Patent Description:
As will be described in more detail herein, a BS may be referred to as a Node B, a gNB, an access point (AP), a radio head, a transmit receive point (TRP), a <NUM> BS, a <NUM> Node B, and/or the like.

The above multiple access technologies have been adopted in various telecommunication standards to provide a common protocol that enables different wireless communication devices to communicate on a municipal, national, regional, and even global level. <NUM>, which may also be referred to as New Radio (NR), is a set of enhancements to the LTE mobile standard promulgated by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). <NUM> 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 OFDM with a cyclic prefix (CP) (CP-OFDM) on the downlink (DL), using CP-OFDM and/or SC-FDM (e.g., also known as discrete Fourier transform spread ODFM (DFT-s-OFDM)) on the uplink (UL), as well as supporting beamforming, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna technology, and carrier aggregation. However, as the demand for mobile broadband access continues to increase, there exists a need for further improvements in LTE and <NUM> technologies.

In <NUM>, different types of waveforms may be used for uplink and/or downlink communications. For example, such communications may be transmitted and/or received using a DFT-s-OFDM waveform, a CP-OFDM waveform, and/or the like, depending on one or more factors, such as a network condition, a performance parameter, a type of communication being transmitted, and/or the like. For example, a DFT-s-OFDM waveform may be used to achieve performance benefits associated with a lower peak to average power ratio (PAPR), a CP-OFDM waveform may be used to achieve performance benefits associated with a higher spectral efficiency, and/or the like. When a base station is capable of using multiple different types of waveforms for a downlink communication to a UE, the UE may waste processing resources attempting to receive and/or process the downlink communication. For example, the UE may cycle through various possible types of waveforms in an attempt to process the downlink communication. Relatedly, document <CIT> describes systems and methods for waveform selection and adaptation.

When an aspect does not fall within the scope of the claims, it will be merely indicated as an example used for explanation of the invention. Techniques described herein use waveform signaling for downlink communications to notify the UE of a type of waveform being used for a downlink communication, thereby conserving UE resources (e.g., processing resources, memory resources, RF resources, and/or the like) that would otherwise be wasted attempting to process the downlink communication using multiple types of waveforms.

In an aspect of the disclosure, a method, a user equipment (UE),and a computer program product are provided.

In some aspects, the method includes receiving, by a first UE, a first indication of a first waveform, of a plurality of waveforms, to be used for one or more downlink communications associated with the first UE; receiving, by the first UE, a second indication of a second waveform, of the plurality of waveforms, associated with downlink communications of a second UE; receiving, by the first UE, the one or more downlink communications using the first waveform; and processing, by the first UE, the one or more downlink communications based at least in part on the second indication of the second waveform.

means for receiving a first indication of a first waveform, of a plurality of waveforms, to be used for one or more downlink communications associated with the first UE; means for receiving a second indication of a second waveform, of the plurality of waveforms, associated with downlink communications of a second UE; means for receiving the one or more downlink communications using the first waveform; and means for processing the one or more downlink communications based at least in part on the second indication of the second waveform.

In some aspects, the computer program product includes a computer-readable medium storing one or more instructions for wireless communication. The one or more instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to receive a first indication of a first waveform, of a plurality of waveforms, to be used for one or more downlink communications associated with a first UE; receive a second indication of a second waveform, of the plurality of waveforms, associated with downlink communications of a second UE; receive the one or more downlink communications using the first waveform; and process the one or more downlink communications based at least in part on the second indication of the second waveform.

Additional features and advantages will be described hereinafter Characteristics of the concepts disclosed herein, both their organization and method of operation, together with associated advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures.

The intended limitations are defined by the claims.

An access point ("AP") may comprise, be implemented as, or known as a NodeB, a Radio Network Controller ("RNC"), an eNodeB (eNB), a Base Station Controller ("BSC"), a Base Transceiver Station ("BTS"), a Base Station ("BS"), a Transceiver Function ("TF"), a Radio Router, a Radio Transceiver, a Basic Service Set ("BSS"), an Extended Service Set ("ESS"), a Radio Base Station ("RBS"), a Node B (NB), a gNB, a <NUM> NB, a <NUM> BS, a Transmit Receive Point (TRP), or some other terminology.

An access terminal ("AT") may comprise, be implemented as, or be known as an access terminal, a subscriber station, a subscriber unit, a mobile station, a remote station, a remote terminal, a user terminal, a user agent, a user device, user equipment (UE), a user station, a wireless node, or some other terminology. In some aspects, an access terminal may comprise a cellular telephone, a smart phone, a cordless telephone, a Session Initiation Protocol ("SIP") phone, a wireless local loop ("WLL") station, a personal digital assistant ("PDA"), a tablet, a netbook, a smartbook, an ultrabook, a handheld device having wireless connection capability, a Station ("STA"), or some other suitable processing device connected to a wireless modem. Accordingly, one or more aspects taught herein may be incorporated into a phone (e.g., a cellular phone, a smart phone), a computer (e.g., a desktop), a portable communication device, a portable computing device (e.g., a laptop, a personal data assistant, a tablet, a netbook, a smartbook, an ultrabook), wearable device (e.g., smart watch, smart glasses, smart bracelet, smart wristband, smart ring, smart clothing, and/or the like), medical devices or equipment, biometric sensors/devices, an entertainment device (e.g., music device, video device, satellite radio, gaming device, and/or the like), 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 or wired medium. In some aspects, the node is a wireless node. A wireless node may provide, for example, connectivity for or to a network (e.g., a wide area network such as the Internet or a cellular network) via a wired or wireless communication link.

Some UEs may be considered machine-type communication (MTC) UEs, which may include remote devices that may communicate with a base station, another remote device, or some other entity. Machine type communications (MTC) may refer to communication involving at least one remote device on at least one end of the communication and may include forms of data communication which involve one or more entities that do not necessarily need human interaction. MTC UEs may include UEs that are capable of MTC communications with MTC servers and/or other MTC devices through Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMN), for example. Examples of MTC devices include sensors, meters, location tags, monitors, drones, robots/robotic devices, and/or the like. In some aspects, MTC devices may be referred to as enhanced MTC (eMTC) devices, LTE category M1 (LTE-M) devices, machine to machine (M2M) devices, and/or the like. Additionally, or alternatively, some UEs may be narrowband Internet of things (NB-IoT) devices.

It is noted that while aspects may be described herein using terminology commonly associated with <NUM> and/or <NUM> wireless technologies, aspects of the present disclosure can be applied in other generation-based communication systems, such as <NUM> and later.

The network <NUM> may be an LTE network or some other wireless network, such as a <NUM> network. A BS is an entity that communicates with user equipment (UEs) and may also be referred to as a base station, a <NUM> BS, a Node B, a gNB, a <NUM> NB, an access point, a TRP, and/or the like.

In the example shown in <FIG>, a relay station <NUM>10d may communicate with macro BS 110a and a UE 120d in order to facilitate communication between BS 110a and UE 120d.

Some UEs may be considered evolved or enhanced machine-type communication (eMTC) UEs. Some UEs may be considered Internet-of Things (IoT) devices.

When a BS <NUM> is capable of using multiple different types of waveforms for a downlink communication to a UE <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may waste processing resources attempting to receive and/or process the downlink communication. For example, the UE <NUM> may cycle through various possible types of waveforms in an attempt to process the downlink communication. Techniques described herein use waveform signaling for downlink communications to notify the UE <NUM> of a type of waveform being used for a downlink communication, thereby conserving UE resources (e.g., processing resources, memory resources, RF resources, and/or the like) that would otherwise be wasted attempting to process the downlink communication using multiple types of waveforms.

A dashed line with double arrows indicates potentially interfering transmissions between a UE and a BS.

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 or coding schemes (MCS) for each UE based at least in part on channel quality indicators (CQIs) received from the UE, process (e.g., encode and modulate) 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 (e.g., for semi-static resource partitioning information (SRPI), and/or the like) and control information (e.g., CQI requests, grants, upper layer signaling, and/or the like) and provide overhead symbols and control symbols. Transmit processor <NUM> may also generate reference symbols for reference signals (e.g., the CRS) and synchronization signals (e.g., the primary synchronization signal (PSS) and secondary synchronization signal (SSS)). According to certain aspects described in more detail below, the synchronization signals can be generated with location encoding to convey additional information.

A receive (RX) processor <NUM> may process (e.g., demodulate and 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 RSRP, RSSI, RSRQ, CQI, and/or the like.

Controller/processor <NUM> of base station <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM> of UE <NUM>, and/or any other component(s) of <FIG> may perform waveform signaling for downlink communications. For example, controller/processor <NUM> of base station <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM> of UE <NUM>, and/or any other component(s) of <FIG> may perform or direct operations of, for example, method <NUM> of <FIG>, method <NUM> of <FIG>, method <NUM> of <FIG>, and/or other processes as described herein. Memories <NUM> and <NUM> may store data and program codes for BS <NUM> and UE <NUM>, respectively.

<FIG> shows an example frame structure <NUM> for FDD in a telecommunications system (e.g., LTE). Each radio frame may have a predetermined duration (e.g., <NUM> milliseconds (ms)) and may be partitioned into <NUM> subframes with indices of <NUM> through <NUM>. Each subframe may include two slots. Each radio frame may thus include <NUM> slots with indices of <NUM> through <NUM>. Each slot may include L symbol periods, e.g., seven symbol periods for a normal cyclic prefix (as shown in <FIG>) or six symbol periods for an extended cyclic prefix. The <NUM> symbol periods in each subframe may be assigned indices of <NUM> through <NUM>-<NUM>.

While some techniques are described herein in connection with frames, subframes, slots, and/or the like, these techniques may equally apply to other types of wireless communication structures, which may be referred to using terms other than "frame," "subframe," "slot," and/or the like in <NUM>.

In certain telecommunications (e.g., LTE), a BS may transmit a primary synchronization signal (PSS) and a secondary synchronization signal (SSS) on the downlink in the center of the system bandwidth for each cell supported by the BS. The PSS and SSS may be transmitted in symbol periods <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively, in subframes <NUM> and <NUM> of each radio frame with the normal cyclic prefix, as shown in <FIG>. The BS may transmit a cell-specific reference signal (CRS) across the system bandwidth for each cell supported by the BS. The CRS may be transmitted in certain symbol periods of each subframe and may be used by the UEs to perform channel estimation, channel quality measurement, and/or other functions. The BS may also transmit a physical broadcast channel (PBCH) in symbol periods <NUM> to <NUM> in slot <NUM> of certain radio frames. The PBCH may carry some system information. The BS may transmit other system information such as system information blocks (SIBs) on a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) in certain subframes. The BS may transmit control information/data on a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) in the first B symbol periods of a subframe, where B may be configurable for each subframe. The BS may transmit traffic data and/or other data on the PDSCH in the remaining symbol periods of each subframe. In some aspects, one or more of these signals and/or channels may carry a waveform indication for another signal and/or channel, as described in more detail elsewhere herein.

In other systems (e.g., such as <NUM> systems), a Node B may transmit these or other signals in these locations or in different locations of the subframe.

<FIG> shows two example subframe formats <NUM> and <NUM> with the normal cyclic prefix. Each resource block may cover <NUM> subcarriers in one slot and may include a number of resource elements. Each resource element may cover one subcarrier in one symbol period and may be used to send one modulation symbol, which may be a real or complex value.

Subframe format <NUM> may be used for two antennas. A CRS may be transmitted from antennas <NUM> and <NUM> in symbol periods <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>. A reference signal is a signal that is known a priori by a transmitter and a receiver and may also be referred to as pilot. A CRS is a reference signal that is specific for a cell, e.g., generated based at least in part on a cell identity (ID). In <FIG>, for a given resource element with label Ra, a modulation symbol may be transmitted on that resource element from antenna a, and no modulation symbols may be transmitted on that resource element from other antennas. Subframe format <NUM> may be used with four antennas. A CRS may be transmitted from antennas <NUM> and <NUM> in symbol periods <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> and from antennas <NUM> and <NUM> in symbol periods <NUM> and <NUM>. For both subframe formats <NUM> and <NUM>, a CRS may be transmitted on evenly spaced subcarriers, which may be determined based at least in part on cell ID. CRSs may be transmitted on the same or different subcarriers, depending on their cell IDs. For both subframe formats <NUM> and <NUM>, resource elements not used for the CRS may be used to transmit data (e.g., traffic data, control data, and/or other data).

The PSS, SSS, CRS and PBCH in LTE are described in <NPL>," which is publicly available.

An interlace structure may be used for each of the downlink and uplink for FDD in certain telecommunications systems (e.g., LTE). For example, Q interlaces with indices of <NUM> through Q - <NUM> may be defined, where Q may be equal to <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or some other value. Each interlace may include subframes that are spaced apart by Q frames. In particular, interlace q may include subframes q, q + Q, q + 2Q, and/or the like, where q ∈ {<NUM>,.

The wireless network may support hybrid automatic retransmission request (HARQ) for data transmission on the downlink and uplink. For HARQ, a transmitter (e.g., a BS) may send one or more transmissions of a packet until the packet is decoded correctly by a receiver (e.g., a UE) or some other termination condition is encountered. For synchronous HARQ, all transmissions of the packet may be sent in subframes of a single interlace. For asynchronous HARQ, each transmission of the packet may be sent in any subframe.

While aspects of the examples described herein may be associated with LTE technologies, aspects of the present disclosure may be applicable with other wireless communication systems, such as <NUM> technologies.

<NUM> may refer to radios configured to operate according to a new air interface (e.g., other than Orthogonal Frequency Divisional Multiple Access (OFDMA)-based air interfaces) or fixed transport layer (e.g., other than Internet Protocol (IP)). In aspects, <NUM> may utilize OFDM with a CP (herein referred to as cyclic prefix OFDM or CP-OFDM) and/or SC-FDM on the uplink, may utilize CP-OFDM on the downlink and include support for half-duplex operation using TDD. In aspects, <NUM> may, for example, utilize OFDM with a CP (herein referred to as CP-OFDM) and/or discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (DFT-s-OFDM) on the uplink, may utilize CP-OFDM on the downlink and include support for half-duplex operation using TDD. <NUM> may include Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) service targeting wide bandwidth (e.g., <NUM> megahertz (MHz) and beyond), millimeter wave (mmW) targeting high carrier frequency (e.g., <NUM> gigahertz (GHz)), massive MTC (mMTC) targeting non-backward compatible MTC techniques, and/or mission critical targeting ultra reliable low latency communications (URLLC) service. In some aspects, DFT-s-OFDM, CP-OFDM, and/or the like may be used on the downlink, and a BS may signal a type of waveform to be used for downlink communication to a UE, as described in more detail elsewhere herein.

A single component carrier bandwidth of <NUM> may be supported. <NUM> resource blocks may span <NUM> sub-carriers with a sub-carrier bandwidth of <NUM> kilohertz (kHz) over a <NUM> duration. Each radio frame may include <NUM> subframes with a length of <NUM>. Consequently, each subframe may have a length of <NUM>. Each subframe may indicate a link direction (e.g., DL or UL) for data transmission and the link direction for each subframe may be dynamically switched. Each subframe may include DL/UL data as well as DL/UL control data. UL and DL subframes for <NUM> may be as described in more detail below with respect to <FIG>.

Alternatively, <NUM> may support a different air interface, other than an OFDM-based interface. <NUM> networks may include entities such central units or distributed units.

The RAN may include a central unit (CU) and distributed units (DUs). A <NUM> BS (e.g., gNB, <NUM> Node B, Node B, transmit receive point (TRP), access point (AP)) may correspond to one or multiple BSs. <NUM> cells can be configured as access cells (ACells) or data only cells (DCells). For example, the RAN (e.g., a central unit or distributed unit) can configure the cells. DCells may be cells used for carrier aggregation or dual connectivity, but not used for initial access, cell selection/reselection, or handover. In some cases, DCells may not transmit synchronization signals-in some case cases DCells may transmit SS. <NUM> BSs may transmit downlink signals to UEs indicating the cell type. Based at least in part on the cell type indication, the UE may communicate with the <NUM> BS. For example, the UE may determine <NUM> BSs to consider for cell selection, access, handover, and/or measurement based at least in part on the indicated cell type.

The ANC may include one or more TRPs <NUM> (which may also be referred to as BSs, <NUM> BSs, Node Bs, <NUM> NBs, APs, gNB, or some other term).

In some aspects, a TRP <NUM> may use waveform signaling for downlink communications to notify a UE of a type of waveform being used for a downlink communication, thereby conserving UE resources that would otherwise be wasted attempting to process the downlink communication using multiple types of waveforms.

According to aspects, the next generation AN (NG-AN) <NUM> may support dual connectivity with <NUM>. The NG-AN may share a common fronthaul for LTE and <NUM>.

The PDCP, RLC, MAC protocol may be adaptably placed at the ANC or TRP.

<FIG> is a diagram <NUM> showing an example of a DL-centric subframe or wireless communication structure.

In some aspects, a waveform indication for the PDSCH may be carried in the PDCCH, as described in more detail elsewhere herein.

The DL-centric subframe may also include an UL short burst portion <NUM>. 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, and/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 subframe. For example, the UL short burst portion <NUM> may include feedback information corresponding to the control portion <NUM> and/or the DL data portion <NUM>. Nonlimiting examples of information that may be included in the UL short burst portion <NUM> include an ACK signal (e.g., a PUCCH ACK, a PUSCH ACK, an immediate ACK), a NACK signal (e.g., a PUCCH NACK, a PUSCH NACK, an immediate NACK), a scheduling request (SR), a buffer status report (BSR), a HARQ indicator, a channel state indication (CSI), a channel quality indicator (CQI), a sounding reference signal (SRS), a demodulation reference signal (DMRS), PUSCH data, and/or various other suitable types of information. The UL short burst portion <NUM> may include additional or alternative information, such as information pertaining to random access channel (RACH) procedures, scheduling requests, and various other suitable types of information.

<FIG> is a diagram <NUM> showing an example of an UL-centric subframe or wireless communication structure. The UL-centric subframe may include a control portion <NUM>. The control portion <NUM> may exist in the initial or beginning portion of the UL-centric subframe. The control portion <NUM> in <FIG> may be similar to the control portion <NUM> described above with reference to <FIG>. In some configurations, the control portion <NUM> may be a physical DL control channel (PDCCH). In some aspects, the PDCCH may carry a waveform indication for another downlink channel, as described in more detail elsewhere herein.

The UL-centric subframe 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 subframe. The UL portion may refer to the communication resources utilized to communicate UL data from the subordinate entity (e.g., UE) to the scheduling entity (e.g., UE or BS).

The UL-centric subframe 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 necessarily deviating from the aspects described herein.

In some examples, the side link signals may be communicated using a licensed spectrum (unlike wireless local area networks, which typically use an unlicensed spectrum).

In <NUM>, different types of waveforms may be used for uplink and/or downlink communications. For example, such communications may be transmitted and/or received using a DFT-s-OFDM waveform, a CP-OFDM waveform, and/or the like, depending on one or more factors, such as a network condition, a performance parameter, a type of communication being transmitted, and/or the like. For example, a DFT-s-OFDM waveform may be used to achieve performance benefits associated with a lower peak to average power ratio (PAPR), a CP-OFDM waveform may be used to achieve performance benefits associated with a higher spectral efficiency, and/or the like.

When a base station is capable of using multiple different types of waveforms for a downlink communication to a UE, the UE may waste processing resources attempting to receive and/or process the downlink communication. For example, the UE may cycle through various possible types of waveforms in an attempt to process the downlink communication. Techniques described herein use waveform signaling for downlink communications to notify the UE of a type of waveform being used for a downlink communication, thereby conserving UE resources (e.g., processing resources, memory resources, RF resources, and/or the like) that would otherwise be wasted attempting to process the downlink communication using multiple types of waveforms.

<FIG>, which is useful for an understanding of the invention, is a diagram illustrating an example <NUM> of waveform signaling for downlink communications. As shown in <FIG>, a UE <NUM> may communicate with a base station <NUM> to receive downlink communications. In some aspects, the UE <NUM> may correspond to the UE <NUM> of <FIG> and/or one or more other UEs described herein. In some aspects, the base station <NUM> may correspond to the base station <NUM> of <FIG> and/or one or more other base stations described herein.

As shown by reference number <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may receive information from the base station <NUM> in a first downlink channel. The first downlink channel may use a first waveform of a plurality of waveforms. The plurality of waveforms may include, for example, a DFT-s-OFDM waveform, a CP-OFDM waveform, a default waveform (e.g., a fixed waveform used for a particular type of signal and/or channel), and/or the like. In some aspects, the first downlink channel may be a control channel (e.g., a first control channel), a broadcast channel, and/or the like. For example, the first downlink channel may be a channel that carries a primary synchronization signal (PSS), a channel that carries a secondary synchronization signal (SSS), a physical broadcast channel (PBCH), a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), a portion of the PDCCH (e.g., a first stage of a multi-stage PDCCH), and/or the like.

As shown by reference number <NUM>, the first downlink channel may carry a waveform indication. The waveform indication may indicate a second waveform, of the plurality of waveforms, used for a second downlink channel. The second downlink channel may be a control channel (e.g., a second control channel), a data channel, a unicast channel, a multicast channel, and/or the like. For example, the second downlink channel may be a PBCH, a PDCCH, a portion of the PDCCH (e.g., a second stage of a multi-stage PDCCH), a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), and/or the like.

In some aspects, the UE <NUM> may acquire and/or receive information in the first downlink channel before acquiring and/or receiving information in the second downlink channel. For example, the first downlink channel may be a channel that carries the PSS and/or the SSS, and the second downlink channel may be the PBCH, the PDCCH, a portion of the PDCCH, the PDSCH, and/or the like. Additionally, or alternatively, the first downlink channel may be the PBCH, and the second downlink channel may be the PDCCH, a portion of the PDCCH, the PDSCH, and/or the like. Additionally, or alternatively, the first downlink channel may be the PDCCH, and the second downlink channel may be the PDSCH and/or the like. Additionally, or alternatively, the first downlink channel may be a first portion of the PDCCH, and the second downlink channel may be the PDSCH, a second portion of the PDCCH, and/or the like. In some aspects, the UE <NUM> may receive information in the first downlink channel and the second downlink channel in the same transmission time interval (e.g., slot, subframe, and/or the like). For example, the first downlink channel may be the control portion <NUM> of the DL-centric subframe shown in <FIG> (e.g., the PDCCH), and the second downlink channel may be the DL data portion <NUM> of the same DL-centric subframe (e.g., the PDSCH).

The waveform indication may indicate a second waveform to be used for one or more downlink communications in the second downlink channel. In some aspects, the waveform indication includes a waveform identifier that explicitly identifies the second waveform (e.g., using a first set of bits to identify a first type of waveform, a second set of bits to identify a second type of waveform, etc.).

Additionally, or alternatively, the waveform indication may implicitly identify the second waveform. For example, a type of waveform may be associated with one or more configuration parameters, such as a symbol duration, a slot (or subframe, mini-slot, etc.) structure, a bandwidth, a frequency band, a modulation or coding scheme (MCS), and/or the like. In this case, the waveform indication may indicate a symbol duration for the one or more downlink communications, a slot (or subframe, mini-slot, etc.) structure for the one or more downlink communications, a bandwidth for the one or more downlink communications, an MCS for the one or more downlink communications, and/or the like. The UE <NUM> may use one or more of these configuration parameters, received as the waveform indication, to determine the second waveform to be used for one or more downlink communications in the second downlink channel. For example, the UE <NUM> may compare a configuration parameter to a condition and/or a threshold, and may determine the second waveform based at least in part on whether the configuration parameter satisfies the condition and/or the threshold.

Additionally, or alternatively, the type of waveform may be associated with a type of transmission, such as a broadcast transmission, a unicast transmission, a multicast transmission, a control channel transmission, a data channel transmission, a transmission between base stations, a transmission between a UE and a base station, and/or the like. In this case, the UE <NUM> may use the type of transmission, received as the waveform indication, to determine the second waveform.

In some aspects, the UE <NUM> may use the type of waveform identified in the waveform indication to determine one or more configuration parameters corresponding to the identified type of waveform. For example, the waveform indication may include a waveform identifier, and the UE <NUM> may use the waveform identifier to determine a symbol duration for the one or more downlink communications, a slot (or subframe, mini-slot, etc.) structure for the one or more downlink communications, a bandwidth for the one or more downlink communications, a frequency band for the one or more downlink communications, an MCS for the one or more downlink communications, and/or the like. Additionally, or alternatively, the waveform indication may identify one or more first configuration parameters that indicate a type of waveform, and the UE <NUM> may use one or more first configuration parameters and/or the type of waveform to determine one or more second configuration parameters associated with the type of waveform. In some aspects, the waveform indication may narrow the possible choices of configuration parameters (e.g., to one or more configuration parameters that can be used with a waveform), and the configuration parameter to be used may be signaled from the base station <NUM> to the UE <NUM> using less overhead (e.g., fewer bits) than if there were more possible choices for the configuration parameters.

As shown by reference number <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may receive one or more downlink communications in the second downlink channel using the second waveform. In some aspects, the first waveform and the second waveform are different (e.g., are different types of waveforms). For example, the first waveform may be a default waveform, and the second waveform may be a DFT-s-OFDM waveform, a CP-OFDM waveform, and/or the like. In some aspects, the UE <NUM> may determine the default waveform based at least in part on a frequency band associated with the UE <NUM> (e.g., a frequency band in which the one or more downlink communications are to be received), a system bandwidth (e.g., signaled in a master information block, a system information block, etc.), and/or the like. In some aspects, the first waveform may be a DFT-s-OFDM waveform, and the second waveform may be a CP-OFDM waveform. In some aspects, the first waveform may be a CP-OFDM waveform, and the second waveform may be a DFT-s-OFDM waveform. In some aspects, the first waveform and the second waveform are the same (e.g., a same type of waveform). In this case, the waveform indication may include a value (e.g., a bit) that indicates that the second waveform is a same type of waveform as the first waveform.

In some aspects, the UE <NUM> may receive a reference signal or a data tone using pre-DFT spread multiplexing or time division multiplexing (TDM) when the second waveform is the DFT-s-OFDM waveform. Similarly, the UE <NUM> may receive a reference signal or a data tone using FDM or TDM when the second waveform is the OFDM waveform. In this way, the UE <NUM> may properly process signals received using a particular type of waveform by using a reference signal and/or a data tone corresponding to the particular type of waveform.

As shown by reference number <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may determine the second waveform based at least in part on the waveform indication received in the first downlink channel, and may process one or more downlink communications received in the second downlink channel using the second waveform. For example, the UE <NUM> may process downlink communications differently depending on a type of waveform used to transmit the downlink communications. Thus, by receiving an indication of the waveform used for the downlink communications, the UE <NUM> may correctly process the downlink communications without attempting to process the downlink communications using multiple types of waveforms, thereby conserving resources of the UE (e.g., processing resources, memory resources, radio resources, and/or the like). Furthermore, the base station <NUM> may dynamically select a waveform to be used for downlink communications depending on network conditions, traffic requirements, and/or the like, thereby improving usage of network resources.

In some aspects, the UE <NUM> may process the one or more downlink communications using interference cancellation based at least in part on an indication of a waveform, of the plurality of waveforms, associated with downlink communications of another UE, as described below in connection with <FIG>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example <NUM> of waveform signaling for downlink communications. As shown in <FIG>, a base station <NUM> may transmit respective downlink communications to a first UE <NUM> and a second UE <NUM>, and the first UE <NUM> and the second UE <NUM> may receive the respective downlink communications from the base station <NUM>. In some aspects, the base station <NUM> may correspond to the base station <NUM> of <FIG>, the base station <NUM> of <FIG>, and/or one or more other base stations described herein. In some aspects, the first UE <NUM> may correspond to the UE <NUM> of <FIG>, the UE <NUM> of <FIG>, and/or one or more other UEs described herein. In some aspects, the second UE <NUM> may correspond to the UE <NUM> of <FIG>, the UE <NUM> of <FIG>, and/or one or more other UEs described herein.

As shown by reference number <NUM>, the base station <NUM> may generate a first transmission layer of a multi-layer communication using a first waveform, of a plurality of waveforms, and may generate a second transmission layer of the multi-layer communication using a second waveform of the plurality of waveforms. In some aspects, the plurality of waveforms include a DFT-s-OFDM waveform, a CP-OFDM waveform, and/or the like. In some aspects, the first waveform and the second waveform may be different. For example, the base station <NUM> may generate the first transmission layer using a DFT-s-OFDM waveform, and may generate the second transmission layer using a CP-OFDM waveform, or vice versa.

The multi-layer communication may include multiple transmissions that are transmitted using a same time resource (e.g., simultaneously or concurrently) and a same frequency resource. For example, the multi-layer communication may include a MIMO communication, such as a multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) communication, a multi-user superposition transmission (MUST), a downlink version of a non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) communication, and/or the like.

As shown by reference numbers <NUM> and <NUM>, the base station <NUM> may transmit the first transmission on a first layer (e.g., a first layer of information, a first transmission layer, etc.) to the first UE <NUM> using the first waveform, and may transmit the second transmission (e.g., a second layer of information, a second transmission layer, etc.) on the second layer to the second UE <NUM> using the second waveform. In some aspects, the base station <NUM> may transmit the first transmission on the first layer and the second transmission on the second layer using different antenna beams (e.g., using beamforming, precoding, and/or the like).

As shown by reference number <NUM>, the base station <NUM> may transmit the first transmission on the first layer and the second transmission on the second layer using a same time resource and a same frequency resource (e.g., using MU-MIMO). For example, the base station <NUM> may transmit the first transmission and the second transmission simultaneously using two transmission layers over the same frequency.

As shown by reference number <NUM>, the first UE <NUM> may receive a first indication of the first waveform used for the first transmission layer, and may use the first indication to process the first transmission layer (e.g., to process one or more first downlink communications included in the first transmission layer). For example, the base station <NUM> may transmit the first indication (e.g., a waveform indication) to the first UE <NUM>, and the first indication may indicate the first waveform used for the first transmission layer. The first indication may indicate the first waveform according to any of the techniques described above in connection with <FIG>. For example, the first indication may include a waveform identifier that identifies the first waveform, may identify one or more configuration parameters that correspond to the first waveform, and/or the like. Additionally, or alternatively, the first indication may include a layer identifier associated with a MU-MIMO communication, and the layer identifier may correspond to a waveform. In this case, the first UE <NUM> may use the layer identifier to determine the first waveform. In some aspects, the first UE <NUM> may receive the first indication in a similar manner as the waveform indication, as is described above in connection with <FIG>.

Additionally, or alternatively, the first UE <NUM> may receive a second indication of the second waveform used for the second transmission layer, and may use the second indication to process the first transmission layer. For example, the base station <NUM> may transmit the second indication (e.g., a waveform indication) to the first UE <NUM>, and the second indication may indicate the second waveform used for the second transmission layer. The first UE <NUM> may use the second indication of the second waveform to perform interference cancellation. In this way, the first UE <NUM> may improve processing of the first transmission layer to correctly receive the first transmission layer, thereby conserving network resources by reducing retransmissions.

As shown by reference number <NUM>, the second UE <NUM> may receive a second indication of the second waveform used for the second transmission layer, and may use the second indication to process the second transmission layer (e.g., to process one or more second downlink communications included in the second transmission layer). For example, the base station <NUM> may transmit the second indication (e.g., a waveform indication) to the second UE <NUM>, and the second indication may indicate the second waveform used for the second transmission layer. The second indication may indicate the second waveform according to any of the techniques described above in connection with <FIG>. For example, the second indication may include a waveform identifier that identifies the second waveform, may identify one or more configuration parameters that correspond to the second waveform, and/or the like. Additionally, or alternatively, the second indication may include a layer identifier associated with a MU-MIMO communication, and the layer identifier may correspond to a waveform. In this case, the second UE <NUM> may use the layer identifier to determine the second waveform. In some aspects, the second UE <NUM> may receive the second indication in a similar manner as the waveform indication, as is described above in connection with <FIG>.

Additionally, or alternatively, the second UE <NUM> may receive a first indication of the first waveform used for the first transmission layer, and may use the first indication to process the second transmission layer. For example, the base station <NUM> may transmit the first indication (e.g., a waveform indication) to the second UE <NUM>, and the first indication may indicate the first waveform used for the first transmission layer. The second UE <NUM> may use the first indication of the first waveform to perform interference cancellation. In this way, the second UE <NUM> may improve processing of the second transmission layer to correctly receive the second transmission layer, thereby conserving network resources by reducing retransmissions.

<FIG>, which is useful for an understanding of the invention, is a flow chart of a method <NUM> of wireless communication. The method may be performed by a UE (e.g., the UE <NUM> of <FIG>, the UE <NUM> of <FIG>, the first UE <NUM> of <FIG>, the second UE <NUM> of <FIG>, the apparatus <NUM> and/or <NUM>' of <FIG> and/or <NUM>, and/or the like).

At <NUM>, the UE may receive a waveform indication in a first downlink channel that uses a first waveform. For example, the UE may receive a waveform indication in a first downlink channel that uses a first waveform of a plurality of waveforms, as described above in connection with <FIG>. In some aspects, the first downlink channel is at least one of: a first control channel, or a broadcast channel. In some aspects, the first waveform is a default waveform used for the first downlink channel. In some aspects, the default waveform is determined based at least in part on: a frequency band associated with the one or more downlink communications, a system bandwidth, or some combination thereof.

In some aspects, the plurality of waveforms include a DFT-s-OFDM waveform and a CP-OFDM waveform. In some aspects, at least one of a reference signal or a data tone is received using pre-DFT spread multiplexing or time division multiplexing when the second waveform is the DFT-s-OFDM waveform, or at least one of a reference signal or a data tone is received using FDM or time division multiplexing when the second waveform is the CP-OFDM waveform.

At <NUM>, the UE may determine a second waveform to be used for one or more downlink communications in a second downlink channel. For example, the UE may determine a second waveform, of the plurality of waveforms, to be used for one or more downlink communications in a second downlink channel based at least in part on the waveform indication received in the first downlink channel, as described above in connection with <FIG>. In some aspects, the second downlink channel is at least one of: a second control channel, a data channel, a unicast channel, or a multicast channel. In some aspects, the first waveform and the second waveform are different. In some aspects, the first waveform and the second waveform are the same.

In some aspects, the waveform indication indicates a waveform identifier that explicitly identifies the second waveform. In some aspects, the waveform indication includes one or more configuration parameters that implicitly identify the second waveform. In some aspects, the one or more configuration parameters include one or more of: a symbol duration for the one or more downlink communications, a slot structure for the one or more downlink communications, a bandwidth for the one or more downlink communications, a frequency band for the one or more downlink communications, a modulation or coding scheme for the one or more downlink communications, or some combination thereof. For example, in some aspects, pi/<NUM> BPSK modulation may always be associated with the use of DFT-s-OFDM.

In some aspects, the UE may determine, based at least in part on the waveform indication, one or more configuration parameters associated with the one or more downlink communications. In some aspects, the one or more configuration parameters include one or more of: a symbol duration for the one or more downlink communications, a slot structure for the one or more downlink communications, a bandwidth for the one or more downlink communications, a frequency band for the one or more downlink communications a modulation or coding scheme for the one or more downlink communications, or some combination thereof.

At <NUM>, the UE may process the one or more downlink communications received in the second downlink channel using the second waveform. For example, the UE may receive the one or more downlink communications in the second downlink channel, and may process the one or more downlink communications using the second waveform, as described above in connection with <FIG>. In some aspects, the waveform indication and the one or more downlink communications are received in a same transmission time interval. In some aspects, the UE may process the one or more downlink communications using interference cancellation based at least in part on an indication of a waveform, of the plurality of waveforms, associated with downlink communications of another UE, as described above in connection with <FIG>.

Although <FIG> shows example blocks of a method of wireless communication, in some aspects, the method may include additional blocks, fewer blocks, different blocks, or differently arranged blocks than those shown in <FIG>. Additionally, or alternatively, two or more blocks shown in <FIG> may be performed in parallel.

<FIG>, which is useful for an understanding of the invention, is a flow chart of a method <NUM> of wireless communication. The method may be performed by a base station (e.g., the base station <NUM> of <FIG>, the base station <NUM> of <FIG>, the base station <NUM> of <FIG>, the apparatus <NUM> and/or <NUM>' of <FIG> and/or <NUM>, and/or the like).

At <NUM>, the base station may generate a first transmission layer of a multi-layer communication using a first waveform. For example, the base station may generate a first transmission layer of a multi-layer communication using a first waveform of a plurality of waveforms, as described above in connection with <FIG>. In some aspects, the multi-layer communication is a MU-MIMO communication. In some aspects, the plurality of waveforms include a DFT-s-OFDM waveform and a CP-OFDM waveform. In some aspects, generating the first transmission layer may include generating, encoding, modulating, mapping, etc. first information to be included in the first transmission layer.

At <NUM>, the base station may generate a second transmission layer of the multi-layer communication using a second waveform. For example, the base station may generate a second transmission layer of the multi-layer communication using a second waveform of the plurality of waveforms, as described above in connection with <FIG>. In some aspects, the first waveform and the second waveform are different. In some aspects, generating the second transmission layer may include generating, encoding, modulating, mapping, etc. second information to be included in the second transmission layer.

At <NUM>, the base station may transmit the first transmission layer and the second transmission layer using a same time resource and a same frequency resource. For example, the base station may transmit the first transmission layer and the second transmission layer using a same time resource and a same frequency resource, wherein the first transmission layer is transmitted using the first waveform and the second transmission layer is transmitted using the second waveform, as described above in connection with <FIG>. In some aspects, the first transmission layer is transmitted to a first UE and the second transmission layer is transmitted to a second UE. In some aspects, the first transmission layer and the second transmission layer are transmitted using different antenna beams of the base station. In some aspects, the base station may transmit at least one of: an indication of the first waveform to the second UE, or an indication of the second waveform to the first UE.

<FIG> is a flow chart of a method <NUM> of wireless communication. The method may be performed by a UE (e.g., the UE <NUM> of <FIG>, the UE <NUM> of <FIG>, the first UE <NUM> of <FIG>, the second UE <NUM> of <FIG>, the apparatus <NUM> and/or <NUM>' of <FIG> and/or <NUM>, and/or the like).

At <NUM>, the UE receives a first indication of a first waveform to be used for one or more downlink communications associated with a first UE. For example, a first UE may receive a first indication of a first waveform, of a plurality of waveforms, to be used for one or more downlink communications associated with the first UE, as described above in connection with <FIG>. In some aspects, the multi-layer communication is a MU-MIMO communication. In some aspects, the first indication may include a layer identifier associated with the MU-MIMO communication. In some aspects, the plurality of waveforms include a DFT-s-OFDM waveform and a CP-OFDM waveform.

At <NUM>, the UE receives a second indication of a second waveform associated with downlink communications of a second UE. For example, the first UE may receive a second indication of a second waveform, of the plurality of waveforms, associated with downlink communications of a second UE, as described above in connection with <FIG>. In some aspects, the second indication may include a layer identifier associated with the MU-MIMO communication.

At <NUM>, the UE receives the one or more downlink communications using the first waveform. For example, the first UE may receive the one or more downlink communications using the first waveform, as described above in connection with <FIG>. For example, a base station may generate the one or more downlink communications using the first waveform, and may transmit the one or more downlink communications to the first UE.

At <NUM>, the UE processes the one or more downlink communications based at least in part on the second indication. For example, the first UE may process the one or more downlink communications based at least in part on the second indication of the second waveform, as described above in connection with <FIG>. In some aspects, the first UE may process the one or more downlink communications using interference cancellation based at least in part on the second indication of the second waveform associated with the downlink communications of the second UE.

<FIG> is a conceptual data flow diagram <NUM> illustrating the data flow between different modules/means/components in an example apparatus <NUM>. The apparatus <NUM> may be a UE. In some aspects, the apparatus <NUM> includes a reception module <NUM>, a determination module <NUM>, a processing module <NUM>, a transmission module <NUM>, and/or the like.

In some aspects, the reception module <NUM> may receive a waveform indication, as data <NUM> from a base station <NUM>, in a first downlink channel that uses a first waveform. The reception module <NUM> may provide the waveform indication to the determination module <NUM> as data <NUM>. The determination module <NUM> may use the waveform indication to determine a second waveform to be used for one or more downlink communications in a second downlink channel. The determination module <NUM> may provide an indication of the second waveform to the reception module <NUM> as data <NUM>. The reception module <NUM> may use this indication to receive the one or more downlink communications (e.g., as additional data <NUM>) in the second downlink channel using the second waveform. Additionally, or alternatively, the determination module <NUM> may provide an indication of the second waveform to the processing module <NUM> as data <NUM>. The processing module <NUM> may process the one or more downlink communications, which may be received from the reception module <NUM> as data <NUM>, using the indication of the second waveform. In some aspects, the processing module <NUM> may provide data <NUM> to the transmission module <NUM>, and the transmission module <NUM> may transmit data <NUM> (e.g., a response to the one or more downlink communications) to the base station <NUM>.

In some aspects, the reception module <NUM> may receive a first indication of a first waveform and a second indication of a second waveform as data <NUM> from the base station <NUM>. Furthermore, the reception module <NUM> may receive one or more downlink communications, as additional data <NUM>, using the first waveform. The reception module <NUM> may provide the first indication, the second indication, and the one or more downlink communications to the processing module <NUM> as data <NUM>. The processing module <NUM> may process the one or more downlink communications using the first indication and/or the second indication. In some aspects, the processing module <NUM> and/or another module of the apparatus <NUM> may generate data <NUM> based at least in part on processing the one or more downlink communications, and may provide data <NUM> to the transmission module <NUM> for transmission to the base station <NUM> as data <NUM>.

The apparatus may include additional modules that perform each of the blocks of the algorithm in the aforementioned flow charts of <FIG> and/or <NUM>. As such, each block in the aforementioned flow charts of <FIG>, and/or <NUM> may be performed by a module and the apparatus may include one or more of those modules. The modules may be one or more hardware components specifically configured to carry out the stated processes/algorithm, implemented by a processor configured to perform the stated processes/algorithm, stored within a computer-readable medium for implementation by a processor, or some combination thereof.

<FIG> is a diagram <NUM> illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for an apparatus <NUM>' employing a processing system <NUM>. The apparatus <NUM>' may be a UE.

The processing system <NUM> may be implemented with a bus architecture, represented generally by the bus <NUM>. The bus <NUM> may include any number of interconnecting buses and bridges depending on the specific application of the processing system <NUM> and the overall design constraints. The bus <NUM> links together various circuits including one or more processors and/or hardware modules, represented by the processor <NUM>, the modules <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM>, and the computer-readable medium / memory <NUM>. The bus <NUM> may also link various other circuits such as timing sources, peripherals, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art, and therefore, will not be described any further.

The processing system <NUM> may be coupled to a transceiver <NUM>. The transceiver <NUM> is coupled to one or more antennas <NUM>. The transceiver <NUM> provides a means for communicating with various other apparatus over a transmission medium. The transceiver <NUM> receives a signal from the one or more antennas <NUM>, extracts information from the received signal, and provides the extracted information to the processing system <NUM>, specifically the reception module <NUM>. In addition, the transceiver <NUM> receives information from the processing system <NUM>, specifically the transmission module <NUM>, and based at least in part on the received information, generates a signal to be applied to the one or more antennas <NUM>. The processing system <NUM> includes a processor <NUM> coupled to a computer-readable medium / memory <NUM>. The processor <NUM> is responsible for general processing, including the execution of software stored on the computer-readable medium / memory <NUM>. The software, when executed by the processor <NUM>, causes the processing system <NUM> to perform the various functions described supra for any particular apparatus. The computer-readable medium / memory <NUM> may also be used for storing data that is manipulated by the processor <NUM> when executing software. The processing system further includes at least one of the modules <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM>. The modules may be software modules running in the processor <NUM>, resident/stored in the computer readable medium / memory <NUM>, one or more hardware modules coupled to the processor <NUM>, or some combination thereof. The processing system <NUM> may be a component of the UE <NUM> and may include the memory <NUM> and/or at least one of the TX MIMO processor <NUM>, the RX processor <NUM>, and/or the controller/processor <NUM>.

In some aspects, the apparatus <NUM>/<NUM>' for wireless communication may include means for receiving a waveform indication in a first downlink channel that uses a first waveform, means for determining a second waveform to be used for one or more downlink communications in a second downlink channel based at least in part on the waveform indication received in the first downlink channel, means for receiving the one or more downlink communications in the second downlink channel using the second waveform, means for processing the one or more downlink communications received in the second downlink channel using the second waveform, means for determining a configuration parameter based at least in part on the waveform indication, and/or the like. Additionally, or alternatively, the apparatus <NUM>/<NUM>' for wireless communication may include means for receiving a first indication of a first waveform to be used for one or more downlink communications associated with a first UE, means for receiving a second indication of a second waveform associated with downlink communications of a second UE, means for receiving the one or more downlink communications using the first waveform, means for processing the one or more downlink communications based at least in part on the second indication of the second waveform, and/or the like. The aforementioned means may be one or more of the aforementioned modules of the apparatus <NUM> and/or the processing system <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM>' configured to perform the functions recited by the aforementioned means. As described supra, the processing system <NUM> may include the TX MIMO processor <NUM>, the RX processor <NUM>, and/or the controller/processor <NUM>. As such, in one configuration, the aforementioned means may be the TX MIMO processor <NUM>, the RX processor <NUM>, and/or the controller/processor <NUM> configured to perform the functions recited by the aforementioned means.

Other examples are possible and may differ from what was described in connection with <FIG>.

<FIG> is a conceptual data flow diagram <NUM> illustrating the data flow between different modules/means/components in an example apparatus <NUM>. The apparatus <NUM> may be a base station. In some aspects, the apparatus <NUM> includes a reception module <NUM>, a generation module <NUM>, a transmission module <NUM>, and/or the like.

The reception module <NUM> may receive data <NUM> from a network device and/or a UE <NUM>, such as data destined for another UE. The reception module <NUM> may provide information, as data <NUM>, to the generation module <NUM> to trigger the generation of one or more transmissions to another UE <NUM>. The generation module <NUM> may generate a first a first transmission layer of a multi-layer communication using a first waveform, and may generate a second transmission layer of the multi-layer communication using a second waveform. The generation module <NUM> may provide the first and second transmission layers to the transmission module <NUM> as data <NUM>. The transmission module <NUM> may transmit the first transmission layer and the second transmission layer (e.g., as data <NUM> to multiple UEs <NUM>) using a same time resource and a same frequency resource.

The apparatus may include additional modules that perform each of the blocks of the algorithm in the aforementioned flow chart of <FIG>. As such, each block in the aforementioned flow chart of <FIG> may be performed by a module and the apparatus may include one or more of those modules. The modules may be one or more hardware components specifically configured to carry out the stated processes/algorithm, implemented by a processor configured to perform the stated processes/algorithm, stored within a computer-readable medium for implementation by a processor, or some combination thereof.

<FIG> is a diagram <NUM> illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for an apparatus <NUM>' employing a processing system <NUM>. The apparatus <NUM>' may be a base station.

The processing system <NUM> may be implemented with a bus architecture, represented generally by the bus <NUM>. The bus <NUM> may include any number of interconnecting buses and bridges depending on the specific application of the processing system <NUM> and the overall design constraints. The bus <NUM> links together various circuits including one or more processors and/or hardware modules, represented by the processor <NUM>, the modules <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM>, and the computer-readable medium / memory <NUM>. The bus <NUM> may also link various other circuits such as timing sources, peripherals, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art, and therefore, will not be described any further.

The processing system <NUM> may be coupled to a transceiver <NUM>. The transceiver <NUM> is coupled to one or more antennas <NUM>. The transceiver <NUM> provides a means for communicating with various other apparatus over a transmission medium. The transceiver <NUM> receives a signal from the one or more antennas <NUM>, extracts information from the received signal, and provides the extracted information to the processing system <NUM>, specifically the reception module <NUM>. In addition, the transceiver <NUM> receives information from the processing system <NUM>, specifically the transmission module <NUM>, and based at least in part on the received information, generates a signal to be applied to the one or more antennas <NUM>. The processing system <NUM> includes a processor <NUM> coupled to a computer-readable medium / memory <NUM>. The processor <NUM> is responsible for general processing, including the execution of software stored on the computer-readable medium / memory <NUM>. The software, when executed by the processor <NUM>, causes the processing system <NUM> to perform the various functions described supra for any particular apparatus. The computer-readable medium / memory <NUM> may also be used for storing data that is manipulated by the processor <NUM> when executing software. The processing system further includes at least one of the modules <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM>. The modules may be software modules running in the processor <NUM>, resident/stored in the computer readable medium / memory <NUM>, one or more hardware modules coupled to the processor <NUM>, or some combination thereof. The processing system <NUM> may be a component of the BS <NUM> and may include the memory <NUM> and/or at least one of the TX MIMO processor <NUM>, the RX processor <NUM>, and/or the controller/processor <NUM>.

In some aspects, the apparatus <NUM>/<NUM>' for wireless communication includes means for generating a first transmission layer of a multi-layer communication using a first waveform of a plurality of waveforms, means for generating a second transmission layer of the multi-layer communication using a second waveform of the plurality of waveforms, means for transmitting the first transmission layer and the second transmission layer using a same time resource and a same frequency resource, means for transmitting at least one of an indication of the first waveform or an indication of the second waveform, and/or the like. The aforementioned means may be one or more of the aforementioned modules of the apparatus <NUM> and/or the processing system <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM>' configured to perform the functions recited by the aforementioned means. As described supra, the processing system <NUM> may include the TX MIMO processor <NUM>, the RX processor <NUM>, and/or the controller/processor <NUM>. As such, in one configuration, the aforementioned means may be the TX processor <NUM>, the RX processor <NUM>, and/or the controller/processor <NUM> configured to perform the functions recited by the aforementioned means.

It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of blocks in the processes / flow charts disclosed is an illustration of example approaches. Based upon design preferences, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of blocks in the processes / flow charts may be rearranged.

Claim 1:
A method of wireless communication, comprising:
receiving (<NUM>), by a first user equipment, UE (<NUM>), a first indication of a first waveform, of a plurality of waveforms, to be used for one or more downlink communications associated with the first UE (<NUM>);
receiving (<NUM>), by the first UE (<NUM>), a second indication of a second waveform, of the plurality of waveforms, associated with downlink communications of a second UE (<NUM>);
receiving (<NUM>), by the first UE (<NUM>), the one or more downlink communications using the first waveform; and
processing (<NUM>), by the first UE (<NUM>), the one or more downlink communications based at least in part on the second indication of the second waveform.