Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses a method and apparatus for configuring a data subband in a wireless communication system. A user equipment (UE) receives an indication of a data subband from a network, configures at least one data subband according to the indication, and performs communication with the network via the at least one data subband. One data subband consists of contiguous or non-contiguous physical resource blocks (PRBs).

<CIT> discloses a method for transmitting and receiving a signal between a terminal and a base station in a wireless communication system supporting an unlicensed band, and devices supporting same. More particularly, disclosed are a method for transmitting a signal by means of applying an analog beam varying/independent for each symbol unit, and devices supporting same, the method characterized by transmitting a signal by means of applying an analog beam varying/independent for each symbol on the basis of the successful location of a channel access procedure (e.g. listen before talk (LBT)) for signal transmission in an unlicensed band.

<NPL>, discusses PUSCH resource allocation in frequency domain by combining interlace unit index and subband index.

The scope of the invention is defined and limited by the appended set of independent claims. Further embodiments are defined by the appended set of dependent claims.

The claims relate to sub-band resource allocation in wireless communication systems and provide techniques for identifying uplink resources for communications in unlicensed frequency bands comprising multiple interlaces, sub-bands and resource blocks.

The wireless network <NUM> may include a number of BSs <NUM> (shown as BS 110a, BS 110b, BS 110c, and BS 11od) and other network entities.

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 subband based resource allocation for New Radio unlicensed (NR-U), 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, UE <NUM> may include means for identifying a subband configuration for a plurality of subbands configured for the UE <NUM>, the subband configuration including one or more guard bands for the plurality of subbands, means for identifying one or more resource blocks, in which to transmit a PUSCH communication, based at least in part on the subband configuration, means for transmitting, to a base station <NUM>, the PUSCH communication in the one or more resource blocks, 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 configuring a subband configuration that includes one or more guard bands for a plurality of subbands configured to a UE <NUM>, means for transmitting, to the UE <NUM>, an indication of the subband configuration, and/or the like. In some aspects, such means may include one or more components of base station <NUM> described in connection with <FIG>.

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>,. As another example, R interlaces may be defined, where R may be equal to <NUM>, <NUM>, or some other value based at least in part on subcarrier spacing of slot format <NUM> (e.g., <NUM> for <NUM> subcarrier spacing, <NUM> for <NUM> subcarrier spacing, and/or the like). Each interlace may include resource blocks, for PUSCH transmissions, that are spaced apart by R resource blocks in the frequency domain. In particular, interlace r may include resource blocks r, r + R, r + 2R, etc., where r ∈ {<NUM>,. As an example, for <NUM> interlaces of resource blocks, a first interlace may include resource block <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and so on, a second interlace may include resource block <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and so on, a third interlace may include resource block <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and so on, and/or the like.

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).

As indicated above, various interlaces of resource blocks for PUSCH transmissions may be defined for various types of wireless network deployments, such as a <NUM>/NR deployment. In some cases, the resource blocks included in an interlace may be dispersed across a plurality of frequency domain resources (e.g., subbands, channels, and/or the like). In this case, a UE may identify the resource blocks, that may be used for transmitting a PUSCH communication to a BS, based at least in part on a frequency domain resource allocation assigned to the UE and an interlace allocated to the UE. In other words, the UE may identify the resource blocks, included in the allocated interlace, that fall within the subbands or channels of the frequency domain resource allocation assigned to the UE.

In some cases, the subbands and associated guard bands that may be allocated to the UE may be included in a well-defined structure (e.g., length and location), such as for a <NUM>/NR deployment in a licensed frequency band. However, for an NR-U deployment, subband and guard band length (e.g., in resource blocks) and/or location may be based at least in part on an unlicensed and/or shared frequency band used in the deployment, may be based at least in part on a channelization of another type of wireless access method (e.g., Wi-Fi channelization), may be based at least in part on interference requirements for the unlicensed frequency band, may be dynamic and/or configurable by BSs in the deployment, and/or the like. As a result, the UE may be unable to determine the length and/or locations of subbands and/or guard bands for a frequency domain resource allocation assigned to the UE, which in turn may result in the UE being unable to identify the resource blocks that may be used for transmitting physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) communications.

Some aspects described herein provide techniques and apparatuses for subband based resource allocation for NR-U. A UE may identify one or more resource blocks, in which to transmit a PUSCH communication, based at least in part on a subband configuration for a plurality of subbands configured for the UE. The subband configuration may indicate and/or include one or more guard bands for the plurality of subbands allocated to the UE, as well as other parameters for the plurality of subbands and/or one or more guard bands. The subband configuration may be hard coded or configured system-wide for all subbands across a particular frequency band (e.g., an unlicensed frequency band in an NR-U deployment) or all frequency bands included in a wireless network, may be configured for all subbands on a cell-basis for each BS in the wireless network, may be configured per bandwidth part (BWP) associated with a BS, may be configured for different combinations of subbands, and/or the like. In this way, the UE is permitted to use the subband configuration to identify the length and/or locations of subbands and/or guard bands for a frequency domain resource allocation assigned to the UE (e.g., in an unlicensed frequency band deployment), which in turn permits the UE to identify the resource blocks that may be used for transmitting PUSCH communications.

<FIG> are diagrams illustrating one or more examples <NUM> of subband based resource allocation for NR-U, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, examples <NUM> may include communication between a BS (e.g., BS <NUM>) and a UE (e.g., UE <NUM>). In some aspects, the BS and the UE may be included in a wireless network (e.g., wireless network <NUM>).

In some aspects, the BS and the UE may be configured to communicate in the wireless network using various frequency bands, such as one or more licensed frequency bands, one or more unlicensed and/or shared frequency bands, and/or the like. Examples of unlicensed and/or shared frequency bands may include industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) radio frequency bands, such as <NUM> and <NUM> (which may typically be used for Wi-Fi communication), and/or the like. To permit cellular communication using an unlicensed and/or shared frequency band, the unlicensed and/or shared frequency band may be configured into subbands. The subbands may be guard banded to provide some protection against radio frequency (RF) interference caused by transmissions in adjacent subbands.

In some aspects, a subband configuration may be hard coded or configured system-wide for an entire unlicensed and/or shared frequency band for all BSs in the wireless network, may be hard coded or configured system-wide for all unlicensed and/or shared frequency bands that are permitted to be operated in the wireless network, and/or the like. A subband configuration may include, specify, and/or indicate one or more subbands, one or more guard bands associated with each subband (e.g., the locations of the one or more guard bands, the length or bandwidth of the one or more guard bands, and/or the like), and/or the like. The subband configuration may indicate the number of resource blocks included in each subband, may indicate the locations of the one or more subbands (e.g., a starting resource block and ending resource block for each subband), and/or the like. The subband configuration may indicate the number of resource blocks included in each guard band, may indicate the locations of the one or more guard bands (e.g., a starting resource block and ending resource block for each guard band), and/or the like.

A subband configuration may be hard coded or configured system-wide for an entire unlicensed and/or shared frequency band for all BSs in the wireless network such that the subband configuration configures all subbands and guard bands for the unlicensed and/or shared frequency band. In this case, all BSs in the wireless network may use the same subband configuration for the unlicensed and/or shared frequency band. As another example, a subband configuration may be hard coded or configured system-wide for all unlicensed and/or shared frequency bands for all BSs in the wireless network such that the subband configuration configures all subbands and guard bands for all unlicensed and/or shared frequency bands in the wireless network. In this case, all BSs in the wireless network may use the same subband configuration for all unlicensed and/or shared frequency bands that are permitted to be operated in the wireless network.

In some aspects, a subband configuration may be hard coded or configured system-wide for an unlicensed and/or shared frequency band across the entire wireless network in cases where, for example, a channel structure that is configured for other types of communication (e.g., Wi-Fi communication) is reused for cellular communication on the unlicensed and/or shared frequency band. For example, if the BS and the UE communicate via <NUM>, the BS and the UE (as well as other BSs and UEs in the wireless network) may reuse the channels (e.g., channel frequencies and bandwidths) and guard bands, that are configured for Wi-Fi communication, as the subbands and guard bands for cellular communication using the <NUM> frequency band. Examples of channel bandwidths of an unlicensed and/or shared frequency band channel may include <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or the like.

As shown in <FIG>, and by reference number <NUM>, in some aspects, additionally and/or alternatively to the subband configuration being hard coded or configured system-wide for the entire wireless network, the BS may configure a cell-based subband configuration (e.g., a subband configuration specific to a cell), a BWP-based subband configuration (e.g., a subband configuration specific to a BWP of a cell), a subband combination-based subband configuration (e.g., a subband configuration specific to a combination of subbands of an unlicensed and/or shared frequency band), and/or the like. In this way, the BS (and other BSs in the wireless network) is permitted to flexibly configure subband configurations (e.g., the same subband configuration, different subband configurations, and/or the like) for different cells of the BS, for different BWPs of each cell, for different combinations of subbands in each cell, and/or the like.

In some aspects, the BS may configure one or more combinations of subband configuration types for one or more UEs. For example, in addition to a hard coded or system-wide subband configuration, the BS may configure a cell-based subband configuration, a BWP-based subband configuration, and/or a subband combination-based subband configuration for the one or more UEs. In this case, the one or more UEs may use the hard coded or system-wide subband configuration prior to being RRC configured by the BS, and may use the cell-based subband configuration, a BWP-based subband configuration, and/or a subband combination-based subband configuration after being RRC configured. As another example, the BS may configure a cell-based subband configuration, which may be configured for the one or more UEs to use as a default or baseline subband configuration (e.g., and thus, may be transmitted in a SIB and/or another type of system information), and then UEs may be RRC configured with UE-specific subband configurations (e.g., a BWP-based subband configuration, a subband combination-based subband configuration, and/or the like).

<FIG> illustrates an example of a cell-based subband configuration. Other cell-based subband configurations may be implemented. As shown in <FIG>, the cell-based subband configuration may configure a plurality of subbands (e.g., subbands B1-B5) and a plurality of associated guard bands (e.g., guard bands A1-A5) for an unlicensed and/or shared frequency band that is operated in a cell associated with the BS. In some aspects, the BS may define the plurality of subbands and the plurality of guard bands (e.g., the respective starting resource blocks and the respective ending blocks for the plurality of subbands and the plurality of guard bands) starting from a reference frequency or physical resource block of the unlicensed and/or shared frequency band. The reference frequency or physical resource block may be referred to as a common reference point or Point A.

In some aspects, the configuration of the plurality of subbands and the plurality of guard-bands in the subband configuration may be applied to all BWPs configured by the BS in the cell. For example, <FIG> illustrates various example BWPs configured for the BS (e.g., BWP <NUM>-<NUM>). As shown in <FIG>, BWP <NUM> may include subband B2 and guard bands A2 and A3 from the cell-based subband configuration, BWP <NUM> may include subbands B2 and B3 and guard bands A2-A4 from the cell-based subband configuration, BWP <NUM> may include subbands B1-B5 and guard bands A1-A5 from the cell-based subband configuration, and so on.

Moreover, as shown in <FIG>, the length and locations of the subbands and the guard bands in each BWP may be carried over from the cell-based subband configuration. In other words, the length and location of subband B2 may be the same for BWP <NUM>, BWP <NUM>, and BWP2; the length and location of guard band A2 may be the same for BWP <NUM>, BWP <NUM>, and BWP2; and so on.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a BWP-based subband configuration. Other BWP-based subband configurations may be implemented. As shown in <FIG>, the BWP-based subband configuration may configure a plurality of BWPs for a cell associated with the BS. Each BWP may be configured with one or more subbands and one or more associated guard bands for an unlicensed and/or shared frequency band that is operated in a cell associated with the BS. In some aspects, a BWP-based subband configuration may configure a single BWP. In this case, the BS may configure respective BWP-based subband configurations for each BWP associated with the BS. In some aspects, a BWP-based subband configuration may configure one or more BWPs that are assigned to the UE. In this case, the BS may configure respective BWP-based subband configurations for each UE that communicatively connects with the BS.

In some aspects, the configuration of subbands and guard-bands in the subband configuration for each BWP may be the same configuration or different configurations. In this case, one or more of subbands B1-B5 in a first BWP may be a different length and/or at a different location in an unlicensed and/or shared frequency band relative to one or more of subbands B1-B5 in a second BWP or may be the same length and/or location as one or more of subbands B1-B5 in the second BWP. Similarly, one or more of guard bands A1-A6 in a first BWP may be a different length and/or at a different location in an unlicensed and/or shared frequency band relative to one or more of guard bands A1-A6 in a second BWP or may be the same length and/or location as one or more of guard bands A1-A6 in the second BWP.

For example, <FIG> illustrates various example BWPs configured for the BS (e.g., BWP <NUM>-<NUM>). The BWPs may be configured in respective BWP-based subband configurations or the same BWP-based subband configuration. As shown in <FIG>, BWP <NUM> may include a subband B1 and guard bands A1 and A2, BWP <NUM> may include subbands B1 and B1 and guard bands A1-A3, BWP <NUM> may include subbands B1-B5 and guard bands A1-A6, and so on. Moreover, the locations of subband B1 and B2 may be different across BWPs <NUM>-<NUM>, the locations of guard bands A1-A3 may be different across BWPs <NUM>-<NUM>, and so on.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a subband combination-based subband configuration. Other subband combination-based subband configurations may be implemented. As shown in <FIG>, the subband combination-based subband configuration may be associated with a plurality of subband combinations associated with the BS. Each subband combination may be configured with one or more subbands and one or more associated guard bands for an unlicensed and/or shared frequency band that is operated by the BS.

In some aspects, a subband combination-based subband configuration may configure a single subband combination. In this case, the BS may configure respective subband combination-based subband configurations for each subband combination associated with the BS. In some aspects, a subband combination-based subband configuration may configure one or more subband combinations that are assigned to the UE. In this case, the BS may configure respective subband combination-based subband configurations for each UE that communicatively connects with the BS. In some aspects, a subband combination-based subband configuration for a subband combination may be the same or different for different BWPs associated with the BS, may be the same or different for different cells associated with the BS, and/or the like.

In some aspects, the subbands included in a subband combination may be adjacent and/or contiguous subbands. In this case, the subband combination-based subband configuration may indicate and/or specify the starting RB and ending RB for the contiguous set of subbands. In some aspects, the subbands included in a subband combination may be non-adjacent subbands. In this case, the subband combination-based subband configuration may indicate and/or specify respective starting RBs and respective ending RBs for each subband.

In some aspects, the configuration of subbands and guard-bands for each subband combination may be the same configuration or different configurations. In this case, one or more of subbands B1-B5 in a first subband combination may be a different length and/or at a different location in an unlicensed and/or shared frequency band relative to one or more of subbands B1-B5 in a second subband combination or may be the same length and/or location as one or more of subbands B1-B5 in the second subband combination. Similarly, one or more of guard bands A1-A6 in a first subband combination may be a different length and/or at a different location in an unlicensed and/or shared frequency band relative to one or more of guard bands A1-A6 in a second subband combination or may be the same length and/or location as one or more of guard bands A1-A6 in the second subband combination.

For example, <FIG> illustrates various example subband combinations configured for a BWP of the BS (e.g., BWP <NUM>). The subband combinations may be configured in respective subband combination-based subband configurations or the same subband combination-based subband configuration. As shown in <FIG>, each subband combination may include a subband B1 and guard bands A1 and A2. Moreover, as shown in <FIG>, the length and/or location of subband B1 and/or guard bands A1 and A2 may be the same or different across the subband combinations.

As shown in <FIG>, and by reference number <NUM>, the BS may transmit an indication of a resource allocation to the UE. The resource allocation may indicate the time-domain resources (e.g., slots, symbols, and/or the like) and/or the frequency-domain resources that are allocated to the UE. The frequency-domain resources may include a BWP, one or more subbands included in the BWP, and/or the like, that are included in a licensed or unlicensed and/or shared frequency band. Additionally, the BS may transmit an indication of an interlace of resource blocks allocated to the UE.

Moreover, the BS may transmit an indication of a subband configuration for the one or more subbands allocated to the UE. The BS may transmit the indication of the subband configuration based at least in part on the resource allocation, based at least in part on no hard coded or system-wide subband configuration being configured for the wireless network, and/or the like. The subband configuration may include, indicate, and/or specify the length, location, and/or other parameters of the one or more subbands allocated to the UE, the length, location, and/or other parameters of the one or more guard bands associated with the subbands allocated to the UE, and/or the like. As indicated above, the subband configuration may be a cell-based subband configuration, a BWP-based subband configuration, a subband combination-based subband configuration, and/or the like.

In some aspects, the BS may transmit the indication of the resource allocation, the indication of the interlace, and/or the indication of the subband configuration to the UE in one or more communications. The one or more communications may include a master information block (MIB), a SIB, a remaining minimum system information (RMSI) communication, an other system information (OSI) communication, a downlink control information (DCI) communication, a radio resource control (RRC) communication, a PBCH communication, a PDCCH communication, and/or another type of downlink communication. In some aspects, if the subband configuration is a cell-based subband configuration, the BS may transmit the indication of the subband configuration in a cell configuration for the cell. In some aspects, if the subband configuration is a BWP-based subband configuration, the BS may transmit the indication of the subband configuration in a BWP configuration for the BWP.

In some aspects, the BS may configure a plurality of candidate subband configurations in one or more first communications (e.g., a MIB, a SIB, an RMSI communication, an OSI communication, an RRC communication, and/or the like), and the BS may transmit the indication of the subband configuration in one or more second communications (e.g., a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE) communication, a DCI communication, and/or the like), in which the one or more second communications index into the plurality of candidate subband configurations indicatged in the one or more first communications.

As further shown in <FIG>, and by reference number <NUM>, the UE may identify one or more resource blocks, in which to transmit a PUSCH communication to the BS. In some aspects, the UE may identify the one or more resource blocks based at least in part on the resource allocation, the subband configuration, and/or the interlace. For example, the UE may identify a first plurality of resource blocks, included in the subbands allocated to the UE, based at least in part on the resource allocation and the subband configuration, may identify a second plurality of resource blocks for interlaced PUSCH transmissions based at least in part on the interlace, and may identify a subset of resource blocks included in both the first plurality of resource blocks and the second plurality of resource blocks as the one or more resource blocks that the UE may use to transmit the PUSCH communication. As further shown in <FIG>, and by reference number <NUM>, the UE may transmit, to the BS, the PUSCH communication in the one or more resource blocks that were identified as being permitted for use in transmitting the PUSCH communication to the BS.

In this way, the UE may identify one or more resource blocks, in which to transmit a PUSCH communication, based at least in part on a subband configuration for a plurality of subbands configured for the UE. The subband configuration may indicate and/or include one or more guard bands for the plurality of subbands allocated to the UE, as well as other parameters for the plurality of subbands and/or one or more guard bands. The subband configuration may be hard coded for all subbands across a particular frequency band (e.g., an unlicensed frequency band in an NR-U deployment) or all frequency bands included in a wireless network, may be configured for all subbands on a cell-basis for each BS in the wireless network, may be configured per BWP associated with the BS, may be configured for different combinations of subbands, and/or the like. In this way, the UE is permitted to use the subband configuration to identify the length and/or locations of subbands and/or guard bands for a frequency domain resource allocation assigned to the UE (e.g., in an unlicensed frequency band deployment), which in turn permits the UE to identify the resource blocks that may be used for transmitting PUSCH communications.

<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 subband based resource allocation for NR-U.

As shown in <FIG>, in some aspects, process <NUM> may include identifying a subband configuration for a plurality of subbands configured for the UE, the subband configuration including one or more guard bands for the plurality of subbands (block <NUM>). For example, the UE (e.g., using receive processor <NUM>, transmit processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, and/or the like) may identify a subband configuration for a plurality of subbands configured for the UE, as described above. In some aspects, the subband configuration including one or more guard bands for the plurality of subbands.

As shown in <FIG>, in some aspects, process <NUM> may include identifying one or more resource blocks, in which to transmit a PUSCH communication, based at least in part on the subband configuration (block <NUM>). For example, the UE (e.g., using receive processor <NUM>, transmit processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, and/or the like) may identify one or more resource blocks, in which to transmit a PUSCH communication, based at least in part on the subband configuration, as described above.

As further shown in <FIG>, in some aspects, process <NUM> may include transmitting, to a BS, the PUSCH communication in the one or more resource blocks (block <NUM>). For example, the UE (e.g., using receive processor <NUM>, transmit processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, and/or the like) may transmit, to a BS, the PUSCH communication in the one or more resource blocks, as described above.

In a first aspect, the plurality of subbands are included in an unlicensed frequency band. In a second aspect, alone or in combination with the first aspect, identifying the one or more resource blocks comprises identifying, based at least in part on the subband configuration, a first plurality of resource blocks included in the plurality of subbands; identifying, based at least in part on an interlace of resource blocks configured for the UE, a second plurality of resource blocks for interlaced PUSCH transmissions; and identifying the one or more resource blocks as a subset of the second plurality of resource blocks that is included in the first plurality of resource blocks.

In a third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first and second aspects, the one or more resource blocks are included in at least one of the plurality of subbands configured for the UE or the one or more guard bands for the plurality of subbands. In a fourth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through third aspects, the subband configuration is configured for all BSs included in a wireless network in which the UE and the BS are included, the subband configuration configures all subbands and guard bands for all frequency bands that are operated in the wireless network, and identifying the one or more resource blocks comprises identifying the one or more resource blocks based at least in part on the subband configuration being configured for all BSs included in the wireless network and based at least in part on the subband configuration configuring all subbands and guard bands for all frequency bands that are operated in the wireless network.

In a fifth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fourth aspects, the subband configuration is configured for a cell of the BS, the subband configuration configures all subbands and guard bands for a frequency band on which the BS operates in the cell, and identifying the one or more resource blocks comprises identifying the one or more resource blocks based at least in part on the UE being served by the cell. In a sixth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fifth aspects, the subband configuration is to be applied to each bandwidth part configured by the BS in the cell.

In a seventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through sixth aspects, the plurality ofsubbands and the one or more guard bands are included in a bandwidth part, of the frequency band, assigned to the UE, and a resource block, of the one or more resource blocks, is included in a guard band, of the one or more guard bands, between two subbands of the plurality of subbands. In an eighth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through seventh aspects, process <NUM> further comprises receiving, from the BS, an indication of the subband configuration, the indication of the subband configuration being included in a cell configuration for the cell.

In a ninth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through eighth aspects, the subband configuration is configured for a BWP of a plurality of BWPs associated with the BS, the plurality of subbands and the one or more guard bands are included in the BWP, and identifying the one or more resource blocks comprises identifying the one or more resource blocks based at least in part on the BWP being assigned to the UE. In a tenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through ninth aspects, process <NUM> further comprises receiving, from the BS, an indication of the subband configuration, the indication of the subband configuration being included in a BWP configuration for the BWP.

In an eleventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through tenth aspects, the subband configuration indicates respective lengths and respective locations, in the frequency domain, for the plurality of subbands and the one or more guard bands, another subband configuration, configured for another BWP of the plurality of BWPs associated with the BS, indicates at least one of a first length of a subband, of the plurality of subbands, that is different from a second length of the subband indicated in the subband configuration, a first location of the subband that is different from a second location of the subband indicated in the subband configuration, a first length of a guard band, of the one or more guard bands, that is different from a second length of the guard band indicated in the subband configuration, or a first location of the guard band that is different from a second location of the guard band indicated in the subband configuration.

In a twelfth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through eleventh aspects, the subband configuration is specific to a particular combination of the one or more subbands. In a thirteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through twelfth aspects, process <NUM> further comprises receiving an indication of the subband configuration from the BS, and identifying the one or more resource blocks comprises identifying the one or more resource blocks based at least in part on receiving the indication of the subband configuration. In a fourteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through thirteenth aspects, receiving the indication of the subband configuration comprises receiving the indication of the subband configuration in at least one of a MIB, a SIB, an RMSI communication, an OSI communication, a DCI communication, or an RRC communication.

In a fifteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fourteenth aspects, the subband configuration is included in a plurality of subband configurations that is configured for the UE, and the plurality of subband configurations comprise a combination of at least one of a hard coded or system-wide subband configuration, a cell-based subband configuration, a BWP-based subband configuration, or a subband combination-based subband configuration.

In a sixteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fifteenth aspects, the subband configuration is a hard coded or system-wide subband configuration for all BSs included in a wireless network in which the UE and the BS are included. In a seventeenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through sixteenth aspects, the subband configuration is to be applied to each bandwidth part configured by the BS in a cell associated with the BS.

In an eighteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through seventeenth aspects, the subband configuration indicates respective starting resource blocks and respective ending resource blocks for each of the one or more guard bands. In a nineteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through eighteenth aspects, the subband configuration is a hard coded subband configuration or a system-wide subband configuration, and identifying the one or more resource blocks comprises identifying the one or more resource blocks based at least in part on the hard coded subband configuration or the system-wide subband configuration prior to being radio resource control (RRC) configured with a cell-based subband configuration.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example process <NUM> performed, for example, by a BS, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. Example process <NUM> is an example where a BS (e.g., BS <NUM>) performs operations associated with subband based resource allocation for NR-U.

As shown in <FIG>, in some aspects, process <NUM> may include configuring a subband configuration that includes one or more guard bands for plurality of subbands configured for a UE (block <NUM>). For example, the BS (e.g., using transmit processor <NUM>, receive processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, and/or the like) may configure a subband configuration that includes one or more guard bands for plurality of subbands configured for a UE, as described above.

As further shown in <FIG>, in some aspects, process <NUM> may include transmitting, to the UE, an indication of the subband configuration (block <NUM>). For example, the BS (e.g., using transmit processor <NUM>, receive processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, and/or the like) may transmit, to the UE, an indication of the subband configuration, as described above.

In a first aspect, the plurality of subbands are included in an unlicensed frequency band. In a second aspect, alone or in combination with the first aspect, process <NUM> further comprises receiving, from the UE, a PUSCH communication in one or more resource blocks that are based at least in part on the plurality of subbands configured for the UE, the subband configuration, and an interlace of resource blocks configured for the UE. In a third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first and second aspects, the one or more resource blocks are included in at least one of the plurality of subbands configured for the UE, or the one or more guard bands for the plurality of subbands. In a fourth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through third aspects, configuring the subband configuration comprises configuring the subband configuration for a cell of the BS, and configuring the subband configuration for the cell comprises configuring the subband configuration for all subbands and guard bands for a frequency band on which the BS operates in the cell.

In a fifth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fourth aspects, configuring the subband configuration for the cell comprises configuring the subband configuration for each bandwidth part configured by the BS in the cell. In a sixth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fifth aspects, transmitting the indication of the subband configuration comprises transmitting the indication of the subband configuration in a cell configuration for the cell. In a seventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through sixth aspects, configuring the subband configuration comprises configuring the subband configuration for a BWP of a plurality of BWPs associated with the BS. In an eighth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through seventh aspects, transmitting the indication of the subband configuration comprises transmitting the indication of the subband configuration in a BWP configuration for the BWP.

In a ninth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through eighth aspects, the subband configuration indicates respective lengths and respective locations, in the frequency domain, for the plurality of subbands and the one or more guard bands, and process <NUM> further comprises configuring another subband configuration, for another BWP of the plurality of BWPs associated with the BS, that indicates at least one of a first length of a subband, of the plurality of subbands, that is different from a second length of the subband indicated in the subband configuration, a first location of the subband that is different from a second location of the subband indicated in the subband configuration, a first length of a guard band, of the one or more guard bands, that is different from a second length of the guard band indicated in the subband configuration, or a first location of the guard band that is different from a second location of the guard band indicated in the subband configuration.

In a tenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through ninth aspects, configuring the subband configuration comprises configuring the subband configuration for a particular combination of the plurality of subbands. In an eleventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through tenth aspects, transmitting the indication of the subband configuration comprises transmitting the indication of the subband configuration in at least one of a MIB, a SIB, an RMSI communication, an OSI communication, a DCI communication, or an RRC communication.

In a twelfth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through eleventh aspects, the subband configuration is included in a plurality of subband configurations that is configured for the UE, and the plurality of subband configurations comprise a combination of at least one of a hard coded or system-wide subband configuration, a cell-based subband configuration, a BWP-based subband configuration, or a subband combination-based subband configuration.

In a thirteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more if the first through twelfth aspects, configuring the subband configuration for the cell comprises configuring the subband configuration for each bandwidth part configured by the BS in a cell associated with the BS. In a fourteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more if the first through thirteenth aspects, the subband configuration indicates respective starting resource blocks and respective ending resource blocks for each of the one or more guard bands.

<FIG> is a conceptual data flow diagram <NUM> illustrating the data flow between different modules/means/components in an example apparatus <NUM>. The apparatus <NUM> may be a UE (e.g., UE <NUM>). In some aspects, the apparatus <NUM> includes a reception component <NUM>, an identifying component <NUM>, and a transmission component <NUM>.

Reception component <NUM> may receive a communication <NUM> from a BS <NUM> (e.g., BS <NUM>). For example, reception component <NUM> may receive communication <NUM> that includes an indication of a resource allocation of one or more subbands allocated to apparatus <NUM>, an indication of a subband configuration including one or more guard bands for the one or more subbands, an indication of an interlace of resource blocks allocated to apparatus <NUM>, and/or the like. In some aspects, reception component <NUM> may include an antenna (e.g., antenna <NUM>), a receive processor (e.g., receive processor <NUM>), a controller/processor (e.g., controller/processor <NUM>), a transceiver, a receiver, and/or the like.

Identifying component <NUM> may identify one or more resource blocks in which to transmit a PUSCH communication <NUM> to BS <NUM>. For example, identifying component <NUM> may identify a the one or more resource blocks based at least in part on the subband configuration and the interlace indicated in communication <NUM>. In some aspects, identifying component <NUM> may include a processor (e.g., controller/processor <NUM>, receive processor <NUM>, and/or the like).

Transmission component <NUM> may transmit PUSCH communication <NUM> to BS <NUM>. For example, transmission component <NUM> may transmit PUSCH communication <NUM> to BS <NUM> in the one or more resource blocks identified by identifying component <NUM>. In some aspects, transmission component <NUM> may include an antenna (e.g., antenna <NUM>), a transmit processor (e.g., transmit processor <NUM>), a controller/processor (e.g., controller/processor <NUM>), a transceiver, a transmitter, and/or the like.

Apparatus <NUM> may include additional components that perform each of the blocks of the algorithm in the aforementioned process <NUM> of <FIG> and/or the like. Each block in the aforementioned process <NUM> of <FIG> and/or the like may be performed by a component and the apparatus may include one or more of those components.

<FIG> is a conceptual data flow diagram <NUM> illustrating the data flow between different modules/means/components in an example apparatus <NUM>. The apparatus <NUM> may be a base station (e.g., BS <NUM>). In some aspects, apparatus <NUM> includes a reception component <NUM>, a configuring component <NUM>, and a transmission component <NUM>.

Configuring component <NUM> may configure a subband configuration that includes one or more guard bands for one or more subbands allocated to a UE <NUM> (e.g., UE <NUM>). In some aspects, configuring component <NUM> may include a processor (e.g., a transmit processor <NUM>, a receive processor <NUM>, a controller/processor <NUM>, and/or the like).

Transmission component <NUM> may transmit a communication <NUM> to UE <NUM>. Communication <NUM> may include an indication of the subband configuration and an interlace of resource blocks allocated to UE <NUM>. In some aspects, transmission component <NUM> may include an antenna (e.g., antenna <NUM>), a transmit processor (e.g., transmit processor <NUM>), a controller/processor (e.g., controller/processor <NUM>), a transceiver, a transmitter, and/or the like.

Reception component <NUM> may receive a PUSCH communication <NUM> from UE <NUM>. For example, reception component <NUM> may receive PUSCH communication <NUM> in one or more resource blocks that are based at least in part on the one or more subbands allocated to UE <NUM>, the subband configuration indicated in communication <NUM>, and/or the interlace of resource blocks allocated to UE <NUM>. In some aspects, reception component <NUM> may include an antenna (e.g., antenna <NUM>), a receive processor (e.g., receive processor <NUM>), a controller/processor (e.g., controller/processor <NUM>), a transceiver, a receiver, and/or the like.

Claim 1:
A method (<NUM>) of wireless communication performed by a user equipment, UE, comprising:
identifying (<NUM>) a subband configuration for a plurality of subbands configured for the UE, the subband configuration including one or more guard bands for the plurality of subbands, wherein the plurality of subbands are included in an unlicensed and/or shared frequency band, wherein the subband configuration indicates respective starting resource blocks and respective ending resource blocks for each of the one or more guard bands;
identifying (<NUM>) one or more resource blocks, in which to transmit a physical uplink shared channel, PUSCH, communication, based at least in part on the subband configuration,
wherein identifying the one or more resource blocks comprises:
identifying, based at least in part on the subband configuration, a first plurality of resource blocks included in the plurality of subbands;
identifying, based at least in part on an interlace of resource blocks configured for the UE, a second plurality of resource blocks for interlaced PUSCH transmissions; and
identifying the one or more resource blocks as a subset of the second plurality of resource blocks that is included in the first plurality of resource blocks; and
transmitting (<NUM>), to a base station, BS, the PUSCH communication in the one or more resource blocks.