Patent Description:
Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication, and more particularly to techniques and apparatuses for indication design and signaling.

3GPP proposal R1-<NUM> relates to pre-emption for UL inter UE Tx multiplexing and describes proposals <NUM> through <NUM> on UL cancellation indicators and cancellation mechanism, wherein it is further proposed to adopt both PDCCH and sequence based UL cancellation indication. 3GPP proposal R1-<NUM> considers on UL inter UE Tx prioritization and multiplexing and proposes that both sequence based signaling and group common DCI can be considered to indicate UL preemption. 3GPP proposal R1-<NUM> discloses details on inter-UE UL multiplexing, wherein signaling mechanisms for UL cancellation signaling are disclosed. There can be two options, namely PDCCH based and sequence based signaling.

The underlying problem of the present invention is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. In some aspects, a method of wireless communication, performed by a UE, according to claim <NUM> is provided.

In some aspects, a method of wireless communication, performed by a base station, according to claim <NUM> is provided.

In some aspects, a UE for wireless communication according to claim <NUM> is provided.

In some aspects, a base station for wireless communication according to claim <NUM> is provided.

In some aspects, a computer program product according to claim <NUM> is provided.

Aspects generally include a method, apparatus, system, computer program product, non-transitory computer-readable medium, user equipment, base station, wireless communication device, and processing system as substantially described herein with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings, and specification.

The invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims.

For example, the UEs <NUM> may communicate using peer-to-peer (P<NUM>P) communications, device-to-device (D2D) communications, a vehicle-to-everything (V2X) protocol (e.g., which may include a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) protocol, a vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) protocol, and/or the like), a mesh network, and/or the like.

Controller/processor <NUM> of base station <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM> of UE <NUM>, and/or any other component(s) of <FIG> may perform one or more techniques associated with indication design and signaling, as described in more detail elsewhere herein. For example, controller/processor <NUM> of base station <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM> of UE <NUM>, and/or any other component(s) of <FIG> may perform or direct operations of, for example, process <NUM> of <FIG>, process <NUM> of <FIG>, and/or other processes as described herein. Memories <NUM> and <NUM> may store data and program codes for base station <NUM> and UE <NUM>, respectively.

In some aspects, a UE <NUM> may include means for receiving an indication associated with processing a communication (e.g., stopping a transmission of an uplink communication), wherein the indication includes at least one of a PDCCH-based indication and a sequence-based indication, and wherein the apparatus is configured to receive PDCCH-based indications and sequence-based indications; means for processing the communication (e.g., stopping the transmission of the uplink communication) based at least in part on the indication; and/or the like. In some aspects, such means may include one or more components of UE <NUM> described in connection with <FIG>.

In some aspects, base station <NUM> may include means for determining an indication to be signaled to UE <NUM> in association with processing a communication (e.g., stopping a transmission of an uplink communication), wherein the indication includes at least one of a PDCCH-based indication and a sequence-based indication; means for signaling the indication to the UE in association with processing the communication (e.g., stopping the transmission of the uplink communication); and/or the like. In some aspects, such means may include one or more components of base station <NUM> described in connection with <FIG>.

Each subframe may have a predetermined duration (e.g., <NUM>) and may include a set of slots (e.g., <NUM>m slots per subframe are shown in <FIG>, where m is a numerology used for a transmission, such as <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>,<NUM>, and/or the like).

As further shown, each SS burst may include one or more SS blocks (identified as SS block <NUM> through SS block (bmax_ss-<NUM>), where bmax_ss-<NUM> is a maximum number of SS blocks that can be carried by an SS burst).

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

New Radio (NR) may refer to radios configured to operate according to a new air interface (e.g., other than Orthogonal Frequency Divisional Multiple Access (OFDMA)-based air interfaces) or fixed transport layer (e.g., other than Internet Protocol (IP)). In aspects, NR may utilize OFDM with a CP (herein referred to as cyclic prefix OFDM or CP-OFDM) and/or SC-FDM on the uplink, may utilize CP-OFDM on the downlink and include support for half-duplex operation using time division duplexing (TDD).

<FIG> is a diagram <NUM> showing an example of a DL-centric slot or wireless communication structure. The DL-centric slot may include a control portion <NUM>. The control portion <NUM> may exist in the initial or beginning portion of the DL-centric slot. The control portion <NUM> may include various scheduling information and/or control information corresponding to various portions of the DL-centric slot. In some aspects, the control portion <NUM> may include legacy PDCCH information, shortened PDCCH (sPDCCH) information), a control format indicator (CFI) value (e.g., carried on a physical control format indicator channel (PCFICH)), one or more grants (e.g., downlink grants, uplink grants, and/or the like), and/or the like.

The DL-centric slot may also include a DL data portion <NUM>. The DL data portion <NUM> may sometimes be referred to as the payload of the DL-centric slot.

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

The foregoing is one example of a DL-centric wireless communication structure, and alternative structures having similar features may exist without necessarily deviating from the aspects described herein.

<FIG> is a diagram <NUM> showing an example of an UL-centric slot or wireless communication structure. The UL-centric slot may include a control portion <NUM>. The control portion <NUM> may exist in the initial or beginning portion of the UL-centric slot. The control portion <NUM> in <FIG> may be similar to the control portion <NUM> described above with reference to <FIG>. The UL-centric slot may also include an UL long burst portion <NUM>. The UL long burst portion <NUM> may sometimes be referred to as the payload of the UL-centric slot. The UL portion may refer to the communication resources utilized to communicate UL data from the subordinate entity (e.g., UE) to the scheduling entity (e.g., UE or BS). In some configurations, the control portion <NUM> may be a physical DL control channel (PDCCH).

The UL-centric slot may also include an UL short burst portion <NUM>. The UL short burst portion <NUM> in <FIG> may be similar to the UL short burst portion <NUM> described above with reference to <FIG>, and may include any of the information described above in connection with <FIG>. The foregoing is one example of an UL-centric wireless communication structure, and alternative structures having similar features may exist without necessarily deviating from the aspects described herein.

Real-world applications of such sidelink communications may include public safety, proximity services, UE-to-network relaying, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications, Internet of Everything (I0E) communications, I0T communications, mission-critical mesh, and/or various other suitable applications. Generally, "sidelink signal" may refer to a signal communicated from one subordinate entity (e.g., UE1) to another subordinate entity (e.g., UE2) without relaying that communication through the scheduling entity (e.g., UE or BS), even though the scheduling entity may be utilized for scheduling and/or control purposes. In some aspects, the sidelink signals may be communicated using a licensed spectrum (unlike wireless local area networks, which typically use an unlicensed spectrum).

In one example, a wireless communication structure, such as a frame, may include both UL-centric slots and DL-centric slots. In this example, the ratio of UL-centric slots to DL-centric slots in a frame may be dynamically adjusted based at least in part on the amount of UL data and the amount of DL data that are transmitted. For example, if there is more UL data, then the ratio of UL-centric slots to DL-centric slots may be increased. Conversely, if there is more DL data, then the ratio of UL-centric slots to DL-centric slots may be decreased.

An uplink preemption indication is an indication designed to be used in association with causing a UE to stop a transmission of an uplink communication. Applicable scenarios for use of uplink preemption indications include, for example, enabling an uplink inter-UE transmission prioritization/multiplexing scheme (e.g., associated with enhancing transmission of PUSCH communications associated with a URLLC service).

Put generally, an uplink preemption indication scheme may be designed to cause a UE to stop an uplink transmission upon detecting the uplink preemption indication (e.g., by canceling a transmission of an uplink communication that has not been started, by ceasing an on-going transmission of an uplink communication, and/or the like). In some cases, the uplink preemption indication scheme may be designed to cause the UE to resume the transmission at some point in time after stopping the transmission, or may be designed such that the UE does not resume the transmission after stopping the transmission. Possible options for a base station to signal an uplink preemption indication to a UE are a PDCCH-based uplink preemption indication (e.g., signaled in group common DCI or UE-specific DCI) or a sequence-based uplink preemption indication (e.g., signaled using a group common sequence or a UE-specific sequence).

Notably, using a sequence-based indication may reduce PDCCH overhead (e.g., since the uplink preemption indication does not require use of PDCCH resources) and, therefore, may conserve radio resources and/or have no impact on PDCCH transmissions. However, the sequence-based indication may have a coarse granularity (e.g., as compared to a PDCCH-based indication), meaning that the sequence-based indication may be capable of carrying only an indication to stop a transmission of an uplink. In other words, the sequence-based indication may not be capable of carrying information that identifies a time at which the UE is to stop the uplink transmission or a time at which the UE is to resume the uplink transmission (e.g., as would be possible in the case of a PDCCH-based indication). This issue is particularly problematic when the sequence-based indication is signaled to a group of UEs, since network inefficiencies may be introduced (e.g., radio resources that could have otherwise been used for uplink transmissions may go unused).

Some aspects described herein provide indication design and signaling associated with defining an indication scheme.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example <NUM> associated with indication and signaling, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. Notably, while some examples associated with <FIG> described herein are described in the context of the indication being an uplink preemption indication, the aspects described herein can be applied to other types of indications, such as an indication serving as a wake-up signal, an indication associated with a two-step PDCCH in a sidelink, or another type of indication.

As shown in <FIG>, and by reference number <NUM>, a base station (e.g., base station <NUM>) may determine an indication to be signaled to a UE (e.g., a UE <NUM>) in association with processing a communication. For example, the base station may determine an uplink preemption indication to be signaled to the UE in association with stopping a transmission of an uplink communication. For example, in an uplink inter-UE transmission prioritization/multiplexing scenario, the base station may determine that a transmission of an uplink communication by the UE is to be stopped to allow another UE to transmit an uplink communication. As a particular example, if the UE is an eMBB UE (e.g., a UE that is to communicate eMBB traffic), then the base station may determine that a transmission of an uplink communication by the eMBB UE is to be stopped in order to allow a URLLC UE (e.g., a UE that is to communicate URLLC traffic) to transmit an uplink communication in resources scheduled for the eMBB UE.

In some aspects, as indicated in <FIG>, the base station may determine the indication such that the indication includes a PDCCH-based indication and/or a sequence-based indication. In other words, the indication scheme configured on the base station may permit use of PDCCH-based indications and sequence-based indications, and the base station may determine whether the indication, to be signaled to the UE, comprises a PDCCH-based indication and/or a sequence-based indication.

In some aspects, the indication includes a PDCCH-based indication and does not include a sequence-based indication. In other words, in some aspects, the indication includes only a PDCCH-based indication, or only a sequence-based indication.

In some aspects, whether the indication includes only a PDCCH-based indication or only a sequence-based indication is based at least in part on a payload associated with the indication. Here, the payload is associated with an amount of information to be conveyed in the indication. For example, if the payload needs to convey only that the uplink transmission is to be stopped (e.g., when the indication is an uplink preemption indication), then the base station may determine the indication to include a sequence-based indication. This may be the case when, for example, the indication will be received by a small number of UEs (including the UE) (e.g., such that preemption has a nominal overall impact on UE communications) and/or when preemption is relatively infrequent (e.g., such that the transmission can be reliably rescheduled without significant delay).

As another example, if the payload needs to convey that the uplink transmission is to be stopped and needs to convey other information (e.g., information that identifies a time or a resource at which the uplink transmission is to be stopped, information that identifies a time or a resource at which the uplink communication can be resumed, and/or the like), then the base station may determine the indication to include a PDCCH-based indication. This may be the case when, for example, the indication will be received by many UEs (including the UE) and/or when preemption is relatively frequent (e.g., such that the transmission cannot be reliably rescheduled without significant delay).

In some aspects, the base station may determine whether the indication includes only a PDCCH-based indication or only a sequence-based indication based at least in part on a type of information to be conveyed in the indication, as indicated above. In some aspects, the base station may determine whether the indication includes only a PDCCH-based indication or only a sequence-based indication based at least in part on a threshold. The threshold may include, for example, a threshold number of symbols needed to signal the indication.

In some aspects, the indication includes both a PDCCH-based indication and a sequence-based indication. In other words, in some aspects, the base station may determine that the indication is to be a combination of a sequence-based indication and a PDCCH-based indication.

In some aspects, sequence-based indications (which require comparatively fewer resources than PDCCH-based indications) can be transmitted by the base station on a comparatively more frequent basis than PDCCH-based indications, but may provide only coarse information, as described above. In some aspects, this characteristic can be used in association with signaling an indication that comprises both a sequence-based indication and a PDCCH-based indication. For example, a sequence-based indication may be used to indicate, to the UE, to expect a PDCCH-based indication. In such a case, upon receiving the sequence-based indication, the UE may increase a frequency of PDCCH monitoring. Continuing with this example, the UE may, based at least in part on increasing the frequency of PDCCH monitoring, receive the PDCCH-based indication. As described above, the PDCCH-based indication may include information that cannot be carried by the sequence-based indication, such as information associated with identifying a time or a resource associated with stopping and (optionally) a time or a resource associated with resuming the transmission of the uplink communication. Notably, in this example, the increased PDCCH monitoring occurs only after the UE detects a sequence-based indication. Thus, UE resources (e.g., battery power, processing resources, and/or the like) can be conserved when the indication includes both a sequence-based indication and a PDCCH-based indication, while still allowing detailed information to be received by the UE. Of further note, in such an aspect, the base station can transmit PDCCH-based indications less frequently (e.g., once per slot) than sequence-based indications.

As shown by reference number <NUM>, the base station may signal the indication to the UE in association with processing the communication. For example, the base station may signal the indication to the UE in association with stopping the transmission of the uplink communication (e.g., after the base station determines the indication). Additional details regarding signaling of the indication are described below.

As shown by reference number <NUM>, the UE may receive the indication associated with processing the communication. For example, the UE may receive the indication associated with stopping the transmission of the uplink communication. In some aspects, as described above, the indication includes a PDCCH-based indication and/or a sequence-based indication. Thus, in some aspects, the UE is configured to receive PDCCH-based indications and sequence-based indications. In other words, the UE may be configured such that the UE receives both sequence-based indications and PDCCH-based indications. Additional details regarding reception of the indication are described below.

As shown by reference number <NUM>, the UE may process the communication based at least in part on the indication. For example, the UE may stop the transmission of the uplink communication based at least in part on the indication. In some aspects, as described below, the UE may resume the transmission of the uplink communication after stopping the transmission of the uplink communication (e.g., when the indication indicates a time or a resource at which the UE is to resume the uplink transmission).

In some aspects, when the indication includes a sequence-based indication, a location at which the sequence-based indication is signaled by the base station (and received by the UE) may indicate a set of symbols in which the transmission of the uplink communication is to be stopped. In some aspects, a number of symbols in the set of symbols is based at least in part on a number of monitoring occasions associated with a slot. In other words, in some aspects, timing associated with stopping and (optionally) resuming the transmission of the uplink communication can depend on a symbol in which the sequence-based indication is signaled by the base station (and received by the UE). Further, in some cases, the number of symbols (or a span of symbols) affected by the sequence-based indication may be associated with a number of monitoring occasions.

For example, when there are two monitoring occasions configured per slot, then a URLLC uplink communication may have a length of approximately seven symbols or less. Here, if the (eMBB) UE receives the sequence-based indication in the first of two monitoring occasions of a given slot, then the UE may be configured to stop transmission of the uplink communication in the first seven symbols of the slot, and to resume the transmission of the uplink communication in the remaining seven symbols of the slot and/or in a later slot. Conversely, if the UE receives the sequence-based indication in the second of the two monitoring occasions in the given slot, then the UE may be configured to stop the transmission of the uplink in the second seven symbols of the slot and resume the uplink transmission in a later slot.

In some aspects, a sequence associated with a sequence-based indication may be one of a set of sequences, each of which is associated with a respective particular symbol from which the UE is to stop the transmission of the uplink communication until an end of a slot. For example, the UE may be configured with a set of sequences comprising a first sequence, a second sequence, and a third sequence. Here, the first sequence may be associated with a first slot symbol (e.g., symbol <NUM>), the second sequence may be associated with a second slot symbol (e.g., symbol <NUM>), and the third sequence may be associated with a third slot symbol (e.g., symbol <NUM>). In this example, the base station may, when determining the indication, identify whether the UE is to stop the uplink transmission in the first symbol, the second symbol, or the third symbol, and may use the appropriate sequence in the sequence-based indication. The UE, upon receiving the sequence-based indication, may identify the sequence, and may stop the uplink transmission accordingly. As an illustrative example, when the UE identifies the sequence-based indication as including the third sequence, the UE may stop the uplink transmission in symbol <NUM>.

In some aspects, the sequence may further be associated with a particular symbol in which the UE is to resume the transmission of the uplink communication. Continuing with the above example, the first sequence may further be associated with a fourth slot symbol (e.g., symbol <NUM>), the second sequence may further be associated with a fifth slot symbol (e.g., symbol <NUM>), and the third sequence may further be associated with a sixth slot symbol (e.g., symbol <NUM>). Here, upon receiving the sequence-based indication, the UE may identify the sequence, and stop and (later) resume the uplink transmission accordingly. As an illustrative example, when the UE identifies the sequence-based indication as including the second sequence, the UE may stop the uplink transmission in symbol <NUM> and resume the uplink transmission in symbol <NUM>.

In some aspects, when the indication includes the sequence-based indication, the base station may signal, and the UE may receive, the indication at least partially in a resource block designated for sequence-based indication signaling. In some aspects, such a resource block may be at or near an edge of a bandwidth part and/or may be adjacent to a control resource set (CORESET).

In some aspects, when the indication includes the sequence-based indication, the base station may signal, and the UE may receive, the indication at least partially in a CORESET. In some aspects, the CORESET may be one in which one or more control channel elements (CCEs) or one or more candidates are designated for sequence-based indication signaling (e.g., rather than for decoding DCI).

In some aspects, when the indication includes the sequence-based indication, the base station may signal, and the UE may receive, the indication based at least in part on a reference signal (e.g., a reference signal with a structure similar to that of a tracking reference signal (TRS), a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), and/or the like). In the invention as claimed, PDSCH communications for UEs, including the UE, are rate matched around resources designated for sequence-based indications regardless of whether the UEs are to receive sequence-based indications. In other words, the rate matching pattern can be configured on each of the UEs regardless of whether they expect to receive sequence-based indications (e.g., in a manner similar to that associated with rate matching around a TRS or a CSI-RS).

In a carrier aggregation scenario, in some aspects, the indication (e.g., a sequence-based indication or PDCCH-based indication) may indicate preemption on one or more frequency bands of a plurality of frequency bands on which the UE is configured to transmit the uplink communication (e.g., different sequences can be used to indicate preemption for different frequency bands).

Similarly, in some aspects, the indication may indicate preemption on each of a plurality of component carriers on which the UE is configured to transmit the uplink communication. In some aspects, such a configuration can be per band or band combination. In some aspects, the transmission of the uplink communication may be resumed on the plurality of component carriers based at least in part on whether the plurality of component carriers are intra-band contiguous, non-contiguous, or interband, or based at least in part on whether the UE can maintain a phase associated with the plurality of component carriers.

As indicated above, <FIG> is are provided as an example.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example process <NUM> performed, for example, by a UE, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. Example process <NUM> is an example where a UE (e.g., UE <NUM>) performs operations associated with indication design and signaling.

As shown in <FIG>, in some aspects, process <NUM> may include receiving an indication associated with processing a communication (block <NUM>). For example, the UE (e.g., using antenna <NUM>, demodulator <NUM>, MIMO detector <NUM>, receive processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, and/or the like) may receive an indication associated with stopping a transmission of an uplink communication, as described above. In some aspects, the indication includes at least one of a PDCCH-based indication and a sequence-based indication. In some aspects, the UE is configured to receive PDCCH-based indications and sequence-based indications.

As further shown in <FIG>, in some aspects, process <NUM> may include processing the communication based at least in part on the indication (block <NUM>). For example, the UE (e.g., using transmit processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, and/or the like) may stop the transmission of the uplink communication based at least in part on the indication, as described above.

In the invention as claimed, physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) communications for a plurality of UEs, including the UE, are rate matched around resources designated for sequence-based indications regardless of whether the plurality of UEs is to receive the sequence-based indications.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example process <NUM> performed, for example, by a base station, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. Example process <NUM> is an example where a base station (e.g., base station <NUM>) performs operations associated with indication design and signaling.

As shown in <FIG>, in some aspects, process <NUM> may include determining an indication to be signaled to a UE in association with processing a communication (block <NUM>). For example, the base station (e.g., using transmit processor <NUM>, TX MIMO processor <NUM>, modulator <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, and/or the like) may determine an indication to be signaled to a UE (e.g., UE <NUM>) in association with stopping a transmission of an uplink communication, as described above. In some aspects, the indication includes at least one of a PDCCH-based indication and a sequence-based indication.

As further shown in <FIG>, in some aspects, process <NUM> may include signaling the indication to the UE in association with processing the communication (block <NUM>). For example, the base station (e.g., using antenna <NUM>, TX MIMO processor <NUM>, modulator <NUM>, transmit processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, and/or the like) may signal the indication to the UE in association with stopping the transmission of the uplink communication, as described above.

In the invention as claimed, PDSCH communications for a plurality of UEs, including the UE, are rate matched around resources designated for sequence-based indications regardless of whether the plurality of UEs is to receive the sequence-based indications.

Claim 1:
A method (<NUM>) of wireless communication performed by a user equipment, UE (<NUM>), comprising:
receiving (<NUM>) an indication associated with a communication,
wherein the indication includes at least one of a physical downlink control channel, PDCCH,-based indication and a sequence-based indication, and
wherein the UE is configured to receive PDCCH-based indications and sequence-based indications; and
processing (<NUM>) the communication based at least in part on the indication,
the method characterized in that
physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH, communications for a plurality of UEs, including the UE, are rate matched around resources designated for sequence-based indications regardless of whether the plurality of UEs is to receive the sequence-based indications.