Patent Description:
A wireless multiple-access communications system may include a number of base stations (BSs), each simultaneously supporting communications 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>.

Certain unlicensed bands may have regulatory limits on the maximum transmit power, the total transmit power, and/or the maximum power spectral density (PSD) that a transmitter may transmit in the frequency band since nodes or communication device using various wireless communication protocols may coexist. PSD requirements are commonly defined in terms of a maximum transmission power within a frequency bandwidth of about <NUM> megahertz (MHz). For example, a certain frequency band may have a PSD limit of about <NUM> decibel milliwatts per megahertz (dBm/MHz). Thus, a transmission in any <NUM> bandwidth within the frequency band may not exceed <NUM> dBm. As such, resource allocations that take PSD requirements into account may be useful for communicating in a frequency spectrum including a PSD limit.

<CIT> discloses concepts facilitating improved transmission behaviour, in particular for transmission in unlicensed spectrum, e.g. in the uplink, without being limited thereto. It is generally suggested utilising, e.g. by a wireless transmitter like a network node or terminal, interlacing for transmitting, which allows adapting the transmission characteristics (in particular regarding CM and/or PAPR) in a desirable way.

Advantageous, optional features of the invention are defined in the associated appended dependent claims.

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

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

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

Regulatory authorities may regulate the amount of transmission power that is allowed in certain frequency bands to ensure limited interference across communication devices or nodes sharing the frequency bands. For example, a certain frequency band may allow a maximum power spectral density (PSD) of about <NUM> decibel milliwatts per megahertz (dBm/MHz) for any transmission in the frequency band. However, a transmitter may be capable of transmitting at a higher power. One approach to allowing for a higher total transmit power while meeting a PSD requirement is to spread the frequency occupancy of a transmission signal over a wider bandwidth. For example, in enhanced Licensed Assisted Access (eLAA), a UE may be allocated with dis-contiguous blocks of frequencies within a bandwidth, where adjacent frequency blocks are separated by more than <NUM> to allow the UE to transmit at a higher power up to the PSD limit (e.g., at about <NUM> dBm) in each frequency block.

The present application describes mechanisms for communicating in a frequency spectrum using frequency interlaced-based resources. For example, a frequency band may be partitioned into multiple sets of interlaced frequency resources. A transmission signal may be transmitted using a set of interlaced frequency resources spaced apart from each other and interlaced with another set of interlaced frequency resources. The distribution of the transmission signal in a frequency domain can reduce the transmit PSD of the signal. Each set of interlaced frequency resources may be referred to as a frequency interlace. In the disclosed embodiments, a BS may configure interlaced frequency resources in a frequency band. The configuration may include determining a number of frequency interlaces in the frequency band, an interlace-spacing (e.g., the frequency separation among interlaced frequency resources within a frequency interlace), and/or a frequency interlace size (e.g., the number of interlaced frequency resources within a frequency interlace). The BS may allocate resources in units of frequency interlaces.

In an embodiment, a frequency band may be configured with frequency interlaces of equal sizes in a frequency band. In some other embodiments, a frequency band may be configured with frequency interlaces of multiple sizes. An allocation may include one or more frequency interlaces, for example, depending on an allocation capacity requirement or a UE capability. Some frequency resources may be excluded from an allocation to meet a frequency interlace size constraint and/or a uniform frequency distribution constraint.

In an embodiment, a frequency band may be configured with frequency interlaces of different subcarrier spacings (SCSs) based on a hierarchical tree structure, where a frequency interlace of a higher SCS (e.g., of about <NUM>) may be configured by combining a number of frequency interlaces of a lower SCS (e.g., of about <NUM>). The different SCS configurations may have the same interlace-spacing or the same number of frequency interlaces. In some embodiments, certain frequency resources may be excluded to align frequency interlaces of different SCSs and/or to meet various constraints. In some other embodiments, a frequency band may be configured with frequency interlaces of different subcarrier spacings (SCSs) by maintaining the same frequency interlace structure across the different SCS configurations. A BS may schedule one UE with a first frequency interlace of a higher SCS and another with a second frequency interlace of a lower SCS in the same time period.

In some embodiments, a BS may broadcast frequency interlace configurations and/or frequency resource exclusion rules in a network to facilitate resource scheduling in the network.

<FIG> illustrates a wireless communication network <NUM> according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The network <NUM> may be a <NUM> network. The network <NUM> includes a number of base stations (BSs) <NUM> and other network entities. A BS <NUM> may be a station that communicates with UEs <NUM> and may also be referred to as an evolved node B (eNB), a next generation eNB (gNB), an access point, and the like. Each BS <NUM> may provide communication coverage for a particular geographic area. In 3GPP, the term "cell" can refer to this particular geographic coverage area of a BS <NUM> and/or a BS subsystem serving the coverage area, depending on the context in which the term is used.

In the example shown in <FIG>, the BSs 105d and 105e may be regular macro BSs, while the BSs 105a-105c may be macro BSs enabled with one of <NUM> dimension (3D), full dimension (FD), or massive MIMO.

The UEs <NUM> are dispersed throughout the wireless network <NUM>, and each UE <NUM> may be stationary or mobile. A UE <NUM> may also be referred to as a terminal, a mobile station, a subscriber unit, a station, or the like. A UE <NUM> may 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 wireless local loop (WLL) station, or the like. In one aspect, a UE <NUM> may be a device that includes a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC). In another aspect, a UE may be a device that does not include a UICC. In some aspects, the UEs <NUM> that do not include UICCs may also be referred to as internet of everything (IoE) devices. The UEs 115a-115d are examples of mobile smart phone-type devices accessing network <NUM> A UE <NUM> may also be a machine specifically configured for connected communication, including machine type communication (MTC), enhanced MTC (eMTC), narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) and the like. The UEs 115e-<NUM> are examples of various machines configured for communication that access the network <NUM>. A UE <NUM> may be able to communicate with any type of the BSs, whether macro BS, small cell, or the like. In <FIG>, a lightning bolt (e.g., communication links) indicates wireless transmissions between a UE <NUM> and a serving BS <NUM>, which is a BS designated to serve the UE <NUM> on the downlink and/or uplink, or desired transmission between BSs, and backhaul transmissions between BSs.

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

In some implementations, the network <NUM> utilizes OFDM-based waveforms for communications. An OFDM-based system may partition the system bandwidth into multiple (K) orthogonal subcarriers, which are also commonly referred to as subcarriers, tones, bins, or the like. Each subcarrier may be modulated with data. In some instances, the subcarrier spacing between adjacent subcarriers may be fixed, and the total number of subcarriers (K) may be dependent on the system bandwidth. In other instances, the subcarrier spacing and/or the duration of TTIs may be scalable.

In an embodiment, the BSs <NUM> can assign or schedule transmission resources (e.g., in the form of time-frequency resource blocks (RB)) for downlink (DL) and uplink (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 tha UL communication. A UL-centric subframe may include a longer duration for UL communication tha UL communication.

In an embodiment, the network <NUM> may be an NR network deployed over a licensed spectrum. 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 some instances, the BSs <NUM> may broadcast the PSS, the SSS, the MIB, the RMSI, and/or the OSI in the form of synchronization signal blocks (SSBs).

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, the RMSI and/or the OSI, the UE <NUM> can perform a random access procedure to establish a connection with the BS <NUM>. After establishing a connection, the UE <NUM> and the BS <NUM> can enter a normal operation stage, where operational data may be exchanged.

In an embodiment, the network <NUM> may operate over a frequency spectrum including a PSD requirement, limit, or constraint. A PSD requirement may include a maximum transmit PSD level, a range of allowable transmit PSD levels, a target transmit PSD level, and/or a power utilization factor of a transmitter. To meet the PSD requirement, a transmitter (e.g., the BSs <NUM> and the UEs <NUM>) may spread 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. In an embodiment, a BS <NUM> may allocate resources in units of frequency interlaces. For example, the frequency spectrum may be divided into multiple frequency interlaces. Each frequency interlace may include a set of frequency resources or interlace elements spaced apart from each other by frequency resources of another frequency interlace.

The frequency interlaces can be of equal sizes (e.g., including the same number of frequency resources) or different sizes (e.g., including different number of frequency resources). The frequency interlaces can be based on the same SCS or different SCSs. For example, a BS <NUM> may communicate with one UE <NUM> using one frequency interlace of a first SCS and communicate with another UE <NUM> using another frequency interlace of a second, different SCS. In addition, the BS <NUM> may communicate with one UE <NUM> using an OFDM waveform and communicate with another UE <NUM> using a discrete Fourier transform-spread-OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) waveform (e.g., single carrier-frequency division multiplexing (SC-FDM)).

In some embodiments, a BS <NUM> may configure a UE <NUM> with certain rules for excluding or dropping certain frequency resources from a frequency interlace for communications to meet a certain frequency interlace size constraint or a certain frequency interlace pattern. Mechanisms for configuring frequency interlaces and communicating using frequency interlaces are described in greater detail herein.

<FIG> illustrates a frequency interlaced-based resource allocation scheme <NUM> according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The scheme <NUM> may be employed by the network <NUM>. In particular, BSs such as the BSs <NUM> and UEs such as the UEs <NUM> may communicate with each other using the scheme <NUM>. In <FIG>, the x-axis represents time in some constant units and the y-axis represents frequency in some constant units. In the scheme <NUM>, a BS may communicate with a UE over a frequency band <NUM>. There may be a PSD limitation or requirement for transmissions in the frequency band <NUM>. The frequency band <NUM> may be located at any suitable frequencies. In some embodiments, the frequency band <NUM> may be at about <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>. The frequency band <NUM> may be partitioned into resource blocks (RBs) <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 <NUM> OFDM symbols <NUM>. The number of RBs <NUM> in the frequency band <NUM> may vary depending on the bandwidth of the frequency band <NUM> and the SCS of the subcarriers <NUM>. The bandwidth and the SCS of the frequency band <NUM> may vary depending on the embodiments, for example, based on a network configuration and/or the frequency locations of the frequency band <NUM>. In some embodiments, the frequency band <NUM> may correspond to a network system bandwidth (e.g., about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM> or more). In some embodiments, the frequency band <NUM> may correspond to a bandwidth part (BWP) (e.g. a portion) within the network system bandwidth. For example, a network system bandwidth may be partitioned into about <NUM> BWPs and a BS may assign a UE with a certain BWP and communicate with the UE within the assigned BWP. The SCS can be about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, or about <NUM>.

The scheme <NUM> allocates resources in units of frequency interlaces <NUM>. The scheme <NUM> configures interlaced frequency resources <NUM> at a granularity level of an RB <NUM>. In other words, each interlaced frequency resource <NUM> may correspond to one RB <NUM>. The scheme <NUM> may configure a plurality of non-overlapping frequency interlaces <NUM> in the frequency band <NUM>. Each frequency interlace <NUM> may include a set of interlaced frequency resources <NUM> spaced apart from each other by one or more other interlaced frequency resources <NUM> in the frequency band <NUM>. Each interlaced frequency resource <NUM> may be referred to as an interlace element. Adjacent interlaced frequency resources <NUM> within a frequency interlace <NUM> may be separated by an interlace-spacing <NUM>. The interlace-spacing <NUM> can be selected based on a PSD requirement in the frequency band <NUM>. The interlace-spacing <NUM> may determine the number of frequency interlaces <NUM> in the frequency band <NUM>.

As an example, the frequency band <NUM> may have a bandwidth of about <NUM> with an SCS of about <NUM>. Thus, the frequency band <NUM> may be partitioned into about <NUM> RBs <NUM> indexed from <NUM> to <NUM>. A BS may select an interlace-spacing <NUM> that is above a certain threshold associated with a PSD requirement in the frequency band <NUM>. For example, the frequency band <NUM> may have a PSD limit of about <NUM> dBm/MHz. Thus, the threshold can be about <NUM> or <NUM>. The BS may select an interlace-spacing <NUM> of about <NUM>, which may allow for about <NUM> frequency interlaces <NUM> in the frequency band <NUM>. The frequency interlaces <NUM> are shown as <NUM>I(<NUM>) to <NUM>I(<NUM>). Each frequency interlace <NUM> may have a size of about <NUM> interlaced frequency resources <NUM> or <NUM> RBs <NUM> interlacing with interlaced frequency resources <NUM> of another frequency interlace <NUM>. For example, a frequency interlace <NUM>I(<NUM>) may include interlaced frequency resources <NUM> corresponding to RBs <NUM> indexed <NUM>, <NUM>,. , <NUM>, shown as pattern-filled boxes. A BS may allocate the frequency interlace <NUM>I(<NUM>) to one UE and allcoate the frequency interlace <NUM>I(<NUM>) to another UE.

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 band <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> decibel milliwatt (dBm). When an allocation includes <NUM> contiguous RBs <NUM> corresponding to about a <NUM> bandwidth, the UE may transmit at a maximum power of about <NUM> dBm to meet the PSD limit of about <NUM> dBm/MHz. However, when an allocation includes <NUM> RBs <NUM> distributed over about <NUM>, the UE may transmit at the full power of about <NUM> dBm yet still maintaining a PSD level of about <NUM> dBm/MHz. Thus, the use of frequency interlacing can provide better power utilization.

While the scheme <NUM> illustrates the frequency band <NUM> being partitioned into frequency interlaces <NUM> with evenly spaced interlaced frequency resources <NUM> and the number of RBs <NUM> in the frequency band <NUM> being an integer multiple of the sizes of the frequency interlaces <NUM>, a frequency band may be configured differently. For example, a BS may consider waveform types, frequency interlace sizes, and/or resource distribution patterns for an interlace configuration, as 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 frequency interlace-based communication 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, for example, aspects of <FIG>. 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, sub-routines, functions, procedures, etc. "Instructions" and "code" may include a single computer-readable statement or many computer-readable statements.

The frequency interlace-based communication module <NUM> may be implemented via hardware, software, or combinations thereof. For example, the frequency interlace-based communication 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 frequency interlace-based communication module <NUM> may be used for various aspects of the present disclosure, for example, aspects of <FIG>. For example, the frequency interlace-based communication module <NUM> is configured to receive frequency interlace-based allocations and frequency resource exclusion rules and/or configurations from a BS (e.g., the BSs <NUM>), determine whether to exclude certain frequency resources from the received allocations based on the exclusion rules and/or configurations, and/or communicate with the BS based on the allocations after applying the exclusion rules. The exclusion rules can be dependent on a communication signal waveform, a frequency interlace size constraint, and/or a frequency resource distribution pattern. Mechanisms for communicating using frequency interlaced-based allocations are 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 frequency interlace-based communication 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. 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 frequency interlace-based communication 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 instructions <NUM> may include instructions that, when executed by the processor <NUM>, cause the processor <NUM> to perform operations described herein, for example, aspects of <FIG>.

The frequency interlace-based communication module <NUM> may be implemented via hardware, software, or combinations thereof. For example, the frequency interlace-based communication 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 frequency interlace-based communication module <NUM> may be used for various aspects of the present disclosure, for example, aspects of <FIG>. For example, the frequency interlace-based communication module <NUM> is configured to configure frequency interlaces in a frequency band to meet a PSD requirement of the frequency band, determine frequency interlace-based allocations for UEs (e.g., the UEs <NUM> and <NUM>), transmit indicates of the allocations to the UEs, broadcast frequency resource exclusion rules and/or configurations to UEs in the network, and/or communicate with the UEs based on the allocations and/or the exclusion rules and/or configurations. The exclusion rules can be dependent on a communication signal waveform, a frequency interlace size constraint, and/or a frequency resource distribution pattern. Mechanisms for communicating using frequency interlaced-based allocations are 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. 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> illustrates a frequency interlaced-based resource allocation scheme <NUM> according to some 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> in a network such as the network <NUM>. The scheme <NUM> may include a substantially similar frequency resource configuration as in the scheme <NUM> and may allocate resources in units of frequency interlaces <NUM>. However, the scheme <NUM> may configure frequency interlaces <NUM> with considerations for frequency interlace sizes, frequency interlace distribution patterns, and/or communication waveform types.

In the scheme <NUM>, a frequency band <NUM> may include about <NUM> interlaced frequency resources <NUM> indexed <NUM> to <NUM>. The scheme <NUM> may select an interlace-spacing <NUM> that is greater than a threshold, for example, about <NUM> or about <NUM> based on a PSD limit in the frequency band <NUM>. The scheme <NUM> may configure M number of frequency interlaces <NUM> in the frequency band <NUM> based on the interlace-spacing <NUM>, where M is a positive integer. The scheme <NUM> configures frequency interlaces <NUM> of equal sizes, denoted as N, where N is a positive integer. For example, the scheme <NUM> may determine a number of interlaced frequency resources <NUM> for the frequency interlaces <NUM> based on the bandwidth of the frequency band <NUM> and the interlace-spacing <NUM>. When the number of interlaced frequency resources <NUM> is a non-integer multiple of M, the scheme <NUM> may exclude some interlaced frequency resources <NUM> from the configuration.

In addition, the scheme <NUM> may consider signal waveform types during the configuration. For example, the scheme <NUM> may configure the frequency interlaces <NUM> for communications with an OFDM waveform and/or a DFT-s-OFDM waveform. An allocation for a communication signal with a DFT-s-OFDM waveform may require a number of interlaced frequency resources <NUM> in the allocation to be a multiple of the numbers <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>. For example, the number of allocated frequency resources <NUM> or the allocation size can be expressed in the form of (<NUM>α × <NUM>β × <NUM>γ). Such an allocation size condition may be referred to as an integer multiple size constraint. In contrast, an allocation for a communication signal with an OFDM waveform may not require such an integer multiple size constraint. Thus, the scheme <NUM> may further select the frequency interlace size N such that N is the largest number with factors <NUM>, <NUM> or <NUM> only, such that N times the interlace spacing is not greater than the bandwidth of the frequency band. The scheme <NUM> may exclude some interlaced frequency resources <NUM> from the configuration to satisfy the integer multiple size constraint.

Further, the scheme <NUM> may consider a frequency distribution pattern of the frequency interlaces <NUM> during the configuration. For example, a frequency interlace <NUM> including interlaced frequency resources <NUM> evenly spaced in the frequency band <NUM> may provide a lower peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) than a frequency interlace <NUM> with a non-uniform frequency distribution pattern. Thus, the scheme <NUM> may exclude some interlaced frequency resources <NUM> from the configuration to satisfy the uniform pattern constraint. For example, the scheme <NUM> may exclude some frequency resources at edges of the frequency band <NUM>.

The scheme <NUM> illustrates two configurations 506a and 506b. The scheme <NUM> may determine an interlace-spacing 504a for the configuration 506a and a greater interlace-spacing 504b to satisfy the threshold. The scheme <NUM> may select the greater interlace-spacing 504b to provide a particular allocation capacity and/or to support a particular UE capability or a particular power utilization factor.

As shown, the configuration 506a includes about <NUM> (e.g., M = <NUM>) frequency interlaces 508a, each including about <NUM> (e.g., N = <NUM>) interlaced frequency resources <NUM> satisfying the integer multiple size constraint and the uniform pattern constraint. The frequency interlaces 508a are shown as 508aI(<NUM>) to 508aI(<NUM>). A BS may allocate the frequency interlace 508aI(<NUM>) to one UE and the frequency interlace 508aI(<NUM>) to another UE.

The configuration 506b includes about <NUM> (e.g., M = <NUM>) frequency interlaces 508b, each including about <NUM> (e.g., M = <NUM>) interlaced frequency resources <NUM>, where <NUM> of the interlaced frequency resources <NUM> (e.g., indexed <NUM> to <NUM>) may be unused or excluded as shown by the cross, in order to satisfy the integer multiple size constraint. The frequency interlaces 508b are shown as 508bI(<NUM>) to 508bI(<NUM>). A BS may allocate the frequency interlace 508bI(<NUM>) to one UE and the frequency interlace 508bI(<NUM>) to another UE.

While the configuration 506b excludes unused frequency resources <NUM> from one edge (e.g., high frequencies) of the frequency band <NUM>, in some embodiments, the scheme <NUM> can exclude unused frequency resources <NUM> from the other edge (e.g., low frequencies) of the frequency band <NUM> or from both edges of the frequency band <NUM>. For example, the configuration 506b can exclude frequency resources <NUM> indexed <NUM> to <NUM> from the other edge. Alternatively, the configuration 506b can exclude frequency resources <NUM> indexed <NUM> and <NUM> at one edge and frequency resources <NUM> indexed <NUM> to <NUM> at the other edge. In some embodiments, a BS may broadcast frequency interlace configurations and/or frequency resource exclusion rules to facilitate resource allocations in the network, as described in greater detail herein.

<FIG> illustrates a frequency interlaced-based resource allocation scheme <NUM> according to some 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> in a network such as the network <NUM>. The scheme <NUM> may be substantially similar to the scheme <NUM>, but may configure frequency interlaces <NUM> with different sizes.

In the scheme <NUM>, a frequency band <NUM> includes about <NUM> interlaced frequency resources <NUM> indexed <NUM> to <NUM>. The scheme <NUM> may select an interlace-spacing <NUM> that is greater than a threshold, for example, about <NUM> or about <NUM> based on a PSD limit in the frequency band <NUM>. The scheme <NUM> may configure M number of frequency interlaces <NUM> in the frequency band <NUM> based on the interlace-spacing <NUM>, where M is a positive integer. When the number of interlaced frequency resources <NUM> is a non-integer multiple of M, the scheme <NUM> allows some frequency interlaces <NUM> to have a size of N and some frequency interlaces <NUM> to have a size of (N+<NUM>). For example, M1 frequency interlaces <NUM> may have a size of (N+<NUM>) and (M-M1) frequency interlaces <NUM> may have a size of N, where M1 is a positive integer.

As shown, the configuration <NUM> includes about <NUM> (e.g., M = <NUM>) frequency interlaces <NUM>. The frequency interlaces <NUM> are shown as <NUM>I(<NUM>) to <NUM>I(<NUM>). The frequency interlaces <NUM>I(<NUM>) to <NUM>I(<NUM>) may each include a size of <NUM> as shown by the pattern-filled boxes. The frequency interlaces <NUM>I(<NUM>) to <NUM>I(<NUM>) may each include a size of <NUM> as shown by the empty-filled boxes. Thus, N is <NUM> and M1 is <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the scheme <NUM> may schedule or allocate one or more frequency interlaces to a UE. Similar to the scheme <NUM>, the scheme <NUM> may consider the integer multiple size constraint and/or the uniform pattern constraint during resource scheduling. When an allocation includes one frequency interlace <NUM> with a size of N and another frequency interlace <NUM> with a size of (N+<NUM>), with each N and N+<NUM> satisfying the integer multiple constraint individually, the scheme <NUM> may exclude one interlaced frequency resource <NUM> from the frequency interlace <NUM> with size (N+<NUM>) to get a total allocation size of 2N which satisfies the integer multiple size constraint. In some embodiments, the scheme <NUM> may not maintain the integer multiple size constraint when the allocation is for an OFDM signal communication.

As an example, an allocation <NUM> may include the frequency interlaces <NUM>I(<NUM>) and <NUM>I(<NUM>) as shown by the pattern-filled boxes. The frequency interlace <NUM>I(<NUM>) includes <NUM> (e.g., a size of (N+<NUM>)) interlaced frequency resources <NUM> and the frequency interlace <NUM>I(<NUM>) includes <NUM> (e.g., a size of N and an integer multiple of <NUM>) interlaced frequency resources <NUM>. To satisfy the integer multiple size constraint, the allocation <NUM> excludes an interlaced frequency resource <NUM> indexed <NUM> at the edge of the frequency band <NUM> from the frequency interlace <NUM>I(<NUM>) (e.g., with size (N+<NUM>)) as shown by the cross.

In another example, an allocation <NUM> may include the frequency interlaces <NUM>I(<NUM>), <NUM>I(<NUM>), and <NUM>I(<NUM>) as shown by the pattern-filled boxes. The frequency interlace <NUM>I(<NUM>) includes <NUM> (e.g., a size of (N+<NUM>)) interlaced frequency resources <NUM> and the frequency interlace <NUM>I(<NUM>) and <NUM>I(<NUM>) each includes <NUM> (e.g., a size of N and an integer multiple of <NUM>) interlaced frequency resources <NUM>. To satisfy the integer multiple size constraint and the uniform pattern constraint, the allocation <NUM> excludes interlaced frequency resources <NUM> indexed <NUM> at the edge of the frequency band <NUM> from the frequency interlace <NUM>I(<NUM>) as shown by the cross. As shown, the allocation <NUM> includes groups <NUM> of interlaced frequency resources <NUM> evenly spaced in the frequency band <NUM>.

Similar to the scheme <NUM>, the scheme <NUM> may exclude unused frequency resources <NUM> from a high-frequency edge and/or a low-frequency edge of the frequency band <NUM>. A BS may broadcast frequency interlace configurations and/or frequency resource exclusion rules to facilitate resource allocations in the network, as described in greater detail herein.

<FIG> illustrate various mechanisms for configuring frequency interlaces (e.g., the frequency interlaces <NUM>) with different SCSs in a frequency band. While <FIG> illustrate mix SCS configurations in the context of one configuration with a first SCS, denoted as fscs1, and another configuration with a second SCS, denoted as fscs1, that is about twice the first SCS (e.g., fscs2 = <NUM> × fscs1), similar mechanisms may be applied for SCSs with different factors (e.g., about <NUM> or about <NUM>) and may be scaled to include any suitable number of configurations (e.g., about <NUM>, about <NUM>, or about <NUM>). For example, the first SCS may be about <NUM> and the second SCS may be about <NUM>. Alternatively, the first SCS may be about <NUM> and the second SCS may be about <NUM>. Yet alternatively, the first SCS may be about <NUM> and the second SCS may be about <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a frequency interlaced-based resource allocation scheme <NUM> according to some 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> in a network such as the network <NUM>. The scheme <NUM> may be substantially similar to the schemes <NUM> and <NUM>. However, the scheme <NUM> supports multiple interlace configurations with different SCSs in a frequency band <NUM>. For example, the scheme <NUM> may include a configuration <NUM> for the first SCS, fscs1, and a configuration <NUM> for the second SCS, fscs2. The scheme <NUM> may keep the same number of subcarriers (e.g., the subcarriers <NUM>) per interlaced frequency resource across the configurations <NUM> and <NUM>. Thus, a frequency resource <NUM> in the configuration <NUM> may occupy twice the bandwidth of a frequency resource <NUM> in the configuration <NUM>. In addition, the scheme <NUM> may keep the same interlace-spacing <NUM> across the configurations <NUM> and <NUM>. Thus, the number of frequency interlaces <NUM> in the configuration <NUM> may be about half the number of frequency interlaces <NUM> in the configuration <NUM>. However, the frequency interlaces <NUM> may have the same size as the frequency interlaces <NUM>.

As shown, the configuration <NUM> includes about <NUM> interlaced frequency resources <NUM> in the frequency band <NUM> while the configuration <NUM> includes about <NUM> interlaced frequency resources <NUM> in the frequency band <NUM>. The frequency interlace resources <NUM> are indexed from <NUM> to <NUM>. The frequency interlace resources <NUM> are indexed from <NUM> to <NUM>. The configuration <NUM> includes about <NUM> frequency interlaces <NUM> (e.g., shown as <NUM>I(<NUM>) and <NUM>I(<NUM>)). The configuration <NUM> includes about <NUM> frequency interlaces <NUM> shown as <NUM>I(<NUM>) and <NUM>I(<NUM>). The frequency interlaces <NUM> in the configuration <NUM> and the frequency interlaces <NUM> in the configuration <NUM> have the same size. For example, each frequency interlace <NUM> includes about <NUM> interlaced frequency resources <NUM> spaced apart in the frequency band <NUM> satisfying the integer multiple size constraint and the uniform pattern constraint. Each frequency interlace <NUM> includes about <NUM> interlaced frequency resources <NUM> spaced apart in the frequency band <NUM> satisfying the integer multiple size constraint and the uniform pattern constraint.

As can be seen, each frequency interlace <NUM> of the second SCS, fscs2, may correspond to two frequency interlaces <NUM> of the first SCS, fscs1, and are aligned to the even numbered frequency interlaces <NUM>. For example, the frequency interlace <NUM>I(<NUM>) corresponds to the frequency interlaces <NUM>I(<NUM>) and <NUM>I(<NUM>). Similarly, the frequency interlace <NUM>I(<NUM>) corresponds to the frequency interlaces <NUM>I(<NUM>) and <NUM>I(<NUM>).

In an embodiment, a BS may allocate a frequency interlace <NUM>I(<NUM>) to a UE from the configuration <NUM> for a communication using the first SCS and may allocate a frequency interlace <NUM>I(<NUM>) from the configuration <NUM> to another UE for a communication using the second SCS. In some embodiments, the first communication and the second communication may occur simultaneously in a TTI (e.g., the time period <NUM>) since the allocated frequency interlaces <NUM>I(<NUM>) and <NUM>I(<NUM>) are non-overlapping.

<FIG> illustrates a frequency interlaced-based resource allocation scheme <NUM> according to some 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> in a network such as the network <NUM>. The scheme <NUM> is substantially similar to the scheme <NUM>, but illustrates an example when a configuration <NUM> of the lower first SCS (e.g., fscs1) includes an odd number of frequency interlaces <NUM> in a frequency band <NUM>.

As shown, the configuration <NUM> includes about <NUM> interlaced frequency resources <NUM> indexed <NUM> to <NUM>. The configuration <NUM> includes about <NUM> frequency interlaces <NUM>, for example, based on an interlace-spacing <NUM>. The configuration <NUM> excludes the interlaced frequency resource <NUM> indexed <NUM> as shown by the cross such that each frequency interlace <NUM> includes a size of about <NUM> satisfying the integer multiple size constraint and a distribution satisfying the uniform pattern constraint. The frequency interlaces <NUM> are shown as <NUM>I(<NUM>) and <NUM>I(<NUM>).

The configurations <NUM> and <NUM> illustrate example configurations for the second SCS (e.g., fscs2). The configuration <NUM> includes about <NUM> frequency interlaces <NUM> aligned to the even numbered frequency interlaces <NUM> with an offset <NUM> corresponding to the frequency interlace <NUM> with the highest frequencies (e.g., the frequency interlace <NUM>I(<NUM>)). In other words, the frequency interlaces <NUM> are aligned to the frequency interlaces <NUM> with an offset of <NUM>. For example, the frequency interlace <NUM>I(<NUM>) corresponds to the frequency interlaces <NUM>I(<NUM>) and <NUM>I(<NUM>). The frequency interlace <NUM>I(<NUM>) corresponds to the frequency interlaces <NUM>I(<NUM>) and <NUM>I(<NUM>). The offset <NUM> and unused frequencies are shown by the crosses.

Similarly, the configuration <NUM> includes about <NUM> frequency interlaces <NUM> aligned to odd numbered frequency interlaces <NUM> with an offset <NUM> corresponding to the frequency interlace <NUM> with the lowest frequencies (e.g., the frequency interlace <NUM>I(<NUM>)). In other words, the frequency interlaces <NUM> are aligned to the frequency interlaces <NUM> with an offset of <NUM>. For example, the frequency interlace <NUM>I(<NUM>) corresponds to the frequency interlaces <NUM>I(<NUM>) and <NUM>I(<NUM>). The frequency interlace <NUM>I(<NUM>) corresponds to the frequency interlaces <NUM>I(<NUM>) and <NUM>I(<NUM>). The offset <NUM> and unused frequencies are shown by the crosses.

As can be seen from the schemes <NUM> and <NUM>, when the SCS increases, the number of frequency interlaces decreases. For example, when the SCS increases by a factor of K, the number of frequency interlaces may reduce from about M to about <MAT>, where K is a positive integer. However, the frequency interlaces across different SCS configurations may have the same size.

<FIG> illustrates a frequency interlaced-based resource allocation scheme <NUM> according to some 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> in a network such as the network <NUM>. Similar to the schemes <NUM> and <NUM>, the scheme <NUM> may maintain the same number of subcarriers per interlaced frequency resource across configurations with different SCSs. However, the scheme <NUM> may scale the interlace-spacing based on the SCS instead of maintaining the same interlace-spacing as in the schemes <NUM> and <NUM>.

The scheme <NUM> is illustrated using the same configuration <NUM> for the first SCS (e.g., fscs1) as in the scheme <NUM>. The configuration <NUM> illustrates an example configuration for the second SCS (e.g., fscs2) in the frequency band <NUM>. The configuration <NUM> includes an interlace-spacing <NUM>, which may be about doubled the interlace-spacing <NUM> since the second SCS, fscs2, is about twice the first SCS, fscs1. The configuration <NUM> includes about <NUM> frequency interlaces <NUM> in the frequency band <NUM>, each including about <NUM> interlaced frequency resources <NUM> spaced apart in the frequency band <NUM> satisfying the integer multiple size constraint and the uniform pattern constraint. The frequency interlaces <NUM> are shown as <NUM>I(<NUM>) and <NUM>I(<NUM>). As can be seen, the configuration <NUM> includes the same the number frequency interlaces as in the configuration <NUM>, but the frequency interlace size is reduced.

<FIG> illustrates a frequency interlaced-based resource allocation scheme <NUM> according to some 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> in a network such as the network <NUM>. The scheme <NUM> is substantially similar to the scheme <NUM>, but illustrates an example when a configuration at the lower first SCS (e.g., fscs1) includes an odd number of frequency interlaces. The scheme <NUM> is illustrated using the same configuration <NUM> for the first SCS (e.g., fscs1) as in the scheme <NUM>. The configuration <NUM> illustrates an example configuration for the second SCS (e.g., fscs2) in the frequency band <NUM>. The configuration <NUM> includes an interlace-spacing <NUM>, which may be about doubled the interlace-spacing <NUM>. The configuration <NUM> includes about <NUM> frequency interlaces <NUM> in the frequency band <NUM>. The frequency interlaces <NUM> are shown as <NUM>I(<NUM>) and <NUM>I(<NUM>). The frequency interlaces <NUM>I(<NUM>) and <NUM>I(<NUM>) may each include about <NUM> interlaced frequency resources <NUM> spaced apart in the frequency band <NUM>. The frequency interlaces <NUM>I(<NUM>) and <NUM>I(<NUM>) may each include about <NUM> interlaced frequency resources <NUM> spaced apart in the frequency band <NUM>.

In an embodiment, a BS may allocate a frequency interlace <NUM>I(<NUM>) to a UE from the configuration <NUM> for a communication using the first SCS and may allocate frequency interlace <NUM>I(<NUM>) and <NUM>I(<NUM>) from the configuration <NUM> to another UE for a communication using the second SCS. In some embodiments, the first communication and the second communication may occur simultaneously in a TTI (e.g., the time period <NUM>) since the allocated frequency interlaces <NUM>I(<NUM>) is non-overlapping with the frequency interlaces <NUM>I(<NUM>) and <NUM>I(<NUM>)s.

As can be seen from the schemes <NUM> and <NUM>, when the SCS increases, the frequency interlace size decreases. For example, when the SCS increases by a factor of K and the number of frequency interlaces in the lower SCS is even, the frequency interlace sizes may reduce by a factor of K, where K is a positive integer. When the SCS increases by a factor of K and the interlace size N in the lower SCS is a non-integer multiple of K, some frequency interlaces at the higher SCS may have a size <MAT> and some frequency interlaces may have a size <MAT>. However, the number of frequency interlaces across different SCS configurations may be the same.

In general, the schemes <NUM> to <NUM> may combine or merge frequency interlaces of a lower SCS to create a frequency interlace of a higher SCS. When the frequency interlaces of the lower SCS being merged have different number of frequency resources <NUM>, one or more frequency resources from the lower SCS frequency interlace with the larger number of frequency resources may be excluded. For example, when merging a first lower-SCS frequency interlace of size N with a second lower-SCS frequency interlace of size (N+<NUM>) to create a higher SCS frequency interlace, one frequency resource may be excluded from the second lower-SCS frequency interlace.

<FIG> illustrates a frequency interlaced-based resource allocation scheme <NUM> according to some 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> in a network such as the network <NUM>. The scheme <NUM> configures frequency interlaces of different SCSs independently. The scheme <NUM> is illustrated using the same configuration <NUM> for the first SCS (e.g., fscs1) as in the scheme <NUM>. The configuration <NUM> illustrates an example configuration for the second SCS (e.g., fscs2) in the frequency band <NUM>. The configuration <NUM> includes an interlace-spacing <NUM> independent of the interlace-spacing <NUM>. The configuration <NUM> includes about <NUM> frequency interlaces <NUM>, each including about <NUM> interlaced frequency resources <NUM> spaced apart in the frequency band <NUM>. The frequency interlaces <NUM> are shown as <NUM>I(<NUM>) and <NUM>I(<NUM>).

Since the higher-SCS frequency interlaces <NUM> are configured independently from the lower-SCS frequency interlaces <NUM>, a high-SCS frequency interlace <NUM> may overlap with different low-SCS frequency interlaces <NUM> at different frequency locations. For example, the frequency interlace <NUM>I(<NUM>) includes one frequency resource <NUM> indexed <NUM> overlapping with the frequency interlaces <NUM>I(<NUM>) and <NUM>I(<NUM>) and another frequency resource <NUM> indexed <NUM> overlapping with the frequency interlaces <NUM>I(<NUM>) and <NUM>I(<NUM>). As such, scheduling UEs to communicate with different SCSs in the same TTI may require a BS to consider each frequency location to ensure a scheduled low-SCS frequency interlace <NUM> is non-overlapping with a scheduled high-SCS frequency interlace <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a frequency interlaced-based resource allocation scheme <NUM> according to some 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> in a network such as the network <NUM>. Similar to the schemes <NUM>-<NUM>, the scheme <NUM> may allow for frequency interlaces with different SCSs in a frequency band. However, the scheme <NUM> may reduce the number of subcarriers (e.g., the subcarriers <NUM>) per interlaced frequency resource in a higher SCS configuration to match a frequency resource bandwidth <NUM> in a lower SCS configuration. Thus, the scheme <NUM> may maintain the same number of frequency interlaces and the same frequency interlace sizes across different SCS configurations. In other words, the scheme <NUM> maintains the frequency interlaced structure across different SCS configurations.

The scheme <NUM> is illustrated using the same configuration <NUM> for the first SCS (e.g., fscs1) as in the scheme <NUM>. The configuration <NUM> illustrates an example configuration for the second SCS (e.g., fscs2) in the frequency band <NUM>. The configuration <NUM> includes the same interlace-spacing <NUM> as in the configuration <NUM>. The configuration <NUM> includes interlaced frequency resources <NUM> aligned to the interlaced frequency resources <NUM> in the configuration <NUM>. However, each interlaced frequency resources <NUM> may include half the number of subcarriers compared to an interlaced frequency resource <NUM> since the second SCS, fscs2, is about twice the first SCS, fscs1. For example, each interlaced frequency resources <NUM> may include about <NUM> subcarriers at the second SCS, fscs2. The configuration <NUM> includes about <NUM> frequency interlaces <NUM> aligned to the frequency interlaces <NUM> in the configuration <NUM>. The frequency interlaces <NUM> are shown as <NUM>I(<NUM>) and <NUM>I(<NUM>). By reducing the bandwidth of the frequency resources <NUM> at the second, higher SCS, the scheme <NUM> may allow a UE to transmit about <NUM> dB higher power compared to the schemes <NUM>-<NUM>.

In an embodiment, a BS (e.g., the BSs <NUM>) may employ any suitable combinations of the schemes <NUM>-<NUM> described above with respect to <FIG>, respectively, to configure frequency interlaces (e.g., the frequency interlaces <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>) in a network system band or a certain BWP within a network system band. In an embodiment, a BS may employ the schemes <NUM> and <NUM> for configuring frequency interlaces with <NUM> and <NUM> SCSs and employ the schemes <NUM> for configuring frequency interlaces with <NUM> and <NUM> SCSs. The BS may schedule one or more frequency interlaces of the same SCS for communicating with a particular UE. The BS may schedule one or more frequency interlaces of one SCS for communicating with a first UE and schedule one or more frequency interlaces of another SCS for communicating with a second UE within the same time period.

<FIG> is a signaling diagram of a frequency interlace-based communication method <NUM> according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The method <NUM> is implemented by a BS (e.g., the BSs <NUM> and <NUM>), a UE A and a UE B (e.g., the UEs <NUM> and <NUM>) in a network (e.g., the network <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 UE. 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 an interlace configuration and a frequency resource exclusion configuration. The interlace configurations may be similar to the interlace configurations 506a, 506b, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. The interlace configurations may include information such as an interlace-spacing (e.g., the interlace-spacing <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>), a number of frequency interlaces (e.g., M), frequency interlace sizes (e.g., N and N+<NUM>), SCSs (e.g., fscs1 and fscs2), resource offsets (e.g., the offsets <NUM> and <NUM>), and/or frequency resource bandwidths (e.g., the bandwidth <NUM>). The frequency resource exclusion configuration may include exclusion rules that are based on a frequency interlace size constraint (e.g., integer multiples of <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>), a uniform frequency distribution pattern constraint, and/or waveform types. For example, the frequency resource exclusion configuration may include different rules for different waveforms (e.g., OFDM and DFT-s-OFDM). The frequency resource exclusion configuration may indicate exclusions from a particular frequency range (e.g., a low-frequency band edge, a high-frequency band edge, or both band edges). The BS may use any suitable combinations of the schemes <NUM>-<NUM> for the configurations.

At step <NUM>, the BS transmits the interlace configuration to the UE A and the UE B. At step <NUM>, the BS transmits the frequency resource exclusion configuration to the UE A and the UE B. The BS may transmit the interlace configuration and the frequency resource exclusion configuration via higher layer signaling (e.g., above a media access control (MAC) layer) or physical layer signaling (e.g., in a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH)). For example, an RRC message may be used for a higher layer signaling or a downlink control information (DCI) message may be used for a physical layer signaling. In some embodiments, the BS may broadcast the interlace configuration and the frequency resource exclusion configuration in the network.

At step <NUM>, the BS schedules one or more first frequency interlaces for the UE A and one or more second frequency interlaces for the UE B based on the interlace configuration. The BS may exclude resources from first frequency interlaces and/or the second frequency interlaces based on the frequency resource exclusion configuration.

At step <NUM>, the BS transmits a first UL grant to the UE A. The first UL grant may indicate the one or more first frequency interlaces. At step <NUM>, the UE A transmits a first UL communication signal based on the first UL grant.

At step <NUM>, the BS transmits a second UL grant to the UE B. The second UL grant may indicate the one or more second frequency interlaces. At step <NUM>, the UE B transmits a second UL communication signal based on the second UL grant.

In some embodiments, the BS may schedule both the UE A and the UE B to transmit in the same TTI. In such embodiments, the one or more first frequency interlaces may not overlapped with the one or more second frequency interlaces. In some embodiments, the one or more first frequency interlaces may include a higher SCS than the one or more second frequency interlaces.

At step <NUM>, the BS transmits an exclusion disable message to the UE A and the UE B to disable the exclusion rules in the frequency resource exclusion configuration. Subsequently, the BS may communicate with the UEA and the UE B disregarding the exclusion rules. The BS may dynamically determine to disable the exclusion rules, for example, based on a network traffic load, a channel condition, and/or a UE capability.

In some embodiments, when a UE receives an allocation including one or more frequency interlaces that fail to meet a certain size constraint (e.g., a certain integer multiple size constraint) or a certain frequency distribution pattern constraint (e.g., a uniform pattern constraint), the UE may disregard the allocation without transmitting using allocation.

<FIG> is a flow diagram of a frequency interlace-based 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 BS <NUM> or the BS <NUM>, may utilize one or more components, such as the processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the frequency interlace-based communication module <NUM>, the transceiver <NUM>, the modem <NUM>, and the one or more antennas <NUM>, to execute the steps of method <NUM>. In another example, a wireless communication device, such as the UE <NUM> or the UE <NUM>, may utilize one or more components, such as the processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the frequency interlace-based communication 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>, and/or the method <NUM> described with respect to <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and/or <NUM>, 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 communicating, by a first wireless communication device (being the BS <NUM>, or the BS <NUM>) with a second wireless communication device (being the UE <NUM>, or the UE <NUM>), a first interlace configuration indicating a first set of interlaced frequency resources in a frequency band. The first interlace configuration may be similar to the configurations 506a, 506b, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. The first set of interlaced frequency resources may be similar to the frequency interlaces <NUM>, 508a, 508b, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. The frequency band may be similar to the frequency bands <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. In one embodiment, the first wireless communication device may correspond to a BS and the second wireless communication device may correspond to a UE. In another embodiment, the first wireless communication device may correspond to a UE and the second wireless communication device may correspond to a BS.

At step <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes communicating, by the first wireless communication device with the second wireless communication device, a first frequency resource exclusion configuration. The exclusion configuration can be dependent on a communication signal waveform, a frequency interlace size constraint, and/or a frequency resource distribution pattern as described herein above.

At step <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes communicating, by the first wireless communication device with the second wireless communication device, a first allocation including at least some frequency resources (e.g., the frequency resources <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>) from the first set of interlaced frequency resources based on the first frequency resource exclusion configuration.

At step <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes communicating, by the first wireless communication device with the second wireless communication device, a first communication signal based on the first allocation.

In an embodiment, the frequency band includes multiple sets of interlaced frequency resources including at least the first set of interlaced frequency resources and a second set of interlaced frequency resources. The first set of interlaced frequency resources and the second set of interlaced frequency resources are non-overlapping. In an embodiment, each set of the multiple sets of interlaced frequency resources may include a same number of interlaced frequency resources, for example, similar to the scheme <NUM>. In an embodiment, the first set of interlaced frequency resources (e.g., the frequency interlace <NUM>I(<NUM>)) may include a different number of interlaced frequency resources than the second set of interlaced frequency resources (e.g., the frequency interlace <NUM>I(<NUM>)), for example, as shown in the scheme <NUM>. In an embodiment, the first allocation may further include the second set of interlaced frequency resources. For example, the first allocation may be similar to the allocations <NUM> and <NUM>.

Further according to the invention, intermediate the step <NUM> and the step <NUM>, the first wireless communication device also excludes one or more interlaced frequency resources (e.g., the frequency resources <NUM>, <NUM>, or offsets <NUM> and <NUM>) from the first allocation based on the first frequency resource exclusion configuration. The first wireless communication device then communicates the first communication signal with the second wireless communication device using remaining frequency resources in the first allocation, with reference to the step <NUM>. The exclusion can be based on a size constraint in the first frequency resource exclusion configuration such that the number of remaining interlaced frequency resources is of a predetermined integer multiple (e.g., an integer multiple of <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>). The exclusion can be based on a uniform pattern constraint in the first frequency resource exclusion configuration such that the remaining interlaced frequency resources include a uniform frequency distribution pattern.

In some embodiments, the first wireless communication device may determine whether the first communication signal includes a first waveform type associated with a first rule in the first frequency resource exclusion configuration or a second waveform type associated with a second rule in the first frequency resource exclusion configuration. The exclusion may be based on the first rule when determining that the first communication signal includes the first waveform type.

In some embodiments, the first wireless communication device may communicate a second interlace configuration indicating a second set of interlaced frequency resources in the frequency band with a third wireless communication device. The first wireless communication device may communicate a second frequency resource exclusion configuration with the third wireless communication device. The first wireless communication device may communicate a second allocation with the third wireless communication device. The second allocation may include at least some frequency resources from the second set of interlaced frequency resources based on the second frequency resource exclusion configuration. The first wireless communication device may communicate a second communication signal with the third wireless communication device based on the second resource allocation. The first set of interlaced frequency resources may include a first SCS (e.g., fscs1). The second set of interlaced frequency resources may include a second SCS (e.g., fscs1) greater than the first SCS.

In an embodiment, the second set of interlaced frequency resources may have a greater SCS than the first set of interlaced frequency resource. A frequency resource (e.g., the interlaced frequency resource <NUM>) in the first set of interlaced frequency resources may include a same number of subcarriers (e.g., the subcarriers <NUM>) as a frequency resource (e.g., the interlaced frequency resource <NUM>) in the second set of interlaced frequency resources. The first set of interlaced frequency resources may include a same interlace-spacing (e.g., the interlace-spacing <NUM> and <NUM>) as the second set of interlaced frequency resources, for example, as shown in the schemes <NUM> and <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the second set of interlaced frequency resources may have a greater SCS than the first set of interlaced frequency resource. The second set of interlaced frequency resources (e.g., the frequency interlace may be offset from a third set of interlaced frequency resources in the frequency band by the first set of interlaced frequency resources (e.g., the offsets <NUM> and <NUM>), the third set of interlaced frequency resources including the second subcarrier spacing, for example, as shown in the scheme <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the second set of interlaced frequency resources may have a greater SCS than the first set of interlaced frequency resource. A frequency resource (e.g., the interlaced frequency resource <NUM>) in the first set of interlaced frequency resources may include a same number of subcarriers as a frequency resource (e.g., the interlaced frequency resource <NUM>) in the second set of interlaced frequency resources. The first set of interlaced frequency resources may be spaced apart by a smaller interlace-spacing than the second set of interlaced frequency resources, for example, as shown in the schemes <NUM> and <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the second set of interlaced frequency resources may have a greater SCS than the first set of interlaced frequency resource. A frequency resource (e.g., the interlaced frequency resource <NUM>) in the first set of interlaced frequency resources may occupy a same bandwidth (e.g., the bandwidth <NUM>) as a frequency resource (e.g., the interlaced frequency resource <NUM>) in the second set of interlaced frequency resources, for example, as shown in the schemes <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A method (<NUM>) of wireless communication performed by a base station, comprising:
communicating (<NUM>), with a user equipment, UE, a first interlace configuration indicating a first set of interlaced frequency resources in a frequency band based on a power spectral density, PSD, parameter, wherein the first set of interlaced frequency resources includes a predetermined number of frequency resources based on a subcarrier spacing of the first set of interlaced frequency resources;
communicating (<NUM>), with the UE, a first frequency resource exclusion configuration;
communicating (<NUM>), with the UE, a first allocation including a plurality of frequency resources from the first set of interlaced frequency resources based on the first frequency resource exclusion configuration;
excluding one or more interlaced frequency resources from the first allocation based on the first frequency resource exclusion configuration such that a number of remaining frequency resources in the first allocation is of a predetermined integer multiple based on the first frequency resource exclusion configuration; and
communicating (<NUM>), with the UE, a first communication signal based on the first allocation using the remaining frequency resources in the first allocation.