WO2022096129A1

WO2022096129A1 - Slot format indication

Info

Publication number: WO2022096129A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/081406
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vitaly PETROV; Timo Lunttila; Karol Schober; Margarita GAPEYENKO; Kari Hooli; Esa Tiirola
Original assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
Priority date: 2020-11-09
Filing date: 2020-11-09
Publication date: 2022-05-12

Abstract

To determine a slot format combination pattern, an apparatus may be provided information indicating repetition. The information may be part of configuration information for one or more slot formats. The apparatus may determine one or more structures in the one or more slot to repeat; and determine a slot format combination pattern using one or more slot formats indicated in the configuration information and by repeating the one or more structures.

Description

SLOT FORMAT INDICATION

TECHNICAL FIELD

Various example embodiments relate to wireless communications.

BACKGROUND

Wireless communication systems are under constant development. In particular, a number of developments have focused on the use of an unlicensed spectrum to provide additional communication channels. When an unlicensed band is used, devices may be informed how to operate in slots during a channel occupancy time. A duration of a slot may vary, depending on a subcarrier spacing used, whereas a maximum channel occupancy time is a rather static time. Hence, the number of slots during the maximum channel occupancy time varies, as will the amount of information signaled to devices to inform howto operate in the slots.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

The scope is defined by independent claims. The embodiments, examples and features, if any, described in this specification that do not fall under the scope of the independent claims are to be interpreted as examples useful for understanding various embodiments.

According to an aspect there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: determining, in response to receiving information indicating repetition in configuration information for one or more slot formats, one or more structures in the one or more slot formats to repeat; and determining one or more slot format combination patterns using one or more slot formats indicated in the configuration information and by repeating the one or more structures.

In an embodiment, the at least one memory and computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus further to perform: repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising an integer value X for repeating a subset of one or more slot formats, the subset of one or more slot formats X times when determining the slot format combination pattern.

In an embodiment, the at least one memory and computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus further to perform: repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising an in- teger value Y for repeating symbols within an indicated subset of one or more slot formats, the symbols within the indicated subset of one or more slot formats Y times when determining the slot format combination pattern.

In an embodiment, the at least one memory and computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus further to perform: repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising one or more pairs of an integer value Z for repeating a slot format and a slot format identifier, per a pair the slot format Z times, when determining the slot format combination pattern.

In an embodiment, the at least one memory and computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus further to perform: repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising for one or more sets of slot formats, set-specifically an integer value W for the number of repetitions of a set, a number of slot formats in the set and one or more slot format identifiers, per a set the slot formats in the set, W times, when determining the slot format combination pattern.

In an embodiment, the at least one memory and computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus further to perform: determining, in response to a slot format comprising a special value fulfilling one or more preset criteria, an integer value V for the number of repetitions of a set of slot formats from a slot format comprising the special value and preceding or succeeding the set; and repeating, in response to determining the integer value V, a number of slot formats in the set and one or more slot format identifiers in the set V times, when determining the slot format combination pattern.

In an embodiment, the at least one memory and computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus further to perform: determining, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising one or more pattern offset values, the slot format combination pattern by repeating an indicated slot format combination pattern with a pattern offset.

In an embodiment, the information indicating repetition is received in radio resource control signaling and/or in group-common physical downlink control channel and/or in downlink control information and/or in downlink control information format 2_0 for unlicensed spectrum.

According to an aspect there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform causing sending information indicating repetition in configuration information for one or more slot formats.

In an embodiment, the at least one memory and computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus further to perform adding, as the information indicating repetition, to the configuration information at least one of: an integer value X for repeating a subset of one or more slot formats; or an integer value Y for repeating symbols within an indicated subset of one or more slot formats; or one or more pairs of an integer value Z for repeating a slot format and a slot format identifier; or set-specifically, for one or more sets of slot formats, an integer value W for the number of repetitions of a set, a number of slot formats in the set and one or more slot format identifiers; or one or more pattern offset values; or one or more special values, which fulfill one or more preset criteria.

In an embodiment, the at least one memory and computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus further to perform sending the information indicating repetition in radio resource control signaling and/or in group-common physical downlink control channel and/or in downlink control information and/or in downlink control information format 2_0 for unlicensed spectrum after a successful channel access.

According to an aspect there is provided a method comprising: receiving information indicating repetition in configuration information for one or more slot formats; determining, in response to receiving the information, one or more structures in the one or more slot formats to repeat; and determining one or more slot format combination patterns using one or more slot formats indicated in the configuration information and by repeating the one or more structures.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising an integer value X for repeating a subset of one or more slot formats, the subset of one or more slot formats X times when determining the slot format combination pattern.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising an integer value Y for repeating symbols within an indicated subset of one or more slot formats, the symbols within the indicated subset of one or more slot formats Y times when determining the slot format combination pattern.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising one or more pairs of an integer value Z for repeating a slot format and a slot format identifier, per a pair the slot format Z times, when determining the slot format combination pattern.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising for one or more sets of slot formats, set-specifically an integer value W for the number of repetitions of a set, a number of slot formats in the set and one or more slot format identifiers, per a set the slot formats in the set, W times, when determining the slot format combination pattern.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises: determining, in response to a slot format comprising a special value fulfilling one or more preset criteria, an integer value V for the number of repetitions of a set of slot formats from a slot format comprising the special value and preceding or succeeding the set; and repeating, in response to determining the integer value V, a number of slot formats in the set and one or more slot format identifiers in the set V times, when determining the slot format combination pattern.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises determining, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising one or more pattern offset values, the slot format combination pattern by repeating an indicated slot format combination pattern with a pattern offset.

According to an aspect there is provided a method comprising causing sending information indicating repetition in configuration information for one or more slot formats.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises adding, as the information indicating repetition, to the configuration information at least one of: an integer value X for repeating a subset of one or more slot formats; or an integer value Y for repeating symbols within an indicated subset of one or more slot formats; or one or more pairs of an integer value Z for repeating a slot format and a slot format identifier; or set-specifically, for one or more sets of slot formats, an integer value W for the number of repetitions of a set, a number of slot formats in the set and one or more slot format identifiers; or one or more pattern offset values; or one or more special values, which fulfill one or more preset criteria.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises sending the information indicating repetition in radio resource control signaling and/or in group-common physical downlink control channel and/or in downlink control information and/or in downlink control information format 2_0 for unlicensed spectrum after a successful channel access.

According to an aspect there is provided an apparatus comprising means for performing: receiving information indicating repetition in configuration information for one or more slot formats; determining, in response to receiving the information, one or more structures in the one or more slot formats to repeat; and determining one or more slot format combination patterns using one or more slot formats indicated in the configuration information and by repeating the one or more structures.

In an embodiment, the apparatus further comprises means for performing repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising an integer value X for repeating a subset of one or more slot formats, the subset of one or more slot formats X times when determining the slot format combination pattern.

In an embodiment, the apparatus further comprises means for performing repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising an integer value Y for repeating symbols within an indicated subset of one or more slot formats, the symbols within the indicated subset of one or more slot formats Y times when determining the slot format combination pattern.

In an embodiment, the apparatus further comprises means for performing repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising one or more pairs of an integer value Z for repeating a slot format and a slot format identifier, per a pair the slot format Z times, when determining the slot format combination pattern.

In an embodiment, the apparatus further comprises means for performing repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising for one or more sets of slot formats, set-specifically an integer value W for the number of repetitions of a set, a number of slot formats in the set and one or more slot format identifiers, per a set the slot formats in the set, W times, when determining the slot format combination pattern.

In an embodiment, the apparatus further comprises means for performing: determining, in response to a slot format comprising a special value fulfilling one or more preset criteria, an integer value V for the number of repetitions of a set of slot formats from a slot format comprising the special value and preceding or succeeding the set; and repeating, in response to determining the integer value V, a number of slot formats in the set and one or more slot format identifiers in the set V times, when determining the slot format combination pattern. In an embodiment, the apparatus further comprises means for performing determining, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising one or more pattern offset values, the slot format combination pattern by repeating an indicated slot format combination pattern with a pattern offset.

According to an aspect there is provided an apparatus comprising means for performing sending information indicating repetition in configuration information for one or more slot formats.

In an embodiment, the apparatus further comprises means for performing adding, as the information indicating repetition, to the configuration information at least one of: an integer value X for repeating a subset of one or more slot formats; or an integer value Y for repeating symbols within an indicated subset of one or more slot formats; or one or more pairs of an integer value Z for repeating a slot format and a slot format identifier; or set-specifically, for one or more sets of slot formats, an integer value W for the number of repetitions of a set, a number of slot formats in the set and one or more slot format identifiers; or one or more pattern offset values; or one or more special values, which fulfill one or more preset criteria.

In an embodiment, the apparatus further comprises means for performing sending the information indicating repetition in radio resource control signaling and/or in group-common physical downlink control channel and/or in downlink control information and/or in downlink control information format 2_0 for unlicensed spectrum after a successful channel access.

According to an aspect there is provided a computer program comprising instructions for causing an apparatus at least to perform at least the following: determining, in response to receiving information indicating repetition in configuration information for one or more slot formats, one or more structures in the one or more slot formats to repeat; and determining one or more slot format combination patterns using one or more slot formats indicated in the configuration information and by repeating the one or more structures.

In an embodiment, the computer program further comprises instructions for causing the apparatus at least to perform repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising an integer value X for repeating a subset of one or more slot formats, the subset of one or more slot formats X times when determining the slot format combination pattern.

In an embodiment, the computer program further comprises instructions for causing the apparatus at least to perform repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising an integer value Y for repeating symbols within an indicated subset of one or more slot formats, the symbols within the indicated subset of one or more slot formats Y times when determining the slot format combination pattern.

In an embodiment, the computer program further comprises instructions for causing the apparatus at least to perform repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising one or more pairs of an integer value Z for repeating a slot format and a slot format identifier, per a pair the slot format Z times, when determining the slot format combination pattern.

In an embodiment, the computer program further comprises instructions for causing the apparatus at least to perform repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising for one or more sets of slot formats, set-specifically an integer value W for the number of repetitions of a set, a number of slot formats in the set and one or more slot format identifiers, per a set the slot formats in the set, W times, when determining the slot format combination pattern.

In an embodiment, the computer program further comprises instructions for causing the apparatus at least to perform: determining, in response to a slot format comprising a special value fulfilling one or more preset criteria, an integer value V for the number of repetitions of a set of slot formats from a slot format comprising the special value and preceding or succeeding the set; and repeating, in response to determining the integer value V, a number of slot formats in the set and one or more slot format identifiers in the set V times, when determining the slot format combination pattern.

In an embodiment, the computer program further comprises program instructions for causing the apparatus at least to perform determining, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising one or more pattern offset values, the slot format combination pattern by repeating an indicated slot format combination pattern with a pattern offset.

In an embodiment, the information indicating repetition is received in radio resource control signaling and/or in group-common physical downlink control channel and/or in downlink control information and/or in downlink control information format 2_0 for unlicensed spectrum. According to an aspect there is provided a computer program comprising instructions for causing an apparatus at least to perform at least causing sending information indicating repetition in configuration information for one or more slot formats.

In an embodiment, the computer program further comprises instructions for causing the apparatus at least to perform adding, as the information indicating repetition, to the configuration information at least one of: an integer value X for repeating a subset of one or more slot formats; or an integer value Y for repeating symbols within an indicated subset of one or more slot formats; or one or more pairs of an integer value Z for repeating a slot format and a slot format identifier; or set-specifically, for one or more sets of slot formats, an integer value W for the number of repetitions of a set, a number of slot formats in the set and one or more slot format identifiers; or one or more pattern offset values; or one or more special values, which fulfill one or more preset criteria.

In an embodiment, the computer program further comprises instructions for causing the apparatus at least to perform sending the information indicating repetition in radio resource control signaling and/or in group-common physical downlink control channel and/or in downlink control information and/or in downlink control information format 2_0 for unlicensed spectrum after a successful channel access.

According to an aspect there is provided a computer readable medium comprising program instructions for causing an apparatus at least to perform at least the following: determining, in response to receiving information indicating repetition in configuration information for one or more slot formats, one or more structures in the one or more slot formats to repeat; and determining one or more slot format combination patterns using one or more slot formats indicated in the configuration information and by repeating the one or more structures.

In an embodiment, the computer readable medium further comprises program instructions for causing the apparatus at least to perform repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising an integer value X for repeating a subset of one or more slot formats, the subset of one or more slot formats X times when determining the slot format combination pattern.

In an embodiment, the computer readable medium further comprises program instructions for causing the apparatus at least to perform repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising an integer value Y for repeating symbols within an indicated subset of one or more slot formats, the symbols within the indicated subset of one or more slot formats Y times when determining the slot format combination pattern. In an embodiment, the computer readable medium further comprises program instructions for causing the apparatus at least to perform repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising one or more pairs of an integer value Z for repeating a slot format and a slot format identifier, per a pair the slot format Z times, when determining the slot format combination pattern.

In an embodiment, the computer readable medium further comprises program instructions for causing the apparatus at least to perform repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising for one or more sets of slot formats, set-specifically an integer value W for the number of repetitions of a set, a number of slot formats in the set and one or more slot format identifiers, per a set the slot formats in the set, W times, when determining the slot format combination pattern.

In an embodiment, the computer readable medium further comprises program instructions for causing the apparatus at least to perform: determining, in response to a slot format comprising a special value fulfilling one or more preset criteria, an integer value V for the number of repetitions of a set of slot formats from a slot format comprising the special value and preceding or succeeding the set; and repeating, in response to determining the integer value V, a number of slot formats in the set and one or more slot format identifiers in the set V times, when determining the slot format combination pattern.

In an embodiment, the computer readable medium further comprises program instructions for causing the apparatus at least to perform determining, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising one or more pattern offset values, the slot format combination pattern by repeating an indicated slot format combination pattern with a pattern offset.

According to an aspect there is provided a computer readable medium comprising program instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least causing sending information indicating repetition in configuration information for one or more slot formats.

In an embodiment, the computer readable medium further comprises program instructions for causing the apparatus at least to perform adding, as the information indicating repetition, to the configuration information at least one of: an integer value X for repeating a subset of one or more slot formats; or an integer value Y for repeating symbols within an indicated subset of one or more slot formats; or one or more pairs of an integer value Z for repeating a slot format and a slot format identifier; or set-specifically, for one or more sets of slot formats, an integer value W for the number of repetitions of a set, a number of slot formats in the set and one or more slot format identifiers; or one or more pattern offset values; or one or more special values, which fulfill one or more preset criteria.

In an embodiment, the computer readable medium further comprises program instructions for causing the apparatus at least to perform sending the information indicating repetition in radio resource control signaling and/or in group-common physical downlink control channel and/or in downlink control information and/or in downlink control information format 2_0 for unlicensed spectrum after a successful channel access.

In an embodiment, the computer readable medium is a non-transitory computer readable medium.

According to an aspect there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the following: determining, in response to receiving information indicating repetition in configuration information for one or more slot formats, one or more structures in the one or more slot formats to repeat; and determining one or more slot format combination patterns using one or more slot formats indicated in the configuration information and by repeating the one or more structures.

According to an aspect there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least causing sending information indicating repetition in configuration information for one or more slot formats.

According to an aspect there is provided a signal with embedded data, the embedded data comprising information indicating repetition in configuration information for one or more slot formats.

In an embodiment, the signal comprises, as the information indicating repetition, at least one of: an integer value X for repeating a subset of one or more slot formats; or an integer value Y for repeating symbols within an indicated subset of one or more slot formats; or one or more pairs of an integer value Z for repeating a slot format and a slot format identifier; or set-specifically, for one or more sets of slot formats, an integer value W for the number of repetitions of a set, a number of slot formats in the set and one or more slot format identifiers; or one or more pattern offset values; or one or more special values, which fulfill one or more preset criteria. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Embodiments are described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 illustrates an exemplified wireless communication system;

Figure 2 illustrates an example of information exchange;

Figure 3 to 7 illustrate examples of configurations and resulting slot format indication;

Figures 8 and 9 illustrate example functionalities; and Figures 10 and 11 are schematic block diagrams.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

The following embodiments are examples. Although the specification may refer to “an”, “one”, or “some” embodiment(s) in several locations, this does not necessarily mean that each such reference is to the same embodiment(s), or that the feature only applies to a single embodiment. Single features of different embodiments may also be combined to provide other embodiments. Furthermore, words “comprising” and “including” should be understood as not limiting the described embodiments to consist of only those features that have been mentioned and such embodiments may contain also features/structures that have not been specifically mentioned. Further, although terms including ordinal numbers, such as “first”, “second”, etc., may be used for describing various elements, the structural elements are not restricted by the terms. The terms are used merely for the purpose of distinguishing an element from other elements. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and similarly, a second element could be also termed a first element without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Embodiments and examples described herein may be implemented in any communications system comprising wireless connection(s). In the following, different exemplifying embodiments will be described using, as an example of an access architecture to which the embodiments may be applied, a radio access architecture based on new radio (NR, 5G) or longterm evolution advanced (LTE Advanced, LTE-A), without restricting the embodiments to such an architecture, however. It is obvious for a person skilled in the art that the embodiments may also be applied to other kinds of communications networks having suitable means by adjusting parameters and procedures appropriately. Some examples of other options for suitable systems are the universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) radio access network (UTRAN or E- UTRAN), long term evolution (LTE, the substantially same as E-UTRA), beyond 5G, wireless local area network (WLAN or WiFi), worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX), Bluetooth®, personal communications services (PCS), ZigBee®, wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), systems using ultra-wideband (UWB) technology, sensor networks, mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs) and Internet Protocol multimedia subsystems (IMS) or any combination thereof.

Figure 1 depicts examples of simplified system architectures showing some elements and functional entities, all being logical units, whose implementation may differ from what is shown. The connections shown in Figure 1 are logical connections; the actual physical connections may be different. It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that the system typically comprises also other functions and structures than those shown in Figure 1.

The embodiments are not, however, restricted to the system given as an example but a person skilled in the art may apply the solution to other communication systems provided with necessary properties.

The example of Figure 1 shows a part of an exemplifying radio access network.

Figure 1 shows user devices 101 and 101’ configured to be in a wireless connection on one or more communication channels in a cell with an access node (such as (e/g)NodeB) 102 providing the cell. The physical link from a user device to a (e/g)NodeB is called uplink or reverse link and the physical link from the (e/g)NodeB to the user device is called downlink or forward link. It should be appreciated that (e/g)NodeBs or their functionalities may be implemented by using any node, host, server or access point (AP) etc. entity suitable for such a usage.

A communications system 100 typically comprises more than one (e/g)NodeB in which case the (e/g)NodeBs may also be configured to communicate with one another over links, wired or wireless, designed for the purpose. These links maybe used for signalling purposes. The (e/g)NodeB is a computing device configured to control the radio resources of communication system it is coupled to. The NodeB may also be referred to as a base station, an access point or any other type of interfacing device including a relay station capable of operating in a wireless environment. The (e/g)NodeB includes or is coupled to transceivers. From the transceivers of the (e/g) NodeB, a connection is provided to an antenna unit that establishes bi-directional radio links to user devices. The antenna unit may comprise a plurality of antennas or antenna elements. The (e/g) NodeB is further connected to core network 105 (CN or next generation core NGC). Depending on the system, the counterpart on the CN side can be a serving gateway (S-GW, routing and forwarding user data packets), packet data network gateway (P-GW), for providing connectivity of user devices (UEs) to external packet data networks, or mobile management entity (MME), etc.

The user device (also called UE, user equipment, user terminal, terminal device, etc.) illustrates one type of an apparatus to which resources on the air interface are allocated and assigned, and thus any feature described herein with a user device may be implemented with a corresponding apparatus, such as a relay node. An example of such a relay node is a layer 3 relay (self-backhauling relay) towards the base station.

The user device typically refers to a portable computing device that includes wireless mobile communication devices operating with or without a subscriber identification module (SIM), including, but not limited to, the following types of wireless devices: a mobile station (mobile phone), smartphone, personal digital assistant (PDA), handset, device using a wireless modem (alarm or measurement device, etc.), laptop and/or touch screen computer, tablet, game console, notebook, and multimedia device. It should be appreciated that a user device may also be a nearly exclusive uplink only device, of which an example is a camera or video camera loading images or video clips to a network. A user device may also be a device having capability to operate in Internet of Things (loT) network which is a scenario in which objects are provided with the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human- to-computer interaction. The user device may also utilise cloud. In some applications, a user device may comprise a small portable device with radio parts (such as a watch, earphones or eyeglasses) and the computation is carried out in the cloud. The user device (or in some embodiments a relay node, such as a mobile termination (MT) part of the integrated access and backhaul (1AB) Node), is configured to perform one or more of user equipment functionalities. The user device may also be called a subscriber unit, mobile station, remote terminal, access terminal, user terminal or user equipment (UE) just to mention but a few names or apparatuses.

Various techniques described herein may also be applied to a cyber-physical system (CPS) (a system of collaborating computational elements controlling physical entities). CPS may enable the implementation and exploitation of massive amounts of interconnected ICT devices (sensors, actuators, processors microcontrollers, etc.) embedded in physical objects at different locations. Mobile cyber physical systems, in which the physical system in question has inherent mobility, are a subcategory of cyber-physical systems. Examples of mobile physical systems include mobile robotics and electronics transported by humans or animals. Additionally, although the apparatuses have been depicted as single entities, different units, processors and/or memory units (not all shown in Figure 1) may be implemented.

5G enables using multiple input - multiple output (M1M0) antennas, many more base stations or nodes or corresponding network devices than the LTE (a so- called small cell concept), including macro sites operating in co-operation with smaller stations and employing a variety of radio technologies depending on service needs, use cases and/or spectrum available. 5G mobile communications supports a wide range of use cases and related applications including video streaming, augmented reality, different ways of data sharing and various forms of machine type applications (such as (massive) machine-type communications (mMTC), including vehicular safety, different sensors and real-time control. One example of the machine-type communications, indicated with an arrow between UEs 101, 101’ in Figure 1, is device-to-device (D2D) communication, which may sometimes be referred to as sidelink communication. 5G is expected to have multiple radio interfaces, namely below 6GHz, cmWave and mmWave, and also being integradable with existing legacy radio access technologies, such as the LTE. Integration with the LTE may be implemented, at least in the early phase, as a system, where macro coverage is provided by the LTE and 5G radio interface access comes from small cells by aggregation to the LTE. In other words, 5G is planned to support both inter-RAT operability (such as LTE-5G) and inter-Rl operability (inter-radio interface operability, such as below 6GHz - cmWave, below 6GHz - cmWave - mmWave). One of the concepts considered to be used in 5G networks is network slicing in which multiple independent and dedicated virtual sub-networks (network instances) may be created within the substantially same infrastructure to run services that have different requirements on latency, reliability, throughput and mobility.

The current architecture in LTE networks is fully distributed in the radio and fully centralized in the core network. The low latency applications and services in 5G require to bring the content close to the radio which leads to local break out and multi-access edge computing (MEC). 5G enables analytics and knowledge generation to occur at the source of the data. This approach requires leveraging resources that may not be continuously connected to a network such as laptops, smartphones, tablets and sensors. MEC provides a distributed computing environment for application and service hosting. It also has the ability to store and process content in close proximity to cellular subscribers for faster response time. Edge computing covers a wide range of technologies such as wireless sensor networks, mobile data acquisition, mobile signature analysis, cooperative distributed peer-to-peer ad hoc networking and processing also classifiable as local cloud/fog computing and grid/mesh computing, dew computing, mobile edge computing, cloudlet, distributed data storage and retrieval, autonomic self-healing networks, remote cloud services, augmented and virtual reality, data caching, Internet of Things (massive connectivity and/or latency critical), critical communications (autonomous vehicles, traffic safety, real-time analytics, time-critical control, healthcare applications).

The communication system is also able to communicate with other networks, such as a public switched telephone network or the Internet 106, or utilise services provided by them. The communication network may also be able to support the usage of cloud services, for example at least part of core network operations may be carried out as a cloud service (this is depicted in Figure 1 by “cloud” 107). The communication system may also comprise a central control entity, or a like, providing facilities for networks of different operators to cooperate for example in spectrum sharing.

Edge cloud may be brought into radio access network (RAN) by utilizing network function virtualization (NVF) and software defined networking (SDN). Using edge cloud may mean access node operations to be carried out, at least partly, in a server, host or node operationally coupled to a remote radio head or base station comprising radio parts. It is also possible that node operations will be distributed among a plurality of servers, nodes or hosts. Application of cloudRAN architecture enables RAN real time functions being carried out at the RAN side (in a distributed unit, DU 102) and non-real time functions being carried out in a centralized manner (in a centralized unit, CU 104).

It should also be understood that the distribution of labour between core network operations and base station operations may differ from that of the LTE or even be non-existent. Some other technology advancements probably to be used are Big Data and all-lP, which may change the way networks are being constructed and managed. 5G (or new radio, NR) networks are being designed to support multiple hierarchies, where MEC servers can be placed between the core and the base station or nodeB (gNB). It should be appreciated that MEC can be applied in 4G networks as well.

5G may also utilize satellite communication to enhance or complement the coverage of 5G service, for example by providing backhauling. Possible use cases are providing service continuity for machine-to-machine (M2M) or Internet of Things (loT) devices or for passengers on board of vehicles, or ensuring service availability for critical communications, and future railway/maritime/aeronautical communications. Satellite communication may utilise geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellite systems, but also low earth orbit (LEO) satellite systems, in particular mega-constellations (systems in which hundreds of (nano)satellites are deployed). At least one satellite 103 in the mega-constellation may cover several satellite-enabled network entities that create on-ground cells. The on-ground cells may be created through an on-ground relay node 102 or by a gNB located on-ground or in a satellite.

It is obvious for a person skilled in the art that the depicted system is only an example of a part of a radio access system and in practice, the system may comprise a plurality of (e/g)NodeBs, the user device may have an access to a plurality of radio cells and the system may comprise also other apparatuses, such as relay nodes, for example distributed unit (DU) parts of one or more 1AB nodes, or other network elements, etc. At least one of the (e/g)NodeBs or may be a Home(e/g)nodeB. Additionally, in a geographical area of a radio communication system a plurality of different kinds of radio cells as well as a plurality of radio cells may be provided. Radio cells may be macro cells (or umbrella cells) which are large cells, usually having a diameter of up to tens of kilometers, or smaller cells such as micro-, femto- or picocells. The (e/g)NodeBs of Figure 1 may provide any kind of these cells. A cellular radio system may be implemented as a multilayer network including several kinds of cells. Typically, in multilayer networks, one access node provides one kind of a cell or cells, and thus a plurality of (e/g)NodeBs are needed to provide such a network structure.

For fulfilling the need for improving the deployment and performance of communication systems, the concept of “plug-and-play” (e/g)NodeBs has been introduced. Typically, a network which is able to use “plug-and-play” (e/g)Node Bs, includes, in addition to Home (e/g)NodeBs (H(e/g)nodeBs), a home node B gateway, or HNB-GW (not shown in Figure 1). A HNB Gateway (HNB-GW), which is typically installed within an operator’s network may aggregate traffic from a large number of HNBs back to a core network.

The communication system may support operation on unlicensed radio bands, such as radio bands between 52.6 and 71 gigahertz (GHz). There may be a lot of unlicensed bands available in the range of 57-71 GHz, making the operation on unlicensed bands at mmWaves an interesting option for NR future development. Operation on unlicensed bands in 52.6 GHz to 71 GHz range may open room for the large available bandwidth. This in turn can support a broad range of services including but not limited to Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), high rate D2D, Augmented Reality (AR) /Virtual Reality (VR), and the like. Operation in these unlicensed bands may require follow- ing certain regulatory rules to support a fair coexistence between different Radio Access Technologies (RATs). An example of mechanisms fulfilling regulatory rules includes to perform a listen-before-talk (LET) procedure to find out, whether a channel, or a subchannel, is occupied. Herein term “channel” is used for the sake of convenience, to cover also a subchannel. It should be appreciated that, at least in certain deployment scenarios, it may be possible to operate also without the listen-before-talk procedure. A channel determined to be free may be occupied up to a channel occupancy time (sometimes referred as a channel occupant time). The channel occupancy time in the unlicensed part of the 52.6-71 GHz spectrum may be up to five (5) milliseconds (ms), for example. At the beginning of the channel occupancy time, (e/g)NodeB (gNB) may inform UEs 101, 101’ how to operate in slots until the end of the current channel occupancy time. In other words, UEs 101, 101’ are provided with slot format information. It is expected that higher values of subcarrier spacing, for example 240kHz, 480 kHz, 960kHz, etc., than subcarrier spacings 15 kHz, 30 kHz, 60kHz and 120 kHz currently in use for frequency ranges FR1 (4.1 GHz to 7.125 GHz) and FR2 (24.25 GHz to 52.6 GHz) will be used in the unlicensed bands of 52.6 to 71 GHz. The higher the value of the subcarrier spacing is, the shorter is a symbol duration in time and thereby the shorter is a slot duration in time. This means that there will be more slots within a channel occupancy time. For example, for the subcarrier spacing 480 kHz, one 5 millisecond channel occupancy time comprises 160 slots, and for the subcarrier spacing 960 kHz, one 5 millisecond channel occupancy time comprises 320 slots.

Generally, symbols in slots during the channel occupancy time can be configured as downlink (D), uplink (U), or flexible (F), the flexible meaning that the symbol may be used for downlink or uplink. There may be different approaches to indicate a slot format over the channel occupancy time, for example:

• semi-static common configuration- UE is provided with the cell-specific time division duplex (tdd)-UL-DL-ConfigurationCommon to set the periodical slot format over several slots. If UE is not provided this parameter, UE may assume that symbols are semi-statically flexible. The configuration may be provided with radio resource control (RRC) signaling or system information, for example.

• semi-static dedicated configuration - UE is provided with the tdd-UL-DL- ConfigurationDedicated, which overrides flexible symbols per slot over the number of slots as provided by tdd-UL-DLConfigurationCommon. The configuration may be provided with radio resource control (RRC) signaling, for example. • dynamic indication- UE is provided with the slot format by downlink control information (DC1) format 2_0 indicating slot formats for slots over group-common physical downlink control channel (GC-PDCCH).

For operation on unlicensed band(s), which are time division duplex bands, the dynamic indication may be a prominent solution since some features may need dynamic indication. For example, since a transmission in the unlicensed band can be guaranteed only after the channel occupancy time is obtained and after that slot allocation for the obtained channel occupancy time can be performed, indicating slot formats dynamically is a better solution. Further, a slot format content that can be changed dynamically, takes better into account that a starting time of a channel occupancy time is floating while starting time of some other signals, like synchronization signal block (SSB) or physical random access channel (PRACH) may not be floating.

Figure 2 illustrates an example of information exchange relating to dynamic indication of slot format(s) in NR. It is a straightforward solution to implement the illustrated example to other wireless concepts. In the illustrated example, gNB indicates slot formats to one or more user devices UE(s) in control plane signalling. It should be appreciated that gNB represents any apparatus, including different access points, that may indicate to devices, either separately or as group (s) of devices, represented by the one user device UE in Figure 2, one or more slot formats, for example by using a slot format indicator. For beam-based operations, in which different devices, or groups of devices may be served by gNB using different spatial beams, the information exchange and related blocks shown in FIG. 2 may be performed for multiple beams separately. Depending on an implementation, blocks and/or signaling may be carried out in parallel and/or in a serial manner. Further, it is possible that information exchange relating to different beams, for examples synchronization signal block beams, may interleave in time.

Referring to Figure 2, gNB signals (message 2-1) pre-configuration information to UE so that UE can pre-configure (block 2-2) itself with slot format information, or more precisely with slot format combinations. Message 2-1 may be RRC signaling (radio resource control signaling) with parameters. One of the parameters may be a parameter setting the maximum number of possible combinations to a value, for example to 512. With another parameter UE gets the set of slot structures. Further, one of the parameters may be a parameter setting the maximum number of slot formats per one combination to a value, which may be in the range of 0...255, for example.

To assess, whether a channel is free and gNB may occupy the channel for up to the channel occupancy time, gNB performs a listen-before-talk (LBT) procedure (block 2-3), for example. In the illustrated example, it is assumed that gNB will use one or more periodic patterns for resource allocation, for example, for initial access, and determines in block 2-3 one or more periodical patterns correspondingly, and determines in block 2-3 corresponding slot format indicators. When gNB has performed successfully the listen-before-talk (LBT) procedure (block 2-3) gNB may effectively indicate a slot format for a set of slots to UE.

After a successful listen-before-talk (LBT) procedure, UE is signaled (message 2-4) information indicating slot format pattern to use during the channel occupancy time. Message 2-4 may comprise as part of downlink control information, for example as part of DC1 format 2_0, one or more slot format indicators, for example as a parameter “slotFormatCombinationld" pointing to the particular slot format combination that has been preconfigured by the gNB as discussed above. Such indication may be applicable to one or more cells, which may be also different than the cell carrying the downlink control information, for example DC1 format 2_0. Further, in the illustrated information, gNB provides the UE with one or more of additional parameters, called herein repetitive parameters, as information indicating repetition. One or more of the repetitive parameters may be part of the downlink control information, indicated by for example DC1 format 2_0, and/or provided in radio resource control (RRC) signaling. In other words, repetitive parameter(s) may be in message 2-1, or in message 2-4, or part of the repetitive parameters may be in message 2-1 and part in message 2- 4. A non-limiting list of examples of the repetitive parameters includes: repetition factor N for repeating an indicated subset of one or more slot formats N times repetition factor M for repeating symbols within an indicated subset of one or more slot formats M times number K of pattern variants pattern offset increment L used in the pattern offsetting

In an implementation, when the repetition factor N and/or the repetition factor M is/are explicit indications in the DC1 format 2_0 (or any corresponding downlink control information format), the repetition factor(s) may apply to all subsets of indicated slot formats, unless explicitly indicated for a subset, or for two or more subsets.

In the illustrated example, UE detects, in block 2-5, in response to signaling (message 2-4) comprising one or more repetitive parameters with a corresponding value(s), that at least something is to be repeated, and determines in block 2-6, using received information, one or more structures in the slot formats to be repeated, and determines in block 2-7 a slot format pattern (a slot format combination pattern) according to one or more predefined rule, depending on the repetitive parameter(s), and their order in signaling, if more than one repetitive parameter is signaled to UE. Examples of the predefined rule and resulting slot format combination patterns are described with Figures 3 to 7. A structure may comprise one or more symbols and/or slot formats, as will be described with Figures 3 to 7.

Figure 3 illustrates an example in which a slot format for at least one slot of a slot format combination is repeated N times. In the illustrated example of Figure 3, the subset of indicated slot formats, i.e. a slot format combination, comprises three slot formats with identifiers (slot format index values): 33, 1, 49, and the value for the repetition factor N is 3. For example, a user device may receive in signalling (for example message 2-4 described above) information 302 indicating slot format pattern to use. In the example, the information to be repeated is signaled using one slot format indicator 302 per slot index 301. The user device determines, using the information, slot format combination patterns. In the illustrated example the rule is to repeat N times a first slot format in N consecutive slots, and then N times a next slot format, etc. Therefore, the resulting slot format combination patterns 303 are as illustrated, for slots indexes 301, starting from slot 0 following: 33, 33, 33, 1, 1, 1, 49, 49, 49.

Although in the above, message 2-4 was given as an example wherein the value for the repetition factor N can be sent, it should be appreciated that other possibilities exist. For example, the value may not be sent at all; it may be a constant value, for example preconfigured as indicated in a specification that is to be followed. The value may also be sent to UE in advance, for example in radio resource control signaling, for example in message 2-1, possible being stored to be part of a slot format information table. In a still further example, explained below with Figure 8, assuming UE receives a channel occupancy time before or substantially at the same time it receives information on slot formats to repeat, UE may be configured to calculate the value of N. It should be appreciated that any combination to determine the value of N may be used. Thanks to the repetitive parameter, repetition factor N, the signaling comprises, in the illustrated example, three identifiers (‘33’, ‘1’, and ‘49’, for slot indexes 'O’, ‘1’, and ‘2’, respectively) and one indication of repetition, and yet indicates 9 slot formats. In other words, less information is signaled, and hence slot format indicator signaling overhead and/or slot format combination configuration overhead can be reduced.

Figure 4 illustrates an example in which individual symbols in the indicated slot format are repeated M times. In the illustrated example of Figure 4, the subset of indicated slot formats, i.e. a slot format combination, comprises three slot formats with identifiers values (#): 0, 33, 1, and a slot has 14 symbols, which may be uplink (U), downlink (D) or flexible (F), and the value for the repetition factor M is 4. For example, a user device may receive in signalling (for example message 2-4 described above) information 402 indicating slot format pattern(s) to use, whereas slot symbols for at least one slot format may have been predetermined In the example, the repetitive information is signaled using one slot index 401 per one identifier. Combining the information with pre-configured information, information 402 indicating slot format pattern with symbols per slot format is signaled to the user device. The user device determines, using the information, slot format combination patterns. In the illustrated example the rule is to repeat M times symbols in a slot format of the indicated slot format combination, and then M times symbols in a next slot format, etc. Therefore, the resulting slot format combination pattern 403 is as illustrated in Figure 4. First, slot format with identifier #0 having symbols for downlink is repeated four times, occupying slots indexes 401 ranging from slot 0 to slot 3. Then slot format identifier #33, having symbols “DDDDDDDDDFFFUUU” is repeated four times, occupying slots indexes 401 ranging from slot 4 to slot 7. More precisely, following is performed in this example: 4x(9xD+3xF+2xU) = 36xD+12xF+8xU = 14xD+14xD+(8xD+6xF)+(6xF+8xU). Hence, slots 4 and 5 are pure downlink slots, slot 6 is a mixed slot of downlink and flexible symbols, and slot 7 is a mixed slot of flexible and uplink symbols. Last, slot format with identifier #1 having symbols for uplink is repeated four times, occupying slots indexes 401 ranging from slot 8 to slot 11.

Although in the above, message 2-4 was given as an example wherein the value for the repetition factor M can be sent, it should be appreciated that other possibilities exist. For example, the value may not be sent at all; it may be a constant value, for example preconfigured as indicated in a specification that is to be followed. The value may also be sent to UE in advance, for example in radio resource control signaling, for example in message 2-1, possible being stored to be part of the slot format information table. In a still further example, explained below with Figure 8, assuming UE receives a channel occupancy time before or substantially at the same time it receives information on slot formats to repeat, UE may be configured to calculate the value of M. It should be appreciated that any combination to determine the value of M may be used.

As in the example of Figure 3, also in the example of Figure 4, thanks to the repetitive parameter, repetition factor M, the signaling comprises three identifiers (‘33’, ‘1’, and ‘49’, for slot indexes 'O’, ‘1’, and ‘2’, respectively) and one indication of repetition, and yet indicates 12 slot formats. In other words, less information is signaled, and hence slot format indicator signaling overhead and/or slot format combination configuration overhead can be reduced.

Figure 5 illustrates an example in which a slot format indicator for a single slot is repeated N times, and the value of N is given slot-specifically, providing explicit repetition of individual slot formats. In the illustrated example of Figure 5, the subset of indicated slot formats, i.e. a slot format combination, comprises three pairs, wherein a pair comprises a value for a repetition factor N and an identifier of a slot format that is to be repeated. In other words, referring to Figure 5, a slot format with identifier #0 is to be repeated 8 times, a slot format with identifier #2 is to be repeated 2 times and a slot format with identifier #1 is to be repeated 4 times. For example, a user device may receive in signalling (for example message 2-4 described above) information 502 indicating the pairs of number of repetitions and a slot format pattern to be repeated. It should be appreciated that the order of the information in the pairs may be reversed, i.e. first is the slot format indicator (identifier), and then the repetitive factor N. The user device determines, using the information, the slot format combination patterns. The resulting slot format combination patterns 503, for the above example is, for slots indexes 501, starting from slot 0 following: 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1.

Thanks to pairs and the repetitive parameters, repetition factors N, the signaling comprises, in the illustrated example, three identifiers and three repetitive parameter values, allowing the pair to be signaled with 8 bit integers, and yet indicates 14 slot formats. In other words, less information is signaled, and hence slot format indicator signaling overhead and/or slot format combination configuration overhead can be reduced.

Figure 6 illustrates an example in which a set of slot format identifiers is repeated N times, and the value of N is given set-specifically, providing explicit repetition of individual sets. In the illustrated example of Figure 6, the value of N (repetition factor) is given first, then the length of a set (sequence) is given, and then identifiers of slot formats that belong to the set and are to be repeated. (It should be appreciated that a set may comprise one or more slot formats. ) In other words, referring to Figure 6, a first set of slot formats is to be repeated 2 times, the set comprising 3 slot formats; a slot format with identifier #12, a slot format with identifier #13 and a slot format with identifier #14. A second set of slot formats is to be repeated 4 times, the set comprising 2 slot formats; a slot format with identifier #0 and a slot format with identifier #1. For example, UE may receive in signalling (for example message 2-4 described above) information 602 indicating the number of repetitions of a set, a number of slot formats in the set and slot format identifiers. It should be appreciated that the order of the information may be different, for example the number of slot formats in the set, and then either the number of repetitions or slot format indicators. The user device determines, using the information, the slot format combination patterns. The resulting slot format combination patterns 603, for the above example is, for slots indexes 601, starting from slot 0 following: 12, 13, 14, 12, 13, 14, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1.

Thanks to repetitive sets and repetition factors N, less information can be signaled, and hence slot format indicator signaling overhead and/or slot format combination configuration overhead can be reduced, even with the example. Since in practice the sets (sequences) may be repeated for example 20 times, the reduce in the signaling overhead may be bigger than illustrated. For example, to allocate pattern “DDFFUU” for the next 200 slots, use of the sets and repetition, as explained with Figure 6, will require 8 bytes, while sending the information slot-specifically (legacy solution) will require 200 bytes.

Figure 7 illustrates an example in which from a single slot format combination pattern multiple slot format combination patterns can be determined, by providing as the repetitive parameters the number of patterns to determine, i.e. the number of pattern variants K, and the number of slots in the pattern offset, i.e. the pattern offset increment L. The single slot format combination pattern 702 may have been received as it is, or the user device may have determined it, for example using the predefined rules and received information explained above with Figure 3, Figure 4, Figure 5, Figure 6, or any combination thereof. For example, a user device may receive in signalling (for example message 2-4 described above) parameter values for K and L. The parameter values can be provided, for example, as new optional parameters in the pre-con- figuration information in the message 2-1.

In the example of Figure 7, value of K is 2 and value of L is 1, resulting that 2 pattern variants 703a, 703b are determined from the indicated slot format combination pattern 702 by cyclically shifting L first slot format(s) to the end of next slot format combination pattern. In the illustrated example the slot format in slot index 701, i.e. in slot #0, in the slot combination pattern 702 is shifted to the last slot #13 in the slot combination pattern 703a, and other slot formats are moved correspondingly. Naturally, the shifting may be performed cyclically to opposite direction.

An identifier for a pattern variant may be determined, for example, by incrementing or subtracting the identifier of the original (indicated) slot format combination, or by including a sequence of identifiers to the SlotFormatCombinationld information element, to be used, for example, when values of K and/or L are sent in pre- configuration information (message 2-1), and identifiers of slot formats in control information (message 2-4) at the beginning of a channel occupancy time. For example, if the identifier of the slot format combination pattern 702 is “123”, then the identifier of slot format combination pattern 703a may be “124” (=123+1), and the identifier of slot format combination pattern 703b may be “125” (=123+2).

In another implementation, instead of cyclically shifting slot format(s), slot formats can be dropped, resulting to a shorter slot format combination pattern. In the implementation, the slot combination pattern 703a would have an empty slot #13, and in the slot combination pattern 703b would have empty slots #12 and #13. Naturally, the shifting and dropping may be performed to opposite direction.

Further examples include combining different slot format combination patterns with different periodicities and predefined priorities for resources to be a final slot format combination pattern. For example, one slot format combination pattern may define downlink resources with 0.25 ms periodicity and predefined priority high for the resources, and one slot format combination pattern may define uplink resources with 1 ms periodicity and predefined priority low for the resources. The final slot format combination pattern is obtained by combining the slot format components, and use the priority to handle situations where the resources of the components overlap with each other. The periodicity, which may be expressed using N and/or M, may be determined using the principles discussed below with Figure 8.

In one implementation, a user device is configured to determine a value of the repetition factor N and/or a value of the repetition factor M based on the channel occupancy time duration. The user device may receive the channel occupancy time duration as part of downlink control information, for example. Figure 8 illustrates on example functionality for the implementation.

Referring to Figure 8, the user device determines in block 801 a duration of the channel occupation time, and then determines, in block 802, a value for the repetitive parameters, using the duration of the channel occupation time (COT). For example, the user device may be configured to determine the value as follows:

COT < 0.125 ms, value =1

0.125 < COT < 0.312 ms, value =2

0.312 < COT < 1 ms, value =3

COT > 1 ms, value =4

It should be appreciated that there may be different definitions for M and for N, and that the above values, like 0.312 are mere examples, and any other values may be used as well. As can be seen from the above examples, information indicating repetition, such as the repetitive parameters, will reduce signaling overhead relating to slot format indication without reducing allocation granularity. Further, since it is possible to signal longer slot format combinations with a single control information, for example DC1 2_0, sending of the control information may take place less frequently.

A user device may further be configured to determine a value of a repetitive factor based on one or more special values in one or more slot formats, as described with Figure 9. Naturally, gNB may be configured to add such special value(s) when signaling slot format related information. In the illustrated example, a special value is a slot identifier value that is an invalid identifier, for example a currently reserved or unused slot format value in one or more wireless communications standards that are to be followed for the intended use of the unlicensed band. It should be appreciated that any other preset criterium or preset criteria may be used as well. One or more slot format values may also be reserved to indicate one or more repetition factors, and such a value will be interpreted as an invalid value for a slot format.

Referring to Figure 9, when UE receives in block 901 slot format information comprising slot format identifiers, UE checks in block 902, starting from the beginning of the slot format information, whether the received slot format identifiers comprise any invalid value.

If all slot format identifiers are valid values (block 903: no), the slot format information comprised (block 904) in the slot format identifiers no indication to repeat any slot format.

If there is an invalid value (block 903: yes), an auxiliary variable v is set to be zero (0) in block 905 and then it is checked in block 906, whether a next slot format identifier is an invalid value. If not (block 906: no), the auxiliary variable v is increased in block 907 and then the process proceeds to block 906 to check, whether a next slot format identifier is an invalid value.

If the next slot format identifier is an invalid value (block 906: yes), in the illustrated example, the invalid value that triggered setting v to zero in block 905 is used in block 908 as a value of a repetition factor N for a set of slot format identifiers, the set having length of the value of v. Then it is checked in block 909, whether all identifiers have been checked, and if not (block 909: no), whether any of the unchecked identifiers is invalid (block 910).

If there is an invalid value (block 910: yes), the process returns to block 905 to set the auxiliary variable v to be zero (0). If all identifiers have been checked (block 909: yes), or none of the unchecked identifiers is invalid (block 910: no), the one or more sets are determined in block 911 and repeated using their corresponding repetition factor. Depending on an implementation, a set is determined from slots formats preceding the invalid slot format identifier, or succeeding the invalid slot format identifier.

The blocks, related functions, and information exchanges described above by means of Figures 2 to 9 are in no absolute chronological order, and some of them may be performed simultaneously or in an order differing from the given one. Other functions can also be executed between them or within them, and other information may be transmitted, and/or other rules applied or selected. Some of the blocks or part of the blocks or one or more pieces of information can also be left out or replaced by a corresponding block or part of the block or one or more pieces of information.

Figures 10 and 11 illustrate apparatuses comprising a communication controller 1010, 1110 such as at least one processor or processing circuitry, and at least one memory 1020, 1120 including a computer program code (software, algorithm) ALG. 1021, 1121, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code (software, algorithm) are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the respective apparatus to carry out any one of the embodiments, examples and implementations described above. Figure 10 illustrates an apparatus configured to configure user devices to operate in an unlicensed band, and Figure 11 illustrates an apparatus for operating in the unlicensed band as configured by the apparatus in Figure 10. The apparatuses of Figures 10 and 11 may be electronic devices.

Referring to Figures 10 and 11, the memory 1020, 1120 may be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as semiconductor based memory devices, flash memory, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory and removable memory. The memory may comprise a configuration storage CONF. 1021, 1121, such as a configuration database, for at least storing slot format information, including, for example, repetitive factor(s), at least temporarily. The memory 1021 may further store. The memory 1020, 1120 may further store a data buffer for data waiting to be processed (including transmission).

Referring to Figure 10, the apparatus, for example gNB, comprises a communication interface 1030 comprising hardware and/or software for realizing communication connectivity according to one or more wireless and/or wired communication protocols. The communication interface 1030 may provide the apparatus with radio communication capabilities with user devices (terminal devices) camping in one or more cells controlled by the apparatus, as well as communication capabilities towards a wired network.

Digital signal processing regarding transmission and reception of signals may be performed in a communication controller 1010. The communication interface may comprise standard well-known components such as an amplifier, filter, frequencyconverter, (de)modulator, and encoder/decoder circuitries and one or more antennas.

The communication controller 1010 comprises a repetition indicator processing circuitry 1011 configured to configure user devices with slot format repetition according to any one of the embodiments/examples/implementations described above. The communication controller 1010 may control the repetition indicator (REP. IND.) processing circuitry 1011.

In an embodiment, at least some of the functionalities of the apparatus of Figure 10 may be shared between two physically separate devices, forming one operational entity. Therefore, the apparatus may be seen to depict the operational entity comprising one or more physically separate devices for executing at least some of the processes described with respect to the gNB.

Referring to Figure 11, the apparatus 1100 may further comprise a communication interface 1130 comprising hardware and/or software for realizing communication connectivity according to one or more communication protocols. The communication interface 1130 may provide the apparatus 1100 with communication capabilities with the apparatus of Figure 10. The communication interface may comprise standard well-known analog components such as an amplifier, filter, frequency-converter and circuitries, and conversion circuitries transforming signals between analog and digital domains. Digital signal processing regarding transmission and reception of signals may be performed in a communication controller 1110.

The communication controller 1110 comprises a repetitor processing circuitry 1111 configured to detect slot format repetition information and to determine slot format combination patterns using the repetition information according to any one ofthe embodiments/examples/implementations described above. The communication controller 1110 may control the repetitor processing circuitry 1111.

As used in this application, the term ‘circuitry’ refers to all of the following: (a) hardware-only circuit implementations, such as implementations in only analog and/or digital circuitry, and (b) combinations of circuits and soft- ware (and/or firmware), such as (as applicable): (i) a combination of processor(s) or (ii) portions of pro- cessor(s)/software including digital signal processor(s), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus to perform various functions, and (c) circuits, such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that require software or firmware for operation, even if the software or firmware is not physically present. This definition of ‘circuitry’ applies to all uses of this term in this application. As a further example, as used in this application, the term ‘circuitry’ would also cover an implementation of merely a processor (or multiple processors) or a portion of a processor and its (or their) accompanying software and/or firmware. The term ‘circuitry’ would also cover, for example and if applicable to the particular element, a baseband integrated circuit or applications processor integrated circuit for a mobile phone or a similar integrated circuit in a server, a cellular network device, or another network device.

In an embodiment, at least some of the processes described in connection with Figures 2 to 9 may be carried out by an apparatus comprising corresponding means for carrying out at least some of the described processes. The apparatus may comprise separate means for separate phases of a process, or means may perform several phases or the whole process. Some example means for carrying out the processes may include at least one of the following: detector, processor (including dual-core and multiple-core processors), digital signal processor, controller, receiver, transmitter, encoder, decoder, memory, RAM, ROM, software, firmware, display, user interface, display circuitry, user interface circuitry, user interface software, display software, circuit, antenna, antenna circuitry, and circuitry. In an embodiment, the at least one processor, the memory, and the computer program code form processing means or comprises one or more computer program code portions for carrying out one or more operations according to any one of the embodiments/examples/implementations described herein.

According to yet another embodiment, the apparatus carrying out the em- bodiments/examples comprises a circuitry including at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code. When activated, the circuitry causes the apparatus to perform at least some of the functionalities according to any one of the embodiments/examples/implementations of Figures 2 to 9, or operations thereof.

The techniques and methods described herein may be implemented by various means. For example, these techniques may be implemented in hardware (one or more devices), firmware (one or more devices), software (one or more modules), or combinations thereof. For a hardware implementation, the apparatus(es) of embodiments maybe implemented within one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), processors, controllers, micro-controllers, microprocessors, other electronic units designed to perform the functions described herein, or a combination thereof. For firmware or software, the implementation can be carried out through modules of at least one chip set (e.g. procedures, functions, and so on) that perform the functions described herein. The software codes may be stored in a memory unit and executed by processors. The memory unit may be implemented within the processor or externally to the processor. In the latter case, it can be communicatively coupled to the processor via various means, as is known in the art. Additionally, the components of the apparatuses (nodes) described herein may be rearranged and/or complemented by additional components in order to facilitate the achievements of the various aspects, etc., described with regard thereto, and they are not limited to the precise configurations set forth in the given figures, as will be appreciated by one skilled in the art.

Embodiments/examples/implementations as described may also be carried out in the form of a computer process defined by a computer program or portions thereof. Embodiments of the methods described in connection with Figures 2 to 9 may be carried out by executing at least one portion of a computer program comprising corresponding instructions. The computer program may be in source code form, object code form, or in some intermediate form, and it may be stored in some sort of carrier, which may be any entity or device capable of carrying the program. For example, the computer program may be stored on a computer program distribution medium readable by a computer or a processor. The computer program medium may be, for example but not limited to, a record medium, computer memory, read-only memory, electrical carrier signal, telecommunications signal, and software distribution package, for example. The computer program medium may be a non-transitory medium, for example. Coding of software for carrying out the embodiments as shown and described is well within the scope of a person of ordinary skill in the art. In an embodiment, a computer- readable medium comprises said computer program.

It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that, as technology advances, the inventive concept may be implemented in various ways. The embodiments are not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above, but may vary within the scope of the claims. Therefore, all words and expressions should be interpreted broadly, and they are intended to illustrate, not to restrict, the exemplary embodiments.

ABBREVIATIONS

4G: fourth generation 5G: fifth generation AP: access point AR: Augmented Reality

ASIC: application-specific integrated circuit

CU: centralized unit

CN: core network

COT: channel occupation time

CPS: cyber-physical system

D: downlink

DC1: downlink control information

DL: downlink

DSP: digital signal processor

DSPD: digital signal processing device

D2D: device-to-device

DU: distributed unit

(e/g)NodeB: (evolved/next generation) node B eMBB: Enhanced Mobile Broadband

E-UTRA: evolved UMTS terrestrial radio access

E-UTRAN: evolved universal mobile telecommunications system radio access network F: flexible

FPGA: field programmable gate array

FR1: frequency ranges 1

FR2: frequency range 2

GC-PDCCH: group-common physical downlink control channel

GEO: geostationary earth orbit

GHz: gigahertz gNB: next generation nodeB

H(e/g)nodeBs: home (evolved/next generation) node Bs

HNB: hone node B

HNB-GW: home node B gateway

1AB: integrated access and backhaul

ICT: information and communications technology

IMS: Internet Protocol multimedia subsystems

IP: internet protocol loT: internet of things kHz: kilohertz

LBT: listen-before-talk

LEO: low earth orbit LTE: long term evolution

LTE-A: long term evolution advanced

MANET: mobile ad-hoc network

MEC: multi-access edge computing

MME: mobile management entity mMTC: (massive) machine-type communications ms: milliseconds

M2M: machine-to-machine

NGC: next generation core

NR: new radio

NVF: network function virtualization

PCS: personal communications services

PDA: personal digital assistant

P-GW: packet data network gateway

PLD: programmable logic devices

PRACH: physical random access channel

RAM: random-access memory

RAN: radio access network

RAT: radio access technology

Rl: radio interface

ROM: read-only memory

RRC: radio resource control

S-GW: serving gateway

UE: user device or user equipment

SDN: software defined networking

SIM: subscriber identification module

TDD: time division duplex

U: uplink

UL: uplink

UMTS: universal mobile telecommunications system

UTRAN: universal mobile telecommunications system radio access network

UWB: ultra- wideband

VR: Virtual Reality

WCDMA: wideband code division multiple access

WiFi: wireless local area network

WiMAX: worldwide interoperability for microwave access WLAN: wireless local area network

Claims

33 CLAIMS

1. An apparatus comprising at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: determining, in response to receiving information indicating repetition in configuration information for one or more slot formats, one or more structures in the one or more slot formats to repeat; and determining one or more slot format combination patterns using one or more slot formats indicated in the configuration information and by repeating the one or more structures.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus further to perform: repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising an integer value X for repeating a subset of one or more slot formats, the subset of one or more slot formats X times when determining the slot format combination pattern.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus further to perform: repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising an integer value Y for repeating symbols within an indicated subset of one or more slot formats, the symbols within the indicated subset of one or more slot formats Y times when determining the slot format combination pattern.

4. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus further to perform: repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising one or more pairs of an integer value Z for repeating a slot format and a slot format identifier, per a pair the slot format Z times, when determining the slot format combination pattern. 34

5. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus further to perform: repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising for one or more sets of slot formats, set-specifically an integer value W for the number of repetitions of a set, a number of slot formats in the set and one or more slot format identifiers, per a set the slot formats in the set, W times, when determining the slot format combination pattern.

6. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus further to perform: determining, in response to a slot format comprising a special value fulfilling one or more preset criteria, an integer value V for the number of repetitions of a set of slot formats from a slot format comprising the special value and preceding or succeeding the set; and repeating, in response to determining the integer value V, a number of slot formats in the set and one or more slot format identifiers in the set V times, when determining the slot format combination pattern.

7. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus further to perform: determining, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising one or more pattern offset values, the slot format combination pattern by repeating an indicated slot format combination pattern with a pattern offset.

8. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the information indicating repetition is received in radio resource control signaling and/or in group- common physical downlink control channel and/or in downlink control information and/or in downlink control information format 2_0 for unlicensed spectrum.

9. An apparatus comprising at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform causing sending information indicating repetition in configuration information for one or more slot formats.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus further to perform adding, as the information indicating repetition, to the configuration information at least one of: an integer value X for repeating a subset of one or more slot formats; or an integer value Y for repeating symbols within an indicated subset of one or more slot formats; or one or more pairs of an integer value Z for repeating a slot format and a slot format identifier; or set-specifically, for one or more sets of slot formats, an integer value W for the number of repetitions of a set, a number of slot formats in the set and one or more slot format identifiers; or one or more pattern offset values; or one or more special values, which fulfill one or more preset criteria.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus further to perform sending the information indicating repetition in radio resource control signaling and/or in group-common physical downlink control channel and/or in downlink control information and/or in downlink control information format 2_0 for unlicensed spectrum after a successful channel access.

12. A method comprising: receiving information indicating repetition in configuration information for one or more slot formats; determining, in response to receiving the information, one or more structures in the one or more slot formats to repeat; and determining one or more slot format combination patterns using one or more slot formats indicated in the configuration information and by repeating the one or more structures.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising: repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising an integer value X for repeating a subset of one or more slot formats, the subset of one or more slot formats X times when determining the slot format combination pattern.

14. A method as claimed in claim 12 or 13, further comprising: repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising an integer value Y for repeating symbols within an indicated subset of one or more slot formats, the symbols within the indicated subset of one or more slot formats Y times when determining the slot format combination pattern.

15. A method as claimed in claim 12, 13 or 14, further comprising: repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising one or more pairs of an integer value Z for repeating a slot format and a slot format identifier, per a pair the slot format Z times, when determining the slot format combination pattern.

16. A method as claimed in any preceding claim 12 to 15, further comprising: repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising for one or more sets of slot formats, set-specifically an integer value W for the number of repetitions of a set, a number of slot formats in the set and one or more slot format identifiers, per a set the slot formats in the set, W times, when determining the slot format combination pattern.

17. A method as claimed in any preceding claim 12 to 16, further comprising: determining, in response to a slot format comprising a special value fulfilling one or more preset criteria, an integer value V for the number of repetitions of a set of slot formats from a slot format comprising the special value and preceding or succeeding the set; and repeating, in response to determining the integer value V, a number of slot formats in the set and one or more slot format identifiers in the set V times, when determining the slot format combination pattern.

18. A method as claimed in any preceding claim 12 to 17, further comprising: 37 determining, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising one or more pattern offset values, the slot format combination pattern by repeating an indicated slot format combination pattern with a pattern offset.

19. A method as claimed in any preceding claim 12 to 18, wherein the information indicating repetition is received in radio resource control signaling and/or in group-common physical downlink control channel and/or in downlink control information and/or in downlink control information format 2_0 for unlicensed spectrum.

20. A method comprising causing sending information indicating repetition in configuration information for one or more slot formats.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20, further comprising adding, as the information indicating repetition, to the configuration information at least one of: an integer value X for repeating a subset of one or more slot formats; or an integer value Y for repeating symbols within an indicated subset of one or more slot formats; or one or more pairs of an integer value Z for repeating a slot format and a slot format identifier; or set-specifically, for one or more sets of slot formats, an integer value W for the number of repetitions of a set, a number of slot formats in the set and one or more slot format identifiers; or one or more pattern offset values; or one or more special values, which fulfill one or more preset criteria.

22. A method as claimed in claim 20 or 21, further comprising sending the information indicating repetition in radio resource control signaling and/or in group- common physical downlink control channel and/or in downlink control information and/or in downlink control information format 2_0 for unlicensed spectrum after a successful channel access.

23. An apparatus comprising means for performing: receiving information indicating repetition in configuration information for one or more slot formats; determining, in response to receiving the information, one or more structures in the one or more slot formats to repeat; and 38 determining one or more slot format combination patterns using one or more slot formats indicated in the configuration information and by repeating the one or more structures.

24. An apparatus as claimed in claim 23, further comprising means for performing: repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising an integer value X for repeating a subset of one or more slot formats, the subset of one or more slot formats X times when determining the slot format combination pattern.

25. An apparatus as claimed in claim 23 or 24, further comprising means for performing: repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising an integer value Y for repeating symbols within an indicated subset of one or more slot formats, the symbols within the indicated subset of one or more slot formats Y times when determining the slot format combination pattern.

26. An apparatus as claimed in claim 23, 24 or 25, further comprising means for performing: repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising one or more pairs of an integer value Z for repeating a slot format and a slot format identifier, per a pair the slot format Z times, when determining the slot format combination pattern.

27. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim 23 to 26, further comprising means for performing: repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising for one or more sets of slot formats, set-specifically an integer value W for the number of repetitions of a set, a number of slot formats in the set and one or more slot format identifiers, per a set the slot formats in the set, W times, when determining the slot format combination pattern.

28. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim 23 to 27 , further comprising means for performing: determining, in response to a slot format comprising a special value fulfilling one or more preset criteria, an integer value V for the number of repetitions of a 39 set of slot formats from a slot format comprising the special value and preceding or succeeding the set; and repeating, in response to determining the integer value V, a number of slot formats in the set and one or more slot format identifiers in the set V times, when determining the slot format combination pattern.

29. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim 23 to 28, further comprising means for performing: determining, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising one or more pattern offset values, the slot format combination pattern by repeating an indicated slot format combination pattern with a pattern offset.

30. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim 23 to 29, wherein the information indicating repetition is received in radio resource control signaling and/or in group-common physical downlink control channel and/or in downlink control information and/or in downlink control information format 2_0 for unlicensed spectrum.

31. An apparatus comprising means for performing sending information indicating repetition in configuration information for one or more slot formats.

32. An apparatus as claimed in claim 31, further comprising means for performing adding, as the information indicating repetition, to the configuration information at least one of: an integer value X for repeating a subset of one or more slot formats; or an integer value Y for repeating symbols within an indicated subset of one or more slot formats; or one or more pairs of an integer value Z for repeating a slot format and a slot format identifier; or set-specifically, for one or more sets of slot formats, an integer value W for the number of repetitions of a set, a number of slot formats in the set and one or more slot format identifiers; or one or more pattern offset values; or one or more special values, which fulfill one or more preset criteria. 40

33. An apparatus as claimed in claim 31 or 32, further comprising means for performing sending the information indicating repetition in radio resource control signaling and/or in group-common physical downlink control channel and/or in downlink control information and/or in downlink control information format 2_0 for unlicensed spectrum after a successful channel access.

34. A computer program comprising instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the following: determining, in response to receiving information indicating repetition in configuration information for one or more slot formats, one or more structures in the one or more slot formats to repeat; and determining one or more slot format combination patterns using one or more slot formats indicated in the configuration information and by repeating the one or more structures.

35. A computer program as claimed in claim 34, further comprising instructions for causing the apparatus to perform at least: repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising an integer value X for repeating a subset of one or more slot formats, the subset of one or more slot formats X times when determining the slot format combination pattern.

36. A computer program as claimed in claim 34 or 35, further comprising instructions for causing the apparatus to perform at least: repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising an integer value Y for repeating symbols within an indicated subset of one or more slot formats, the symbols within the indicated subset of one or more slot formats Y times when determining the slot format combination pattern.

37. A computer program as claimed in claim 34, 35 or 36, further comprising instructions for causing the apparatus to perform at least: repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising one or more pairs of an integer value Z for repeating a slot format and a slot format identifier, per a pair the slot format Z times, when determining the slot format combination pattern. 41

38. A computer program as claimed in any preceding claim 34 to 37, further comprising instructions for causing the apparatus to perform at least: repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising for one or more sets of slot formats, set-specifically an integer value W for the number of repetitions of a set, a number of slot formats in the set and one or more slot format identifiers, per a set the slot formats in the set, W times, when determining the slot format combination pattern.

39. A computer program as claimed in any preceding claim 34 to 37, further comprising instructions for causing the apparatus to perform at least: determining, in response to a slot format comprising a special value fulfilling one or more preset criteria, an integer value V for the number of repetitions of a set of slot formats from a slot format comprising the special value and preceding or succeeding the set; and repeating, in response to determining the integer value V, a number of slot formats in the set and one or more slot format identifiers in the set V times, when determining the slot format combination pattern.

40. A computer program as claimed in any preceding claim 34 to 39, further comprising instructions for causing the apparatus to perform at least: determining, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising one or more pattern offset values, the slot format combination pattern by repeating an indicated slot format combination pattern with a pattern offset.

41. A computer program as claimed in any preceding claim 34 to 40, wherein the information indicating repetition is received in radio resource control signaling and/or in group-common physical downlink control channel and/or in downlink control information and/or in downlink control information format 2_0 for unlicensed spectrum.

42. A computer program comprising instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least causing sending information indicating repetition in configuration information for one or more slot formats. 42

43. A computer program as claimed in claim 42, further comprising instructions for causing the apparatus to perform at least adding, as the information indicating repetition, to the configuration information at least one of: an integer value X for repeating a subset of one or more slot formats; or an integer value Y for repeating symbols within an indicated subset of one or more slot formats; or one or more pairs of an integer value Z for repeating a slot format and a slot format identifier; or set-specifically, for one or more sets of slot formats, an integer value W for the number of repetitions of a set, a number of slot formats in the set and one or more slot format identifiers; or one or more pattern offset values; or one or more special values, which fulfill one or more preset criteria.

44. A computer program as claimed in claim 42 or 43, further comprising instructions for causing the apparatus to perform at least sending the information indicating repetition in radio resource control signaling and/or in group-common physical downlink control channel and/or in downlink control information and/or in downlink control information format 2_0 for unlicensed spectrum after a successful channel access.

45. A computer readable medium comprising program instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the following: determining, in response to receiving information indicating repetition in configuration information for one or more slot formats, one or more structures in the one or more slot formats to repeat; and determining one or more slot format combination patterns using one or more slot formats indicated in the configuration information and by repeating the one or more structures.

46. A computer readable medium as claimed in claim 45, further comprising program instructions for causing the apparatus to perform at least: repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising an integer value X for repeating a subset of one or more slot formats, the subset of one or more slot formats X times when determining the slot format combination pattern. 43

47. A computer readable medium as claimed in claim 45 or 46, further comprising program instructions for causing the apparatus to perform at least: repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising an integer value Y for repeating symbols within an indicated subset of one or more slot formats, the symbols within the indicated subset of one or more slot formats Y times when determining the slot format combination pattern.

48. A computer readable medium as claimed in claim 45, 46 or 47, further comprising program instructions for causing the apparatus to perform at least: repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising one or more pairs of an integer value Z for repeating a slot format and a slot format identifier, per a pair the slot format Z times, when determining the slot format combination pattern.

49. A computer readable medium as claimed in any preceding claim 45 to

48, further comprising program instructions for causing the apparatus to perform at least: repeating, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising for one or more sets of slot formats, set-specifically an integer value W for the number of repetitions of a set, a number of slot formats in the set and one or more slot format identifiers, per a set the slot formats in the set, W times, when determining the slot format combination pattern.

50. A computer readable medium as claimed in any preceding claim 45 to

49, further comprising program instructions for causing the apparatus to perform at least: determining, in response to a slot format comprising a special value fulfilling one or more preset criteria, an integer value V for the number of repetitions of a set of slot formats from a slot format comprising the special value and preceding or succeeding the set; and repeating, in response to determining the integer value V, a number of slot formats in the set and one or more slot format identifiers in the set V times, when determining the slot format combination pattern. 44

51. A computer readable medium as claimed in any preceding claim 45 to

50, further comprising program instructions for causing the apparatus to perform at least: determining, in response to the information indicating repetition comprising one or more pattern offset values, the slot format combination pattern by repeating an indicated slot format combination pattern with a pattern offset.

52. A computer readable medium as claimed in any preceding claim 45 to

51, wherein the information indicating repetition is received in radio resource control signaling and/or in group-common physical downlink control channel and/or in downlink control information and/or in downlink control information format 2_0 for unlicensed spectrum.

53. A computer readable medium comprising program instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least causing sending information indicating repetition in configuration information for one or more slot formats.

54. A computer readable medium as claimed in claim 53, further comprising program instructions for causing the apparatus to perform at least adding, as the information indicating repetition, to the configuration information at least one of: an integer value X for repeating a subset of one or more slot formats; or an integer value Y for repeating symbols within an indicated subset of one or more slot formats; or one or more pairs of an integer value Z for repeating a slot format and a slot format identifier; or set-specifically, for one or more sets of slot formats, an integer value W for the number of repetitions of a set, a number of slot formats in the set and one or more slot format identifiers; or one or more pattern offset values; or one or more special values, which fulfill one or more preset criteria.

55. A computer readable medium as claimed in claim 53 or 54, further comprising program instructions for causing the apparatus to perform at least sending the information indicating repetition in radio resource control signaling and/or in group- common physical downlink control channel and/or in downlink control information 45 and/or in downlink control information format 2_0 for unlicensed spectrum after a successful channel access.

56. A computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 54 or 55, wherein the computer-readable medium is a non-transitory computer readable medium.

57. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the following: determining, in response to receiving information indicating repetition in configuration information for one or more slot formats, one or more structures in the one or more slot formats to repeat; and determining one or more slot format combination patterns using one or more slot formats indicated in the configuration information and by repeating the one or more structures.

58. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least causing sending information indicating repetition in configuration information for one or more slot formats.

59. A signal with embedded data, the embedded data comprising information indicating repetition in configuration information for one or more slot formats.

60. A signal as claimed in claim 59, wherein the signal comprises, as the information indicating repetition, at least one of: an integer value X for repeating a subset of one or more slot formats; or an integer value Y for repeating symbols within an indicated subset of one or more slot formats; or one or more pairs of an integer value Z for repeating a slot format and a slot format identifier; or set-specifically, for one or more sets of slot formats, an integer value W for the number of repetitions of a set, a number of slot formats in the set and one or more slot format identifiers; or one or more pattern offset values; or one or more special values, which fulfill one or more preset criteria.