Narrowband time-division duplex frame structure for narrowband communications

• US 10,454,657 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2017
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Bhattad, Kapil, Wang, Xiao feng, Rico Alvarino, Alberto, Xu, Hao
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Tri H
• Application Number:
  US15/710,717
• Publication Number:
  US 20180248671A1
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0067 Rate matching H04L1/0013 and H04L1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0068 by puncturing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/08 by repeating transmission, e.g. Verdan system H04L1/1858 and H04L1/189 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/02 Details ; arrangements for supplying electrical power along data transmission lines systems for transmitting signals via power distribution lines H04B3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0226 sounding signals per se
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/261 Details of reference signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2613 Structure of the reference signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0005 Time-frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/001 the frequencies being arranged in component carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0012 Hopping in multicarrier systems for frequency hopping in spread spectrum systems H04B1/713
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0026 Division using four or more dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0048 Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0053 Allocation of signaling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0055 Physical resource allocation for ACK/NACK for physical mapping arrangements in ARQ protocols H04L1/1861
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0092 Indication of how the channel is divided
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/1469 using time-sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/22 using time-division multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/26 combined with the use of different frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 : Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 : Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0466 : the resource being a scrambling code
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 : in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 : in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0833 : Random access procedures, e.g. with 4-step access

Abstract

There is a need to support narrowband TDD frame structure for narrowband communications. The present disclosure provides a solution by supporting one or more narrowband TDD frame structure(s) for narrowband communications. In an aspect of the disclosure, a method, a computer-readable medium, and an apparatus are provided. The apparatus may determine a narrowband TDD frame structure for narrowband communications. The apparatus may also determine a PUSCH format of a group of PUSCH formats for allocating at least one RU to a UE for a NPUCCH. In addition, the apparatus may allocate the at least one RU to the UE using the determined PUSCH format. In one aspect, the RU may include one or more subcarriers in each of one or more slots.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication for a base station, comprising:

determining, at the base station, a time-division duplex (TDD) frame structure for narrowband communications;

determining, at the base station, a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) format of a group of PUSCH formats for allocating at least one resource unit (RU) to a user equipment (UE) for a narrowband physical uplink control channel (NPUCCH);

allocating, at the base station, the at least one RU to the UE using the determined PUSCH format, the RU including one or more subcarriers in each of one or more slots; and

transmitting, from the base station, information indicating the determined PUSCH format and the allocated at least one RU to the UE.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more subcarriers have an associated subcarrier frequency spacing of 3.75 kHz, 5 kHz, 7.5 kHz, or 15 kHz.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more subcarriers have an associated subcarrier frequency spacing, and the associated subcarrier frequency spacing corresponds to a slot duration.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the PUSCH format is based on a number of uplink subframes in the TDD frame structure.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a number of the one or more subcarriers in each of one or more slots corresponds to a number of uplink subframes in the TDD frame structure.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a number of the one or more subcarriers in each of one or more slots corresponds to a maximum transmission delay or round trip timeline.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a number of the one or more subcarriers in each of one or more slots corresponds to a number of RU used to transmit the determined PUSCH format in a predetermined number of slots.

8. A method for wireless communication for a base station, comprising:

determining, at the base station, a time-division duplex (TDD) frame structure for narrowband communications, the TDD frame structure including at least a predetermined number of contiguous uplink subframes;

determining, at the base station, a first number of symbols in each of a second number of slots to use in allocating at least one resource unit (RU) to a user equipment (UE) for a narrowband physical uplink shared channel (NPUSCH), the first number of symbols and the second number of slots being based on the predetermined number of contiguous uplink subframes;

allocating, at the base station, the at least one RU to the UE; and

transmitting, from the base station, information indicating the allocated at least one RU to the UE.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein each slot in the second number of slots has an associated subcarrier frequency spacing of 3.75 kHz, 5 kHz, 7.5 kHz, or 15 kHz.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the associated subcarrier frequency spacing is based on the TDD frame structure.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the second number of slots includes 6 slots.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the second number of slots includes 10 slots.

13. An apparatus for wireless communication for a base station, comprising:

means for determining a time-division duplex (TDD) frame structure for narrowband communications;

means for determining a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) format of a group of PUSCH formats for allocating at least one resource unit (RU) to a user equipment (UE) for a narrowband physical uplink control channel (NPUCCH);

means for allocating the at least one RU to the UE using the determined PUSCH format, the RU including one or more subcarriers in each of one or more slots; and

means for transmitting information indicating the determined PUSCH format and the allocated at least one RU to the UE.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein each of the one or more subcarriers have an associated subcarrier frequency spacing of 3.75 kHz, 5 kHz, 7.5 kHz, or 15 kHz.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein each of the one or more subcarriers have an associated subcarrier frequency spacing, and the associated subcarrier frequency spacing corresponds to a slot duration.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the determining the PUSCH format is based on a number of uplink subframes in the TDD frame structure.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein a number of the one or more subcarriers in each of one or more slots corresponds to a number of uplink subframes in the TDD frame structure.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein a number of the one or more subcarriers in each of one or more slots corresponds to a maximum transmission delay or round trip timeline.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein a number of the one or more subcarriers in each of one or more slots corresponds to a number of RU used to transmit the determined PUSCH format in a predetermined number of slots.

20. An apparatus for wireless communication for a base station, comprising:

means for determining a time-division duplex (TDD) frame structure for narrowband communications, the TDD frame structure including at least a predetermined number of contiguous uplink subframes;

means for determining a first number of symbols in each of a second number of slots to use in allocating at least one resource unit (RU) to a user equipment (UE) for a narrowband physical uplink shared channel (NPUSCH), the first number of symbols and the second number of slots being based on the predetermined number of contiguous uplink subframes;

means for allocating the at least one RU to the UE; and

means for transmitting information indicating the allocated at least one RU to the UE.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein each slot in the second number of slots has an associated subcarrier frequency spacing of 3.75 kHz, 5 kHz, 7.5 kHz, or 15 kHz.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the associated subcarrier frequency spacing is based on the TDD frame structure.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the second number of slots includes 6 slots.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the second number of slots includes 10 slots.

25. An apparatus for wireless communication for a base station, comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to;

determine a time-division duplex (TDD) frame structure for narrowband communications;

determine a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) format of a group of PUSCH formats for allocating at least one resource unit (RU) to a user equipment (UE) for a narrowband physical uplink control channel (NPUCCH);

allocate the at least one RU to the UE using the determined PUSCH format, the RU including one or more subcarriers in each of one or more slots; and

transmit information indicating the determined PUSCH format and the allocated at least one RU to the UE.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein each of the one or more subcarriers have an associated subcarrier frequency spacing of 3.75 kHz, 5 kHz, 7.5 kHz, or 15 kHz.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein each of the one or more subcarriers have an associated subcarrier frequency spacing, and the associated subcarrier frequency spacing corresponds to a slot duration.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the determining the PUSCH format is based on a number of uplink subframes in the TDD frame structure.

29. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein a number of the one or more subcarriers in each of one or more slots corresponds to a number of uplink subframes in the TDD frame structure.

30. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein a number of the one or more subcarriers in each of one or more slots corresponds to a maximum transmission delay or round trip timeline.

31. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein a number of the one or more subcarriers in each of one or more slots corresponds to a number of RU used to transmit the determined PUSCH format in a predetermined number of slots.

32. An apparatus for wireless communication for a base station, comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to;

determine a time-division duplex (TDD) frame structure including at least a predetermined number of contiguous uplink subframes;

determine a first number of symbols in each of a second number of slots to use in allocating at least one resource unit (RU) to a user equipment (UE) for a narrowband physical uplink shared channel (NPUSCH), the first number of symbols and the second number of slots being based on the predetermined number of contiguous uplink subframes;

allocate the at least one RU to the UE; and

transmit information indicating the allocated at least one RU to the UE.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein each slot in the second number of slots has an associated subcarrier frequency spacing of 3.75 kHz, 5 kHz, 7.5 kHz, or 15 kHz.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the associated subcarrier frequency spacing is based on the TDD frame structure.

35. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the second number of slots includes 6 slots.

36. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the second number of slots includes 10 slots.

37. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer executable code for a base station, comprising code to:

determine, by executing the executable code at the base station, a time-division duplex (TDD) frame structure for narrowband communications;

determine, by executing the executable code at the base station, a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) format of a group of PUSCH formats for allocating at least one resource unit (RU) to a user equipment (UE) for a narrowband physical uplink control channel (NPUCCH);

allocate, by executing the executable code at the base station, the at least one RU to the UE using the determined PUSCH format, the RU including one or more subcarriers in each of one or more slots; and

transmit, by executing the executable code at the base station, information indicating the determined PUSCH format and the allocated at least one RU to the UE.

38. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein each of the one or more subcarriers have an associated subcarrier frequency spacing of 3.75 kHz, 5 kHz, 7.5 kHz, or 15 kHz.

39. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein each of the one or more subcarriers have an associated subcarrier frequency spacing, and the associated subcarrier frequency spacing corresponds to a slot duration.

40. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein the determining the PUSCH format is based on a number of uplink subframes in the TDD frame structure.

41. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein a number of the one or more sub carriers in each of one or more slots corresponds to a number of uplink subframes in the TDD frame structure.

42. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein a number of the one or more sub carriers in each of one or more slots corresponds to a maximum transmission delay or round trip timeline.

43. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein a number of the one or more sub carriers in each of one or more slots corresponds to a number of RU used to transmit the determined PUSCH format in a predetermined number of slots.

44. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer executable code for a base station, comprising code to:

determine, by executing the executable code at the base station, a time-division duplex (TDD) frame structure for narrowband communications, the TDD frame structure including at least a predetermined number of contiguous uplink subframes;

determine, by executing the executable code at the base station, a first number of symbols in each of a second number of slots to use in allocating at least one resource unit (RU) to a user equipment (UE) for a narrowband physical uplink shared channel (NPUSCH), the first number of symbols and the second number of slots being based on the predetermined number of contiguous uplink subframes;

allocate, by executing the executable code at the base station, the at least one RU to the UE; and

transmit, by executing the executable code at the base station, information indicating the allocated at least one RU to the UE.

45. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 44, wherein each slot in the second number of slots has an associated subcarrier frequency spacing of 3.75 kHz, 5 kHz, 7.5 kHz, or 15 kHz.

46. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 45, wherein the associated subcarrier frequency spacing is based on the TDD frame structure.

47. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 44, wherein the second number of slots includes 6 slots.

48. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 44, wherein the second number of slots includes 10 slots.