WO2021163961A1

WO2021163961A1 - Method and apparatus for frequency hopping with multiple beams

Info

Publication number: WO2021163961A1
Application number: PCT/CN2020/076044
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wei Ling; Chenxi Zhu; Bingchao LIU; Yi Zhang; Lingling Xiao
Original assignee: Lenovo Beijing Ltd
Current assignee: Lenovo Beijing Ltd
Priority date: 2020-02-20
Filing date: 2020-02-20
Publication date: 2021-08-26
Anticipated expiration: 2022-08-20

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure are related to a method and apparatus for frequency hopping with multiple beams. A method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: receiving configuration information indicating two predefined starting points in a frequency domain, and transmitting a plurality of data transmissions using one or more beams. Wherein a starting point in the frequency domain of each of data transmissions associated with a beam of the one or more beams is determined by a new index for each of the data transmissions associated with the beam based on a lowest slot index and a total number of the data transmissions associated with the beam.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FREQUENCY HOPPING WITH MULTIPLE BEAMS

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure are related to wireless communication technology, and more particularly, related to methods and apparatuses for frequency hopping with multiple beams.

BACKGROUND

In a wireless communication system, a term "beam" is introduced for wireless communications in high frequency bands, such as FR2 (from 24.25GHz to 52.6GHz) or other frequency bands higher than 6GHz. A beam refers to a main lobe of the radiation pattern of an antenna array or a panel. Each beam is associated with a spatial transmitter or receiver. A base station (BS) may transmit beams and receive beams for a user equipment (UE) .

Currently, in a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) New Radio (NR) system or the like, details regarding how to improve the reliability and robustness of an uplink (UL) transmission by using multiple beams when there are multiple beam links between a UE and a BS, have not been specifically discussed in 3GPP 5G NR technology yet.

SUMMARY

Some embodiments of the present application provide a method for wireless communications performed by a UE. The method includes: receiving configuration information indicating two predefined starting points in a frequency domain; and transmitting a plurality of data transmissions using one or more beams, wherein a starting point in the frequency domain of each of data transmissions associated with a beam of the one or more beams is determined by a new index for each of the data transmissions associated with the beam based on a lowest slot index and a total number of the data transmissions associated with the beam.

Some embodiments of the present application also provide an apparatus for wireless communications. The apparatus includes: a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions; a receiving circuitry; a transmitting circuitry; and a processor coupled to the non-transitory computer-readable medium, the receiving circuitry and the transmitting circuitry, wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to implement the above-mentioned method performed by a UE.

Some embodiments of the present application provide a method for wireless communications performed by a BS. The method includes: transmitting configuration information indicating two predefined starting points in a frequency domain; and receiving a plurality of data transmissions using one or more beams, wherein a starting point in the frequency domain of each of data transmissions associated with a beam of the one or more beams is determined by a new index for each of the data transmissions associated with the beam based on a lowest slot index and a total number of the data transmissions associated with the beam.

Some embodiments of the present application provide an apparatus for wireless communications. The apparatus includes: a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions, a receiving circuitry; a transmitting circuitry; and a processor coupled to the non-transitory computer-readable medium, the receiving circuitry and the transmitting circuitry, wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to implement the above-mentioned method performed by a BS.

The details of one or more examples are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to describe the manner in which advantages and features of the present disclosure can be obtained, a description of the present disclosure is rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. These drawings depict only exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and are not therefore intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a wireless communication system in accordance with some embodiments of the present application;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary scheme of frequency hopping of UL transmissions in accordance with some embodiments of the present application;

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary scheme of inter-slot frequency hopping of UL transmissions in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates another exemplary scheme of inter-slot frequency hopping of UL transmissions in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates a flow chart of a method for wireless communications in accordance with some embodiments of the present application;

FIG. 6 illustrates another flow chart of a method for wireless communications in accordance with some embodiments of the present application;

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary block diagram of an apparatus in accordance with some embodiments of the present application; and

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary block diagram of an apparatus in accordance with some embodiments of the present application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description of the appended drawings is intended as a description of the currently preferred embodiments of the present disclosure and is not intended to represent the only form in which the present disclosure may be practiced. It is to be understood that the same or equivalent functions may be accomplished by different embodiments that are intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

Reference will now be made in detail to some embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. To facilitate understanding, embodiments are provided under specific network architecture and new service scenarios, such as 3GPP 5G, 3GPP LTE Release 8 and so on. Persons skilled in the art know very well that, with the development of network architecture and new service scenarios, the embodiments in the present disclosure are also applicable to similar technical problems.

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a wireless communication system 100 in accordance with some embodiments of the present application.

As shown in FIG. 1, the wireless communication system 100 includes a BS 102 and a UE 104. Although merely one BS is illustrated in FIG. 1 for simplicity, it is contemplated that the wireless communication system 100 may include more BSs in some other embodiments of the present disclosure. Similarly, although merely one UE is illustrated in FIG. 1 for simplicity, it is contemplated that the wireless communication system 100 may include more UEs in some other embodiments of the present disclosure.

The BS 102 may also be referred to as an access point, an access terminal, a base, a macro cell, a node-B, an enhanced node B (eNB) , a gNB, a home node-B, a relay node, or a device, or described using other terminology used in the art. The BS 102 is generally part of a radio access network that may include a controller communicably coupled to the BS 102.

The UE 104 may include computing devices, such as desktop computers, laptop computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs) , tablet computers, smart televisions (e.g., televisions connected to the Internet) , set-top boxes, game consoles, security systems (including security cameras) , vehicle on-board computers, network devices (e.g., routers, switches, and modems) , or the like. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the UE 104 may include a portable wireless communication device, a smart phone, a cellular telephone, a flip phone, a device having a subscriber identity module, a personal computer, a selective call receiver, or any other device that is capable of sending and receiving communication signals on a wireless network. In some embodiments, the UE 104 may include wearable devices, such as smart watches, fitness bands, optical head-mounted displays, or the like. Moreover, the UE 104 may be referred to as a subscriber unit, a mobile, a mobile station, a user, a terminal, a mobile terminal, a wireless terminal, a fixed terminal, a subscriber station, a user terminal, or a device, or described using other terminology used in the art.

The wireless communication system 100 is compatible with any type of network that is capable of sending and receiving wireless communication signals. For example, the wireless communication system 100 is compatible with a wireless communication network, a cellular telephone network, a time division multiple access (TDMA) -based network, a code division multiple access (CDMA) -based network, an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) -based network, an LTE network, a 3GPP-based network, a 3GPP 5G network, a satellite communications network, a high altitude platform network, and/or other communications networks.

The UE 104 may communicate with the BS 102 to receive data packets from the BS 102 on downlink (DL) and/or transmit data packets to the BS 102 on uplink (UL) . The UE 104 may activate multiple panels for communications between the UE 104 and the BS 102, and report the panel status to the BS 102 by higher layer signaling such as radio resource control (RRC) signaling or medium access control (MAC) control element (CE) signaling.

In 3GPP NR Release 15, a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) repetition with inter-slot frequency hopping is already supported for improving the robustness of PUCCH transmission which is drafted in 3GPP standard document TS38.213.

In particular, as defined in TS38.213, a UE is configured by interslotFrequencyHopping whether or not to perform frequency hopping for PUCCH transmissions in different slots; and if a UE is configured to perform frequency hopping for PUCCH transmissions across different slots:

-- the UE performs frequency hopping per slot; and

-- the UE transmits the PUCCH transmission starting from a first physical resource block (PRB) , provided by startingPRB, in slots with even numbers and starting from the second PRB, provided by secondHopPRB, in slots with odd numbers. The slot indicated to the UE for the first PUCCH transmission has number 0, and each subsequent slot until the UE transmits the PUCCH transmission in

slots is counted, regardless of whether or not the UE transmits the PUCCH transmission in the slot.

A physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) repetition with inter-slot is also supported in 3GPP NR Release 15. Specifically, as drafted in 3GPP standard document TS38.124, when transmitting PUSCH scheduled by downlink control information (DCI) format 0_1 in physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) with cyclic redundancy check (CRC) scrambled with cell radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI) , modulation and coding scheme (MCS) -C-RNTI, or circuit switched (CS) -RNTI with new data indication (NDI) equals to 1, if a UE is configured with pusch-AggregationFactor, the same symbol allocation is applied across the pusch-AggregationFactor consecutive slots and the PUSCH repetition is limited to a single transmission layer.

Moreover, as drafted in 3GPP standard document TS38.214, regarding a UE PUSCH frequency hopping procedure, inter-slot frequency hopping is applicable to multi-slot PUSCH transmission.

In case of inter-slot frequency hopping, the starting resource block (RB) during slot

is given by equation (1) as drafted in 3GPP standard document TS38.214:

- wherein

is the current slot number within a radio frame,

-

is the number of resource blocks (RBs) in the UL bandwidth part (BWP) ,

- wherein a multi-slot PUSCH transmission can take place,

- wherein RB _start is the starting resource block (RB) within the UL BWP, as calculated from the resource block assignment information of resource allocation type 1 (described in subclause 6.1.2.2.2 of TS38.214) , and

- wherein RB _offset is the frequency offset in RBs between the two frequency hops.

In 3GPP NR Release 16, a scheme of multiple beams based physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) repetition in multiple slots is supported as ultra-reliable and low latency communications (URLLC) scheme 4. There is an agreement on transmission configuration indication (TCI) patterns for multiple PDSCH repetitions in 3GPP NR Release 16.

During 3GPP NR Release 16 study item phase, a PDSCH repetition with multiple transmit receive points (TRPs) is discussed in 3GPP meeting. Similarly, in 3GPP NR Release 16, the enhancement of PUCCH repetition will have a high probability to be discussed especially in FR2 (Frequency Range 2, which means high carry frequency) , because there is a high probability of blockage in high frequency. Since HARQ-ACK is carried in PUCCH, the reliability of PUCCH transmission is very important. Therefore, issues on how to improve reliability and robustness of PDCCH, PUSCH, and PUCCH transmissions need to be solved.

Currently, in single-DCI based multiple TRPs (M-TRP) URLLC scheme 4, for TCI state mapping to PDSCH transmission occasions, both the following

Options

1 and 2 are supported and switched by RRC signalling:

● Option 1: support cyclical mapping, e.g., TCI states #1, #2, #1, #2 are mapped to 4 transmission occasions if two TCI states are indicated.

● Option 2: support sequential mapping, e.g., TCI states #1, #1, #2, #2 are mapped to 4 transmission occasions if two TCI states are indicated.

For more than 4 transmission occasions, the above TCI states may be repeated. For example, 8 transmission occasions in case of Option 2 are: #1, #1, #2, #2, #1, #1, #2, #2.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary scheme of frequency hopping of UL transmissions in accordance with some embodiments of the present application.

Multiple beams are used to transmit PUSCH or PUCCH transmission repeatedly just like single-DCI based M-TRP URLLC scheme 4 in 3GPP NR Release 16. A beam pattern mapped to each PUSCH or PUCCH transmission occasion should also be designed for PUSCH or PUCCH repetition. Therefore, a beam may be associated with multiple PUSCH or PUCCH repetitions. In most cases for PUSCH or PUCCH repetition with multiple beams, one of multiple beams configured for PUSCH or PUCCH repetition corresponds to a UE-TRP link.

The exemplary scheme of frequency hopping of UL repetitions in the embodiments of FIG. 2 reuses 3GPP NR Release 15 scheme. As shown in FIG. 2, beam 1 corresponding to the link from a UE to TRP 1 includes repetition 1 in slot n and repetition 3 in slot n+2, while beam 2 corresponding to the link from the UE to TRP 2 includes repetition 2 in slot n+1 and repetition 4 in slot n+3.

In the embodiments of FIG. 2, if the inter-slot frequency hopping scheme of 3GPP NR Release 15 is reused, all the repetitions associated with a beam (e.g., beam 1 or beam 2 as shown in FIG. 2) will always occupy the first frequency hopping or the second frequency hopping. That means one TRP (e.g., TRP 1 or TRP 2 as shown in FIG. 2) will always receive the repetitions on one frequency hopping. Therefore, this method cannot obtain the frequency diversity gain in one TRP.

Based on this, one object of the embodiments of the present application targets to the future enhancement of PUCCH repetition in 3GPP NR Release 17 on multiple TRPs, which involves issues on how to improve reliability and robustness of PDCCH, PUSCH, and PUCCH transmissions by using multiple beams when there are multiple beam links between a UE and a BS and etc. More details on the embodiments of the present disclosure will be illustrated in the following text in combination with the appended drawings.

The embodiments of the present application assume that multiple beams are configured or indicated for PUSCH repetition or PUCCH repetition to increase the reliability and robustness by utilizing a spatial diversity. As drafted in 3GPP NR Release 15 specification, a UL beam is expressed as spatial relation information.

As described above, 3GPP NR Release 16 MIMO supports two options of beam mapping to each repetition. In 3GPP NR Release 17 MIMO, a method of beam mapping to each repetition may have been discussed and agreed. Respective spatial relation information may be associated with multiple PUSCH repetitions or PUCCH repetitions. Spatial relation information is used in the embodiments of the present application.

There is an issue of inter-slot frequency hopping method in 3GPP NR Release 15 for the case of PUSCH or PUCCH repetition with multiple spatial relation information. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the inter-slot frequency hopping method in 3GPP NR Release 15 may be applied for all the repetitions associated with the same spatial relation information.

For example, M repetitions are configured for a PUSCH or PUCCH transmission, N repetitions within the M repetitions are associated with the same spatial relation information, and a slot index of the first repetition associated with the spatial relation information is

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, new slot index (es) may be generated for the slots from the lowest slot index to the highest slot index carrying the repetitions associated with the spatial relation information. Such new generated slot index (es) may be

to

After generating the new slot index (es) , the 3GPP NR Release 15 frequency hopping method can be applied for the N repetitions according to the new slot index (es) . It should be noted that the new generated slot index (es) is only valid for the starting point determined in inter-slot frequency hopping.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a UE transmits a plurality of data transmissions using one or more beams, wherein a starting point in a frequency domain of each of data transmissions associated with a beam of the one or more beams is determined by a new index for each of the data transmissions based on a lowest slot index and a total number of the data transmissions associated with the beam. Each of the data transmissions may be a PUSCH transmission or a PUCCH transmission. Each of the data transmissions may be a repetition of a PUSCH transmission or a repetition of a PUCCH transmission.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the lowest slot index of data transmissions associated with a beam within one or more beams is used as a new index of an initial data transmission of the data transmissions associated with the beam.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the new slot index (es) may be generated by generating a new index for each subsequent data transmission associated with a beam after the initial data transmission of the data transmissions associated with the beam, and the new index for a corresponding subsequent data transmission associated with the beam equals to a sum of "a new index of an immediate previous data transmission associated with the beam of the corresponding subsequent data transmission associated with the beam" plus one.

For example, the corresponding subsequent data transmission and the initial data transmission associated with the beam are not transmitted continuously in time. For a further example, the corresponding subsequent data transmission and the initial data transmission associated with the beam are transmitted continuously in time.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the starting point in the frequency domain for each data transmission associated with a beam is determined by: determining a starting point in the frequency domain for the initial data transmission associated with the beam, based on parity of the new index of the initial data transmission associated with the beam; and determining a starting point in the frequency domain for the each subsequent data transmission associated with the beam, based on parity of the new index for the corresponding subsequent data transmission associated with the beam.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, one of two predefined starting points may be selected as the starting point for the initial data transmission associated with one beam, when the new index for the initial data transmission associated with the beam is even; and the other one of the two predefined starting points may be selected as the starting point for the initial data transmission associated with the beam, when the new index for the initial data transmission associated with the beam is odd.

Alternatively, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, one of the two predefined starting points may be selected as the starting point for the initial data transmission associated with one beam, when the new index for the initial data transmission associated with the beam is odd; and the other one of the two predefined starting points may be selected as the starting point for the initial data transmission associated with the beam, when the new index for the initial data transmission associated with the beam is even.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the new generated slot index (es) may be only valid for the inter-slot frequency hopping. The new slot index (es) may modulo the number of slots in a radio frame with a subcarrier μ. Specific examples regarding that are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary scheme of inter-slot frequency hopping of UL transmissions in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

In the embodiments of FIG. 3, a PUSCH transmission is configured with 4 PUSCH repetitions, while 2 beams are configured for the PUSCH transmission. These 2 beams correspond to spatial relation information 1 and spatial relation information 2, respectively.

The embodiments of FIG. 3 assume that the starting RB within the UL BWP according to the resource block assignment information of resource allocation type 1, assume that the frequency offsets are RB _start and RB _offset, which are both indicated by the corresponding DCI, respectively, and assume that the first slot for transmitting the PUSCH transmission is slot 1. In short, RB _start and RB _offset are two predefined starting points in the embodiments of FIG. 3.

The embodiments of FIG. 3 assume that the spatial relation information 1 is used for the first and third repetitions, i.e., repetition 1 and repetition 3 as shown in FIG. 3. The embodiments of FIG. 3 assume that the spatial relation information 2 is used for the second and fourth repetitions, i.e., repetition 2 and repetition 4 as shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the

repetitions

1 and 3 transmitted on slot 1 and slot 3 are associated with the spatial relation information 1, and the

repetitions

2 and 4 transmitted on slot 2 and slot 4 are associated with the spatial relation information 2.

According to the embodiments of FIG. 3, the lowest slot index of data transmissions associated with a beam within one or more beams may be used as a new index of an initial data transmission of the data transmissions associated with the beam. A new index for each subsequent data transmission associated with the beam may be generated as a sum of "the new index of an immediate previous data transmission associated with the beam" plus one.

In particular, in the embodiments of FIG. 3, the lowest slot index of data transmissions associated with the spatial relation information 1 is "1" which carries repetition 1, and thus "new slot 1" (i.e., NS1 as shown in FIG. 3) is used as a new index of an initial data transmission of the data transmissions associated with the spatial relation information 1. A subsequent data transmission associated with the spatial relation information 1 is slot 3 which carries repetition 3, and a new index for this subsequent data transmission may be generated as a sum of "1" plus 1, i.e., "new slot 2" (i.e., NS2 as shown in FIG. 3) .

Similarly, in the embodiments of FIG. 3, the lowest slot index of data transmissions associated with the spatial relation information 2 is "2" which carries repetition 2, and thus "new slot 2" (i.e., NS2 as shown in FIG. 3) is used as a new index of an initial data transmission of the data transmissions associated with the spatial relation information 2. A subsequent data transmission associated with the spatial relation information 2 is slot 4 which carries repetition 4, and a new index for this subsequent data transmission may be generated as a sum of "2" plus 1, i.e., "new slot 3" (i.e., NS3 as shown in FIG. 3) .

That is to say, the new slot indexes for the spatial relation information 1 may be generated as "new slot 1" and "new slot 2" (i.e., NS1 and NS2 as shown in FIG. 3) which carry

repetitions

1 and 3, respectively. The new slot indexes for the spatial relation information 2 may be generated as "new slot 2" and "new slot 3" (i.e., NS2 and NS3 as shown in FIG. 3) , which carry

repetitions

2 and 4, respectively.

Based on this, the starting RB in each repetition associated with spatial relation information 1 and spatial relation information 2 may be calculated according to the abovementioned equation (1) as drafted in TS38.214, which is illustrated as below:

wherein

is the new generated slot index, and

is the number of RBs in the BWP.

In particular, the new generated slot indexes in the embodiments of FIG. 3 correspond to

in equation (1) .

and RB _start are two predefined starting points indicated by the corresponding DCI of the PUSCH in the embodiments of FIG. 3.

As calculated in equation (1) , if

is even, and the result is RB _start, while if

is odd, and the result is

According to the embodiments of FIG. 3, the starting RB in each repetition of all repetitions associated with the spatial relation information 1 may be determined by the corresponding new generated slot index (i.e., "new slot 1" which is odd, and "new slot 2" which is even) according to equation (1) . Since the new generated slot index "new slot 1" is odd, the determined starting RB for repetition 1 is

Since the new generated slot index "new slot 2" is even, the determined starting RB for repetition 3 is RB _start.

According to the embodiments of FIG. 3, the starting RB in each repetition of all repetitions associated with the spatial relation information 2 may be determined by the corresponding new generated slot index (i.e., "new slot 2" which is even, and "new slot 3" which is odd) according to equation (1) . Since the new generated slot index "new slot 2" is even, the determined starting RB for repetition 2 is RB _start. Since the new generated slot index "new slot 3" is odd, the determined starting RB for repetition 4 is

FIG. 4 illustrates another exemplary scheme of inter-slot frequency hopping of UL transmissions in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

In the embodiments of FIG. 4, a PUCCH transmission is configured with 8 PUCCH repetitions, while 2 beams are configured for the PUCCH transmission, and these 2 beams are spatial relation information 1 and spatial relation information 2.

The embodiments of FIG. 4 assume that the starting RBs of the first hopping and the second hopping are RB _start and RB _secondHop, which may be configured for the PUCCH transmission by RRC signaling. The embodiments of FIG. 4 assume that the first slot for transmitting the PUCCH transmission is slot 2. In short, RB _start and RB _secondHop are two predefined starting points in the embodiments of FIG. 4.

The embodiments of FIG. 4 also assume that the spatial relation information 1 are used for the 1 ^st , 3 ^rd, 5 ^th and 7 ^th PUCCH repetitions, and the spatial relation information 2 are used for the 2 ^nd, 4 ^th, 6 ^th, 8 ^th PUCCH repetitions, respectively. As shown in FIG. 4, the PUCCH repetitions transmitted on slot 2, slot 4, slot 6 and slot 8 are associated with the spatial relation information 1, and the PUCCH repetitions transmitted on slot 3, slot 5, slot 7 and slot 9 are associated with the spatial relation information 2.

According to the embodiments of FIG. 4, the lowest slot index of data transmissions associated with a beam within one or more beams may be used as a new index of an initial data transmission of the data transmissions associated with the beam. A new index for each subsequent data transmission associated with the beam may be generated as a sum of "the new index of an immediate previous data transmission associated with the beam" plus one.

In particular, in the embodiments of FIG. 4, the lowest slot index of data transmissions associated with the spatial relation information 1 is 2 which carries the first repetition, and thus "new slot 2" (i.e., NS2 as shown in FIG. 4) is used as a new index of an initial data transmission of the data transmissions associated with the spatial relation information 1. Subsequent data transmissions associated with the spatial relation information 1 are

slots

4, 6, and 8, which carry the third, fifth, and seventh repetitions. A new index for the subsequent data transmission in slot 4 may be generated as a sum of 2 plus 1, i.e., "new slot 3" (i.e., NS3 as shown in FIG. 4) . A new index for the subsequent data transmission in slot 6 may be generated as a sum of 3 plus 1, i.e., "new slot 4" (i.e., NS4 as shown in FIG. 4) . A new index for the subsequent data transmission in slot 8 may be generated as a sum of 4 plus 1, i.e., "new slot 5" (i.e., NS5 as shown in FIG. 4) .

Similarly, in the embodiments of FIG. 4, the lowest slot index of data transmissions associated with the spatial relation information 2 is 3 which carries the second repetition, and thus "new slot 3" (i.e., NS3 as shown in FIG. 4) is used as a new index of an initial data transmission of the data transmissions associated with the spatial relation information 2. Subsequent data transmissions associated with the spatial relation information 2 are

slots

5, 7, and 9, which carry the fourth, sixth, and eighth repetitions. A new index for a subsequent data transmission in slot 5 may be generated as a sum of 3 plus 1, i.e., "slot 4" (i.e., NS4 as shown in FIG. 4) . A new index for a subsequent data transmission in slot 7 may be generated as a sum of 4 plus 1, i.e., "new slot 5" (i.e., NS5 as shown in FIG. 4) . A new index for a subsequent data transmission in slot 9 may be generated as a sum of 5 plus 1, i.e., "new slot 6" (i.e., NS6 as shown in FIG. 4) .

That is to say, the new slot indexes for the spatial relation information 1 may be generated as "new slot 2" , "new slot 3" , "new slot 4" and "new slot 5" (i.e., NS2, NS3, NS4, and NS5 as shown in FIG. 4) which carry the 1 ^st, 3 ^rd, 5 ^th and 7 ^th repetitions for the spatial relation information 1 as shown in FIG. 4. The starting RB in each repetition of all repetitions associated with the spatial relation information 1 are determined by the new generated slot index ( "new slot 2" to "new slot 5" ) according the method in 3GPP NR Release 15 as drafted in TS38.213, and the determined four starting RBs for each repetition are RB _start, RB _secondHop, RB _start and RB _secondHop, respectively.

Similarly, according to the embodiments of FIG. 4, the new slot indexes for the spatial relation information 2 may be generated as "new slot 3" , "new slot 4" , "new slot 5" and "new slot 6" (i.e., NS3, NS4, NS5, and NS6 as shown in FIG. 4) which carry the 2 ^nd, 4 ^th, 6 ^th, 8 ^th repetitions for the spatial relation information 2 as shown in FIG. 4. The starting RBs in each repetition of all repetitions associated with the spatial relation information 2 may be determined by the new generated slot index ( "new slot 3" to "new slot 6" ) according the method in 3GPP NR Release 15 as drafted in TS 38.213, and the determined four starting RBs for each repetition are RB _secondHop, RB _start, RB _secondHop and RB _start, respectively.

FIG. 5 illustrates a flow chart of a method for wireless communications in accordance with some embodiments of the present application. The method may be implemented by a UE (e.g., UE 1014 illustrated and shown in FIG. 1) .

In the exemplary method 500 as illustrated and shown in FIG. 5, in step 502, a UE may receive configuration information indicating two predefined starting points in a frequency domain. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the configuration information is carried by radio resource control (RRC) information. In some other embodiments of the present disclosure, the configuration information is carried by downlink control information (DCI) .

In step 504, the UE transmits a plurality of data transmissions using one or more beams. A starting point in the frequency domain of each of data transmissions associated with one beam of the one or more beams may be determined by a new index for each of the data transmissions associated with the beam based on a lowest slot index and a total number of the data transmissions associated with the beam.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the lowest slot index of data transmissions associated with one beam is used as a new index of an initial data transmission of the data transmissions associated with the beam; and a new index for each subsequent data transmission associated with the beam after the initial data transmission of the data transmissions associated with the beam is generated as a sum of "a new index of an immediate previous data transmission associated with the beam of the corresponding subsequent data transmission associated with the beam" plus "one" .

Details described in all other embodiments of the present application (for example, details of how to improve reliability and robustness of a UL transmission by using multiple beams, e.g., how to generate a new slot index) are applicable for the embodiments of FIG. 5. Moreover, details described in the embodiments of FIG. 5 are applicable for all the embodiments of FIGS. 1-4 and 6-8.

FIG. 6 illustrates another flow chart of a method for wireless communications in accordance with some embodiments of the present application. The embodiments of FIG. 6 may be performed by a BS (e.g., BS 102 as illustrated and shown in FIG. 1) .

In the exemplary method 600 as illustrated and shown in FIG. 6, in step 602, a BS transmits configuration information indicating two predefined starting points in a frequency domain. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the configuration information is carried by radio resource control (RRC) information. In some other embodiments of the present disclosure, the configuration information is carried by downlink control information (DCI) .

In step 604, the BS receives a plurality of data transmissions using one or more beams. A starting point in the frequency domain of each of data transmissions associated with one beam of the one or more beams may be determined by a new index for each of the data transmissions associated with the beam based on a lowest slot index and a total number of the data transmissions associated with the beam.

Details described in all other embodiments of the present application (for example, details of how to improve reliability and robustness of a UL transmission by using multiple beams, e.g., how to generate a new slot index) are applicable for the embodiments of FIG. 6. Moreover, details described in the embodiments of FIG. 6 are applicable for all the embodiments of FIGS. 1-5 and 7-8.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary block diagram of an apparatus in accordance with some embodiments of the present application. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the apparatus 700 may be a BS (e.g., gNB) , which can at least perform the method illustrated in FIG. 6.

As shown in FIG. 7, the apparatus 700 may include at least one receiver 702, at least one transmitter 704, at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium 706, and at least one processor 708 coupled to the at least one receiver 702, the at least one transmitter 704, and the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium 706.

Although in FIG. 7, elements such as receiver 702, transmitter 704, non-transitory computer-readable medium 706, and processor 708 are described in the singular, the plural is contemplated unless limitation to the singular is explicitly stated. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the at least one receiver 702 and the at least one transmitter 704 are combined into a single device, such as a transceiver. In certain embodiments of the present disclosure, the apparatus 700 may further include an input device, a memory, and/or other components.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium 706 may have stored thereon computer-executable instructions which are programmed to implement the steps of the methods, for example as described in view of FIG. 6, with the at least one receiver 702, the at least one transmitter 704, and the at least one processor 708.

For example, the at least one transmitter 704 may transmit configuration information indicating two predefined starting points in a frequency domain. The at least one receiver 702 may receive a plurality of data transmissions using one or more beams. A starting point in the frequency domain of each of data transmissions associated with one beam of one or more beams may be determined by a new index for each of the data transmissions associated with the beam based on a lowest slot index and a total number of the data transmissions associated with the beam.

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary block diagram of an apparatus in accordance with some embodiments of the present application. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the apparatus 800 may be a UE, which can at least perform the method illustrated in FIG. 5.

As shown in FIG. 8, the apparatus 800 may include at least one receiver 802, at least one transmitter 804, at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium 806, and at least one processor 808 coupled to the at least one receiver 802, the at least one transmitter 804, and the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium 806.

Although in FIG. 8, elements such as receiver 802, transmitter 804, non-transitory computer-readable medium 806, and processor 808 are described in the singular, the plural is contemplated unless limitation to the singular is explicitly stated. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the at least one receiver 802 and the at least one transmitter 804 are combined into a single device, such as a transceiver. In certain embodiments of the present disclosure, the apparatus 800 may further include an input device, a memory, and/or other components.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium 806 may have stored thereon computer-executable instructions which are programmed to implement the steps of the methods, for example as described in view of FIG. 5, with the at least one receiver 802, the at least one transmitter 804, and the at least one processor 808.

For example, the at least one receiver 802 may receive configuration information indicating two predefined starting points in a frequency domain. The at least one transmitter 804 may transmit a plurality of data transmissions using one or more beams. A starting point in the frequency domain of each of data transmissions associated with one beam of one or more beams may be determined by a new index for each of the data transmissions associated with the beam based on a lowest slot index and a total number of the data transmissions associated with the beam.

Those having ordinary skills in the art would understand that the steps of a method described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. A software module may reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, a hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. Additionally, in some aspects, the steps of a method may reside as one or any combination or set of codes and/or instructions on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, which may be incorporated into a computer program product.

While this disclosure has been described with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations may be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, various components of the embodiments may be interchanged, added, or substituted in the other embodiments. Also, all of the elements of each figure are not necessary for operation of the disclosed embodiments. For example, those having ordinary skills in the art would be enabled to make and use the teachings of the disclosure by simply employing the elements of the independent claims. Accordingly, embodiments of the disclosure as set forth herein are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

In this document, the terms "includes, " "including, " or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that includes a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by "a, " "an, " or the like does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes the element. Also, the term "another" is defined as at least a second or more. The term "having" and the like, as used herein, are defined as "including. "

Claims

A method, comprising:

receiving configuration information indicating two predefined starting points in a frequency domain; and

transmitting a plurality of data transmissions using one or more beams,

wherein a starting point in the frequency domain of each of data transmissions associated with one beam of the one or more beams is determined by a new index for each of the data transmissions associated with the one beam based on a lowest slot index and a total number of the data transmissions associated with the one beam.
The method of claim 1, wherein each of the data transmissions is a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmission or a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) transmission.
The method of claim 2, wherein each of the data transmissions is a repetition of a PUSCH transmission or a repetition of a PUCCH transmission.
The method of claim 1, wherein the new index for each of the data transmissions associated with the one beam is generated by:

using the lowest slot index as a new index of an initial data transmission of the data transmissions associated with the one beam.
The method of claim 4, wherein the new index for each of the data transmissions associated with the one beam is generated by:

generating a new index for each subsequent data transmission associated with the one beam after the initial data transmission of the data transmissions associated with the one beam,

wherein the new index for a corresponding subsequent data transmission associated with the one beam equals to a sum of a new index of an immediate previous data transmission associated with the one beam of the corresponding subsequent data transmission associated with the one beam plus one.
The method of claim 5, wherein the corresponding subsequent data transmission and the initial data transmission associated with the one beam are not transmitted continuously in time.
The method of claim 5, wherein the starting point in the frequency domain for each of the data transmissions associated with the one beam is determined by:

determining a starting point in the frequency domain for the initial data transmission associated with the one beam based on parity of the new index of the initial data transmission associated with the one beam; and

determining a starting point in the frequency domain for the each subsequent data transmission associated with the one beam based on parity of the new index for the corresponding subsequent data transmission associated with the one beam.
The method of claim 7, comprising:

selecting one of two predefined starting points as the starting point for the initial data transmission associated with the one beam when the new index for the initial data transmission associated with the one beam is even; and

selecting other one of the two predefined starting points as the starting point for the initial data transmission associated with the one beam when the new index for the initial data transmission associated with the one beam is odd.
The method of claim 8, comprising:

selecting the one of the two predefined starting points as the starting point for the corresponding subsequent data transmission associated with the one beam when the new index for the corresponding subsequent data transmission associated with the one beam is even; and

selecting the other one of the two predefined starting points as the starting point for the corresponding subsequent data transmission associated with the one beam when the new index for the corresponding subsequent data transmission associated with the one beam is odd.
The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration information is carried by radio resource control (RRC) information.
The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration information is carried by downlink control information (DCI) .
A method, comprising:

transmitting configuration information indicating two predefined starting points in a frequency domain; and

receiving a plurality of data transmissions using one or more beams,

wherein a starting point in the frequency domain of each of data transmissions associated with one beam of the one or more beams is determined by a new index for each of the data transmissions associated with the one beam based on a lowest slot index and a total number of the data transmissions associated with the one beam.
The method of claim 12, wherein each of the data transmissions is a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmission or a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) transmission.
The method of claim 13, wherein each of the data transmissions is a repetition of a PUSCH transmission or a repetition of a PUCCH transmission.
The method of claim 12, wherein the new index for each of the data transmissions associated with the one beam is generated by:

using the lowest slot index as a new index of an initial data transmission of the data transmissions associated with the one beam.
The method of claim 15, wherein the new index for each of the data transmissions associated with the one beam is generated by:

generating a new index for each subsequent data transmission associated with the one beam after the initial data transmission of the data transmissions associated with the one beam,

wherein the new index for a corresponding subsequent data transmission associated with the one beam equals to a sum of a new index of an immediate previous data transmission associated with the one beam of the corresponding subsequent data transmission associated with the one beam plus one.
The method of claim 16, wherein the corresponding subsequent data transmission and the initial data transmission associated with the one beam are not transmitted continuously in time.
The method of claim 16, wherein the starting point in the frequency domain for each of the data transmissions associated with the one beam is determined by:

determining a starting point in the frequency domain for the initial data transmission associated with the one beam based on parity of the new index of the initial data transmission associated with the one beam; and

determining a starting point in the frequency domain for the each subsequent data transmission associated with the one beam based on parity of the new index for the corresponding subsequent data transmission associated with the one beam.
The method of claim 18, comprising:

selecting one of two predefined starting points as the starting point for the initial data transmission associated with the one beam when the new index for the initial data transmission associated with the one beam is even; and

selecting other one of the two predefined starting points as the starting point for the initial data transmission associated with the one beam when the new index for the initial data transmission associated with the one beam is odd.
The method of claim 19, comprising:

selecting the one of the two predefined starting points as the starting point for the corresponding subsequent data transmission associated with the one beam when the new index for the corresponding subsequent data transmission associated with the one beam is even; and

selecting the other one of the two predefined starting points as the starting point for the corresponding subsequent data transmission associated with the one beam when the new index for the corresponding subsequent data transmission associated with the one beam is odd.
The method of claim 12, wherein the configuration information is carried by radio resource control (RRC) information.
The method of claim 12, wherein the configuration information is carried by downlink control information (DCI) .
An apparatus, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions;

a receiving circuitry;

a transmitting circuitry; and

a processor coupled to the non-transitory computer-readable medium, the receiving circuitry and the transmitting circuitry,

wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to implement the method of any of Claims 1-11.
An apparatus, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions;

a receiving circuitry;

a transmitting circuitry; and

a processor coupled to the non-transitory computer-readable medium, the receiving circuitry and the transmitting circuitry,

wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to implement the method of any of Claims 12-22.