Patent Description:
Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to wireless communication systems, and more particularly, to UE aided carrier selection. Certain embodiments of the technology discussed below can enable and provide UE determination for inclusion and transmission of carrier selection data.

Patent application <CIT> relates to facilitating indication of a loss of channel quality on a component carrier of a plurality of component carriers. A UE can monitor configured component carriers to determine channel qualities associated therewith. The UE can transmit carrier quality information that includes the channel qualities of the plurality of component carriers. In addition, the UE can identify a component carrier experiencing a loss of channel quality and notify a base station of the component carrier with poor channel conditions. In one aspect, the UE can incorporate additional information into a scheduling request. In addition, the UE can generate a CQI report that contains the carrier quality information. Further, the base station, when a loss of channel quality occurs, can retry transmission on different carriers. Moreover, the base station can employ information provided by the UE when selecting a component carrier for a transmission.

The following summarizes some aspects of the present disclosure to provide a basic understanding of the discussed technology. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects of the disclosure in summary form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

The invention is defined by methods performed by a user equipment and a base station and corresponding apparatuses according to independent claims <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>.

In similar fashion, while exemplary embodiments may be discussed below as device, system, or method embodiments the exemplary embodiments can be implemented in various devices, systems, and methods.

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

A TDMA network may, for example implement a radio technology such as GSM. 3GPP defines standards for the GSM EDGE (enhanced data rates for GSM evolution) radio access network (RAN), also denoted as GERAN. GERAN is the radio component of GSM/EDGE, together with the network that joins the base stations (for example, the Ater and Abis interfaces) and the base station controllers (A interfaces, etc.). The radio access network represents a component of a GSM network, through which phone calls and packet data are routed from and to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and Internet to and from subscriber handsets, also known as user terminals or user equipments (UEs). A mobile phone operator's network may comprise one or more GERANs, which may be coupled with Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Networks (UTRANs) in the case of a UMTS/GSM network. An operator network may also include one or more LTE networks, and/or one or more other networks. The various different network types may use different radio access technologies (RATs) and radio access networks (RANs).

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

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

The scalable numerology of <NUM> NR facilitates scalable TTI for diverse latency and quality of service (QoS) requirements.

For clarity, certain aspects of the apparatus and techniques may be described below with reference to exemplary LTE implementations or in an LTE-centric way, and LTE terminology may be used as illustrative examples in portions of the description below; however, the description is not intended to be limited to LTE applications. Indeed, the present disclosure is concerned with shared access to wireless spectrum between networks using different radio access technologies or radio air interfaces, such as those of <NUM> NR.

Moreover, it should be understood that, in operation, wireless communication networks adapted according to the concepts herein may operate with any combination of licensed or unlicensed spectrum depending on loading and availability. Accordingly, it will be apparent to one of skill in the art that the systems, apparatus and methods described herein may be applied to other communications systems and applications than the particular examples provided.

While aspects and embodiments are described in this application by illustration to some examples, those skilled in the art will understand that additional implementations and use cases may come about in many different arrangements and scenarios. Innovations described herein may be implemented across many differing platform types, devices, systems, shapes, sizes, packaging arrangements. For example, embodiments and/or uses may come about via integrated chip embodiments and/or other non-module-component based devices (e.g., end-user devices, vehicles, communication devices, computing devices, industrial equipment, retail/purchasing devices, medical devices, AI-enabled devices, etc.). While some examples may or may not be specifically directed to use cases or applications, a wide assortment of applicability of described innovations may occur. Implementations may range from chip-level or modular components to non-modular, non-chip-level implementations and further to aggregated, distributed, or OEM devices or systems incorporating one or more described aspects. In some practical settings, devices incorporating described aspects and features may also necessarily include additional components and features for implementation and practice of claimed and described embodiments. It is intended that innovations described herein may be practiced in a wide variety of implementations, including both large/small devices, chip-level components, multicomponent systems (e.g. RF-chain, communication interface, processor), distributed arrangements, end-user devices, etc. of varying sizes, shapes, and constitution.

<FIG> shows wireless network <NUM> for communication according to some embodiments. Wireless network <NUM> may, for example, comprise a <NUM> wireless network. As appreciated by those skilled in the art, components appearing in <FIG> are likely to have related counterparts in other network arrangements including, for example, cellular-style network arrangements and non-cellular-style-network arrangements (e.g., device to device or peer to peer or ad hoc network arrangements, etc.).

Wireless network <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> includes a number of base stations <NUM> and other network entities. A base station may be a station that communicates with the UEs and may also be referred to as an evolved node B (eNB), a next generation eNB (gNB), an access point, and the like. Each base station <NUM> may provide communication coverage for a particular geographic area. In 3GPP, the term "cell" can refer to this particular geographic coverage area of a base station and/or a base station subsystem serving the coverage area, depending on the context in which the term is used. In implementations of wireless network <NUM> herein, base stations <NUM> may be associated with a same operator or different operators (e.g., wireless network <NUM> may comprise a plurality of operator wireless networks), and may provide wireless communications using one or more of the same frequencies (e.g., one or more frequency bands in licensed spectrum, unlicensed spectrum, or a combination thereof) as a neighboring cell. In some examples, an individual base station <NUM> or UE <NUM> may be operated by more than one network operating entity. In other examples, each base station <NUM> and UE <NUM> may be operated by a single network operating entity.

A base station may provide communication coverage for a macro cell or a small cell, such as a pico cell or a femto cell, and/or other types of cell. A base station for a macro cell may be referred to as a macro base station. A base station for a small cell may be referred to as a small cell base station, a pico base station, a femto base station or a home base station. In the example shown in <FIG>, base stations 105d and 105e are regular macro base stations, while base stations 105a-105c are macro base stations enabled with one of <NUM> dimension (3D), full dimension (FD), or massive MIMO. Base stations 105a-105c take advantage of their higher dimension MIMO capabilities to exploit 3D beamforming in both elevation and azimuth beamforming to increase coverage and capacity. Base station 105f is a small cell base station which may be a home node or portable access point. A base station may support one or multiple (e.g., two, three, four, and the like) cells.

Wireless network <NUM> may support synchronous or asynchronous operation. In some scenarios, networks may be enabled or configured to handle dynamic switching between synchronous or asynchronous operations.

UEs <NUM> are dispersed throughout the wireless network <NUM>, and each UE may be stationary or mobile. It should be appreciated that, although a mobile apparatus is commonly referred to as user equipment (UE) in standards and specifications promulgated by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), such apparatus may also be referred to by those skilled in the art as a mobile station (MS), a subscriber station, a mobile unit, a subscriber unit, a wireless unit, a remote unit, a mobile device, a wireless device, a wireless communications device, a remote device, a mobile subscriber station, an access terminal (AT), a mobile terminal, a wireless terminal, a remote terminal, a handset, a terminal, a user agent, a mobile client, a client, or some other suitable terminology. Within the present document, a "mobile" apparatus or UE need not necessarily have a capability to move, and may be stationary. Some non-limiting examples of a mobile apparatus, such as may comprise embodiments of one or more of UEs <NUM>, include a mobile, a cellular (cell) phone, a smart phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a laptop, a personal computer (PC), a notebook, a netbook, a smart book, a tablet, and a personal digital assistant (PDA). A mobile apparatus may additionally be an "Internet of things" (IoT) or "Internet of everything" (IoE) device such as an automotive or other transportation vehicle, a satellite radio, a global positioning system (GPS) device, a logistics controller, a drone, a multi-copter, a quad-copter, a smart energy or security device, a solar panel or solar array, municipal lighting, water, or other infrastructure; industrial automation and enterprise devices; consumer and wearable devices, such as eyewear, a wearable camera, a smart watch, a health or fitness tracker, a mammal implantable device, gesture tracking device, medical device, a digital audio player (e.g., MP3 player), a camera, a game console, etc.; and digital home or smart home devices such as a home audio, video, and multimedia device, an appliance, a sensor, a vending machine, intelligent lighting, a home security system, a smart meter, etc. In one aspect, a UE may be a device that includes a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC). In another aspect, a UE may be a device that does not include a UICC. In some aspects, UEs that do not include UICCs may also be referred to as IoE devices. UEs 115a-115d of the embodiment illustrated in <FIG> are examples of mobile smart phone-type devices accessing wireless network <NUM> A UE may also be a machine specifically configured for connected communication, including machine type communication (MTC), enhanced MTC (eMTC), narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) and the like. UEs 115e-<NUM> illustrated in <FIG> are examples of various machines configured for communication that access wireless network <NUM>.

A mobile apparatus, such as UEs <NUM>, may be able to communicate with any type of the base stations, whether macro base stations, pico base stations, femto base stations, relays, and the like. In <FIG>, a lightning bolt (e.g., communication link) indicates wireless transmissions between a UE and a serving base station, which is a base station designated to serve the UE on the downlink and/or uplink, or desired transmission between base stations, and backhaul transmissions between base stations. Backhaul communication between base stations of wireless network <NUM> may occur using wired and/or wireless communication links.

In operation at wireless network <NUM>, base stations 105a-105c serve UEs 115a and 115b using 3D beamforming and coordinated spatial techniques, such as coordinated multipoint (CoMP) or multi-connectivity. Macro base station 105d performs backhaul communications with base stations 105a-105c, as well as small cell, base station 105f. Macro base station 105d also transmits multicast services which are subscribed to and received by UEs 115c and 115d.

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

<FIG> shows a block diagram of a design of a base station <NUM> and a UE <NUM>, which may be any of the base stations and one of the UEs in <FIG>. For a restricted association scenario (as mentioned above), base station <NUM> may be small cell base station 105f in <FIG>, and UE <NUM> may be UE 115c or 115D operating in a service area of base station 105f, which in order to access small cell base station 105f, would be included in a list of accessible UEs for small cell base station 105f. Base station <NUM> may also be a base station of some other type. As shown in <FIG>, base station <NUM> may be equipped with antennas 234a through 234t, and UE <NUM> may be equipped with antennas 252a through 252r for facilitating wireless communications.

At the base station <NUM>, a transmit processor <NUM> may receive data from a data source <NUM> and control information from a controller/processor <NUM>. The control information may be for the physical broadcast channel (PBCH), physical control format indicator channel (PCFICH), physical hybrid-ARQ (automatic repeat request) indicator channel (PHICH), physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), enhanced physical downlink control channel (EPDCCH), MTC physical downlink control channel (MPDCCH), etc. The data may be for the PDSCH, etc. The transmit processor <NUM> may process (e.g., encode and symbol map) the data and control information to obtain data symbols and control symbols, respectively. The transmit processor <NUM> may also generate reference symbols, e.g., for the primary synchronization signal (PSS) and secondary synchronization signal (SSS), and cell-specific reference signal. Transmit (TX) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) processor <NUM> may perform spatial processing (e.g., precoding) on the data symbols, the control symbols, and/or the reference symbols, if applicable, and may provide output symbol streams to modulators (MODs) 232a through 232t. Each modulator <NUM> may additionally or alternatively process (e.g., convert to analog, amplify, filter, and upconvert) the output sample stream to obtain a downlink signal. Downlink signals from modulators 232a through 232t may be transmitted via the antennas 234a through 234t, respectively.

At the UE <NUM>, the antennas 252a through 252r may receive the downlink signals from the base station <NUM> and may provide received signals to the demodulators (DEMODs) 254a through 254r, respectively. MIMO detector <NUM> may obtain received symbols from demodulators 254a through 254r, perform MIMO detection on the received symbols if applicable, and provide detected symbols. Receive processor <NUM> may process (e.g., demodulate, deinterleave, and decode) the detected symbols, provide decoded data for the UE <NUM> to a data sink <NUM>, and provide decoded control information to a controller/processor <NUM>.

On the uplink, at the UE <NUM>, a transmit processor <NUM> may receive and process data (e.g., for the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH)) from a data source <NUM> and control information (e.g., for the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH)) from the controller/processor <NUM>. Transmit processor <NUM> may also generate reference symbols for a reference signal. The symbols from the transmit processor <NUM> may be precoded by TX MIMO processor <NUM> if applicable, further processed by the modulators 254a through 254r (e.g., for SC-FDM, etc.), and transmitted to the base station <NUM>. At base station <NUM>, the uplink signals from UE <NUM> may be received by antennas <NUM>, processed by demodulators <NUM>, detected by MIMO detector <NUM> if applicable, and further processed by receive processor <NUM> to obtain decoded data and control information sent by UE <NUM>. Processor <NUM> may provide the decoded data to data sink <NUM> and the decoded control information to controller/processor <NUM>.

Controllers/processors <NUM> and <NUM> may direct the operation at base station <NUM> and UE <NUM>, respectively. Controller/processor <NUM> and/or other processors and modules at base station <NUM> and/or controller/processor <NUM> and/or other processors and modules at UE <NUM> may perform or direct the execution of various processes for the techniques described herein, such as to perform or direct the execution illustrated in <FIG>, and/or other processes for the techniques described herein. Memories <NUM> and <NUM> may store data and program codes for base station <NUM> and UE <NUM>, respectively. Scheduler <NUM> may schedule UEs for data transmission on the downlink and/or uplink.

In some cases, UE <NUM> and base station <NUM> may operate in a shared radio frequency spectrum band, which may include licensed or unlicensed (e.g., contention-based) frequency spectrum. In an unlicensed frequency portion of the shared radio frequency spectrum band, UEs <NUM> or base stations <NUM> may traditionally perform a medium-sensing procedure to contend for access to the frequency spectrum. For example, UE <NUM> or base station <NUM> may perform a listen before talk (LBT) procedure such as a clear channel assessment (CCA) prior to communicating in order to determine whether the shared channel is available. A CCA may include an energy detection procedure to determine whether there are any other active transmissions. For example, a device may infer that a change in a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of a power meter indicates that a channel is occupied. Specifically, signal power that is concentrated in a certain bandwidth and exceeds a predetermined noise floor may indicate another wireless transmitter. A CCA also may include detection of specific sequences that indicate use of the channel. For example, another device may transmit a specific preamble prior to transmitting a data sequence. In some cases, an LBT procedure may include a wireless node adjusting its own backoff window based on the amount of energy detected on a channel and/or the acknowledge/negative-acknowledge (ACK/NACK) feedback for its own transmitted packets as a proxy for collisions.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a wireless communications system <NUM> that supports UE added carrier selection (e.g., UE based fast carrier selection) in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, wireless communications system <NUM> may implement aspects of wireless communication system <NUM>. For example, wireless communications system <NUM> may include UE <NUM> and base station <NUM>. Although one UE and one base station are illustrated, in other implementations, wireless communications system <NUM> may include multiple UEs <NUM>, multiple base stations <NUM>, or both. UE aided (or assisted) fast carrier selection may enable carrier selection data to be transported in the same cycle in which it was generated and/or determined to be sent to a base station, such as base station <NUM>.

UE <NUM> includes processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, transmitter <NUM>, receiver <NUM>, and channel measurement circuitry <NUM>. Processor <NUM> may be configured to execute instructions stored at memory <NUM> to perform the operations described herein. In some implementations, processor <NUM> includes or corresponds to controller/processor <NUM>, and memory <NUM> includes or corresponds to memory <NUM>. Memory <NUM> may also be configured to store channel measurement data <NUM>, carrier selection data <NUM>, thresholds <NUM>, or a combination thereof, as further described herein.

Carrier selection data <NUM> may include multiple types of information, such as channel measurement data <NUM> (e.g., soft information or actual measurement data indicating channel quality), UE preferences <NUM>, or UE indications <NUM>. Channel measurement data <NUM> may include measurements or estimates of one or more parameters for particular channel (e.g., CC) for one or more transmissions thereof. The channel measurement data <NUM> may be for a single transmission, a number of transmissions, or all transmissions of a particular duration for a particular channel. The channel measurement data <NUM> may include RSRP, SINR, path loss, interference and/or noise level, decoding log likelihood ratio, estimated BLER of monitored CORESETs, power headroom, estimated RSRP, or a combination thereof. The individual measurements may be averaged over a time window for a single channel or across multiple channels (e.g., CCs) and/or CORESETs per CC in a frequency range or frequency band.

The UE preference(s) <NUM> are configured to provide a preference to a base station for one or more upcoming transmissions, which the base station may use to determine transmission settings for the one or more upcoming transmissions. For example, the UE preference(s) <NUM> may influence a base station to use another CC for subsequent PDSCH transmission(s). The UE preferences <NUM> may include a preferred frequency range, a preferred frequency band, a preferred CC, a preferred CC type (e.g., UL or DL), or a combination thereof, for at least a next PDSCH transmission. As illustrative examples, the frequency range may include FR1 vs FR2, the frequency band in a particular FR, such as <NUM> band vs <NUM> band, the CC may include a CC of a particular frequency band, such as CC1, CC2, etc. The UE preference(s) <NUM> may be indicated by a CC index (e.g., CC index bit or bitmap). The UE preference(s) <NUM> may further specify a type for the particular preference, such as UL or DL.

In a particular implementation, the UE <NUM> further indicates a value or strength of the preference in the carrier selection data (e.g., high or low, <NUM>-<NUM>, etc.). The UE preference(s) <NUM> are generated by the UE <NUM> based on channel measurements/channel measurement data <NUM>, as described further herein. Thus, the UE <NUM> may provide preferences to the base station to help the base station select a particular frequency range or band, such as a particular CC, based on the channel measurements/channel measurement data <NUM>.

The UE indication <NUM> is configured to provide an indication to a base station for one or more upcoming transmissions. For example, the UE indication <NUM> may direct a base station to use another CC for PDSCH transmission, to suspend PDSCH transmission on a current CC, to resume PDSCH transmission on a previous CC. The UE indication <NUM> is generated by the UE <NUM> based on channel measurements/channel measurement data <NUM>, as described further herein. Thus, the UE <NUM> may instruct the base station <NUM> to use a particular frequency range or band, such as a particular CC, based on the channel measurements/channel measurement data <NUM>.

Transmitter <NUM> is configured to transmit data to one or more other devices, and receiver <NUM> is configured to receive data from one or more other devices. For example, transmitter <NUM> may transmit data, and receiver <NUM> may receive data, via a network, such as a wired network, a wireless network, or a combination thereof. For example, UE <NUM> may be configured to transmit and/or receive data via a direct device-to-device connection, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a modem-to-modem connection, the Internet, intranet, extranet, cable transmission system, cellular communication network, any combination of the above, or any other communications network now known or later developed within which permits two or more electronic devices to communicate. In some implementations, transmitter <NUM> and receiver <NUM> may be replaced with a transceiver. Additionally, or alternatively, transmitter <NUM>, receiver, <NUM>, or both may include or correspond to one or more components of UE <NUM> described with reference to <FIG>.

Channel measurement circuitry <NUM> is configured to measure or estimate channel quality and generate channel measurements (e.g., channel measurement data <NUM>). Although illustrated as separate from processor <NUM>, transmitter <NUM>, and receiver <NUM>, channel measurement circuitry <NUM> may include or correspond to such components.

Base station <NUM> includes processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, transmitter <NUM>, and receiver <NUM>. Processor <NUM> may be configured to execute instructions stores at memory <NUM> to perform the operations described herein. In some implementations, processor <NUM> includes or corresponds to controller/processor <NUM>, and memory <NUM> includes or corresponds to memory <NUM>. Memory <NUM> may be configured to store thresholds <NUM>, such as one or more thresholds configured to determine transmission settings based on the carrier selection data <NUM> received from the UE <NUM>. For example, when the carrier selection data <NUM> includes measurements or preferences (e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>), the base station <NUM> may make a determination to generate transmission settings based on comparing the carrier selection data <NUM> to one or more thresholds <NUM>. As another example, when the carrier selection data <NUM> includes an indication (e.g., <NUM>), the base station <NUM> may make a determination to generate transmission settings for one or more subsequent transmissions based on comparing the carrier selection data <NUM> from the UE to other carrier selection data from other UEs to avoid two UEs selecting the same CC and/or settings. Memory <NUM> may also be configured to store channel measurement data, carrier selection data, thresholds, or a combination thereof, associated with UE <NUM>, as further described herein.

Transmitter <NUM> is configured to transmit data to one or more other devices, and receiver <NUM> is configured to receive data from one or more other devices. For example, transmitter <NUM> may transmit data, and receiver <NUM> may receive data, via a network, such as a wired network, a wireless network, or a combination thereof. For example, base station <NUM> may be configured to transmit and/or receive data via a direct device-to-device connection, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a modem-to-modem connection, the Internet, intranet, extranet, cable transmission system, cellular communication network, any combination of the above, or any other communications network now known or later developed within which permits two or more electronic devices to communicate. In some implementations, transmitter <NUM> and receiver <NUM> may be replaced with a transceiver. Additionally, or alternatively, transmitter <NUM>, receiver, <NUM>, or both may include or correspond to one or more components of base station <NUM> described with reference to <FIG>.

During operation of wireless communications system <NUM>, a first message <NUM> is transmitted by the base station <NUM> via a first channel (e.g., first component carrier (CC)). Based on the first message <NUM>, the UE <NUM> performs a channel measurement on the first channel and generates channel measurement data (e.g., first channel measurement data <NUM>). In some implementation, the UE <NUM> compares the channel measurement data <NUM> (e.g., first channel measurement data <NUM>) for the first channel to a threshold of thresholds <NUM>. In other implementations, the UE <NUM> compares channel measurement data <NUM> including multiple channel measurements (such as from past messages) to one or more corresponding thresholds of thresholds <NUM> or channel measurement data <NUM> including an average channel measurement to a corresponding threshold of thresholds <NUM>, as described further herein.

The UE <NUM> generates carrier selection data <NUM> based on the channel measurement data <NUM> (e.g., first channel measurement data <NUM>). For example, the UE <NUM> generates carrier selection data <NUM> (e.g., first carrier selection data <NUM>) based on a carrier selection data setting or based on a second comparison. To illustrate, the UE <NUM> may be configured or adjusted to generate a particular type of carrier selection data <NUM>, such as channel quality data <NUM>, UE preferences <NUM>, UE indication <NUM>, or a combination thereof, based on a setting. As another illustration, the UE <NUM> may compare the channel measurement data <NUM> to a second threshold or thresholds of thresholds <NUM> to determine type of carrier selection data <NUM>.

Based on one or more of the above comparisons (e.g., first comparison, second comparison, or both), a determination of successfully decoding of a message (e.g., first message <NUM>), or both, the UE <NUM> determines whether to include carrier selection data, such as first carrier selection data <NUM>, in a second message <NUM> corresponding to the first message <NUM>. To illustrate, UE <NUM> includes first carrier selection data <NUM> in the second message <NUM> based on unsuccessful decoding of first message <NUM>. The second message <NUM> may be an acknowledgement message or control message for the first message <NUM>, such as UCI or a media access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE). The acknowledgement message may be sent in a PUCCH or a PUSCH. As an illustrative example, a MAC-CE can be sent in a PUSCH.

The base station <NUM> may transmit a third message <NUM> based on or using the first carrier selection data <NUM>, as further described herein. For example, the base station <NUM> may compare the first carrier selection data <NUM> to other carrier selection data from other UEs and/or compare the first carrier selection data <NUM> to the one or more thresholds <NUM>. The third message <NUM> may include or correspond to a retransmission and/or may be transmitted on another channel (e.g., another CC) that is different from a channel of the first message <NUM>, the second message <NUM>, or both.

Thus, <FIG> describes UE aided/assisted carrier selection for transmissions between UE <NUM> and base station <NUM>. Providing updated carrier selection data to base station <NUM> based on a UE determination enables network to reduce latency and overhead and improve reliability, as compared to providing channel quality data in response to channel quality report requests signaled by the base station <NUM> or always including channel quality data. Additionally, particular types of carrier selection data <NUM> (e.g., UE preferences <NUM> or indications <NUM>) may further reduce processing of the base station <NUM>, because the base station <NUM> may utilize less processing to transmit or receive a next message or retransmit a precious message. Improving performance of such operations may improve SNR and throughput for communications on the network and enable use of mm wave frequency ranges and URLLC modes.

<FIG> illustrate examples of carrier selection. <FIG> illustrates an example of base station initiated carrier selection. <FIG> illustrate examples of UE aided carrier selection according to aspects of the disclosure. <FIG> illustrates a reactive mode, <FIG> illustrates a proactive mode, and <FIG> illustrates a hybrid mode.

Referring to <FIG> illustrates a timing diagram <NUM> illustrating communications between a base station <NUM> and a UE <NUM>. Base station <NUM> may direct the UE <NUM> to always provide channel quality information, such as provide channel quality information in every uplink message or all uplink messages of a certain type, such as in all UCI messages (which may be sent in a corresponding PUCCH). Base station <NUM> may signal to the UE <NUM> to always provide channel quality information by a configuration message, such as a radio resource control (RRC) configuration message or upon the UE <NUM> joining the network. However, always providing channel quality information increases overhead and may reduce reliability.

Alternatively, base station <NUM> may direct the UE <NUM> to provide channel quality information on demand, such as provide channel quality information response to a UE channel report request. Base station <NUM> may signal to the UE <NUM> to provide channel quality information responsive to a UE channel report request in a downlink message. However, on-demand channel quality information may not be reported in the same cycle in which a UE channel report request was sent. To illustrate, short cycle times (e.g., low latency modes), signal blockage, interference, slot configuration, etc. may affect a UE's ability to decode the UE channel report request, measure or estimate a channel, and provide the channel measurement in the same cycle. As an example, URLLC operates with low latency and responses to UE channel report requests are generally provided in the next cycle.

Referring to timing diagram <NUM>, a first cycle <NUM> is illustrated for two frequency ranges (e.g., FR1 and FR2), a first frequency range <NUM> (e.g., FR2) and a second frequency range <NUM> (e.g., FR1). As illustrated in <FIG>, a sub carrier spacing (SCS) of the frequency ranges <NUM> and <NUM> may be different, such as <NUM> and <NUM>. Also, two component carriers (CCs) are illustrated for each frequency range <NUM>, <NUM>. Specifically, the first frequency range <NUM> has a first CC <NUM> (e.g., CC1) and a second CC <NUM> (e.g., CC2), and the second frequency range <NUM> has a third CC <NUM> (e.g., CC3) and a fourth CC <NUM> (e.g., CC4).

In <FIG>, the base station <NUM> transmits a PDSCH <NUM> (e.g., first PDSCH) via the first CC <NUM>. The PDSCH <NUM> may be signaled by the base station <NUM> by a corresponding PDCCH (not shown, such as PDCCH <NUM>) via first CC <NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, the UE <NUM> is not able to successfully receive and/or decode the PDSCH <NUM>. For example, there may be signal blockage on first CC <NUM>, interference, etc. In response to UE report request or an always report mode, the UE <NUM> includes channel quality measurement information in a negative acknowledgment message (NACK) in PUCCH <NUM> (e.g., first PUCCH). The NACK may be included in an uplink control message, such as Uplink Control Information (UCI). The base station <NUM> then performs retransmission for PDSCH <NUM> in the second frequency range, as further described with reference to <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG> illustrates a timing diagram <NUM> illustrating communications between a base station <NUM> and a UE <NUM>. Base station <NUM> may direct the UE <NUM> to operate in a UE aided carrier selection mode, such as provide channel quality information based on a determination performed at the UE. Thus, the UE decides when to send carrier selection data (e.g., channel quality information) and when to not send carrier selection data. Alternatively, the UE may enable operation in a UE aided carrier selection mode based on transmitting a configuration or capabilities message. In the example illustrated in <FIG>, the UE operates in a reactive mode (e.g., a reactive UE aided carrier selection mode), that is, the UE determines to include/transmit carrier selection data based on not receiving a message, such as scheduled message.

Referring to timing diagram <NUM>, a first cycle <NUM> is illustrated for two frequency ranges (e.g., FR1 and FR2), a first frequency range <NUM> (e.g., FR2) and a second frequency range <NUM> (e.g., FR1). Also, two component carriers (CCs) are illustrated for each frequency range <NUM>, <NUM>. Specifically, the first frequency range <NUM> has a first CC <NUM> (e.g., CC1) and a second CC <NUM> (e.g., CC2), and the second frequency range <NUM> has a third CC <NUM> (e.g., CC3) and a fourth CC <NUM> (e.g., CC4).

The base station <NUM> transmits a PDSCH <NUM> (e.g., first PDSCH) via the first CC <NUM>. The PDSCH <NUM> may be signaled by the base station <NUM> by a corresponding PDCCH (not shown, such as PDCCH <NUM>) via first CC <NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, the UE <NUM> is not able to successfully receive and/or decode the PDSCH <NUM>. For example, there may be signal blockage on first CC <NUM>, interference, etc. In response to a PDSCH, such as PDSCH <NUM>, UE <NUM> may transmit an acknowledgment message. In the example of <FIG>, in response to not decoding PDSCH <NUM>, the UE <NUM> transmits a negative acknowledgment message (NACK) in PUCCH <NUM> (e.g., first PUCCH). The NACK may be included in an uplink control message, such as Uplink Control Information (UCI). Alternatively, the UE <NUM> uses discontinuous transmission (DTX) for PUCCH <NUM> (e.g., first PUCCH), such as undergoes a temporary power-off or muting during PUCCH <NUM> and sends no signal (e.g., message or data).

Additionally, UE <NUM> determines whether or not to send carrier selection data (e.g., <NUM>) to the base station <NUM>, i.e., whether or not to generate and/or include the carrier selection data in PUCCH <NUM>, such as a UCI thereof. For example, the UE <NUM> determines to include carrier selection data in the PUCCH <NUM> based on not successfully decoding the PDSCH <NUM>. In other examples, the UE <NUM> may determine to not include carrier selection data in the PUCCH <NUM> based on successfully decoding another PDSCH.

Responsive to receiving the NACK, the base station <NUM> determines to initiate retransmission of the PDSCH <NUM>. Base station <NUM> determines to retransmit a PDSCH <NUM> (e.g., second PDSCH or PDSCH retransmission) based on the carrier selection data. For example, base station <NUM> determines to retransmit the PDSCH <NUM> via the third CC <NUM> in the second frequency range <NUM>. The PDSCH <NUM> and the PDSCH <NUM> may have the same transport block (TB), the same code block group (CBG), or both.

The base station <NUM> signals the PDSCH <NUM> to the UE <NUM> by transmitting a PDCCH <NUM>. IN <FIG>, the PDCCH <NUM> is transmitted via the third CC <NUM>. In the example in <FIG>, the UE <NUM> successfully decodes the PDSCH <NUM> and transmits a second acknowledgment message in response via PUCCH <NUM> (e.g., second PUCCH). As illustrated in <FIG>, in response to decoding PDSCH <NUM>, the UE <NUM> sends a positive acknowledgment message (ACK) in PUCCH <NUM>. The ACK may be included in an uplink control message, such as a UCI. In some implementations, the UE <NUM> may not (e.g., may cease) including carrier selection data in the PUCCH <NUM>. To illustrate, the UE <NUM> ceases to include carrier selection data in subsequent PUCCHs after successful retransmission. In other implementations, the <NUM> may include carrier selection data in the PUCCH <NUM>. For example, the UE <NUM> may continue to include carrier selection data in subsequent PUCCHs after successful retransmission for X amount of cycles. The amount of cycles may be preprogramed or reconfigurable. As illustrative, non-limiting examples, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, etc., cycles may be used for X. Responsive to receiving the ACK, the base station <NUM> determines to not repeat retransmission of the PDSCH <NUM> (or not initiate retransmission of PDSCH <NUM>).

Because the UE is not always providing channel quality information, overhead is reduced and thus latency may be decreased and reliability increased. Additionally, because the UE can determine to transmit carrier selection data independently of the base station, the carrier selection data may be received in the current cycle, which may reduce latency.

Referring to <FIG> illustrates a timing diagram <NUM> illustrating communications between a base station <NUM> and a UE <NUM>. Base station <NUM> may direct the UE <NUM> to operate in a UE aided carrier selection mode, such as provide channel quality information based on a determination performed at the UE. Thus, the UE decides when to send carrier selection data (e.g., channel quality information) and when to not send carrier selection data. In the example illustrated in <FIG>, the UE operates in a proactive mode, that is, the UE determines to send carrier selection data based on not receiving a message, such as scheduled message.

The base station <NUM> transmits a PDSCH <NUM> (e.g., first PDSCH) via the first CC <NUM>. The PDSCH <NUM> may be signaled by the base station <NUM> by a corresponding PDCCH (not shown, such as PDCCH <NUM>) via first CC <NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, the UE <NUM> is able to successfully receive and/or decode the PDSCH <NUM>. In response to a PDSCH, such as PDSCH <NUM>, UE <NUM> may transmit an acknowledgment message. In the example of <FIG>, in response to successfully decoding PDSCH <NUM>, the UE <NUM> transmits a positive acknowledgment message (ACK) in PUCCH <NUM> (e.g., first PUCCH). The ACK may be included in an uplink control message, such as a UCI.

Additionally, UE <NUM> determines whether or not to send carrier selection data (e.g., <NUM>) to the base station <NUM>, i.e., whether or not to generate and/or include the carrier selection data in PUCCH <NUM>, such as a UCI thereof. For example, the UE <NUM> determines to whether to include carrier selection data in the PUCCH <NUM> based on comparing measurement data to a threshold. For example, the UE <NUM> may determine to include (or not include) carrier selection data in the PUCCH <NUM> based on the result of one or more comparisons. To illustrate, UE <NUM> may determine to include (or not include) carrier selection data in the PUCCH <NUM> based on the measurement data meeting or exceeding a corresponding threshold. As another illustration, the UE <NUM> may compare multiple measurements to multiple corresponding thresholds. As yet another illustration, the UE <NUM> may average multiple measurements together, such as multiple measurements take over multiple cycles, and compare the average measurement to a corresponding thresholds.

One or more of the thresholds may be set and/or adjusted by the UE, the base station, or both. For example, the UE may set the thresholds upon joining a network based on a configuration message from the base station. As another example, the UE may adjust the thresholds based on a configuration message (e.g., RRC) during operation. Additionally, or alternatively, the UE may set or adjust its own thresholds based on second thresholds. To illustrate, when a particular measurement value is above (or below) a second threshold which is higher (or lower) than a corresponding first thresholds, the UE may adjust the first threshold by increasing (or decreasing). Furthermore, two thresholds (e.g., high and low) may be used for a single type of comparison to implement hysteresis and reduce switching back and forth.

Responsive to receiving the ACK, the base station <NUM> determines to not initiate retransmission of the PDSCH <NUM>. In some implementations, the UE <NUM> may not (e.g., may cease) including carrier selection data in the PUCCH <NUM>. To illustrate, the UE <NUM> ceases to include carrier selection data in subsequent PUCCHs after successful retransmission. In other implementations, the <NUM> may include carrier selection data in the PUCCH <NUM>. For example, the UE <NUM> may continue to include carrier selection data in subsequent PUCCHs after successful retransmission for X amount of cycles. The amount of cycles may be preprogramed or reconfigurable. As illustrative, non-limiting examples, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, etc., cycles may be used for X.

Thus, <FIG> describes proactive carrier selection data. While proactive inclusion of carrier selection has increased overhead as compared to reactive carrier selection data in <FIG>, proactive carrier selection data reduces retransmission and increases reliability and throughput. As compared to base station initiated carrier selection with UE input as in <FIG>, the proactive carrier selection has reduced overhead and latency and increased throughput and reliability.

Referring to <FIG> illustrates a timing diagram <NUM> illustrating communications between a base station <NUM> and a UE <NUM>. Base station <NUM> may direct the UE <NUM> to operate in a UE aided carrier selection mode, such as provide channel quality information based on a determination performed at the UE. Thus, the UE decides when to transmit carrier selection data (e.g., channel quality information) and when to not transmit carrier selection data. In the example illustrated in <FIG>, the UE operates in a hybrid mode, that is, the UE determines to send carrier selection data proactively and/or reactively.

Referring to timing diagram <NUM>, two cycles, a first cycle <NUM> and as second cycle <NUM>, are illustrated for two frequency ranges (e.g., FR1 and FR2), a first frequency range <NUM> (e.g., FR2) and a second frequency range <NUM> (e.g., FR1). Also, two component carriers (CCs) are illustrated for each frequency range <NUM>, <NUM>. Specifically, the first frequency range <NUM> has a first CC <NUM> (e.g., CC1) and a second CC <NUM> (e.g., CC2), and the second frequency range <NUM> has a third CC <NUM> (e.g., CC3) and a fourth CC <NUM> (e.g., CC4).

The base station <NUM> transmits a PDSCH <NUM> (e.g., first PDSCH) via the first CC <NUM>. The PDSCH <NUM> may be signaled by the base station <NUM> by a corresponding PDCCH (not shown, such as PDCCH <NUM>) via first CC <NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, the UE <NUM> is not able to successfully receive and/or decode the PDSCH <NUM>. For example, there may be signal blockage on first CC <NUM>. In response to a PDSCH, such as PDSCH <NUM>, UE <NUM> may transmit an acknowledgment message. In the example of <FIG>, in response to not decoding PDSCH <NUM>, the UE <NUM> transmits a negative acknowledgment message (NACK) in PUCCH <NUM> (e.g., first PUCCH). The NACK may be included in an uplink control message, such as Uplink Control Information (UCI).

Responsive to receiving the NACK, the base station <NUM> determines to initiate retransmission of the PDSCH <NUM>. Base station <NUM> determines to retransmit a PDSCH <NUM> (e.g., second PDSCH or PDSCH retransmission) based on the carrier selection data. For example, base station <NUM> determines to retransmit the PDSCH <NUM> via the third CC <NUM> in the second frequency range <NUM>. The base station <NUM> signals the PDSCH <NUM> to the UE <NUM> by transmitting a PDCCH <NUM>. IN <FIG>, the PDCCH <NUM> is transmitted via the third CC <NUM>. In the example in <FIG>, the UE <NUM> successfully decodes the PDSCH <NUM> and transmits a second acknowledgment message in response via PUCCH <NUM> (e.g., second PUCCH). As illustrated in <FIG>, in response to decoding PDSCH <NUM>, the UE <NUM> sends a positive acknowledgment message (ACK) in PUCCH <NUM>. The ACK may be included in an uplink control message, such as a UCI. In some implementations, the UE <NUM> may not (e.g., may cease) including carrier selection data in the PUCCH <NUM>. To illustrate, the UE <NUM> ceases to include carrier selection data in subsequent PUCCHs after successful retransmission. In other implementations, the <NUM> may include carrier selection data in the PUCCH <NUM>. For example, the UE <NUM> may continue to include carrier selection data in subsequent PUCCHs after successful retransmission for X amount of cycles. The amount of cycles may be preprogramed or reconfigurable. As illustrative, non-limiting examples, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, etc., cycles may be used for X. Responsive to receiving the ACK, the base station <NUM> determines to not repeat retransmission of the PDSCH <NUM> (or not initiate retransmission of PDSCH <NUM>).

In a second cycle <NUM>, the base station <NUM> transmits a PDSCH <NUM> (e.g., third PDSCH) via the first CC <NUM>. The PDSCH <NUM> may be signaled by the base station <NUM> by a corresponding PDCCH (not shown, such as PDCCH <NUM>) via first CC <NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, the UE <NUM> is able to successfully receive and/or decode the PDSCH <NUM>. In response to a PDSCH, such as PDSCH <NUM>, UE <NUM> may transmit an acknowledgment message. In the example of <FIG>, in response to successfully decoding PDSCH <NUM>, the UE <NUM> transmits a positive acknowledgment message (ACK) in PUCCH <NUM> (e.g., third PUCCH). The ACK may be included in an uplink control message, such as a UCI.

Additionally, UE <NUM> determines whether or not to transmit carrier selection data (e.g., <NUM>) to the base station <NUM>, i.e., whether or not to generate and/or include the carrier selection data in PUCCH <NUM>, such as a UCI thereof. The UE <NUM> may determine whether or not to include carrier selection data as described above with reference to <FIG> or <FIG>.

Thus, <FIG> describes a hybrid mode where the UE can determine whether to include carrier selection data in an uplink message to the base station reactively, as in <FIG>, and proactively, as in <FIG>. Accordingly, the UE and the network can obtain the benefits of both modes, that is reduced latency overhead and increased throughput and reliability.

Additionally, in any of the UE aided carrier selection examples of <FIG>, the UE can still operate in a base station directed mode, as in <FIG>. For example, the UE can still send carrier selection data (e.g., channel quality information) responsive to a UE channel report request by a base station. As another example, the UE can always send carrier selection data (e.g., channel quality information) responsive to a signal message from a base station to always provide quality information. Accordingly, the carrier selection operations described herein offer more flexibility with reduced overhead and enable UE aided carrier selection such that carrier selection with UE input can be enabled for short cycle durations, such as in <NUM> and/or URLLC modes.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating example blocks executed by a UE configured according to an aspect of the present disclosure. The example blocks will also be described with respect to UE <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG> is a block diagram illustrating UE <NUM> configured according to one aspect of the present disclosure. UE <NUM> includes the structure, hardware, and components as illustrated for UE <NUM> of <FIG>. For example, UE <NUM> includes controller/processor <NUM>, which operates to execute logic or computer instructions stored in memory <NUM>, as well as controlling the components of UE <NUM> that provide the features and functionality of UE <NUM>. UE <NUM>, under control of controller/processor <NUM>, transmits and receives signals via wireless radios 1000a-r and antennas 252a-r. Wireless radios 1000a-r includes various components and hardware, as illustrated in <FIG> for UE <NUM>, including modulator/demodulators 254a-r, MIMO detector <NUM>, receive processor <NUM>, transmit processor <NUM>, and TX MIMO processor <NUM>.

At block <NUM>, a UE monitors a first component carrier (CC) of a plurality of CCs for a first channel. A UE, such as UE <NUM>, may execute, under control of controller/processor <NUM>, carrier selection logic <NUM>, stored in memory <NUM>. The execution environment of carrier selection logic <NUM> provides the functionality for UE <NUM> to define and perform the carrier selection procedures. The execution environment of carrier selection logic <NUM> defines the different carrier selection processes, such as determining whether to include carrier selection data in an uplink transmission and independent of signaling from the base station (e.g., gNB). UE <NUM> monitors for a downlink message via antennas 252a-r and wireless radios 1000a-r.

At block <NUM>, the UE determines, during monitoring, one or more channel measurements for a set of candidate CCs of the plurality of CCs. The execution environment of carrier selection logic <NUM> provides UE <NUM> the functionalities described with respect to the various aspects of the present disclosure. UE <NUM> may perform one or more channel measurement using wireless circuitry and/or channel measurement circuitry. Within the execution environment of carrier selection logic <NUM>, UE <NUM>, under control of controller/processor <NUM>, determines one or more channel measurements described above based on the energy received during monitoring. The UE <NUM> may monitor the channel used for the downlink transmission, other channels for a possible future retransmission, or a combination thereof.

At block <NUM>, the UE determines, based on a determination at the UE, whether to include carrier selection data in an uplink transmission, the carrier selection data based on one or more channel measurements. UE <NUM> may perform one or more determinations described above, such as in <FIG> and <FIG>, to determine whether or not to includes carrier selection data in an uplink message.

At block <NUM>, the UE transmits the carrier selection data in the uplink transmission. Once UE <NUM> determines to include the carrier selection data at block <NUM>, UE <NUM> may transmit the carrier selection data (e.g., <NUM>) in the uplink transmission for UE aided carrier selection via wireless radios 1000a-r and antennas 252a-r. Accordingly, the UE can assist the base station in determining when to include carrier selection data to reduce overhead and improve latency.

The UE <NUM> may execute additional blocks (or the UE <NUM> may be configured further perform additional operations) in other implementations. For example, the UE <NUM> may perform one or more operations described above. As another example, the UE <NUM> may perform and/or operate according to one or more aspects as described below.

In a first aspect, the first channel includes a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH), a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH), or both.

In a second aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the uplink transmission includes an acknowledgement for a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH).

In a third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the uplink transmission includes a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH), a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH), or both.

In a fourth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the determination at the UE includes a determination that a reception failure for the first channel occurred, that the channel quality of the first CC is below a certain threshold, or both.

In a fifth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the UE <NUM> transmits a negative acknowledgment (NACK) or uses discontinuous transmission (DTX) in an uplink transmission, wherein the reception failure is indicated by the NACK or the DTX in the uplink transmission.

In a sixth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, channel quality includes signal-to-noise-plus-interference ratio (SINR), reference signal received power (RSRP), or log likelihood ration (LLR).

In a seventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the channel measurements include signal-to-noise-plus-interference ratio (SINR), reference signal received power (RSRP) per CC, or both.

According to the invention as claimed, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the carrier selection data includes an indication of a preferred frequency range, a preferred frequency band, or both; or the carrier selection data includes an indication of a preferred CC type, wherein the preferred CC types includes a downlink only CC, an uplink only CC, or both a downlink and uplink CC; or the carrier selection data includes a request to suspend or resume scheduling on a particular CC, frequency band, or frequency range.

In a ninth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the carrier selection data includes an indication of one or more preferred CC indices.

In a twelfth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the carrier selection data includes information on quality of a frequency range, a frequency band, a CC, or a combination thereof.

In a thirteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the carrier selection data is used by a network entity to determine the set of CCs for a next transmission for the UE.

In a fourteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the next transmission comprises a downlink transmission or an uplink transmission.

In a fifteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the set of candidate CCs include the first CC.

In another aspect of the disclosure, a method of wireless communication includes monitoring, by a user equipment (UE) during a first cycle, a first component carrier (CC) of a plurality of CCs for a first Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH), determining, by the UE during monitoring, one or more channel measurements of the first CC, determining, by the UE during the first cycle and based on the one or more channel measurements, whether to include carrier selection data in an acknowledgement message corresponding to the first PDSCH, and transmitting, by the UE during the first cycle, the acknowledgement message including the carrier selection data in a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) via a second CC of the plurality of CCs.

In some such aspects, the UE receives, after transmitting the first acknowledgement message, a second PDSCH via a second CC of the plurality of CCs, where the first PDSCH and the second PDSCH have the same transport block (TB), the same code block group (CBG), or both.

In some such aspects, the carrier selection data includes CC quality data.

In some such aspects, the CC quality data includes RSRP, SINR, path loss, interference, noise level, decoding log likelihood ratio, estimated BLER of monitored CORESETs, power headroom, estimated RSRP, or a combination thereof.

In some such aspects, the carrier selection data includes UE preferences which it determined based on the one or more channel measurements.

In some such aspects, the UE preferences include a preferred frequency range, frequency band, CC for at least a next PDSCH.

In some such aspects, the carrier selection data includes an indication, and the indication is configured to direct a base station to use another CC for PDSCH transmission, to suspend PDSCH transmission on a current CC, to resume PDSCH transmission on a previous CC.

In some such aspects, the UE compares at least one channel measurement of the one or more channel measurements of the first CC to a threshold to determine the carrier selection data.

In some such aspects, the UE determines CC quality data based the one or more channel measurements of the first CC and one or more second channel measurements of the first CC, and compares the CC quality data to a threshold to determine the carrier selection data.

In some such aspects, the UE averages a plurality of channel measurements of the first CC including the channel measurement to generate an average channel measurement for the first CC, and compares the average channel measurement to a threshold.

In some such aspects, the UE, prior to transmitting acknowledgment message, determines a reception result corresponding to the first PDSCH, where: based on the reception result corresponding to successful decoding of the first PDSCH, the acknowledgement message includes an ACK; and based on the reception result corresponding to unsuccessful decoding of the first PDSCH, the acknowledgement message includes a NACK to indicate the first PDSCH was not successfully decoded.

In some such aspects, the UE, after transmitting the acknowledgment message, receives a second PDSCH, the second PDSCH transmitted based on the carrier selection data of the acknowledgment message, the second PDSCH corresponding to a retransmission of the first PDSCH.

In some such aspects, the UE, prior to transmitting the acknowledgment message, successfully decodes the first PDSCH, and the acknowledgement message includes an ACK to indicate the first PDSCH was successfully decoded.

In some such aspects, the UE, after transmitting the acknowledgment message, receives second PDSCH, the second PDSCH transmitted based on the carrier selection data of the acknowledgment message, the second PDSCH different from the first PDSCH.

In some such aspects, the first PDSCH is transmitted on a first frequency range, and the second PDSCH is received on a second frequency range different from the first frequency range.

In some such aspects, the UE operates in a first mode in the first cycle, and the UE, in a second cycle, operates in a second mode different from the first mode, and the first mode includes one of a proactive mode or a reactive mode and the second mode includes the other of the proactive mode or the reactive mode.

In some such aspects, the carrier selection data is of a first type, and the UE transmits second carrier selection data for a second cycle, the second carrier selection data of a second type different from the first type.

In some such aspects, the UE, prior to receiving the first PDSCH, transmits a message indicating that the UE is configured for UE assisted fast CC selection.

In some such aspects, the message indicates a UE assisted fast CC selection type.

In some such aspects, the UE, responsive to transmitting the message, receives configuration message indicating a UE assisted fast CC selection type.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating example blocks executed by a base station configured according to an aspect of the present disclosure. The example blocks will also be described with respect to gNB <NUM> (or eNB) as illustrated in <FIG> is a block diagram illustrating gNB <NUM> configured according to one aspect of the present disclosure. The gNB <NUM> includes the structure, hardware, and components as illustrated for gNB <NUM> of <FIG>. For example, gNB <NUM> includes controller/processor <NUM>, which operates to execute logic or computer instructions stored in memory <NUM>, as well as controlling the components of gNB <NUM> that provide the features and functionality of gNB <NUM>. The gNB <NUM>, under control of controller/processor <NUM>, transmits and receives signals via wireless radios 1100a-t and antennas 234a-r. Wireless radios 1100a-t includes various components and hardware, as illustrated in <FIG> for gNB <NUM>, including modulator/demodulators 232a-t, MIMO detector <NUM>, receive processor <NUM>, transmit processor <NUM>, and TX MIMO processor <NUM>.

At block <NUM>, a gNB transmits a first transmission via a first component carrier (CC) of a plurality of CCs for a first channel. A gNB, such as gNB <NUM>, may execute, under control of controller/processor <NUM>, carrier selection logic <NUM>, stored in memory <NUM>. The execution environment of carrier selection logic <NUM> provides the functionality for gNB <NUM> to define and perform the carrier selection procedures. The blocks <NUM>-<NUM> may include or correspond to blocks <NUM>-<NUM>, respectively.

The execution environment of carrier selection logic <NUM> defines the different carrier selection, generates control information related to the carrier selection, such as in selecting a physical channel for transmission. As gNB <NUM> generates and transmits the first transmission (e.g., a downlink message) via antennas 234a-t and wireless radios 1100a-t. Within the execution environment of the carrier selection logic <NUM>, gNB <NUM>, under control of controller/processor <NUM>, encodes the first transmission for transmission via a selected physical channel.

At block <NUM>, the gNB receives, from a UE operating in a UE aided carrier selection mode, carrier selection data in an uplink transmission, the carrier selection data corresponding to the first transmission. The execution environment of the carrier selection logic <NUM> provides gNB <NUM> the functionalities described with respect to the various aspects of the present disclosure. The gNB <NUM> may receive the uplink transmission, such as acknowledgement feedback (e.g., ACK or NACK) or a DTX (e.g., radio silence), for or corresponding the first transmission via wireless radios 1100a-t and antennas 234a-t. The carrier selection data was included in the uplink transmission based on a determination by the UE and independent of a UE report request and an always report mode. Accordingly, a gNB can transmit a retransmission based on the carrier selection data, such as in instances when the first transmission was not successfully received and decoded by the UE. To illustrate, the carrier selection data is used by the gNB to select a physical channel for retransmission. Therefore, latency and overhead can be reduced by using the UE to determine when to send the carrier selection data.

The base station <NUM> may execute additional blocks (or the base station <NUM> may be configured further perform additional operations) in other implementations. For example, the base station <NUM> may perform one or more operations described above. As another example, the UE <NUM> may perform and/or operate according to one or more aspects as described below.

In a third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, uplink transmission includes a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH), a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH), or both.

In a fourth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, when in a UE aided carrier selection mode, the UE determines one or more channel measurements for a set of candidate CCs of the plurality of CCs; the carrier selection data based on the one or more channel measurement, and the UE determines whether to include carrier selection data in the uplink transmission based on a UE determination.

In a fifth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the UE determination includes a reception failure for the first channel, the channel quality of the first CC is below a certain threshold, or both.

In a sixth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the base station <NUM> receives a negative acknowledgment (NACK) or a discontinuous transmission (DTX) in an uplink transmission, wherein the reception failure is indicated by the NACK or the DTX in the uplink transmission. Receiving a DTX may correspond to receiving no signal (e.g., message or data) during an uplink transmission window/opportunity.

In a seventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the channel quality includes signal-to-noise-plus-interference ratio (SINR), reference signal received power (RSRP), or log likelihood ration (LLR).

In an eighth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the channel measurements include signal-to-noise-plus-interference ratio (SINR), reference signal received power (RSRP) per CC, or both.

In a ninth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the carrier selection data includes an indication of a preferred frequency range, a preferred frequency band, or both.

In a tenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the carrier selection data includes an indication of one or more preferred CC indices.

In an eleventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the carrier selection data includes an indication of a preferred CC type, wherein the preferred CC types includes a downlink only CC, an uplink only CC, or both a downlink and uplink CC.

In a thirteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the carrier selection data includes a request to suspend or resume scheduling on a particular CC, frequency band, or frequency range.

In a fourteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the carrier selection data includes information on quality of a frequency range, a frequency band, a CC, or a combination thereof.

In a fifteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the carrier selection data is used by the base station to determine a set of CCs for a next transmission for the UE.

In a sixteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the next transmission comprises a downlink transmission or an uplink transmission.

In a seventeenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the set of candidate CCs includes the first CC.

In another aspect of the disclosure, a method of wireless communication includes transmitting, by a base station, a first Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) via a first component carrier (CC) of a plurality of CCs, and receiving, by the base station from a UE operating in a UE aided carrier selection mode, an acknowledgement message (e.g., ACK or NACK of A/N) for the first PDSCH in a corresponding Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) of a second CC of the plurality of CCs, the acknowledgement message including carrier selection data for the first CC, the carrier selection data based on one or more channel measurements of the first CC by a user equipment (UE).

In some such aspects, the first PDSCH and the second PDSCH have the same TB, the same CBG, or both.

In some such aspects, the carrier selection data includes UE preferences which it determined based one or more channel measurements by the UE.

In some such aspects, the carrier selection data includes instantons carrier selection criteria.

In some such aspects, the carrier selection data includes carrier selection criteria over a period of time.

In some such aspects, the carrier selection data includes averaged carrier selection criteria over a period of time.

In some such aspects, the acknowledgement message includes a NACK to indicate the first PDSCH was not successfully decoded.

In some such aspects, the base station, after receiving the NACK, transmits a second PDSCH, the second PDSCH transmitted based on the carrier selection data of the acknowledgment message, the second PDSCH corresponding to a retransmission of the first PDSCH.

In some such aspects, the acknowledgement message includes an ACK to indicate the first PDSCH was successfully decoded.

In some such aspects, the base station, after receiving the ACK, transmits a second PDSCH, the second PDSCH transmitted based on the carrier selection data of the acknowledgment message.

In some such aspects, the base station operates in a first mode in the first cycle, and the base station, in a second cycle, operates in a second mode different from the first mode, and the first mode includes one of a proactive mode or a reactive mode and the second mode includes the other of the proactive mode or the reactive mode.

In some such aspects, the carrier selection data is of a first type, and the base station further receives second carrier selection data for a second cycle, the second carrier selection data of a second type different from the first type.

In some such aspects, the base station, prior to receiving the first PDSCH, receives a message indicating that the UE is configured for UE assisted fast CC selection.

In some such aspects, the base station, responsive to receiving the message, transmits a configuration message indicating a UE assisted fast CC selection type.

In another aspect of the disclosure, a method of wireless communication includes transmitting, by a base station operating in a user equipment (UE) assisted mode, a first Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) via a first component carrier (CC) of a plurality of CCs; and receiving, by the base station from a UE, an acknowledgement message (e.g., ACK or NACK of A/N) for the first PDSCH in a corresponding Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) of a second CC of the plurality of CCs, the acknowledgement message including carrier selection data for the first CC, the carrier selection data a preferred frequency range, a preferred frequency band, a preferred CC, a request to suspend or request scheduling on a frequency range or band, or a quality indicator of a frequency range or band; and transmitting, by the base station to the UE, a next subsequent PDSCH via a second CC of the plurality of CCs selected based on the carrier selection data.

The functional blocks and modules described herein (e.g., the functional blocks and modules in <FIG>) may comprise processors, electronics devices, hardware devices, electronics components, logical circuits, memories, software codes, firmware codes, etc., or any combination thereof.

Those of skill would further appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps (e.g., the logical blocks in <FIG>) described in connection with the disclosure herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both.

Disk and disc, as used herein, includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), hard disk, solid state disk, and blu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers.

Claim 1:
A method of wireless communication comprising:
monitoring, by a user equipment, UE, a first component carrier, CC, of a plurality of CCs for a first channel;
determining, by the UE during monitoring, one or more channel measurements for a set of candidate CCs of the plurality of CCs;
determining, by the UE based on a determination at the UE, whether to include carrier selection data in an uplink transmission, the carrier selection data based on one or more channel measurements; and
transmitting, by the UE, the carrier selection data in the uplink transmission,
characterized in that:
i) the carrier selection data includes an indication of a preferred frequency range, a preferred frequency band, or both; or
ii) the carrier selection data includes an indication of a preferred CC type, wherein the preferred CC types includes a downlink only CC, an uplink only CC, or both a downlink and uplink CC; or
iii) the carrier selection data includes a request to suspend or resume scheduling on a particular CC, frequency band, or frequency range.