Patent Description:
The standardization organization Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is currently in the process of specifying a new Radio Interface called <NUM> New Radio (<NUM> NR) as well as a Next Generation Packet Core Network (NG-CN or NGC). The <NUM> NR will have three main components: a <NUM> Access Network (<NUM>-AN), a <NUM> Core Network (5GC), and a User Equipment (UE). In order to facilitate the enablement of different data services and requirements, the elements of the 5GC, also called Network Functions, have been simplified with some of them being software based so that they could be adapted according to need.

<CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> are related prior art documents.

The following acronyms are used throughout the present disclosure:.

The <NUM> NR environment may, in some embodiments, include a base station (e.g., BS <NUM> in <FIG>) that configures (e.g., initializes, sets, adjusts, etc.) two carriers for a terminal (e.g., UE <NUM> in <FIG>), that is, carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM>. Carrier <NUM> may, in some embodiments, be a Long Term Evolution (LTE) carrier or a NR carrier, and carrier <NUM> may be a NR carrier. In order to take full advantage of the Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) technology of the NR system, the terminal uses two antenna ports to send a dual-port uplink signal on carrier <NUM>. Sending a dual-port uplink signal on carrier <NUM>, in some embodiments, requires the terminal to be configured with two sets of radio frequency chain. In addition, the terminal may need a set of radio frequency chain to send single-port uplink signals on carrier <NUM>. If the terminal sends uplink signals on carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM> at the same time, then the terminal may need to configure a total of three sets of radio frequency chain.

However, configuring multiple sets (three in this instance) of radio chain could result in a higher terminal costs to manufacture the <NUM> NR environment. Thus, a mechanism is needed for configuring a terminal to fully utilize the advantages of the MIMO technology on one carrier (e.g., carrier <NUM>), but without increasing the terminal cost.

Accordingly, the present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for configuring a terminal to fully utilize the advantages of the MIMO technology on one carrier (e.g., carrier <NUM>), but without increasing the terminal cost.

Furthermore, in the LTE protocol, the PDCCH can, in some embodiments, only be configured on the first <NUM> symbols of each subframe. In order to further improve the flexibility of the system, the <NUM> NR protocol removes this restriction, and the PDCCH can be configured at any position in the time slot. For example, there is a typical design where the base station configures two parts of the PDCCH in each time slot, the first part of the PDCCH is in the front of the time slot, such as on the first symbol of the time slot; the second part configures the PDCCH in the middle of the time slot, such as on the 8th symbol of the time slot. Configuring multiple parts of the PDCCH in a time slot can improve system flexibility and reduce service scheduling delay.

The PDCCH carries DCI, and the NR protocol defines multiple DCIs in different formats. DCI can, in some embodiments, be used to indicate the status information of the terminal. The terminal may, in some embodiments, determine whether the status of the terminal needs to be updated based on the status information indicated by the base station, such as entering DRX Active Time, entering dormant bandwidth part (BWP), and so on.

However, because the PDCCH in the <NUM> NR protocol can be configured at any position, the terminal may need to be prepared to update the terminal status at any position where it is possible to receive a DCI that carries the DCI indicating the status information of the terminal, which requires the terminal to implement complexity higher. Thus, a mechanism is needed for reducing the implementation complexity of the terminal while enabling the terminal to meet the flexibility of the <NUM> NR configuration of the <NUM> NR system.

Accordingly, the present disclosure is also directed to systems and methods for reducing the implementation complexity of the terminal while enabling the terminal to meet the flexibility of the <NUM> NR configuration of the <NUM> NR system.

<FIG> illustrates a block diagram of an example wireless communication system <NUM> for transmitting and receiving wireless communication signals (e.g., OFDM/OFDMA signals) in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The system <NUM> may include components and elements configured to support known or conventional operating features that need not be described in detail herein. In one illustrative embodiment, system <NUM> can be used to communicate (e.g., transmit and receive) data symbols in a wireless communication environment such as the wireless communication environment <NUM> of <FIG>, as described above.

This portion of the present disclosure describes various configuration cases in which a terminal (e.g., UE <NUM> in <FIG>) may utilize the advantages of the MIMO technology on one carrier (e.g., carrier <NUM>), but without increasing the terminal cost. Any of the features and/or functions of a configuration case may be combined, in any order, with any number of the features and/or functions of one or more of the other configuration cases.

As discussed in greater detail below, an uplink signal transmission method may, in some embodiments, include a terminal (e.g., UE <NUM> in <FIG>) configured by a base station (e.g., BS <NUM> in <FIG>) with two carriers, namely carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM>. The terminal may, in some embodiments, support only a single-port uplink signal on carrier <NUM>. The terminal may, in some embodiments, support single-port uplink signals or dual-port uplink signals on carrier <NUM>. The terminal may, in some embodiments, determine the uplink transmission method according to the scheduling information of the base station, that is, the first transmission method or the second transmission method.

A base station (e.g., BS <NUM> in <FIG>) may, in some embodiments, configure (e.g., initializes, sets, adjusts, etc.) two carriers for a terminal (e.g., UE <NUM> in <FIG>), that is, carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM>. Carrier <NUM> may, in some embodiments, be an LTE carrier or a NR carrier, and carrier <NUM> may be a NR carrier.

When carrier <NUM> is an LTE carrier and carrier <NUM> is an NR carrier, the base station may, in some embodiments, configure the terminal with an EN-DC (e.g., E-UTRA NR dual connectivity with MCG using E-UTRA and SCG using NR) operation. In a case where carrier <NUM> is an NR carrier and carrier <NUM> is an NR carrier, the base station may, in some embodiments, configure the terminal with a carrier aggregation (CA) operation.

The terminal on carrier <NUM> may, in some embodiments, only support sending (e.g., transmitting, delivering, etc.) single-port uplink signals; the terminal on carrier <NUM> may, in some embodiments, support sending single-port uplink signals or dual-port uplink signals. The terminal may, in some embodiments, use one antenna port to send single-port uplink signals, and uses two antenna ports to send dual-port uplink signals. For additional details about the antenna port, refer to the 3GPP protocol TS38.

The uplink signal, in some embodiments, may include at least one of the following: a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH), a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH), a Physical Random-Access Channel (PRACH), and a Sounding reference signal (SRS).

The single-port uplink signal may, in some embodiments, include at least one of the following: a PUCCH, a PRACH, a single-port SRS, a PUSCH scheduled in DCI format 0_0, a PUSCH with a precoding matrix of <MAT>, a PUSCH with a precoding matrix of <MAT>.

For a Non-Codebook based UL transmission, the single-port uplink signal may, in some embodiments, include the PUSCH scheduled by DCI format 0_1 or DCI format 0_2, and the SRI field of this DCI format 0_1 or DCI format 0_2 indicates only one SRS resource.

For a Codebook based UL transmission, the single-port uplink signal may, in some embodiments, include the PUSCH scheduled by DCI format 0_1 or DCI format 0_2, and the SRI field of DCI format 0_1 or DCI format 0_2 indicates a single-port SRS resource.

The dual-port uplink signal may, in some embodiments, include at least one of the following: a PUSCH scheduled in DCI format 0_1, a PUSCH scheduled in DCI format 0_1 or DCI format 0_2 with a precoding matrix other than <MAT>, and a PUSCH scheduled in DCI format 0_1 or DCI format 0_2 with a precoding matrix other than <MAT>.

For a Non-Codebook based UL transmission, the dual-port uplink signal may, in some embodiments, include the PUSCH scheduled by DCI format 0_1 or DCI format 0_2, and the SRI field of this DCI format 0_1 or DCI format 0_2 may, in some embodiments, indicate two SRS resources.

For a Codebook based UL transmission, the dual-port uplink signal may, in some embodiments, include the PUSCH scheduled by DCI format 0_1 or DCI format 0_2, and the SRI field of this DCI format 0_1 or DCI format 0_2 may, in some embodiments, indicate a dual-port SRS resource.

The terminal may, in some embodiments, determine the uplink transmission method according to the scheduling information of the base station, that is, the first transmission method or the second transmission method.

The scheduling information may, in some embodiments, include at least one of the following: a DCI (e.g., a PUSCH scheduling information contained in DCI), and an RRC signaling (e.g., service request (SR) configuration information carried in RRC signaling).

According to Case <NUM> (as discussed herein), when the terminal uses or is in the first transmission method, the terminal may, in some embodiments, support sending a single-port uplink signal on carrier <NUM>. When the terminal uses or is in the second transmission method, the terminal may, in some embodiments, support sending a single-port uplink signal or a dual-port uplink signal on the carrier <NUM>.

The base station may, in some embodiments, configure two uplink carriers for the terminal through RRC signaling, that is, carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM>. The terminal may, in some embodiments, include two transmission methods, namely the first transmission method and the second transmission method. When the terminal is in the first transmission method, the terminal may, in some embodiments, support sending a single-port uplink signal on carrier <NUM>. When the terminal is in the second transmission method, the terminal may, in some embodiments, support sending a single-port uplink signal or a dual-port uplink signal on carrier <NUM>.

Generally speaking, carrier <NUM> may be a carrier with a lower center frequency, which is used to ensure the uplink coverage of the network. It is not necessary, in some embodiments, to support MIMO technology on carrier <NUM>. Therefore, when transmitting uplink signals on carrier <NUM>, only one set of radio frequency chain may be required. Carrier <NUM> may be a carrier with a higher center frequency and a larger bandwidth. It is used, in some embodiments, to increase the uplink rate of the network. MIMO technology may be supported on carrier <NUM>. Therefore, when transmitting uplink signals on carrier <NUM>, a maximum of two sets of RF chain may be required.

The terminal may, in some embodiments, contain two sets of RF chain in total. When the terminal is in the first transmission method, one set of radio frequency chain may be reserved for carrier <NUM> to send uplink signals, and the other set may be reserved for carrier <NUM>. The terminal may use the radio frequency chain reserved for carrier <NUM> to send a single-port uplink signal on carrier <NUM>. However, when the terminal is in the first transmission method, the terminal may not be allowed to send an uplink signal on the carrier <NUM>.

When the terminal is in the second transmission method, both sets of radio frequency chain of the terminal may be reserved for carrier <NUM> to send uplink signals. The terminal can, in some embodiments, use the radio frequency chain reserved for carrier <NUM> to send single-port uplink signals or dual-port uplink on carrier <NUM>.

With this implementation, the terminal may determine the transmission methods according to which carrier the uplink signal is sent on, which may help simplify the terminal implementation. The specific judgment criteria may, in some embodiments, be: when the terminal sends an uplink signal on carrier <NUM>, the terminal is in the first transmission method; and/or when the terminal sends an uplink signal on carrier <NUM>, the terminal is in the second transmission method.

According to Case <NUM> (as discussed herein), when the terminal is in the first transmission method, then in some embodiments, the terminal may support sending a single-port uplink signal on carrier <NUM>; the terminal may support sending a single-port uplink signal on carrier <NUM>; and/or the terminal may support simultaneous transmission of a single-port uplink signal on carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM>. When the terminal is in the second transmission method, then in some embodiments, the terminal may support sending single-port uplink signals or dual-port uplink signals on carrier <NUM>.

The base station may, in some embodiments, configure two uplink carriers for the terminal through RRC signaling, that is, carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM>. The terminal may include two transmission methods, namely the first transmission method and the second transmission method.

When the terminal is in the first transmission method: the terminal may support sending a single-port uplink signal on carrier <NUM>; the terminal may support sending a single-port uplink signal on carrier <NUM>; the terminal may support sending single-port uplink signals on carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM> at the same time. When the terminal is in the second transmission method, the terminal may support sending a single-port uplink signal or a dual-port uplink signal on the carrier <NUM>.

Generally speaking, carrier <NUM> may be a carrier with a lower center frequency, which may be used to ensure the uplink coverage of the network. It is not necessary, in some embodiments, to support MIMO technology on carrier <NUM>. Therefore, when transmitting uplink signals on carrier <NUM>, only one set of radio frequency chain may be required. Carrier <NUM> may be a carrier with a higher center frequency and a larger bandwidth. It may be used to increase the uplink rate of the network. MIMO technology may be supported on carrier <NUM>. Therefore, when transmitting uplink signals on carrier <NUM>, a maximum of two sets of RF chain may be required.

The terminal may contain two sets of RF chain in total. When the terminal is in the first transmission method, one set of radio frequency chain is, in some embodiments, reserved for carrier <NUM> to send uplink signals, and the other set is, in some embodiments, reserved for carrier <NUM>. The terminal can, in some embodiments, use the radio frequency chain reserved for carrier <NUM> to send a single-port uplink signal on carrier <NUM>. The terminal can, in some embodiments, use the radio frequency chain reserved for carrier <NUM> to send a single-port uplink signal on carrier <NUM>. The terminal can, in some embodiments, send a single-port uplink signal on carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM> at the same time. For example, a single-port PUSCH is transmitted on carrier <NUM>, and another single-port PUSCH is transmitted on carrier <NUM>.

When the terminal is in the second transmission method, both sets of radio frequency chain of the terminal may be reserved for carrier <NUM> to send uplink signals. The terminal may use the radio frequency chain reserved for carrier <NUM> to send single-port uplink signals or dual-port uplink on carrier <NUM>.

With this implementation, the terminal may use the radio frequency chain to the greatest extent, and improve the uplink transmission efficiency of the system.

According to Case <NUM> (as discussed herein), the terminal may determine a transmission mode of the terminal by using an RRC parameter sent by the base station, that is, the first transmission mode or the second transmission mode. In response to determining that the RRC parameter indicates that the transmission mode is a first transmission mode, the wireless communication device supports transmitting the single-port uplink signals on the first carrier using the first transmission method. The RRC parameter may, in some embodiments, be a part of the scheduling information. In some embodiments, a transmission mode (as used herein) may be different than a transmission method (as used herein).

In some embodiments, the base station may configure one of the first transmission mode and the second transmission mode for the terminal through RRC signaling. When RRC signaling is configured with the second transmission mode, then the terminal, in some embodiments, does not support sending single-port uplink signals on carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM> at the same time. When RRC signaling is configured with the first transmission mode, the terminal may support sending single port on carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM> at the same time.

In one embodiment, the base station may configure one of the first transmission mode and the second transmission mode for the terminal through RRC signaling. When RRC signaling is configured to the second transmission mode, the terminal may send a single-port uplink signal on carrier <NUM> to trigger the terminal to switch the transmission method. When RRC signaling is configured to the first transmission mode, the single-port uplink signal on carrier <NUM> does not trigger the terminal to switch the transmission method.

The second transmission mode may help simplify terminal implementation, while the first transmission mode may help improve uplink transmission efficiency. The base station may flexibly configure the first transmission mode or the second transmission mode to the terminal through RRC signaling, which may help improve network flexibility.

In a first case of where the last uplink transmission of the terminal on carrier <NUM>, according to the scheduling information of the base station, if the terminal determines to send a next uplink signal on carrier <NUM> at the next transmission occasion, then the terminal, in some embodiments, does not request transmitting any uplink signals using carrier <NUM> or carrier <NUM> within a time interval T before transmitting the next uplink signal. In a second case of where the last uplink transmission of the terminal on carrier <NUM>, according to the scheduling information of the base station, if the terminal will send a next uplink signal on carrier <NUM> at the next transmission occasion, then the terminal, in some embodiments, does not request transmitting any uplink signals using carrier <NUM> or carrier <NUM> within a time interval T before transmitting the next uplink signal. The time interval T is used for UE to switch the transmission method. For example, if the wireless communication device determines that a previous uplink transmission is transmitted using the first carrier (e.g., carrier <NUM>), and based on the scheduling information, the wireless communication device determines to transmit a next uplink signal on a next transmission occasion on the second carrier (e.g., carrier <NUM>), then the wireless communication device may: switch to the second transmission method, and does not request transmitting any uplink signals using the first carrier or the second carrier within a time interval T before transmitting the next uplink signal. As another example, if the wireless communication device determines that the previous uplink transmission is transmitted using the second carrier, and based on the scheduling information, the wireless communication device determines to transmit the next uplink signal on the next transmission occasion on the first carrier, then the wireless communication device may: switch to the first transmission method, and does not request transmitting any uplink signals using the first carrier or the second carrier within the time interval T before transmitting the next uplink signal.

In a first case of where the terminal is in the first transmission method, according to the scheduling information of the base station, if the terminal sends an uplink signal on carrier <NUM> at the next transmission occasion, then the terminal, in some embodiments, does not request transmitting any uplink signals using carrier <NUM> or carrier <NUM> within a time interval T before transmitting the next uplink signal. In a second case where the terminal is in the second transmission method, according to the scheduling information of the base station, if the terminal will send an uplink signal on carrier <NUM> at the next transmission occasion, then the terminal, in some embodiments, does not request transmitting any uplink signals using carrier <NUM> or carrier <NUM> within the time interval T before transmitting the next uplink signal. The time interval T is used for UE to switch the transmission method. For example, if the wireless communication device is currently using the first transmission method, and based on the scheduling information, the wireless communication device determines to transmit a next uplink signal on a next transmission occasion on the second carrier (e.g., carrier <NUM>), then the wireless communication device may: switch to the second transmission method, and does not request transmitting any uplink signals using the first carrier (e.g., carrier <NUM>) or the second carrier within a time interval T before transmitting the next uplink signal. As another example, if the wireless communication device determines the wireless communication device is currently using the second transmission method, and based on the scheduling information, the wireless communication device determines to transmit the next uplink signal on the next transmission occasion on the first carrier, then the wireless communication device may: switch to the first transmission method, and does not request transmitting any uplink signals using the first carrier or the second carrier within the time interval T before transmitting the next uplink signal.

The terminal may, in some embodiments, contain two sets of RF chain in total. When the terminal is in the first transmission method, one set of radio frequency chain may be reserved for carrier <NUM> to send uplink signals, and the other set is reserved for carrier <NUM>. When the terminal is in the second transmission method, both sets of radio frequency chain of the terminal may be reserved for carrier <NUM> to send uplink signals. When the transmission method is switched, the radio frequency chain of the terminal may, in some embodiments, need to be switched accordingly. Specifically, when the terminal switches from the first transmission method to the second transmission method, the terminal may, in some embodiments, need to switch a set of radio frequency chain reserved for carrier <NUM> to carrier <NUM>. When the terminal switches from the second transmission method to the first transmission method, the terminal may, in some embodiments, need to switch a set of radio frequency chain reserved for carrier <NUM> to carrier <NUM>. When the radio frequency chain is switched, the terminal may, in some embodiments, need a certain radio frequency switching time. During this switching time, then the terminal, in some embodiments, does not request (e.g., refrains from) to send uplink signals on carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM>, in some embodiments. The switching time here may be T, where T> = <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a block diagram of an example transmission of single-port and/or dual-port uplink signals on carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM>, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, at the beginning, the terminal may send a PUCCH (shown in <FIG> as, "PUCCH1") on the carrier <NUM> (sometimes referred to as, "a first carrier"). The terminal may use one antenna port to send the PUCCH. At this time, the terminal may be in the first transmission method and the terminal may reserve one radio frequency chain for carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM> respectively. The terminal may receive the scheduling information via DCI from the base station, and the scheduling information instructs the terminal to send a PUSCH (shown in <FIG>, PUSCH1) on the carrier <NUM> (sometimes referred to as, "a second carrier") at the next transmission occasion. In order to prepare to transmit PUSCH1 on carrier <NUM>, the terminal may switch from the first transmission method to the second transmission method, that is, reserve two sets of radio frequency chain for carrier <NUM>. The T time in front of PUSCH1 may be used by the terminal to switch the radio frequency chain. During this switching time, then the terminal, in some embodiments, does not request to send uplink signals on carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM>.

After that, the terminal may receive the scheduling information via DCI from the base station, and the scheduling information instructs the terminal to send a PUCCH (denoted as PUCCH2) on the carrier <NUM> at the next transmission occasion. At this time, the terminal may be in the second transmission method, both radio frequency chain may be reserved for carrier <NUM>. In order to prepare to send PUCCH2 on carrier <NUM>, the terminal may switch from the second transmission method to the first transmission method, which is to switch one of the RF chains reserved for carrier <NUM> to carrier <NUM>. The T time before PUCCH2 is used by the terminal to switch the radio frequency chain. During this switching time, then the terminal, in some embodiments, does not request to send uplink signals on carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM>.

Similarly, the terminal may receive the scheduling information via DCI from the base station, and the scheduling information instructs the terminal to send a PUSCH (denoted as PUSCH2) on the carrier <NUM> at the next transmission timing. At this time, the terminal may switch from the first transmission method to the second transmission method.

According to different scheduling information, a single-port uplink signal or a dual-port uplink signal may be transmitted on carrier <NUM>. In this embodiment, the terminal, in some embodiments, does not need to determine whether a single-port uplink signal or a dual-port uplink signal is scheduled on carrier <NUM>. As long as the scheduling information instructs the terminal to send an uplink signal on carrier <NUM>, the terminal switches to the second transmission method. This may help simplify the implementation of the terminal.

In a first case of where the terminal is in the first transmission method, according to the scheduling information of the base station, if the terminal will send a dual-port uplink signal on the carrier <NUM> at the next transmission occasion, then the terminal does not request transmitting any uplink signals using carrier <NUM> or carrier <NUM> within a time interval T before transmitting the dual-port uplink signal. In a second case where the terminal is in the second transmission method, according to the scheduling information of the base station, if the terminal will send a next uplink signal on carrier <NUM> at the next transmission occasion, then the terminal does not request transmitting any uplink signals using carrier <NUM> or carrier <NUM> within the time interval T before transmitting the next uplink signal. The time interval T is used for UE to switch the transmission method. For example, if the wireless communication device determines that the wireless communication device is currently using the first transmission method, and based on the scheduling information, the wireless communication device determines to transmit a dual-port uplink signal on a next transmission occasion on the second carrier, then the wireless communication device may: switch to the second transmission method, and does not request transmitting any uplink signals using the first carrier or the second carrier within a time interval T before transmitting the dual-port uplink signal. As another example, if the wireless communication device is currently using the second transmission method, and based on the scheduling information, the wireless communication device determines to transmit a next uplink signal on the next transmission occasion on the first carrier, then the wireless communication device may: switch to the first transmission method, and does not request transmitting any uplink signals using the first carrier or the second carrier within the time interval T before transmitting the next uplink signal.

The terminal may, in some embodiments, contain two sets of RF chain in total. When the terminal is in the first transmission method, one set of radio frequency chain may be reserved for carrier <NUM> to send uplink signals, and the other set is reserved for carrier <NUM>. When the terminal is in the second transmission method, both sets of radio frequency chain of the terminal may be reserved for carrier <NUM> to send uplink signals. When the transmission method is switched, the radio frequency chain of the terminal may need to be switched accordingly. Specifically, when the terminal switches from the first transmission method to the second transmission method, the terminal may need to switch a set of radio frequency chain reserved for carrier <NUM> to carrier <NUM>. When the terminal switches from the second transmission method to the first transmission method, the terminal may need to switch a set of radio frequency chain reserved for carrier <NUM> to carrier <NUM>. When the radio frequency chain is switched, the terminal may need a certain switching time. During this switching time, then the terminal, in some embodiments, does not request to send uplink signals on carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM>. The switching time may be T, where T> = <NUM>. That is, the terminal does not request transmitting any uplink signals using carrier <NUM> or carrier <NUM> within the time internal T.

<FIG> illustrates a block diagram of an example transmission of single-port and/or dual-port uplink signals on carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM>, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, at the beginning, the terminal may send a PUCCH (shown in <FIG> as, PUCCH1) on the carrier <NUM>. The terminal may use one antenna port to send the PUCCH1. At this time, the terminal may be in the first transmission method. The terminal may receive the scheduling information via DCI from the base station, and the scheduling information instructs the terminal to simultaneously send a single-port PUSCH (corresponding to PUSCH1 and PUSCH2, respectively) on carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM> at the next transmission occasion. Because the terminal is in the first transmission method, the terminal may use the radio chain of carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM> to send their respective single-port uplink signals so the terminal may continue to stay in the first transmission method without switching the transmission method.

The terminal may receive the scheduling information via DCI from the base station, and the scheduling information instructs the terminal to send a PUSCH (shown in <FIG> as, PUSCH3) on the carrier <NUM> at the next transmission timing. Similarly, at this time, the terminal may be in the first transmission method, and the terminal may reserve one radio frequency chain for carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM>. The terminal may use the radio frequency chain of carrier <NUM> to send PUSCH3, so the terminal may continue to stay in the first transmission method without switching the transmission method.

The terminal may receive the scheduling information via DCI from the base station, and the scheduling information instructs the terminal to send a dual-port PUSCH (shown in <FIG> as, PUSCH4) on the carrier <NUM> at the next transmission occasion. Because the terminal is in the first transmission method, the terminal may reserve a set of radio frequency chain for carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM> respectively, and the terminal cannot send a dual-port uplink signal (PUSCH4) using only one set of radio frequency chain on carrier <NUM>. Therefore, the terminal may switch from the first transmission method to the second transmission method, that is, the radio frequency chain reserved for carrier <NUM> may be switched to carrier <NUM>. The T time before PUSCH4 may be used by the terminal to switch the radio frequency chain. During this switching time, in some embodiments, the terminal does not request to send uplink signals on carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM>.

The terminal may receive the scheduling information via DCI from the base station, and the scheduling information instructs the terminal to send a single-port PUSCH (denoted as PUSCH5) on the carrier <NUM> at the next transmission timing. Because the terminal is in the second transmission method at this time, the terminal may reserve two sets of radio frequency chain for carrier <NUM>. At this time, the terminal may use one set of radio frequency chain of carrier <NUM> to send PUSCH5. At this time, the terminal may remain in the second transmission method without switching the transmission method.

The terminal may receive the scheduling information via DCI from the base station, instructing the terminal to send a PUCCH (denoted as PUCCH2) on the carrier <NUM> at the next transmission occasion. Because the terminal is in the second transmission method at this time, the terminal may reserve two sets of radio frequency chain for carrier <NUM> and does not, in some embodiments, reserve the radio frequency chain for carrier <NUM>. The terminal may switch from the second transmission method to the first transmission method. A set of RF chain is switched to carrier <NUM> from carrier <NUM>. The T time before PUCCH2 may be used by the terminal to switch the radio frequency chain. During this switching time, in some embodiments, the terminal does not request to send uplink signals on carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM>.

When T corresponds to carrier <NUM> (e.g., is on carrier <NUM>), in some embodiments, if the terminal is in the first transmission method before an uplink phase, according to the scheduling information of the base station, if the terminal will send an uplink signal on carrier <NUM> in the uplink phase, then the terminal, in some embodiments, does not require that uplink signals are sent on carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM> within the time internal T before the start of the uplink phase.

When T corresponds to carrier <NUM>, in some embodiments, if the terminal is in the second transmission method before an uplink phase, according to the scheduling information of the base station, if the terminal will send an uplink signal on carrier <NUM> during the uplink phase, then the terminal does not request transmitting any uplink signals using carrier <NUM> or carrier <NUM> within the time internal T before the start of the uplink phase.

When T corresponds to carrier <NUM>, in some embodiments, if the terminal is in a second transmission method in an uplink phase, according to the scheduling information of the base station, if the terminal will send an uplink signal on carrier <NUM> after the uplink phase, then the terminal, in some embodiments, does not request transmitting any uplink signals using carrier <NUM> or carrier <NUM> within the time internal T after the end of the uplink phase.

When T corresponds to carrier <NUM> (e.g., is on carrier <NUM>), in some embodiments, if the terminal is in the first transmission method before an uplink phase, according to the scheduling information of the base station, if the terminal will send an uplink signal on carrier <NUM> during the uplink phase, then the terminal, in some embodiments, does not request transmitting any uplink signals using carrier <NUM> or carrier <NUM> within the time internal T after the start of the uplink phase.

When T corresponds to carrier <NUM>, in some embodiments, if the terminal is in the second transmission method before an uplink phase, according to the scheduling information of the base station, if the terminal will send an uplink signal on carrier <NUM> during the uplink phase, then the terminal, in some embodiments, does not request transmitting any uplink signals using carrier <NUM> or carrier <NUM> within the time internal T after the start of the uplink phase.

When T corresponds to carrier <NUM>, in some embodiments, if the terminal is in the second transmission method in an uplink phase, according to the scheduling information of the base station, if the terminal will send an uplink signal on carrier <NUM> after the uplink phase, then the terminal, in some embodiments, does not request transmitting any uplink signals using carrier <NUM> or carrier <NUM> within the time internal T after the end of the uplink phase.

The terminal contains two sets of RF chain in total. When the terminal is in the first transmission method, one set of radio frequency chain may be reserved for carrier <NUM> to send uplink signals, and the other set may be reserved for carrier <NUM>. When the terminal is in the second transmission method, both sets of radio frequency chain of the terminal maybe reserved for carrier <NUM> to send uplink signals. When the transmission method is switched, the radio frequency chain of the terminal may need to be switched accordingly. Specifically, when the terminal switches from the first transmission method to the second transmission method, the terminal may need to switch a set of radio frequency chain reserved for carrier <NUM> to carrier <NUM>. When the terminal switches from the second transmission method to the first transmission method, the terminal may need to switch a set of radio frequency chain reserved for carrier <NUM> to carrier <NUM>. When the radio frequency chain is switched, the terminal may need a certain switching time. During this switching time, in some embodiments, the terminal does not request to send uplink signals on carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM>. The switching time may be T, where T> = <NUM>. That is, the terminal does not request transmitting any uplink signals using carrier <NUM> or carrier <NUM> within the time internal T.

The uplink phase may be defined as a continuous uplink symbol on carrier <NUM>. The uplink phase may be indicated by an RRC parameter. By introducing an uplink phase and limiting the location of the RF switching time, it is possible to ensure that the terminal does not switch the transmission method within an uplink phase, thereby avoiding the terminal frequently switching the transmission method, and improving the transmission efficiency of the system.

The base station can, in some embodiments, configure the radio frequency switching time T on the carrier <NUM> or the carrier <NUM> through the RRC parameter, or can specify that the radio frequency switching time T is on the carrier <NUM> through a protocol.

<FIG> illustrates a block diagram of an example transmission of single-port and/or dual-port uplink signals on carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM>, where T corresponds to carrier <NUM>, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, at the beginning, the terminal may send a PUCCH (shown in <FIG> as, PUCCH1) on the carrier <NUM>. The terminal may use one antenna port to send the PUCCH1. At this time, the terminal is in the first transmission method and the terminal may reserve one radio frequency chain for carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM> respectively. The terminal may receive the scheduling information via DCI from the base station, and the scheduling information instructs the terminal to send a PUSCH (denoted as PUSCH1) on the carrier <NUM> in the uplink phase <NUM>. In order to prepare to transmit PUSCH <NUM> on carrier <NUM>, the terminal may switch from the first transmission method to the second transmission method, that is, the RF chain reserved for carrier <NUM> may be switched to carrier <NUM>. The time T before the uplink phase <NUM> may be used by the terminal to switch the radio frequency chain. During this switching time, in some embodiments, the terminal does not request to send uplink signals on carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM>.

The terminal may receive the scheduling information via DCI from the base station, and the scheduling information instructs the terminal to send a PUCCH (denoted as PUCCH2) on the carrier <NUM> after the uplink phase <NUM>. At this time, the terminal is in the second transmission method and both radio frequency chain may be reserved for carrier <NUM>. In order to prepare to send PUCCH2 on carrier <NUM>, the terminal may switch from the second transmission method to the first transmission method, which is to switch one of two sets of RF chains reserved for carrier <NUM> to carrier <NUM>. The T time after the uplink phase <NUM> may be used for the terminal to switch the radio frequency chain. During this switching time, in some embodiments, the terminal does not request to send uplink signals on carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM>.

Similarly, the terminal may receive the scheduling information via DCI from the base station, and the scheduling information instructs the terminal to send a PUSCH (denoted as PUSCH2) on the carrier <NUM> in the uplink phase <NUM>, and the terminal switches from the first transmission method to the second transmission method. The T time before the uplink phase <NUM> may be used by the terminal to switch the radio frequency chain. During this switching time, in some embodiments, the terminal does not request to send uplink signals on carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the system may limit the radio frequency switching time before or after the uplink phase, which can ensure that the terminal does not switch the transmission method during the uplink phase, thereby preventing the terminal from frequently switching the transmission methods, and improving the transmission efficiency of the system.

<FIG> illustrates a block diagram of an example transmission of single-port and/or dual-port uplink signals on carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM>, where T corresponds to carrier <NUM>, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, at the beginning, the terminal may send a PUCCH (shown in <FIG> as, PUCCH1) on the carrier <NUM>. The terminal may use one antenna port to send the PUCCH. At this time, the terminal is in the first transmission method and the terminal may reserve one radio frequency chain for carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM> respectively. The terminal may receive the scheduling information via DCI from the base station, and instructs the terminal to send a PUSCH (denoted as PUSCH1) on the carrier <NUM> in the uplink phase <NUM>. In order to prepare to transmit PUSCH <NUM> on carrier <NUM>, the terminal may switch from the first transmission method to the second transmission method, that is, the RF chain of carrier <NUM> is switched to carrier <NUM>. The T time after the start of the uplink phase <NUM> may be used for the terminal to switch the radio frequency chain. During this switching time, in some embodiments, the terminal does not request to send uplink signals on the carrier <NUM> and the carrier <NUM>.

The terminal may receive the scheduling information via DCI from the base station, and the scheduling information instructs the terminal to send a PUCCH (denoted as PUCCH2) on the carrier <NUM> after the uplink phase <NUM>. At this time, the terminal is in the second transmission method and both sets of radio frequency chain may be reserved for carrier <NUM>. In order to prepare to send PUCCH2 on carrier <NUM>, the terminal may switch from the second transmission method to the first transmission method, which is to switch one of the two sets of RF chains for carrier <NUM> to carrier <NUM>. The T time before the end of the uplink phase <NUM> may be used for the terminal to switch the radio frequency chain. During this switching time, in some embodiments, the terminal does not request to send uplink signals on carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM>.

Similarly, the terminal may receive the scheduling information via DCI from the base station, and the scheduling information instructs the terminal to send a PUSCH (denoted as PUSCH2) on the carrier <NUM> in the uplink phase <NUM>. In order to prepare uplink transmission on carrier <NUM>, the terminal switches from the first transmission method to the second transmission method. The T time after the start of uplink phase <NUM> may be used by the terminal to switch the radio frequency chain. During this switching time, in some embodiments, the terminal does not request to send uplink signals on carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM>.

When T is on carrier <NUM>, in some embodiments, if the terminal is in the first transmission method before an uplink phase, according to the scheduling information of the base station, if the terminal will send a dual-port uplink signal on carrier <NUM> during the uplink phase, then the terminal, in some embodiments, does not request transmitting any uplink signals using the first carrier or the second carrier within the time internal T before the start of the uplink phase.

When T is on carrier <NUM>, in some embodiments, if the terminal is in the second transmission method before an uplink phase, according to the scheduling information of the base station, if the terminal will send an uplink signal on carrier <NUM> during the uplink phase, then the terminal, in some embodiments, does not require transmitting any uplink signals any using the first carrier or the second carrier within the time internal T before the start of the uplink phase.

When T is on carrier <NUM>, in some embodiments, if the terminal is in the second transmission method in an uplink phase, according to the scheduling information of the base station, if the terminal will send an uplink signal on carrier <NUM> after the uplink phase, then the terminal does not request transmitting any uplink signals using the first carrier or the second carrier within the time internal T after the end of the uplink phase.

When T is on carrier <NUM>, in some embodiments, if the terminal is in the first transmission method before an uplink phase, according to the scheduling information of the base station, if the terminal will send a dual-port uplink signal on carrier <NUM> during the uplink phase, then the terminal does not request transmitting any uplink signals using the first carrier or the second carrier within the time internal T after the start of the uplink phase.

When T is on carrier <NUM>, in some embodiments, if the terminal is in the second transmission method before an uplink phase, according to the scheduling information of the base station, if the terminal will send an uplink signal on carrier <NUM> during the uplink phase, the terminal does not request transmitting any uplink signals using the first carrier or the second carrier within the time internal T after the start of the uplink phase.

When T is on carrier <NUM>, in some embodiments, if the terminal is in the second transmission method in an uplink phase, according to the scheduling information of the base station, if the terminal will send an uplink signal on carrier <NUM> after the uplink phase, then he terminal does not request transmitting any uplink signals using the first carrier or the second carrier within the time internal T after the end of the uplink phase.

The base station may, in some embodiments, may configure two uplink carriers for the terminal through RRC signaling, that is, carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM>. The terminal may include two transmission methods, namely the first transmission method and the second transmission method.

The terminal may contain two sets of RF chain in total. When the terminal is in the first transmission method, one set of radio frequency chain is reserved for carrier <NUM> to send uplink signals, and the other set is reserved for carrier <NUM>. When the terminal is in the second transmission method, both sets of radio frequency chain of the terminal are reserved for carrier <NUM> to send uplink signals. When the transmission method is switched, the radio frequency chain of the terminal needs to be switched accordingly. Specifically, when the terminal switches from the first transmission method to the second transmission method, the terminal needs to switch a set of radio frequency chain reserved for carrier <NUM> to carrier <NUM>. When the terminal switches from the second transmission method to the first transmission method, the terminal needs to switch a set of radio frequency chain reserved for carrier <NUM> to carrier <NUM>. When the radio frequency chain is switched, the terminal needs a certain switching time. During this switching time, in some embodiments, the terminal does not request to send uplink signals on carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM>. The switching time may be T, where T> = <NUM>. That is, the terminal does not request transmitting any uplink signals using the first carrier or the second carrier within the time internal T.

The base station can configure the radio frequency switching time T on the carrier <NUM> or the carrier <NUM> through the RRC parameter, or can specify that the radio frequency switching time T is on the carrier <NUM> through a protocol.

<FIG> illustrates a block diagram of an example transmission of single-port and/or dual-port uplink signals on carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM>, where T corresponds to carrier <NUM>, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, at the beginning, the terminal may send a PUCCH (shown in <FIG> as, PUCCH1) on the carrier <NUM>. The terminal may use one antenna port to send the PUCCH. At this time, the terminal is in the first transmission method and the terminal may reserve one radio chain for carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM> respectively. The terminal may receive the scheduling information via DCI from the base station, and the scheduling information instructs the terminal to simultaneously send a single-port PUSCH (corresponding to PUSCH1 and PUSCH2, respectively) on carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM> in uplink phase <NUM>. The terminal can use the set of radio frequency chain of carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM> to send their respective single-port uplink signals. So the terminal continues to stay in the first transmission method without switching the transmission method, and there is no need to reserve radio frequency switching time before uplink phase <NUM>.

The terminal may receive the scheduling information via DCI from the base station, and the scheduling information instructs the terminal to send a PUSCH (denoted as PUSCH3) on the carrier <NUM> after the uplink phase <NUM>. Similarly, at this time, the terminal is in the first transmission method, and the terminal reserves one radio frequency chain for carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM> respectively. Terminal can use the set of the radio frequency chain of carrier <NUM> to send PUSCH <NUM>, so the terminal continues to stay in the first transmission method without switching the transmission method, which eliminates the need to reserve radio frequency switching time after uplink phase <NUM>.

The terminal may receive the scheduling information via DCI from the base station, and the scheduling information instructs the terminal to send a dual-port PUSCH (denoted as PUSCH4) on the carrier <NUM> in the uplink phase <NUM>. Because the terminal is in the first transmission method, the terminal may reserve a radio frequency chain for carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM> respectively, and the terminal cannot send a dual-port uplink signal (PUSCH4) using a set of radio frequency chain on carrier <NUM>. Therefore, the terminal may need to switch to the second transmission method, that is, the set of radio frequency chain reserved for carrier <NUM> is switched to carrier <NUM>. The T time before the uplink phase <NUM> may be used by the terminal to switch the radio frequency chain. During this switching time, in some embodiments, the terminal does not request to send uplink signals on carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM>.

The terminal may receive the scheduling information via DCI from the base station, and the scheduling information instructs the terminal to send a single-port PUSCH (denoted as PUSCH5) on the carrier <NUM> at the next transmission occasion. Because the terminal is in the second transmission method at this time, the terminal may reserve two sets of radio frequency chain for carrier <NUM>. At this time, the terminal can use one set of radio frequency chain of carrier <NUM> to send PUSCH5. At this time, the terminal may remain in the second transmission method without switching the transmission method.

The terminal may receive the scheduling information via DCI from the base station, instructing the terminal to send a PUCCH (denoted as PUCCH2) on the carrier <NUM> after the uplink phase <NUM>. Because the terminal is in the second transmission method at this time, the terminal may reserve two sets of radio frequency chain for carrier <NUM> and does not reserve the radio frequency chain for carrier <NUM>. The terminal may switch from the second transmission method to the first transmission method. A set of RF chain is switched from carrier <NUM> to carrier <NUM>. The T time after the uplink phase is used by the terminal to switch the radio frequency chain. During this switching time, in some embodiments, the terminal does not request to send uplink signals on carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a block diagram of an example transmission of single-port and/or dual-port uplink signals on carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM>, where T corresponds to carrier <NUM>, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, at the beginning, the terminal may send a PUCCH (shown in <FIG> as, PUCCH1) on the carrier <NUM>. The terminal may use one antenna port to send the PUCCH. At this time, the terminal is in the first transmission methodand the terminal may reserve one radio link for each of carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM>. The terminal may receive the scheduling information via DCI from the base station, and the scheduling information instructs the terminal to simultaneously send a single-port PUSCH (corresponding to PUSCH1 and PUSCH2, respectively) on carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM> in uplink phase <NUM>. The terminal can use the radio links of carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM> to send their respective single-port uplink signals. So the terminal may continue to stay in the first transmission method without switching the transmission method, and there is no need to reserve radio frequency switching time after uplink phase <NUM> starts.

The terminal may receive the scheduling information via DCI from the base station, and the scheduling information instructs the terminal to send a PUSCH (denoted as PUSCH3) on the carrier <NUM> after the uplink phase <NUM>. Similarly, at this time, the terminal is in the first transmission method, and the terminal reserves one radio frequency chain for carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM> respectively. Terminal can use the radio frequency chain of carrier <NUM> to send PUSCH <NUM>, so the terminal continues to stay in the first transmission method without the switching the transmission method, which eliminates the need to reserve radio frequency switching time before the end of uplink phase <NUM>.

The terminal may receive the scheduling information via DCI from the base station, and the scheduling information instructs the terminal to send a dual-port PUSCH (denoted as PUSCH4) on the carrier <NUM> in the uplink phase <NUM>. Because the terminal is in the first transmission method, the terminal may reserve a radio frequency chain for carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM>, and the terminal cannot send a dual-port uplink signal (PUSCH4) using a set of radio frequency chain on carrier <NUM>. Therefore, the terminal may need to switch to the second transmission method, that is, the radio frequency chain reserved for carrier <NUM> is switched to carrier <NUM>. The T time after the start of the uplink phase <NUM> may be used for the terminal to switch the radio frequency chain. During this switching time, in some embodiments, the terminal does not request to send uplink signals on carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM>.

The terminal may receive the scheduling information via DCI from the base station, instructing the terminal to send a PUCCH (denoted as PUCCH2) on the carrier <NUM> after the uplink phase <NUM>. Because the terminal is in the second transmission method at this time, the terminal may reserve two sets of radio frequency chain for carrier <NUM> and does not reserve the radio frequency chain for carrier <NUM>. The terminal may switch from the second transmission method to the first transmission method. A set of RF chain reserved for carrier <NUM> is switched to carrier <NUM>. The T time before the end of the uplink phase is used for the terminal to switch the radio frequency chain. During this switching time, in some embodiments, the terminal does not request to send uplink signals on carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM>.

According to Case <NUM> (as discussed herein), when the scheduling information of the base station instructs the terminal to send an uplink signal within the radio frequency switching time T, then the terminal, in some embodiments, does not send the uplink signal. In a case where the scheduling information of the base station instructs the terminal to send an uplink signal within the radio frequency switching time T, then the terminal, in some embodiments, sends a part of the uplink signal that is after the end of the radio frequency switching time T.

When the terminal switches the transmission method, a radio frequency switching time of T time is required. During the RF switching time, in some embodiments, the terminal does not request to send uplink signals on carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM>. However, due to problems such as the design of the base station scheduling algorithm or misalignment of the uplink transmission time, the base station, in some embodiments, cannot completely guarantee that the terminal will not be instructed to send an uplink signal within the radio frequency switching time T.

In the case where the scheduling information of the base station instructs the terminal to send an uplink signal within the radio switching time T, if most of the time of the uplink signal is within the switching time T, then even if the terminal sends the uplink signal, the base station, in some embodiments, cannot successfully receive the uplink signal. At this time, the terminal, in some embodiments, does not send the uplink signal, that is, the terminal may discard the entire uplink signal.

In the case where the scheduling information of the base station instructs the terminal to send an uplink signal within the radio switching time T, if the uplink signal has only a small part of the time within the switching time T, then the terminal may send the uplink signal and the base station has a certain probability of successfully receiving the uplink signal. At this time, the terminal may send the part of uplink signal after the radio frequency switching time T ends, that is, the terminal may discard the uplink signal before the radio frequency switching time T ends.

In a case where the scheduling information of the base station instructs the terminal to send an uplink signal within the radio frequency switching time T, if only a part of the uplink signal is sent, the base station can also receive and use the part of the uplink signal. At this time, the terminal may send the uplink signal after the radio frequency switching time T ends, that is, the terminal may discard the uplink signal before the radio frequency switching time T ends.

<FIG> illustrates a block diagram of an example transmission of single-port and/or dual-port uplink signals on carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM>, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, during the first radio frequency switching time T, the base station may schedule the terminal to send an uplink signal PUSCH on carrier <NUM>. Because most of PUSCH1 is within the radio frequency switching time T, the terminal, in some embodiments, does not send the PUSCH. Within the second radio frequency switching time T, the base station may schedule the terminal to send an uplink signal SRS on carrier <NUM>. Because even if the terminal only sends part of the SRS that is after the end of the switching time T, the base station can still use part of the SRS for channel state update, etc..

The UL phase is a slot corresponding to the higher numerology between the numerology of active UL BWP of carrier <NUM> and the numerology of active UL BWP of carrier <NUM>. If the numerology of active UL BWP of carrier <NUM> is <NUM> and the numerology of active UL BWP of carrier <NUM> is <NUM>, the UL phase is a slot corresponding to numerology <NUM>, which is <NUM> in NR system.

The UL phase may be a slot corresponding to the higher numerology between the lowest numerology of active BWPs of carrier <NUM> and the lowest numerology of active BWPs of carrier <NUM>. Active BWPs of carrier <NUM> or carrier <NUM> may include both the active DL BWP and active UL BWP of carrier <NUM> or carrier <NUM>, respectively.

If the numerology of active UL BWP of carrier <NUM> is <NUM> and the numerology of active DL BWP of carrier <NUM> is <NUM>, then the lowest numerology of active BWPs of carrier <NUM> may be <NUM>. If the numerology of active UL BWP of carrier <NUM> is <NUM> and the numerology of active DL BWP of carrier <NUM> is <NUM>, then the lowest numerology of active BWPs of carrier <NUM> may be <NUM>. In this case, the UL phase may be a slot corresponding to numerology <NUM>, which may be <NUM> in NR system.

The UE can be configured with semi-static TDD pattern via higher-layer parameter TDD-UL-DL-ConfigurationCommon and TDD-UL-DL-ConfigurationDedicated if provided. If all the symbols in a slot are downlink symbols, then the slot can be called as a downlink slot. If all the symbols in a slot are uplink symbols, then the slot can be called as an uplink slot. If at least one of the symbols in a slot is flexible symbol, then the slot can be called as a flexible slot.

For two consecutive slots, if at least one of the two consecutive slots is uplink slot, the radio frequency switch time may be time duration T before the end of the first slot or the time duration T after the start of the second slot.

For a flexible slot, the radio frequency switch time may be time duration T within the flexible symbols in this slot.

According to Case <NUM> (as discussed herein), if the terminal wants to send uplink signal <NUM> in one transmission method and uplink signal <NUM> in another transmission method, and if the interval between the last symbol of the uplink signal <NUM> and the first symbol of the uplink signal <NUM> is less than the radio frequency switching time T, then the terminal, in some embodiments, does not send the uplink signal <NUM>.

According to Case <NUM> (as discussed herein), if the terminal wants to send uplink signal <NUM> in one transmission method and uplink signal <NUM> in another transmission method, and if the interval between the last symbol of the uplink signal <NUM> and the first symbol of the uplink signal <NUM> is less than the radio frequency switching time T and the uplink signal <NUM> is a terminal-self-transmitted uplink signal, then the terminal, in some embodiments, may send the uplink signal <NUM>.

The base station may configure two uplink carriers for the terminal through RRC signaling, that is, carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM>. The terminal may include two transmission methods, namely the first transmission method and second transmission method.

The terminal may contain two sets of RF chain in total. When the terminal is in the first transmission method, one set of radio frequency chain may be reserved for carrier <NUM> to send uplink signals, and the other set is reserved for carrier <NUM>. When the terminal is in the second transmission method, both sets of radio frequency chain of the terminal may be reserved for carrier <NUM> to send uplink signals. When the transmission method is switched, the radio frequency chain of the terminal, in some embodiments, needs to be switched accordingly. Specifically, when the terminal switches from the first transmission method to the second transmission method, the terminal, in some embodiments, needs to switch a set of radio frequency chain reserved for carrier <NUM> to carrier <NUM>. When the terminal switches from the second transmission method to the first transmission method, the terminal, in some embodiments, needs to switch a set of radio frequency chain reserved for carrier <NUM> to carrier <NUM>. When the radio frequency chain is switched, the terminal may need a certain switching time. During this switching time, the terminal, in some embodiments, does not request to send uplink signals on carrier <NUM> and carrier <NUM>. The switching time, in some embodiments, may be T, where T> = <NUM>.

Suppose that the terminal wants to send uplink signal <NUM> in a first transmission method and uplink signal <NUM> in a second transmission method, but the interval between the last symbol of uplink signal <NUM> and the first symbol of uplink signal <NUM> is less than the radio frequency switching time T, then the terminal may not have enough time to switch to the a second transmission method to send the uplink signal <NUM>, and at this time, the terminal, in some embodiments, does not send the uplink signal <NUM>.

For terminal-self-transmitted uplink signals, the terminal, in some embodiments, needs to be processed with higher priority. The terminal-self-transmitted uplink signal may include at least one of the following signals: a PRACH, an SRS, and a Configured grant PUSCH.

Suppose that the terminal wants to send uplink signal <NUM> in the first transmission method and uplink signal <NUM> in the second transmission method, but the interval between the last symbol of uplink signal <NUM> and the first symbol of uplink signal <NUM> is less than the radio frequency switching time T, if the uplink signal <NUM> is PRACH, the priority of the PRACH is higher, and the terminal, in some embodiments, sends the uplink signal <NUM> at this time. However, in this case, the terminal, in some embodiments, may not necessarily guarantee the transmission of the uplink signal <NUM>.

<FIG> is a flow diagram depicting a method for an uplink signal transmission from the perspective of a wireless communication device, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. Additional, fewer, or different operations may be performed in the method depending on the particular embodiment. In some embodiments, some or all operations of method <NUM> may be performed by a wireless communication node, such as BS <NUM> in <FIG>. In some operations, some or all operations of method <NUM> may be performed by a wireless communication device, such as UE <NUM> in <FIG>. Each operation may be re-ordered, added, removed, or repeated.

As shown, the method <NUM> includes, in some embodiments, the operation <NUM> of supporting, by a wireless communication device, transmitting single-port uplink signals on a first carrier in response to determining that the wireless communication device is in a first transmission method. The method includes, in some embodiments, the operation <NUM> of supporting, by the wireless communication device, transmitting the single-port uplink signals or dual-port uplink signals on a second carrier in response to determining that the wireless communication device is in a second transmission method. The method includes, in some embodiments, the operation <NUM> of determining, by the wireless communication device based on scheduling information received from a base station, a transmission method used to transmit uplink signals, the transmission method comprises the first transmission method or the second transmission method.

<FIG> is a flow diagram depicting a method for managing uplink transmissions from the perspective of a wireless communication node, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. Additional, fewer, or different operations may be performed in the method depending on the particular embodiment. In some embodiments, some or all operations of method <NUM> may be performed by a wireless communication node, such as BS <NUM> in <FIG>. In some operations, some or all operations of method <NUM> may be performed by a wireless communication device, such as UE <NUM> in <FIG>. Each operation may be re-ordered, added, removed, or repeated.

As shown, the method <NUM> includes, in some embodiments, the operation <NUM> of receiving, by a base station from a wireless communication device, single-port uplink signals on a first carrier as the wireless communication device is transmitting using a first transmission method. The method includes, in some embodiments, the operation <NUM> of receiving, by the base station from the wireless communication device, the single-port uplink signals or dual-port uplink signals on a second carrier as the wireless communication device is transmitting using a second transmission method. The method includes, in some embodiments, the operation <NUM> of transmitting, by the base station to the wireless communication device, scheduling information indicating a transmission method used by the wireless communication device to transmit uplink transmissions, the transmission method comprises the first transmission method or the second transmission method.

This portion of the present disclosure describes various configuration cases for reducing the implementation complexity of configuring a terminal (e.g., UE <NUM> in <FIG>) while enabling the terminal to meet the flexibility of the <NUM> NR configuration of the <NUM> NR system. Any of the features and/or functions of a configuration case may be combined, in any order, with any number of the features and/or functions of one or more of the other configuration cases.

As discussed in greater detail herein, a transmission method may include, in some embodiments carrying, by a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH), Downlink Control Information (DCI), where the DCI indicates terminal status information, and/or transmitting, by a base station, the PDCCH within the first three symbols of a slot. In some embodiments, a transmission method may include carrying DCI, where the DCI indicates terminal status information, and/or receiving, by the terminal from the base station, the PDCCH within the first three symbols of a slot.

In the NR system, the base station can, in some embodiments, configure the PDCCH on any symbol of the time slot. The PDCCH may carry DCI, DCI indicates terminal status information, and the terminal determines whether it needs to update its own status according to the terminal status information. For the convenience of description, the present disclosure refers to the DCI indicating the status information of the terminal as the status information DCI. If the PDCCH carries status information DCI and the PDCCH can be configured on any symbol of a time slot, then the terminal, in some embodiments, needs to be ready to update the terminal status at any time, which requires higher implementation complexity of the terminal.

By limiting the position of the PDCCH carrying the state information DCI, the implementation complexity of the terminal, in some embodiments, can be reduced. One method is that the base station may send the PDCCH carrying the status information DCI within the first <NUM> symbols of the time slot. Another method is that the terminal may receive the PDCCH carrying the status information DCI within the first <NUM> symbols of the slot. This can not only reduce the implementation complexity of the terminal, but also maintain commonality with the LTE system, and ensure that the NR terminal reuses the design of the LTE terminal to the greatest extent when designing and implementing.

According to Case <NUM> (as discussed herein), the terminal status information (as discussed herein) may include at least one of the following: energy saving information (e.g., Power Saving Information); a secondary cell sleep information (e.g., SCell Dormancy Information), and Bandwidth Part (BWP) information.

The PDCCH carries DCI, DCI indicates terminal status information, and the terminal determines whether it needs to update its own status according to the terminal status information. For the convenience of description, we refer to the DCI indicating the status information of the terminal as the status information DCI.

When the status information indicated by the DCI includes energy saving information, the terminal may determine whether it needs to update its own energy saving state according to the energy saving information indicated by the DCI, such as entering an energy saving state or entering an activated state. If status update is needed, the terminal may require a corresponding update by the RF module or the baseband module. If the DCI carried by the PDCCH indicates energy saving information and the PDCCH can be configured on any symbol of a time slot, then the terminal, in some embodiments, needs to be prepared to update the terminal status at any time, which requires a higher implementation complexity of the terminal.

When the status information indicated by the DCI includes BWP information, the terminal may determine whether it needs to update its BWP status according to the BWP information indicated by the DCI, such as switching to a dormant BWP or switching from a dormant BWP to a non-dormant BWP. The terminal update status may require a corresponding update by the RF module or the baseband module. If the DCI carried by the PDCCH indicates BWP information and the PDCCH can be configured on any symbol of a time slot, then the terminal, in some embodiments, needs to be ready to update the terminal status at any time, which requires a higher implementation complexity of the terminal.

One method is that the base station sends the PDCCH carrying the status information DCI within the first <NUM> symbols of the time slot. Another method is that the terminal receives the PDCCH carrying the status information DCI within the first <NUM> symbols of the slot. The terminal status information includes at least one of the following: energy saving information, secondary cell sleep information, and BWP information.

According to Case <NUM> (as discussed herein), the DCI carried by the PDCCH may be a DCI format 2_6 according to Case <NUM> (as discussed herein).

The DCI format 2_6 can be used to indicate energy saving information, and can also be used to indicate secondary cell sleep information. If the DCI carried by the PDCCH is the DCI format 2_6, the terminal may receive the PDCCH within the first three symbols of the time slot. In this embodiment, regardless of whether the DCI format 2_6 carried by the PDCCH indicates the terminal to update status or not, the terminal may receive the PDCCH within the first three symbols of the time slot, which helps further reduce the complexity of the terminal implementation. If the DCI carried by the PDCCH is the DCI format 2_6, then the base station may send the PDCCH within the first three symbols of the time slot. In this embodiment, no matter whether the DCI format 2_6 carried by the PDCCH indicates the terminal to update status or not, the base station may send the PDCCH within the first three symbols of the time slot, which helps to further reduce the complexity of the terminal implementation.

According to Case <NUM> (as discussed herein), the DCI carried by the PDCCH may include a secondary cell dormancy indication (SCell Dormancy Indication) field according to Case <NUM> (as discussed herein).

The DCI format 2_6 can be used to indicate energy saving information, and can also be used to indicate secondary cell sleep information. The secondary cell dormancy indication (SCell Dormancy Indication) field in the DCI format 2_6 may be used to indicate the secondary cell dormancy information. According to different RRC configurations, the DCI format 2_6 may include the SCell Dormancy Indication field, or it may not include the SCell Dormancy Indication field. If the DCI carried by the PDCCH is the DCI format 2_6 and the DCI includes the SCell Dormancy Indication field, then the terminal may receive the PDCCH within the first three symbols of the time slot. If the DCI carried by the PDCCH is the DCI format 2_6 and the DCI includes a secondary cell dormancy indication (SCell Dormancy Indication) field, then the base station may send the PDCCH within the first three symbols of the time slot.

The DCI format 0_1 can be used to indicate the secondary cell sleep information, and the DCI format 0_1's SCell Dormancy Indication field is used to indicate the secondary cell sleep information. According to different RRC configurations, DCI format 0_1 may include the SCell Dormancy Indication field, or it may not include the SCell Dormancy Indication field. If the DCI carried by the PDCCH is the DCI format 0_1 and the DCI includes a SCell Dormancy Indication field, then the terminal may receive the PDCCH within the first three symbols of the time slot. If the DCI carried by the PDCCH is the DCI format 0_1 and the DCI includes a SCell Dormancy Indication field, then the base station may send the PDCCH within the first three symbols of the time slot.

The DCI format 1_1 can be used to indicate the secondary cell sleep information, and the secondary cell sleep indication (SCell Dormancy Indication) field in the DCI format 1_1 is used to indicate the secondary cell sleep information. According to different RRC configurations, DCI format 1_1 may include the SCell Dormancy Indication field, or it may not include the SCell Dormancy Indication field. If the DCI carried by the PDCCH is the DCI format 1_1 and the DCI includes a secondary cell dormancy indication (SCell Dormancy Indication) field, then the terminal may receive the PDCCH within the first three symbols of the time slot. If the DCI carried by the PDCCH is the DCI format 1_1 and the DCI includes the SCell Dormancy Indication field, then the base station may send the PDCCH within the first three symbols of the time slot.

According to Case <NUM> (as discussed herein), the secondary cell dormancy indication (SCell Dormancy Indication) field may include in the DCI according to case <NUM> (as discussed herein), and instruct the terminal to switch the active BWP on at least one secondary cell.

The DCI format 2_6 can be used to indicate energy saving information, and can also be used to indicate secondary cell sleep information. The secondary cell dormancy indication (SCell Dormancy Indication) field in the DCI format 2_6 may be used to indicate the secondary cell dormancy information. If the DCI carried by the PDCCH is the DCI format 2_6 and the SCell Dormancy Indication field included in the DCI instructs the terminal to switch the active BWP on at least one secondary cell, then the terminal may receive the PDCCH within the first three symbols of the time slot. If the DCI carried by the PDCCH is the DCI format 2_6 and the SCell Dormancy Indication field included in the DCI instructs the terminal to switch the active BWP on at least one secondary cell, then the base station may send the PDCCH within the first three symbols of the time slot.

The DCI format 0_1 can be used to indicate the secondary cell sleep information, and the DCI format 0_1's SCell Dormancy Indication field is used to indicate the secondary cell sleep information. If the DCI carried by the PDCCH is the DCI format 0_1 and the SCell Dormancy Indication field included in the DCI instructs the terminal to switch the active BWP on at least one secondary cell, then the terminal may receive this PDCCH within the first three symbols of the time slot PDCCH. If the DCI carried in the PDCCH is the DCI format 0_1 and the SCell Dormancy Indication field included in the DCI instructs the terminal to switch the active BWP on at least one secondary cell, then the base station may send the PDCCH within the first three symbols of the time slot.

The DCI format 1_1 can be used to indicate the secondary cell sleep information, and the secondary cell sleep indication (SCell Dormancy Indication) field in the DCI format 1_1 is used to indicate the secondary cell sleep information. If the DCI carried by the PDCCH is the DCI format 1_1 and the SCell Dormancy Indication field included in the DCI instructs the terminal to switch the active BWP on at least one secondary cell, then the terminal may receive the PDCCH within the first three symbols of the time slot. If the DCI carried by the PDCCH is the DCI format 1_1 and the SCell Dormancy Indication field included in the DCI instructs the terminal to switch the active BWP on at least one secondary cell, then the base station may send the PDCCH within the first three symbols of the time slot.

According to Case <NUM> (as discussed herein), the secondary cell dormancy indication (SCell Dormancy Indication) field may be included in the DCI according to Case <NUM> (as discussed herein), and may instruct the terminal to switch the active BWP on at least one secondary cell group.

The DCI format 2_6 can be used to indicate energy saving information, and can also be used to indicate secondary cell sleep information. The secondary cell dormancy indication (SCell Dormancy Indication) field in the DCI format 2_6 may be used to indicate the secondary cell dormancy information. Each bit in the SCell Dormancy Indication field may correspond to a secondary cell group, and each secondary cell group includes at least one secondary cell. If the DCI carried by the PDCCH is the DCI format 2_6 and the SCell Dormancy Indication field included in the DCI instructs the terminal to switch the active BWP on at least one secondary cell group, then the terminal may receive the PDCCH within the first three symbols of the time slot. If the DCI carried by the PDCCH is the DCI format 2_6 and the SCell Dormancy Indication field included in the DCI instructs the terminal to switch the active BWP on at least one secondary cell group, then the base station may send the PDCCH within the first three symbols of the time slot.

The DCI format 0_1 can be used to indicate the secondary cell sleep information, and the DCI format 0_1's SCell Dormancy Indication field is used to indicate the secondary cell sleep information. Each bit in the SCell Dormancy Indication field may correspond to a secondary cell group, and each secondary cell group includes at least one secondary cell. If the DCI carried by the PDCCH is the DCI format 0_1 and the SCell Dormancy Indication field included in the DCI instructs the terminal to switch the active BWP on at least one secondary cell group, then the terminal may receive this PDCCH within the first three symbols of the time slot. If the DCI carried in the PDCCH is the DCI format 0_1 and the SCell Dormancy Indication field included in the DCI instructs the terminal to switch the active BWP on at least one secondary cell group, then the base station may send the PDCCH within the first three symbols of the time slot.

The DCI format 1_1 can be used to indicate the secondary cell sleep information, and the secondary cell sleep indication (SCell Dormancy Indication) field in the DCI format 1_1 may be used to indicate the secondary cell sleep information. Each bit in the SCell Dormancy Indication field may correspond to a secondary cell group, and each secondary cell group includes at least one secondary cell. If the DCI carried in the PDCCH is the DCI format 1_1 and the SCell Dormancy Indication field included in the DCI instructs the terminal to switch the active BWP on at least one secondary cell group, then the terminal may receive the PDCCH within the first three symbols of the time slot. If the DCI carried in the PDCCH is the DCI format 1_1 and the SCell Dormancy Indication field included in the DCI instructs the terminal to switch the active BWP on at least one secondary cell group, then the base station may send the PDCCH within the first three symbols of the time slot.

According to Case <NUM> (as discussed herein), in a case (such as Case <NUM>, as discussed herein) where the DCI carried by the PDCCH is used to indicate the sleeping information of the secondary cell, the DCI may instruct the terminal to switch the active BWP on at least one secondary cell.

In the existing implementation, when the DCI format 1_1 satisfies the following two conditions, then the DCI format 1_1 may be used to indicate the secondary cell sleep information.

In a first condition, the DCI format 1_1 may be scrambled by Cell Radio Network Temporary Identifier (C-RNTI) or Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) - C-RNTI.

In a second condition, if resourceAllocation = resourceAllocationTypeO and all bits of the frequency domain resource assignment field in DCI format 1_1 are equal to <NUM>; or if resourceAllocation = resourceAllocationTypel and all bits of the frequency domain resource assignment field in DCI format 1_1 are equal to <NUM>; or if resourceAllocation = dynamicSwitch and all bits of the frequency domain resource assignment field in DCI format 1_1 are equal to <NUM> or <NUM>.

The DCI format 1_1 satisfying the above two conditions (e.g., the first or second conditions) may indicate the sleep information of the secondary cell through the MCS domain, NDI domain, RV domain, HARQ process number domain, antenna port domain, and/or DMRS sequence initialization domain.

In the case that the DCI carried by the PDCCH is the DCI format 1_1 and the DCI satisfies the above conditions so that the DCI is used to indicate the secondary cell sleep information, if the DCI format 1_1 instructs the terminal to switch the active BWP on at least one secondary cell, then the terminal may receive the PDCCH within the first three symbols of the slot. In the case that the DCI carried in the PDCCH is the DCI format 1_1 and the DCI satisfies the above conditions and the DCI is used to indicate the secondary cell sleep information, if the DCI format 1_1 instructs the terminal to switch the active BWP on at least one secondary cell, then the base station transmits the PDCCH within the first three symbols of the slot.

A person of ordinary skill in the art would further appreciate that any of the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, processors, means, circuits, methods and functions described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein can be implemented by electronic hardware (e.g., a digital implementation, an analog implementation, or a combination of the two), firmware, various forms of program (e.g., a computer program product) or design code incorporating instructions (which can be referred to herein, for convenience, as "software" or a "software module), or any combination of these techniques.

Claim 1:
A method, comprising:
supporting, by a wireless communication device, transmitting single-port uplink signals on a first carrier in response to determining that the wireless communication device is in a first transmission method;
supporting both, by the wireless communication device, transmitting the single-port uplink signals or dual-port uplink signals on a second carrier in response to determining that the wireless communication device is in a second transmission method; and
determining, by the wireless communication device based on scheduling information received from a base station, a transmission method used to transmit uplink signals, the transmission method comprising the first transmission method or the second transmission method.