WO2018112322A2 - Resource allocation and detailed design for new radio (nr) physical uplink control channel (pucch) with multiple slot duration - Google Patents

Abstract

Methods and architectures for establishing an uplink control channel in a fifth generation (5G) or new radio (NR) wireless network includes a next generation NodeB (gNB) selecting a resource in code, time and/or frequency domains for user equipment (UE) to transmit uplink control information (UCI) spanning multiple slots of a time resource in the uplink channel from the UE to the gNB. The UE uses the selected code, time, frequency resource to transmit for NR physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) over multiple slots.

Description

RESOURCE ALLOCATION AND DETAILED DESIGN FOR NEW RADIO (NR) PHYSICAL UPLINK CONTROL CHANNEL (PUCCH) WITH MULTIPLE SLOT DURATION

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. 1 19(e) to copending U.S. Applications Serial Nos. 62/443,1 1 3, filed Jan. 6, 2017 and 62/435,575, filed Dec. 16, 201 6, both under the same title, by the same inventors as the subject application and are incorporated herein by their reference.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to wireless

communications, and more particularly, but not limited to, new types of communication formats and protocols for use in next generation wireless networks.

[0003] 5G New Radio (NR) development is part of continuous mobile broadband evolution process to meet the requirements of 5G as outlined by IMT-2020, similar to earlier evolution of 3G & 4G wireless networks. 5G NR has the goal to provide wireless broadband to consumers with fiber-like performance at a significantly lower cost-per-bit than wired solutions. With new levels of latency, reliability, and security, 5G NR will scale to efficiently connect the massive Internet of Things (loT), and will offer new types of mission-critical services. As part of NR development, new protocols and features are required to meet operational guidelines.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] Certain circuits, logic operation, apparatuses and/or methods will be described by way of non-limiting example only, in reference to the appended Drawing Figures in which:

[0005] Fig. 1 shows a simplified block diagram of one example NR physical uplink control channel (NR PUCCH) in a single time slot of time division duplexed (TDD) system according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0006] Fig. 2 shows a simple block diagram of the NR PUCCH spanning multiple time slots in a TDD system according to certain example embodiments of the invention; [0007] Fig. 3 shows a simple block diagram of the NR PUCCH of different duration within aggregated slots in a TDD according to certain example embodiments of the invention;

[0008] Fig. 4 shows a simplified block diagram of a TDD system with multiple numerologies co-existing in system bandwidth according to example embodiments of the invention;

[0009] Fig. 5 shows a simple block diagram of a NR PUCCH transmission having minimum duration across multiple slots according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0010] Fig. 6 show basic block diagrams of three different options 600A, 600B, 600C of NR PUCCH transmissions using inter-slot, intra-slot and a combination of inter and intra-slot frequency hopping, respectively, according to various embodiments of the invention;

[001 1 ] Fig. 7 shows a simplified block diagram of a predefined frequency hopping configuration for transmission of NR PUCCH according to one example embodiment;

[0012] Figs. 8 and 9 show example diagrams of NR PUCCH transmissions using orthogonal cover code (OCC) both without and with intra-slot frequency hopping, respectively, according to various alternative embodiments of the invention;

[0013] Fig. 1 0 shows a simple diagram of a NR PUCCH transmission using inter- slot OCC with fixed length to other example embodiments of the invention;

[0014] Fig. 1 1 shows an example block diagram of a NR PUCCH format over multi- slot duration using inter-slot OCC to multiplex multiple UEs over the same time resource channel; and

[0015] Fig. 12 shows an example block diagram of a wireless device such as user equipment or next generation NodeB (gNB) adapted to perform certain functions and features of various embodiments of the disclosure; and

[0016] Fig. 13 shows a basic flow diagram of an example method of operation in a 5G NR network with the various NR PUCCH transmission embodiments of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] Next generation and mobile and radio systems, referred to herein as fifth generation (5G) systems, are anticipated to have certain network features, capabilities with the goal of providing a radio network architecture to connect every person and machine wirelessly. These 5G networks, can essentially be a combination of LTE advanced mobile radio access network (RAN), which connect user equipment (UE) with evolved NodeB (eNB) network access stations, and a new type of RAN, referred to as new radio (NR), some refer to as future radio access (FRA), which provides a more flexible, less centralized, lower latency access to information and sharing of data between UEs, sensors and a NR network access station, or next generation NodeB base station, referred to as gNodeB (gNB).

[0018] NR is expected to be a unified network/system targeted to meet a variety of vastly different performance dimensions and services. Such diverse multi-dimensional requirements are driven by a need to support different services and applications. In general, NR will evolve based on 3GPP LTE-Advanced with additional New Radio Access Technologies ("RATs") to enrich people lives with improved, simple and seamless wireless connectivity solutions. NR will enable wireless connected world such as the Internet of Things (loT) to deliver fast, rich content and services. One

requirement for this connectivity is the ability for NR devices to have a robust uplink control mechanism to be able to send uplink control information (UCI) and other signaling to the gNB for proper and efficient operation in the NR RAN. By way of example, the UCI may include hybrid automatic repeat/request acknowledgments/non- acknowledgements (HARQ ACK/NACK), channel quality indicators, Ml MO feedback such as Rank Indicator (Rl) or Precoding Matrix Indicator (PMI), and scheduling requests for uplink transmission or related information for reporting and connectivity control.

[0019] In LTE, such UCI may be transmitted in the uplink over either a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), if the UE is transmitting application data or radio resource control (RRC) signaling, or within a stand-alone uplink channel referred to as the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), if no application data or RRC signaling is being transmitted. Though channel structures and performance may vary significantly between LTE and NR, the uplink control channel designs for NR are desirable to achieve a similar link budget as those of LTE. Notably, in an example NR system such as that described in 3GPP TR 38.912 version 14.0.0, Release 14, published as ETSI TR 138 912 V14.0.0 (2017-05), which is incorporated herein by its reference, multiple numerologies are supported in the physical layer. A numerology is defined by sub- carrier spacing and cyclic prefix (CP) overhead. Multiple subcarrier spacings can be derived by scaling a basic subcarrier spacing by an integer N. In this example, a maximum channel bandwidth per NR carrier is 400MHz. Note that all details for channel bandwidth at least up to 100 MHz per NR carrier are to be specified in Rel-15. At least for single integer numerology cases, candidates of the maximum number of subcarriers per NR carrier is 3300 or 6600 though NR channel designs may potentially extend these parameters in later releases of the 3GPP specification and the inventive embodiments are not limited to any particular specific ranges. In this example NR TDD mode, a subframe duration is fixed to 1 ms and a frame length is 10ms. Scalable numerology accordingly allows the flexibility of using at least from 15kHz to 480kHz subcarrier spacing. All numerologies with 15 kHz and larger subcarrier spacing, regardless of CP overhead, align on symbol boundaries every 1 ms in the NR carrier. Thus NR has the flexibility to use different subcarrier spacing compared to LTE and the uplink control channel utilized in NR must accommodate the various potential time resources, referred to as "slots" being utilized.

[0020] In various examples, a slot may be defined as 7 or 14 OFDM symbols for the same subcarrier spacing of up to 60kHz with normal CP and as 14 OFDM symbols for the subcarrier spacing higher than 60kHz with normal CP. A slot can contain all downlink, all uplink, or, as shown by the example slot 100 in Fig. 1 , at least one downlink part 105 and at least one uplink part 1 15. In NR, slot aggregation is supported, i.e., data transmission can be scheduled to span one or multiple slots. Moreover, slots can be further partitioned into "mini-slots" of 1 symbol (above 6GHz) or aggregated up to a full slot-1 symbol if desired.

[0021] With respect to the NR physical UL control channel, at least two ways of transmissions are supported: (1 ) the UL control channel may be transmitted in a short duration; and (2) the UL control channel may be transmitted in long duration, i.e., over multiple uplink symbols to improve coverage. In NR, the long duration UL control channel is allowed to span over multiple time slots having durations relating to the subcarrier spacing used. Accordingly, in various inventive embodiments, a NR PUCCH having long duration may be configurable to span multiple time slots, using frequency, time or code division resourcing (or a combination thereof), as described in more detail of the example inventive embodiments that follow.

[0022] Fig. 1 illustrates one example of a new radio physical uplink control channel (NR PUCCH) with long duration within an UL data slot 100. In particular, multiple OFDM symbols can be allocated for the NR PUCCH 1 15 to improve link budget and uplink coverage for the control channel. More specifically, for UL data slot, NR PUCCH and PUSCH can be multiplexed in a frequency division multiplexing (FDM) fashion. As shown in Fig. 1 , in order to accommodate the DL to UL and UL to DL switching time and round-trip propagation delay, a guard period (GP) 1 10 is inserted between NR physical downlink control channel (NR PDCCH) 105 and NR physical uplink shared channel (NR PUCCH) 1 15.

[0023] Referring to Fig. 2, an example NR format 200 showing PUCCH spanning multiple slots at a given frequency is shown. A key motivation for the NR UL control channel 21 5 to span multiple slots is to achieve a similar link budget as LTE, especially for systems operating a larger subcarrier spacing than 15kHz. For instance, as shown, when 60kHz subcarrier spacing is employed for system operation, the NR PUCCH 21 5 spans 4 slots, each having 14 symbols, and a total of 1 ms duration.

[0024] In one embodiment of the invention, the number of slots for NR PUCCH transmission 215 can be configured by higher layers via radio resource control (RRC) signaling in a UE specific manner. Alternatively, the number of slots for NR PUCCH transmission 215 can be indicated in downlink control information (DCI). Further, a combination of semi-static signaling and dynamic indication can be used to signal the number of slots for NR PUCCH transmission 215. For instance, a set of the number of slots for NR PUCCH transmission can be configured by higher layers via NR master information block (NR MIB), NR system information block (NR SIB) or RRC signaling. In certain embodiments, one field in the DCI format can be used to indicate the number of slots from the set configured by the higher layers for the NR PUCCH transmission 21 5. The DCI in certain embodiments may be carried by NR physical downlink control channel (NR PDCCH) with either common search space (CSS) or UE specific search space (USS).

[0025] In another embodiment of the invention, a NR system using a multi-stage DCI configuration, DCI in the first stage may be used to indicate whether single or multiple slots should be used for NR PUCCH transmission 215, while DCI in a second stage may indicate the exact number of slots (e.g., 2, 4 or 8) that should be employed for NR PUCCH transmission. In some embodiments, multiple PUCCH formats may be predefined where each format consists of a different configuration of consecutive slots to use for specific purposes or as indicated by the DCI. By way of example, the PUCCH format used for particular UCI, e.g. HARQ-ACK transmission, may be indicated as part of the first or second DCI stage, or both of them, in order to improve the reliability of PUCCH format selection. With this flexibility, it is possible for the gNB to dynamically switch a UE between single slot-based short PUCCH format and multi-slot-based long PUCCH format for improved coverage or increased payload by indication in DL DCI in the PDCCH.

[0026] In yet other embodiments of the invention, different UCI types, e.g., HARQ- ACK feedback, scheduling request (SR) or channel state information (CSI) or beam related information, may be transmitted in NR PUCCH with designated multi-slot durations or short duration. Note that NR PUCCH with short duration can span 1 symbol within one slot, i.e., a single mini-slot. In one example, CSI report may be transmitted in the PUCCH with a 4 slot duration while HARQ-ACK may be transmitted with a 1 slot duration or even a mini-slot duration or similar defined scheme selected based on usage models, channel/priority/bandwidth conditions. Such NR PUCCH configurations may be pre-defined, dynamically selected or desired by the system architect. In another example, CSI reporting may be transmitted in PUCCH with 2 slot duration while sounding reference (SR) may be transmitted using short duration, e.g., 1 symbol mini- slot duration.

[0027] Various detailed embodiments for long duration NR PUCCH will now be described in reference to Figs. 3-1 1 in which NR PUCCH is transmitted using multiple slot duration in time, frequency and code domains.

[0028] NR PUCCH with multiple slot duration in time domain

[0029] An embodiment for long duration NR PUCCH 31 5 spanning multiple slots of resource allocations in the time domain is illustrated in sequence 300 of Fig 3.

According to various embodiments, when the NR PUCCH 315 spans multiple slots, the starting and/or end symbol and/or duration of the NR PUCCH within each slot can be designated specifically per each slot of an aggregation of slots used for the NR PUCCH 31 5. This starting and/or end point and duration for NR PUCCH can be signaled via higher layers, e.g., from RRC signaling, or as indicated in the DCI received from the gNB or a combination thereof. As shown in the example of Fig. 3, the NR PUCCH 315 duration or starting/end symbol position can be different for different slots within the aggregated slots, which may, for example, depend on DL control region sizes or guard period duration. In one example embodiment, a bitmap for the NR PUCCH 315 starting and/or end symbol for each slot within aggregated slots can be configured by higher layers or indicated in the DCI.

[0030] In other embodiments, in order to reduce the signaling overhead in selecting long duration multi-slot NR PUCCH configurations, the starting and/or end symbol for each slot can be the same within each one of the aggregated slots. In this case, only one starting and/or end symbol position of the NR PUCCH needs to be signaled for configuration and the NR PUCCH will repeat at the same position for each slot spanning the aggregated slots designated for the NR PUCCH. As with other embodiments, this reduced-overhead signaling can be configured by higher layers like the RRC or as indicated in DCI received from the gNB or a combination thereof, LTE eNB or other network access station, depending on the RAT the UE is connected through.

[0031] In another embodiment of the invention, the UE may derive the NR PUCCH duration from the DL control region and guard period duration for each slot within aggregated slots. In one example, in case of semi-static configuration or dynamic indication (e.g., using dedicated control channel similar to LTE physical control format indicator channel (PCFICH)) for the DL control region size, e.g., 2 symbols, and semi- static configuration of guard period duration, the UE can derive the NR PUCCH duration for each slot. Further, in the case when a NR sounding reference signal (SRS) is transmitted in the last symbol within one slot, the UE may not transmit the NR PUCCH in the last symbol in the corresponding slot.

[0032] In certain embodiments of the invention, resources in the code, time and/or frequency domains may be reserved for other purposes via higher layer signaling (e.g., via NR master information block (NR MIB), NR system information block (NR SIB) or radio resource control (RRC) signaling) or dynamically indicated in the downlink control information (DCI) carried by NR physical downlink control channel (NR PDCCH) 305. These resources may be reserved for information in the DL control channel 305 or GP 310 as shown in the example of Fig. 3. In the case when the UE is configured to transmit the NR PUCCH 31 5 with multiple slot duration, the UE will first identify the configuration regarding theses reserved resources and will not transmit the NR PUCCH on the reserved resources.

[0033] In some embodiments, a certain hierarchy or priority can be defined for reserved resources or transmission of signals, where the hierarchy indication or priority rule can be configured by higher layers via NR MIB, NR SIB or RRC signaling or dynamically indicated in the DCI. Depending on the hierarchy indication or priority rule, the signal in lower hierarchy or lower priority may not be transmitted in the reserved resources intended for the signals in the upper hierarchy or higher priority.

[0034] In another embodiment of the invention, for TDD system where multiple numerologies coexist in the same system bandwidth in a frequency division multiplexing (FDM) manner, the UL portion needs to be aligned for the different numerologies. As shown in Fig. 4, the DL, guard period and UL regions are aligned between different numerologies within the same system bandwidth. In embodiments where resources of a NR TDD frame are multiplexed in frequency, when the DL control region 405 size and guard period 410 duration are known and reference numerologies being aligned in time, the UE can derive the UL control channel 41 5, 416 duration even when larger subcarrier spacing is applied in the same frame.

[0035] Alternatively, the UL control channel 415 duration including starting and/or end symbol within aggregated slots can be configured by higher layers or indicated in the DCI. To reduce signaling overhead, given that UL control channel 415 is transmitted in consecutive symbols, the starting symbols and/or starting slot within aggregated slots for the UL control channels 41 5, 41 6 transmission may be signaled by the gNB similar to the embodiments discussed above.

[0036] In other embodiments, referring to Fig. 5, the UE may transmit the NR PUCCH 515 assuming a minimum duration within one slot. In particular, given that the maximum DL control region size can be configured by higher layers, the UE can be derive the minimum duration for NR PUCCH transmission in each slot.

[0037] As shown, a NR PUCCH transmission 515, the maximum DL control region 505 size is 2 symbols. Assuming 1 symbol duration for guard period 51 0, the UE can derive that the minimum transmission duration for NR PUCCH 515 is from symbol #4 to symbol #14. During slots #n+ 2 and #n+3, the UE transmits the NR PUCCH 515 assuming this minimum duration even when the DL control region only spans one symbol as shown. This feature may also assist in reducing signaling overhead.

[0038] NR PUCCH with multiple slot duration in frequency domain

[0039] When NR PUCCH spans multiple slots, intra-slot and/or inter-slot frequency hopping can be applied for the transmission of UL control channel to exploit the benefit of frequency diversity.

[0040] Fig. 6 illustrates various options for intra-slot and/or inter-slot frequency hopping mechanisms when NR PUCCH 615 spans multiples slot. Note that although in the figure one slot spans 14 symbols, the design principle can be straightforwardly extended to the case when one slot spans 7 symbols. For instance, when one slot spans 7 symbols, it may be more desirable to apply inter-slot frequency hopping for the transmission of NR PUCCH with multiple slot duration. In the case a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) is embedded in each slot, the receiver may coherently combine the NR PUCCHs 615 received on different frequency and time due to the frequency hopping, by using the channel information estimated from the DMRS of each slot.

[0041] For inter-slot or intra-slot frequency hopping embodiments, two or more frequency resources can be configured by higher layers via NR master information block (NR MIB), NR system information block (NR SIB) or RRC signaling as in other embodiments. Further, the UE may transmit the PUCCH 615 by applying frequency hopping among these frequency resources within a slot or across slots within aggregated slots.

[0042] In another embodiment of the invention, UE may perform frequency hopping for NR PUCCH on the edge of system bandwidth or UE specific UL transmission bandwidth within a slot or across slots within aggregated slots. The UE specific UL transmission bandwidth can be configured by higher layers such as RRC signaling.

[0043] In another embodiment of the invention, a frequency hopping pattern may be defined for the transmission of NR PUCCH within a slot or across slots within

aggregated slots. In particular, the frequency hopping pattern can be defined as a function of one or more parameters, for example, physical cell ID or virtual cell ID and slot index. In one example, a set of possible frequency resources for the transmission of NR PUCCH can be predefined or configured by higher layers via NR MIB, NR SIB or RRC signaling. Further, the exact frequency resource used for the NR PUCCH transmission can be derived from this set of possible frequency resources according to a function of physical cell ID and slot index.

[0044] By way of example, Κ_ίΓβη frequency resources can be configured in the NR SIB. The exact frequency resource index can be derived by the following equation:

Ifreq = (% ^* ¾i + <¾_. ' % + C₂)mod K_frea

' (EQ. 1 )

[0045] Where mod is modulo operation, ^{Lq ' C 1 '} are constants, which can be predefined in the specification or configured by higher layers; ^el} is the physical cell

ID; ^s is the subframe or slot index; ^{f eq} is the frequency resource index and ·' ^eq is the number of frequency resources for the NR PUCCH transmission.

[0046] The UE can transmit the NR PUCCH in the same frequency resources in K consecutive UL slots. Then, the UE may switch to another frequency resource for frequency hopping. The value K can be predefined or configured by higher layers via NR MIB, NR SIB or RRC signaling as desired by system architect or determined in accordance with the number of slots. In one example, UE switches the frequence resource in the middle of multiple slots. Improved channel estimation performance may be gained when a cross-slot channel estimation algorithm is employed.

[0047] Figure 7 illustrates one example 700 of frequency hopping for NR PUCCH transmission 715. In this example, UE transmits NR PUCCH 715 in one frequency resource in two consecutive slots before switching to another frequency resource.

[0048] NR PUCCH with multiple slot duration in code domain

[0049] When the UL control channel with long duration carries small payload sizes, e.g., 1 or 2 bit, e.g., hybrid automatic repeat request - acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) feedback or scheduling request (SR), multiple UEs can be multiplexed in a code division multiplexing (CDM) and/or frequency division multiplexing (FDM) manner. To maximize capacity for the UL control channel, different cyclic shifts in the frequency domain and orthogonal cover code (OCC) in the time domain can be applied to multiplex the UL control channel with long duration for multiple UEs. Note that as UL control channel duration can vary and have different number of symbols, OCC with variable lengths should be defined.

[0050] When the NR PUCCH spans multiple slots, intra-slot and/or inter-slot OCC in the time domain can be applied to further increase capacity for UL control channel.

[0051] Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate examples of intra-slot 800 and inter-slot 900 OCC for NR PUCCH 815, 915 without and with intra-slot frequency hopping, respectively. In particular, either or both, intra-slot 800 and inter-slot 900 OCC can be applied for the transmission of the NR PUCCH 81 5, 915 which enables increasing the UL control channel capacity. Also, either or combination of them can provide protection against potential orthogonality breakdown between the UEs sharing the same PRB using different cyclic shifts, which can happen in large delay spread scenarios. As mentioned above, intra-slot OCC depends on UL control channel duration within one slot. Further, in case of intra-slot frequency hopping, two intra-slot OCC may be applied as shown in the Fig. 9

[0052] Note that for inter-slot OCC, a length-K DFT based sequence or Walsh- Hadamard based sequence can be used. Tables 1 , 2 and 3 below, illustrate examples of Walsh-Hadamard sequence for inter-slot OCC for NR PUCCH with 2, 4 and 8 slots, respectively. OCC with other lengths, e.g., 3, 5, 6, 7, can be generated using a DFT with a corresponding length K.

[0053] The intra-slot OCC can be separately applied to DMRS and UCI symbols. For example, in cases that a 7-symbol slot consists of two DMRS symbols and 5 UCI symbols, a length-2 OCC and a length-5 OCC can be applied to the DMRS symbols and the UCI symbols, respectively. Inter-slot OCC can be commonly applied to all the symbols within a slot.

OCC index / W ; t ), W l( 1 ) ]

0 [1 1 ]

1 [1 -1 ]

Table 1. OCC for 2 slots

Table 2. OCC for 4 slots

Table 3. OCC for 8 slots

[0054] In one embodiment of the invention, the inter-slot OCC index used for the transmission of NR PUCCH can be semi-statically configured by higher layers via RRC signaling or dynamically indicated in the DCI or a combination thereof. Further, intra-slot and inter-slot OCC index can be jointly derived from one OCC resource index.

[0055] In one example, the intra-slot OCC index ^c ' and the inter-slot OCC

(n^inter )

index ^OL can be given by Equation 2:

[0056] Where ^K°^cc is the length of inter-slot OCC and °^e is the OCC index, which can be configured by higher layers via RRC signaling or dynamically indicated in the DCI or a combination thereof. [0057] In another embodiment of the invention, inter-slot OCC with a fixed length can be applied for NR PUCCH transmission regardless of the number of slots allocated for NR PUCCH. Figure 10 illustrates one example of inter-slot OCC with a fixed length. In this example, the length for inter-slot OCC is 2.

[0058] In another embodiment of the invention, a nested structure for inter-slot OCC can be employed for the transmission of NR PUCCH. Note that within one cell, UEs may need different coverage extension levels to communicate with gNB reliably. In this case, the number of slots allocated for the transmission of NR PUCCH can be different for different UEs. For instance, for cell edge UEs, relatively large number of slots may be needed while for cell centered UEs, small number of slots may be adequate.

[0059] In this case, a nested structure for inter-slot OCC can be used to multiplex multiple UEs for NR PUCCH with different number of slots in a CDM manner. As shown in Figure 1 1 , NR PUCCH UE#1 and UE #2 spans 2 and 4 slots, respectively. Further, inter-slot OCC with [1 -1 ] and [1 1 1 1 ] is applied for UE#1 and UE#2, respectively.

Based on this scheme, NR PUCCH for these two UEs can be multiplexed in the same frequency resource in a CDM manner. Note that although as shown in the figure, frequency hopping is not applied, the design principle can be straightforwardly extended to the case when frequency hopping is applied.

[0060] Referring to Fig. 12, a wireless communication device adapted to send UCI over multiple slots or to indicate to another wireless device how to send UCI over multiple time slots will now be described. As used herein, the term "circuitry" may refer to, be part of, or include an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group), and/or memory (shared, dedicated, or group) that execute one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit, and/or other suitable hardware components that provide the described functionality. In some embodiments, the circuitry may be implemented in, or functions associated with the circuitry may be implemented by, one or more software or firmware modules. In some embodiments, circuitry may include logic, at least partially operable in hardware.

[0061] Embodiments described herein may be implemented into a system using any suitably configured hardware and/or software. Figure 12 illustrates, for one embodiment, example components of an electronic device 1200. In embodiments, the electronic device 1 200 may be, implement, be incorporated into, or otherwise be a part of a user equipment (UE) or network access station such as a gNB. In some embodiments, the electronic device 1200 may include application circuitry 1202, baseband circuitry 1204, Radio Frequency (RF) circuitry 1206, front-end module (FEM) circuitry 1208 and one or more antennas 1210, coupled together at least as shown. In embodiments where the electronic device 1200 is implemented in or by a NR gNB, the electronic device 1200 may also include network interface circuitry (not shown) for communicating over a wired interface (for example, an X2 interface, an S1 interface, and the like).

[0062] The application circuitry 1 202 may include one or more application processors or processing units. For example, the application circuitry 1202 may include circuitry such as, but not limited to, one or more single-core or multi-core processors 1202a. The processor(s) 1202a may include any combination of general-purpose processors and dedicated processors (e.g., graphics processors, application

processors, etc.). The processors 1202a may be coupled with and/or may include computer-readable media 1202b (also referred to as "CRM 1202b", "memory 1202b", "storage 1202b", or "memory/storage 1202b") and may be configured to execute instructions stored in the CRM 1 202b to enable various applications and/or operating systems to run on the system and/or enable features of the inventive embodiments to be enabled.

[0063] The baseband circuitry 1204 may include circuitry such as, but not limited to, one or more single-core or multi-core processors to arrange, configure, process, generate, transmit, receive, or otherwise utilize an NR PUCCH having multiple slot duration as described in various embodiments herein. The baseband circuitry 1 204 may include one or more baseband processors and/or control logic to process baseband signals received from a receive signal path of the RF circuitry 1 206 and to generate baseband signals for a transmit signal path of the RF circuitry 1206. Baseband circuity 1204 may interface with the application circuitry 1202 for generation and processing of the baseband signals and for controlling operations of the RF circuitry 1206. For example, in some embodiments, the baseband circuitry 1204 may include a third generation (3G) baseband processor 1204a, a fourth generation (4G) baseband processor 1204b, a fifth generation (5G)/NR baseband processor 1204c, and/or other baseband processor(s) 1204d for other existing generations, generations in

development or to be developed in the future (e.g., 6G, etc.). The baseband circuitry 1204 (e.g., one or more of baseband processors 1 204a-d) may handle various radio control functions that enable communication with one or more radio networks via the RF circuitry 1 206. The radio control functions may include, but are not limited to, signal modulation/demodulation, encoding/decoding, radio frequency shifting, and the like. In some embodiments, modulation/demodulation circuitry of the baseband circuitry 1204 may include Fast-Fourier Transform (FFT), precoding, and/or constellation

mapping/demapping functionality. In some embodiments, encoding/decoding circuitry of the baseband circuitry 1204 may include convolution, tail-biting convolution, turbo, Viterbi, and/or Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) encoder/decoder functionality.

Embodiments of modulation/demodulation and encoder/decoder functionality are not limited to these examples and may include other suitable functionality in other embodiments.

[0064] In some embodiments, the baseband circuitry 1204 may include elements of a protocol stack such as, for example, elements of an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN) protocol including, for example, physical (PHY), media access control (MAC), radio link control (RLC), packet data convergence protocol (PDCP), and/or radio resource control (RRC) elements. A central processing unit (CPU) 104e of the baseband circuitry 104 may be configured to run elements of the protocol stack for signaling of the PHY, MAC, RLC, PDCP and/or RRC layers. In some embodiments, the baseband circuitry may include one or more audio digital signal processor(s) (DSP) 1 204f. The audio DSP(s) 1204f may include elements for compression/decompression and echo cancellation and may include other suitable processing elements in other embodiments. The baseband circuitry 1204 may further include computer-readable media 1204g (also referred to as "CRM 1204g", "memory 1204g", "storage 1204g", or "CRM 1204g"). The CRM 1 204g may be used to load and store data and/or instructions for operations performed by the processors of the baseband circuitry 1204. CRM 1 204g for one embodiment may include any combination of suitable volatile memory and/or non-volatile memory. The CRM 1204g may include any combination of various levels of memory/storage including, but not limited to, readonly memory (ROM) having embedded software instructions (e.g., firmware), random access memory (e.g., dynamic random access memory (DRAM)), cache, buffers, etc.). The CRM 1204g may be shared among the various processors or dedicated to particular processors. Components of the baseband circuitry 1204 may be suitably combined in a single chip, a single chipset, or disposed on a same circuit board in some embodiments. In some embodiments, some or all of the constituent components of the baseband circuitry 1204 and the application circuitry 1202 may be implemented together, such as, for example, on a system on a chip (SOC).

[0065] In some embodiments, the baseband circuitry 1204 may provide for communication compatible with one or more radio technologies. For example, in some embodiments, the baseband circuitry 1204 may support communication with an E- UTRAN, NR and/or other wireless metropolitan area networks (WMAN), a wireless local area network (WLAN), a wireless personal area network (WPAN). Embodiments in which the baseband circuitry 1 204 is configured to support radio communications of more than one wireless protocol may be referred to as multi-mode baseband circuitry.

[0066] RF circuitry 1206 may enable communication with wireless networks using modulated electromagnetic radiation through a non-solid medium. In various

embodiments, the RF circuitry 1206 may include switches, filters, amplifiers, etc., to facilitate the communication with the wireless network. RF circuitry 1 206 may include a receive signal path that may include circuitry to down-convert RF signals received from the FEM circuitry 1208 and provide baseband signals to the baseband circuitry 1 04. RF circuitry 1206 may also include a transmit signal path that may include circuitry to up- convert baseband signals provided by the baseband circuitry 1204 and provide RF output signals to the FEM circuitry 1208 for transmission.

[0067] In some embodiments, the RF circuitry 1206 may include a receive signal path and a transmit signal path. The receive signal path of the RF circuitry 1 206 may include mixer circuitry 1206a, amplifier circuitry 1206b and filter circuitry 1206c. The transmit signal path of the RF circuitry 1206 may include filter circuitry 1206c and mixer circuitry 1206a. RF circuitry 1206 may also include synthesizer circuitry 1206d for synthesizing a frequency for use by the mixer circuitry 1206a of the receive signal path and the transmit signal path. In some embodiments, the mixer circuitry 1206a of the receive signal path may be configured to down-convert RF signals received from the FEM circuitry 1208 based on the synthesized frequency provided by synthesizer circuitry 1206d. The amplifier circuitry 1 206b may be configured to amplify the down- converted signals and the filter circuitry 1 206c may be a low-pass filter (LPF) or bandpass filter (BPF) configured to remove unwanted signals from the down-converted signals to generate output baseband signals. Output baseband signals may be provided to the baseband circuitry 1204 for further processing. In some embodiments, the output baseband signals may be zero-frequency baseband signals, although this is not a requirement. In some embodiments, mixer circuitry 1206a of the receive signal path may comprise passive mixers, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect.

[0068] In some embodiments, the mixer circuitry 1206a of the transmit signal path may be configured to up-convert input baseband signals based on the synthesized frequency provided by the synthesizer circuitry 1206d to generate RF output signals for the FEM circuitry 1208. The baseband signals may be provided by the baseband circuitry 1204 and may be filtered by filter circuitry 1206c. The filter circuitry 1206c may include a low-pass filter (LPF), although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect.

[0069] In some embodiments, the mixer circuitry 1206a of the receive signal path and the mixer circuitry 1206a of the transmit signal path may include two or more mixers and may be arranged for quadrature downconversion and/or upconversion,

respectively. In some embodiments, the mixer circuitry 1206a of the receive signal path and the mixer circuitry 1206a of the transmit signal path may include two or more mixers and may be arranged for image rejection (e.g., Hartley image rejection). In some embodiments, the mixer circuitry 1206a of the receive signal path and the mixer circuitry 1206a of the transmit signal path may be arranged for direct downconversion and/or direct upconversion, respectively. In some embodiments, the mixer circuitry 1206a of the receive signal path and the mixer circuitry 1206a of the transmit signal path may be configured for super-heterodyne operation.

[0070] In some embodiments, the output baseband signals and the input baseband signals may be analog baseband signals, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect. In some alternate embodiments, the output baseband signals and the input baseband signals may be digital baseband signals. In these alternate embodiments, the RF circuitry 1206 may include analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and digital-to-analog converter (DAC) circuitry and the baseband circuitry 1204 may include an RF interface 1 205, such as an analog or digital baseband interface, to communicate with the RF circuitry 1206.

[0071] In some dual-mode embodiments, a separate radio IC circuitry may be provided for processing signals for each spectrum, although the scope of the

embodiments is not limited in this respect. [0072] In some embodiments, the synthesizer circuitry 1 206d may be a fractional-N synthesizer or a fractional N/N+1 synthesizer, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect, as other types of frequency synthesizers may be suitable. For example, synthesizer circuitry 1206d may be a delta-sigma synthesizer, a frequency multiplier, or a synthesizer comprising a phase-locked loop with a frequency divider. The synthesizer circuitry 1206d may be configured to synthesize an output frequency for use by the mixer circuitry 1 206a of the RF circuitry 1206 based on a frequency input and a divider control input. In some embodiments, the synthesizer circuitry 1206d may be a fractional N/N+1 synthesizer.

[0073] In some embodiments, frequency input may be provided by a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), although that is not a requirement. Divider control input may be provided by either the baseband circuitry 1204 or the application circuitry 1202 depending on the desired output frequency. In some embodiments, a divider control input (e.g., N) may be determined from a look-up table based on a channel indicated by the application circuitry 1202.

[0074] Synthesizer circuitry 1206d of the RF circuitry 1206 may include a divider, a delay-locked loop (DLL), a multiplexer and a phase accumulator. In some embodiments, the divider may be a dual modulus divider (DMD) and the phase accumulator may be a digital phase accumulator (DPA). In some embodiments, the DMD may be configured to divide the input signal by either N or N+1 (e.g., based on a carry out) to provide a fractional division ratio. In some example embodiments, the DLL may include a set of cascaded, tunable, delay elements, a phase detector, a charge pump and a D-type flip- flop. In these embodiments, the delay elements may be configured to break a VCO period up into Nd equal packets of phase, where Nd is the number of delay elements in the delay line. In this way, the DLL provides negative feedback to help ensure that the total delay through the delay line is one VCO cycle.

[0075] In some embodiments, synthesizer circuitry 1206d may be configured to generate a carrier frequency as the output frequency, while in other embodiments, the output frequency may be a multiple of the carrier frequency (e.g., twice the carrier frequency, four times the carrier frequency) and used in conjunction with quadrature generator and divider circuitry to generate multiple signals at the carrier frequency with multiple different phases with respect to each other. In some embodiments, the output frequency may be a LO frequency (fLO). In some embodiments, the RF circuitry 1 206 may include an IQ/polar converter.

[0076] FEM circuitry 1208 may include a receive signal path that may include circuitry configured to operate on RF signals received from one or more antennas 1210, amplify the received signals and provide the amplified versions of the received signals to the RF circuitry 1 206 for further processing. FEM circuitry 1208 may also include a transmit signal path that may include circuitry configured to amplify signals for transmission provided by the RF circuitry 1206 for transmission by one or more of the one or more antennas 1210. In some embodiments, the FEM circuitry 1208 may include a TX/RX switch to switch between transmit mode and receive mode operation. The FEM circuitry 1208 may include a receive signal path and a transmit signal path. The receive signal path of the FEM circuitry may include a low-noise amplifier (LNA) to amplify received RF signals and provide the amplified received RF signals as an output (e.g., to the RF circuitry 1 206). The transmit signal path of the FEM circuitry 1208 may include a power amplifier (PA) to amplify input RF signals (e.g., provided by RF circuitry 1206), and one or more filters to generate RF signals for subsequent transmission (e.g., by one or more of the one or more antennas 1210).

[0077] In some embodiments, the electronic device 1200 may include additional elements such as, for example, a display, a camera, one or more sensors, and/or interface circuitry (for example, input/output (I/O) interfaces or buses) (not shown). In embodiments where the electronic device is implemented in or by an eNB, the electronic device 1200 may include network interface circuitry. The network interface circuitry may be one or more computer hardware components that connect electronic device 1 200 to one or more network elements, such as one or more servers within a core network or one or more other eNBs via a wired connection. To this end, the network interface circuitry may include one or more dedicated processors and/or field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) to communicate using one or more network communications protocols such as X2 application protocol (AP), S1 AP, Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP), Ethernet, Point-to-Point (PPP), Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI), and/or any other suitable network communications protocols.

[0078] Fig. 13 shows a flow diagram of an example method of communication in a 5G NR network according to various inventive embodiments and generally includes a network access station, such as a gNB, sending 1310 downlink control information (DCI) to one of a possible plurality of a user equipment (UE). Optionally, the DCI includes indicator(s) specifying how a UE should arrange uplink control information (UCI) according to any of the techniques described in embodiments above. The UE identifies or derives 1320 a configuration for sending uplink control information (UCI) in a new radio (NR) physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) having long duration format that spans multiple slots of an aggregation of slots in a time division duplexed (TDD) radio uplink channel. The UE may then transmit 1330 the relevant UCI over the

PUCCH using the multi-slot configuration identified or derived. The gNB receives 1340 the UE UCI over the NR PUCCH. If 1350 the UE has more UCI to transmit in the same PUCCH configuration, steps 1 320 and 1330 may be repeated. If 1350 the configuration requires adapting, Method 1 300 returns to the UE identifying or deriving 1320 the configuration for sending UCI in the NR PUCCH to be used, and the UE transmits 1330 and gNB receives the UCI over the updated NR PUCCH configuration.

[0079] In preferred embodiments, the UE identifies or derives 1320 the configuration from signaling in its own higher layers like RRC or dynamically/semi-statically from DCI received from the gNB as discussed previously.

[0080] As utilized herein, terms "component," "system," "interface," and the like are intended to refer to a computer-related entity, hardware, software (e.g., in execution), and/or firmware. For example, a component can be a processor (e.g., a microprocessor, a controller, or other processing device), a process running on a processor, a controller, an object, an executable, a program, a storage device, a computer, a tablet PC and/or a user equipment (e.g., mobile phone, etc.) with a processing device. By way of illustration, an application running on a server and the server can also be a component. One or more components can reside within a process, and a component can be localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or more computers. A set of elements or a set of other components can be described herein, in which the term "set" can be interpreted as "one or more." An "interface" may simply be a connector or bus in which signals are transferred, including one or more pins on an integrated circuit.

[0081] Further, these components can execute from various computer readable storage media having various data structures stored thereon such as with a module, for example. The components can communicate via local and/or remote processes such as in accordance with a signal having one or more data packets (e.g., data from one component interacting with another component in a local system, distributed system, and/or across a network, such as, the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network, or similar network with other systems via the signal).

[0082] As another example, a component can be an apparatus with specific functionality provided by mechanical parts operated by electric or electronic circuitry, in which the electric or electronic circuitry can be operated by a software application or a firmware application executed by one or more processors. The one or more processors can be internal or external to the apparatus and can execute at least a part of the software or firmware application. As yet another example, a component can be an apparatus that provides specific functionality through electronic components without mechanical parts; the electronic components can include one or more processors therein to execute software and/or firmware that confer(s), at least in part, the functionality of the electronic components.

[0083] Use of the word exemplary is intended to present concepts in a concrete fashion. As used in this application, the term "or" is intended to mean an inclusive "or" rather than an exclusive "or". That is, unless specified otherwise, or clear from context, "X employs A or B" is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B, then "X employs A or B" is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances. In addition, the articles "a" and "an" as used in this application and the appended claims should generally be construed to mean "one or more" unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms "including", "includes", "having", "has", "with", or variants thereof are used in either the detailed description and the claims, such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term

"comprising."

[0084] EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0085] According to a First Example embodiment, a communication device for a 5G new radio (NR) wireless network having user equipment (UE) and a next generation node base station (gNB), includes: a processing unit enabled to arrange uplink (UL) control information (UCI) for transmission over an aggregated plurality of slot segments based on a size of subcarrier spacing, the UCI arranged for transmission over said aggregated plurality of slot segments by said processing unit using a specific configuration in at least one of frequency, code or time domain resources as an UL control channel, based on a provided indication to use said specific configuration. [0086] A Second Example embodiment further defines the First Example, wherein the UL control channel is a NR physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) having a long duration.

[0087] A Third Example further defines the First Example wherein the provided indication to use said configuration is received in at least one of radio resource control (RRC) signaling or downlink control information (DCI) from the gNB.

[0088] In a Fourth Example embodiment, the Third Example is furthered, wherein the DCI from the gNB has a first stage and a second stage, said first stage indicating what specific type UCI to provide and said second stage indicating what the specific configuration in frequency, code or time domain resources to send the specified type UCI indicated in the first stage.

[0089] According to a Fifth Example, the Fourth Example is defined additionally wherein the DCI from the gNB is received in a physical downlink control channel (PDDCH).

[0090] A Sixth Example furthers the Second Example embodiment wherein the PUCCH is assigned by the provided indication to begin or end at a common symbol of each slot segment the aggregated plurality of slot segments.

[0091] According to a Seventh Example, the Second Example embodiment may be further defined wherein the specific configuration in at least one of frequency, code or time domain resources comprises a number of slot segments to use and how to arrange the PUCCH having long duration among said slot segments.

[0092] An Eighth Example furthers the Second Example wherein the NR PUCCH is configured as a reserved resource by the gNB in one or both of: (1 ) a higher layer protocol signaling, including one or more of a NR master information block (NR MIB), a NR system information block (NR SIB), or a NR radio resource control (NR RRC) signaling; and (2) a portion of downlink control information (DCI) received by the communication device in a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) to dynamically change said reserved resource.

[0093] In a Ninth Example embodiment, the Second Example further includes the specific configuration in at least one of frequency, code or time domain resources comprises a frequency hopping configuration to arrange the PUCCH having long duration among said slot segments.

[0094] A Tenth Example furthers the Ninth wherein the frequency hopping configuration comprises at least one of an inter-slot or an intra-slot configuration to arrange the PUCCH having long duration among said slot segments.

[0095] In an Eleventh Example, the Second Example embodiment is furthered in that the specific configuration in at least one of frequency, code or time domain resources comprises an orthogonal cover code (OCC) configuration to arrange the PUCCH having long duration among said slot segments.

[0096] A Twelfth Example Embodiment further defines and of the First through Second or Fourth through Eleventh examples wherein the provided indication comprises, at least partially, information signaled from a higher layer protocol.

[0097] In a Thirteenth Example, any of the First through Eleventh Examples may be furthered by the communication device comprising user equipment (UE) having a radio frequency transmitter and receiver coupled to said processing unit.

[0098] In a Fourteenth Example embodiment, a base station processor for use in a new radio wireless network is defined by the base station processor configured to generate an indication to a user equipment (UE) how to arrange uplink control information (UCI) to utilize different subcarrier spacing and a corresponding variable length multi-slot frame comprising an aggregated plurality of slots, to send said UCI as an physical uplink control channel (PUCCH).

[0099] According to a Fifteenth Example, the Fourteenth Example is further explained so the indication specifies at least one of a first or last symbol said PUCCH begins or ends in each slot of the aggregated plurality of slots.

[00100] The Fourteenth Example may be further defined by a Sixteenth Example embodiment in which the indication is provided to the UE as part of downlink control information (DCI) in a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH).

[00101] A Seventeenth Example embodiment may further the Fifteenth in that each slot comprises 7 symbols or 14 symbols. [00102] An Eighteenth Example may further any of the Fourteenth through

Seventeenth Examples, wherein the processor is configured for use in a next generation Node B (gNB).

[00103] In an Nineteenth Example embodiment, a mobile device to communicate in a wireless network that uses protocols with selectable size subcarrier spacing and frames having a plurality of slots in aggregation based on a selected subcarrier spacing, is defined as including a baseband processor configured to arrange uplink (UL) control information (UCI) for transmission over said plurality of slots in the frame using a specific configuration in at least one of frequency, code or time domain resources as a new radio (NR) physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) having a long duration, based on a provided indication to use said specific configuration.

[00104] A Twentieth Example furthers the Nineteenth Example wherein the provided indication comprises at least one of a first symbol or last symbol to start or end the NR PUCCH in one slot of the plurality of slots in aggregation and wherein the baseband processor starts or ends the NR PUCCH at a same symbol in each remaining slot.

[00105] In a Twenty First Example embodiment, the Twentieth further includes a transceiver coupled to the baseband processor to transmit and receive said frames.

[00106] According to a Twenty Second Example, the Nineteenth example is furthered by the provided indication being signaled by a network access station as part of downlink control information.

[00107] A Twenty Third Example furthers the Nineteenth Example wherein the provided indication is signaled by a network access station as part of higher layer signaling in one or more of a new radio (NR) master information block (MIB), NR system information block (SIB) or NR radio resource control (RRC) signaling.

[00108] According to a Twenty Fourth Example embodiment, any of the Nineteenth through Twenty Third Examples, wherein each slot comprises at least one of 7 symbols or 14 symbols.

[00109] In another example embodiment, a Twenty Fifth Example may further any of the Nineteenth through Twenty Third Examples such that said specific configuration uses one or a combination of intra-slot frequency hopping or inter-slot frequency hopping. [00110] A Twenty Sixth Example may further any of the Nineteenth through Twenty Third Examples such that the specific configuration uses orthogonal cover code frequency hopping with or without inter-slot or intra-slot frequency hopping.

[00111] Alternatively, A Twenty Seventh Example details any of the Nineteenth through Twenty Third Examples wherein the provided indication comprises a size of a physical downlink control channel and a size of a guard period in a particular TDD frame and wherein the baseband processor derives the specific configuration bases on said sizes.

[00112] In a Twenty Eighth Example embodiment, the Nineteenth Example is furthered by the provided indication being signaled by a network access station, at least in part, as part of downlink control information (DCI).

[00113] A Twenty Ninth Example furthers the Nineteenth wherein the provided indication is signaled by a network access station as, at least in part, higher protocol layer signaling in one or more of a new radio (NR) master information block (MIB), NR system information block (SIB) or NR radio resource control (RRC) signaling.

[00114] A Thirtieth Example adds to the Nineteenth Example wherein said specific configuration uses one of, or a combination of, intra-slot frequency hopping and inter- slot frequency hopping.

[00115] In a Thirty First Example embodiment, the Nineteenth Example may be expanded such that the specific configuration comprises an orthogonal cover code frequency hopping configuration with or without any of one of, or a combination of, inter- slot and intra-slot frequency hopping.

[00116] According to a Thirty Second Example embodiment, a base station circuit for use in a new radio wireless network is defined which is enables a base station to generate an indication to a user equipment (UE) how to arrange uplink control information (UCI) to utilize different subcarrier spacing and a corresponding variable length multi-slot frame comprising an aggregated plurality of slots, to send said UCI as an physical uplink control channel (PUCCH).

[00117] A Thirty Third Example adds to the Thirty Second wherein the indication specifies at least one of a first or last symbol said PUCCH begins or ends in each slot of the aggregated plurality of slots. [00118] A Thirty Fourth Example further defines the Thirty Second wherein the indication is provided to the UE as part of downlink control information (DCI) in a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH).

[00119] In a Thirty Fifth Example embodiment, the Thirty Third Example is further defined by each slot comprising 7 symbols or 14 symbols.

[00120] According to a Thirty Sixth Example, the Thirty Second through the Thirty Fifth Examples wherein the base station is a next generation Node B (gNB).

[00121] In a Thirty Seventh Example, a mobile device to communicate in a wireless network that uses protocols with selectable size subcarrier spacing and frames having a plurality of slots in aggregation based on a selected subcarrier spacing, includes: means for arranging uplink (UL) control information (UCI) to be transmitted over said plurality of slots in the frame using a specific configuration in at least one of frequency, code or time domain resources as a new radio (NR) physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) having a long duration, based on a provided indication to use said specific configuration.

[00122] A Thirty Eighth Example adds to the Thirty Seventh wherein the provided indication comprises at least one of a first symbol or last symbol to start or end the NR PUCCH in one slot of the plurality of slots in aggregation and wherein the baseband processor starts or ends the NR PUCCH at a same symbol in each remaining slot.

[00123] In a Thirty Ninth Example embodiment, the Thirty Eighth Example further comprises means for transmitting and receiving said frames.

[00124] According to a Fortieth Example, the Thirty Seventh Example is furthered by the provided indication is signaled by a network access station as part of downlink control information.

[00125] A Forty First Example furthers that of the Thirty Seventh wherein the provided indication is signaled by a network access station as part of higher layer signaling in one or more of a new radio (NR) master information block (MIB), NR system information block (SIB) or NR radio resource control (RRC) signaling.

[00126] A Forty Second Example furthers the Thirty Seventh through Forty First Examples by each slot comprising at least one of 7 symbols or 14 symbols. [00127] In a Forty Third Example embodiment, the Thirty Seventh through Forty First Examples may be further defined by the specific configuration using one or a combination of intra-slot frequency hopping or inter-slot frequency hopping.

[00128] A Forty Fourth Example expands the Thirty Seventh through Forty First Examples with a specific configuration that uses orthogonal cover code frequency hopping with or without inter-slot or intra-slot frequency hopping.

[00129] According to a Forty Fifth Example, the Thirty Seventh through Forty First Examples may be furthered wherein the provided indication comprises a size of a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and a size of a guard period (GP) in a particular TDD frame and wherein the baseband processor derives the specific configuration bases on said sizes.

[00130] A Forty Sixth Example further defines the First Example wherein the UL control channel is a NR physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) having a long duration.

[00131] A Forty Seventh Example furthers the First or Forty Sixth Examples wherein the provided indication to use said configuration is received in at least one of radio resource control (RRC) signaling or downlink control information (DCI) from the gNB.

[00132] A Forty Eighth Example includes the features of any of the First or Forty Sixth through Forty Seventh Examples wherein the DCI from the gNB has a first stage and a second stage, said first stage indicating what specific type UCI to provide and said second stage indicating what the specific configuration in frequency, code or time domain resources to send the specified type UCI indicated in the first stage.

[00133] A Forty Ninth Example may further the First or Forty Sixth through Forty Eighth in that the UCI is arranged by the provided indication to begin or end at a common symbol of each slot segment the aggregated plurality of slot segments.

[00134] In a Fiftieth Example, the First or Forty Sixth through Forty Ninth Examples might include the UL control channel being configured as a reserved resource by the gNB in one or both of: (1 ) a higher layer protocol signaling, including one or more of a NR master information block (NR MIB), a NR system information block (NR SIB), or a NR radio resource control (NR RRC) signaling; and (2) a portion of downlink control information (DCI) received by the communication device in a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) to dynamically change said reserved resource.

[00135] In a Fifty First Example embodiment, the First or Forty Sixth to Fiftieth Examples may include the specific configuration in at least one of frequency, code or time domain resources comprises any one of: (1 ) a fixed duration frequency hopping configuration; (2) an inter-slot or an intra-slot frequency hopping configuration or combination thereof; or (3) an orthogonal cover code (OCC) frequency hopping configuration.

[00136] A Fifty Second Example may define a base station processor for use in a new radio wireless network, the base station processor configured to generate an indication to user equipment (UE) how to arrange uplink control information (UCI) to utilize different subcarrier spacing and a corresponding variable length multi-slot frame comprising an aggregated plurality of slots, to send said UCI as a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), wherein the indication specifies at least one of a first or last symbol said PUCCH begins or ends in each slot of the aggregated plurality of slots.

[00137] In a Fifty Third Example, the Fifty Second is expanded such that the indication is provided to the UE as part of downlink control information (DCI) in a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and wherein each slot comprises 7 symbols or 14 symbols.

[00138] A Fifty Fourth Example defines a method of communicating in a wireless network that uses protocols with selectable size subcarrier spacing and frames having a plurality of slots in aggregation based on a selected subcarrier spacing, including:

arranging uplink (UL) control information (UCI) for transmission over said plurality of slots in the frame using a specific configuration in at least one of frequency, code or time domain resources as a new radio (NR) physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) having a long duration, said arranging based on an indication to use said specific configuration.

[00139] In a Fifty Fifth Example, the Fifty Fourth may be further defined by the indication comprises signaling from a next generation NodeB (gNB), the signaling indicating at least one of a first symbol or last symbol to start or end the NR PUCCH in one slot of the plurality of slots in aggregation and wherein the baseband processor starts or ends the NR PUCCH at a same symbol in each remaining slot. [00140] A Fifty Sixth Example may detail the Fifty Fourth through Fifty Fifth Examples by also receiving said indication as part of downlink control information (DCI) in a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) or as part of higher layer signaling in one or more of a new radio (NR) master information block (MIB), NR system information block (SIB) or NR radio resource control (RRC) signaling.

[00141] In a Fifty Seventh Example, the Fifty Four through Fifty Sixth Examples include wherein each slot comprises at least one of 7 symbols or 14 symbols.

[00142] A Fifty Eighth Example defines the Fifty Fourth through Fifty Seventh to include the specific configuration using one or a combination of intra-slot frequency hopping or inter-slot frequency hopping.

[00143] In a Fifty Ninth Example, the Fifty Fourth through Fifty Eighth is further by the specific configuration using orthogonal cover code frequency hopping with or without inter-slot or intra-slot frequency hopping.

[00144] In a Sixtieth Example embodiment, any of the Fifty Forth through Fifty Ninth Examples may detail further that the provided indication comprises a duration of a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and a duration of a guard period (GP) in a particular TDD frame, and wherein the method further includes deriving the specific configuration bases on said durations.

[00145] In a Sixty First Example, an apparatus for a user equipment (UE) device including baseband circuitry may comprise: a radio frequency (RF) interface configured to receive an indication to use a specific configuration in at least one of frequency, code or time domain resources to send uplink (UL) control information (UCI) in an uplink (UL) control channel; and one or more processors in communication with the RF interface, and configured to: arrange said UCI for transmission over an aggregated plurality of slot segments based on a size of subcarrier spacing according to said specific configuration; and output the arranged UCI to the RF interface and may be further modified by any of the prior example embodiments.

[00146] A Sixty Second Example embodiment is apparatus for a base station including baseband circuitry, comprising: one or more processors configured to generate an indication to a user equipment (UE) to arrange uplink control information (UCI) to utilize different subcarrier spacing and a corresponding variable length multi- slot frame comprising an aggregated plurality of slots in which to send said UCI as an physical uplink control channel (PUCCH); and an RF interface in communication with the one or more processors to output said indication. The Sixty Second Example embodiment may also be further defined by any of the prior example embodiments.

[00147] A Sixty Third Example embodiment defines an apparatus for a user equipment (UE) to communicate in a wireless network that uses protocols with selectable size subcarrier spacing and frames having a plurality of slots in aggregation based on a selected subcarrier spacing, and includes a radio frequency (RF) interface configured to receive an indication to use a specific configuration in at least one of frequency, code or time domain as an UL control channel; and one or more baseband processors configured to: arrange uplink (UL) control information (UCI) for transmission over said plurality of slots in each frame using said specific configuration as a new radio (NR) physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) having a long duration, based on the received indication to use said specific configuration; and to output the UCI to the RF interface. The Sixty Third Example can additionally be modified or further defined by any of the prior example embodiments in any combination.

[00148] As used herein, the term "circuitry" may refer to, be part of, or include an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group), and/or memory (shared, dedicated, or group) that execute one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit, and/or other suitable hardware components that provide the described functionality. In some embodiments, the circuitry may be implemented in, or functions associated with the circuitry may be implemented by, one or more software or firmware modules. In some embodiments, circuitry may include logic, at least partially operable in hardware.

[00149] The present disclosure has been described with reference to the attached drawing figures, with certain example terms and wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. The illustrated structures, devices and methods are not intended to be drawn to scale, or as any specific circuit or any in any way other than as functional block diagrams to illustrate certain features, advantages and enabling disclosure of the inventive embodiments and their illustration and description is not intended to be limiting in any manner in respect to the appended claims that follow, with the exception of 35 USC 1 1 2, sixth paragraph, claims using the literal words "means for," if present in a claim. As utilized herein, the terms "component," "system," "interface," "logic," "circuit," "device," and the like are intended only to refer to a basic functional entity such as hardware, processor designs, software (e.g., in execution), logic (circuits or programmable), firmware alone or in combination to suit the claimed functionalities. For example, a component, module, circuit, device or processing unit "configured to," "adapted to" or "arranged to" may mean a microprocessor, a controller, a programmable logic array and/or a circuit coupled thereto or other logic processing device, and a method or process may mean instructions running on a processor, firmware programmed in a controller, an object, an executable, a program, a storage device including instructions to be executed, a computer, a tablet PC and/or a mobile phone with a processing device. By way of illustration, a process, logic, method or module can be any analog circuit, digital processing circuit or combination thereof. One or more circuits or modules can reside within a process, and a module can be localized as a physical circuit, a programmable array, a processor. Furthermore, elements, circuits, components, modules and processes/methods may be hardware or software, combined with a processor, executable from various computer readable storage media having executable instructions and/or data stored thereon. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize various ways to implement the logical descriptions of the appended claims and their interpretation should not be limited to any example or enabling description, depiction or layout described above, in the abstract or in the drawing figures.

Claims

CLAIMS WHAT IS CLAIMED:

1 . An apparatus for a user equipment (UE) device comprising baseband circuitry, comprising:

a radio frequency (RF) interface configured to receive an indication to use a specific configuration in at least one of frequency, code or time domain resources to send uplink (UL) control information (UCI) in an uplink (UL) control channel; and

one or more processors in communication with the RF interface, and configured to:

arrange said UCI for transmission over an aggregated plurality of slot segments based on a size of subcarrier spacing according to said specific configuration; and

output the arranged UCI to the RF interface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the UL control channel is a new radio (NR) physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) having a long duration.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the indication to use said specific configuration is received in at least one of radio resource control (RRC) signaling or downlink control information (DCI) from a next generation Node B base station (gNB).

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the DCI from the gNB has a first stage and a second stage, said first stage indicating what specific type UCI to provide and said second stage indicating what the specific configuration in frequency, code or time domain resources to send the specified type UCI indicated in the first stage.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the DCI from the gNB is received in a physical downlink control channel (PDDCH).

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the PUCCH is assigned by the received indication to begin or end at a common symbol of each slot segment of the aggregated plurality of slot segments.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the specific configuration in at least one of frequency, code or time domain resources comprises a number of slot segments to use and how to arrange the PUCCH having long duration among said slot segments.

8. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the NR PUCCH is configured as a reserved resource by a next generation Node B base station (gNB) in one or both of: (1 ) a higher layer protocol signaling, including one or more of a NR master information block (NR MIB), a NR system information block (NR SIB), or NR radio resource control (NR RRC) signaling; and (2) a portion of downlink control information (DCI) received by the apparatus in a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) to dynamically change said reserved resource.

9. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the specific configuration in at least one of frequency, code or time domain resources comprises a frequency hopping configuration to arrange the PUCCH having long duration among said slot segments.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the frequency hopping configuration comprises at least one of an inter-slot or an intra-slot configuration to arrange the PUCCH having long duration among said slot segments.

1 1 . The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the specific configuration in at least one of frequency, code or time domain resources comprises an orthogonal cover code (OCC) configuration to arrange the PUCCH having long duration among said slot segments.

12. The apparatus of any of claims 1 -2 or 4-1 1 wherein the indication comprises, at least partially, information signaled from a higher layer protocol.

13. The apparatus of any of claims 1 -1 1 comprising user equipment (UE) having a radio frequency transmitter and receiver coupled to said one or more processors via said RF interface.

14. An apparatus for a base station including baseband circuitry, comprising:

one or more processors configured to generate an indication to a user equipment (UE) to arrange uplink control information (UCI) to utilize different subcarrier spacing and a corresponding variable length multi-slot frame comprising an aggregated plurality of slots in which to send said UCI as an physical uplink control channel (PUCCH); and an RF interface in communication with the one or more processors to output said indication.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the indication specifies at least one of a first or last symbol said PUCCH begins or ends in each slot of the aggregated plurality of slots.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the indication is provided to the UE as part of downlink control information (DCI) in a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH).

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein each slot comprises 7 symbols or 14 symbols.

18. The apparatus of any of claims 14-17 wherein the one or more processors are configured for use in a next generation Node B base station (gNB).

19. An apparatus for a user equipment (UE) to communicate in a wireless network that uses protocols with selectable size subcarrier spacing and frames having a plurality of slots in aggregation based on a selected subcarrier spacing, the apparatus comprising:

a radio frequency (RF) interface configured to receive an indication to use a specific configuration in at least one of frequency, code or time domain as an UL control channel; and

one or more baseband processors configured to:

arrange uplink (UL) control information (UCI) for transmission over said plurality of slots in each frame using said specific configuration as a new radio (NR) physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) having a long duration, based on the received indication to use said specific configuration; and

output the UCI to the RF interface.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the specific configuration comprises at least one of a first symbol or last symbol to start or end the NR PUCCH in one slot of the plurality of slots in aggregation and wherein the one or more baseband processors arranges the NR PUCCH to start or end at a same symbol in each remaining slot.

21 . The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising a transceiver coupled to the one or more baseband processors via the RF interface to transmit and receive said frames.

22. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the indication is signaled by a network access station as part of downlink control information (DCI).

23. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the indication is signaled by a network access station as part of higher layer signaling in one or more of a new radio (NR) master information block (MIB), NR system information block (SIB) or NR radio resource control (RRC) signaling.

24. The apparatus of any one of claims 19-23 wherein each slot comprises at least one of 7 symbols or 14 symbols.

25. The apparatus of any one of claims 19-23 wherein said specific configuration uses one or a combination of intra-slot frequency hopping or inter-slot frequency hopping.

26. The apparatus of any one of claims 19-23 wherein said specific configuration uses orthogonal cover code frequency hopping with or without inter-slot or intra-slot frequency hopping.

27. The apparatus of any one of claims 19-23 wherein the indication comprises a size of a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and a size of a guard period (GP) in a particular TDD frame and wherein the one or more baseband processors derives the specific configuration bases on said sizes.