CN115176508A - System and method for timing information transmission - Google Patents

Abstract

A system and method for receiving downlink control signals is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method performed by a wireless communication device comprises: receiving, by a wireless communication device, a first signal from a wireless communication node on a first time domain unit; and transmitting, by the wireless communication device, a second signal to the wireless communication node on a second time domain unit, the second signal carrying time information indicating when the first signal was received by the wireless communication device.

Description

System and method for timing information transmission

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to wireless communications, and more particularly, to systems and methods for timing information transmission.

Background

In a fifth generation (5G) new air interface (NR) mobile network, a User Equipment (UE) is required to acquire uplink and downlink synchronization with the network before the UE can transmit data to the network. The synchronization may be achieved by performing a random access procedure.

Disclosure of Invention

Example embodiments disclosed herein aim to address problems associated with one or more of the problems existing in the prior art and to provide additional features that will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In accordance with various embodiments, example systems, methods, devices, and computer program products are disclosed herein. It is to be understood, however, that these embodiments are presented by way of example, and not limitation, and that various modifications to the disclosed embodiments may be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading this disclosure, while remaining within the scope of the disclosure.

In one embodiment, a method of wireless communication includes: receiving, by a wireless communication device, a first signal from a wireless communication node on a first time domain unit; and transmitting, by the wireless communication device, a second signal to the wireless communication node on a second time domain unit, the second signal carrying time information indicating when the first signal was received by the wireless communication device.

In some embodiments, the wireless communication method comprises: receiving, by the wireless communication device, a third signal from the wireless communication node on a third time domain unit. In some embodiments, the third signal is configured to trigger transmission of the second signal. In some embodiments, the third signal includes at least one of Downlink Control Information (DCI) or a Media Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE).

In another embodiment, a method of wireless communication includes: transmitting, by a wireless communication device, a first signal transmitted on a first time domain unit to a wireless communication node; and transmitting, by the wireless communication device, a second signal to the wireless communication node on a second time domain unit, the second signal carrying time information indicating when the wireless communication device transmitted the first signal.

The above and other aspects and embodiments thereof are described in more detail in the accompanying drawings, the description and the claims.

Drawings

Various exemplary embodiments of the present solution are described in detail below with reference to the following figures or drawings. The drawings are provided for illustrative purposes only and merely depict example embodiments of the present solution to facilitate the reader's understanding of the present solution. Accordingly, the drawings should not be taken to limit the breadth, scope, or applicability of the present solution. It should be noted that for clarity and ease of illustration, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

Fig. 1 illustrates an example cellular communication network in which the techniques disclosed herein, among other aspects, may be implemented, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an example base station and user equipment, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 3 illustrates an example diagram of transmissions, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of receiving a time report, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of receiving a time report, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a reference frame (reference frame) according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a reference frame according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a reference frame according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a reference frame according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a delivery time report, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a delivery time report, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a reference frame according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 13 shows a flowchart illustrating a method for communicating timing information, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 14 shows a flow diagram illustrating a method for communicating timing information, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 15 shows a flow chart illustrating a method for receiving timing information, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 16 shows a flow chart illustrating a method for receiving timing information, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

Various example embodiments of the present solution are described below with reference to the drawings to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the present solution. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art after having read this disclosure that various changes or modifications can be made to the examples described herein without departing from the scope of the present solution. The present solution is therefore not limited to the example embodiments and applications described and illustrated herein. Additionally, the particular order or hierarchy of steps in the methods disclosed herein is merely an example approach. Based upon design preferences, the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the methods or processes disclosed may be rearranged while remaining within the scope of the present solution. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the methods and techniques disclosed herein present the various steps or actions in a sample order, and that the solutions are not limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented unless otherwise explicitly stated.

A. Network environment and computing environment

Fig. 1 illustrates an example wireless communication network and/or system 100 in which techniques disclosed herein may be implemented, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. In the following discussion, the wireless communication network 100 may be any wireless network, such as a cellular network or a narrowband internet of things (NB-IoT) network, and is referred to herein as "network 100". Such an example network 100 includes: a base station 102 (hereinafter "BS 102") and a user equipment 104 (hereinafter "UE 104") that can communicate with each other via a communication link 110 (e.g., a wireless communication channel), and a cluster (cluster) of cells 126, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, and 140 that cover a geographic area 101. In fig. 1, BS 102 and UE 104 are contained within respective geographic boundaries of cell 126. Each of the other cells 130, 132, 134, 136, 138 and 140 may include at least one base station operating at its allocated bandwidth to provide sufficient radio coverage to its intended users.

For example, the BS 102 may operate at the allocated channel transmission bandwidth to provide sufficient coverage to the UE 104. The BS 102 and the UE 104 may communicate via downlink radio frames 118 and uplink radio frames 124, respectively. Each radio frame 118/124 may be further divided into subframes 120/127, which subframes 120/127 may include data symbols 122/128. In the present disclosure, the BS 102 and the UE 104 are generally described herein as non-limiting examples of "communication nodes" that may practice the methods disclosed herein. Such communication nodes may be capable of wireless and/or wired communication according to various embodiments of the present solution.

Fig. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an example wireless communication system 200 for transmitting and receiving wireless communication signals (e.g., OFDM/OFDMA signals) in accordance with some embodiments of the present solution. System 200 may include components and elements configured to support known or conventional operating features, which need not be described in detail herein. In one illustrative embodiment, the system 200 can be employed to communicate (e.g., transmit and receive) data symbols in a wireless communication environment, such as the wireless communication environment 100 of fig. 1 described above.

The system 200 generally includes a base station 202 (hereinafter "BS 202") and a user equipment 204 (hereinafter "UE 204"). The BS 202 includes: BS (base station) transceiver module 210, BS antenna 212, BS processor module 214, BS memory module 216, and network communication module 218, each coupled and interconnected with each other as needed via data communication bus 220. The UE 204 includes: a UE (user equipment) transceiver module 230, a UE antenna 232, a UE memory module 234, and a UE processor module 236, each coupled and interconnected to each other as needed via a data communication bus 240. BS 202 communicates with UE 204 via communication channel 250, which communication channel 250 may be any wireless channel or other medium suitable for data transmission as described herein.

As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the system 200 may also include any number of modules other than those shown in fig. 2. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the various illustrative blocks, modules, circuits, and processing logic described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as hardware, computer readable software, firmware, or any practical combination thereof. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability and compatibility of hardware, firmware, and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware, firmware, or software may depend on the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans familiar with the concepts described herein may implement such functionality in a suitable manner for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the present disclosure.

According to some embodiments, UE transceiver 230 may be referred to herein as an "uplink" transceiver 230, which includes a Radio Frequency (RF) transmitter and an RF receiver, each including circuitry coupled to an antenna 232. A duplex switch (not shown) may alternately couple the uplink transmitter or receiver to the uplink antenna in a time-duplex manner. Similarly, BS transceiver 210 may be referred to herein as a "downlink" transceiver 210 according to some embodiments, which includes a Radio Frequency (RF) transmitter and an RF receiver, each including circuitry coupled to an antenna 212. The downlink duplex switch may alternately couple a downlink transmitter or receiver to the downlink antenna 212 in a time division duplex manner. The operation of the two transceiver modules 210 and 230 can be coordinated in time such that while the downlink transmitter is coupled to the downlink antenna 212, the uplink receiver circuit is coupled to the uplink antenna 232 to receive transmissions over the wireless transmission link 250. In some embodiments, there is tight time synchronization with minimal guard time between changes in the duplex direction.

The UE transceiver 230 and the base station transceiver 210 are configured to communicate via a wireless data communication link 250 and cooperate with a suitably configured RF antenna arrangement 212/232 capable of supporting a particular wireless communication protocol and modulation scheme. In some demonstrative embodiments, UE transceiver 230 and base station transceiver 210 are configured to support industry standards, such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) and emerging 5G standards, and the like. It should be understood, however, that the present disclosure is not necessarily limited in application to a particular standard and associated protocol. More specifically, UE transceiver 230 and base station transceiver 210 may be configured to support alternative or additional wireless data communication protocols, including future standards or variants thereof.

According to various embodiments, BS 202 may be, for example, an evolved node B (eNB), a serving eNB, a target eNB, a femto station, or a pico station. According to some embodiments, the UE 204 may be embodied in various types of user equipment, such as mobile phones, smart phones, personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), tablets, laptops, wearable computing devices, and so on. The processor modules 214 and 236 may be implemented or realized with a general purpose processor, a content addressable memory, a digital signal processor, an application specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array, any suitable programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. In this manner, a processor may be implemented as a microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, state machine, or the like. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a digital signal processor and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a digital signal processor core, or any other such configuration.

Further, the steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in firmware, in a software module executed by the processor modules 214 and 236, respectively, or in any practical combination thereof. Memory modules 216 and 234 may be implemented as RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, a hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. In this regard, the memory modules 216 and 234 may be coupled to the processor modules 214 and 236, respectively, such that the processor modules 214 and 236 may read information from and write information to the memory modules 216 and 234, respectively. The memory modules 216 and 234 may also be integrated into their respective processor modules 214 and 236. In some embodiments, the memory modules 216 and 234 may each include a cache memory for storing temporary variables or other intermediate information during execution of instructions to be executed by the processor modules 214 and 236, respectively. The memory modules 216 and 234 may also each include non-volatile memory for storing instructions to be executed by the processor modules 214 and 236, respectively.

Network communication module 218 generally represents the hardware, software, firmware, processing logic, and/or other components of base station 202 that enable bi-directional communication between BS transceiver 210 and other network components and communication nodes configured to communicate with base station 202. For example, the network communication module 218 may be configured to support internet or WiMAX traffic. In a typical deployment, without limitation, the network communication module 218 provides an 802.3 ethernet interface enabling the base station transceiver 210 to communicate with a conventional ethernet-based computer network. In this manner, the network communication module 218 may include a physical interface for connecting to a computer network (e.g., a Mobile Switching Center (MSC)). As used herein with respect to a specified operation or function, the terms "configured for …," "configured for …," and morphological variations thereof refer to devices, components, circuits, structures, machines, signals, etc., that are physically constructed, programmed, formatted, and/or arranged to perform the specified operation or function.

B. Timing information transmission

In wireless communication technology, a clock is required for a communication device. In this disclosure, the network or User Equipment (UE) is provided some method of obtaining the clock when the synchronization (sync) source is on the wireless terminal.

In a wireless communication system, a UE (e.g., UE 104, UE 204, mobile device, wireless communication device, etc.) transmits a physical random access channel (PRACH, e.g., msg 1) to a network (e.g., network 100, system 200, BS 102, BS 202, gNB, eNB, wireless communication node, etc.). The network sends a random access response (RAR, e.g., msg 2) to the UE after receiving the PRACH from the UE. The RAR schedules a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH, e.g., msg 3) for the UE. The UE transmits PUSCH to the network after receiving RAR. The network sends a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) scheduling a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH, e.g., msg 4) to the UE after receiving msg 3.

In a wireless communication system, a UE transmits PRACH and PUSCH (collectively, e.g., msgA) to a network. The network sends an RAR (e.g., msgB) to the UE after receiving msgA.

In some embodiments, a wireless communication system includes a time interval (e.g., propagation delay) between when a sender (e.g., a UE or a network) transmits a signal and when a receiver (e.g., a UE or a network) receives the signal. Fig. 3 illustrates an example timing diagram for transmissions in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in fig. 3, the transmitting side transmits a signal from a transmission time t1, the receiving side receives a signal from a reception time t2, and the propagation delay is t2-t1. The transmission time and the reception time are absolute times, such as Global Positioning System (GPS) time, coordinated Universal Time (UTC), or local time. For example, the start point of the signal is received at 32 minutes 16 seconds 138 milliseconds 31 microseconds 183 nanoseconds at 13 o ' clock 3/17 p.2019, and the message indicating the reception time (for example, reception time message) includes the reception time, i.e., 138 milliseconds 31 microseconds 183 nanoseconds at 32 minutes 16 o ' clock 13 o ' clock 3/17 p.2019.

In some embodiments, the UE sends (e.g., reports, transmits, communicates, indicates) to the network a time of reception (e.g., a first time value, a first time domain unit) of a first reference point (e.g., a first signal) received by the UE. The reception time of the first reference point is a time when the UE receives the first reference point from the network. The first reference point may be at least one of (e.g., identified as …, occurring during …, time at …, etc.) a boundary (e.g., a starting or ending boundary) of a unit (e.g., transmission unit) such as a symbol (e.g., orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbol), sub-slot, sub-frame, or frame (e.g., system frame). The unit corresponding to the first reference point may be referred to as a reference unit (e.g., reference transmission unit) such as a reference symbol, a reference sub-slot, a reference subframe, and a reference system frame. In other words, a symbol, a sub-slot, a subframe, and a system frame corresponding to the first reference point may be referred to as a reference symbol, a reference sub-slot, a reference subframe, and a reference frame system frame, respectively. In some embodiments, a wireless communication device receives a first signal from a wireless communication node on a first time domain unit. The wireless communication device transmits a second signal to the wireless communication node on a second time domain unit, the second signal carrying time information indicating when the first signal was received by the wireless communication device. In some embodiments, a wireless communication device transmits a first signal transmitted on a first time domain unit to a wireless communication node. The wireless communication device transmits a second signal to the wireless communication node on a second time domain unit, the second signal carrying time information indicating when the wireless communication device transmitted the first signal. In some embodiments, the time information includes a time of a start boundary or an end boundary of the first time domain unit.

The reference symbol is a Downlink (DL) symbol, which is used for downlink signal transmission. If the first reference point is an ending boundary of the reference cell, the last symbol or symbols of the reference cell are downlink symbols for downlink signal transmission. If the first reference point is a starting boundary of the reference cell, the first one or more symbols of the reference cell are downlink symbols for downlink signal transmission. In some embodiments, the UE sends to the network a reception time of the boundary of the reference cell.

The information of the reception time may be in Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, or a Medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE), or Uplink Control Information (UCI). In some embodiments, the time information is included in at least one of Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE), or Uplink Control Information (UCI).

In some embodiments, the reference unit is indicated to the UE by the network via RRC signaling or MAC CE or Downlink Control Information (DCI). The network indicates to the UE a first reference point for receiving a time report. In some embodiments, the first time domain unit is indicated by the wireless communication node via at least one of Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, a Medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE), or Downlink Control Information (DCI).

In some embodiments, the reference unit is indicated to the network by the UE via RRC signaling or MAC CE or UCI. The UE indicates to the network a first reference point for receiving a time report. In some embodiments, the first time domain unit is indicated by the wireless communication device via at least one of Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE), or Uplink Control Information (UCI).

In some embodiments, the UE transmits the time of receipt of the first reference point to the network at a particular (e.g., predetermined, occurring once per time period, etc.) time. In some embodiments, the reception time sent by the UE is the reception time of the indicated first reference point that is adjacent to (e.g., closest to) the particular time (e.g., prior to and among the reference points prior to the particular time). The receive time may be carried by (e.g., transmitted by, included in, allocated to, corresponding to, etc.) a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) or a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH). The time carried by the PUSCH or PUCCH is a reception time of the indicated first reference point adjacent to (e.g., prior to and closest to) the start of the PUSCH or PUCCH. In some embodiments, the second signal comprises at least one of a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) signal or a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) signal.

Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of receiving a time report, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in fig. 4, system frame No. 5 (e.g., by the network or by the UE) is indicated as a reference frame, and the first reference point is the starting boundary of the reference frame. In fig. 4, there are 4 system frames, and the system frame number is 5. The first system frame number 5 is received starting at t1. In other words, the reception time of the start boundary of the first reference frame is t1. Similarly, the reception times of the start boundaries of the second, third and fourth reference frames are t2, t3 and t4, respectively. In some embodiments, the UE sends the time of reception of the first reference point to the network at t 5. Since the reference point of the second reference frame (e.g., the starting boundary of the second reference frame) is before t5 and closest to t5, the receive time sent by the UE at t5 is the receive time of the starting boundary of the second reference frame (i.e., t2 is sent by the UE as the receive time).

In some embodiments, the first reference point configured by the network is periodic. After receiving the first reference point and before receiving the next first reference point, the UE transmits the reception time of the first reference point to the network. The reception time reported by the UE is also periodic, with the same periodicity as the first reference point. In some embodiments, the wireless communication device receives the first signal from the wireless communication node every certain time period. In some embodiments, the wireless communication device transmits a second signal to the wireless communication node during each time period, the second signal carrying time information indicating when the first signal was received by the wireless communication device.

In some embodiments, the reference units configured by the network are periodic. After receiving each reference cell and before receiving the next reference cell, the UE sends a receive time to the network. The reception time reported by the UE is periodic with the same periodicity as the reference unit. For periodic reference cells, periodicity and offset may be configured. The offset of the reference units is the time interval between one of the reference units and the starting point. Typically, the starting point is the beginning of system frame number 0.

Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of receiving a time report, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The offset is 10 frames and the periodicity is 40 frames. The starting point is the start of system frame 0. The reference frames shown in fig. 5 are system frame 10, system frame 50, system frame 90, and system frame 130, respectively, based on the offset and periodicity. The starting boundaries of system frame 0, system frame 10, system frame 50, system frame 90, and system frame 130 are received at t1, t2, t3, t4, and t5, respectively. In some embodiments, the first reference point is a starting boundary of the reference frame.

For reference frame 10, after receiving frame 10 and before receiving frame 50, the UE sends the network the time of receipt of the starting boundary of frame 10 (i.e., t 2). In another case, after t2 and before t3, the UE transmits the reception time of the start boundary of the frame 10 (i.e., t 2). Similarly, for the reference frame 50, after receiving the frame 50 and before receiving the frame 90, the UE sends the network the reception time of the starting boundary of the frame 50 (i.e., t 3). In another case, after t3 and before t4, the UE sends the reception time of the start boundary of the frame 50 (i.e., t 3).

In some embodiments, the reference unit, and, in some embodiments, the first reference point, is implicitly indicated by the network. In some embodiments, the network sends Downlink Control Information (DCI) to the UE for scheduling PUSCH, and in some embodiments, the DCI indicates that PUSCH is used to convey the reception time. In some embodiments, the network sends the MAC CE to the UE, and the MAC CE indicates that the UE reports the reception time. In some embodiments, the reference unit is the first or last unit on which the DCI or MAC CE is transmitted. For example, the reference symbol, sub-slot, subframe, and system frame are the first or last symbol, sub-slot, subframe, and frame, respectively, on which DCI or MAC CE is transmitted. In some embodiments, the DCI is carried by the PDCCH and the MAC CE is carried by the PDSCH. The symbol, sub-slot, subframe and frame on which the DCI is transmitted are equal to the symbol, sub-slot, subframe and frame, respectively, of the PDCCH carrying the DCI. The symbols, sub-slots, subframes and frames on which the MAC CE is transmitted are equal to the symbols, sub-slots, subframes and frames, respectively, of the PDSCH carrying the MAC CE. In some embodiments, the wireless communication device receives a third signal from the wireless communication node on a third time domain unit. In some embodiments, the third signal is configured to trigger transmission of the second signal. In some embodiments, the third signal includes at least one of Downlink Control Information (DCI) and MAC CE. In some embodiments, each of the first, second and third time domain units comprises at least one of: symbol, subslot, slot, subframe, frame.

Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a reference frame according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. A system frame N (N is an integer) is received from t1. The reception time of the start boundary of the system frame N is t1, and the reception time of the end boundary of the system frame N is t2.PDCCH is transmitted on system frame N to schedule PUSCH. PDCCH also indicates that PUSCH is used to transmit the reception time. Thus, the reference frame is system frame N. If the reference point is the starting boundary of the frame, the reception time of the reference point is t1, and the value of t1 may be reported to the network by the UE. If the reference point is the end boundary of the frame, the reception time of the reference point is t2, and the value of t2 may be reported to the network by the UE.

Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a reference frame according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. System frame N is received starting at t1. The reception time of the start boundary of the system frame N is t1, and the reception time of the end boundary of the system frame N is t2. The MAC CE is transmitted on system frame N and is used to indicate that the UE reports the reception time to the network. Thus, the reference frame is system frame N. If the reference point is the starting boundary of the frame, the reception time of the reference point is t1, and the value of t1 may be reported to the network by the UE. If the reference point is the end boundary of the frame, the reception time of the reference point is t2, and the value of t2 may be reported to the network by the UE.

In some embodiments, the network sends DCI for scheduling PUSCH to the UE, and in some embodiments, the DCI indicates that PUSCH is to convey the reception time. In some embodiments, the time interval between DCI and scheduled PUSCH is equal to or greater than a threshold. In some embodiments, a time interval between a last symbol of a PDCCH carrying DCI and a first symbol of a scheduled PUSCH is equal to or greater than a threshold.

In some embodiments, the network sends the MAC CE to the UE, and in some embodiments, the MAC CE indicates the UE reports the time of reception. In some embodiments, the reception time is carried by PUSCH or PUCCH. In some embodiments, the time interval between the MAC CE and the PUSCH or PUCCH is equal to or greater than a threshold. In some embodiments, a time interval between a last symbol of a PDSCH carrying MAC CEs and a first symbol of a PUSCH or PUCCH is equal to or greater than a threshold. The value of the threshold may be configured by the network or predefined by the specification.

In some embodiments, the network sends DCI for scheduling PUSCH to the UE, and in some embodiments, the DCI indicates that PUSCH is to convey the reception time. In some embodiments, the network sends the MAC CE to the UE, and in some embodiments, the MAC CE indicates the UE reports the time of reception. In some embodiments, the reference symbol is a symbol before or after a symbol on which the DCI or MAC CE is transmitted, and the reference symbol has a first offset from the symbol on which the DCI or MAC CE is transmitted. In some embodiments, the reference unit is a unit before or after a unit on which the DCI or MAC CE is transmitted, and the reference unit has a first offset from the unit on which the DCI or MAC CE is transmitted. For example, a reference symbol, a sub-slot, a subframe, and a frame are respectively a symbol, a sub-slot, a subframe, and a frame before or after a corresponding symbol, a sub-slot, a subframe, and a frame on which DCI or MAC CE is transmitted, with a first offset therebetween. The first offset is predefined by the network configuration or by the specification. In some embodiments, there is a first time offset between the first time domain unit and the third time domain unit. In some embodiments, the first time offset is preconfigured or indicated by the wireless communication node.

Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a reference frame according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. System frame 20 is received starting at t1. The reception time of the start boundary of the system frame 20 is t1, and the reception time of the end boundary of the system frame 20 is t2. The first offset is 3 frames. The PDCCH transmitted on frame 23 indicates that the UE reports the reception time. Since the offset between frame 20 and frame 23 is 3 frames, the reference frame is frame 20. If the reference point is the starting boundary of the reference frame, the reception time (i.e., t 1) of the starting boundary of the system frame 20 is reported. If the reference point is the ending boundary of the reference frame, the time of receipt of the ending boundary of the system frame 20 (i.e., t 2) is reported.

In some embodiments, the UE transmits the reception time of the first reference point to the network at a specific time. In some embodiments, the first reference point is prior to the particular time with a second offset between the first reference point and the particular time. In some embodiments, the second offset is constant and may be configured by the network or predefined by the specification.

The UE sends the reception time of the first reference point to the network via an uplink transmission. The uplink transmission is PUCCH or PUSCH. In some embodiments, the reference unit is before or after the uplink transmission with a second offset between the reference unit and the first unit of the uplink transmission. For example, reference symbols, sub-slots, subframes, and frames may precede or follow uplink transmissions with a second offset between the reference symbols, sub-slots, subframes, and frames and the first symbols, sub-slots, subframes, and frames, respectively, of the uplink transmissions. The second offset may be a number of symbols, sub-slots, sub-frames, or milliseconds. In some embodiments, the second offset is predefined by a network configuration or by a specification. The offset may have a value of zero. In some embodiments, there is a second time offset between the first time domain unit and a second time domain unit on which the second signal is transmitted. In some embodiments, the second time offset is preconfigured or indicated by the wireless communication node.

Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a reference frame according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The system frame 15 is received starting at t1. The reception time of the start boundary of the system frame 15 is t1, and the reception time of the end boundary of the system frame 15 is t2. The ending boundary of the system frame 15 is the starting boundary of the system frame 16. The reception time of the end boundary of the system frame 16 is t3. The PUSCH transmitted on the system frame 16 carries the receive time. The PUSCH transmitted in the systematic frame 16 is used to transmit the reception time. The offset between the reference frame and the frame of the PUSCH (i.e., the system frame 16) is 1 frame. Thus, the reference frame is the system frame 15. If the reference point is the starting boundary of the reference frame, the reception time of the starting boundary of the system frame 15 (i.e., t 1) is transmitted in the PUSCH. If the reference point is the end boundary of the reference frame, the reception time of the end boundary of the system frame 15 (i.e., t 2) is transmitted in the PUSCH.

When the network receives the reception time from the UE, the network may obtain a time when the network transmits the first reference point. In some embodiments, the time when the network transmits the first reference point is the reception time reported by the UE minus the propagation delay. In some embodiments, the propagation delay is half of the UE advance time.

In some embodiments, the UE sends (e.g., reports) the transmission time of the second reference point to the network. The transmission time of the second reference point is a time when the UE transmits the reference point to the network. The second reference point may be at least one of a boundary (e.g., a start or end boundary) of a unit such as a symbol, a sub-slot, a subframe, or a frame. The unit corresponding to the second reference point may be referred to as a reference unit, such as a reference symbol, a reference sub-slot, a reference subframe, and a reference system frame. In some embodiments, a wireless communication device transmits a first signal transmitted on a first time domain unit to a wireless communication node. The wireless communication device transmits a second signal to the wireless communication node on a second time domain unit, the second signal carrying time information indicating when the wireless communication device transmitted the first signal. In some embodiments, the time information includes a time of a start boundary or an end boundary of the first time domain unit.

The reference symbols are uplink symbols, which are used for uplink signal transmission. If the second reference point is an end boundary of the reference cell, the last symbol or symbols of the reference cell are uplink symbols for uplink signal transmission. If the second reference point is a starting boundary of the reference cell, the first one or more symbols of the reference cell are uplink symbols for uplink signal transmission. In some embodiments, the UE sends the transmission time of the starting or ending boundary of the reference unit to the network.

The information of the transmission time may be in RRC signaling, or MAC CE, or UCI. In some embodiments, the time information is included in at least one of Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE), or Uplink Control Information (UCI).

In some embodiments, the reference unit is indicated to the UE by the network via RRC signaling, MAC CE, or DCI. In some embodiments, the second reference point for transmitting the time report is indicated to the UE by the network. In some embodiments, the first time domain unit is indicated by the wireless communication node via at least one of Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, a Medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE), or Downlink Control Information (DCI).

In some embodiments, the reference unit is indicated to the network by the UE via RRC signaling, MAC CE, or UCI. In some embodiments, the second reference point for transmitting the time report is indicated to the network by the UE. In some embodiments, the first time domain unit is indicated by the wireless communication device via at least one of Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE), or Uplink Control Information (UCI).

The UE transmits a transmission time of the second reference point to the network at a specific time. In some embodiments, the transmission time sent by the UE is a transmission time of the indicated second reference point that is adjacent to (e.g., prior to and closest to) the particular time. The transmission time may be carried by PUSCH or PUCCH. In some embodiments, the transmission time carried by the PUSCH or PUCCH is the transmission time of the indicated second reference point prior to and closest to the start of the PUSCH or PUSCH.

Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a delivery time report, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. System frame No. 5 is indicated as the reference frame. The second reference point is the ending boundary of the reference frame. There are 4 system frames with a system frame number of 5. The first system frame number 5 is transmitted with the ending boundary at t1. The transmission time of the end boundary of the first reference frame is t1. Similarly, the transmission time of the end boundary of the second reference frame is t2. The transmission time of the end boundary of the third reference frame is t3. The transmission time of the end boundary of the fourth reference frame is t4. The UE sends the transmission time of the second reference point to the network at t 5. Since the reference point of the second reference boundary (e.g., the end boundary of the second reference frame) is before t5 and closest to t5, the transmission time sent by the UE at t5 is the transmission time of the end boundary of the second reference frame (i.e., t2 is sent by the UE as the reception time).

In some embodiments, the second reference point configured by the network is periodic. After transmitting each second reference point and before transmitting the next second reference point, the UE sends the network a transmission time of the second reference point. The transmission time report sent by the UE is also periodic, with the same periodicity as the second reference point.

In some embodiments, the reference symbols, reference cells, configured by the network are periodic. After transmitting each reference unit and before transmitting the next reference unit, the UE sends a transmission time to the network. The transmission time reports by the UE are periodic with the same periodicity as the reference elements. In some embodiments, the wireless communication device transmits the first signal to the wireless communication node every certain time period. In some embodiments, the wireless communication device transmits a second signal to the wireless communication node during each time period, the second signal carrying time information indicating when the wireless communication device transmitted the first signal.

Fig. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a delivery time report, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The offset is 10 frames and the periodicity is 40 frames. The starting point is the start of system frame 0. The reference frames shown in fig. 11 are system frame 10, system frame 50, system frame 90, and system frame 130, respectively, based on the offset and periodicity. The starting boundaries of system frame 0, system frame 10, system frame 50, system frame 90, and system frame 130 are transmitted at t1, t2, t3, t4, and t5, respectively. In some embodiments, the second reference point is a starting boundary of the reference frame.

For reference frame 10, after transmitting frame 10 and before transmitting frame 50, the UE sends to the network the transmission time (i.e., t 2) of the starting boundary of frame 10. In another case, after t2 and before t3, the UE sends the transmission time of the start boundary of the frame 10 (i.e., t 2). Similarly, for the reference frame 50, after transmitting the frame 50 and before transmitting the frame 90, the UE sends to the network the transmission time (i.e., t 3) of the starting boundary of the frame 50. In another case, after t3 and before t4, the UE sends the transmission time of the start boundary of the frame 50 (i.e., t 3).

In some embodiments, the reference unit is implicitly indicated by the network, and in some embodiments, is implicitly indicated by the first reference point.

In some embodiments, the network sends Downlink Control Information (DCI) to the UE for scheduling PUSCH, and in some embodiments, the DCI indicates that PUSCH is used to transmit the transmission time. In some embodiments, the network sends the MAC CE to the UE, and in some embodiments, the MAC CE indicates that the UE reports the transmission time. The transmission time may be carried by PUSCH or PUCCH. In some embodiments, the reference element is the first or last element on which the PUSCH or PUCCH is transmitted.

Fig. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a reference frame according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. System frame N (N is an integer) is transmitted from t1. The transmission time of the start boundary of the system frame N is t1, and the transmission time of the end boundary of the system frame N is t2. The PUSCH scheduled by the PDCCH is transmitted on system frame N. PUSCH is indicated as carrying the transmission time of a reference frame. The reference frame is the system frame N on which PUSCH is transmitted. If the reference point is the starting boundary of the frame, the transmission time of the reference point is t1, and the value of t1 may be carried by the PUSCH for transmission time reporting.

In some embodiments, the time interval between the second reference point and the PUCCH or PUSCH is equal to or greater than a threshold, wherein in some embodiments the PUCCH or PUSCH carries the transmission time of the second reference point. In some embodiments, the time interval between the second reference point and the first symbol of the PUCCH or the first symbol of the PUSCH is equal to or greater than a threshold, wherein in some embodiments the PUSCH or PUCCH carries the transmission time of the second reference point.

In some embodiments, the network sends DCI for scheduling PUSCH to the UE, and in some embodiments, the DCI indicates a transmission time for which the PUSCH carries a second reference point. In some embodiments, the network sends the MAC CE to the UE, and in some embodiments, the MAC CE indicates that the UE reports the transmission time. The transmission time may be carried by PUSCH or PUCCH. In some embodiments, the reference unit is a unit before or after a unit on which the DCI or the MAC CE is transmitted, with a first offset between the two. In some embodiments, the first offset is predefined by a network configuration or by a specification. In some embodiments, the wireless communication device receives a third signal from the wireless communication node on a third time domain unit. In some embodiments, the third signal is configured to trigger transmission of the second signal. In some embodiments, the third signal includes at least one of Downlink Control Information (DCI) and a MAC CE. In some embodiments, each of the first, second and third time domain units comprises at least one of: symbol, subslot, slot, subframe, frame. In some embodiments, there is a first time offset between the first time domain unit and the third time domain unit. In some embodiments, the first time offset is preconfigured or indicated by the wireless communication node.

In some embodiments, the UE sends the transmission time of the second reference point to the network at a specific time. In some embodiments, the second reference point is prior to the particular time with a second offset between the first reference point and the particular time. In some embodiments, the second offset is constant and may be configured by the network or predefined by the specification.

In some embodiments, the UE sends the transmission time of the second reference point to the network. In some embodiments, the transmission time of the second reference point is carried by an uplink transmission. In some embodiments, the uplink transmission is PUCCH or PUSCH. In some embodiments, the reference unit is before or after the uplink transmission with a second offset between the reference unit and the first unit of the uplink transmission. In some embodiments, the second offset is predefined by a network configuration or by a specification. In some embodiments, there is a second time offset between the first time domain unit and a second time domain unit on which the second signal is transmitted. In some embodiments, the second time offset is preconfigured or indicated by the wireless communication node.

When the network receives the transmission time from the UE, the network may obtain a time when the network receives the second reference point. In some embodiments, the time at which the network receives the second reference point is the transmission time reported by the UE plus the propagation delay. In some embodiments, the propagation delay is half of the UE advance time.

In some embodiments, the physical signal configuration is configured by the network to the UE. The network configures a physical signal configuration to be used for uplink synchronization so that the network obtains a clock. In some embodiments, the UE sends a physical signal (e.g., a reference physical signal) to the network. The UE sends the transmission time of the third reference point to the network. The third reference point is the starting or ending boundary of the first or last cell of the physical signal. For example, the third reference point is the first or last symbol, sub-slot, sub-frame and frame of the physical signal.

In some embodiments, the reference physical signal is a physical signal transmitted by the UE at a time that is adjacent to (e.g., previous to and closest to) the time at which the UE sent the transmission time to the network. In some embodiments, the reference physical signal is indicated to the network by the UE via RRC signaling, MAC CE, or UCI.

In some embodiments, the physical signal is a PRACH. In some embodiments, the transmission time is transmitted in msg 3. In some embodiments, the transmission time is carried by PUSCH in msgA. In some embodiments, the time interval between PRACH and PUSCH in msgA is equal to or greater than a threshold. In some embodiments, the transmission of the PRACH and the reporting of the transmission time is triggered by the DCI or the MAC CE.

In some embodiments, the physical signal is a Sounding Reference Signal (SRS). The reference SRS is indicated by the network. In some embodiments, the DCI schedules PUSCH transmissions and triggers SRS transmissions. In some embodiments, the SRS transmission is prior to the PUSCH transmission. In some embodiments, the transmission time of the SRS is transmitted in the PUSCH. In some embodiments, the first signal comprises at least one of: a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH), a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH), a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) signal, or a Sounding Reference Signal (SRS).

When the network receives the transmission time sent by the UE, the network can obtain the exact time when the network receives the third reference point. In some embodiments, the time when the network receives the third reference point is the transmission time reported by the UE plus the propagation delay. In some embodiments, the propagation delay is half of the UE advance time. The time of advance is estimated (e.g., measured, determined) based on the reference PRACH. The time of advance is estimated (e.g., measured, determined) based on the reference SRS.

In some embodiments, the first UE sends the transmission time of the fourth reference point to the second UE via the side link. The transmission time may be carried by a physical side link shared channel (psch) or a physical side link control channel (PSCCH). In some embodiments, the transmission time of the fourth reference point is a time when the first UE transmits the fourth reference point to the second UE. In some embodiments, the fourth reference point is a start boundary or an end boundary of an edge link transmission (e.g., a symbol, a sub-slot, a subframe, or a frame). In some embodiments, if the fourth reference point is a starting boundary of the edge link transmission, the first one or more symbols of the edge link transmission are transmitted from the first UE to the second UE. In some embodiments, if the fourth reference point is an end boundary of the edge link transmission, the last one or more symbols of the edge link transmission are transmitted from the first UE to the second UE.

In some embodiments, the first UE sends the reception time of the fourth reference point to the second UE via the side link. The receive time may be carried by the psch or PSCCH. In some embodiments, the time of receipt of the fourth reference point is the time when the first UE received the fourth reference point from the second UE. In some embodiments, if the fourth reference point is a starting boundary of the edge link transmission, the first one or more symbols of the edge link transmission are transmitted from the second UE to the first UE. In some embodiments, if the fourth reference point is an ending boundary of the edge link transmission, the last one or more symbols of the edge link transmission are transmitted from the second UE to the first UE.

In some embodiments, the sidelink transmission is a transmission of a reference symbol, a reference sub-slot, a reference subframe, or a reference frame. In some embodiments, the reference symbols, reference sub-slots, reference subframes, or reference frames are indicated to the first UE and the second UE by the network via RRC signaling or MAC CE or Downlink Control Information (DCI). In some embodiments, the network indicates to the UE a first reference point for receiving the time report.

In some embodiments, the reference symbol, reference sub-slot, reference subframe, or reference frame is indicated by the first UE to the second UE via RRC signaling or MAC CE or Downlink Control Information (DCI). In some embodiments, the first UE indicates a first reference point to the second UE for receiving the time report.

In some embodiments, the reference symbol, reference sub-slot, reference subframe, or reference frame is indicated to the first UE by the second UE via RRC signaling or MAC CE or Downlink Control Information (DCI). In some embodiments, the second UE indicates to the first UE a first reference point for receiving the time report.

When the second UE receives the transmission time or the reception time from the first UE, the second UE may obtain a time when the UE receives or transmits the fourth reference point. In some embodiments, the time when the UE receives or transmits the fourth reference point is a transmit time or a receive time transmitted by the first UE.

Fig. 13 shows a flow diagram illustrating a method 1300 for communicating timing information, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. Referring to fig. 1-12, in some embodiments, method 1300 may be performed by a wireless communication device (e.g., a UE). Additional, fewer, or different operations may be performed in the method 1300, depending on the embodiment.

A wireless communication device receives a first signal from a wireless communication node (e.g., a network) over a first time domain unit (1302). The wireless communication device transmits a second signal to the wireless communication node on a second time domain unit, the second signal carrying time information indicating when the first signal was received by the wireless communication device (1304).

Fig. 14 illustrates a flow chart showing a method 1400 for transmitting timing information, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. Referring to fig. 1-12, in some embodiments, a method 1400 may be performed by a wireless communication device (e.g., a UE). Additional, fewer, or different operations may be performed in the method 1400, depending on the embodiment.

The wireless communication device transmits a first signal transmitted on a first time domain unit to a wireless communication node (e.g., a network) (1402). The wireless communication device transmits a second signal to the wireless communication node on a second time domain unit, the second signal carrying time information indicating when the wireless communication device transmitted the first signal (1404).

In some embodiments, the network receives, from the UE, a time of reception (e.g., a first time value, a first time domain unit) of a first reference point (e.g., a first signal) received by the UE. The reception time of the first reference point is a time when the UE receives the first reference point from the network. The first reference point may be (e.g., identified as …, occurring during …, at … time, etc.) at least one of a boundary (e.g., a starting or ending boundary) of a symbol (e.g., an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbol), a sub-slot, a sub-frame, or a unit (e.g., transmission unit) of a frame (e.g., a system frame). The unit corresponding to the first reference point may be referred to as a reference unit (e.g., reference transmission unit), such as a reference symbol, a reference sub-slot, a reference subframe, and a reference system frame. In other words, a symbol, a sub-slot, a subframe, and a system frame corresponding to the first reference point may be referred to as a reference symbol, a reference sub-slot, a reference subframe, and a reference system frame, respectively. In some embodiments, a wireless communication node transmits a first signal on a first time domain unit to a wireless communication device. The wireless communication node receives a second signal on a second time domain unit from the wireless communication device, the second signal carrying time information indicating when the first signal was received by the wireless communication device. In some embodiments, a wireless communication node receives a first signal transmitted on a first time domain unit from a wireless communication device. The wireless communication node receives a second signal on a second time domain unit from the wireless communication device, the second signal carrying time information indicating when the wireless communication device transmitted the first signal. In some embodiments, the time information includes a time of a start boundary or an end boundary of the first time domain unit.

The reference symbol is a Downlink (DL) symbol, which is used for downlink signal transmission. If the first reference point is an end boundary of the reference cell, the last symbol or symbols of the reference cell are downlink symbols for downlink signal transmission. If the first reference point is a starting boundary of the reference cell, the first one or more symbols of the reference cell are downlink symbols for downlink signal transmission. In some embodiments, the network receives a reception time of a boundary of the reference cell from the UE.

The information of the reception time may be in Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, or a Medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE), or Uplink Control Information (UCI). In some embodiments, the time information is included in at least one of Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE), or Uplink Control Information (UCI).

In some embodiments, the reference unit is indicated to the UE by the network via RRC signaling or MAC CE or Downlink Control Information (DCI). The network indicates to the UE a first reference point for receiving a time report. In some embodiments, the first time domain unit is indicated by the wireless communication node via at least one of Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, a Medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE), or Downlink Control Information (DCI).

In some embodiments, the reference unit is indicated to the network by the UE via RRC signaling or MAC CE or UCI. A first reference point for receiving a time report is indicated by the UE to the network. In some embodiments, the first time domain unit is indicated by the wireless communication device via at least one of Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE), or Uplink Control Information (UCI).

In some embodiments, the UE transmits the time of receipt of the first reference point to the network at a particular (e.g., predetermined, occurring once every period of time, etc.) time. In some embodiments, the received time received by the network is a received time of the indicated first reference point that is adjacent to (e.g., closest to) the particular time (e.g., prior to and among the particular time prior to). The receive time may be carried by (e.g., transmitted by, included in, allocated to, corresponding to, etc.) a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) or a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH). The time carried by the PUSCH or PUCCH is a reception time of the indicated first reference point adjacent to (e.g., prior to and closest to) the start of the PUSCH or PUCCH. In some embodiments, the second signal comprises at least one of a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) signal or a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) signal.

Referring back to system number 4,5 (e.g., by the network or the UE) is indicated as the reference frame, and the first reference point is the starting boundary of the reference frame. In fig. 4, there are 4 system frames, and the system frame number is 5. The first system frame number 5 is received starting at t1. In other words, the reception time of the start boundary of the first reference frame is t1. Similarly, the reception times of the start boundaries of the second, third, and fourth reference frames are t2, t3, and t4, respectively. In some embodiments, the UE sends the time of reception of the first reference point to the network at t 5. Since the reference point of the second reference frame (e.g., the starting boundary of the second reference frame) is before t5 and closest to t5, the receive time sent by the UE at t5 is the receive time of the starting boundary of the second reference frame (i.e., t2 is sent by the UE as the receive time).

In some embodiments, the first reference point configured by the network is periodic. After receiving the first reference point and before receiving the next first reference point, the UE transmits the reception time of the first reference point to the network. The reception time reported by the UE is also periodic, with the same periodicity as the first reference point. In some embodiments, the wireless communication node transmits the first signal to the wireless communication device every certain time period. In some embodiments, the wireless communication node receives a second signal from the wireless communication device during each time period, the second signal carrying time information indicating when the first signal was received by the wireless communication device.

In some embodiments, the reference units configured by the network are periodic. After receiving each reference cell and before receiving the next reference cell, the UE sends a receive time to the network. The reception time reported by the UE is periodic with the same periodicity as the reference unit. For periodic reference cells, periodicity and offset may be configured. The offset of the reference units is the time interval between one of the reference units and the starting point. Typically, the starting point is the start of system frame number 0.

Referring now to fig. 5, the offset is 10 frames and the periodicity is 40 frames. The starting point is the start of system frame 0. The reference frames shown in fig. 5 are system frame 10, system frame 50, system frame 90, and system frame 130, respectively, based on the offset and periodicity. The starting boundaries of system frame 0, system frame 10, system frame 50, system frame 90, and system frame 130 are received at t1, t2, t3, t4, and t5, respectively. In some embodiments, the first reference point is a starting boundary of the reference frame.

For reference frame 10, after receiving frame 10 and before receiving frame 50, the UE sends the network the time of receipt of the starting boundary of frame 10 (i.e., t 2). In another case, after t2 and before t3, the UE transmits the reception time of the start boundary of the frame 10 (i.e., t 2). Similarly, for the reference frame 50, after receiving the frame 50 and before receiving the frame 90, the UE sends the network the reception time of the starting boundary of the frame 50 (i.e., t 3). In another case, after t3 and before t4, the UE sends the reception time of the start boundary of the frame 50 (i.e., t 3).

In some embodiments, the reference unit, and, in some embodiments, the first reference point, is implicitly indicated by the network. In some embodiments, the network sends Downlink Control Information (DCI) to the UE for scheduling PUSCH, and in some embodiments, the DCI indicates that PUSCH is used to convey the reception time. In some embodiments, the network sends the MAC CE to the UE, and the MAC CE indicates that the UE reports the reception time. In some embodiments, the reference unit is the first or last unit on which the DCI or MAC CE is transmitted. For example, the reference symbol, sub-slot, subframe, and system frame are the first or last symbol, sub-slot, subframe, and frame, respectively, on which DCI or MAC CE is transmitted. In some embodiments, the DCI is carried by the PDCCH and the MAC CE is carried by the PDSCH. The symbol, sub-slot, subframe and frame on which the DCI is transmitted are equal to the symbol, sub-slot, subframe and frame, respectively, of the PDCCH carrying the DCI. The symbols, sub-slots, subframes and frames on which the MAC CE is transmitted are equal to the symbols, sub-slots, subframes and frames, respectively, of the PDSCH carrying the MAC CE. In some embodiments, the wireless communication node transmits the third signal to the wireless communication device on a third time domain unit. In some embodiments, the third signal is configured to trigger transmission of the second signal. In some embodiments, the third signal includes at least one of Downlink Control Information (DCI) and a MAC CE. In some embodiments, each of the first, second and third time domain units comprises at least one of: symbol, subslot, slot, subframe, frame.

Referring now to fig. 6, a system frame N (N is an integer) is received starting at t1. The reception time of the start boundary of the system frame N is t1, and the reception time of the end boundary of the system frame N is t2.PDCCH is transmitted on system frame N to schedule PUSCH. PDCCH also indicates that PUSCH is used to transmit the reception time. Thus, the reference frame is system frame N. If the reference point is the starting boundary of the frame, the report of the time of receipt of the reference point is t1 and a report of the value of t1 may be received by the network from the UE. If the reference point is the ending boundary of the frame, the report of the time of receipt of the reference point is t2 and a report of the value of t2 may be received by the network from the UE.

Referring now to fig. 7, system frame N is received starting at t1. The reception time of the start boundary of the system frame N is t1, and the reception time of the end boundary of the system frame N is t2. The MAC CE is transmitted on system frame N and is used to indicate that the UE reports the reception time to the network. Thus, the reference frame is system frame N. If the reference point is the starting boundary of the frame, the report of the time of receipt of the reference point is t1 and the value of t1 may be received by the network from the UE. If the reference point is the ending boundary of the frame, the report of the time of receipt of the reference point is t2 and the value of t2 may be received by the network from the UE.

In some embodiments, the network sends DCI for scheduling PUSCH to the UE, and in some embodiments, the DCI indicates that PUSCH is to convey the reception time. In some embodiments, the time interval between the DCI and the scheduled PUSCH is equal to or greater than a threshold. In some embodiments, a time interval between a last symbol of a PDCCH carrying DCI and a first symbol of a scheduled PUSCH is equal to or greater than a threshold.

In some embodiments, the network sends the MAC CE to the UE, and in some embodiments, the MAC CE indicates the UE reports the time of reception. In some embodiments, the reception time is carried by PUSCH or PUCCH. In some embodiments, the time interval between the MAC CE and the PUSCH or PUCCH is equal to or greater than a threshold. In some embodiments, the time interval between the last symbol of the PDSCH carrying the MAC CE and the first symbol of the PUSCH or PUCCH is equal to or greater than a threshold. The value of the threshold may be configured by the network or predefined by the specification.

In some embodiments, the network sends DCI to the UE for scheduling PUSCH, and in some embodiments, the DCI indicates that PUSCH is to convey the reception time. In some embodiments, the network sends the MAC CE to the UE, and in some embodiments, the MAC CE indicates the UE reports the time of reception. In some embodiments, the reference symbol is a symbol before or after a symbol on which the DCI or MAC CE is transmitted, with a first offset between the two. In some embodiments, the reference unit is a unit before or after the unit on which the DCI or MAC CE is transmitted, with a first offset between the two. For example, the reference symbol, sub-slot, subframe and frame are respectively a symbol, sub-slot, subframe and frame preceding or following the corresponding symbol, sub-slot, subframe and frame on which the DCI or MAC CE is transmitted, both of which have the first offset. The first offset is predefined by a network configuration or by a specification. In some embodiments, there is a first time offset between the first time domain unit and the third time domain unit. In some embodiments, the first time offset is preconfigured or indicated by the wireless communication node.

Referring now to fig. 8, a system frame 20 is received starting at t1. The reception time of the start boundary of the system frame 20 is t1, and the reception time of the end boundary of the system frame 20 is t2. The first offset is 3 frames. The PDCCH transmitted on frame 23 indicates that the UE reports the reception time. Since the offset between frame 20 and frame 23 is 3 frames, the reference frame is frame 20.. If the reference point is the starting boundary of the reference frame, the reception time (i.e., t 1) of the starting boundary of the system frame 20 is reported. If the reference point is the end boundary of the reference frame, the reception time (i.e., t 2) of the end boundary of the system frame 20 is reported.

In some embodiments, the UE transmits the reception time of the first reference point to the network at a specific time. In some embodiments, the first reference point is prior to the particular time with a second offset between the first reference point and the particular time. In some embodiments, the second offset is constant and may be configured by the network or predefined by the specification.

The network receives a reception time of the first reference point from the UE via an uplink transmission. The uplink transmission is PUCCH or PUSCH. In some embodiments, the reference unit is before or after the uplink transmission with a second offset between the reference unit and the first unit of the uplink transmission. For example, reference symbols, sub-slots, subframes, and frames may precede or follow uplink transmissions with a second offset between the reference symbols, sub-slots, subframes, and frames and the first symbols, sub-slots, subframes, and frames, respectively, of the uplink transmissions. The second offset may be a number of symbols, sub-slots, sub-frames, or milliseconds. In some embodiments, the second offset is predefined by a network configuration or by a specification. The offset may have a value of zero. In some embodiments, there is a second time offset between the first time domain unit and a second time domain unit on which the second signal is transmitted. In some embodiments, the second time offset is preconfigured or indicated by the wireless communication node.

Referring now to fig. 9, a system frame 15 is received starting at t1. The reception time of the start boundary of the system frame 15 is t1, and the reception time of the end boundary of the system frame 15 is t2. The ending boundary of the system frame 15 is the starting boundary of the system frame 16. The reception time of the end boundary of the system frame 16 is t3. The PUSCH transmitted on the system frame 16 carries the receive time. The PUSCH transmitted in the system frame 16 is used to transmit the reception time. The offset between the reference frame and the frame of the PUSCH (i.e., the system frame 16) is 1 frame. Thus, the reference frame is the system frame 15. If the reference point is the starting boundary of the reference frame, the reception time of the starting boundary of the system frame 15 (i.e., t 1) is transmitted in the PUSCH. If the reference point is the end boundary of the reference frame, the reception time of the end boundary of the system frame 15 (i.e., t 2) is transmitted in the PUSCH.

When the network receives the reception time from the UE, the network may obtain a time when the network transmits the first reference point. In some embodiments, the time at which the network transmits the first reference point is the reported receive time received by the network minus the propagation delay. In some embodiments, the propagation delay is half of the UE advance time.

In some embodiments, the network receives a transmission time of the second reference point from the UE. The transmission time of the second reference point is a time when the UE transmits the reference point to the network. The second reference point may be at least one of a boundary (e.g., a start or end boundary) of a unit such as a symbol, sub-slot, subframe, or frame. The unit corresponding to the second reference point may be referred to as a reference unit, such as a reference symbol, a reference sub-slot, a reference subframe, and a reference system frame. In some embodiments, a wireless communication node receives a first signal transmitted on a first time domain unit from a wireless communication device. The wireless communication node receives a second signal from the wireless communication device on a second time domain unit, the second signal carrying time information indicating when the wireless communication device transmitted the first signal. In some embodiments, the time information includes a time of a start boundary or an end boundary of the first time domain unit.

The reference symbols are uplink symbols, which are used for uplink signal transmission. If the second reference point is an end boundary of the reference cell, the last symbol or symbols of the reference cell are uplink symbols for uplink signal transmission. If the second reference point is a starting boundary of the reference cell, the first one or more symbols of the reference cell are uplink symbols for uplink signal transmission. In some embodiments, the network receives a transmission time of a starting or ending boundary of a reference unit from the UE.

The information of the transmission time may be in RRC signaling, or MAC CE, or UCI. In some embodiments, the time information is included in at least one of Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE), or Uplink Control Information (UCI).

In some embodiments, the reference unit is indicated to the UE by the network via RRC signaling, MAC CE, or DCI. In some embodiments, the second reference point for transmitting the time report is indicated to the UE by the network. In some embodiments, the first time domain unit is indicated by the wireless communication node via at least one of Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE), or Downlink Control Information (DCI)

In some embodiments, the reference unit is indicated to the network by the UE via RRC signaling, MAC CE, or UCI. In some embodiments, the second reference point for transmitting the time report is indicated to the network by the UE. In some embodiments, the first time domain unit is indicated by the wireless communication device via at least one of Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE), or Uplink Control Information (UCI).

The UE transmits the transmission time of the second reference point to the network at a specific time. In some embodiments, the transmission time received by the network is a transmission time of the indicated second reference point that is adjacent to (e.g., prior to and closest to) the particular time. The transmission time may be carried by PUSCH or PUCCH. In some embodiments, the transmission time carried by the PUSCH or PUCCH is the transmission time of the indicated second reference point prior to and closest to the start of the PUSCH or PUSCH.

Referring now to system frame number 10,5 is indicated as the reference frame. The second reference point is the ending boundary of the reference frame. There are 4 system frames with a system frame number of 5. The first system frame number 5 is transmitted with the ending boundary at t1. The transmission time of the end boundary of the first reference frame is t1. Similarly, the transmission time of the end boundary of the second reference frame is t2. The transmission time of the end boundary of the third reference frame is t3. The transmission time of the end boundary of the fourth reference frame is t4. The UE sends the transmission time of the second reference point to the network at t 5. Since the reference point of the second reference boundary (e.g., the end boundary of the second reference frame) is before t5 and closest to t5, the transmission time sent by the UE at t5 is the transmission time of the end boundary of the second reference frame (i.e., t2 is received by the network as a reception time).

In some embodiments, the second reference point configured by the network is periodic. After transmitting each second reference point and before transmitting the next second reference point, the UE sends the network a transmission time of the second reference point. The transmission time report by the UE is also periodic, with the same periodicity as the second reference point.

In some embodiments, the reference symbols, reference cells, configured by the network are periodic. After transmitting each reference unit and before transmitting the next reference unit, the UE sends a transmission time to the network. The transmission time reporting by the UE is periodic with the same periodicity as the reference element. In some embodiments, the wireless communication node receives a first signal from the wireless communication device every certain time period. In some embodiments, the wireless communication node receives a second signal from the wireless communication device during each time period, the second signal carrying time information indicating when the wireless communication device transmitted the first signal.

Referring now to fig. 11, the offset is 10 frames and the periodicity is 40 frames. The starting point is the beginning of system frame 0. The reference frames shown in fig. 11 are system frame 10, system frame 50, system frame 90, and system frame 130, respectively, based on the offset and periodicity. The starting boundaries of system frame 0, system frame 10, system frame 50, system frame 90, and system frame 130 are transmitted at t1, t2, t3, t4, and t5, respectively. In some embodiments, the second reference point is a starting boundary of the reference frame.

For reference frame 10, after transmitting frame 10 and before transmitting frame 50, the UE sends to the network the transmission time (i.e., t 2) of the starting boundary of frame 10. In another case, after t2 and before t3, the UE sends the transmission time of the start boundary of the frame 10 (i.e., t 2). Similarly, for the reference frame 50, after transmitting the frame 50 and before transmitting the frame 90, the UE sends to the network the transmission time (i.e., t 3) of the starting boundary of the frame 50. In another case, after t3 and before t4, the UE sends the transmission time of the start boundary of the frame 50 (i.e., t 3).

In some embodiments, the reference unit is implicitly indicated by the network, and in some embodiments, is implicitly indicated by the first reference point.

In some embodiments, the network sends Downlink Control Information (DCI) to the UE for scheduling PUSCH, and in some embodiments, the DCI indicates that PUSCH is used to transmit the transmission time. In some embodiments, the network sends the MAC CE to the UE, and in some embodiments, the MAC CE indicates the UE reports the transmission time. The transmission time may be carried by PUSCH or PUCCH. In some embodiments, the reference element is the first or last element on which the PUSCH or PUCCH is transmitted.

Referring now to fig. 12, a system frame N (N is an integer) is transmitted starting at t1. The transmission time of the start boundary of the system frame N is t1, and the transmission time of the end boundary of the system frame N is t2. The PUSCH scheduled by the PDCCH is transmitted on system frame N. PUSCH is indicated as carrying the transmission time of a reference frame. The reference frame is the system frame N on which PUSCH is transmitted. If the reference point is the starting boundary of the frame, the transmission time of the reference point is t1, and the value of t1 may be carried by the PUSCH for transmission time reporting.

In some embodiments, the time interval between the second reference point and the PUCCH or PUSCH is equal to or greater than a threshold, wherein in some embodiments the PUCCH or PUSCH carries the transmission time of the second reference point. In some embodiments, the time interval between the second reference point and the first symbol of the PUCCH or the first symbol of the PUSCH is equal to or greater than a threshold, wherein in some embodiments the PUSCH or PUCCH carries the transmission time of the second reference point.

In some embodiments, the network sends DCI to the UE for scheduling the PUSCH, and in some embodiments, the DCI indicates a transmission time at which the PUSCH carries the second reference point. In some embodiments, the network sends the MAC CE to the UE, and in some embodiments, the MAC CE indicates that the UE reports the transmission time. The transmission time may be carried by PUSCH or PUCCH. In some embodiments, the reference unit is a unit before or after a unit on which the DCI or the MAC CE is transmitted, with a first offset between the two. In some embodiments, the first offset is predefined by a network configuration or by a specification. In some embodiments, the wireless communication node transmits the third signal to the wireless communication device on a third time domain unit. In some embodiments, the third signal is configured to trigger transmission of the second signal. In some embodiments, the third signal includes at least one of Downlink Control Information (DCI) and a MAC CE. In some embodiments, each of the first, second and third time domain units comprises at least one of: symbol, subslot, slot, subframe, frame. In some embodiments, there is a first time offset between the first time domain unit and the third time domain unit. In some embodiments, the first time offset is preconfigured or indicated by the wireless communication node.

In some embodiments, the UE sends the transmission time of the second reference point to the network at a specific time. In some embodiments, the second reference point is prior to the particular time with a second offset between the first reference point and the particular time. In some embodiments, the second offset is constant and may be configured by the network or predefined by the specification.

In some embodiments, the network receives a transmission time of the second reference point from the UE. In some embodiments, the transmission time of the second reference point is carried by an uplink transmission. In some embodiments, the uplink transmission is PUCCH or PUSCH. In some embodiments, the reference unit is before or after the uplink transmission with a second offset between the reference unit and the first unit of the uplink transmission. In some embodiments, the second offset is predefined by a network configuration or by a specification. In some embodiments, there is a second time offset between the first time domain unit and a second time domain unit on which the second signal is transmitted. In some embodiments, the second time offset is preconfigured or indicated by the wireless communication node.

When the network receives the transmission time from the UE, the network may obtain a time when the network receives the second reference point. In some embodiments, the time at which the network receives the second reference point is the reported transmission time received by the network plus the propagation delay. In some embodiments, the propagation delay is half of the UE advance time.

In some embodiments, the physical signal configuration is configured by the network to the UE. The network configures a physical signal configuration to be used for uplink synchronization so that the network obtains a clock. In some embodiments, the network receives a physical signal (e.g., a reference physical signal) from the UE. The network receives a transmission time of the third reference point from the UE. The third reference point is the starting or ending boundary of the first or last cell of the physical signal. For example, the third reference point is the first or last symbol, sub-slot, sub-frame and frame of the physical signal.

In some embodiments, the reference physical signal is a physical signal transmitted by the UE at a time that is adjacent to (e.g., previous to and closest to) the time at which the UE sent the transmission time to the network. In some embodiments, the reference physical signal is indicated to the network by the UE via RRC signaling, MAC CE, or UCI.

In some embodiments, the physical signal is a PRACH. In some embodiments, the transmission time is transmitted in msg 3. In some embodiments, the transmission time is carried by PUSCH in msgA. In some embodiments, the time interval between PRACH and PUSCH in msgA is equal to or greater than a threshold. In some embodiments, the transmission of the PRACH and the reporting of the transmission time is triggered by the DCI or the MAC CE.

In some embodiments, the physical signal is a Sounding Reference Signal (SRS). The reference SRS is indicated by the network. In some embodiments, the DCI schedules PUSCH transmissions and triggers SRS transmissions. In some embodiments, the SRS transmission is prior to the PUSCH transmission. In some embodiments, the transmission time of the SRS is transmitted in the PUSCH. In some embodiments, the first signal comprises at least one of: a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH), a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH), a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) signal, or a Sounding Reference Signal (SRS).

When the network receives the transmission time sent by the UE, the network can obtain the exact time when the network receives the third reference point. In some embodiments, the time at which the network receives the third reference point is the reported transmission time received by the network plus the propagation delay. In some embodiments, the propagation delay is half of the UE advance time. The time of advance is estimated (e.g., measured, determined) based on the reference PRACH. The time of advance is estimated (e.g., measured, determined) based on the reference SRS.

Fig. 15 shows a flow chart illustrating a method 1500 for receiving timing information, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. Referring to fig. 1-12, in some embodiments, a method 1500 may be performed by a wireless communication node (e.g., a network). Additional, fewer, or different operations may be performed in the method 1500, depending on the embodiment.

The wireless communication node transmits a first signal (1502) to a wireless communication device (e.g., a UE) on a first time domain unit. The wireless communication node receives a second signal from the wireless communication device on a second time domain unit, the second signal carrying time information indicating when the first signal was received by the wireless communication device (1504).

Fig. 16 shows a flow diagram illustrating a method 1600 for receiving timing information, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. Referring to fig. 1-12, in some embodiments, method 1600 may be performed by a wireless communication node (e.g., a network). Additional, fewer, or different operations may be performed in the method 1600, depending on the embodiment.

A wireless communication node receives (1602) a first signal transmitted on a first time domain unit from a wireless communication device (e.g., a UE). The wireless communication node receives a second signal from the wireless communication device on a second time domain unit, the second signal carrying time information indicating when the wireless communication device transmitted the first signal (1604).

While various embodiments of the present solution have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Likewise, the various figures may depict example architectures or configurations provided to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to understand the example features and functionality of the present solution. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present solution is not limited to the example architectures or configurations illustrated, but may be implemented using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations. In addition, one or more features of one embodiment may be combined with one or more features of another embodiment described herein, as one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above-described illustrative embodiments.

It will also be understood that any reference herein to elements using a name such as "first", "second", etc., does not generally limit the number or order of those elements. Rather, these names may be used herein as a convenient means of distinguishing between two or more elements or instances of an element. Thus, reference to first and second elements does not imply that only two elements are used or that the first element must somehow precede the second element.

In addition, those of ordinary skill in the art would understand that information and signals may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, and symbols that may be referenced throughout the above description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof.

Those of ordinary skill would further appreciate that any of the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, processors, means, circuits, methods, and functions described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware (e.g., a digital implementation, an analog implementation, or a combination of the two), firmware, various forms of program or design code containing instructions (which may be referred to herein, for convenience, as "software" or a "software module"), or any combination of these technologies. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware, firmware, and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware, firmware, or software, or as a combination of such techniques, depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions do not depart from the scope of the present disclosure.

Furthermore, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, devices, components, and circuits described herein may be implemented or performed with Integrated Circuits (ICs) that include general purpose processors, digital Signal Processors (DSPs), application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, or any combinations thereof. The logic blocks, modules, and circuits may also include antennas and/or transceivers for communicating with various components within the network or within the device. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices to perform the functions described herein, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other suitable configuration.

If implemented in software, the functions may be stored as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Thus, the steps of a method or algorithm disclosed herein may be implemented as software stored on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media includes both computer storage media and communication media including any medium that enables transfer of a computer program or code from one place to another. A storage media may be any available media that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media may comprise: computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and which can be accessed by a computer.

In this document, the term "module" as used herein refers to software, firmware, hardware, and any combination of these elements for performing the associated functions described herein. In addition, for purposes of discussion, the various modules are described as discrete modules; however, it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that two or more modules may be combined to form a single module performing the associated functions according to embodiments of the present solution.

Additionally, memory or other storage devices and communication components may be employed in embodiments of the present solution. It will be appreciated that for clarity the above description has described embodiments of the present solution with reference to different functional units and processors. However, it will be apparent that any suitable distribution of functionality between different functional units, processing logic elements or domains may be used without detracting from the present solution. For example, functionality illustrated to be performed by separate processing logic elements or controllers may be performed by the same processing logic elements or controllers. Thus, references to specific functional units are only to references to suitable means for providing the described functionality rather than indicative of a strict logical or physical structure or organization.

Various modifications to the described embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the novel features and principles disclosed herein as set forth in the following claims.

Claims (27)

1. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

receiving, by a wireless communication device, a first signal from a wireless communication node on a first time domain unit; and is

Transmitting, by the wireless communication device, a second signal to the wireless communication node on a second time domain unit, the second signal carrying time information indicating when the first signal was received by the wireless communication device.

2. The wireless communication method of claim 1, wherein the time information is included in at least one of: radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE), or Uplink Control Information (UCI).

3. The wireless communication method of claim 1, wherein the time information comprises a time of a starting boundary or an ending boundary of the first time domain unit.

4. The wireless communication method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the wireless communication device, a third signal from the wireless communication node on a third time domain unit, wherein the third signal is configured to trigger transmission of the second signal,

wherein the third signal comprises at least one of: downlink Control Information (DCI), MAC CE.

5. The wireless communication method of claim 4, wherein each of the first, second, and third time domain units comprises at least one of: symbol, subslot, slot, subframe, frame.

6. The wireless communication method of claim 4, wherein there is a first time offset between the first time domain unit and the third time domain unit.

7. The wireless communication method of claim 6, wherein the first time offset is preconfigured or indicated by the wireless communication node.

8. The wireless communication method of claim 1, wherein there is a second time offset between the first time domain unit and a second time domain unit on which the second signal is transmitted.

9. The wireless communication method of claim 8, wherein the second time offset is preconfigured or indicated by the wireless communication node.

10. The wireless communication method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the wireless communication device, the first signal from the wireless communication node every particular time period; and is

Transmitting, by the wireless communication device to the wireless communication node during each time period, the second signal carrying time information indicating when the first signal was received by the wireless communication device.

11. The wireless communication method of claim 1, wherein the first time domain unit is indicated by the wireless communication node via at least one of: radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE), or Downlink Control Information (DCI).

12. The wireless communication method of claim 1, wherein the first time domain unit is indicated by the wireless communication device via at least one of: radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE), or Uplink Control Information (UCI).

13. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

transmitting, by a wireless communication device, a first signal transmitted on a first time domain unit to a wireless communication node; and is

Transmitting, by the wireless communication device, a second signal to the wireless communication node on a second time domain unit, the second signal carrying time information indicating when the first signal was transmitted by the wireless communication device.

14. The wireless communication method of claim 13, wherein the time information is included in at least one of: radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE), or Uplink Control Information (UCI).

15. The wireless communication method of claim 13, wherein the first signal comprises at least one of: a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH), a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH), a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) signal, or a Sounding Reference Signal (SRS).

16. The wireless communication method of claim 13, wherein the time information comprises a time of a starting boundary or an ending boundary of the first time domain unit.

17. The wireless communication method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving, by the wireless communication device, a third signal from the wireless communication node on a third time domain unit, wherein the third signal is configured to trigger transmission of the second signal,

wherein the third signal comprises at least one of: downlink Control Information (DCI) and MAC CE.

18. The wireless communication method of claim 13, wherein each of the first, second, and third time domain units comprises at least one of: symbol, subslot, slot, subframe, frame.

19. The wireless communications method of claim 17, wherein a first time offset exists between the first time domain unit and the third time domain unit.

20. The wireless communications method of claim 19, wherein the first time offset is preconfigured or indicated by the wireless communications node.

21. The wireless communication method of claim 13, wherein there is a second time offset between the first time domain unit and a second time domain unit on which the second signal is transmitted.

22. The wireless communications method of claim 21, wherein the second time offset is preconfigured or indicated by the wireless communications node.

23. The wireless communication method of claim 13, further comprising:

transmitting, by the wireless communication device, the first signal to the wireless communication node every particular time period; and is

Transmitting, by the wireless communication device to the wireless communication node during each time period, the second signal carrying time information indicating when the wireless communication device transmitted the first signal.

24. The wireless communication method of claim 13, wherein the first time domain unit is indicated by the wireless communication node via at least one of: radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE), or Downlink Control Information (DCI).

25. The wireless communication method of claim 13, wherein the first time domain unit is indicated by the wireless communication device via at least one of: radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE), or Uplink Control Information (UCI).

26. A wireless communication apparatus comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the processor is configured to read code from the memory and implement the method of any of claims 1-25.

27. A computer program product comprising a computer readable program medium code stored thereon, which when executed by a processor, causes the processor to implement the method of any one of claims 1 to 25.

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