bits), the increase of coding gain is not obvious.

In an existing system, the transport block size (TBS) is calculated through a formula, wherein the TBS is smaller when the number of physical resource blocks (PRBs) is smaller, and when the level of modulation and coding scheme (MCS) is lower. The TBS is larger, when the number of PRBs is larger and/or when the MCS level is higher. Thus, when the number of PRBs is smaller, and when the MCS level is lower, the performance of the resulting small transport block is poor. That is, to achieve the same target block error rate (BLER), a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) required for a smaller transport block is higher than an SNR required for a large transport block. Therefore, when the calculated TBS is small, once the TBS slightly deviates from the actual TBS that can be transmitted, the SNR required to reach the same target BLER is greatly changed, which is not conducive to obtaining a stable link performance. In an MCS table, the TBS calculated under different modulation orders and the SNR required to achieve the same target BLER follow some rules or trends. When the number of PRBs is constant and the modulation order is constant, the value of SNR increases with the increase of spectrum efficiency (SE) or code rate (CR). In addition, the SNR change, referred to as ΔSNR , of adjacent MCSs is balanced with the SE change, referred to as ΔSE , of the adjacent MCSs. That is, if the difference between the values of ΔSE of adjacent MCSs of the same modulation order is not significant (for example, the difference between ΔSE s does not exceed <NUM>), the ΔSNR value of the adjacent MCSs is relatively uniform, and the corresponding link stability is also better. But in an actual MCS table, in order to ensure the same spectrum efficiency of adjacent MCSs of different modulation orders, it may result in a non-uniform distribution of ΔSE values of adjacent MCSs of the same modulation order, which leads to a non-uniform ΔSNR value of at the modulation order hopping (where the modulation order changes from an MCS index to an adjacent MCS index in the MCS table), affecting the stability of the link.

Below is an exemplary MCS table with spectral efficiency analysis:
<IMG>.

In response to this problem, the present disclosure provides a method to determine the size of the transport block. This method modifies the existing TBS calculation by introducing a correction factor to achieve the purpose of enhancing link stability.

Further, for any number of PRBs and any MCS modulation order, after the TBS is calculated by using the formula, if any one of the parameters in the formula changes, the calculated TBS will change. For example, the parameters allocated during the initial transmission are: Qm = <NUM>, R=<NUM>/<NUM>, the number of PRB is <NUM>, the number of REs per PRB is <NUM>, and the TBS is <NUM>. Then the parameters allocated for retransmission are: Qm = <NUM>, R = <NUM>/<NUM>, the number of PRB is <NUM>, the number of REs per PRB is <NUM>, and the TBS is <NUM>. Because the two calculated TBSs are different, the transmission cannot be continued.

In response to this problem, in consideration that the transport block size is the same during initial transmission and retransmission, the present disclosure provides a method to quantize the TBS to obtain a TBS set or TBS table. The UE can select, in the TBS table, a TBS that is closest to the calculated TBS in terms of rounding, rounding up, or rounding down the calculated TBS, to be a TBS used for transmission. As the quantization step size increases with the increase of TBS, the disclosed method can avoid complicated online calculation, ensure that the TBS granularity for transmission is good, and ensure that the TBS is the same in initial transmission and retransmission.

The methods disclosed in the present teaching can be implemented in a wireless communication network, where a BS and a UE can communicate with each other via a communication link, e.g., via a downlink radio frame from the BS to the UE or via an uplink radio frame from the UE to the BS. In various embodiments, a BS in the present disclosure can include, or be implemented as, a next Generation Node B (gNB), an E-UTRAN Node B (eNB), a Transmission/Reception Point (TRP), an Access Point (AP), etc.; while a UE in the present disclosure can include, or be implemented as, a mobile station (MS), a station (STA), etc. A BS and a UE may be described herein as non-limiting examples of "wireless communication nodes," and "wireless communication devices" respectively, which can practice the methods disclosed herein and may be capable of wireless and/or wired communications, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

<FIG> illustrates an exemplary communication network <NUM> in which techniques disclosed herein may be implemented, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the exemplary communication network <NUM> includes a base station (BS) <NUM> and a plurality of UEs, UE1 <NUM>, UE2 <NUM>. UE3 <NUM>, where the BS <NUM> can communicate with the UEs according to some wireless protocols. For example, before a downlink transmission, the BS <NUM> transmits downlink control information (DCI) to a UE, e.g. UE1 <NUM>, to schedule a transport block (TB) to be transmitted from the BS <NUM> to the UE1 <NUM>. The DCI may include a plurality of transmission parameters related to the transport blocks to be transmitted. Based on the plurality of transmission parameters, the UE may determine a transport block size (TBS) for transmission of the transport blocks. According to various embodiments, the TBS determination may be performed by the BS and/or the UE, and may be applied to downlink and/or uplink TB transmissions.

Below is a method for calculating TBS by using an existing formula for TBS determination. The method of calculation is to calculate NRE×v×Qm×R to achieve an intermediate value TBS_temp of the transport block bit size. The meanings of these parameters are shown as follows: v is the number of layers of transportation; Qm is the modulation order, which can be obtained from the MCS index; R is the code rate, which can be obtained according to the index of MCS; NRE is the number of resource elements (REs) whose value is <MAT>, where <MAT> is the number of PRBs allocated, Y is the quantized value of X that is the number of REs per PRB, <MAT>, and Xd is the number of REs occupied by a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) in each PRB in the allocated duration, Xoh is a total overhead occupied by a channel status indicator-reference signal (CSI-RS) and CORESET information, which is semi-statically determined, where the occupancy of the uplink and downlink may not be the same. After the intermediate value TBS_temp is obtained, the actual TBS is determined according to the channel coding. It has been determined that the TBS must meet the requirements including (a) the multiple of <NUM> and (b) the code block size (CBS) is equal for each code block after segmentation. The specific calculation method includes: based on the code block segmentation requirements, first determine the number of blocks C via the intermediate value, and then find the least common multiple of <NUM> and C, i.e. LCM (<NUM>, C), to quantify the TBS, that is: TBS = function (TBS_temp/δ)×δ, wherein, function (•) means rounding, rounding up, rounding down, or keeping the original value; δ is the quantization step size of TBS, its value is the least common multiple of <NUM> and code block number C, i.e. δ = LCM(<NUM>, C).

Based on the above mentioned method of determining the TBS, when the number of PRBs is small and the modulation order is low, the calculated TBS is small and may deviate from the actual transmitted TBS, resulting in a very unstable link. For example, when the number of allocated REs is <NUM>, the number of PRBs is <NUM>, and the number of layers is <NUM>, a simulated link stability of the MCS table with a downlink <NUM>-Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (64QAM) is shown in the plot <NUM> of <FIG> utilizes deltaSNR (i.e. ΔSNR) to represent link stability with the TBS calculated using this method to achieve a target BLER=<NUM>%. As shown in <FIG>, when the MCS index is low, the deltaSNR fluctuates between <NUM> and <NUM>, instead of stabilizing around <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an exemplary simulation result <NUM> of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) performance change vs. MCS index, based on the above mentioned method. As shown in <FIG>, when the MCS index is low (e.g. between <NUM> and <NUM>), the SNR curve is not so smooth as the SNR curve when the MCS index is high (e.g. between <NUM> and <NUM>). As shown in <FIG>, given an MCS index range (e.g. between <NUM> and <NUM>), the SNR curve corresponding to a lower PRB=<NUM> is not so smooth as the SNR curve corresponding to a higher PRB=<NUM>, where a smoother SNR curve indicates a more stable link.

Table 1D below shows the TBS values calculated based on the above mentioned method, with the allocated resource <MAT>.

Table 1E below shows the simulated values of ΔSNR of adjacent MCSs, with the TBS values calculated based on the above mentioned method, the allocated resource <MAT>, and a target BLER=<NUM>%.

In response to the link stability problem of the above mentioned method, the present disclosure provides a novel TBS calculation method to improve the above calculation formula of TBS, by introducing a correction factor, and determine the functional relationship between the relevant parameters, to ensure a stable link without losing flexibility.

In one embodiment, the novel TBS calculation method is designed by adding a correction factor β. The correction factor is a function of PRB number and/or MCS order and/or spectral efficiency (or code rate). For different PRB numbers and/or different MCS orders and/or different spectral efficiencies (or code rates), the value of β may be different.

In another embodiment, the novel TBS calculation method is designed by modifying the total number of REs. NRE is a function of PRB number and/or MCS order. For different PRB numbers and/or different MCS orders, the number of REs can be quantified differently.

In yet another embodiment, the novel TBS calculation method is designed by modifying the code rate or spectral efficiency. Each of them is a function of PRB number and/or MCS order. For different PRB numbers and/or different MCS orders, the value of code rate or spectral efficiency may be different.

The present disclosure provides a novel design of a set of available TBS values, by developing a fixed quantization step size for TBS in each given TBS range. Different quantization steps for TBS may be designed in different ranges; and the quantization step size increases when TBS increases. This can both ensure same TBS during initial transmission and retransmission, and ensure that the granularity of available TBS is not too low. The quantization step may also be a function of the number of PRBs and/or MCS orders and/or spectral efficiency and/or code rate.

<FIG> illustrates a block diagram of a user equipment (UE) <NUM>, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The UE <NUM> is an example of a device that can be configured to implement the various methods described herein. As shown in <FIG>, the UE <NUM> includes a housing <NUM> containing a system clock <NUM>, a processor <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, a transceiver <NUM> comprising a transmitter <NUM> and receiver <NUM>, a power module <NUM>, a control information analyzer <NUM>, an intermediate transport block size calculator <NUM>, a transport block size modifier <NUM>, and a final transport block size determiner <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the system clock <NUM> provides the timing signals to the processor <NUM> for controlling the timing of all operations of the UE <NUM>. The processor <NUM> controls the general operation of the UE <NUM> and can include one or more processing circuits or modules such as a central processing unit (CPU) and/or any combination of general-purpose microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs), field programmable gate array (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), controllers, state machines, gated logic, discrete hardware components, dedicated hardware finite state machines, or any other suitable circuits, devices and/or structures that can perform calculations or other manipulations of data.

The transceiver <NUM>, which includes the transmitter <NUM> and receiver <NUM>, allows the UE <NUM> to transmit and receive data to and from a remote device (e.g., the BS or another UE). An antenna <NUM> is typically attached to the housing <NUM> and electrically coupled to the transceiver <NUM>. In various embodiments, the UE <NUM> includes (not shown) multiple transmitters, multiple receivers, and multiple transceivers. In one embodiment, the antenna <NUM> is replaced with a multi-antenna array <NUM> that can form a plurality of beams each of which points in a distinct direction. The transmitter <NUM> can be configured to wirelessly transmit packets having different packet types or functions, such packets being generated by the processor <NUM>. Similarly, the receiver <NUM> is configured to receive packets having different packet types or functions, and the processor <NUM> is configured to process packets of a plurality of different packet types. For example, the processor <NUM> can be configured to determine the type of packet and to process the packet and/or fields of the packet accordingly.

In a wireless communication, the UE <NUM> may receive control information from a BS. The control information may be downlink control information (DCI) in this embodiment. For example, the control information analyzer <NUM> may receive, via the receiver <NUM>, DCI including a plurality of transmission parameters related to transport blocks to be transmitted between the UE <NUM> and the BS, e.g. from the BS to the UE <NUM>. The control information analyzer <NUM> may analyze the DCI to identify the plurality of transmission parameters, which may include at least one of: a quantity of layers configured for transmission of the transport blocks; a modulation order configured for transmission of the transport blocks; a code rate configured for transmission of the transport blocks; a quantity of physical resource blocks configured for transmission of the transport blocks; a quantity of resource elements per each physical resource block; a total quantity of resource elements for transmission of the transport blocks, which is a product of the quantity of physical resource blocks and the quantity of resource elements per physical resource block; and a spectral efficiency configured for transmission of the transport blocks, which is equal to a product of the modulation order and the code rate. The control information analyzer <NUM> may send the analyzed DCI including the plurality of transmission parameters to the intermediate transport block size calculator <NUM> for calculating an intermediate transport block size (TBS), and to the transport block size modifier <NUM> for modifying the intermediate TBS to generate a modified TBS.

The intermediate transport block size calculator <NUM> in this example receives the analyzed DCI including the plurality of transmission parameters from the control information analyzer <NUM>. Based on the plurality of transmission parameters, the intermediate transport block size calculator <NUM> calculates an intermediate TBS for the transport blocks to be transmitted from the BS to the UE <NUM>. In one embodiment, the intermediate transport block size calculator <NUM> can calculate the intermediate TBS based on the above mentioned method corresponding to <FIG> and <FIG>. The intermediate transport block size calculator <NUM> transmits the intermediate TBS to the transport block size modifier <NUM> for modifying the intermediate TBS to generate a modified TBS.

The transport block size modifier <NUM> in this example can receive the plurality of transmission parameters from the control information analyzer <NUM> and receive the intermediate TBS from the intermediate transport block size calculator <NUM>. The transport block size modifier <NUM> first determines whether a condition is met based on at least one of the plurality of transmission parameters and at least one threshold. In one embodiment, the condition is met when at least one of the following happens: the quantity of physical resource blocks is smaller than or equal to a first threshold, e.g. <NUM>; the modulation order is smaller than or equal to a second threshold, e.g. <NUM>; the total quantity of resource elements is smaller than a third threshold; and the intermediate transport block size is smaller than a fourth threshold, e.g. <NUM>.

When the condition is met, the transport block size modifier <NUM> modifies the intermediate transport block size to generate a modified transport block size. In one embodiment, when the condition is met, the transport block size modifier <NUM> determines a correction factor based on at least one of: the quantity of physical resource blocks, and the modulation order and the spectral efficiency, and multiplies the intermediate transport block size by the correction factor to generate the modified transport block size.

In another embodiment, when the condition is met, the transport block size modifier <NUM> determines a modified quantity of resource elements based on the total quantity of resource elements and a set of resource element quantities after quantization, and replaces the total quantity of resource elements with the modified quantity of resource elements in the calculation of the intermediate transport block size to generate the modified transport block size.

In yet another embodiment, when the condition is met, the transport block size modifier <NUM> determines a modified code rate based on at least one of: the quantity of physical resource blocks and the modulation order and the spectral efficiency, and replaces the code rate with the modified code rate in the calculation of the intermediate transport block size to generate the modified transport block size.

In a different embodiment, the modified transport block size includes bits for cyclic redundancy check (CRC) of each of the transport blocks. Transmission of the transport blocks based on a calculated transport block size leads to a better link stability when the calculated transport block size is the modified transport block size than that when the calculated transport block size is the intermediate transport block size. The link stability may be determined based on a change of a signal-to-noise ratio required to achieve a target block error rate for transmission of the transport blocks, given a discrepancy between the calculated transport block size and an actual transport block size used for the transmission. The transport block size modifier <NUM> transmits the modified TBS to the final transport block size determiner <NUM> for determining a final TBS for transmission of the transport blocks.

The final transport block size determiner <NUM> in this example may receive the plurality of transmission parameters from the control information analyzer <NUM>, and receive the modified TBS from the transport block size modifier <NUM>. The final transport block size determiner <NUM> can determine a final transport block size based on the modified transport block size for transmission of the transport blocks.

In one embodiment, the final transport block size determiner <NUM> generates a quantized set of transport block sizes, where a quantization step, from a transport block to next transport block in the quantized set, is a function of at least one of the following transmission parameters: the quantity of physical resource blocks, the modulation order and the spectral efficiency. The final transport block size determiner <NUM> then determines the final transport block size based on a transport block size that is closest to the modified transport block size, among transport block sizes that are in the quantized set and not smaller than the modified transport block size.

In another embodiment, the final transport block size determiner <NUM> rounds up the modified transport block size to a closest larger integer to generate an integer transport block size; determines a quantity of code blocks in each of the transport blocks based on the integer transport block size and a block segmentation rule related to channel coding; and calculates the final transport block size based on the integer transport block size and the quantity of code blocks to ensure the multiple of <NUM> and equal code block size after block segmentation of the transport blocks. For example, the final transport block size determiner <NUM> can determine a least common multiple of eight and the quantity of code blocks; and determine the final transport block size based on an integer that is closest to the integer transport block size, among integers that are divisible by the least common multiple and not smaller than the integer transport block size. Because one byte includes eight bits, being divisible by the least common multiple of eight and the quantity of code blocks ensures both the multiple of <NUM> and equal code block size after block segmentation of the transport blocks.

In the present disclosure, the expressions "X is divisible by Y" and "X is evenly divisible by Y" can be used interchangeably to mean that X is a (positive integer) multiple of Y and there is no remainder.

In yet another embodiment, the final transport block size determiner <NUM> generates a quantized set of transport block sizes, where the quantization step, from a transport block to next transport block in the quantized set, increases as the transport block size increases. The final transport block size determiner <NUM> then determines the final transport block size based on a transport block size that is closest to the modified transport block size, among transport block sizes that are in the quantized set and not smaller than the modified transport block size.

In still another embodiment, the final transport block size determiner <NUM> generates a quantized set of transport block sizes, where the quantization step, from a transport block to next transport block in the quantized set, is determined to ensure granularity of the quantized set is larger than a threshold; and determines the final transport block size based on a transport block size that is closest to the modified transport block size, among transport block sizes that are in the quantized set and not smaller than the modified transport block size. In this embodiment, the quantization step is determined to ensure that the final transport block size is the same for both an initial transmission and a re-transmission of a transport block.

The power module <NUM> can include a power source such as one or more batteries, and a power regulator, to provide regulated power to each of the above-described modules in <FIG>. In some embodiments, if the UE <NUM> is coupled to a dedicated external power source (e.g., a wall electrical outlet), the power module <NUM> can include a transformer and a power regulator.

The various modules discussed above are coupled together by a bus system <NUM>. The bus system <NUM> can include a data bus and, for example, a power bus, a control signal bus, and/or a status signal bus in addition to the data bus. It is understood that the modules of the UE <NUM> can be operatively coupled to one another using any suitable techniques and mediums.

Although a number of separate modules or components are illustrated in <FIG>, persons of ordinary skill in the art will understand that one or more of the modules can be combined or commonly implemented. For example, the processor <NUM> can implement not only the functionality described above with respect to the processor <NUM>, but also implement the functionality described above with respect to the intermediate transport block size calculator <NUM>. Conversely, each of the modules illustrated in <FIG> can be implemented using a plurality of separate components or elements.

<FIG> illustrates a flow chart for a method <NUM> performed by a UE, e.g. the UE <NUM> in <FIG>, for determining a transport block size in a wireless communication, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. At operation <NUM>, the UE receives, from a BS, control information including transmission parameters related to transport blocks to be transmitted between the UE and the BS. At operation <NUM>, the UE calculates an intermediate transport block size for the transport blocks based on the transmission parameters. The UE modifies at operation <NUM> the intermediate transport block size to generate a modified transport block size in response to at least one event. At operation <NUM>, the UE determines a final transport block size based on a transport block size that is closest to the modified transport block size among transport block sizes that are in a quantized set and not smaller than the modified transport block size.

<FIG> illustrates a block diagram of a BS <NUM>, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The BS <NUM> is an example of a device that can be configured to implement the various methods described herein. As shown in <FIG>, the BS <NUM> includes a housing <NUM> containing a system clock <NUM>, a processor <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, a transceiver <NUM> comprising a transmitter <NUM> and a receiver <NUM>, a power module <NUM>, a control information generator <NUM>, an intermediate transport block size calculator <NUM>, a transport block size modifier <NUM>, and a final transport block size determiner <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the system clock <NUM>, the processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the transceiver <NUM> and the power module <NUM> work similarly to the system clock <NUM>, the processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the transceiver <NUM> and the power module <NUM> in the UE <NUM>. An antenna <NUM> or a multi-antenna array <NUM> is typically attached to the housing <NUM> and electrically coupled to the transceiver <NUM>.

The control information generator <NUM> may generate a plurality of transmission parameters related to transport blocks to be transmitted between the BS <NUM> and a UE, e.g. from the BS <NUM> to the UE <NUM>. The plurality of transmission parameters may include at least one of: a quantity of layers configured for transmission of the transport blocks; a modulation order configured for transmission of the transport blocks; a code rate configured for transmission of the transport blocks; a quantity of physical resource blocks configured for transmission of the transport blocks; a quantity of resource elements per each physical resource block; a total quantity of resource elements for transmission of the transport blocks, which is a product of the quantity of physical resource blocks and the quantity of resource elements per physical resource block; and a spectral efficiency configured for transmission of the transport blocks, which is equal to a product of the modulation order and the code rate. The control information generator <NUM> may send the generated transmission parameters to the intermediate transport block size calculator <NUM> for calculating an intermediate transport block size (TBS), and to the transport block size modifier <NUM> for modifying the intermediate TBS to generate a modified TBS. The control information generator <NUM> also generates and transmits, via the transmitter <NUM>, control information that includes the plurality of transmission parameters and a transport block size, e.g. a final transport block size as discussed later, to the UE.

In one embodiment, the control information is downlink control information (DCI). In one example, the final transport block size is determined by the BS <NUM>, such that the BS informs the UE <NUM> about the final transport block size via the DCI. In another example, the final transport block size is determined by the UE <NUM>, such that the DCI transmitted by the BS <NUM> does not include the final transport block size. In yet another example, the final transport block size is determined by both the BS <NUM> and the UE <NUM> according to the same rule, such that the DCI transmitted by the BS <NUM> does not include the final transport block size.

The intermediate transport block size calculator <NUM> in this example receives the plurality of transmission parameters from the control information generator <NUM>. Based on the plurality of transmission parameters, the intermediate transport block size calculator <NUM> calculates an intermediate TBS for the transport blocks to be transmitted from the BS <NUM> to the UE <NUM>. In one embodiment, the intermediate transport block size calculator <NUM> can calculate the intermediate TBS based on the above mentioned method corresponding to <FIG> and <FIG>. The intermediate transport block size calculator <NUM> transmits the intermediate TBS to the transport block size modifier <NUM> for modifying the intermediate TBS to generate a modified TBS.

The transport block size modifier <NUM> in this example can receive the plurality of transmission parameters from the control information generator <NUM> and receive the intermediate TBS from the intermediate transport block size calculator <NUM>. The transport block size modifier <NUM> first determines whether a condition is met based on at least one of the plurality of transmission parameters and at least one threshold. In one embodiment, the condition is met when at least one of the following happens: the quantity of physical resource blocks is smaller than or equal to a first threshold, e.g. <NUM>; the modulation order is smaller than or equal to a second threshold, e.g. <NUM>; the total quantity of resource elements is smaller than a third threshold; and the intermediate transport block size is smaller than a fourth threshold, e.g. <NUM>.

In a different embodiment, the modified transport block size includes bits for CRC of each of the transport blocks. Transmission of the transport blocks based on a calculated transport block size leads to a better link stability when the calculated transport block size is the modified transport block size than that when the calculated transport block size is the intermediate transport block size. The link stability may be determined based on a change of a signal-to-noise ratio required to achieve a target block error rate for transmission of the transport blocks, given a discrepancy between the calculated transport block size and an actual transport block size used for the transmission. The transport block size modifier <NUM> sends the modified TBS to the final transport block size determiner <NUM> for determining a final TBS for transmission of the transport blocks.

The final transport block size determiner <NUM> in this example may receive the plurality of transmission parameters from the control information generator <NUM>, and receive the modified TBS from the transport block size modifier <NUM>. The final transport block size determiner <NUM> can determine a final transport block size based on the modified transport block size for transmission of the transport blocks.

The various modules discussed above are coupled together by a bus system <NUM>. The bus system <NUM> can include a data bus and, for example, a power bus, a control signal bus, and/or a status signal bus in addition to the data bus. It is understood that the modules of the BS <NUM> can be operatively coupled to one another using any suitable techniques and mediums.

<FIG> illustrates a flow chart for a method <NUM> performed by a BS, e.g. the BS <NUM> in <FIG>, for determining a transport block size in a wireless communication, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. At operation <NUM>, the BS generates a plurality of transmission parameters related to transport blocks to be transmitted between the BS and a UE. At operation <NUM>, the BS calculates an intermediate transport block size for the transport blocks based on the plurality of transmission parameters. The BS modifies at operation <NUM> the intermediate transport block size to generate a modified transport block size in response to at least one event. The BS determines at operation <NUM> a final transport block size based on a transport block size that is closest to the modified transport block size among transport block sizes that are in a quantized set and not smaller than the modified transport block size. At operation <NUM>, the BS transmits control information that includes the plurality of transmission parameters and the final transport block size to the UE.

In one embodiment, the roles of the BS <NUM> and the UE <NUM> in <FIG> are exchanged, where the UE <NUM> generates and transmits uplink control information to the BS <NUM>. The TBS is calculated and determined for transport blocks to be transmitted from the UE <NUM> to the BS <NUM> for uplink transmissions, in a similar manner to the manner discussed above for downlink transmissions.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, a TBS calculation method is provided and can be applied to a new radio (NR) access technology communication system. The method proposed in the present disclosure may be applied to a fifth generation (<NUM>) mobile communication system or other wireless or wired communication system. The data transmission direction is that a base station sends data (downlink transmission service data) to a mobile user or a mobile user sends data (uplink transmission service data) to the base station. Mobile users include: mobile devices, access terminals, user terminals, subscriber stations, subscriber units, mobile stations, remote stations, remote terminals, user agents, user equipment, user devices, or some other terminology. The base station includes: an access point (AP), a node B, a radio network controller (RNC), an evolved Node B (eNB), a base station controller (BSC), Base Transceiver Station (BTS), a Base Station (BS), a Transceiver Function (TF), a radio router, a radio transceiver, a basic service unit, an extension service unit, a Radio Base Station (RBS), or some other terminology. A TBS calculation method provided in the present disclosure may be applied to an enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) scenario, an ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC) scenario or a massive Machine Type Communications (mMTC) scenario, in the NR access technology.

In a first embodiment, the functional model for TBS calculation is: TBS = F(β), with a specific form shown as follows: <MAT>.

In the above formula, the correction factor β is a function of (a) the number of PRBs allocated for uplink or downlink, and/or (b) the order of the modulation and coding Qm , and/or (c) the code rate R (or spectrum efficiency); function(•) indicates rounding, rounding up, rounding down, or retaining the original value; Y is the quantized value of X that is the number of REs per PRB; δ is the quantization step of the TBS. Since the correction factor is mainly added to improve the link stability when the PRB is small and when the order of the MCS is low, the value of β can be determined by Qm and <MAT>.

In a first situation, when the PRB is small and/or the MCS order is low, the correction factor is set to be a fraction close to <NUM>, e.g. <NUM>. For the sake of simple hardware implementation, the value of the correction factor can be taken as <MAT>. In a second situation, when the MCS order is high and the allocated spectrum efficiency (SE) is the same as the SE at the modulation order hopping (where the modulation order changes from an MCS index to an adjacent MCS index in the MCS table) in the MCS table, the correction factor is also set to be a fraction close to <NUM>, e.g. <NUM>. For the sake of simple hardware implementation, the value of the correction factor can be taken as <MAT>. In general, the correction factor in the second situation is larger than that in the first situation. When the RE value in each PRB changes, the correspondingly obtained link stability will also change. Therefore, the values of the correction factors may be different for different RE values. For example, when the RE value in each PRB is <NUM>, the correction factor can be set to be <NUM>.

When the PRB is larger and/or the order of the MCS is higher, the value of the correction factor is set to be <NUM>. Because when the PRB is larger and the MCS is higher, the TBS is larger, and the interval of actually available TBSs is also larger. Therefore, the calculated TBS does not need to be modified to obtain good link stability.

According to one example, the value of the correction factor β is shown in the following table:
<IMG>.

The functional model of the correction factor β is shown below: <MAT>.

In the above, x indicates the number of PRBs, for example, x = <NUM>; SlowerMCS represents a set of Qm values in lower-order modulation; ShigherMCS represents a set of Qm values in higher-order modulation, SoverlappingSE_high_higherMCS represents a larger Qm value of two different modulation orders at SE overlap (where the SE value does not change from an MCS index to an adjacent MCS index in the MCS table) in higher-order modulation. When the number of PRBs is small and the order of MCS is low, the value β = (<NUM>n-<NUM>)/<NUM>n can not only achieve better performance but also be easy to implement by hardware. For example, when the value of n1 is <NUM>, β = <NUM>/<NUM>; when the value of n2 is <NUM>, β = <NUM>/<NUM>. In the process of hardware implementation, one just needs to truncate the TBS or intermediate TBS (referred to as TBS_temp) and perform a subtraction to complete a corresponding multiplication of β.

The steps to determine TBS in this embodiment include the following:.

In case <NUM>: First, the formula <MAT> is used to calculate and round up to obtain TBS_temp. The TBS_temp is divided into blocks according to the code block segmentation rule of the channel coding. Note that TBS_temp includes the transport block CRC check bits (TB_CRC). Second, correct TBS_temp by multiplying it with the correction factor β. Finally, assuming that the number of code blocks that need to be transmitted is C, in order to obtain the TBS with the multiple of <NUM> and equal CBS, it is required that TBS_temp can be divisible by the LCM (<NUM>, C) which is the least common multiple of <NUM> and C. The formula for this process is shown below: <MAT>.

In case <NUM>: formula <MAT> is used to calculate the modified TBS_temp. The TBS_temp is divided into blocks according to the code block segmentation rule of the channel coding. Note that TBS_temp includes the transport block CRC check bits (TB_CRC). Assuming that the number of code blocks that need to be transmitted is C, in order to obtain the TBS with the multiple of <NUM> and equal CBS, it is required that TBS_temp can be divisible by the LCM (<NUM>, C) which is the least common multiple of <NUM> and C. The formula for this process is shown below: <MAT>.

<FIG> illustrates an exemplary simulation result <NUM> of link stability changes vs. MCS index, in accordance with this embodiment. <FIG> utilizes deltaSNR (i.e. ΔSNR) to represent link stability with the TBS calculated and modified using the method in this embodiment to achieve a target BLER=<NUM>%. As shown in <FIG>, when the MCS index is low (e.g. between <NUM> and <NUM>), the deltaSNR fluctuates between <NUM> and <NUM>, less than the fluctuation in the same MCS range shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> illustrates an exemplary simulation result <NUM> of SNR performance change vs. MCS index, in accordance with this embodiment. As shown in <FIG>, when the MCS index is low (e.g. between <NUM> and <NUM>), the SNR curve is not so smooth as the SNR curve when the MCS index is high (e.g. between <NUM> and <NUM>). As shown in <FIG>, given an MCS index range (e.g. between <NUM> and <NUM>), the SNR curve corresponding to a lower PRB, e.g. when PRB=<NUM>, is not so smooth as the SNR curve corresponding to a higher PRB, e.g. when PRB=<NUM>, where a smoother SNR curve indicates a more stable link.

Table 6C below shows the TBS values calculated and corrected with the correction factor β based on the above mentioned method in the first embodiment, with the allocated resource <MAT>.

Table 6D below shows the simulated values of ΔSNR of adjacent MCSs, with the TBS values calculated and corrected with the correction factor β based on the above mentioned method in the first embodiment, the allocated resource <MAT>, and a target BLER=<NUM>%.

In a second embodiment, the functional model for TBS calculation is: TBS = F(NRE), with a specific form shown as follows: <MAT>.

In the above formula, NRE represents the number of REs allocated, i.e. <MAT>; the value of NRE is a function of the order of the modulation and coding Qm; function(•) indicates rounding, rounding up, rounding down, or retaining the original value; Y is the quantized value of X that is the number of REs per PRB; δ is the quantization step of the TBS. The modification on NRE is to improve the link stability when the number of total REs is small and the order of the MCS is low. The modified value of NRE is taken as follows.

In a first situation, when the total number of REs is small and the MCS modulation order is low, the total number of REs is set to be the minimum value or any other value of the RE set after quantization. For example, the RE set after quantization is SY={<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. }, then <NUM> is taken as the total number of REs calculated by TBS. In a second situation, when the total number of REs is high or the MCS modulation order is high, the total number of REs is set to be the total number of REs calculated by the allocated parameters, that is, <MAT>.

According to one example, the total number of REs is set in the following table:
<IMG>.

The functional model of the total number of REs is shown below: <MAT>.

In the above, the value of x is generally <NUM>; Slower_MCS represents a set of Qm values for a lower-order MCS. For example, Slower_MCS = {<NUM>,<NUM>} , i.e. the value of Qm may be <NUM> or <NUM>. SY is a collection of values for Y, for example SY = {<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,···}; min (SY) represents the minimum value in the set of values of Y.

Table 7C below shows the TBS values calculated based on the above mentioned method in the second embodiment, with the new RE value constraint NRE = <NUM>.

Table 7D below shows the simulated values of ΔSNR of adjacent MCSs, with the TBS values calculated based on the above mentioned method in the second embodiment, with the new RE value constraint <MAT>, and a target BLER=<NUM>%.

In a third embodiment, the functional model for TBS calculation is: TBS = F(R), with a specific form shown as follows: <MAT>.

In the above formula, the code rate R is a function of (a) the number of PRBs allocated for the downlink or uplink, and (b) the order of the modulation and coding Qm; function(•) indicates rounding, rounding up, rounding down, or retaining the original value; Y is the quantized value of X that is the number of REs per PRB; δ is the quantization step of the TBS. The modification on the code rate R or the spectrum efficiency SE is mainly to improve the link stability when the PRB is small and the order of the MCS is low. The modified value of R or SE can be determined according to the following two situations.

In a first situation, when the number of PRBs is small, or the modulation order of MCS is low, or the modulation order of MCS is high but at the SE overlap (where the SE value does not change from an MCS index to an adjacent MCS index in the MCS table), the code rate R or spectrum efficiency SE in the MCS table is corrected to obtain R' or SE'. In this case, R' or SE' is used to calculate the code rate or spectrum efficiency of the TBS. For example, when the IMCS in the downlink 64QAM MCS table is <NUM>~<NUM>, the value of R' may be {<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>,<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>}, or the value of SE' may be {<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> , <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>}. In a second situation, when the number of PRBs is large, or the MCS modulation order is high but not at the SE overlap (where the SE value does not change from an MCS index to an adjacent MCS index in the MCS table), the corresponding code rate R in the MCS table is used to calculate the TBS.

The functional model of the code rate R is shown below: <MAT>.

The functional model of the spectral efficiency SE is shown below: <MAT>.

Here, x is the number of PRBs allocated, for example, x has a value of <NUM>.

According to one example, the values of code rate and spectral efficiency are set in the following table, for a downlink <NUM> QAM:
<IMG>.

Table 8C below shows the TBS values calculated based on a modified code rate R or modified spectral efficiency SE as in the above mentioned method in the third embodiment, with allocated <MAT>.

Table 8D below shows the simulated values of ΔSNR of adjacent MCSs, with the TBS values calculated based on a modified code rate R or modified spectral efficiency SE as in the above mentioned method in the third embodiment, with allocated <MAT>, and a target BLER=<NUM>%.

In a fourth embodiment, after the TBS is calculated by using a formula, e.g. an existing formula or a formula according to any one of the above embodiments, if any one of the parameters in the formula changes, the calculated TBS will change. For example, the parameter allocated during the initial pass is: Qm = <NUM>, R=<NUM>/<NUM>, the number of PRB is <NUM>, the number of REs per PRB is <NUM>, and the TBS is <NUM>. Then the parameters allocated for retransmission are: Qm = <NUM>, R = <NUM>/<NUM>, the number of PRB is <NUM>, the number of REs per PRB is <NUM>, and the TBS is <NUM>. Because the two calculated TBSs are different, the transmission cannot be continued. In response to this problem, in consideration that the transport block size is the same during initial transmission and retransmission, the TBS is quantized in this embodiment. The quantization step size increases when TBS increase, which can both ensure that the TBS granularity for transmission is good, and ensure that the TBS is the same in initial transmission and retransmission.

The function of the quantization step is as follows: <MAT>.

Taking the value interval of TBS (including CRC check bits) less than <NUM> as an example, the set of TBSs that have been verified to be useable is [<NUM>: <NUM>: <NUM>, <NUM>: <NUM>: <NUM>, <NUM>: <NUM>: <NUM>, <NUM> + <NUM>:<NUM>:<NUM>, <NUM> + <NUM>: <NUM>: <NUM>]. After searching the calculated TBS, the new value interval is obtained as [<NUM>: <NUM>: <NUM>, <NUM>: <NUM>: <NUM>, <NUM>: <NUM>: <NUM>, <NUM>: <NUM> : <NUM>, <NUM>: <NUM>: <NUM>]. Here, <NUM>: <NUM>: <NUM>, for example, represents a set of values between <NUM> and <NUM>, with an interval of <NUM>. Simulation results show that when the number of REs is <NUM>, after calculating the intermediate TBS, it is also applicable to take the closest larger TBS from this interval as the actual transmitted TBS.

According to the calculated TBS, it can be known that to ensure the consistency of the TBS in initial transmission and retransmission, the value of the TBS may also be constrained by the number of PRBs and the order of MCS. That is, the quantization step may also be a function of: the number of PRBs, and/or the MCS order, and/or Spectral efficiency (SE) and/or the code rate. For example, when the number of PRBs is less than <NUM> and the order of MCS is <NUM>, the TBS may have a fixed quantization step of <NUM>; when the number of PRBs is greater than <NUM>, the order of MCS is <NUM>, and the code rate is greater than <NUM>/<NUM>, the quantization step may be <NUM>. In this way, the scheduling range of the PRB or IMCS at the initial transmission and retransmission can be expanded, and the TBSs in the initial transmission and the retransmission can obtain the same value in this range.

<FIG> illustrates an exemplary simulation result <NUM> of SNR performance change vs. MCS index, in accordance with this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 98B, when the MCS index is low (e.g. between <NUM> and <NUM>), the SNR curve is not so smooth as the SNR curve when the MCS index is high (e.g. between <NUM> and <NUM>). As shown in FIG. 9B, given an MCS index range (e.g. between <NUM> and <NUM>), the SNR curve corresponding to a lower PRB, e.g. when PRB=<NUM>, is not so smooth as the SNR curve corresponding to a higher PRB, e.g. when PRB=<NUM>, where a smoother SNR curve indicates a more stable link.

Table <NUM> below shows the TBS values calculated based on a useable TBS set as in the above mentioned method in the fourth embodiment, with allocated <MAT>.

In a fifth embodiment, after the TBS is calculated by using a formula, e.g. an existing formula or a formula according to any one of the above embodiments, the UE or BS selects, from a quantized TBS set, a TBS that is closest to the calculated TBS as the final TBS for transmission. The elements {TBSi, i=<NUM>,<NUM>,. } in the quantized TBS set satisfy at least one of the following conditions.

In accordance with Condition <NUM>, each element TBSi satisfies: TBSi mod <NUM> =<NUM>, TBSi mod <MAT>; TBSi where "X mod Y =<NUM>" means X is divisible by X.

In accordance with Condition <NUM>, each element TBSi satisfies: TBSi mod <NUM> =<NUM>, TBSi mod <MAT> <NUM>=<NUM>, <MAT>; where e.g. <MAT> means rounding up for X.

In accordance with Condition <NUM>, each element TBSi is less than or equal to <NUM>, each element TBSi belongs to the information bit set {<NUM>:<NUM>:<NUM>, <NUM>:<NUM>:<NUM>, <NUM>:<NUM>:<NUM>, <NUM>:<NUM>:<NUM>, <NUM>:<NUM>:<NUM>, <NUM>:<NUM>:<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>}.

In accordance with Condition <NUM>, when TBSi is less than or equal to a threshold Kthreshold, (TBSLTE - TBSNR)/TBSNR < <NUM>; and when TBSi is greater than the threshold Kthreshold, (TBSLTE-TBSNR)/TBSNR < <NUM>. Here, Kthreshold is a value from the range {Kthreshold | Kmin <Kthreshold< Kmax}, Kmin is an integer between <NUM> and <NUM>, Kmax is an integer greater than <NUM>. For example, Kthreshold =<NUM>. TBSLTE is the TBS set defined for a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system; TBSNR is the TBS set defined under this embodiment, i.e. a TBS set to be defined for a NR system based on eMBB.

In accordance with Condition <NUM>, generating a first ordered sequence including integers that are between Kmin and Kmin, and satisfy Condition <NUM> or Condition <NUM>; generating a second ordered sequence including integers that are between Kmin and Kmin, and are predefined for a LTE system; quantizing the first ordered sequence according to the second ordered sequence to generate the third sequence; and the quantized set in this embodiment includes all elements in the third sequence. Kmin is an integer between <NUM> and <NUM>, and Kmax is an integer greater than <NUM>. For example, Kthreshold =<NUM>.

In one example, the quantization process includes the following steps. First, traverse to get a first sequence TBS Sequencex satisfying the Condition <NUM>. Then, using the LTE TBS sequence as a second sequence, compare the elements TBSiLTE in the second sequence with all the elements in the first sequence TBS Sequencex to find the TBSjx in the first sequence that is equal to or rounding to or rounding up to or rounding down to a value TBSiLTE, and replace the original element TBSiLTE with the TBSjx to obtain the third TBS sequence. The quantized set of TBSs shall include at least all the elements in the third TBS Sequence.

For example, a sequence satisfying Condition <NUM> and including integers from <NUM> to <NUM> is taken as the first sequence, and all the elements in the first sequence are as follows: {<NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM>}. All LTE TBSs from <NUM> to <NUM> form the second sequence in descending order, where the elements of the second sequence are as follows: {<NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM>}. The first sequence is quantized according to the second sequence, which is divided into three quantization methods. Each quantization method obtains a third sequence. During the process of obtaining the third sequence, the quantization method should be consistent. For example, if the second element <NUM> in the second sequence is compared with each element in the first sequence, and according to the closest element rule, <NUM> in the first sequence is quantized to be the second element in the third sequence; if the second element <NUM> in the second sequence is compared with each element in the first sequence, and according to the closest but larger element rule, a larger element value is quantized to obtain <NUM> in the first sequence as the second element in the third sequence; if the second element <NUM> in the second sequence is compared with each element in the first sequence, and according to the closest but smaller element rule, a smaller element value is quantized to obtain <NUM> in the first sequence as the second element in the third sequence; and so on and so forth until the elements in the second sequence are quantified, then three third sequences in descending order are obtained.

According to the first quantization method, the element in the first sequence closest to the second sequence is found, and the third sequence obtained is as follows: {<NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM>}. According to the second quantization method, the element in the first sequence that is closest and larger than the second sequence is found, and the third sequence obtained is as follows: {<NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM>}. According to the third quantization method, the element in the first sequence that is closest and smaller than the element in the second sequence is found, and the third sequence obtained is as follows: {<NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM><NUM>}.

The set of quantized TBSs includes at least all the elements in the third sequence. For example, if the third sequence is a set of quantization TBSs, the resource or transmission parameters are: the modulation order Qm = <NUM>, the code rate R = <NUM>, the layer number is <NUM>, the number of PRBs is <NUM>, and the number of REs per PRB is <NUM>, rounding up to calculate an intermediate TBS of <NUM>, the nearest neighbor relative to the intermediate TBS is <NUM> (or a larger value of <NUM>, or a smaller value of <NUM>) is selected as a quantized TBS according to the third sequence to be taken as the actual transmitted TBS.

In one example, suppose the third TBS sequence obtained from the first sequence satisfy the Condition <NUM>. When an unquantized first sequence is taken as a quantized TBS table and referred to as TBS Sequence1, the distribution of the quantized TBS in the PDSCH <NUM> QAM-MCS table and a comparison with the LTE TBS table is shown in <FIG>. When the third TBS Sequence is taken as a quantized TBS table1, the distribution of the quantized TBS in the PDSCH <NUM> QAM-MCS table and a comparison with the LTE TBS table is shown in <FIG>.

In another example, suppose the third TBS sequence obtained from the first sequence satisfy the Condition <NUM>. When an unquantized first sequence is taken as a quantized TBS table and referred to as TBS Sequence2, the distribution of the quantized TBS in the PDSCH <NUM> QAM-MCS table and a comparison with the LTE TBS table is shown in <FIG>. When the third TBS Sequence is taken as a quantized TBS table2, the distribution of the quantized TBS in the PDSCH <NUM> QAM-MCS table and a comparison with the LTE TBS table is shown in <FIG>.

In yet another example, suppose the third TBS sequence obtained from the first sequence satisfy the Condition <NUM>. When an unquantized first sequence is taken as a quantized TBS table and referred to as TBS Sequence3, the distribution of the quantized TBS in the PDSCH <NUM> QAM-MCS table and a comparison with the LTE TBS table is shown in <FIG>. When the third TBS Sequence is taken as a quantized TBS table3, the distribution of the quantized TBS in the PDSCH <NUM> QAM-MCS table and a comparison with the LTE TBS table is shown in <FIG>.

Claim 1:
A method performed by a wireless communication device, the method comprising:
receiving a downlink control information, DCI, from a wireless communication node, wherein the DCI includes a plurality of transmission parameters related to transport blocks to be transmitted between the wireless communication device and the wireless communication node;
analyzing the DCI and identifying the plurality of transmission parameters comprising:
a quantity of layers configured for transmission of the transport blocks,
a modulation order configured for transmission of the transport blocks,
a code rate configured for transmission of the transport blocks,
a quantity of physical resource blocks configured for transmission of the transport blocks,
a quantity of resource elements per each physical resource block, and
a total quantity of resource elements for transmission of the transport blocks, which is a product of the quantity of physical resource blocks and the quantity of resource elements per physical resource block;
calculating an intermediate transport block size, TBS, for the transport blocks based on the plurality of transmission parameters, wherein calculating the intermediate TBS as a multiplication product of the modulation order, the code rate, the total quantity of resource elements, and the quantity of layers;
generating a modified TBS when at least one of the following conditions is met:
the quantity of physical resource blocks is smaller than or equal to a first threshold,
the modulation order is smaller than or equal to a second threshold,
the total quantity of resource elements is smaller than a third threshold, and
the intermediate transport block size is smaller than a fourth threshold; and
determining a final TBS for the transport blocks based on a TBS that is closest to the modified TBS, among TBSs that are in a quantized set and not smaller than the modified TBS.