WO2025152159A1

WO2025152159A1 - Device, method and computer readable medium for communications

Info

Publication number: WO2025152159A1
Application number: PCT/CN2024/073298
Authority: WO
Inventors: Xincai LI; Gang Wang
Original assignee: NEC Corp
Current assignee: NEC Corp
Priority date: 2024-01-19
Filing date: 2024-01-19
Publication date: 2025-07-24
Anticipated expiration: 2026-07-19

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to devices, methods and computer readable medium for a transmission enhancement. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a network device transmits, to one or more terminal devices, configuration information associated with at least one flexible frequency subband. The network device is to perform, on the at least one flexible frequency subband, both a downlink transmission and an uplink reception that are associated with the one or more terminal devices. In this way, the channel transmission performance can be improved.

Description

DEVICE, METHOD AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM FOR COMMUNICATIONS

FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of communication, and in particular, to devices, methods and computer readable medium for full duplex operation.

BACKGROUND

With the development of communication technology, to enhance the performance of the communication system, several refined resource configuration manners had been introduced. For example, to easily utilize the multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology, the Time Division Duplex (TDD) pattern had been studied and adopted, in which a time symbol may be configured as an uplink (UL) symbol, a downlink (DL) symbol or a flexible symbol. In this case, during a symbol, the configured whole bandwidth part (BWP) or carrier can be used for communication of corresponding link direction (for example, UL or DL) .

Furthermore, to enhance the frequency spectrum efficiency, a subband non-overlapping full duplex (SBFD) operation was proposed on the basis of TDD pattern. In the SBFD operation, a time unit (for example, a symbol, slot, sub-frame, frame, and so on) which may be also referred to as an SBFD time unit can be divided into a plurality of frequency subbands in the frequency domain. The plurality of frequency subbands may be respectively used for different link directions, for example, uplink (UL) frequency subband or downlink (DL) frequency subband. That is, for example, on a DL symbol configured with a UL subband, the network device may perform the DL transmission on the DL subband and perform the UL reception on the configured UL subband during this DL symbol. In this case, the BWP or carrier during a SBFD time unit (for example, this DL symbol) can be divided into multiple subbands that each is configured for one link direction. However, the frequency resources during an SBFD time unit are still not fully utilized.

SUMMARY

In general, example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to devices, methods, and computer readable medium for full duplex operation.

In a first aspect, there is provided a network device. The network device comprises a processor. The processor is configured to cause the network device to: transmit, to one or more terminal devices, configuration information associated with at least one flexible frequency subband. The network device is to perform, on the at least one flexible frequency subband, both a downlink transmission and an uplink reception that are associated with the one or more terminal devices.

In a second aspect, there is provided a terminal device. The terminal device comprises a processor. The processor is configured to cause the terminal device to receive, from a network device, configuration information associated with at least one flexible frequency subband. The network device is to perform, on the at least one flexible frequency subband, both a downlink transmission and an uplink reception that are associated with the one or more terminal devices. The terminal device is further caused to perform, on the at least one flexible frequency subband, a downlink reception or an uplink transmission.

In a third aspect, there is provided a method implemented at a network device. In the method, the network device transmits, to one or more terminal devices, configuration information associated with at least one flexible frequency subband. The network device is to perform, on the at least one flexible frequency subband, both a downlink transmission and an uplink reception that are associated with the one or more terminal devices.

In a fourth aspect, there is provided a method implemented at a terminal device. In the method, the terminal device receives, from a network device, configuration information associated with at least one flexible frequency subband. The network device is to perform, on the at least one flexible frequency subband, both a downlink transmission and an uplink reception that are associated with the one or more terminal devices. Then, the terminal device performs, on the at least one flexible frequency subband, a downlink reception or an uplink transmission.

In a fifth aspect, there is provided a computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions, when executed on at least one processor, causing the at least one processor to perform the method of any of the third aspect to the fourth aspect.

It is to be understood that the summary section is not intended to identify key or essential features of example embodiments of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure will become easily comprehensible through the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some example embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, where:

Fig. 1 illustrates an example environment in which some embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented;

Fig. 2 illustrates an example signaling process for full duplex operation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

Fig. 3 illustrates an example of a flexible frequency subband according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

Fig. 4 illustrates an example of a period of an overlapped subband full duplex (OSFD) operation (or the flexible frequency subband) according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

Fig. 5 illustrates an example of frequency location indication for the flexible frequency subband according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

Figs. 6a to 6c illustrate other examples of frequency position indication for the flexible frequency subband according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

Figs. 7a to 7c illustrates examples of the subband division format provided by the subband format combination list according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

Fig. 8 illustrates examples of the same OSFD time unit in different device perspectives according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

Fig. 9 illustrates a flowchart of an example method implemented at a network device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

Fig. 10 illustrates a flowchart of an example method implemented at a terminal device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

Fig. 11 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a device that is suitable for implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure.

Throughout the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals represent the same or similar element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Principle of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to some embodiments. It is to be understood that these embodiments are described only for the purpose of illustration and help those skilled in the art to understand and implement the present disclosure, without suggesting any limitations as to the scope of the disclosure. The disclosure described herein can be implemented in various manners other than the ones described below.

In the following description and claims, unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skills in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

As used herein, the term ‘terminal device’ refers to any device having wireless or wired communication capabilities. Examples of the terminal device include, but not limited to, user equipment (UE) , personal computers, desktops, mobile phones, cellular phones, smart phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs) , portable computers, tablets, wearable devices, internet of things (IoT) devices, Ultra-reliable and Low Latency Communications (URLLC) devices, Internet of Everything (IoE) devices, machine type communication (MTC) devices, device on vehicle for V2X communication where X means pedestrian, vehicle, or infrastructure/network, devices for Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) , Small Data Transmission (SDT) , mobility, Multicast and Broadcast Services (MBS) , positioning, dynamic/flexible duplex in commercial networks, reduced capability (RedCap) , Space borne vehicles or Air borne vehicles in Non-terrestrial networks (NTN) including Satellites and High Altitude Platforms (HAPs) encompassing Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) , eXtended Reality (XR) devices including different types of realities such as Augmented Reality (AR) , Mixed Reality (MR) and Virtual Reality (VR) , the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) commonly known as a drone which is an aircraft without any human pilot, devices on high speed train (HST) , or image capture devices such as digital cameras, sensors, gaming devices, music storage and playback appliances, or Internet appliances enabling wireless or wired Internet access and browsing and the like. The ‘terminal device’ can further has ‘multicast/broadcast’ feature, to support public safety and mission critical, V2X applications, transparent IPv4/IPv6 multicast delivery, IPTV, smart TV, radio services, software delivery over wireless, group communications and IoT applications. It may be also incorporated one or multiple Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) as known as Multi-SIM. The term “terminal device” can be used interchangeably with a UE, a mobile station, a subscriber station, a mobile terminal, a user terminal, a wireless device or a reduced capability terminal device.

As used herein, the term “network device” refers to a device which is capable of providing or hosting a cell or coverage where terminal devices can communicate. Examples of a network device include, but not limited to, a Node B (NodeB or NB) , an evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB) , a next generation NodeB (gNB) , a transmission reception point (TRP) , a remote radio unit (RRU) , a radio head (RH) , a remote radio head (RRH) , an IAB node, a low power node such as a femto node, a pico node, a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) , Network-controlled Repeaters, and the like.

The terminal device or the network device may have Artificial intelligence (AI) or Machine learning capability. It generally includes a model which has been trained from numerous collected data for a specific function, and can be used to predict some information. The terminal or the network device may work on several frequency ranges, e.g. FR1 (410 MHz –7125 MHz) , FR2 (24.25 GHz to 71 GHz) , 71 GHz to 114 GHz, and frequency band larger than 100 GHz as well as Tera Hertz (THz) . It can further work on licensed/unlicensed/shared spectrum. The terminal device may have more than one connection with the network devices under Multi-Radio Dual Connectivity (MR-DC) application scenario. The terminal device or the network device can work on full duplex, flexible duplex and cross division duplex modes.

The network device may have the function of network energy saving, Self-Organizing Networks (SON) /Minimization of Drive Tests (MDT) . The terminal may have the function of power saving.

The embodiments of the present disclosure may be performed in test equipment, e.g. signal generator, signal analyzer, spectrum analyzer, network analyzer, test terminal device, test network device, channel emulator.

The embodiments of the present disclosure may be performed according to any generation communication protocols either currently known or to be developed in the future. Examples of the communication protocols include, but not limited to, the first generation (1G) , the second generation (2G) , 2.5G, 2.75G, the third generation (3G) , the fourth generation (4G) , 4.5G, the fifth generation (5G) communication protocols, 5.5G, 5G-Advanced networks, or the sixth generation (6G) networks.

In one embodiment, the terminal device may be connected with a first network device and a second network device. One of the first network device and the second network device may be a master node and the other one may be a secondary node. The first network device and the second network device may use different radio access technologies (RATs) . In one embodiment, the first network device may be a first RAT device and the second network device may be a second RAT device. In one embodiment, the first RAT device is eNB and the second RAT device is gNB. Information related with different RATs may be transmitted to the terminal device from at least one of the first network device and the second network device. In one embodiment, first information may be transmitted to the terminal device from the first network device and second information may be transmitted to the terminal device from the second network device directly or via the first network device. In one embodiment, information related with configuration for the terminal device configured by the second network device may be transmitted from the second network device via the first network device. Information related with reconfiguration for the terminal device configured by the second network device may be transmitted to the terminal device from the second network device directly or via the first network device.

As used herein, the singular forms ‘a’ , ‘an’a nd ‘the’a re intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The term ‘includes’a nd its variants are to be read as open terms that mean ‘includes, but is not limited to. ’ The term ‘based on’ is to be read as ‘at least in part based on. ’ The term ‘one embodiment’a nd ‘an embodiment’a re to be read as ‘at least one embodiment. ’ The term ‘another embodiment’ is to be read as ‘at least one other embodiment. ’ The terms ‘first, ’ ‘second, ’a nd the like may refer to different or same objects. Other definitions, explicit and implicit, may be included below.

In some examples, values, procedures, or apparatus are referred to as ‘best, ’ ‘lowest, ’ ‘highest, ’ ‘minimum, ’ ‘maximum, ’ or the like. It will be appreciated that such descriptions are intended to indicate that a selection among many used functional alternatives can be made, and such selections need not be better, smaller, higher, or otherwise preferable to other selections.

The term “circuitry” used herein may refer to hardware circuits and/or combinations of hardware circuits and software. For example, the circuitry may be a combination of analog and/or digital hardware circuits with software/firmware. As a further example, the circuitry may be any portions of hardware processors with software including digital signal processor (s) , software, and memory (ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a terminal device or a network device, to perform various functions. In a still further example, the circuitry may be hardware circuits and or processors, such as a microprocessor or a portion of a microprocessor, that requires software/firmware for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation. As used herein, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (s) or a portion of a hardware circuit or processor (s) and its (or their) accompanying software and/or firmware. In this disclosure, the subband and the frequency subband may be used interchangeable without any limitation. The group size of a RBG may be also referred to as the RBG size without any limitation. In this disclosure, the control channel may be interchangeably used with the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) without any limitation.

In this disclosure, the term “flexible frequency subband” refers to a range of frequency resources on which a network device may simultaneously perform the DL transmission and UL reception, for example, by utilizing the spatial division multiplex (SDM) or code division multiplex (CDM) technology. In turn, the terminal device performs one of the DL reception or UL transmission on the flexible frequency subband. In this disclosure, the flexible frequency subband may be also referred to be as “overlapped subband full duplex (OSFD) ” subband. In addition, the terms “the flexible frequency subband” and “the flexible subband” can be interchangeably used in this disclosure.

In addition, performing the simultaneous DL transmission and UL reception on the flexible frequency subband may be also referred to as the “overlapped subband full duplex (OSFD) ” operation in this disclosure. In this disclosure, a time unit that configured with the flexible frequency subband may be also referred to as an “OSFD” time unit. In turn, the time unit not configured with the flexible frequency subband may be also referred non-OSFD time unit.

In addition, as mentioned above, the slot/symbol configured with SBFD communication or configuration may be also referred to as SBFD slot/symbol, and the slot/symbol not configured with SBFD communication may be also referred to as non-SBFD slot/symbol. The non-SBFD time unit may comprise UL slot/symbol and/or DL slot/symbol.

The term “Physical Resource Block (PRB) or resource block” used herein may refer to a resource base unit in the frequency domain.

The term “OSFD aware UE” used herein may refer to the terminal device which obtains the configuration information for the above flexible frequency subband, and supports the OSFD operations with the network device.

In this disclosure, the time unit may be any metric of the time domain. For example, the time unit may be a frame, a subframe, a slot, or a symbol. Without any limitation, the time unit may be any other time duration.

In this disclosure, the expression “frequency resources within a subband of the OSFD time unit” only refers to the resources located within the subband with respect to the frequency domain; however, the time duration of the resources is unnecessary to be limited in the OSFD time unit if the time duration is not indicated.

In this disclosure, the time domain resource allocation (TDRA) list may indicate symbols for the downlink shared channel reception in at least one slot. The terms “TDRA list” and “TDRA table” can be interchangeably used in this disclosure.

In this disclosure, the term “frequency domain resource allocation (FDRA) ” used herein may refer to a frequency resource configuration information which indicates frequency resources that are allocated to the terminal device or data/control channel.

In this disclosure, the terms “downlink (DL) shared channel” and “physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) ” can be used interchangeably. The terms “uplink (UL) control channel” and “physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) ” can be used interchangeably.

As mentioned above, even in the SBFD mechanism, the frequency resources during an SBFD time unit are still not fully utilized. For example, the resources in a divided subband are configured for only one link direction. That is, the network device can perform only one of the DL transmission or the UL reception on a frequency subband.

In view of the above, the example embodiments of the disclosure propose a mechanism for full duplex operation. In this mechanism, a network device transmits, to one or more terminal devices, configuration information associated with at least one flexible frequency subband. The network device is to perform, on the at least one flexible frequency subband, both a downlink transmission and an uplink reception that are associated with the one or more terminal devices. In turn, a terminal device of the one or more terminal devices may perform a DL reception or a UL transmission on the flexible frequency subband.

In this way, by introducing, for example, the above overlapped subband full duplex (OSFD) or “XDD (compared to “TDD” or “FDD” ) ” operation, some DL or UL frequency resources can be used for UL and DL transmission simultaneously at the network device. As such, the frequency resource utilization can be improved, such that reducing the DL/UL transmission latency.

Principle and embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 illustrates an example environment 100 in which example embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented.

The environment 100, which may be a part of a communication network, comprises a network device 110, a first terminal device 120, a second terminal device 130 and a third terminal device 140. In some embodiments, the communication network may include NTN, NB-IoT and/or eMTC. In some other embodiments, the communication network may include any other possible communication network. It is to be understood that the number of network devices and terminal devices is given only for illustration without suggesting any limitations. The communication network may include any suitable number of network devices and/or terminal devices adapted for implementing embodiments of the present disclosure. Although not shown, it would be appreciated that one or more terminal devices may be located in the environment 100. Without any limitation, the network device 110 supports the OSFD operation. For example, the network device 110 may transmit downlink (DL) channel to the terminal device 110 and receive UL channel from another terminal device 130 on a flexible frequency subband, simultaneously.

It is to be understood that the number of units and other objects in Fig. 1 is provided merely for the purpose of illustration without implying any limitations to the device environment 100. The device environment 100 may include any suitable number of functionality units configured to implement example embodiments of the subject disclosure. Although not shown, it would be appreciated that one or more terminal devices may be located in the device environment 100.

Fig. 2 illustrates an example signaling process 200 for full duplex operation according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. For illustrative purposes, the process 200 will be described with reference to Fig. 1.

In the signaling 200, the network device 110 transmits (210-1 and 210-2) , to one or more terminal devices (for example, the first, second and third terminal devices 120, 130 and 140) , configuration information associated with at least one flexible frequency subband on which the network device 110 is to perform both a downlink transmission and an uplink reception that are associated with the one or more terminal devices.

In this way, the concept of OSFD or XDD operation can be introduced for communication systems. In addition or alternatively, the flexible frequency subband and the OSFD time unit can also be defined or introduced. Specifically, the OSFD or XDD operation may be within a DL and UL-overlapped subband, and the network device can transmit DL and receive UL simultaneously in OSFD time units. Only for discussion purposes, the above embodiments are further discussed with reference to Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 illustrates an example of a flexible frequency subband according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 3, the DL and UL-overlapped subband 310 may be the flexible frequency subband (which may be also referred to as the OSFD subband) , and the time unit configured with this OSFD subband may be referred to be as the OSFD time unit.

In this case, the DL and UL on the flexible frequency subband (or OSFD time unit) may be spatial division multiplexed (SDM) or code division multiplexed (CDM) . That is, from the network device 120’s perspective, the flexible frequency subband is a part of frequency resources, such as a set of RBs within a TDD/FDD/XDD carrier, which can be used for UL transmission and DL transmission at the same time. In some embodiments, the OSFD subband can be configured in a BWP level, a subband level or a RB set level. Without any limitation, the OSFD subband may be located at a side of the BWP/carrier, or may be located at the middle part of the BWP/carrier. In addition, as mentioned above, the OSFD time unit is defined as the time unit with subbands that gNB would use for OSFD operation. By means of the configuration information 215, both time domain and frequency locations of OSFD subbands for OSFD operation are known to OSFD aware UEs. In some embodiments, the time and frequency location of overlapped subbands within a XDD carrier can be configured by RRC or indicated by DCI or implicitly acquired. Without any limitation, the XDD carrier may be the dedicated carrier used for full duplex operation.

Referring back to Fig. 2, in an example, as shown in Fig. 2, the network device 110 may transmit (210-1) the configuration information 215-1 to the first terminal device 120, and transmit (210-2) the configuration information 215-2 to the second terminal device 130. Accordingly, the first terminal device 120 receives (220) the configuration information 215-1, and the second terminal device 120 receives (230) the configuration information 215-2. In some embodiments, the configuration information 215-1 and the configuration information 215-2 may be the same. For example, the network device 110 may broadcast common configuration information associated with the flexible frequency subband to the one or more terminal devices comprising the first terminal device 120 and the second terminal device 130. In addition or alternatively, the configuration information 215-1 may be specific to the first terminal device 120, and the configuration information 215-2 may be specific to the second terminal device 130. For example, the network device 110 may also transmit a first terminal device-specific message comprising the configuration information and a second terminal device-specific message comprising the configuration information.

Without any limitation, the network device 110 may inform the configuration information associated with the flexible frequency subband to the one or more terminal devices in any other manners.

In this case, methods for how to implement OSFD operation and how to inform the one or more terminal devices of the time and/or frequency location of subbands which the network device 110 would use for OSFD operation should be defined. For example, the one or more terminal devices may perform a cross link interference (CLI) measurement on the informed time and frequency location.

In some embodiments, the flexible frequency subband may be predefined, preconfigured or semi-configured in the frequency domain, and the network device 110 may indicate the location of the flexible frequency subband by indicating the location only in the time domain using the configuration information 215. For example, the at least one flexible frequency subband may occur periodically. In some embodiments, a first period by which the at least one flexible frequency subband occurs may be the same as a period of a Time Division Duplexing (TDD) pattern configured for a terminal device of the one or more terminal devices. In addition, the configuration information 215 may comprise indication information, and the indication information may indicate, within a plurality of time units in the TDD pattern, one or more overlapped subband full duplex (OSFD) time units that comprise the at least one flexible frequency subband. Only for discussion purposes, the above embodiments are further discussed with reference to Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 illustrates an example of a period of an overlapped subband full duplex (OSFD) operation (or the flexible frequency subband) according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

As shown in Fig. 4, the period of OSFD operation may be determined by the periodicity of the configured TDD DL/UL pattern period. For example, the configured TDD DL/UL pattern period is five slots, and the period of the OSFD operation is the same five slots. In this case, the period of OSFD operation or the at least one flexible frequency subband occurring may be equal to the period of tdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationCommon period or tdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationDedicated period in NR. The unit of the period may be the symbol, slot or subframe, and the subcarrier spacing (SCS) may be the reference SCS for the respective terminal device. Moreover, within the TDD DL/UL pattern period, a set of semi-static time units (for example, the UL, DL, or flexible time unit) may be configured as OSFD time units. In an example, the OFSD subband with 2 slots length may occur in each periodicity having 5 slots. The starting location may be the first slot within each TDD configuration period. For a TDD slot format configuration with 5 slots periodicity, there may be one time-domain position for OSFD operation for every TDD period of TDD slot format. Then, the OSFD operation can be applied to each TDD configuration period.

In the example of Fig. 4, a bitmap method may be also used for indicating which slot/symbols in this TDD period can be used as a OSFD slot/symbols. As shown in Fig. 4, the bitmap may be “00110” , i.e., the third and fourth slots in the TDD DL UL pattern period having five slots are configured as the OSFD slots.

Referring back to Fig. 2, in addition or alternatively, the configuration information may also directly indicate the period of the at least one flexible, compared to that the period of the at least one flexible frequency subband is equal to the TDD UL/DL pattern period. In some embodiments, the configuration information may comprise at least one of the following: a period of the at least one flexible frequency subband; a time duration of the at least one flexible frequency subband; or a time offset between the first one of time units in the period and a starting position of the at least one flexible frequency subband in the time domain.

In an example, new configuration parameters, such as a periodicity, time offset and duration for OSFD operation may be defined. In this example, the configured period of P_FD (ms) includes S=P·2^uref slots, wherein the SCS configuration is the uref. The indicated duration may be predefined as starting from the first slot of the indicated period, and is in the unit of the slot. In addition, if the offset is also configured, then the starting slot for the duration is from the offset slot relative to the first slot of the period. In turn, the terminal devices may perform the CLI measurement, UL transmission or DL reception on the indicated OSFD subband within the OSFD time units.

In addition, in some embodiments, if a set of slots in the period configured in the configuration information 215 can be configured as overlapped subband full duplex slots, then the duration is configured. Otherwise, only the predefined number of slots, such as 1, 2 slots can be OSFD slots. For example, the network device may configure that the periodicity PFD for OSFD operation is 5 (ms) , the offset value is 1, and the duration is 2, then slot 1, 2, 6, 7, 11, 12 are OSFD slots.

In this way, on the OSFD time units, the OSFD subband may be enabled or disabled on the UL/DL/F subband based on the new configured periodicity and duration/offset. Without any limitation, the above embodiments may be also expressed as below.

Still referring to Fig. 2, in addition or alternatively to the predefined or preconfigured frequency location of the at least one flexible frequency subband, the at least one flexible frequency subband may be indicated in the configuration information 215.

In some embodiments, the at least one flexible frequency subband may be implicitly determined through DL and UL frequency resource configuration/indication. In an example, the configuration information 215 may indicate the at least one frequency subband by at least one of the following: indicating, in a configured uplink time unit, indices of a starting physical resource block (PRB) and an ending PRB index for downlink direction; or indicating, in a configured downlink time unit, indices of a starting physical resource block (PRB) and an ending PRB index for uplink direction. In this way, the at least one flexible subband (or the OSFD subband) may be derived from the RBs which are within both configured UL frequency resources and the DL frequency resources.

In some embodiments, the locations of the flexible frequency subband for OSFD operation in OSFD time units may be included in cell-specific or UE-specific signaling, such as tdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationCommon or tdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationDedicated. Then, the terminal device may determine the slot and carrier/BWP format through this cell-specific configuration in tdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationCommon, UE specific configuration in tdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationDedicated and DCI format 2_0. That is, tdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationCommon in the IE ServingCellConfigCommon and tdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationDedicated in the IE ServingCellConfig may also include the UL frequency resource and DL frequency resource information in the serving cell. For discussion clarity, this embodiment is further discussed with reference to Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 illustrates an example of frequency location indication for the flexible frequency subband according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

As shown in Fig. 5, the tdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationCommon in the IE ServingCellConfigCommon indicates that the slot n and slot n+1 are DL slots, and that slot n+2 and slot n+3 are UL slots. Furthermore, tdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationCommon also configures the starting and ending PRB index for UL direction in the DL slot n+1 (which is become a OSFD slot accordingly) , and configure the starting and ending PRB index for DL direction in the UL slot n+2 (which is become a OSFD slot accordingly) . Through this configuration, the terminal device 110 may be aware that the position of the OSFD subband in the OSFD slot. Without any limitation, the above embodiments may be also expressed as below.

Referring back to Fig. 2, in addition or alternatively to the implicit determination, the frequency location of the at least one flexible frequency subband may be indicated explicitly. In some embodiments, the configuration information 215 may comprise at least one frequency position parameter which is used for determining the at least one flexible frequency subband in the frequency time domain.

In an example, the terminal device may determine the overlapped subband frequency position through explicit OSFD subband parameter indication or configuration. Furthermore, the terminal device may determine the DL resource and UL resource through tdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationCommon and DL/UL overlapped subband frequency configuration. The frequency position of the OSFD subband is in one of the DL subband and UL subband. In turn, in the DL subband or UL subband, the frequency resources outside the OSFD subband within the carrier/BWP, excluding frequency resources configured as guardband (s) (if any) , may be regarded as at least one subband with the corresponding DL/UL attribute.

For example, in addition to the tdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationCommon in the IE ServingCellConfigCommon, the network device 110 may also configure the frequency position for the OSFD subband to the terminal device. Based on the tdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationCommon and this frequency position, the terminal device may determine the DL resource and UL resource in the carrier.

In an example, the size of the OSFD frequency subband may be a BWP, such as, the OSFD frequency subband is starting from the starting point of the BWP and the number of PRBs for the OSFD frequency subband is equal to the BWP size.

In some embodiments, the OSFD bandwidth may be predefined as equal to the bandwidth size for DL BWP or UL BWP, or the bandwidth size for DL BWP and UL BWP may be the same. For example, if tdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationCommon configures slot #n to be the DL slot, then the whole BWP may be considered as DL resource/BWP. In this case, the further configured UL resource/BWP may be considered as the size of the OSFD frequency subband. Otherwise, if tdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationCommon configures slot #n to be the UL slot, then the whole BWP may be considered as UL resource/BWP. In this case, the further configured DL resource/BWP may be considered as the size of the OSFD frequency subband. Only for discussion purpose, this embodiment is further discussed with reference to Figs. 6a-6c.

Figs. 6a to 6c illustrate other examples of frequency position indication for the flexible frequency subband according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

As shown in Figs. 6a to 6c, in the tdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationCommon, the slot in Fig. 6a is configured as DL slot/symbols, the slot in Fig. 6b is configured as flexible slot/symbols, and the slot in Fig. 6c is configured as UL slot/symbols. Furthermore, the position of the flexible frequency subband may be differently configured. By means of the above configuration, the terminal device may be aware of the DL and UL BWP and DL/UL resources.

Still referring to Fig. 2, in addition or alternatively, the configuration information 215 may also provide the subband division format which may comprise the at least one flexible frequency subband.

In some embodiments, the configuration information 215 may comprise a plurality of subband format combination lists that each has a plurality of subband format combinations. Furthermore, at least one subband format combination of the plurality of subband format combinations may provide a subband division format for a carrier or a bandwidth part (BWP) . The subband division format indicates link attribute for a frequency subband of a plurality of frequency subbands in the subband division format, and the link attribute may be an uplink attribute, a downlink attribute or a flexible attribute.

In an example, all the frequency subband resources in a carrier are considered as flexible resource, and a parameter subbandformatcombinationlist may be defined and configured for OSFD aware UE. For example, N subbandformatcombinations may be included in the subbandformatcombinationlist, and each subbandformatcombination in the subbandformatcombinationlist provides a UL/DL format for a list of subbands in a carrier/BWP for a OSFD time duration. Then, the network device 110 may further transmit the downlink control information (DCI) format 2_0 or format i_j that indicates an index (for example, subbandslotFormatCombinationid) of one of the subbandformatcombinations to inform the terminal device the DL/UL attribute for each subband in a number of slots for a time duration T. As an example, Table 1 shows a subbandformatcombinationlist comprising four subband format combinations and the corresponding indexes, i.e., subbandslotFormatCombinationid. In this case, assuming that a subband size is 20MHz, and through a subbandslotFormatCombinationid indication, the terminal device may be aware that the DL, UL, F resource for each subband of a carrier/BWP.

Table 1

Only for discussion purposes, the above embodiments are further discussed with reference to Figs. 7a to 7c. Figs. 7a to 7c illustrate examples of the subband division format provided by the subband format combination list according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

As shown in Fig. 7a, for the slot n+1, the network device 110 may indicate an index of the subband format combination comprising the subband division {D, D, D} . For example, the OSFD subband 710 may be indicated as DL. As shown in Fig. 7b, for the slot n+1, the network device 110 may indicate an index of the subband format combination comprising the subband division {D, U, D} . For example, the OSFD subband 720 may be indicated as UL. As shown in Fig. 7c, for the slot n+1, the network device 110 may indicate an index of the subband format combination comprising the subband division {D, F, D} . For example, the OSFD subband 730 may be still indicated as the flexible frequency subband. Without any limitation, the above embodiments may be also expressed as below.

In addition, in some embodiments, a first subband format combination list of the plurality of subband format combinations may be specific to the first terminal device 110 of the one or more terminal devices, and a second subband format combination list of the plurality of subband format combinations is specific to a second terminal device 120 of the one or more terminal devices. In addition, the first subband format combination list and the second format combination list may be the same or different, and this may depend on the terminal device itself or communication requirement. In this case, the network device 110 may further transmit to the one or more terminal devices a common message comprising an index of a subband format combination. That is, since the subband format combination lists may be specific to the terminal devices, the OSFD subband may be configured for the terminal devices coordinately. In this case, even the message indicating the index of the subband format combination may be common to the one or more terminal devices, the potential CLI may be avoided based on the specific subband format combination list. For example, the following Table 2 and Table 3 shows the subband format combination list specific to the first terminal device 110 and the subband format combination list specific to the second terminal device 120, respectively.

Table 2

Table 3

Specifically, the subband format combinations that provide a UL/DL/F format for each subband of a list of subbands within a carrier/BWP during an OSFD time duration can be included in IE SlotFormatCombinationsPerCell. Different terminal devices in the same serving cell may be configured with different subband format combinations/table. Then, the UE-specific RRC signaling or group-common DCI may indicate the SubbandFormatCombinationID to the terminal devices. Even the same subbandFormatCombination ID/index is indicated by group common DCI, different terminal devices may interpret different subband format in OSFD time units, and therefore the configured subband format combinations are different. In the example of Tables 1 and 2, even the subbandFormatIndicator is the same, for example, value of the subbandFormatIndicator =1, the subband format interpretation may be different.

Alternatively, the list of the subband format combinations may be common to the one or more terminal devices, but the message indicating an index of the subband format combination may be specific to different terminal devices. In some embodiments, the at least one subband format combination list is common to the one or more terminal devices. In this case, the network device 110 may transmit a first message specific to the first terminal device 120 of the one or more terminal device, and the first message comprises a first index of a subband format combination. The network device 110 may further transmit a second message specific to the second terminal device 130 of the one or more terminal device, and the second message comprises a second index of a subband format combination.

In a specific example, the RRC configured SubbandFormatCombinations is included in a cell-specific IE, such as ServingCellConfigCommon. In addition, a UE-specific subband format indication SubbandFormatIndicator indicating a subband format combination may be included in UE-specific DCI format e_f. In this case, the different terminal devices may be configured with different SubbandFormatIndicator. Then, the different terminal devices may be indicated with different one subband format combination in the SubbandFormatCombinations. Thereby, different terminal device can determine different subband format for the OSFD time unit based on tdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationCommon and/or tdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationDedicated configuration. In an example, Table 4 shows a subband format combination list that is common to the one or more terminal devices.

Table 4

As mentioned above, the subband format indicator may be carried by UE specific DCI. For example, the DCI format e_f may indicate the first terminal device 120 that the subbandFormatCombinationid=1 (i.e., identifying {D, U, D} ) , and indicate the second terminal device 130 that the subbandCombinationid=3 (i.e., identifying {D, D, D} ) . Accordingly, the first terminal device and second terminal device may interpret different subband format on OSFD symbols.

Referring back to Fig. 2, after configuring the at least one frequency subband to the one or more terminal devices, the network device 110 may further transmit a link direction indication of the at least one flexible frequency subband to the one or more terminal devices.

For example, in addition to the manner of the subband format combination list combined with SubbandFormatCombinationID, the one or more terminal devices can determine the time and frequency location of the at least one flexible frequency subband after receiving the configuration information 215, but still do not know which link direction these resources are to be used for. In this case, the network device 110 should further indicate the link direction information.

In some embodiments, the network device 110 may transmit an indication of a link direction for the at least one flexible frequency subband to a terminal device of the one or more terminal devices. As shown in the example of Fig. 2, the network device 110 may transmit (240) a first indication 243 of a link direction to the first terminal device 120. The first terminal device 120 may receive (245) the first indication 243 accordingly. Then, based on the first indication 243, the first terminal device 120 may perform the downlink reception from the network device or the uplink transmission to the network device. Assuming that the first indication 243 is indicative of the UL direction, then, the first terminal device 120 may transmit (260) the uplink channel 255 to the network device 110. The network device 110 may receive (250) the uplink channel 255 accordingly.

Moreover, the network device 110 may transmit (270) a second indication 275 of a link direction to the second terminal device 130. The second terminal device 130 may receive (278) the second indication 275 accordingly. Then, based on the second indication 275, the second terminal device 130 may perform the downlink reception from the network device 110 or the uplink transmission to the network device 110. Assuming that the first indication 243 is indicative of the DL direction. Then, the network device 110 may transmit (280) the downlink channel 285 to the second terminal device 130, and the second terminal device 130 may receive (288) the downlink channel 285 from the network device 110 accordingly.

In view of the above, from the network device 110 perspective, the at least one flexible frequency subband is full duplex subband on which the network device 110 can perform the transmission and reception simultaneously. In turn, at the terminal device side, the flexible frequency subband may be eventually indicated to be used for one link direction.

Specifically, a flexible subband for OSFD operation can be defined. This flexible subband can be used for UL transmission and DL receiving for different terminal devices. In a UL-DL configuration period P, a cell-specific configuration information semi-static may configure some continuous RB set in a carrier as DL, configure some continuous RB set in the carrier are semi-static configured as UL. Furthermore, the left set of RBs in the carrier that is not configured as UL/DL may be considered as flexible resource/subband. In this case, the actual transmission direction of the flexible subband may be determined based on UE-specific configuration or scheduling or DCI format 2_x. Without any limitation, the flexible subband may be configured in DL symbols and/or F symbols without configuring the transmission direction.

For non-OSFD aware UE, the candidate subband patterns in a OSFD symbol may be configured including {FU} , {UF} , {DF} , {FD} , {DFD} , {UFU} , where ‘F’ denotes flexible subband, ‘U’ denotes UL subband, and ‘D’ denotes DL subband. For OSFD aware UE, UE dedicated RRC signaling or UE-specific DCI signaling may override the flexible subband to be as DL/UL subband, then the OSFD operation can be achieved.

Without any limitation, the size of the flexible subband may be fixed, or configured in the SIB. In addition, different flexible subband may have different numbers of PRBs. A new IE can be defined in 38.331 for flexible subband to determine the SCS for this flexible subband and the frequency position in the carrier. The point A may be the reference start point for each flexible subband definition. Alternatively, the size of the flexible subband is directly the same as the configured UL/DL BWP. Only for discussion purpose, the above embodiments are further discussed with reference to Fig. 8.

Fig. 8 illustrates examples of the same OSFD time unit in different device perspectives according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

As shown in Fig. 8, a subband at the edge of the carrier may be configured as flexible subband in a cell-specific signaling. Then, through UE-specific signaling, the network device 110 may schedule the second terminal device to perform DL transmission on this flexible subband. That is, this flexible frequency subband is a DL frequency subband from UE2 perspective. Moreover, through UE-specific signaling, the network device 110 may schedule the first terminal device 120 to perform UL transmission on this flexible subband. That is, this flexible subband is a UL frequency subband from the first terminal device perspective. In turn, from the network device 110 perspective, this flexible subband is a OSFD subband.

It is to be understood that, without any limitation, the above embodiments in this disclosure can be implemented in any combination manner.

Fig. 9 illustrates a flowchart of a method 900 of communication implemented at a network device in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The method 900 can be implemented at the network device 110 shown in Fig. 1. For the purpose of discussion, the method 900 will be described with reference to Fig. 1. It is to be understood that the method 800 may include additional acts not shown and/or may omit some shown acts, and the scope of the present disclosure is not limited in this regard.

At 910, the network device 110 transmits, to one or more terminal devices, configuration information associated with at least one flexible frequency subband. The network device 110 is to perform, on the at least one flexible frequency subband, both a downlink transmission and an uplink reception that are associated with the one or more terminal devices.

In some embodiments, the network device 110 may further transmit, to a terminal device of the one or more terminal devices, an indication of a link direction for the at least one flexible frequency subband.

In some embodiments, the network device 110 performs the downlink transmission and the uplink data reception by: transmitting, on the flexible frequency subband, the downlink transmission to a terminal device of the one or more terminal devices; and receiving, on the flexible frequency subband, the uplink reception from another terminal device of the one or more terminal devices.

In some embodiments, the at least one flexible frequency subband occurs periodically.

In some embodiments, wherein a first period by which the at least one flexible frequency subband occurs is the same as a period of a Time Division Duplexing (TDD) pattern configured for a terminal device of the one or more terminal devices, and the configuration information comprises indication information that indicates, within a plurality of time units in the TDD pattern, one or more overlapped subband full duplex (OSFD) time units that comprise the at least one flexible frequency subband.

In some embodiments, the configuration information comprises at least one of the following: a period of the at least one flexible frequency subband; a time duration of the at least one flexible frequency subband; or a time offset between the first one of time units in the period and a starting position of the at least one flexible frequency subband in the time domain.

In some embodiments, the configuration information indicates the at least one flexible frequency subband, and wherein the configuration information indicates the at least one flexible frequency subband by at least one of the following: indicating, in a configured uplink time unit, indices of a starting physical resource block (PRB) and an ending PRB for downlink direction; or indicating, in a configured downlink time unit, indices of a starting physical resource block (PRB) and an ending PRB for uplink direction.

In some embodiments, configuration information comprises at least one frequency position parameter which is used for determining the at least one flexible frequency subband in the frequency time domain.

In some embodiments, the configuration information comprises at least one subband format combination lists that each has a plurality of subband format combinations, and wherein: at least one subband format combination of the plurality of subband format combinations provides a subband division format for a carrier or a bandwidth part (BWP) , and the subband division format indicates link attribute for a frequency subband of a plurality of frequency subbands in the subband division format, and the link attribute comprises an uplink attribute, a downlink attribute or a flexible attribute.

In some embodiments, a first subband format combination list of the at least one subband format combination list is specific to a first terminal device of the one or more terminal devices, a second subband format combination list of the at least one subband format combination list is specific to a second terminal device of the one or more terminal devices, and wherein the network device 110 may further transmit, to the one or more terminal device, a common message comprising an index of a subband format combination.

In some embodiments, the at least one subband format combination list is common to the one or more terminal devices, and wherein the network device may further: transmit a first message specific to a first terminal device of the one or more terminal device, and the first message comprises a first index of a subband format combination; and transmit a second message specific to a second terminal device of the one or more terminal device, and the second message comprises a second index of a subband format combination.

Fig. 10 illustrates a flowchart of a method 1000 of communication implemented at a terminal device in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The method 1000 can be implemented at the terminal device 110 shown in Fig. 1. For the purpose of discussion, the method 1000 will be described with reference to Fig. 1. It is to be understood that the method 1000 may include additional acts not shown and/or may omit some shown acts, and the scope of the present disclosure is not limited in this regard.

At 1010, the first terminal device 120 receives, from a network device 110, configuration information associated with at least one flexible frequency subband. The network device 110 is to perform, on the at least one flexible frequency subband, both a downlink transmission and an uplink reception that are associated with the one or more terminal devices. Then, the terminal device 120 performs, on the at least one flexible frequency subband, a downlink reception or an uplink transmission.

In some embodiments, the at least one flexible frequency subband is for an uplink transmission or a downlink reception of the terminal device, and wherein the terminal device 120 may perform the downlink reception or the uplink transmission by: receiving, from the network device, an indication of a link direction for the at least one flexible frequency subband; and based on the indication, performing the downlink reception from the network device or the uplink transmission to the network device.

In some embodiments, a first period by which the at least one flexible frequency subband occurs is the same as a period of a Time Division Duplexing (TDD) pattern configured for the terminal device, and the configuration information comprises indication information that indicates, within a plurality of time units in the TDD pattern, one or more overlapped subband full duplex (OSFD) time units that comprise the at least one flexible frequency subband.

In some embodiments, the configuration information indicates the at least one flexible frequency subband, and wherein the configuration information indicates the at least one flexible frequency subband by at least one of the following: indicating, in a configured uplink time unit, indices of a starting physical resource block (PRB) and an ending PRB index for downlink direction; or indicating, in a configured downlink time unit, indices of a starting physical resource block (PRB) and an ending PRB index for uplink direction.

In some embodiments, the configuration information comprises at least one frequency position parameter which is used for determining the at least one flexible frequency subband in the frequency domain.

In some embodiments, the configuration information comprises at least one subband format combination lists that each has a plurality of subband format combinations, and wherein: at least one subband format combination of the plurality of subband format combinations provides a subband division format for a carrier or a bandwidth part (BWP) , the subband division format indicates link attribute for a frequency subband of a plurality of frequency subbands in the subband division format, and the link attribute comprises an uplink attribute, a downlink attribute or a flexible attribute.

In some embodiments, a first subband format combination list of the at least one subband format combination list is specific to a first terminal device of the one or more terminal devices, a second subband format combination list of the at least one subband format combination list is specific to a second terminal device of the one or more terminal devices, and wherein the terminal device may further: receive, from the network device, a common message comprising an index of a subband format combination.

In some embodiments, the at least one subband format combination list is common to one or more terminal devices comprising the terminal device, and wherein the terminal device may further: receive a message specific to the terminal device, and the message comprises an index of a subband format combination.

Fig. 11 is a simplified block diagram of a device 1100 that is suitable for implementing some embodiments of the present disclosure. The device 1100 can be considered as a further example embodiment of the network device 110, or first terminal device 120 or the second terminal device 130 as shown in Fig. 1. Accordingly, the device 1100 can be implemented at or as at least a part of the above network devices or terminal devices.

As shown, the device 1100 includes a processor 1110, a memory 1120 coupled to the processor 1110, a suitable transceiver 1140 coupled to the processor 1110, and a communication interface coupled to the transceiver 1140. The memory 1110 stores at least a part of a program 1130. The transceiver 1140 may be for bidirectional communications or a unidirectional communication based on requirements. The transceiver 1140 may include at least one of a transmitter 1142 and a receiver 1144. The transmitter 1142 and the receiver 1144 may be functional modules or physical entities. The transceiver 1140 has at least one antenna to facilitate communication, though in practice an Access Node mentioned in this application may have several ones. The communication interface may represent any interface that is necessary for communication with other network elements, such as X2/Xn interface for bidirectional communications between eNBs/gNBs, S1/NG interface for communication between a Mobility Management Entity (MME) /Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) /SGW/UPF and the eNB/gNB, Un interface for communication between the eNB/gNB and a relay node (RN) , or Uu interface for communication between the eNB/gNB and a terminal device.

The program 1130 is assumed to include program instructions that, when executed by the associated processor 1110, enable the device 1100 to operate in accordance with the embodiments of the present disclosure, as discussed herein with reference to Figs. 1-10. The embodiments herein may be implemented by computer software executable by the processor 1110 of the device 1100, or by hardware, or by a combination of software and hardware. The processor 1110 may be configured to implement various embodiments of the present disclosure. Furthermore, a combination of the processor 1110 and memory 1120 may form processing means 1150 adapted to implement various embodiments of the present disclosure.

The memory 1120 may be of any type suitable to the local technical network and may be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, semiconductor based memory devices, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory and removable memory, as non-limiting examples. While only one memory 1120 is shown in the device 1100, there may be several physically distinct memory modules in the device 1100. The processor 1110 may be of any type suitable to the local technical network, and may include one or more of general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and processors based on multicore processor architecture, as non-limiting examples. The device 1100 may have multiple processors, such as an application specific integrated circuit chip that is slaved in time to a clock which synchronizes the main processor.

In some embodiments, a terminal device comprises circuitry configured to perform a method 900.

In some embodiments, a network device comprises circuitry configured to perform a method 1000.

The components included in the apparatuses and/or devices of the present disclosure may be implemented in various manners, including software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, one or more units may be implemented using software and/or firmware, for example, machine-executable instructions stored on the storage medium. In addition to or instead of machine-executable instructions, parts or all of the units in the apparatuses and/or devices may be implemented, at least in part, by one or more hardware logic components. For example, and without limitation, illustrative types of hardware logic components that can be used include Field-programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) , Application-specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) , Application-specific Standard Products (ASSPs) , System-on-a-chip systems (SOCs) , Complex Programmable Logic Devices (CPLDs) , and the like.

Generally, various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic or any combination thereof. Some aspects may be implemented in hardware, while other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device. While various aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated and described as block diagrams, flowcharts, or using some other pictorial representation, it will be appreciated that the blocks, apparatus, systems, technique terminal devices or methods described herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

The present disclosure also provides at least one computer program product tangibly stored on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium. The computer program product includes computer-executable instructions, such as those included in program modules, being executed in a device on a target real or virtual processor, to carry out the process or method as described above with reference to any of Figs. 2 to 17. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, libraries, objects, classes, components, data structures, or the like that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The functionality of the program modules may be combined or split between program modules as desired in various embodiments. Machine-executable instructions for program modules may be executed within a local or distributed device. In a distributed device, program modules may be located in both local and remote storage media.

Program code for carrying out methods of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. These program codes may be provided to a processor or controller of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus, such that the program codes, when executed by the processor or controller, cause the functions/operations specified in the flowcharts and/or block diagrams to be implemented. The program code may execute entirely on a machine, partly on the machine, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the machine and partly on a remote machine or entirely on the remote machine or server.

The above program code may be embodied on a machine readable medium, which may be any tangible medium that may contain, or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. The machine readable medium may be a machine readable signal medium or a machine readable storage medium. A machine readable medium may include but not limited to an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples of the machine readable storage medium would include an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM) , a read-only memory (ROM) , an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory) , an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) , an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

Further, while operations are depicted in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Likewise, while several specific embodiment details are contained in the above discussions, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the present disclosure, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular embodiments. Certain features that are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

Although the present disclosure has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the present disclosure defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

In summary, embodiments of the present disclosure may provide the following solutions.

A network device comprising: a processor, and the processor is configured to cause the network device to: transmit, to one or more terminal devices, configuration information associated with at least one flexible frequency subband, wherein on the at least one flexible frequency subband, the network device is to perform both a downlink transmission and an uplink reception that are associated with the one or more terminal devices.

In one embodiment, the network device is further caused to: transmit, to a terminal device of the one or more terminal devices, an indication of a link direction for the at least one flexible frequency subband.

In one embodiment, wherein the network device is to perform the downlink transmission and the uplink data reception comprises: transmit, on the flexible frequency subband, the downlink transmission to a terminal device of the one or more terminal devices; and receive, on the flexible frequency subband, the uplink reception from another terminal device of the one or more terminal devices.

In one embodiment, wherein the at least one flexible frequency subband occurs periodically.

In one embodiment, wherein: a first period by which the at least one flexible frequency subband occurs is the same as a period of a Time Division Duplexing (TDD) pattern configured for a terminal device of the one or more terminal devices, and the configuration information comprises indication information that indicates, within a plurality of time units in the TDD pattern, one or more overlapped subband full duplex (OSFD) time units that comprise the at least one flexible frequency subband.

In one embodiment, wherein the configuration information comprises at least one of the following: a period of the at least one flexible frequency subband; a time duration of the at least one flexible frequency subband; or a time offset between the first one of time units in the period and a starting position of the at least one flexible frequency subband in the time domain.

In one embodiment, wherein the configuration information indicates the at least one flexible frequency subband, and wherein the configuration information indicates the at least one flexible frequency subband by at least one of the following: indicating, in a configured uplink time unit, indices of a starting physical resource block (PRB) and an ending PRB for downlink direction; or indicating, in a configured downlink time unit, indices of a starting physical resource block (PRB) and an ending PRB for uplink direction.

In one embodiment, wherein configuration information comprises at least one frequency position parameter which is used for determining the at least one flexible frequency subband in the frequency time domain.

In one embodiment, wherein the configuration information comprises at least one subband format combination lists that each has a plurality of subband format combinations, and wherein: at least one subband format combination of the plurality of subband format combinations provides a subband division format for a carrier or a bandwidth part (BWP) , the subband division format indicates link attribute for a frequency subband of a plurality of frequency subbands in the subband division format, and the link attribute comprises an uplink attribute, a downlink attribute or a flexible attribute.

In one embodiment, wherein a first subband format combination list of the at least one subband format combination list is specific to a first terminal device of the one or more terminal devices, a second subband format combination list of the at least one subband format combination list is specific to a second terminal device of the one or more terminal devices, and wherein the network device is further caused to: transmit, to the one or more terminal device, a common message comprising an index of a subband format combination.

In one embodiment, wherein the at least one subband format combination list is common to the one or more terminal devices, and wherein the network device is further caused to: transmit a first message specific to a first terminal device of the one or more terminal device, and the first message comprises a first index of a subband format combination; and transmit a second message specific to a second terminal device of the one or more terminal device, and the second message comprises a second index of a subband format combination.

A terminal device comprising: a processor, and the processor is configured to cause the network device to: receive, from a network device, configuration information associated with at least one flexible frequency subband, wherein on the at least one flexible frequency subband, the network device is to perform both a downlink transmission and an uplink reception that are associated with the one or more terminal devices; and perform, on the at least one flexible frequency subband, a downlink reception or an uplink transmission.

In one embodiment, wherein the at least one flexible frequency subband is for an uplink transmission or a downlink reception of the terminal device, and wherein the terminal device is caused to perform the downlink reception or the uplink transmission by: receiving, from the network device, an indication of a link direction for the at least one flexible frequency subband; and based on the indication, performing the downlink reception from the network device or the uplink transmission to the network device.

In one embodiment, wherein: a first period by which the at least one flexible frequency subband occurs is the same as a period of a Time Division Duplexing (TDD) pattern configured for the terminal device, and the configuration information comprises indication information that indicates, within a plurality of time units in the TDD pattern, one or more overlapped subband full duplex (OSFD) time units that comprise the at least one flexible frequency subband.

In one embodiment, wherein the configuration information comprises at least one frequency position parameter which is used for determining the at least one flexible frequency subband in the frequency domain.

In one embodiment, wherein a first subband format combination list of the at least one subband format combination list is specific to a first terminal device of the one or more terminal devices, a second subband format combination list of the at least one subband format combination list is specific to a second terminal device of the one or more terminal devices, and wherein the terminal device is further caused to: receive, from the network device, a common message comprising an index of a subband format combination.

In one embodiment, wherein the at least one subband format combination list is common to one or more terminal devices comprising the terminal device, and wherein the terminal device is further caused to: receive a message specific to the terminal device, and the message comprises an index of a subband format combination.

A method of communication, comprising: transmitting, by a network device and to one or more terminal devices, configuration information associated with at least one flexible frequency subband, wherein on the at least one flexible frequency subband, the network device is to perform both a downlink transmission and an uplink reception that are associated with the one or more terminal devices.

A method of communication, comprising: receiving, by a terminal device and from a network device, configuration information associated with at least one flexible frequency subband, wherein on the at least one flexible frequency subband, the network device is to perform both a downlink transmission and an uplink reception that are associated with the one or more terminal devices; and performing, on the at least one flexible frequency subband, a downlink reception or an uplink transmission.

A computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions, when executed on at least one processor, causing the at least one processor to perform the method according to the above methods.

Claims

A network device comprising:

a processor, and the processor is configured to cause the network device to:

transmit, to one or more terminal devices, configuration information associated with at least one flexible frequency subband,

wherein on the at least one flexible frequency subband, the network device is to perform both a downlink transmission and an uplink reception that are associated with the one or more terminal devices.
The network device of claim 1, wherein the network device is further caused to:

transmit, to a terminal device of the one or more terminal devices, an indication of a link direction for the at least one flexible frequency subband.
The network device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the network device is to perform the downlink transmission and the uplink data reception comprises:

transmit, on the flexible frequency subband, the downlink transmission to a terminal device of the one or more terminal devices; and

receive, on the flexible frequency subband, the uplink reception from another terminal device of the one or more terminal devices.
The network device of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one flexible frequency subband occurs periodically.
The network device of claim 4, wherein:

a first period by which the at least one flexible frequency subband occurs is the same as a period of a Time Division Duplexing (TDD) pattern configured for a terminal device of the one or more terminal devices, and

the configuration information comprises indication information that indicates, within a plurality of time units in the TDD pattern, one or more overlapped subband full duplex (OSFD) time units that comprise the at least one flexible frequency subband.
The network device of claim 4, wherein the configuration information comprises at least one of the following:

a period of the at least one flexible frequency subband;

a time duration of the at least one flexible frequency subband; or

a time offset between the first one of time units in the period and a starting position of the at least one flexible frequency subband in the time domain.
The network device of any of claims 1-6, wherein the configuration information indicates the at least one flexible frequency subband, and wherein the configuration information indicates the at least one flexible frequency subband by at least one of the following:

indicating, in a configured uplink time unit, indices of a starting physical resource block (PRB) and an ending PRB for downlink direction; or

indicating, in a configured downlink time unit, indices of a starting physical resource block (PRB) and an ending PRB for uplink direction.
The network device of any of claims 1-6, wherein configuration information comprises at least one frequency position parameter which is used for determining the at least one flexible frequency subband in the frequency time domain.
The network device of any of claims 1-3, wherein the configuration information comprises at least one subband format combination lists that each has a plurality of subband format combinations, and wherein:

at least one subband format combination of the plurality of subband format combinations provides a subband division format for a carrier or a bandwidth part (BWP) ,

the subband division format indicates link attribute for a frequency subband of a plurality of frequency subbands in the subband division format, and

the link attribute comprises an uplink attribute, a downlink attribute or a flexible attribute.
The network device of claim 9, wherein a first subband format combination list of the at least one subband format combination list is specific to a first terminal device of the one or more terminal devices, a second subband format combination list of the at least one subband format combination list is specific to a second terminal device of the one or more terminal devices, and wherein the network device is further caused to:

transmit, to the one or more terminal device, a common message comprising an index of a subband format combination.
The network device of claim 9, wherein the at least one subband format combination list is common to the one or more terminal devices, and wherein the network device is further caused to:

transmit a first message specific to a first terminal device of the one or more terminal device, and the first message comprises a first index of a subband format combination; and

transmit a second message specific to a second terminal device of the one or more terminal device, and the second message comprises a second index of a subband format combination.
A terminal device comprising:

a processor, and the processor is configured to cause the network device to:

receive, from a network device, configuration information associated with at least one flexible frequency subband, wherein on the at least one flexible frequency subband, the network device is to perform both a downlink transmission and an uplink reception that are associated with the one or more terminal devices; and

perform, on the at least one flexible frequency subband, a downlink reception or an uplink transmission.
The terminal device of claim 12, wherein the at least one flexible frequency subband is for an uplink transmission or a downlink reception of the terminal device, and wherein the terminal device is caused to perform the downlink reception or the uplink transmission by:

receiving, from the network device, an indication of a link direction for the at least one flexible frequency subband; and

based on the indication, performing the downlink reception from the network device or the uplink transmission to the network device.
The terminal device of claim 12 or 13, wherein the at least one flexible frequency subband occurs periodically.
The terminal device of claim 14, wherein:

a first period by which the at least one flexible frequency subband occurs is the same as a period of a Time Division Duplexing (TDD) pattern configured for the terminal device, and

the configuration information comprises indication information that indicates, within a plurality of time units in the TDD pattern, one or more overlapped subband full duplex (OSFD) time units that comprise the at least one flexible frequency subband.
The terminal device of claim 14, wherein the configuration information comprises at least one of the following:

a period of the at least one flexible frequency subband;

a time duration of the at least one flexible frequency subband; or

a time offset between the first one of time units in the period and a starting position of the at least one flexible frequency subband in the time domain.
The terminal device of any of claims 12-16, wherein the configuration information indicates the at least one flexible frequency subband, and wherein the configuration information indicates the at least one flexible frequency subband by at least one of the following:

indicating, in a configured uplink time unit, indices of a starting physical resource block (PRB) and an ending PRB for downlink direction; or

indicating, in a configured downlink time unit, indices of a starting physical resource block (PRB) and an ending PRB for uplink direction.
The terminal device of any of claims 12-16, wherein the configuration information comprises at least one frequency position parameter which is used for determining the at least one flexible frequency subband in the frequency domain.
The terminal device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the configuration information comprises at least one subband format combination lists that each has a plurality of subband format combinations, and wherein:

at least one subband format combination of the plurality of subband format combinations provides a subband division format for a carrier or a bandwidth part (BWP) ,

the subband division format indicates link attribute for a frequency subband of a plurality of frequency subbands in the subband division format, and

the link attribute comprises an uplink attribute, a downlink attribute or a flexible attribute.
The terminal device of claim 19, wherein a first subband format combination list of the at least one subband format combination list is specific to a first terminal device of the one or more terminal devices, a second subband format combination list of the at least one subband format combination list is specific to a second terminal device of the one or more terminal devices, and wherein the terminal device is further caused to:

receive, from the network device, a common message comprising an index of a subband format combination.