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

To meet the growing demands for expanded mobile broadband connectivity, wireless communication technologies are advancing from the LTE technology to a next generation new radio (NR) technology. NR may provision for dynamic medium sharing among network operators in a licensed spectrum, a shared spectrum, and/or an unlicensed spectrum. For example, shared spectrums and/or unlicensed spectrums may include frequency bands at about <NUM> gigahertz (GHz), about <NUM>, and about <NUM>.

Some spectrums may have certain power spectral density (PSD) requirements. For example, the European Telecommunications Standard Institute (ETSI) document EN <NUM><NUM> V2. <NUM> specifies various PSD limits for sub-<NUM> frequency bands and the ETSI draft document EN <NUM><NUM> V2. <NUM> specifies a maximum equivalent isotropic radiated power (EIRP) and an EIRP density for <NUM> frequency bands. Some other frequency bands, such as citizens broadband radio service (CBRS) bands at about <NUM>, may not restrict transmissions to a particular PSD limit. In general, different spectrums may have different PSD requirements and/or different bandwidth occupancy requirements.

One approach to meeting the PSD requirement of a frequency spectrum and allowing a wireless communication device to transmit in the frequency spectrum at a full transmit power is to spread the frequency occupancy of a transmission signal over a wider bandwidth. However, the spreading of the frequency occupancy reduces the number of wireless communication devices that can be frequency-multiplexed in the frequency spectrum.

Techniques described herein may be used for various wireless communication networks such as code-division multiple access (CDMA), time-division multiple access (TDMA), frequency-division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA), single-carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA) and other networks. An OFDMA network may implement a radio technology such as Evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE <NUM> (Wi-Fi), IEEE <NUM> (WiMAX), IEEE <NUM>, Flash-OFDMA, etc. UTRA and E-UTRA are part of Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS). 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) and LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) are new releases of UMTS that use E-UTRA. The techniques described herein may be used for the wireless networks and radio technologies mentioned above as well as other wireless networks and radio technologies, such as a next generation (e.g., 5th Generation (<NUM>) or new radio (NR) operating in mmWave bands) network.

In a wireless network, a base station (BS) may serve one or more UEs. Each UE may transmit uplink (UL) control information to a serving BS to facilitate scheduling at the BS. UL refers to the transmission direction from a UE to a BS. UL control channel information may include scheduling requests (SRs), channel status information, and message acknowledgements. Channel status information may include channel quality information (CQI), channel state information (CSI), pre-coding matrix indicators (PMIs), and/or rank indicators (RIs). Message acknowledgements may include hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) acknowledgements/not-acknowledgments (ACKs/NAKs).

In the context of LTE or NR, UL control information may be carried in a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH). NR may define various PUCCH formats for carrying UL control information of different types and/or different sizes and may support multiplexing for some PUCCH formats. For example, NR may include a PUCCH format <NUM>, a PUCCH format <NUM>, a PUCCH format <NUM>, a PUCCH format <NUM>, and a PUCCH format <NUM>. In some instances, a PUCCH signal may carry uplink control information (UCI) and a demodulation reference signal (DMRS), which may facilitate channel estimation and UCI decoding at the BS.

In NR, a short PUCCH format <NUM> may span a duration of about one orthogonal frequency-division multiple (OFDM) symbol or about two OFDM symbols and may carry two or less uplink control information (UCI) bits. A long PUCCH format <NUM> may have a duration between about four OFDM symbols and about fourteen OFDM symbols and may carry two or less UCI bits. A short PUCCH format <NUM> may have a duration between about four OFDM symbols and about fourteen OFDM symbols and may carry more than two UCI bits. A long PUCCH format <NUM> may have a duration between about four OFDM symbols and about fourteen OFDM symbols and may carry UCI with a moderate-sized payload (e.g., including between about <NUM> and about N bits, where N is positive integer). A long PUCCH format <NUM> may have a duration between about four OFDM symbols and about fourteen OFDM symbols and may carry UCI with a large-sized payload (e.g., including greater than about N bits). NR may support multiplexing of different UEs on the same frequency resources for some of the PUCCH formats (e.g., formats <NUM> and <NUM>).

As described above, some frequency spectrum such as a shared spectrum or an unlicensed spectrum may have a certain PSD requirement. To meet the PSD requirement, a UE may only be able to transmit up to a certain maximum power depending on the signal bandwidth. In order to transmit at a higher power for a better power utilization, a UE may increase the frequency occupancy of a signal transmission by spreading the signal transmission over a wider bandwidth, for example, by using frequency interlaces. However, the spreading reduces frequency-multiplexing capacity.

The present application describes mechanisms for scheduling and/or multiplexing uplink control channel signals from multiple UEs in a shared spectrum including a PSD requirement. The disclosed embodiments employ various multiplexing schemes to improve PUCCH multiplexing capacity when using frequency interlaces. The disclosed embodiments may employ time-domain code-division multiplexing (CDM), frequency-domain CDM, spatial-division multiplexing (SDM), and/or frequency multiplexing with cyclic-shift separation to multiplex PUCCH transmissions from different UEs on the same time-frequency resources (e.g., within a frequency interlace). The multiplexing schemes may be selected based on the PUCCH formats. In addition, the disclosed embodiments may assign a UE with a fraction of frequency interlace, for example, based on a PSD requirement and/or link parameters (e.g., link budgets).

In an embodiment, transmissions of PUCCH formats <NUM> and <NUM> with a duration of two symbols from different UEs can be multiplexed by using time-domain CDM, for example, by applying orthogonal cover codes (OCCs) or orthogonal time spreading sequences across single-carrier symbols.

In an embodiment, transmissions of PUCCH format <NUM> with a duration of one or two symbols from different UEs can be multiplexed by separately multiplexing DMRSs and UCI of different UEs. For example, DMRSs of different UEs can be multiplexed using frequency-domain CDM, for example, by applying frequency orthogonal cover codes (OCCs) or orthogonal frequency spreading sequences across frequency subcarriers or tones. UCI of different UEs can be multiplexed using frequency-domain CDM or SDM.

In an embodiment, transmissions of PUCCH formats <NUM> and <NUM> from different UEs can be multiplexed using time-domain CDM or SDM. In an embodiment, transmissions of PUCCH format <NUM> from different UEs can be multiplexed using cyclic-shift separation, for example, by applying cyclically-shifted sequences (e.g., a constant amplitude zero-autocorrelation (CAZAC) sequence) to pre-discrete Fourier transform (pre-DFT) modulation symbols.

Aspects of the present application can provide several benefits. For example, NR may not support multiplexing for PUCCH formats <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> and may provide a moderate multiplexing capacity (e.g., up to about four UEs) for PUCCH format <NUM> and high multiplexing capacity (e.g., up to about <NUM> UEs) for PUCCH format <NUM>. The use of time-domain CDM for PUCCH formats <NUM> and <NUM> and the use of frequency-domain CDM and SDM for PUCCH format <NUM> can improve spectrum utilization efficiency when using frequency interlaces. The use of time-domain CDM for PUCCH formats <NUM> and <NUM> can increase the number of multiplexing UEs to about six. The use of frequency multiplexing with cyclic-shift separation for PUCCH format <NUM> can further increase UE multiplexing capacity.

<FIG> illustrates a wireless communication network <NUM> according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The network <NUM> includes BSs <NUM>, UEs <NUM>, and a core network <NUM>. In some embodiments, the network <NUM> operates over a shared spectrum. The shared spectrum may be unlicensed or partially licensed to one or more network operators. Access to the spectrum may be limited and may be controlled by a separate coordination entity. In some embodiments, the network <NUM> may be a LTE or LTE-A network. In yet other embodiments, the network <NUM> may be a millimeter wave (mmW) network, a new radio (NR) network, a <NUM> network, or any other successor network to LTE. The network <NUM> may be operated by more than one network operator. Wireless resources may be partitioned and arbitrated among the different network operators for coordinated communication between the network operators over the network <NUM>.

The BSs <NUM> may wirelessly communicate with the UEs <NUM> via one or more BS antennas. Each BS <NUM> may provide communication coverage for a respective geographic coverage area <NUM>. In 3GPP, the term "cell" can refer to this particular geographic coverage area of a BS and/or a BS subsystem serving the coverage area, depending on the context in which the term is used. In this regard, a BS <NUM> may provide communication coverage for a macro cell, a pico cell, a femto cell, and/or other types of cell. A pico cell may generally cover a relatively smaller geographic area and may allow unrestricted access by UEs with service subscriptions with the network provider. A femto cell may also generally cover a relatively small geographic area (e.g., a home) and, in addition to unrestricted access, may also provide restricted access by UEs having an association with the femto cell (e.g., UEs in a closed subscriber group (CSG), UEs for users in the home, and the like). In the example shown in <FIG>, the BSs 105a, 105b and 105c are examples of macro BSs for the coverage areas 110a, 110b and 110c, respectively. The BSs 105d is an example of a pico BS or a femto BS for the coverage area 110d. As will be recognized, a BS <NUM> may support one or multiple (e.g., two, three, four, and the like) cells.

Communication links <NUM> shown in the network <NUM> may include uplink (UL) transmissions from a UE <NUM> to a BS <NUM>, or downlink (DL) transmissions, from a BS <NUM> to a UE <NUM>. The UEs <NUM> may be dispersed throughout the network <NUM>, and each UE <NUM> may be stationary or mobile. A UE <NUM> may also be referred to as a mobile station, 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, a mobile terminal, a wireless terminal, a remote terminal, a handset, a user agent, a mobile client, a client, or some other suitable terminology. A UE <NUM> may also be a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless modem, a wireless communication device, a handheld device, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a cordless phone, a personal electronic device, a handheld device, a personal computer, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, an Internet of things (IoT) device, an Internet of Everything (IoE) device, a machine type communication (MTC) device, an appliance, an automobile, or the like.

The BSs <NUM> may communicate with the core network <NUM> and with one another. At least some of the BSs <NUM> (e.g., which may be an example of an evolved NodeB (eNB), a next generation NodeB (gNB), or an access node controller (ANC)) may interface with the core network <NUM> through backhaul links <NUM> (e.g., S1, S2, etc.) and may perform radio configuration and scheduling for communication with the UEs <NUM>. In various examples, the BSs <NUM> may communicate, either directly or indirectly (e.g., through core network <NUM>), with each other over backhaul links <NUM> (e.g., X1, X2, etc.), which may be wired or wireless communication links.

Each BS <NUM> may also communicate with a number of UEs <NUM> through a number of other BSs <NUM>, where the BS <NUM> may be an example of a smart radio head. In alternative configurations, various functions of each BS <NUM> may be distributed across various BSs <NUM> (e.g., radio heads and access network controllers) or consolidated into a single BS <NUM>.

In some implementations, the network <NUM> utilizes orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) on the downlink and single-carrier frequency division multiplexing (SC-FDM) on the UL. OFDM and SC-FDM partition the system bandwidth into multiple (K) orthogonal subcarriers, which are also commonly referred to as tones, bins, or the like. Each subcarrier may be modulated with data.

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

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

In an embodiment, the BSs <NUM> can transmit synchronization signals (e.g., including a primary synchronization signal (PSS) and a secondary synchronization signal (SSS)) in the network <NUM> to facilitate synchronization. The BSs <NUM> can broadcast system information associated with the network <NUM> (e.g., including a master information block (MIB), remaining minimum system information (RMSI), and other system information (OSI)) to facilitate initial network access.

In an embodiment, a UE <NUM> attempting to access the network <NUM> may perform an initial cell search by detecting a PSS from a BS <NUM>. The PSS may enable synchronization of period timing and may indicate a physical layer identity value. The UE <NUM> may then receive a SSS. The SSS may enable radio frame synchronization, and may provide a cell identity value, which may be combined with the physical layer identity value to identify the cell. The SSS may also enable detection of a duplexing mode and a cyclic prefix length. Some systems, such as TDD systems, may transmit an SSS but not a PSS. Both the PSS and the SSS may be located in a central portion of a carrier, respectively.

After receiving the PSS and SSS, the UE <NUM> may receive a MIB, which may be transmitted in the physical broadcast channel (PBCH). The MIB may include system information for initial network access and scheduling information for RMSI and/or OSI. After decoding the MIB, the UE <NUM> may receive RMSI and/or OSI. The RMSI and/or OSI may include radio resource configuration (RRC) configuration information related to random access channel (RACH) procedures, paging, physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), power control, SRS, and cell barring. After obtaining the MIB and/or the SIBs, the UE <NUM> can perform random access procedures to establish a connection with the BS <NUM>. After establishing the connection, the UE <NUM> and the BS <NUM> can enter a normal operation stage, where operational data may be exchanged.

During the normal operation stage, the UE <NUM> may transmit UL control information to a BS <NUM> over a PUCCH. The BS <NUM> may schedule the UE <NUM> for UL transmissions based on the received UL control information. In some instances, a BS <NUM> may assign multiple UEs <NUM> with the same PUCCH resources (e.g., time-frequency resources), using various multiplexing schemes as described in greater detail herein.

In an embodiment, the network <NUM> may operate over various frequency bands, for example, in frequency ranges between about <NUM> to above <NUM>. Different frequency bands may have different PSD requirements. For example, certain frequency bands may have a maximum allowable PSD level of about <NUM> decibel-milliwatts per megahertz (dBm/MHz) to about <NUM> dBm/MHz. Thus, a transmitter having a full power of about <NUM> dBm may or may not be able to utilize the full power for a signal transmission depending on the signal frequency bandwidth. To satisfy a certain PSD requirement in a frequency spectrum, a transmitter (e.g., the BSs <NUM> and the UEs <NUM>) may distribute the frequency occupancy of a transmission signal over a wider bandwidth. For example, a transmitter may transmit a signal over multiple narrow frequency bands spaced apart from each other in a frequency bandwidth at a higher power than transmitting the signal over contiguous frequencies, as described in greater detail herein.

<FIG> illustrates a resource configuration scheme <NUM> with frequency interlaces according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The scheme <NUM> may be employed by BSs such as the BSs <NUM> and UEs such as the UEs <NUM> to communicate over a frequency spectrum <NUM>. The frequency spectrum <NUM> may have a bandwidth of about <NUM> megahertz (MHz) or about <NUM> and a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of about <NUM> kilohertz (kHz), about <NUM>, or about <NUM>. The frequency spectrum <NUM> may be located at any suitable frequencies. In some embodiments, the frequency spectrum <NUM> may be located at about <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>. The scheme <NUM> allocates resources in units of frequency interlaces <NUM>.

The frequency interlaces are shown as <NUM>I(<NUM>) to <NUM>(M-<NUM>), where M is a positive integer. Each frequency interlace <NUM> may include K plurality of RBs <NUM> evenly spaced over the frequency spectrum <NUM>, where K is a positive integer. In other words, the RBs <NUM> in a particular frequency interlace <NUM>I(i) are spaced apart from each other by at least one other RB <NUM>, where i may vary between <NUM> and M-<NUM>. The values of K and M may vary based on several factors, such as the bandwidth, the SCS, and/or the PSD limitation of the frequency spectrum <NUM>, as described in greater detail herein. In an embodiment, the frequency interlace <NUM>I(<NUM>) may be assigned to one UE and the frequency interlace <NUM>I(<NUM>) may be assigned to another UE. As an example, an allocation using the frequency interlace <NUM>I(<NUM>) are shown as patterned boxes.

A group of M localized RBs <NUM> forms a cluster <NUM>. As shown, the frequency interlaces <NUM>I(<NUM>) to <NUM>(M-<NUM>) form K clusters <NUM>C(<NUM>) to <NUM>C(K-<NUM>). Each RB <NUM> may span about twelve contiguous subcarriers <NUM> in frequency and a time period <NUM>. The subcarriers <NUM> are indexed from <NUM> to <NUM>. The time period <NUM> may span any suitable number of OFDM symbols <NUM>. In some embodiments, the time period <NUM> may correspond to one transmission time interval (TTI), which may include about fourteen OFDM symbols <NUM>.

The number of clusters <NUM> or the value of K may be dependent on the amount of frequency distribution required to maintain a certain PSD level. As an example, the scheme <NUM> may divide the frequency spectrum <NUM> into about ten clusters <NUM> (e.g., K = <NUM>) and distribute an allocation over the ten clusters <NUM> to increase a frequency occupancy of the allocation. In an embodiment, the frequency spectrum <NUM> may have a bandwidth of about <NUM> and each subcarrier <NUM> may span about <NUM> in frequency. In such an embodiment, the frequency spectrum <NUM> may include about ten frequency interlaces <NUM> (e.g., M = <NUM>). For example, an allocation may include one frequency interlace <NUM> having ten distributed or equally spaced RBs <NUM>. Compared to an allocation with a single RB or ten localized RBs, the interlaced allocation with the ten distributed RBs <NUM> allows a UE to transmit at a higher power while maintaining the same PSD level.

In another embodiment, the frequency spectrum <NUM> may have a bandwidth of about <NUM> and each subcarrier <NUM> may span about <NUM> in frequency. In such an embodiment, the frequency spectrum <NUM> may include about five frequency interlaces <NUM> (e.g., M = <NUM>). Similarly, an allocation may include one frequency interlace <NUM> having ten distributed RBs <NUM>. The interlaced allocation with the ten distributed RBs may allow for better power utilization than an allocation with a single RB or ten localized RBs at the same PSD level.

In another embodiment, the frequency spectrum <NUM> may have a bandwidth of about <NUM> and each subcarrier <NUM> may span about <NUM> in frequency. In such an embodiment, the frequency spectrum <NUM> may include about five frequency interlaces <NUM> (e.g., M = <NUM>). Similarly, an allocation may include one frequency interlace <NUM> having ten distributed RBs <NUM>. The interlaced allocation with the ten distributed RBs may allow for better power utilization than an allocation with a single RB or ten localized RBs at the same PSD level.

The use of frequency interlacing to distribute an allocation into a wider bandwidth allows a transmitter to transmit at a higher power level than when an allocation occupies contiguous frequencies. As an example, the frequency spectrum <NUM> may have a maximum allowable PSD level of about <NUM> dBm/MHz and a transmitter (e.g., the UEs <NUM>) may have a power amplifier (PA) capable of transmitting at about <NUM> dBm. Distributing frequency occupancy of an allocation into five clusters <NUM> may allow the transmitter to transmit at about <NUM> dBm (e.g., with a power boost of about <NUM> dB) while maintaining a PSD level of about <NUM> dBm/MHz. Distributing frequency occupancy of an allocation into ten clusters <NUM> may allow the transmitter to transmit at a full power of about <NUM> dBm (e.g., with a power boost of about <NUM> dB) while maintaining a PSD level of about <NUM> dBm/MHz. Thus, the use of frequency interlacing can provide better power utilization.

In an embodiment, the scheme <NUM> may be applied to a PUCCH to provide a power boost at a transmitter (e.g., the UEs <NUM>). For example, one RB <NUM> may be sufficient to carry UCI of a particular PUCCH format signal. However, in order to meet the PSD requirement, a UE may extend the frequency occupancy of the PUCCH signal from one RB <NUM> to K RBs <NUM> by transmitting the PUCCH signal using one frequency interlace <NUM>. However, the number of UEs that can be multiplexed over the frequency spectrum <NUM> for PUCCH signal transmissions may be reduced by a factor of about K. Mechanisms for increasing the multiplexing capacity while using frequency interlaces <NUM> for PUCCH transmissions are described in greater detail herein.

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

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

The UL control channel processing module <NUM> may be implemented via hardware, software, or combinations thereof. For example, the UL control channel processing module <NUM> may be implemented as a processor, circuit, and/or instructions <NUM> stored in the memory <NUM> and executed by the processor <NUM>. The UL control channel processing module <NUM> may be used for various aspects of the present disclosure. For example, the UL control channel processing module <NUM> is configured to receive an uplink control channel resource and/or multiplex configurations from a BS (e.g., the BSs <NUM>) and transmit uplink control channel signals based on the received configurations. The multiplexing configurations can include time-domain CDM, frequency-domain CDM, SDM, and/or frequency multiplexing with cyclic-shift separation and the resources can include frequency interlaces (e.g., the frequency interlaces <NUM>) or a fraction of a frequency interlace, as described in greater detail herein.

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

The RF unit <NUM> may provide the modulated and/or processed data, e.g. data packets (or, more generally, data messages that may contain one or more data packets and other information), to the antennas <NUM> for transmission to one or more other devices. This may include, for example, transmission of communication signals using frequency interlaces (e.g., the frequency interlaces <NUM>) in coordination with various multiplexing schemes, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The antennas <NUM> may further receive data messages transmitted from other devices. The antennas <NUM> may provide the received data messages for processing and/or demodulation at the transceiver <NUM>. The antennas <NUM> may include multiple antennas of similar or different designs in order to sustain multiple transmission links. The RF unit <NUM> may configure the antennas <NUM>.

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

The UL control channel scheduling and processing module <NUM> may be implemented via hardware, software, or combinations thereof. For example, the UL control channel scheduling and processing module <NUM> may be implemented as a processor, circuit, and/or instructions <NUM> stored in the memory <NUM> and executed by the processor <NUM>. The UL control channel scheduling and processing module <NUM> may be used for various aspects of the present disclosure. For example, the UL control channel scheduling and processing module <NUM> is configured to assign and schedule UL control channel resources and multiplexing configurations for UEs (e.g., the UEs <NUM> and <NUM>) to transmit uplink control channel signals and receive uplink control channel signals from the UEs based on the assignments. The UL control channel resources can include frequency interlaces (e.g., the frequency interlaces <NUM>) and the multiplexing configurations can include time-domain CDM, frequency-domain CDM, SDM, and/or frequency multiplexing with cyclic-shift separation, as described in greater detail herein. , as described in greater detail herein.

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

The RF unit <NUM> may provide the modulated and/or processed data, e.g. data packets (or, more generally, data messages that may contain one or more data packets and other information), to the antennas <NUM> for transmission to one or more other devices. This may include, for example, transmission of information to complete attachment to a network and communication with a camped UE <NUM> or <NUM> according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The antennas <NUM> may further receive data messages transmitted from other devices and provide the received data messages for processing and/or demodulation at the transceiver <NUM>. The antennas <NUM> may include multiple antennas of similar or different designs in order to sustain multiple transmission links.

<FIG> illustrate various mechanisms for multiplexing PUCCH signals from different UEs (e.g., the UEs <NUM> and <NUM>) on the same resources (e.g., the frequency interlaces <NUM>). In <FIG>, the x-axes represent time in some constant units and the y-axes represent frequency in some constant units. For simplicity of discussions, <FIG> illustrate multiplexing between two UEs (e.g., a UE A and a UE B) on one RB <NUM>. However, the embodiments of the present disclosure may scale to multiplex any suitable number of UEs (e.g., about <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or more than <NUM>) on any suitable number of RBs <NUM> (e.g., between about <NUM> to about <NUM>) within a frequency interlace <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an uplink control channel multiplexing scheme <NUM> for short PUCCH signals <NUM> of format <NUM> according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The scheme <NUM> may be employed by UEs such as the UEs <NUM> and <NUM> and BSs such as the BSs <NUM> and <NUM>. A short PUCCH signal <NUM> may carry UCI (e.g., CQI, SR, and HARQ ACK/NAK). In some instances, the UCI may be represented by different sequences. For example, a UE may transmit one sequence to indicate an ACK and another sequence to indicate an NAK. The scheme <NUM> multiplexes short PUCCH signals <NUM> with a duration of two symbols <NUM> from different UEs (e.g., the UE A and the UE B) on the same resource (e.g., the frequency interlace <NUM>) by applying time-domain CDM across symbols <NUM> as shown by the arrow <NUM>.

For example, a BS may schedule the UE A and the UE B to transmit on the same RB <NUM>. The BS may assign the UE A with a time spreading sequence <NUM> and may assign the UE B with a time spreading sequence <NUM> orthogonal to the time spreading sequence <NUM>. The time spreading sequences <NUM> and <NUM> may be defined based on Walsh codes. In an embodiment, the time spreading sequence <NUM> may include a first code, denoted as {+}, and a second code, denoted as {+}, and the time spreading sequence <NUM> may include a first code, denoted as {+}, and a second code, denoted as {-}. The orthogonal time spreading sequences <NUM> and <NUM> enable a BS to distinguish PUCCH format <NUM> transmissions of the UE A from PUCCH format <NUM> transmissions of the UE B.

When the UE A transmits a short PUCCH signal <NUM> on the RB <NUM>, the UE A applies the time spreading sequence <NUM> to the PUCCH signal <NUM> as shown by the signal <NUM> and transmits the signal <NUM> on the RB <NUM>. For example, the UE A may multiply the first symbol <NUM>(i) with the first code {+} of the time spreading sequence <NUM> and multiply the second symbol <NUM>(<NUM>) with the second code {+} of the time spreading sequence <NUM>.

When the UE B transmits a short PUCCH signal <NUM> on the RB <NUM>, the UE B may apply the time spreading sequence <NUM> to the PUCCH signal <NUM> as shown by the signal <NUM> and transmits the signal <NUM> on the RB <NUM>. For example, the UE B may multiply the first symbol <NUM> with the first code {+} of the time spreading sequence <NUM> and multiply the second symbol <NUM> with the second code {-} of the time spreading sequence <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an uplink control channel multiplexing scheme <NUM> for short PUCCH signals <NUM> of format <NUM> according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The scheme <NUM> may be employed by UEs such as the UEs <NUM> and <NUM> and BSs such as the BSs <NUM> and <NUM>. The scheme <NUM> is substantially similar to the scheme <NUM>, but illustrates the multiplexing of PUCCH format <NUM> instead of PUCCH format <NUM>.

A short PUCCH signal <NUM> may include UCI <NUM> and a DMRS <NUM>. As shown, the UCI <NUM> may be mapped to subcarriers <NUM> indexed <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, and the DMRS <NUM> may be mapped to subcarriers <NUM> indexed <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. In some embodiments, the DMRS <NUM> and the UCI <NUM> may be alternatively mapped to the subcarriers <NUM> to achieve similar functionalities. The UCI <NUM> may carry information such as CQI, SR, and HARQ ACK/NAK. The DMRS <NUM> may be include a predetermined sequence and may be referred to as a pilot signal. The DMRS <NUM> allows a receiver (e.g., the BSs <NUM>) to determine a channel estimate for decoding the UCI <NUM>.

Similar to the scheme <NUM>, a BS may assign a time spreading sequence <NUM> to the UE A and a time spreading sequence <NUM> to the UE B. When the UE A transmits a short PUCCH signal <NUM> on the RB <NUM>, the UE A applies the time spreading sequence <NUM> to the PUCCH signal <NUM> as shown by the signal <NUM> and transmits the signal <NUM> on the RB <NUM>. When the UE B transmits a short PUCCH signal <NUM> on the RB <NUM>, the UE B may apply the time spreading sequence <NUM> to the PUCCH signal <NUM> as shown by the signal <NUM> and transmits the signal <NUM> on the RB <NUM>.

While the scheme <NUM> illustrates multiplexing of short PUCCH signals <NUM> from different UEs and the scheme <NUM> illustrates multiplexing of short PUCCH signals <NUM> form different UEs, in some embodiments, the same time-domain CDM mechanisms can be applied to multiplex a short PUCCH signal <NUM> from one UE with a short PUCCH signal <NUM> from another UE on the same resource. In addition, when applying the schemes <NUM> and/or <NUM>, the disjointed RBs <NUM> in a frequency interlace <NUM> may provide a sufficient amount of frequency diversity for the PUCCH transmissions, and thus may not require frequency-hopping on PUCCH transmissions as applied in LTE and NR. Frequency-hopping may refer to the use of different RBs (e.g., the RBs <NUM>) in different symbols (e.g., the symbols <NUM>) for a signal transmission.

<FIG> illustrates an uplink control channel multiplexing scheme <NUM> for short PUCCH signals <NUM> of format <NUM> according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The scheme <NUM> may be employed by UEs such as the UEs <NUM> and <NUM> and BSs such as the BSs <NUM> and <NUM>. The short PUCCH signal <NUM> is similar to the short PUCCH signal <NUM>, but includes one symbol <NUM> instead of two symbols <NUM>. For example, the short PUCCH signal <NUM> may include UCI <NUM> (e.g., the UCI <NUM>) and a DMRS <NUM> (e.g., the DMRS <NUM>). The scheme <NUM> multiplexes short PUCCH signals <NUM> from different UEs (e.g., the UE A and the UE B) on the same resource (e.g., the frequency interlace <NUM>) by applying frequency-domain CDM across two subcarriers <NUM> separately for the UCI <NUM> and for the DMRSs <NUM>.

For example, a BS may schedule a UE A and a UE B to transmit on the same RB <NUM>. The BS may assign the UE A with a frequency spreading sequence <NUM> for applying to a DMRS <NUM> and a frequency spreading sequence <NUM> for applying to UCI <NUM>. The BS may assign the UE B with a frequency spreading sequence <NUM> orthogonal to the frequency spreading sequence <NUM> for applying to a DMRS <NUM> and a frequency spreading sequence <NUM> orthogonal to the frequency spreading sequence <NUM> for applying to UCI <NUM>.

The frequency spreading sequences <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> may be defined based on Walsh codes. In an embodiment, the frequency spreading sequence <NUM> may include a first code, denoted as {+}, and a second code, denoted as {+}. The frequency spreading sequence <NUM> may include a first code, denoted as {+}, and a second code, denoted as { - }. The frequency spreading sequence <NUM> may include a first code, denoted as {+}, and a second code, denoted as {+}. The frequency spreading sequence <NUM> may include a first code, denoted as {+}, and a second code, denoted as {-}. The frequency spreading sequences <NUM> and <NUM> may be the same as shown or different from each other. Similarly, the frequency spreading sequences <NUM> and <NUM> may be the same as shown or different from each other. The orthogonal frequency spreading sequences <NUM> and <NUM> enable a BS to distinguish DMRS transmissions of the UE A from DMRS transmissions of the UE B. Similarly, the orthogonal frequency spreading sequences <NUM> and <NUM> enable a BS to distinguish UCI transmissions of the UE A from UCI transmissions of the UE B.

When the UE A transmits a short PUCCH signal <NUM> on the RB <NUM>, the UE A applies the frequency spreading sequences <NUM> and <NUM> to the DMRS <NUM> and the UCI <NUM>, respectively. As shown, the frequency spreading sequence <NUM> is separately applied to a pair of subcarriers <NUM> indexed <NUM> and <NUM> and a pair of subcarriers <NUM> indexed <NUM> and <NUM>. The frequency spreading sequence <NUM> is separately applied to a pair of subcarriers <NUM> indexed <NUM> and <NUM>, a pair of subcarriers <NUM> indexed <NUM> and <NUM>, a pair of subcarriers <NUM> indexed <NUM> and <NUM>, and a pair of subcarriers <NUM> indexed <NUM> and <NUM>.

When the UE B transmits a short PUCCH signal <NUM> on the RB <NUM>, the UE B applies the frequency spreading sequences <NUM> and <NUM> to the DMRS <NUM> and the UCI <NUM>, respectively. As shown, the frequency spreading sequence <NUM> is separately applied to a pair of subcarriers <NUM> indexed <NUM> and <NUM> and a pair of subcarriers <NUM> indexed <NUM> and <NUM>. The frequency spreading sequence <NUM> is separately applied to a pair of subcarriers <NUM> indexed <NUM> and <NUM>, a pair of subcarriers <NUM> indexed <NUM> and <NUM>, a pair of subcarriers <NUM> indexed <NUM> and <NUM>, and a pair of subcarriers <NUM> indexed <NUM> and <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an uplink control channel multiplexing scheme <NUM> for short PUCCH signals <NUM> of format <NUM> according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The scheme <NUM> may be employed by UEs such as the UEs <NUM> and <NUM> and BSs such as the BSs <NUM> and <NUM>. The scheme <NUM> is similar to the scheme <NUM>, but illustrates the multiplexing of short PUCCH signals <NUM> with a duration of <NUM> symbols <NUM> instead of one symbol <NUM>. The UE A and the UE B may simultaneously transmit a PUCCH format <NUM> signal <NUM> on the same RB <NUM> using the same mechanisms as described in the scheme <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an uplink control channel multiplexing scheme <NUM> for short PUCCH format <NUM> signals <NUM> according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The scheme <NUM> may be employed by UEs such as the UEs <NUM> and <NUM> and BSs such as the BSs <NUM> and <NUM>. Similar to the schemes <NUM> and <NUM>, the scheme <NUM> multiplexes short PUCCH format <NUM> signals <NUM> from different UEs (e.g., the UE A and the UE B) on the same resource (e.g., the frequency interlace <NUM>) by applying frequency-domain CDM across two subcarriers <NUM> for the DMRSs <NUM>, but applies SDM for the UCI <NUM>.

For example, a BS may schedule a UE A and a UE B to transmit on the same RB <NUM>. The BS may assign the UE A with a frequency spreading sequence <NUM> for applying to a DMRS <NUM> and a spatial direction <NUM> for applying to UCI <NUM>. The BS may assign the UE B with a frequency spreading sequence <NUM> for applying to a DMRS <NUM> and a spatial direction <NUM> different from the spatial direction <NUM> for applying to a UCI <NUM>.

When the UE A transmits a short PUCCH signal <NUM> on the RB <NUM>, the UE A applies the frequency spreading sequence <NUM> to the DMRS <NUM> and transmit the UCI <NUM> in the spatial direction <NUM>. When the UE B transmits a short PUCCH format <NUM> signal <NUM> on the RB <NUM>, the UE B applies the frequency spreading sequence <NUM> to the DMRS <NUM> and transmit the UCI <NUM> in the spatial direction <NUM>.

While the scheme <NUM> illustrates multiplexing of short PUCCH format <NUM> signals <NUM> with a duration of one symbol <NUM>, similar mechanisms may be applied to multiplex PUCCH format <NUM> signals <NUM> with a duration of two symbols <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an uplink control channel multiplexing scheme <NUM> for long PUCCH signals <NUM> of format <NUM> and format <NUM> according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The scheme <NUM> may be employed by UEs such as the UEs <NUM> and <NUM> and BSs such as the BSs <NUM> and <NUM>. The scheme <NUM> multiplexes long PUCCH signals <NUM> of format <NUM> and format <NUM> from different UEs (e.g., the UE A and the UE B) on the same resource (e.g., the frequency interlace <NUM>) by applying pre-DFT spreading and time spreading across single-carrier symbols <NUM>. A long PUCCH signal <NUM> of format <NUM> or format <NUM> may include between about four symbols <NUM> to about fourteen symbols <NUM>. The long PUCCH signal <NUM> may include UCI <NUM> (e.g., the UCI <NUM> and <NUM>) and a DMRS <NUM> (e.g., the DMRSs <NUM> and <NUM>). For simplicity of discussions, <FIG> illustrates the multiplexing over four symbols <NUM>, but the embodiments of the present disclosure can be scaled to multiplex over any suitable number of symbols <NUM> (e.g., between about four symbols <NUM> to about fourteen symbols <NUM>).

For example, a BS may schedule the UE A and the UE B to transmit on the same RB <NUM>. The BS may assign the UE A with a time spreading sequence <NUM> for pre-DFT spreading and a time spreading sequence <NUM> for spreading across single-carrier symbols <NUM>. The BS may assign the UE B with a time spreading sequence <NUM> orthogonal to the time spreading sequence <NUM> for pre-DFT spreading and a time spreading sequence <NUM> orthogonal to the time spreading sequence <NUM> for spreading across single-carrier symbols <NUM> as shown by arrow <NUM>. In an embodiment, the time spreading sequence <NUM> may include codes {+, +, +} and the time spreading sequence <NUM> may include codes {-, -, -} for spreading across three symbols <NUM>.

The scheme <NUM> includes a spreading component <NUM>, a DFT component <NUM>, a subcarrier mapping component <NUM>, an inverse-DFT (IDFT) component <NUM>, a cyclic prefix (CP) component <NUM>, and a spreading component <NUM>. The spreading component <NUM>, the DFT component <NUM>, the subcarrier mapping component <NUM>, the IDFT component <NUM>, the CP component <NUM>, and the spreading component <NUM> may be implemented using software and/or hardware components at a UE (e.g., the UEs <NUM> and <NUM>, the UE A, and the UE B).

The spreading component <NUM> spreads an input long PUCCH signal <NUM> signal (e.g., including modulation symbols of the UCI <NUM> and the DMRS <NUM>) based on a time spreading sequence. For example, at the UE A, the spreading component <NUM> may apply the time spreading sequence <NUM> for the spreading. Alternatively, at the UE B, the spreading component <NUM> may apply the time spreading sequence <NUM> for the spreading.

The DFT component <NUM> performs a DFT on an input signal to produce a frequency-domain signal. The subcarrier mapping component <NUM> maps an input signal to subcarriers <NUM>. The IDFT component <NUM> performs an IDFT on an input signal to produce a time-domain signal. The CP component <NUM> generates a CP from an input signal and appends the CP to the input signal to produce a single-carrier symbol (e.g., the symbols <NUM>).

The spreading component <NUM> spreads an input single-carrier symbol across time based on a time spreading sequence. For example, at the UE A, the spreading component <NUM> may apply the time spreading sequence <NUM>. Alternatively, at the UE B, the spreading component <NUM> may apply the time spreading sequence <NUM>. In an embodiment, the spreading component <NUM> is applied to the symbols <NUM> carrying the UCI <NUM> as shown by the arrow <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an uplink control channel multiplexing scheme <NUM> for long PUCCH signals <NUM> of format <NUM> and format <NUM> according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The scheme <NUM> may be employed by UEs such as the UEs <NUM> and <NUM> and BSs such as the BSs <NUM> and <NUM>. Similar to the scheme <NUM>, the scheme <NUM> multiplexes long PUCCH signals <NUM> of format <NUM> and format <NUM> from different UEs (e.g., the UE A and the UE B) on the same resource (e.g., the frequency interlace <NUM>) by applying pre-DFT spreading, but applies SDM to the symbols <NUM> carrying UCI <NUM>.

For example, a BS may schedule a UE A and a UE B to transmit on the same RB <NUM>. The BS may assign the UE A with a time spreading sequence <NUM> for pre-DFT spreading and a spatial direction <NUM> (e.g., the spatial direction <NUM>) for transmitting UCI <NUM>. The BS may assign the UE B with a time spreading sequence <NUM> orthogonal to the time spreading sequence <NUM> for pre-DFT spreading and a spatial direction <NUM> (e.g., the spatial direction <NUM>) different from the spatial direction <NUM> for transmitting UCI <NUM>. In an embodiment, a BS may configure a receive beam based on the spatial direction <NUM> and another receive beam based on the spatial direction <NUM> to receive UCI <NUM> from the UE A and receive UCI <NUM> from the UE B concurrently.

The scheme <NUM> includes a spreading component <NUM>, a DFT component <NUM>, a subcarrier mapping component <NUM>, an IDFT component <NUM>, a CP component <NUM>, and a spatial direction configuration component <NUM>. The spreading component <NUM>, the DFT component <NUM>, the subcarrier mapping component <NUM>, the IDFT component <NUM>, the CP component <NUM>, and the spatial direction configuration component <NUM> may be implemented using software and/or hardware components at a UE (e.g., the UEs <NUM> and <NUM>, the UE A, and the UE B). In the scheme <NUM>, the spreading component <NUM>, the DFT component <NUM>, the subcarrier mapping component <NUM>, the IDFT component <NUM>, and the CP component <NUM> may perform similar functions as in the scheme <NUM>.

The spatial direction configuration component <NUM> can configure a transmission beam to be directed towards a particular spatial direction, for example, based on analog beamforming and/or digital beamforming. For example, at the UE A, the spatial direction configuration component <NUM> may configure a transmission beam carrying UCI <NUM> to be directed towards the spatial direction <NUM>. Alternatively, at the UE B, the spatial direction configuration component <NUM> may configure a transmission beam carrying UCI <NUM> to be directed towards the spatial direction <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an uplink control channel multiplexing scheme <NUM> for long PUCCH signals <NUM> of format <NUM> according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The scheme <NUM> may be employed by UEs such as the UEs <NUM> and <NUM> and BSs such as the BSs <NUM> and <NUM>. The scheme <NUM> multiplexes long PUCCH signals <NUM> from different UEs (e.g., the UE A and the UE B) on the same resource (e.g., the frequency interlace <NUM>) by applying pre-DFT cyclic-shift separation and time spreading across single-carrier symbols <NUM>. A long PUCCH signal <NUM> may include between about four symbols <NUM> to about fourteen symbols <NUM>. The long PUCCH signal <NUM> may include UCI <NUM> (e.g., the UCI <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and a DMRS <NUM> (e.g., the DMRSs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>). For simplicity of discussions, <FIG> illustrates the multiplexing over four symbols <NUM>, but the embodiments of the present disclosure can be scaled to multiplex over any suitable number of symbols <NUM> (e.g., between about four symbols <NUM> to about fourteen symbols <NUM>).

For example, a BS may schedule the UE A and the UE B to transmit on the same RB <NUM>. The BS may assign the UE A with a cyclic-shift value <NUM> for cyclically shifting a predetermined sequence and a time spreading sequence <NUM> for spreading across single-carrier symbols <NUM>. The BS may assign the UE B with a cyclic-shift value <NUM> for cyclically shifting a predetermined sequence and a time spreading sequence <NUM> orthogonal to the time spreading sequence <NUM> for spreading across single-carrier symbols <NUM>. The cyclic-shift values <NUM> and <NUM> may be applied to a sequence (e.g., a CAZAC sequence) where cyclic-shifted versions of the sequence are orthogonal to each other.

The scheme <NUM> includes a cyclic-shift separation component <NUM>, a DFT component <NUM>, a subcarrier mapping component <NUM>, an IDFT component <NUM>, a CP component <NUM>, and a spreading component <NUM>. The cyclic-shift separation component <NUM>, the DFT component <NUM>, the subcarrier mapping component <NUM>, the IDFT component <NUM>, the CP component <NUM>, and the spreading component <NUM> may be implemented using software and/or hardware components at a UE (e.g., the UEs <NUM> and <NUM>, the UE A, and the UE B). In the scheme <NUM>, the DFT component <NUM>, the subcarrier mapping component <NUM>, the IDFT component <NUM>, the CP component <NUM>, and the spreading component <NUM> may perform similar functions as in the schemes <NUM> and <NUM>.

The cyclic-shift separation component <NUM> cyclic-shifts a sequence (e.g., a CAZAC sequence) and multiplies modulation symbols of an input long PUCCH signal <NUM> by the cyclically shifted sequence. For example, at the UE A, the cyclic-shift separation component <NUM> may apply the cyclic-shift value <NUM> for the cyclic-shifting. Alternatively, at the UE B, the cyclic-shift separation component <NUM> may apply the cyclic-shift value <NUM> for the cyclic-shifting.

<FIG> illustrates an uplink control channel communication scheme <NUM> using partial frequency interlaces <NUM> according to embodiments of the present disclosure. In <FIG>, the x-axis represents time in some constant units and the y-axis represents frequency in some constant units. The scheme <NUM> may be employed by UEs such as the UEs <NUM> and <NUM> and BSs such as the BSs <NUM> and <NUM>. The scheme <NUM> employs the same frequency interlace structure as in the scheme <NUM>. The scheme <NUM> may assign different portions of a frequency interlace <NUM> to different UEs, for example, based on a link parameter to link budget of the UEs.

For example, a BS may schedule the UE A and the UE B to transmit on the same frequency interlaces <NUM>I(<NUM>), but on different portions of the frequency interlace <NUM>I(<NUM>). As shown, a portion <NUM> of the frequency interlace <NUM>I(<NUM>) is assigned to the UE A for transmitting a PUCCH signal <NUM>, which may be of PUCCH format <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>. Another portion <NUM> of the frequency interlace <NUM>I(<NUM>) may be assigned to the UE B for transmitting a PUCCH signal <NUM>, which may be of PUCCH format <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>. In one embodiment, the portion <NUM> and the portion <NUM> may include the same number of RBs <NUM>. In another embodiment, the portion <NUM> and the portion <NUM> may include different number of RBs <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the scheme <NUM> may allow different frequency-interlaced structures to be configured, for example, over different time periods. For example, the spectrum <NUM> may be configured to include <NUM> frequency interlaces <NUM> each including <NUM> RBs <NUM> at one time period and include <NUM> frequency interlaces <NUM> each including <NUM> RBs <NUM> at another time period. In some embodiments, the scheme <NUM> may configure the spectrum <NUM> to include frequency interlaces <NUM> with different number of RBs <NUM> and/or with different RB spacing. The scheme <NUM> may configure the frequency interlaces <NUM> and the assignment for a particular a link budget (e.g., based on a PSD requirement in the spectrum <NUM> and/or power utilization factors of the UEs).

<FIG> is a signaling diagram of an uplink control channel communication method <NUM> according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The method <NUM> is implemented among a BS, a UE A, and a UE B. The BS may be similar to the BSs <NUM> and <NUM>. The UEs A and B may be similar to the UEs <NUM> and <NUM>. Steps of the method <NUM> can be executed by computing devices (e.g., a processor, processing circuit, and/or other suitable component) of the BS and the UEs A and B. As illustrated, the method <NUM> includes a number of enumerated steps, but embodiments of the method <NUM> may include additional steps before, after, and in between the enumerated steps. In some embodiments, one or more of the enumerated steps may be omitted or performed in a different order.

At step <NUM>, the BS determines a multiplex configuration for multiplexing PUCCH signals from the UE A and the UE B on a frequency spectrum (e.g., the frequency spectrum <NUM>). The PUCCH signals may be similar to the short PUCCH format <NUM> signals <NUM>, the short PUCCH format <NUM> signals <NUM> and <NUM>, the long PUCCH format <NUM> or <NUM> signals <NUM>, and long PUCCH format <NUM> signals <NUM>. The BS may determine the multiplex configuration based on the PUCCH format (e.g. format <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM>) of the PUCCH signals and/or a link budget and/or power utilization factors of the UE A and the UE B. The BS may employ any suitable combination of the schemes <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and scheme <NUM> described above with respect to <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, respectively. For example, the BS may employ the scheme <NUM> to select a particular frequency interlace structure or a particular fraction (e.g., the portions <NUM> and <NUM>) of a frequency interlace (e.g., the frequency interlace <NUM>) in conjunction with any of the schemes <NUM>-<NUM>. The multiplex configuration may be semi-static or dynamically determined.

At step <NUM>, the BS transmits the multiplex configuration to the UE A. The BS may include configuration information that is associated with the UE A in the transmission.

At step <NUM>, the BS transmits the multiplex configuration to the UE B. Similarly, the BS may include configuration information that is associated with the UE A in the transmission. In some embodiments, the BS may transmit the multiplex configuration to the UE A and the UE B via RRC messages.

At step <NUM>, the UE A transmits a PUCCH signal based on the received multiplex configuration. At step <NUM>, the UE B transmits a PUCCH signal based on the received multiplex configuration. The UE A and the UE B may transmit the PUCCH signals using the same frequency interlace. In one embodiment, the UE A and the UE B may transmit the PUCCH signals using the same time-frequency resources or the same RBs (e.g., the RBs <NUM>). In another embodiment, the UE A and the UE B may transmit the PUCCH signals using different portions or different RBs of a frequency interlace.

<FIG> is a flow diagram of an uplink control channel communication method <NUM> according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Steps of the method <NUM> can be executed by a computing device (e.g., a processor, processing circuit, and/or other suitable component) of a wireless communication device or other suitable means for performing the steps. For example, a wireless communication device, such as the BSs <NUM> and <NUM> may utilize one or more components, such as the processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the uplink channel scheduling and processing module <NUM>, the transceiver <NUM>, and the one or more antennas <NUM>, to execute the steps of method <NUM>. Alternatively, wireless communication device, such as the UEs <NUM> and <NUM>, may utilize one or more components, such as the processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the uplink channel control channel processing module <NUM>, the transceiver <NUM>, the modem <NUM>, and the one or more antennas <NUM>, to execute the steps of method <NUM>. The method <NUM> may employ similar mechanisms as in the schemes <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> and the method <NUM> described with respect to <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, respectively. As illustrated, the method <NUM> includes a number of enumerated steps, but embodiments of the method <NUM> may include additional steps before, after, and in between the enumerated steps. In some embodiments, one or more of the enumerated steps may be omitted or performed in a different order.

At step <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes obtaining, by a first wireless communication device, an uplink control channel multiplex configuration indicating first frequency spreading sequence (e.g., the frequency spreading sequences <NUM>) and at least one of a second frequency spreading sequence (e.g., the frequency spreading sequences <NUM>) or a first spatial direction (e.g., the spatial directions <NUM>).

At step <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes communicating, by the first wireless communication device with a second wireless communication device, a first uplink control channel signal including a first reference signal (e.g., the DMRSs <NUM> and <NUM>) and a first uplink control information signal (e.g., UCI <NUM> and <NUM>) in a frequency spectrum (e.g., the frequency spectrum <NUM>) based on the uplink control channel multiplex configuration. The first reference signal is based on the first frequency spreading sequence. The second reference signal is based on at least one of the second frequency spreading sequence or the second spatial direction.

In an embodiment, the first uplink control channel signal may be a short PUCCH signal <NUM> with a duration of two symbols (e.g., the symbols <NUM>). In an embodiment, the first uplink control channel signal may be a short PUCCH format <NUM> signal <NUM> with a duration of one symbol.

In an embodiment, the frequency spectrum may be shared by multiple network operating entities. The first uplink control channel signal may be communicated using a set of resource blocks (e.g., the RBs <NUM>) spaced apart from each other by at least one other resource block in the frequency spectrum. The set of resources blocks may be within a particular frequency interlace (e.g., the frequency interlace <NUM>). In some embodiments, the set of resource blocks may correspond to a portion (e.g., the portions <NUM> and <NUM>) of the frequency interlace.

In an embodiment, the first wireless communication device may be a BS and the second wireless communication device may be a UE. In such an embodiment, the communicating may include receiving, by the first wireless communication device from the second wireless communication device, the first reference signal from first frequency resources based on the first frequency spreading sequence; and receiving, by the first wireless communication device from the second wireless communication device, the first uplink control information signal from second frequency resources different from first frequency resources based on at least one of the second frequency spreading sequence or the first spatial direction.

In an embodiment, when the first wireless communication device is a BS, the first wireless communication device may further receive, from a third wireless communication device (e.g., the UEs <NUM> and <NUM>), a second reference signal (e.g., the DMRSs <NUM> and <NUM>) of a second uplink control channel signal (e.g., the short PUCCH signals <NUM> and <NUM>) from the first frequency resources based on a third frequency spreading sequence (e.g., the frequency spreading sequences <NUM>) different from the first frequency spreading sequence. The first wireless communication device may further receive, from the third wireless communication device, a second uplink control information signal (e.g., the UCI <NUM> and <NUM>) of the second uplink control channel signal from the second frequency resources based on a fourth frequency spreading sequence (e.g., the frequency spreading sequence <NUM>) different from the second frequency spreading sequence.

In an embodiment, when the first wireless communication device is a BS, the first wireless communication device may further receive, from a third wireless communication device, a second reference signal (e.g., the DMRSs <NUM> and <NUM>) of a second uplink control channel signal (e.g., the short PUCCH signals <NUM> and <NUM>) from the first frequency resources based on a third frequency spreading sequence (e.g., the frequency spreading sequences <NUM>) different from the first frequency spreading sequence. The first wireless communication device may further receive, from the third wireless communication device, a second uplink control information signal (e.g., the UCI <NUM> and <NUM>) of the second uplink control channel signal from the second frequency resources based on a second spatial direction (e.g., the spatial direction <NUM>) different from the first spatial direction.

In an embodiment, when the first wireless communication is a BS, the obtaining may include allocating resources (e.g., the frequency interlaces <NUM>, the portions <NUM> and <NUM> of a frequency interlaces) for one or more wireless communication devices (e.g., the UEs <NUM> and <NUM>) including the second wireless communication device, for example, based on a PSD requirement in the frequency spectrum and link and/or power parameters of the one or more wireless communication devices. The obtaining may include determining a multiplex configuration for multiplexing transmissions from the one or more wireless communication devices on a frequency interlace. The multiplex configuration may be based on time-domain CDM, frequency-domain CDM, SDM, and/or cyclic-shift separation over the same time-frequency resources (e.g., the RBs <NUM>). The multiplex configuration may be based on partial frequency interlace assignments (e.g., the portions <NUM> and <NUM>).

In an embodiment, the first wireless communication device may be a UE and the second wireless communication device may be a BS. In such an embodiment, the obtaining may include receiving the uplink control channel multiplex configuration from the second wireless communication device. The communicating may include spreading, by the first wireless communication device, the first reference signal in frequency based on the first frequency spreading; and spreading, by the first wireless communication device, the first uplink control information signal in frequency based on the second frequency spreading sequence. Alternatively, the communicating includes transmitting, by the first wireless communication device to the second wireless communication device, the first uplink control information signal in the first spatial direction.

<FIG> is a flow diagram of an uplink control channel communication method <NUM> according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Steps of the method <NUM> can be executed by a computing device (e.g., a processor, processing circuit, and/or other suitable component) of a wireless communication device or other suitable means for performing the steps. For example, a wireless communication device, such as the BSs <NUM> and <NUM> may utilize one or more components, such as the processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the uplink channel scheduling and processing module <NUM>, the transceiver <NUM>, and the one or more antennas <NUM>, to execute the steps of method <NUM>. Alternatively, wireless communication device, such as the UEs <NUM> and <NUM>, may utilize one or more components, such as the processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the uplink channel control channel processing module <NUM>, the transceiver <NUM>, the modem <NUM>, and the one or more antennas <NUM>, to execute the steps of method <NUM>. The method <NUM> may employ similar mechanisms as in the schemes <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> and the method <NUM> described with respect to <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, respectively. As illustrated, the method <NUM> includes a number of enumerated steps, but embodiments of the method <NUM> may include additional steps before, after, and in between the enumerated steps. In some embodiments, one or more of the enumerated steps may be omitted or performed in a different order.

At step <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes obtaining, by a first wireless communication device, an uplink control channel multiplex configuration indicating a portion (e.g., the portion <NUM>) of a first frequency interlace (e.g., the frequency interlaces <NUM>) of a plurality of frequency interlaces in a frequency spectrum (e.g., the frequency spectrum <NUM>).

At step <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes communicating, by the first wireless communication device with a second wireless communication device, a first uplink control channel signal using the portion of the first frequency interlace. The first uplink control channel signal may include a short PUCCH signal <NUM>, a long PUCCH signal <NUM>, a short PUCCH signal <NUM>, a short PUCCH format <NUM> signal <NUM>, and/or a long PUCCH signal <NUM> of format <NUM> or format <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the frequency spectrum may be shared by multiple network operating entities. The first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device may be associated with one of the multiple network operating entities.

In an embodiment, each of the plurality of frequency interlaces (e.g., the frequency interlaces <NUM>) includes a set of resource blocks (e.g., the RBs <NUM>) spaced apart from each by at least one other resource block in the frequency spectrum. The first frequency interlace may include a different spacing of resource blocks than a second frequency interlace of the plurality of frequency interlaces.

In an embodiment, the first wireless communication device is a BS and the second wireless communication device is a UE. In such an embodiment, the communicating may include receiving, by the first wireless communication device from the second wireless communication device, the first uplink control channel signal. The first wireless communication device may further receive, from a third wireless communication device (e.g., another UE), a second uplink control channel signal (e.g., the PUCCH signals <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>) from another portion (e.g., the portion <NUM>) of the first frequency interlace.

In an embodiment, the first wireless communication device is a UE and the second wireless communication device is a BS. In such an embodiment, the communicating may include transmitting, by the first wireless communication device to the second wireless communication device, the first uplink control channel signal.

In an embodiment, the communicating may include communicating the first uplink control channel signal including at least one of a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format <NUM> signal, a PUCCH format <NUM> signal, a PUCCH format <NUM> signal, or a PUCCH format <NUM> signal based on a time spreading sequence.

In an embodiment, the communicating may include communicating the first uplink control channel signal including a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format <NUM> signal based on a cyclic-shift separation.

Also, as used herein, including in the claims, "or" as used in a list of items (for example, a list of items prefaced by a phrase such as "at least one of" or "one or more of") indicates an inclusive list such that, for example, a list of [at least one of A, B, or C] means A or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (i.e., A and B and C).

Further embodiments of the present disclosure include a method of wireless communication, comprising obtaining, by a first wireless communication device, an uplink control channel multiplex configuration indicating a first frequency spreading sequence and at least one of a second frequency spreading sequence or a first spatial direction; and communicating, by the first wireless communication device with a second wireless communication device, a first uplink control channel signal including a first reference signal and a first uplink control information signal in a frequency spectrum based on the uplink control channel multiplex configuration, wherein the first reference signal is based on the first frequency spreading sequence and the first uplink control information signal is based on at least one of the second frequency spreading sequence or the first spatial direction.

In some embodiments, wherein the first uplink control channel signal is a short physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format <NUM> signal. In some embodiments, wherein the frequency spectrum is shared by multiple network operating entities, and wherein the first uplink control channel signal is communicated using a set of resource blocks spaced apart from each other by at least one other resource block in the frequency spectrum. In some embodiments, wherein the communicating includes receiving, by the first wireless communication device from the second wireless communication device, the first reference signal from first frequency resources based on the first frequency spreading sequence; and receiving, by the first wireless communication device from the second wireless communication device, the first uplink control information signal from second frequency resources different from first frequency resources based on at least one of the second frequency spreading sequence or the first spatial direction. In some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving, by the first wireless communication device from a third wireless communication device, a second reference signal of a second uplink control channel signal from the first frequency resources based on a third frequency spreading sequence different from the first frequency spreading sequence; and receiving, by the first wireless communication device from the third wireless communication device, a second uplink control information signal of the second uplink control channel signal from the second frequency resources based on a fourth frequency spreading sequence different from the second frequency spreading sequence. In some embodiments, the method further comprise receiving, by the first wireless communication device from a third wireless communication device, a second reference signal of a second uplink control channel signal from the first frequency resources based on a third frequency spreading sequence different from the first frequency spreading sequence; and receiving, by the first wireless communication device from the third wireless communication device, a second uplink control information signal of the second uplink control channel signal from the second frequency resources based on a second spatial direction different from the first spatial direction. In some embodiments, wherein the communicating includes transmitting, by the first wireless communication device to the second wireless communication device, the first uplink control channel signal. In some embodiments, wherein the communicating includes spreading, by the first wireless communication device, the first reference signal in frequency based on the first frequency spreading; and spreading, by the first wireless communication device, the first uplink control information signal in frequency based on the second frequency spreading sequence. In some embodiments, wherein the communicating includes transmitting, by the first wireless communication device to the second wireless communication device, the first uplink control information signal in the first spatial direction.

Further embodiments of the present disclosure include a method of wireless communication, comprising obtaining, by a first wireless communication device, an uplink control channel multiplex configuration indicating a portion of a first frequency interlace of a plurality of frequency interlaces in a frequency spectrum; and communicating, by the first wireless communication device with a second wireless communication device, a first uplink control channel signal using the portion of the first frequency interlace.

In some embodiments, wherein the frequency spectrum is shared by multiple network operating entities, and wherein the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device are associated with one of the multiple network operating entities. In some embodiments, wherein each of the plurality of frequency interlaces includes a set of resource blocks spaced apart from each by at least one other resource block in the frequency spectrum, and wherein the first frequency interlace includes a different set of resource blocks than a second frequency interlace of the plurality of frequency interlaces. In some embodiments, wherein the communicating includes receiving, by the first wireless communication device from the second wireless communication device, the first uplink control channel signal. In some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving, by the first wireless communication device from a third wireless communication device, a second uplink control channel signal from another portion of the first frequency interlace. In some embodiments, the method further comprises selecting, by the first wireless communication device, the portion of the first frequency interlace based on a link parameter associated with the second wireless communication device. In some embodiments, wherein the communicating includes transmitting, by the first wireless communication device to the second wireless communication device, the first uplink control channel signal. In some embodiments, wherein the communicating includes communicating the first uplink control channel signal including at least one of a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format <NUM> signal, a PUCCH format <NUM> signal, a PUCCH format <NUM> signal, or a PUCCH format <NUM> signal based on a time spreading sequence. In some embodiments, wherein the communicating includes communicating the first uplink control channel signal including a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format <NUM> signal based on a cyclic-shift separation.

Further embodiments of the present disclosure include an apparatus comprising a processor configured to obtain an uplink control channel multiplex configuration indicating a first frequency spreading sequence and at least one of a second frequency spreading sequence or a first spatial direction; and a transceiver configured to communicate, with a second wireless communication device, a first uplink control channel signal including a first reference signal and a first uplink control information signal in a frequency spectrum based on the uplink control channel multiplex configuration, wherein the first reference signal is based on the first frequency spreading sequence and the first uplink control information signal is based on at least one of the second frequency spreading sequence or the first spatial direction.

In some embodiments, wherein the first uplink control channel signal is a short physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format <NUM> signal. In some embodiments, wherein the frequency spectrum is shared by multiple network operating entities, and wherein the first uplink control channel signal is communicated using a set of resource blocks spaced apart from each other by at least one other resource block in the frequency spectrum. In some embodiments, wherein transceiver is further configured to communicate the first uplink control channel signal by receiving, from the second wireless communication device, the first reference signal from first frequency resources based on the first frequency spreading sequence; and receiving, from the second wireless communication device, the first uplink control information signal from second frequency resources different from first frequency resources based on at least one of the second frequency spreading sequence or the first spatial direction. In some embodiments, wherein transceiver is further configured to receive, from a third wireless communication device, a second reference signal of a second uplink control channel signal from the first frequency resources based on a third frequency spreading sequence different from the first frequency spreading sequence; and receive, from the third wireless communication device, a second uplink control information signal of the second uplink control channel signal from the second frequency resources based on a fourth frequency spreading sequence different from the second frequency spreading sequence. In some embodiments, wherein transceiver is further configured to receive, from a third wireless communication device, a second reference signal of a second uplink control channel signal from the first frequency resources based on a third frequency spreading sequence different from the first frequency spreading sequence; and receive, from the third wireless communication device, a second uplink control information signal of the second uplink control channel signal from the second frequency resources based on a second spatial direction different from the first spatial direction. In some embodiments, wherein transceiver is further configured to communicate the first uplink control channel signal by transmitting, to the second wireless communication device, the first uplink control channel signal. In some embodiments, wherein transceiver is further configured to communicate the first uplink control channel signal by spreading the first reference signal in frequency based on the first frequency spreading; and spreading the first uplink control information signal in frequency based on the second frequency spreading sequence. In some embodiments, wherein transceiver is further configured to communicate the first uplink control channel signal by transmitting, to the second wireless communication device, the first uplink control information signal in the first spatial direction.

Further embodiments of the present disclosure include an apparatus comprising a processor configured to obtain an uplink control channel multiplex configuration indicating a portion of a first frequency interlace of a plurality of frequency interlaces in a frequency spectrum; and a transceiver configured to communicate, with a second wireless communication device, a first uplink control channel signal using the portion of the first frequency interlace.

In some embodiments, wherein the frequency spectrum is shared by multiple network operating entities, and wherein the apparatus and the second wireless communication device are associated with one of the multiple network operating entities. In some embodiments, wherein each of the plurality of frequency interlaces includes a set of resource blocks spaced apart from each by at least one other resource block in the frequency spectrum, and wherein the first frequency interlace includes a different set of resource blocks than a second frequency interlace of the plurality of frequency interlaces. In some embodiments, wherein transceiver is further configured to communicate the first uplink control channel signal by receiving, from the second wireless communication device, the first uplink control channel signal. In some embodiments, wherein transceiver is further configured to receive, from a third wireless communication device, a second uplink control channel signal from another portion of the first frequency interlace. In some embodiments, wherein processor is further configured to select the portion of the first frequency interlace based on a link parameter associated with the second wireless communication device. In some embodiments, wherein transceiver is further configured to communicate the first uplink control channel signal by transmitting, to the second wireless communication device, the first uplink control channel signal. In some embodiments, wherein transceiver is further configured to communicate the first uplink control channel signal by communicating the first uplink control channel signal including at least one of a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format <NUM> signal, a PUCCH format <NUM> signal, a PUCCH format <NUM> signal, or a PUCCH format <NUM> signal based on a time spreading sequence. In some embodiments, wherein transceiver is further configured to communicate the first uplink control channel signal by communicating the first uplink control channel signal including a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format <NUM> signal based on a cyclic-shift separation.

Further embodiments of the present disclosure include a computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon, the program code comprising code for causing a first wireless communication device to obtain an uplink control channel multiplex configuration indicating a first frequency spreading sequence and at least one of a second frequency spreading sequence or a first spatial direction; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to communicate, with a second wireless communication device, a first uplink control channel signal including a first reference signal and a first uplink control information signal in a frequency spectrum based on the uplink control channel multiplex configuration, wherein the first reference signal is based on the first frequency spreading sequence and the first uplink control information signal is based on at least one of the second frequency spreading sequence or the first spatial direction.

In some embodiments, wherein the first uplink control channel signal is a short physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format <NUM> signal. In some embodiments, wherein the frequency spectrum is shared by multiple network operating entities, and wherein the first uplink control channel signal is communicated using a set of resource blocks spaced apart from each other by at least one other resource block in the frequency spectrum. In some embodiments, wherein the code for causing the first wireless communication device to communicating the first uplink control channel signal is further configured to receive, from the second wireless communication device, the first reference signal from first frequency resources based on the first frequency spreading sequence; and receive, from the second wireless communication device, the first uplink control information signal from second frequency resources different from first frequency resources based on at least one of the second frequency spreading sequence or the first spatial direction. In some embodiments, the computer-readable further comprises code for causing the first wireless communication device to receive, from a third wireless communication device, a second reference signal of a second uplink control channel signal from the first frequency resources based on a third frequency spreading sequence different from the first frequency spreading sequence; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to receive, from the third wireless communication device, a second uplink control information signal of the second uplink control channel signal from the second frequency resources based on a fourth frequency spreading sequence different from the second frequency spreading sequence. In some embodiments, the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the first wireless communication device to receive, from a third wireless communication device, a second reference signal of a second uplink control channel signal from the first frequency resources based on a third frequency spreading sequence different from the first frequency spreading sequence; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to receive, from the third wireless communication device, a second uplink control information signal of the second uplink control channel signal from the second frequency resources based on a second spatial direction different from the first spatial direction. In some embodiments, wherein the code for causing the first wireless communication device to communicate the first uplink control channel signal is further configured to transmit, to the second wireless communication device, the first uplink control channel signal. In some embodiments, wherein the code for causing the first wireless communication device to communicate the first uplink control channel signal is further configured to spread the first reference signal in frequency based on the first frequency spreading; and spread the first uplink control information signal in frequency based on the second frequency spreading sequence. In some embodiments, wherein the code for causing the first wireless communication device to communicate the first uplink control channel signal is further configured to transmit, to the second wireless communication device, the first uplink control information signal in the first spatial direction.

Further embodiments of the present disclosure include a computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon, the program code comprising code for causing a first wireless communication device to obtain an uplink control channel multiplex configuration indicating a portion of a first frequency interlace of a plurality of frequency interlaces in a frequency spectrum; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to communicate, with a second wireless communication device, a first uplink control channel signal using the portion of the first frequency interlace.

In some embodiments, wherein the frequency spectrum is shared by multiple network operating entities, and wherein the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device are associated with one of the multiple network operating entities. In some embodiments, wherein each of the plurality of frequency interlaces includes a set of resource blocks spaced apart from each by at least one other resource block in the frequency spectrum, and wherein the first frequency interlace includes a different set of resource blocks than a second frequency interlace of the plurality of frequency interlaces. In some embodiments, wherein the code for causing the first wireless communication device to communicate the first uplink control channel signal is further configured to receive, from the second wireless communication device, the first uplink control channel signal. In some embodiments, the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the first wireless communication device to receive, from a third wireless communication device, a second uplink control channel signal from another portion of the first frequency interlace. In some embodiments, the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the first wireless communication device to select the portion of the first frequency interlace based on a link parameter associated with the second wireless communication device. In some embodiments, the computer-readable medium of claim <NUM>, wherein the code for causing the first wireless communication device to communicate the first uplink control channel signal is further configured to transmit, to the second wireless communication device, the first uplink control channel signal. In some embodiments, wherein the code for causing the first wireless communication device to communicate the first uplink control channel signal is further configured to communicate the first uplink control channel signal including at least one of a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format <NUM> signal, a PUCCH format <NUM> signal, a PUCCH format <NUM> signal, or a PUCCH format <NUM> signal based on a time spreading sequence. In some embodiments, wherein the code for causing the first wireless communication device to communicate the first uplink control channel signal is further configured to communicate the first uplink control channel signal including a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format <NUM> signal based on a cyclic-shift separation.

Further embodiments of the present disclosure include an apparatus comprising means for obtaining an uplink control channel multiplex configuration indicating a first frequency spreading sequence and at least one of a second frequency spreading sequence or a first spatial direction; and means for communicating, with a second wireless communication device, a first uplink control channel signal including a first reference signal and a first uplink control information signal in a frequency spectrum based on the uplink control channel multiplex configuration, wherein the first reference signal is based on the first frequency spreading sequence and the first uplink control information signal is based on at least one of the second frequency spreading sequence or the first spatial direction.

In some embodiments, wherein the first uplink control channel signal is a short physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format <NUM> signal. In some embodiments, wherein the frequency spectrum is shared by multiple network operating entities, and wherein the first uplink control channel signal is communicated using a set of resource blocks spaced apart from each other by at least one other resource block in the frequency spectrum. In some embodiments, wherein the means for communicating the first uplink control channel signal is further configured to receive, from the second wireless communication device, the first reference signal from first frequency resources based on the first frequency spreading sequence; and receive, from the second wireless communication device, the first uplink control information signal from second frequency resources different from first frequency resources based on at least one of the second frequency spreading sequence or the first spatial direction. In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for receiving, from a third wireless communication device, a second reference signal of a second uplink control channel signal from the first frequency resources based on a third frequency spreading sequence different from the first frequency spreading sequence; and means for receiving, from the third wireless communication device, a second uplink control information signal of the second uplink control channel signal from the second frequency resources based on a fourth frequency spreading sequence different from the second frequency spreading sequence. In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for receiving, from a third wireless communication device, a second reference signal of a second uplink control channel signal from the first frequency resources based on a third frequency spreading sequence different from the first frequency spreading sequence; and means for receiving, from the third wireless communication device, a second uplink control information signal of the second uplink control channel signal from the second frequency resources based on a second spatial direction different from the first spatial direction. In some embodiments, wherein the means for communicating the first uplink control channel signal is further configured to transmit, to the second wireless communication device, the first uplink control channel signal. In some embodiments, wherein the means for communicating the first uplink control channel signal is further configured to spread the first reference signal in frequency based on the first frequency spreading; and spread the first uplink control information signal in frequency based on the second frequency spreading sequence. In some embodiments, wherein the means for communicating the first uplink control channel signal is further configured to transmit, to the second wireless communication device, the first uplink control information signal in the first spatial direction.

Further embodiments of the present disclosure include an apparatus comprising means for obtaining an uplink control channel multiplex configuration indicating a portion of a first frequency interlace of a plurality of frequency interlaces in a frequency spectrum; and means for communicating, with a second wireless communication device, a first uplink control channel signal using the portion of the first frequency interlace.

Claim 1:
A method of wireless communication at a base station, BS (<NUM>, 105a, 105b, 105c, <NUM>), the method comprising:
obtaining (<NUM>, <NUM>) an uplink control channel multiplex configuration indicating a first frequency spreading sequence (<NUM>) and at least one of a second frequency spreading sequence (<NUM>) or a first spatial direction (<NUM>);
transmitting (<NUM>) the uplink control channel multiplex configuration to a user equipment, UE (<NUM>, <NUM>); and
communicating (<NUM>, <NUM>), with the UE (<NUM>, <NUM>), a first uplink control channel signal including a first reference signal (<NUM>, <NUM>) and a first uplink control information signal (<NUM>, <NUM>) in a frequency spectrum based on the uplink control channel multiplex configuration, wherein the first reference signal (<NUM>, <NUM>) is based on the first frequency spreading sequence (<NUM>) and the first uplink control information signal (<NUM>, <NUM>) is based on at least one of the second frequency spreading sequence (<NUM>) or the first spatial direction (<NUM>),
wherein the communicating (<NUM>, <NUM>) includes:
receiving, from the UE (<NUM>, <NUM>), the first reference signal (<NUM>, <NUM>) from first frequency resources based on the first frequency spreading sequence (<NUM>); and
receiving, from the UE (<NUM>, <NUM>), the first uplink control information signal (<NUM>, <NUM>) from second frequency resources different from the first frequency resources based on at least one of the second frequency spreading sequence (<NUM>) or the first spatial direction (<NUM>).