WO2025129523A1

WO2025129523A1 - User equipment, base station, and wireless communication methods for sbfd in idle/inactive states

Info

Publication number: WO2025129523A1
Application number: PCT/CN2023/140431
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shahid JAN
Original assignee: Shenzhen TCL New Technology Co Ltd
Current assignee: Shenzhen TCL New Technology Co Ltd
Priority date: 2023-12-20
Filing date: 2023-12-20
Publication date: 2025-06-26
Anticipated expiration: 2026-06-20

Abstract

A wireless communication method for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states, applied to a user equipment (UE) side includes receiving a SBFD configuration from a base station through a system information block (SIB), wherein the SBFD configuration includes time/frequency resources of a SBFD operation in time division duplex (TDD) downlink (DL) or flexible symbols/slots for a TDD period, wherein the at least one idle/inactive UE is configured to perform either DL or uplink (UL) transmissions based on the SBFD configuration.

Description

USER EQUIPMENT, BASE STATION, AND WIRELESS COMMUNICATION METHODS FOR SBFD IN IDLE/INACTIVE STATES

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of wireless communication systems, and more particularly, to a user equipment (UE) , a base station, and wireless communication methods for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states.

BACKGROUND

In conventional time division duplex (TDD) systems, time domain resources are split between downlink (DL) , uplink (UL) and flexible symbols/slots, where the flexible symbols/slots can be used as DL, UL, or as a guard period for DL-UL switching. Allocation of a limited time duration for UL in the conventional TDD would result in reduced coverage, increased latency, and reduced capacity. In order to enhance limitations of conventional TDD operations, a current study item focus on feasibility of simultaneous existence of DL and UL, also known as, full duplex, or more specifically, sub-band non-overlapping full duplex operation within a conventional TDD band. In sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation, a base station such as a gNB is operated in full duplex, i.e., simultaneous DL and UL transmission occurs at gNB side only while a user equipment (UE) operates in half duplex. The current study item is related to the sub-band non-overlapping full duplex and dynamic/flexible TDD operation. However, there are opening issues on the SBFD operation in idle/inactive states. For example, the SBFD operation in idle/inactive states may include at least one paging related issue in SBFD symbols/slots, at least one random access channel (RACH) occasion (RO) related issue in UL subband, at least one issue regarding reception of a second message (MSG 2) , at least one issue regarding frequency hopping of a third message (MSG 3) , and/or other issues. Therefore, further studies are needed to solve the issues and other issues of the SBFD operation in idle/inactive states.

SUMMARY

An object of the present disclosure is to propose a user equipment (UE) , a base station, and wireless communication methods for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states, which can solve issues in the prior art and other issues.

In a first aspect of the present disclosure, a wireless communication method for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states, applied to a user equipment (UE) side, includes: receiving a SBFD configuration from a base station through a system information block (SIB) , wherein the SBFD configuration comprises time/frequency resources of a SBFD operation in time division duplex (TDD) downlink (DL) or flexible symbols/slots for a TDD period, wherein at least one idle/inactive UE is configured to perform either DL or uplink (UL) transmissions based on the SBFD configuration, and the time/frequency resources of SBFD are configured to the at least one idle/inactive UE and a paging occasion (PO) is located in SBFD symbols/slots.

Through receiving the SBFD configuration from the base station through the SIB, wherein the SBFD configuration comprises time/frequency resources of the SBFD operation in TDD DL or flexible symbols/slots for the TDD period, such that at least one idle/inactive UE is configured to perform either DL or UL transmissions based on the SBFD configuration. This can solve issues in the prior art and other issues. For example, this can solve at least one paging related issue in SBFD symbols/slots, improve a physical random channel access (PRACH) and/or a MSG3 coverage and/or reduce a latency of an initial/random access.

In a second aspect of the present disclosure, a wireless communication method for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states, applied to a user equipment (UE) side, includes: receiving a SBFD configuration from a base station through a system information block (SIB) , wherein the SBFD configuration comprises time/frequency resources of a SBFD operation in time division duplex (TDD) downlink (DL) or flexible symbols/slots for a TDD period, wherein at least one idle/inactive UE is configured to perform either DL or uplink (UL) transmissions based on the SBFD configuration, and the SBFD configuration comprises a random access channel (RACH) occasion (RO) enhancement in the SBFD symbols/slots.

Through receiving the SBFD configuration from the base station through the SIB, wherein the SBFD configuration comprises time/frequency resources of the SBFD operation in TDD DL or flexible symbols/slots for the TDD period, such that at least one idle/inactive UE is configured to perform either DL or UL transmissions based on the SBFD configuration. This can solve issues in the prior art and other issues. For example, this can solve at least one random access channel (RACH) occasion (RO) related issue in UL subband, improve a physical random channel access (PRACH) and/or a MSG3 coverage and/or reduce a latency of an initial/random access.

In a third aspect of the present disclosure, a wireless communication method for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states, applied to a user equipment (UE) side, includes: receiving a SBFD configuration from a base station through a system information block (SIB) , wherein the SBFD configuration comprises time/frequency resources of a SBFD operation in time division duplex (TDD) downlink (DL) or flexible symbols/slots for a TDD period, wherein at least one idle/inactive UE is configured to perform either DL or uplink (UL) transmissions based on the SBFD configuration, and the SBFD configuration comprises a SBFD enhancement in time domain or frequency domain to support a MSG2 transmission.

Through receiving the SBFD configuration from the base station through the SIB, wherein the SBFD configuration comprises time/frequency resources of the SBFD operation in TDD DL or flexible symbols/slots for the TDD period, such that at least one idle/inactive UE is configured to perform either DL or UL transmissions based on the SBFD configuration. This can solve issues in the prior art and other issues. For example, this can solve at least one issue regarding reception of a second message (MSG 2) , improve a physical random channel access (PRACH) and/or a MSG3 coverage and/or reduce a latency of an initial/random access.

In a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, a wireless communication method for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states, applied to a user equipment (UE) side, includes: receiving a SBFD configuration from a base station through a system information block (SIB) , wherein the SBFD configuration comprises time/frequency resources of a SBFD operation in time division duplex (TDD) downlink (DL) or flexible symbols/slots for a TDD period, wherein at least one idle/inactive UE is configured to perform either DL or uplink (UL) transmissions based on the SBFD configuration, and the at least one idle/inactive UE is configured to receive a MSG 2 comprising a RAR UL grant to schedule a MSG 3, and an enhancement is added to the RAR UL grant to support a transmission of the MSG3 in SBFD symbols/slots.

Through receiving the SBFD configuration from the base station through the SIB, wherein the SBFD configuration comprises time/frequency resources of the SBFD operation in TDD DL or flexible symbols/slots for the TDD period, such that at least one idle/inactive UE is configured to perform either DL or UL transmissions based on the SBFD configuration. This can solve issues in the prior art and other issues. For example, this can solve at least one issue regarding frequency hopping of a third message (MSG 3) , improve a physical random channel access (PRACH) and/or a MSG3 coverage and/or reduce a latency of an initial/random access.

In a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, a wireless communication method for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states, applied to a base station side, includes: transmitting a SBFD configuration to at least one idle/inactive user equipment (UE) through a system information block (SIB) , wherein the SBFD configuration comprises time/frequency resources of a SBFD operation in time division duplex (TDD) downlink (DL) or flexible symbols/slots for a TDD period, wherein a base station indicates the at least one idle/inactive UE to perform either DL or uplink (UL) transmissions based on the SBFD configuration, and the time/frequency resources of SBFD are configured to the at least one idle/inactive UE and a paging occasion (PO) is located in SBFD symbols/slots.

Through transmitting the SBFD configuration to the at least one idle/inactive UE through the SIB, wherein the SBFD configuration comprises time/frequency resources of the SBFD operation in TDD DL or flexible symbols/slots for the TDD period, such that a base station indicates the at least one idle/inactive UE to perform either DL or UL transmissions based on the SBFD configuration. This can solve issues in the prior art and other issues. For example, this can at least one paging related issue in SBFD symbols/slots, improve a physical random channel access (PRACH) and/or a MSG3 coverage and/or reduce a latency of an initial/random access.

In a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, a wireless communication method for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states, applied to a base station side, includes: transmitting a SBFD configuration to at least one idle/inactive user equipment (UE) through a system information block (SIB) , wherein the SBFD configuration comprises time/frequency resources of a SBFD operation in time division duplex (TDD) downlink (DL) or flexible symbols/slots for a TDD period, wherein a base station indicates the at least one idle/inactive UE to perform either DL or uplink (UL) transmissions based on the SBFD configuration, and the SBFD configuration comprises a random access channel (RACH) occasion (RO) enhancement in the SBFD symbols/slots.

Through transmitting the SBFD configuration to the at least one idle/inactive UE through the SIB, wherein the SBFD configuration comprises time/frequency resources of the SBFD operation in TDD DL or flexible symbols/slots for the TDD period, such that a base station indicates the at least one idle/inactive UE to perform either DL or UL transmissions based on the SBFD configuration. This can solve issues in the prior art and other issues. For example, this can solve at least one random access channel (RACH) occasion (RO) related issue in UL subband, improve a physical random channel access (PRACH) and/or a MSG3 coverage and/or reduce a latency of an initial/random access.

In a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, a wireless communication method for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states, applied to a base station side, includes: transmitting a SBFD configuration to at least one idle/inactive user equipment (UE) through a system information block (SIB) , wherein the SBFD configuration comprises time/frequency resources of a SBFD operation in time division duplex (TDD) downlink (DL) or flexible symbols/slots for a TDD period, wherein a base station indicates the at least one idle/inactive UE to perform either DL or uplink (UL) transmissions based on the SBFD configuration, and the SBFD configuration comprises a SBFD enhancement in time domain or frequency domain to support a MSG2 transmission.

Through transmitting the SBFD configuration to the at least one idle/inactive UE through the SIB, wherein the SBFD configuration comprises time/frequency resources of the SBFD operation in TDD DL or flexible symbols/slots for the TDD period, such that a base station indicates the at least one idle/inactive UE to perform either DL or UL transmissions based on the SBFD configuration. This can solve issues in the prior art and other issues. For example, this can solve at least one issue regarding reception of a second message (MSG 2) , improve a physical random channel access (PRACH) and/or a MSG3 coverage and/or reduce a latency of an initial/random access.

In an eighth aspect of the present disclosure, a wireless communication method for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states, applied to a base station side, includes: transmitting a SBFD configuration to at least one idle/inactive user equipment (UE) through a system information block (SIB) , wherein the SBFD configuration comprises time/frequency resources of a SBFD operation in time division duplex (TDD) downlink (DL) or flexible symbols/slots for a TDD period, wherein a base station indicates the at least one idle/inactive UE to perform either DL or uplink (UL) transmissions based on the SBFD configuration, and the at least one idle/inactive UE is configured to receive a MSG 2 comprising a RAR UL grant to schedule a MSG 3, and an enhancement is added to the RAR UL grant to support a transmission of the MSG3 in SBFD symbols/slots.

Through transmitting the SBFD configuration to the at least one idle/inactive UE through the SIB, wherein the SBFD configuration comprises time/frequency resources of the SBFD operation in TDD DL or flexible symbols/slots for the TDD period, such that a base station indicates the at least one idle/inactive UE to perform either DL or UL transmissions based on the SBFD configuration. This can solve issues in the prior art and other issues. For example, this can solve at least one issue regarding frequency hopping of a third message (MSG 3) , improve a physical random channel access (PRACH) and/or a MSG3 coverage and/or reduce a latency of an initial/random access.

In a ninth aspect of the present disclosure, a user equipment (UE) comprises a memory, a transceiver, and a processor coupled to the memory and the transceiver. The processor is configured to perform the above method.

In a tenth aspect of the present disclosure, a base station comprises a memory, a transceiver, and a processor coupled to the memory and the transceiver. The processor is configured to perform the above method.

In an eleventh aspect of the present disclosure, a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium has stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the above method.

In a twelfth aspect of the present disclosure, a chip includes a processor, configured to call and run a computer program stored in a memory, to cause a device in which the chip is installed to execute the above method.

In a thirteenth aspect of the present disclosure, a computer readable storage medium, in which a computer program is stored, causes a computer to execute the above method.

In a fourteenth aspect of the present disclosure, a computer program product includes a computer program, and the computer program causes a computer to execute the above method.

In a fifteenth aspect of the present disclosure, a computer program causes a computer to execute the above method.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In order to illustrate the embodiments of the present disclosure or related art more clearly, the following figures will be described in the embodiments are briefly introduced. It is obvious that the drawings are merely some embodiments of the present disclosure, a person having ordinary skill in this field can obtain other figures according to these figures without paying the premise.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of paging occasion overlapped with SBFD symbols/slots.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of physical resources visibility of a half-duplex UE configured with UL subband in DL slots.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of FDMed ROs overlapped with physical resources of a DL subband.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of single RO in a RO group fully overlapped a boundary of non-SBFD symbols/slots.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of single RO in a RO group partially overlapped a boundary of SBFD and non-SBFD symbols/slots.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of MSG 2 transmission in SBFD symbols/slots.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of one or more user equipments (UEs) and a base station of communication in a communication network system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8A is a flowchart illustrating a wireless communication method for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states, applied to a user equipment (UE) side according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8B is a flowchart illustrating a wireless communication method for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states regarding paging enhancement in SBFD symbols/slots, applied to a user equipment (UE) side according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8C is a flowchart illustrating a wireless communication method for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states regarding RO configuration in SBFD symbols/slots, applied to a user equipment (UE) side according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8D is a flowchart illustrating a wireless communication method for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states regarding SBFD enhancement in time domain or frequency domain to support MSG 2 transmission, applied to a user equipment (UE) side according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8E is a flowchart illustrating a wireless communication method for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states regarding an enhancement to support MSG 3 transmission, applied to a user equipment (UE) side according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9A is a flowchart illustrating a wireless communication method for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states, applied to a base station side to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9B is a flowchart illustrating a wireless communication method for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states regarding paging enhancement in SBFD symbols/slots, applied to a base station side according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9C is a flowchart illustrating a wireless communication method for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states regarding RO configuration in SBFD symbols/slots, applied to a base station side according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9D is a flowchart illustrating a wireless communication method for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states regarding SBFD enhancement in time domain or frequency domain to support MSG 2 transmission, applied to a base station side according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9E is a flowchart illustrating a wireless communication method for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states regarding an enhancement to support MSG 3 transmission, applied to a base station side according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of flexible subbands configured in DL symbols/slots according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of flexible subbands configured in flexible symbols/slots according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of time domain pattern of SBFD operation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of flexible subband in DL symbols/slots configured with RO for PRACH transmission and RAR window for MSG 2 reception according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of flexible subband in F symbols/slots configured with ROs for PRACH transmission and RAR window for MSG 2 reception according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a system for wireless communication according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail with the technical matters, structural features, achieved objects, and effects with reference to the accompanying drawings as follows. Specifically, the terminologies in the embodiments of the present disclosure are merely for describing the purpose of the certain embodiment, but not to limit the disclosure.

Some embodiments are related to the sub-band non-overlapping full duplex and dynamic/flexible TDD operation such as the SBFD operation in idle/inactive states. For example, the SBFD operation in idle/inactive states may include at least one paging related issue in SBFD symbols/slots, at least one random access channel (RACH) occasion (RO) related issue in UL subband, at least one issue regarding reception of a second message (MSG 2) , at least one issue regarding frequency hopping of a third message (MSG 3) , and/or other issues. FIG. 1 illustrates an example of paging occasion overlapped with SBFD symbols/slots. FIG. 2 illustrates an example of physical resources visibility of a half-duplex UE configured with UL subband in DL slots. FIG. 3 illustrates an example of FDMed ROs overlapped with physical resources of a DL subband. FIG. 4 illustrates an example of single RO in a RO group fully overlapped a boundary of non-SBFD symbols/slots. FIG. 5 illustrates an example of single RO in a RO group partially overlapped a boundary of SBFD and non-SBFD symbols/slots. FIG. 6 illustrates an example of MSG 2 transmission in SBFD symbols/slots. FIG. 1 to FIG. 6 illustrate some examples regarding the SBFD operation in idle/inactive states. FIG. 1 to FIG. 6 will be introduced in detail in some subsequent embodiments.

FIG. 7 illustrates that, in some embodiments, one or more user equipments (UEs) 10 and a base station 20 such as gNB for communication in a communication network system 40 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure are provided. The communication network system 40 includes one or more UEs 10 and a base station 20. The UE 10 is configured to receive a SBFD configuration from the base station 20 through a system information block (SIB) . For example, through receiving the SBFD configuration from the base station through the SIB, wherein the SBFD configuration comprises time/frequency resources of the SBFD operation in TDD DL or flexible symbols/slots for the TDD period, such that at least one idle/inactive UE is configured to perform either DL or UL transmissions based on the SBFD configuration. This can solve issues in the prior art and other issues. For example, this can improve a physical random channel access (PRACH) and/or a MSG3 coverage and/or reduce a latency of an initial/random access. The one or more UEs 10 may include a memory 12, a transceiver 13, and a processor 11 coupled to the memory 12 and the transceiver 13. The base station 20 may include a memory 22, a transceiver 23, and a processor 21 coupled to the memory 22 and the transceiver 23. The processor 11or 21 may be configured to implement proposed functions, procedures and/or methods described in this description. Layers of radio interface protocol may be implemented in the processor 11 or 21. The memory 12 or 22 is operatively coupled with the processor 11 or 21 and stores a variety of information to operate the processor 11 or 21. The transceiver 13 or 23 is operatively coupled with the processor 11 or 21, and the transceiver 13 or 23 transmits and/or receives a radio signal.

In this disclosure, the base station 20 can be an entity which is used to transmit or receive information, such as gNB. The base station 20 can also be eNodeB, transmission reception point, TRP, the NodeB in next generation communication or access point in WIFI. The UE 10 is an entity which is used to transmit or receive information at user side, such as cell phone UE. UE 10 can also be called as terminal, UE, mobile station, mobile terminal. UE 10 can mobile phone, pad, VR, AR, wireless terminal of industrial control, wireless terminal of self-driving, wireless terminal of remote medical surgery, wireless terminal of smart grid, wireless terminal of transport safety, wireless terminal of smart city, wireless terminal of smart home, etc. Furthermore, the terminal and base station can be deployed in land, include indoor, outdoor, handheld, on-board, it can also deploy on the water, air, plane, drone or satellite.

FIG. 8A to FIG. 8E illustrate wireless communication methods for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states, applied to a user equipment (UE) side, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 8A to FIG. 8E illustrate wireless communication methods for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states, applied to a user equipment (UE) side, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 9A to FIG. 9E illustrate wireless communication methods for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states, applied to a base station, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 8A to FIG. 9E will be introduced in detail in some subsequent embodiments.

FIG. 8A illustrates wireless communication method for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states, applied to a user equipment (UE) side, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in idle/inactive states, applied to the UE side includes an operation 801, receiving a SBFD configuration from the base station 20 through a system information block (SIB) , wherein the SBFD configuration comprises time/frequency resources of a SBFD operation in time division duplex (TDD) downlink (DL) or flexible symbols/slots for a TDD period, wherein at least one idle/inactive UE 10 is configured to perform either DL or uplink (UL) transmissions based on the SBFD configuration. Further, the processor 11 is configured to perform the above wireless communication method for SBFD operation in idle/inactive states, applied to the UE side. The processor 11 is also configured to perform the wireless communication method for SBFD operation in idle/inactive states, applied to the UE side in the following some embodiments.

FIG. 9A illustrates a wireless communication method for SBFD operation in idle/inactive states, applied to a base station side, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in idle/inactive states, applied to the base station side includes an operation 901, transmitting a SBFD configuration to at least one idle/inactive user equipment (UE) 10 through a system information block (SIB) , wherein the SBFD configuration comprises time/frequency resources of a SBFD operation in time division duplex (TDD) downlink (DL) or flexible symbols/slots for a TDD period, wherein the base station 20 indicates the at least one idle/inactive UE 10 to perform either DL or uplink (UL) transmissions based on the SBFD configuration. Further, the processor 21 is configured to perform the above wireless communication method for SBFD operation in idle/inactive states, applied to the base station side. The processor 21 is also configured to perform the wireless communication method for SBFD operation in idle/inactive states, applied to the base station side in the following some embodiments.

In details, some embodiments discuss SBFD operations in idle/inactive states in order to provide more UL opportunities for idle/inactive state UEs 10 in UL direction, which may result into reducing the latency of the initial/random access, improving the PRACH and MSG 3 coverage, and/or offloading the initial/random access from fixed UL symbols/slots to SBFD symbols/slots. In order to support SBFD operation in idle/inactive states, the TDD slot format and/or the indication of the time and frequency domain location of the SBFD subbands can be configured to the UEs 10 through SIB such as SIB1/SIB-x. In other words, the SIB comprises a SIB1 or a SIB-x.

In addition, some embodiments solve the paging related issues in SBFD symbols/slots, some embodiments propose enhancement to configure RACH occasion (RO) in the SBFD symbols/slots, some embodiments propose time domain pattern of SBFD to enhance the MSG 2 reception by the UE 10, and some embodiments propose enhancement to the MSG 3 in SBFD symbols/slots.

Diversified use cases and exponential growth of number of user equipments (UEs) in the next generation wireless communication system have increased data traffic explosively which leads to high requirements of spectral efficiency. In order to accomplish requirements of high spectral efficiency, a time division duplex (TDD) system is widely adopted in commercial new radio (NR) deployments. The TDD system uses a single spectrum (frequency band) for downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) in different time slots, and utilizes the available spectrum more efficiently as compared to a frequency division duplex (FDD) system.

In a 3GPP Release 18 (Rel-18) , a baseline for the SBFD operation is established, in which it is agreed that the existing TDD slot format can be used to configure the SBFD operation. For instance, UL subbands can be configured in DL or flexible symbols/slots. In addition, it is agreed that a semi-static cell common signaling such as TDD-UL-DL ConfigCommon and TDD-UL-DL-ConfigDedicated can be used to indicate/configure the time and frequency location of the SBFD operation to radio resource control, (RRC) connected states UEs. This configuration aligns with a pattern of TDD-UL-DL config-common defined by 5G NR with a periodicity of several slots or radio frames. According to the current specifications, TDD operation can be configured with a transmission periodicity of up to 320 slots in a 10ms time period. In the same way, the SBFD operation utilizes the existing legacy TDD configuration, and the periodicity of the SBFD operation can be configured for 320 slots in 10-ms time period.

The main objective of the SBFD operation during Rel-18 is to improve an UL coverage by providing more UL transmission opportunities, reducing a latency of the UL transmission and improving a system capacity. However, Rel-18 SBFD operation may only focus on RRC connected state UEs. In the same way, if the SBFD operation is applied in RRC idle/inactive state UE, it can reduce a random/initial access latency, improve a PRACH and MSG 3 coverage, and/or improve a flexibility of the initial/random access by offloading random access from fixed UL slots to SBFD symbols/slots. Therefore, some embodiments of this disclosure study SBFD in RRC idle/inactive states.

The main objective of supporting SBFD operation in RRC idle/inactive state is to improve the PRACH and/or MSG 3 coverage and/or reduce the latency of initial/random access. However, SBFD operation in idle/inactive state may face the at least one following issue:

Paging related issue in SBFD symbols/slots

There is at least one paging related issue in SBFD symbols/slots. For example, UEs configured with UL subbands cannot receive paging in SBFD symbols/slots, which can potentially degrade a performance of paging the UEs in a cell.

The paging occasions for idle/inactive state UEs are configured with a specific paging cycle, which varies based on the configuration. If the SBFD operation is configured for idle/inactive UEs with the transmission periodicity of the existing TDD operation, which is up to 320 slots in a 10 ms time period, there is a high possibility that the paging occasion (PO) may fully or partially overlapped with the SBFD duration in time domain as shown in FIG. 1. In this case, the paging message can be transmitted in DL subbands, and the DL subbands are not visible to the UEs that are configured with UL subbands in DL symbols/slots, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Consequently, the UEs configured with UL subbands cannot receive paging in SBFD symbols/slots, which can potentially degrade the performance of paging the UEs in a cell.

FIG. 8B illustrates a wireless communication method for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states regarding paging enhancement in SBFD symbols/slots, applied to a user equipment (UE) side according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in idle/inactive states regarding paging enhancement in SBFD symbols/slots, applied to the UE side includes an operation 802, receiving a SBFD configuration from a base station through a system information block (SIB) , wherein the SBFD configuration comprises time/frequency resources of a SBFD operation in time division duplex (TDD) downlink (DL) or flexible symbols/slots for a TDD period, wherein at least one idle/inactive UE is configured to perform either DL or uplink (UL) transmissions based on the SBFD configuration, and the time/frequency resources of SBFD are configured to the at least one idle/inactive UE and a paging occasion (PO) is located in SBFD symbols/slots. Further, the processor 11 is configured to perform the above wireless communication method for SBFD operation in idle/inactive states regarding paging enhancement in SBFD symbols/slots, applied to the UE side. The processor 11 is also configured to perform the wireless communication method for SBFD operation in idle/inactive states regarding paging enhancement in SBFD symbols/slots, applied to the UE side in the following some embodiments.

In some examples, the SIB comprises a SIB1 or a SIB-x. In details, in some embodiments, receiving a SBFD configuration from the base station 20 is through a SIB. In details, in some embodiments, receiving a SBFD configuration from the base station 20 is through a SIB1 or a SIB-x.

FIG. 9B illustrates a wireless communication method for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states regarding paging enhancement in SBFD symbols/slots, applied to a base station side according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in idle/inactive states regarding paging enhancement in SBFD symbols/slots, applied to the base station side includes an operation 902, transmitting a SBFD configuration to at least one idle/inactive user equipment (UE) through a system information block (SIB) , wherein the SBFD configuration comprises time/frequency resources of a SBFD operation in time division duplex (TDD) downlink (DL) or flexible symbols/slots for a TDD period, wherein a base station indicates the at least one idle/inactive UE to perform either DL or uplink (UL) transmissions based on the SBFD configuration, and the time/frequency resources of SBFD are configured to the at least one idle/inactive UE and a paging occasion (PO) is located in SBFD symbols/slots. Further, the processor 21 is configured to perform the above wireless communication method for SBFD operation in idle/inactive states regarding paging enhancement in SBFD symbols/slots, applied to the base station side. The processor 21 is also configured to perform the wireless communication method for SBFD operation in idle/inactive states regarding paging enhancement in SBFD symbols/slots, applied to the base station side in the following some embodiments.

In some examples, the SIB comprises a SIB1 or a SIB-x. In details, in some embodiments, transmitting a SBFD configuration to at least one idle/inactive user equipment (UE) 10 is through a SIB. In details, in some embodiments, transmitting a SBFD configuration to at least one idle/inactive user equipment (UE) 10 is through a SIB1 or a SIB-x.

Paging enhancement in SBFD symbols/slots

In some examples, the time/frequency resources of SBFD are configured to the at least one idle/inactive UE and a paging occasion (PO) is located in SBFD symbols/slots. In some examples, when an idle/inactive state UE 10 is configured with SBFD symbols/slots in DL symbols/slots or flexible symbols/slots through SIB such as SIB1/SIB-x and the paging occasion is overlapped with the SBFD symbols/slots, the paging cannot be received by those UEs 10 that are configured with the UL subband, as explained in detail in the above issue. To solve this issue, some embodiments of the present disclosure propose the following alternative solutions.

Issue regarding RO configured in UL subband

There is also at least one random access channel (RACH) occasion (RO) related issue in UL subband. For example, in case ROs are configured in the UL subband, the ROs may overlap with DL subband in frequency domain. For example, in case ROs in time domain are configured in the UL subband in the SBFD symbols/slots, it may encounter overlapping issues of the ROs in SBFD and non-SBFD symbols/slots.

The RACH occasion (RO) configured in UL subband to perform the initial/random access may encounter the following issues.

The ROs are configured for PRACH transmission in which the UEs transmit first message (MSG 1) . According to the current specification, the maximum number of MSG 1 which is frequency division multiplexed (FDMed) in frequency domain is up to 8 as shown in the example below, which means the maximum number of ROs FDMed in one time instance is up to 8. In current configuration, an offset of lowest RO in frequency domain with respective to physical resource block (PRB) 0 (msg1-FrequencyStart) is configured, so that the corresponding RO is within a bandwidth of an UL bandwidth part (BWP) . In case the ROs are configuration in UL subband, the frequency resources of the UL subband may not be enough to accommodate the FDM of up to 8 ROs, and the ROs may overlap with DL subband in frequency domain as illustrated in FIG. 3.

Information element regarding MSG 1 is as below.

In Rel-18, RO groups are introduced for multiple PRACH transmissions in order to improve the PRACH coverage. When the Rel-18 RO group which may contain (several ROs in time domain) configured in the UL subband in SBFD symbols/slots, it may encounter the overlapping issues of the ROs in SBFD and non-SBFD symbols/slots as explained in the following two cases. Case 1: A single RO in the RO group configured in SBFD symbols/slots can fully overlapped in the non-SBFD symbols/slots as shown in FIG. 4. Case 2: A single RO in a RO group configured in SBFD symbols/slots may partially overlapped in the non SBFD symbols/slots. In other words, a single RO is mapped to both SBFD and non-SBFD symbols/slots as shown in FIG. 5.

In the above two cases, the bandwidth (UL subband) of the SBFD symbols/slots is different from the bandwidth (UL BWP) of the non-SBFD symbols/slots. Therefore, configuring the same parameters for the ROs in SBFD symbols/slots and non SBFD symbols/slots such as the number of MSG 1 FDMed (msg1-FDM) , the frequency resources (msg1-FrequencyStart) , and the UL power control parameters (preambleReceivedTargetPower) may miss lead a UE to transmit the PRACH in the SBFD and non-SBFD symbols/slots.

FIG. 8C illustrates a wireless communication method for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states regarding RO configuration in SBFD symbols/slots, applied to a user equipment (UE) side according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in idle/inactive states regarding RO configuration in SBFD symbols/slots, applied to the UE side includes an operation 803, receiving a SBFD configuration from the base station 20 through a system information block (SIB) , wherein the SBFD configuration comprises time/frequency resources of a SBFD operation in time division duplex (TDD) downlink (DL) or flexible symbols/slots for a TDD period and the SBFD configuration comprises a random access channel (RACH) occasion (RO) enhancement in the SBFD symbols/slots, wherein at least one idle/inactive UE 10 is configured to perform either DL or uplink (UL) transmissions based on the SBFD configuration. Further, the processor 11 is configured to perform the above wireless communication method for SBFD operation in idle/inactive states regarding paging enhancement in SBFD symbols/slots, applied to the UE side. The processor 11 is also configured to perform the wireless communication method for SBFD operation in idle/inactive states regarding paging enhancement in SBFD symbols/slots, applied to the UE side in the following some embodiments.

FIG. 9C illustrates a wireless communication method for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states regarding RO configuration in SBFD symbols/slots, applied to a base station side according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in idle/inactive states regarding RO configuration in SBFD symbols/slots, applied to the base station side includes an operation 903, transmitting a SBFD configuration to at least one idle/inactive user equipment (UE) 10 through a system information block (SIB) , wherein the SBFD configuration comprises time/frequency resources of a SBFD operation in time division duplex (TDD) downlink (DL) or flexible symbols/slots for a TDD period and the SBFD configuration comprises a random access channel (RACH) occasion (RO) enhancement in the SBFD symbols/slots, wherein the base station 20 indicates the at least one idle/inactive UE 10 to perform either DL or uplink (UL) transmissions based on the SBFD configuration. Further, the processor 21 is configured to perform the above wireless communication method for SBFD operation in idle/inactive states regarding paging enhancement in SBFD symbols/slots, applied to the base station side. The processor 21 is also configured to perform the wireless communication method for SBFD operation in idle/inactive states regarding paging enhancement in SBFD symbols/slots, applied to the base station side in the following some embodiments.

Rules to avoid overlapping of the PO and SBFD symbols/slots

Some embodiments of the present disclosure propose the following alternative rules to avoid the overlapping of the PO and the transmission of the UEs 10 in UL subbands in DL or flexible symbols/slots.

Alternative rule 1: In some embodiments, when the at least one idle/inactive UE 10 is configured with SBFD symbols/slots in DL symbols/slots or flexible symbols/slots, at least one UL subband of the SBFD symbols/slots is not allowed to be configured in symbols/slots where a paging occasion (PO) is located. In details, in some examples, the SBFD symbols/slots are not allowed to be configured in those symbols/slots, which are used for paging occasion (PO) . In this way, the base station 20 such as a gNB can avoid the overlapping of the SBFD symbols/slots in PO, and thus, all the idle/inactive UEs 10 in a cell can receive paging.

Alternative rule 2: In some embodiments, when the at least one idle/inactive UE 10 is configured with SBFD symbols/slots in DL symbols/slots or flexible symbols/slots, at least one UL subband of the SBFD symbols/slots is allowed to be configured in symbols/slots where a PO is located, and the at least one idle/inactive UE 10 is not allowed to transmit in the at least one UL subband of the SBFD symbols/slots. In details, in some examples, the SBFD symbols/slots can be configured in DL or flexible symbols/slots that overlap with the PO. This rule does not restrict the configuration of the SBFD symbols/slots in DL symbols/slots. Further, if the SBFD symbols /slots overlap the PO, the following two alternative options can be used for the UL transmission in the UL subband which is overlapped with the PO.

Option 1: The idle/inactive UEs 10 are not allowed to transmit in the UL subbands. In this case, whether the idle/inactive UE 10 is going to be paged in a PO or not paged in a PO, the UEs 10 are not allowed to transmit the PRACH or MSG 3 in the UL subband which is overlapped with the PO.

Option 2: In some embodiments, when the at least one idle/inactive UE 10 is configured with SBFD symbols/slots in DL symbols/slots or flexible symbols/slots, the SBFD symbols/slots are allowed to be configured in slots/symbols where a PO is located, and whether the at least one idle/inactive UE 10 is allowed or not allowed to transmit in the at least one UL subband of the SBFD symbols/slots is based on the SBFD configuration. In details, in some examples, the UE 10 transmits or does not transmit in the UL subband of those symbols/slots which overlap with the PO depend on the gNB configuration. For instance, the prioritization of UL transmission (such as PRACH transmission or MSG 3 transmission) or paging PDCCH/PDSCH transmission is based on the base station configuration. If the base station 20 schedules paging in the symbols/slots of the PO for a UE 10, the same UE 10 is not allowed to transmit the UL (PRACH or MSG 3) in the UL subband. If the base station 20 configures PRACH or MSG 3 in the UL subband of the PO, the UE 10 may not receive the paging PDCCH or paging PDSCH in the same symbols/slots, and its paging can be postpone to the next available valid PO occasion.

Flexible subbands in idle/inactive states (via SIB such as SIB1/SIBx)

In some embodiments, the at least one idle/inactive UE 10 is configured with at least one flexible subband to perform DL reception or UL transmission based on the SBFD configuration. In some embodiments, the at least one flexible subband is configured in DL symbols/slots or flexible symbols/slots. In details, in some examples, when the PO is overlapped with the SBFD symbols/slots, some examples of the present disclosure propose to configure flexible subbands to the idle/inactive state UEs 10 via SIB such as SIB1/SIB-x, in order to solve the issues of paging for all the UEs 10 in a cell. The flexible subbands can be used for DL transmission or UL reception based on the base station scheduling, where the idle/inactive states UE 10 in the SBFD symbols/slots can perform DL reception or UL transmission based on the scheduling of the base station 20. For instance, in case the base station 20 transmits paging PDCCH/PDSCH, the flexible subband can be used in DL direction to schedule paging using paging PDCCH. In this way, even when the PO is overlapped with SBFD symbols/slots, the paging is visible to all the idle/inactive state UEs 10 in the cell.

In some examples, in case the base station 20 configures a RO in a flexible subband, the subband can be used in UL direction in those specific symbols/slots. In addition, the UE 10 can transmit or receive in only one direction (either UL or DL) in flexible subbands. Two possible options can be used to configure flexible subbands in SIB such as SIB1/SIB-x based on the slot format configured in the SIB such as SIB1/SIB-x to the idle/inactive UE 10 as given below.

Option 1: When SBFD symbols/slots are configured in TDD DL symbols/slots, a single flexible subbands can be configured which can be used as DL or UL depends on the scheduling of the base station 20 as shown in FIG. 10. In this case, When the base station 20 schedules paging PDCCH/PDSCH in the flexible subbands, the PO is visible to all the UEs 10 in a cell, and thus, all thus the issue of the paging UEs 10 when the SBFD operation is configured in idle/inactive UE 10 can be solved.

In some embodiments, a configuration of the at least one flexible subband comprises a starting and a number of symbols/slots of the at least one flexible subband and/or a starting and a number of resource blocks (RBs) of each of the at least one flexible subband. In some embodiments, the at least one flexible subband in the DL symbols/slots is configured for the TDD period with a periodicity.

In some examples, the details of how to configure the flexible subband in TDD-UL-DL ConfigCommon in SIB signaling (such as SIB1/SIB-x signaling) is given below, where a pattern of flexible subbands is defined including the starting and number of symbols/slots of flexible subbands, and the starting and number of RBs of the flexible subband. In addition, the configuration of flexible subband may use the transmission periodicity of the TDD-UL-DL ConfigCommon. In other words, flexible subbands configured in DL slots can be configured for the whole TDD period with a periodicity.

Information element regarding TDD-UL-DL ConfigCommon is illustrated as below.

In the information element regarding TDD-UL-DL ConfigCommon, a pattern of flexible subbands includes the starting and number of symbols/slots of flexible subbands, and the starting and number of RBs of the flexible subband. In addition, the configuration of flexible subband may use the transmission periodicity of the TDD-UL-DL ConfigCommon.

Option 2: When the SBFD symbols/slots are configured in flexible symbols/slots, then a single subband or all the subbands can be configured as flexible subbands. These flexible subband can be used for DL transmission or UL reception according to the scheduling of the base station 20 as shown in FIG. 11. In this case, when the base station 20 schedules paging PDCCH/PDSCH in the flexible subbands, the PO is visible to all the UEs 10 in a cell, and thus, all the UEs 10 can be paged during this PO.

SBFD symbols/slots triggered dynamically to DL symbols/slots

In some embodiments, when the at least one idle/inactive UE 10 monitors a paging physical downlink control channel/physical downlink shared channel (PDCCH/PDSCH) , the at least one idle/inactive UE 10 determines that the SBFD symbols/slots overlapped with a PO are changed to non-SBFD DL symbols/slots through a downlink control information (DCI) . The DCI may include a DCI format 2_7 indication.

In details, some examples of the present disclosure propose that when the SBFD operation is overlapped with the PO duration in time domain and the base station 20 transmits paging PDCCH/PDSCH, a trigger can be used to dynamically change the semi-statically configured (through SIB such as SIB1) SBFD symbols/slots to non-SBFD DL symbols/slots in order to transmit the paging PDCCH and paging PDSCH. The trigger Rel-17 PEI (DCI format 2_7) indication can be used to dynamically change a semi-statically configured SBFD symbols/slots to DL slots, and the PO can be transmitted in the symbols/slots. For instance, if DCI format 2_7 indicates to a UE to monitor paging PDCCH, the UE may assume that the SBFD symbols/slots which are overlapped with the PO is dynamically change to non-SBFD DL symbols/slots.

RO configuration in SBFD symbols/slots

In some embodiments, the SBFD configuration comprises a random access channel (RACH) occasion (RO) enhancement in the SBFD symbols/slots. Some embodiments present two cases, where the RO is overlapped with DL subband in frequency domain and RO is overlapped between the SBFD and non-SBFD symbols/slots.

Case 1: RO overlapped with DL subband

In some embodiments, the SBFD configuration of ROs comprises a maximum limit of ROs in frequency domain to confine the ROs in the frequency resources of the at least one UL subband in the SBFD symbols/slots. In some embodiments, a maximum number of the ROs configured in the at least one UL subband is limited to a range of {1, 2, and 4} . In some embodiments, a configuration of ROs in the SBFD symbols/slots comprises a separate offset in frequency domain with respect to a physical resource block 0 of a DL/UL bandwidth part (BWP) to a lowest RO in the at least one UL subband.

In details, in some examples, in current specification, the maximum number of ROs in frequency domain and the offset of the lowest RO in frequency domain with respect to PRB#0 is configured in SIB such as SIB1 according to the bandwidth of the initial UL BWP which overlapped with DL subbands. In order to avoid the overlapping of the ROs configured in UL subband with the DL subband, some examples of the present disclosure propose the following solutions.

Solution 1: A new maximum number (limit) of the ROs configured in frequency domain (i.e., msg1-FDM) can be defined for ROs configuration in UL subbands in the SBFD symbol/slots. Since the DUD and DU subband pattern in frequency domain divides the BWP into three and two parts respectively. Therefore, the maximum number of ROs configured in UL subband can be limited to the range of {1, 2, and 4} .

Solution 2: A new offset of the lowest RO in frequency domain with respect to PRB#0 (msg1-FrequencyStart) can be configured in SIB such as SIB1 for the RO configuration in SBFD symbols/slots, so that the corresponding ROs are placed within the bandwidth of the UL subband.

In some examples, the maximum number of ROs limit for the SBFD symbols/slot can re-use/refer to the existing specification.

Case 2: ROs overlapped between SBFD and non-SBFD symbols/slots

In some embodiments, separate parameters of ROs in the SBFD symbols/slots comprise a separate frequency resources of the ROs in the SBFD symbols/slots, a separate maximum number of the ROs frequency division multiplexed (FDMed) in the SBFD symbols/slots, and separate UL power control parameters of the ROs in the SBFD symbols/slots.

In details, some examples of the present disclosure propose that when an RO in a RO group or a single RO fully or partially overlapped with the SBFD and non-SBFD symbols/slots as explained above. The at least one following separate parameter in SIB such as SIB1/SIB-x can be configured for the ROs that is fully or partially overlapped with the SBFD symbols/slots.

The at least one following separate parameter include: 1. separate frequency resources of the ROs in SBFD symbols/slots such as an offset of the lowest RO from the PRB 0, 2. separate maximum number of ROs in SBFD symbols/slots FDMed in frequency domain, and/or 3. separate UL power control parameters of the RACH transmission in SBFD symbols/slots.

The example of information element regarding at least one separate parameter for the ROs in SBFD symbols/slots configured in SIB such as SIB1 is shown below.

In the information element regarding at least one separate parameter, the at least one separate parameter may include separate number of ROs FDM in SBFD symbols/slots (msg1-FDM-SBFD) , separate offset from the PRB 0 for ROs in SBFD symbols/slots (msg1-FrequencyStart-SBFD) , and/or separate UL power parameters of ROs in SBFD symbols/slots (PreambleReceivedTargetPower-SBFD) .

Reception of MSG 2 issue

There is further at least one issue regarding reception of a second message (MSG 2) . For example, in case a random access response (RAR) window is configured until the SBFD symbols/slots duration, a UE transmitting a first message (MSG 1) cannot receive the MSG 2 because the UE is in a half duplex mode and the UE can only perform the UL transmission.

When MSG 1 is transmitted by a UE in SBFD symbols/slot successfully, the UE needs to monitor a random access response (RAR) window to receive MSG 2. In current specification, the RAR window is configured in SIB1 with the choices of [1, 2, 4, 8, 10, 20, 40, 80] slots. In case the RAR window is configured until the SBFD symbol/slot duration, then the UE transmitting the MSG 1 cannot receive the MSG 2 because the UE is in half duplex mode and the UE can only perform the UL transmission as shown in FIG. 6. Therefore, the RAR window needs to be configured until the next occasion where the non-SBFD DL symbols/slots are available as shown in FIG. 6. In this way, the UE can receive the MSG 2, however it may increase the latency of the initial/random access procedure, and the objectives of the SBFD operation in idle/inactive states cannot be achieved.

FIG. 8D illustrates a wireless communication method for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states regarding SBFD enhancement in time domain or frequency domain to support MSG 2 transmission, applied to a user equipment (UE) side according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in idle/inactive states regarding SBFD enhancement in time domain or frequency domain to support MSG 2 transmission, applied to the UE side includes an operation 804, receiving a SBFD configuration from the base station 20 through a system information block (SIB) , wherein the SBFD configuration comprises time/frequency resources of a SBFD operation in time division duplex (TDD) downlink (DL) or flexible symbols/slots for a TDD period and the SBFD configuration comprises a SBFD enhancement in time domain or frequency domain to support a MSG2 transmission, wherein at least one idle/inactive UE 10 is configured to perform either DL or uplink (UL) transmissions based on the SBFD configuration. Further, the processor 11 is configured to perform the above wireless communication method for SBFD operation in idle/inactive states regarding paging enhancement in SBFD symbols/slots, applied to the UE side. The processor 11 is also configured to perform the wireless communication method for SBFD operation in idle/inactive states regarding paging enhancement in SBFD symbols/slots, applied to the UE side in the following some embodiments.

FIG. 9D illustrates a wireless communication method for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states regarding SBFD enhancement in time domain or frequency domain to support MSG 2 transmission, applied to a base station side according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in idle/inactive states regarding SBFD enhancement in time domain or frequency domain to support MSG 2 transmission, applied to the base station side includes an operation 904, transmitting a SBFD configuration to at least one idle/inactive user equipment (UE) 10 through a system information block (SIB) , wherein the SBFD configuration comprises time/frequency resources of a SBFD operation in time division duplex (TDD) downlink (DL) or flexible symbols/slots for a TDD period and the SBFD configuration comprises a SBFD enhancement in time domain or frequency domain to support a MSG2 transmission, wherein the base station 20 indicates the at least one idle/inactive UE 10 to perform either DL or uplink (UL) transmissions based on the SBFD configuration. Further, the processor 21 is configured to perform the above wireless communication method for SBFD operation in idle/inactive states regarding paging enhancement in SBFD symbols/slots, applied to the base station side. The processor 21 is also configured to perform the wireless communication method for SBFD operation in idle/inactive states regarding paging enhancement in SBFD symbols/slots, applied to the base station side in the following some embodiments.

SBFD enhancement in time domain or frequency domain to support the MSG 2 transmission

In some embodiments, the SBFD configuration comprises a SBFD enhancement in time domain or frequency domain to support a MSG2 transmission. In some embodiments, the SBFD enhancement in time domain comprises a time domain pattern of the SBFD operation, wherein DL symbols/slots are after the SBFD symbols/slots in the time domain. In some embodiments, a starting location of the SBFD operation is from a starting of the DL symbols/slots in the time domain. In some embodiments, the SBFD enhancement in frequency domain comprises at least one flexible subband in DL symbols/slots configured with ROs for PRACH transmission and/or a random access response (RAR) window for MSG 2 reception. In some embodiments, the SBFD enhancement in frequency domain comprises at least one flexible subband in flexible symbols/slots configured with ROs for PRACH transmission and/or a RAR window for MSG 2 reception.

In details, since MSG 2 is transmitted to the same UEs 10 which transmit the PRACH in SBFD symbols/slots, which may increase the initial/random access latency and the main objective of the SBFD operation in idle/inactive UE 10 cannot be achieved. To solve this issue, some examples of the present disclosure propose the following two alternative solutions.

Solution 1: The time location of SBFD symbols/slots can be defined in a way to provide DL symbols/slots after the SBFD symbols/slots, so that the MSG 2 can be transmitted in the DL symbols/slots. For this purpose, the starting location of the SBFD operation can be starting of a slot/frame/TDD period. In other words, a new pattern of the SBFD symbols/slots can be defined in time domain such as SBFD symbols/slots –Non SBFD symbols slots. For instance, the starting location of the SBFD operation is from the starting of the DL slot as shown in FIG. 12. This can provide the opportunity for MSG 2 to be received in the upcoming DL symbols/slots after the SBFD symbols/slots as shown in FIG. 12.

Solution 2: Some examples of the present disclosure propose that flexible subbands can be used for idle/inactive states UEs 10, where a UE 10 can perform DL reception or UL transmission based on the scheduling of the base station 20. For instance, in case the UE 10 transmits the PRACH, the flexible subband can be used in UL direction. In the same way, in case a MSG 2 is transmitted by the base station 20, the flexible subband can be used in DL direction in those specific symbols/slots for the same UEs 10. In addition, the UE 10 can transmit or receive in only one direction (either UL or DL) in flexible subbands. Two possible options can be used to configure flexible subbands in SIB such as SIB1/SIBx based on the slot format configured in the SIB such as SIB1/SIB-x to the idle/inactive UE 10 as given below.

Option 1: When SBFD symbols/slots are configured in TDD DL symbols/slots, a single flexible subband can be configured which can be used in UL direction when the UE 10 transmits PRACH. Similarly, RAR window can be configured in the flexible subbands where the same UE 10 can monitor to receive the MSG 2 as shown in FIG. 13.

Option 2: When the SBFD symbols/slots are configured in flexible symbols/slots, then a single subband or all the subbands can be configured as flexible subbands to the UEs 10 via SIB such as SIB1. These flexible subbands can be used for UL transmission when the UE 10 transmits PRACH in the configured RO. Similarly, the RAR can be configured in the flexible subband, where the same UEs 10 can receive MSG 2 as shown in FIG. 14.

Frequency hopping of MSG 3 issue

There is still at least one issue regarding frequency hopping of a third message (MSG 3) . For example, current frequency hopping (FH) parameters may lead second hops of the MSG 3 in frequency resources which is outside a bandwidth of the UL subband in SBFD symbols/slots. In current specification, for a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmission with frequency hopping scheduled by RAR UL grant or for MSG 3 PUSCH retransmission, a frequency offset for a second hop is given in Table 1. Here, the range of the frequency hopping (i.e., a RB start and a RB offset of the second frequency hopping) is according a bandwidth (BW) of an initial UL BWP. In case the current frequency hopping (FH) parameters, such as the starting RB and/or the RB offset of the legacy symbols/slots is used for the MSG 3 in the UL subband, it may lead the second hops of the MSG 3 in the frequency resources which is outside the bandwidth of the UL subband in SBFD symbols/slots.

Table 1: Frequency offset for second hop of PUSCH transmission with frequency hopping scheduled by RAR UL grant or of MSG 3 PUSCH retransmission

FIG. 8E illustrates a wireless communication method for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states regarding an enhancement to support MSG 3 transmission, applied to a user equipment (UE) side according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in idle/inactive states regarding an enhancement to support MSG 3 transmission, applied to the UE side includes an operation 801, receiving a SBFD configuration from the base station 20 through a system information block (SIB) , wherein the SBFD configuration comprises time/frequency resources of a SBFD operation in time division duplex (TDD) downlink (DL) or flexible symbols/slots for a TDD period, wherein at least one idle/inactive UE 10 is configured to perform either DL or uplink (UL) transmissions based on the SBFD configuration; and an operation 805, the at least one idle/inactive UE 10 is configured to receive a MSG 2 comprising a RAR UL grant to schedule a MSG 3, and an enhancement is added to the RAR UL grant to support a transmission of the MSG3 in SBFD symbols/slots. Further, the processor 11 is configured to perform the above wireless communication method for SBFD operation in idle/inactive states regarding paging enhancement in SBFD symbols/slots, applied to the UE side. The processor 11 is also configured to perform the wireless communication method for SBFD operation in idle/inactive states regarding paging enhancement in SBFD symbols/slots, applied to the UE side in the following some embodiments. The operations of 801 and 805 can be performed in parallel or sequentially.

FIG. 9E illustrates a wireless communication method for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states regarding an enhancement to support MSG 3 transmission, applied to a base station side according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in idle/inactive states regarding an enhancement to support MSG 3 transmission, applied to the base station side includes an operation 901, transmitting a SBFD configuration to at least one idle/inactive user equipment (UE) 10 through a system information block (SIB) , wherein the SBFD configuration comprises time/frequency resources of a SBFD operation in time division duplex (TDD) downlink (DL) or flexible symbols/slots for a TDD period, wherein the base station 20 indicates the at least one idle/inactive UE 10 to perform either DL or uplink (UL) transmissions based on the SBFD configuration; and an operation 905, the at least one idle/inactive UE 10 is configured to receive a MSG 2 comprising a RAR UL grant to schedule a MSG 3, and an enhancement is added to the RAR UL grant to support a transmission of the MSG3 in SBFD symbols/slots. Further, the processor 21 is configured to perform the above wireless communication method for SBFD operation in idle/inactive states regarding paging enhancement in SBFD symbols/slots, applied to the base station side. The processor 21 is also configured to perform the wireless communication method for SBFD operation in idle/inactive states regarding paging enhancement in SBFD symbols/slots, applied to the base station side in the following some embodiments. The operations of 901 and 905 can be performed in parallel or sequentially.

Enhancement to support transmission of MSG3 in SBFD symbols/slots

In some embodiments, the at least one idle/inactive UE is configured to receive a MSG 2 comprising a RAR UL grant to schedule a MSG 3, and an enhancement is added to the RAR UL grant to support a transmission of the MSG3 in SBFD symbols/slots. In some embodiments, the separate parameters comprise the indication of the frequency resources and a frequency hopping in the RAR UL grant.

In details, some examples of the present disclosure consider three cases where the MSG 3 transmission from the UE occurs in SBFD and non-SBFD symbols/slots and proposed solutions to solve the issues face by MSG 3 transmission in SBFD symbols/slots.

Case 1: In some embodiments, if the MSG 3 is located in the SBFD symbols/slots, the enhancement in the RAR UL grant is used to define a range of an UL frequency hopping for MSG3 physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) in the SBFD symbols/slots based on a bandwidth of the at least one UL subband. In details, case 1 assumes that the MSG 3 is located in the SBFD symbols/slots. In this case, a new range of the UL frequency hopping for MSG 3 PUSCH in SBFD symbols (e.g., the starting RB and the RB offset) is defined according to the bandwidth of the UL subband. For instance, the RB start and the RB_offset of intra slot frequency hopping in SBFD symbols for MSG 3 is given below.

Theis the starting RB within the UL subband, andis the new frequency offset in RBs between the two frequency hops within the size of the UL subband. Thefor the second frequency hop SBFD symbols can be defined according to the size of the UL subband as given in table 2.

Table 2: Frequency offset for second hop of MSG 3 transmission of UL subband

In the table 2, thefor the second frequency hop SBFD symbols can be defined according to the size of the UL subband. In addition, for the indication of the FH similar RAR field table of the existing specification can be used with MSB for the frequency hopping according to the frequency resources of the UL subband. For example, frequency offset for second hop of MSG 3 transmission of UL subband may beor

Case 2: In some embodiments, if the MSG 3 crosses a boundary of the SBFD symbols/slots and non-SBFD symbols/slots, the enhancement in the RAR UL grant is used to include an indication of separate parameters for MSG 3 scheduling. In details, case 2 assumes that the MSG 3 crosses the boundary of the SBFD and non-SBFD symbols/slots. In this case, separate parameters such as separate frequency resources and/or separate FH can be indicated for the MSG 3 which crosses the boundary of the SBFD and non-SBFD symbols/slots. Since RAR UL grant schedules a PUSCH transmission for MSG 3 from the UE 10. Therefore, the content of the RAR UL grant can be used to indicate the separate frequency resources of MSG 3 and the frequency hopping of MSG 3 in UL subband. For instance, in the RAR field table which is used to indicate the frequency location of MSG 3 in UL subband and the MSB of the frequency hopping can have separate resources for MSG 3 in non-SBFD symbols and SBFD symbols as shown in table 3. In some embodiments, a RAR grant field of the RAR UL grant comprises a PUSCH frequency resource allocation for the SBFD symbols/slots, a first value is a most significant bit (MSB) for frequency hopping in the SBFD symbols/slots, a second value is for operation without shared spectrum channel access, and/or a third value is for operation with shared spectrum channel access. In some embodiments, the first value is equal to 1 bit, the second value is equal to 13 bits, and the third value is equal to 11 bits.

Table 3: contents of the RAR UL grant, starting with the MSB and ending with the LSB

For example, in the table 3, in case the RAR grant field is frequency hopping flag, a number of bits is equal to 1. In case the RAR grant field is PUSCH frequency resource allocation in non-SBFD symbols/slots, a number of bits is equal to 14, for operation without shared spectrum channel access and/or 12, for operation with shared spectrum channel access. In case the RAR grant field is PUSCH frequency resource allocation in SBFD symbols/slots, a number of bits is equal to 1, MSB bit for FH in SBFD symbols, 13, for operation without shared spectrum channel access and/or 11, for operation with shared spectrum channel access. In case the RAR grant field is PUSCH time resource allocation, a number of bits is equal to 4. In case the RAR grant field is MCS, a number of bits is equal to 4. In case the RAR grant field is TPC command for PUSCH, a number of bits is equal to 3. In case the RAR grant field is CSI request, a number of bits is equal to 1. In case the RAR grant field is ChannelAccess-CPext, a number of bits is equal to 0, for operation without shared spectrum channel access and/or 2, for operation with shared spectrum channel access. Moreover, the separate PUSCH frequency resource allocation in SBFD symbols/slots contains MSB for the FH according to the table 2.

Case 3: In some embodiments, if one of the MSG 3 and/or a repetition of the MSG 3 is in the SBFD symbols/slots and/or another of the MSG 3 and the repetition of the MSG 3 is in non-SBFD symbols/slots, the enhancement in the RAR UL grant is used to include an indication of separate parameters for the MSG 3 in the SBFD symbols/slots. In details, Case 3 assumes, that the MSG 3 is in SBFD symbols/slots and the repetition is in non-SBFD symbols/slots or MSG3 is non-SBFD symbols and its repetition in is SBFD symbols. In this case, separate parameters such as separate frequency resources and/or frequency hopping can be configured in RAR UL grant for MSG 3 in the SBFD symbols as given in table 3.

In summary, some embodiments of the present disclosure propose SBFD operation in idle/inactive UE 10 in order to improve the PRACH and/or MSG 3 coverage, reduce the initial/random access latency, and/or improve the flexibility of initial/random access by offloading the random access from fixed UL slots to the SBFD symbols/slots. The proposed solutions are summarized as below. 1. Several rules are proposed to avoid the overlapping of PO and SBFD symbols/slots. In addition, dynamic conversion of SBFD symbols/slots to legacy symbols/slots, and flexible subbands are used to solve the issues of paging overlapping with the SBFD symbols/slots. 2. New limits of maximum ROs FDMed in frequency domain and new offset of the lowest RO from the PRB#0 are proposed in order to place the MSG 1 within the UL subband. In addition, separate parameters of the RO configuration such as separate frequency resources, offset, and UL power control parameters are proposed in SIB1 for the ROs in the SBFD symbols/slots. 3. SBFD pattern in time domain and flexible subbands are proposed to allow the timely transmission of MSG 2.4. New frequency hopping range and/or separate parameters in the RAR UL grant can be proposed to allow the accurate transmission of MSG 3 in the SBFD symbols/slots. Some embodiments of the present disclosure discuss the SBFD operation in idle/inactive and may have at least one of the following advantages. 1. Reduce the latency of the initial/random access. 2. Improve the PRACH and/or MSG3 coverage. 3. Improve the flexibility of random/initial access by offloading random access from fixed UL slots to SBFD symbols/slots.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of an example system 700 for wireless communication according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Embodiments described herein may be implemented into the system using any suitably configured hardware and/or software. FIG. 15 illustrates the system 700 including a radio frequency (RF) circuitry 710, a baseband circuitry 720, an application circuitry 730, a memory/storage 740, a display 750, a camera 760, a sensor 770, and an input/output (I/O) interface 780, coupled with each other at least as illustrated. The application circuitry 730 may include a circuitry such as, but not limited to, one or more single-core or multi-core processors. The processors may include any combination of general-purpose processors and dedicated processors, such as graphics processors, application processors, or digital signal processor. The processors may be coupled with the memory/storage and configured to execute instructions stored in the memory/storage to enable various applications and/or operating systems running on the system.

While the present disclosure has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements made without departing from the scope of the broadest interpretation of the appended claims.

Claims

A wireless communication method for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states, applied to a user equipment (UE) side, comprising:

receiving a SBFD configuration from a base station through a system information block (SIB) , wherein the SBFD configuration comprises time/frequency resources of a SBFD operation in time division duplex (TDD) downlink (DL) or flexible symbols/slots for a TDD period, wherein at least one idle/inactive UE is configured/scheduled to perform either DL or uplink (UL) transmissions based on the SBFD configuration, and the time/frequency resources of SBFD are configured to the at least one idle/inactive UE and a paging occasion (PO) is located in SBFD symbols/slots.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 1, wherein the SIB comprises a SIB1 or a SIB-x.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when the at least one idle/inactive UE is configured with SBFD symbols/slots in DL symbols/slots or flexible symbols/slots, the at least one UL subband of the SBFD symbols/slots is not allowed to be configured in symbols/slots where a paging occasion (PO) is located.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when the at least one idle/inactive UE is configured with SBFD symbols/slots in DL symbols/slots or flexible symbols/slots, the at least one UL subband of the SBFD symbols/slots is allowed to be configured in symbols/slots where a PO is located, and the at least one idle/inactive UE is not allowed to transmit in the at least one UL subband of the SBFD symbols/slots.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when the at least one idle/inactive UE is configured with SBFD symbols/slots in DL symbols/slots or flexible symbols/slots, the SBFD symbols/slots are allowed to be configured in symbols/slots where a PO is located, and whether the at least one idle/inactive UE is allowed or not allowed to transmit in the at least one UL subband of the SBFD symbols/slots is based on the base station configuration/scheduling.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one idle/inactive UE is configured with at least one flexible subband to perform DL reception or UL transmission based on the base station configuration.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 6, wherein the at least one flexible subband is configured in DL symbols/slots or flexible symbols/slots.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 7, wherein a configuration of the at least one flexible subband comprises a starting and a number of symbols/slots of the at least one flexible subband and/or a starting and a number of resource blocks (RBs) of each of the at least one flexible subband.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the at least one flexible subband in the DL symbols/slots is configured for the TDD period with a periodicity.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when the at least one idle/inactive UE monitors a paging physical downlink control channel/physical downlink shared channel (PDCCH/PDSCH) , the at least one idle/inactive UE determines that the SBFD symbols/slots overlapped with a PO are changed to non-SBFD DL symbols/slots through a downlink control information (DCI) .
A wireless communication method for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states, applied to a user equipment (UE) side, comprising:

receiving a SBFD configuration from a base station through a system information block (SIB) , wherein the SBFD configuration comprises time/frequency resources of a SBFD operation in time division duplex (TDD) downlink (DL) or flexible symbols/slots for a TDD period, wherein at least one idle/inactive UE is configured/scheduled to perform either DL or uplink (UL) transmissions based on the SBFD configuration, and the SBFD configuration comprises a random access channel (RACH) occasion (RO) enhancement in the SBFD symbols/slots.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 11, wherein the SBFD configuration of ROs enhancement comprises a maximum limit of ROs in frequency domain to confine the ROs in the frequency resources of the at least one UL subband in the SBFD symbols/slots.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 12, wherein a maximum number of the ROs configured in the at least one UL subband is limited to a range of {1, 2, and 4} .
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 11, wherein a configuration of ROs in the SBFD symbols/slots comprises a separate offset in frequency domain with respect to a physical resource block 0 of a DL/UL bandwidth part (BWP) to a lowest RO in the at least one UL subband.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 11, wherein separate parameters of ROs in the SBFD symbols/slots comprise a separate frequency resources of the ROs in the SBFD symbols/slots, a separate maximum number of the ROs frequency division multiplexed (FDMed) in the SBFD symbols/slots, and separate UL power control parameters of the ROs in the SBFD symbols/slots.
A wireless communication method for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states, applied to a user equipment (UE) side, comprising:

receiving a SBFD configuration from a base station through a system information block (SIB) , wherein the SBFD configuration comprises time/frequency resources of a SBFD operation in time division duplex (TDD) downlink (DL) or flexible symbols/slots for a TDD period, wherein at least one idle/inactive UE is configured/scheduled to perform either DL or uplink (UL) transmissions based on the SBFD configuration, and the SBFD configuration comprises a SBFD enhancement in time domain or frequency domain to support a MSG2 transmission.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 16, wherein the SBFD enhancement in time domain comprises a time domain pattern of the SBFD operation, wherein DL symbols/slots are located after the SBFD symbols/slots in the time domain.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 17, wherein a starting location of the SBFD operation is from a starting of the DL symbols/slots in the time domain.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 16, wherein the SBFD enhancement in frequency domain comprises at least one flexible subband in DL symbols/slots configured with ROs for PRACH transmission and/or a random access response (RAR) window for MSG 2 reception.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 16, wherein the SBFD enhancement in frequency domain comprises at least one flexible subband in flexible symbols/slots configured with ROs for PRACH transmission and/or a RAR window for MSG 2 reception.
A wireless communication method for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states, applied to a user equipment (UE) side, comprising:

receiving a SBFD configuration from a base station through a system information block (SIB) , wherein the SBFD configuration comprises time/frequency resources of a SBFD operation in time division duplex (TDD) downlink (DL) or flexible symbols/slots for a TDD period, wherein at least one idle/inactive UE is configured/scheduled to perform either DL or uplink (UL) transmissions based on the SBFD configuration, and the at least one idle/inactive UE is configured to receive a MSG 2 comprising a RAR UL grant to schedule a MSG 3, and an enhancement is added to the RAR UL grant to support a transmission of the MSG3 in SBFD symbols/slots.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 21, wherein if the MSG 3 is located in the SBFD symbols/slots, the enhancement in the RAR UL grant is used to define a range of an UL frequency hopping for MSG3 physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) in the SBFD symbols/slots based on a bandwidth of the at least one UL subband.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 21, wherein if the MSG 3 crosses a boundary of the SBFD symbols/slots and non-SBFD symbols/slots, the enhancement in the RAR UL grant is used to include an indication of separate parameters for MSG 3 scheduling.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 21, wherein if one of the MSG 3 and/or a repetition of the MSG 3 is in the SBFD symbols/slots and/or another of the MSG 3 and the repetition of the MSG 3 is in non-SBFD symbols/slots, the enhancement in the RAR UL grant is used to include an indication of separate parameters for the MSG 3 in the SBFD symbols/slots.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 23 or 24, wherein the separate parameters comprise the indication of the frequency resources and a frequency hopping in the RAR UL grant.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 25, wherein a RAR grant field of the RAR UL grant comprises a PUSCH frequency resource allocation for the SBFD symbols/slots, a first value is a most significant bit (MSB) for frequency hopping in the SBFD symbols/slots, a second value is for operation without shared spectrum channel access, and/or a third value is for operation with shared spectrum channel access.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 26, wherein the first value is equal to 1 bit, the second value is equal to 13 bits, and the third value is equal to 11 bits.
A wireless communication method for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states, applied to a base station side, comprising:

transmitting a SBFD configuration to at least one idle/inactive user equipment (UE) through a system information block (SIB) , wherein the SBFD configuration comprises time/frequency resources of a SBFD operation in time division duplex (TDD) downlink (DL) or flexible symbols/slots for a TDD period, wherein a base station indicates the at least one idle/inactive UE to perform either DL or uplink (UL) transmissions based on the SBFD configuration, and the time/frequency resources of SBFD are configured to the at least one idle/inactive UE and a paging occasion (PO) is located in SBFD symbols/slots.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 28, wherein the SIB comprises a SIB1 or a SIB-x.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 28 or 29, wherein when the base station configures, to the at least one idle/inactive UE, SBFD symbols/slots in DL symbols/slots or flexible symbols/slots, at least one UL subband of the SBFD symbols/slots is not allowed to be configured in symbols/slots where a paging occasion (PO) is located.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 28 or 29, wherein when the base station configures, to the at least one idle/inactive UE, SBFD symbols/slots in DL symbols/slots or flexible symbols/slots, at least one UL subband of the SBFD symbols/slots is allowed to be configured in symbols/slots where a PO is located, and the at least one idle/inactive UE is not allowed to transmit in the at least one UL subband of the SBFD symbols/slots.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 28 or 29, wherein when the base station configures, to the at least one idle/inactive UE, SBFD symbols/slots in DL symbols/slots or flexible symbols/slots, the SBFD symbols/slots are allowed to be configured in slots/symbols where a PO is located, and whether the at least one idle/inactive UE is allowed or not allowed to transmit in the at least one UL subband of the SBFD symbols/slots is based on the SBFD configuration.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 28 or 29, wherein the base station configures, to the at least one idle/inactive UE, at least one flexible subband to allow the at least one idle/inactive UE to perform DL reception or UL transmission based on the SBFD configuration.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 33, wherein the at least one flexible subband is configured in DL symbols/slots or flexible symbols/slots.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 34, wherein a configuration of the at least one flexible subband comprises a starting and a number of symbols/slots of the at least one flexible subband and/or a starting and a number of resource blocks (RBs) of each of the at least one flexible subband.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 34 or 35, wherein the at least one flexible subband in the DL symbols/slots is configured for the TDD period with a periodicity.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 28 or 29, wherein when the base station transmits a paging physical downlink control channel/physical downlink shared channel (PDCCH/PDSCH) to the at least one idle/inactive UE, the base station indicates the at least one idle/inactive UE that the SBFD symbols/slots overlapped with a PO are changed to non-SBFD DL symbols/slots through a downlink control information (DCI) .
A wireless communication method for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states, applied to a base station side, comprising:

transmitting a SBFD configuration to at least one idle/inactive user equipment (UE) through a system information block (SIB) , wherein the SBFD configuration comprises time/frequency resources of a SBFD operation in time division duplex (TDD) downlink (DL) or flexible symbols/slots for a TDD period, wherein a base station indicates the at least one idle/inactive UE to perform either DL or uplink (UL) transmissions based on the SBFD configuration, and the SBFD configuration comprises a random access channel (RACH) occasion (RO) enhancement in the SBFD symbols/slots.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 38, wherein the SBFD configuration of ROs comprises a maximum limit of ROs in frequency domain to confine the ROs in the frequency resources of the at least one UL subband in the SBFD symbols/slots.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 39, wherein a maximum number of the ROs configured in the at least one UL subband is limited to a range of {1, 2, and 4} .
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 38, wherein a configuration of ROs in the SBFD symbols/slots comprises a separate offset in frequency domain with respect to a physical resource block 0 of a DL/UL bandwidth part (BWP) to a lowest RO in the at least one UL subband.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 38, wherein separate parameters of ROs in the SBFD symbols/slots comprise a separate frequency resources of the ROs in the SBFD symbols/slots, a separate maximum number of the ROs frequency division multiplexed (FDMed) in the SBFD symbols/slots, and separate UL power control parameters of the ROs in the SBFD symbols/slots.
A wireless communication method for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states, applied to a base station side, comprising:

transmitting a SBFD configuration to at least one idle/inactive user equipment (UE) through a system information block (SIB) , wherein the SBFD configuration comprises time/frequency resources of a SBFD operation in time division duplex (TDD) downlink (DL) or flexible symbols/slots for a TDD period, wherein a base station indicates the at least one idle/inactive UE to perform either DL or uplink (UL) transmissions based on the SBFD configuration, and the SBFD configuration comprises a SBFD enhancement in time domain or frequency domain to support a MSG2 transmission.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 43, wherein the SBFD enhancement in time domain comprises a time domain pattern of the SBFD operation, wherein DL symbols/slots are after the SBFD symbols/slots in the time domain.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 44, wherein a starting location of the SBFD operation is from a starting of the DL symbols/slots in the time domain.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 43, wherein the SBFD enhancement in frequency domain comprises at least one flexible subband in DL symbols/slots configured with ROs for PRACH transmission and/or a random access response (RAR) window for MSG 2 reception.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 43, wherein the SBFD enhancement in frequency domain comprises at least one flexible subband in flexible symbols/slots configured with ROs for PRACH transmission and/or a RAR window for MSG 2 reception.
A wireless communication method for sub-band full duplex (SBFD) operation in idle/inactive states, applied to a base station side, comprising:

transmitting a SBFD configuration to at least one idle/inactive user equipment (UE) through a system information block (SIB) , wherein the SBFD configuration comprises time/frequency resources of a SBFD operation in time division duplex (TDD) downlink (DL) or flexible symbols/slots for a TDD period, wherein a base station indicates the at least one idle/inactive UE to perform either DL or uplink (UL) transmissions based on the SBFD configuration, and the at least one idle/inactive UE is configured to receive a MSG 2 comprising a RAR UL grant to schedule a MSG 3, and an enhancement is added to the RAR UL grant to support a transmission of the MSG3 in SBFD symbols/slots.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 48, wherein if the MSG 3 is located in the SBFD symbols/slots, the enhancement in the RAR UL grant is used to define a range of an UL frequency hopping for MSG3 physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) in the SBFD symbols/slots based on a bandwidth of the at least one UL subband.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 48, wherein if the MSG 3 crosses a boundary of the SBFD symbols/slots and non-SBFD symbols/slots, the enhancement in the RAR UL grant is used to include an indication of separate parameters for MSG 3 scheduling.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 48, wherein if one of the MSG 3 and/or a repetition of the MSG 3 is in the SBFD symbols/slots and/or another of the MSG 3 and the repetition of the MSG 3 is in non-SBFD symbols/slots, the enhancement in the RAR UL grant is used to include an indication of separate parameters for the MSG 3 in the SBFD symbols/slots.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 50 or 51, wherein the separate parameters comprise the indication of the frequency resources and a frequency hopping in the RAR UL grant.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 52, wherein a RAR grant field of the RAR UL grant comprises a PUSCH frequency resource allocation for the SBFD symbols/slots, a first value is a most significant bit (MSB) for frequency hopping in the SBFD symbols/slots, a second value is for operation without shared spectrum channel access, and/or a third value is for operation with shared spectrum channel access.
The wireless communication method for SBFD operation in the idle/inactive states according to claim 53, wherein the first value is equal to 1 bit, the second value is equal to 13 bits, and the third value is equal to 11 bits.
A user equipment (UE) , comprising:

a memory;

a transceiver; and

a processor coupled to the memory and the transceiver;

wherein the UE is configured to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 27.
A base station, comprising:

a memory;

a transceiver; and

a processor coupled to the memory and the transceiver;

wherein the base station is configured to perform the method of any one of claims 28 to 54.