WO2025219198A1 - Dynamic waveform switching - Google Patents

Abstract

There is herein provided a method comprising: receiving, from a network node, an uplink grant comprising a waveform indicator field, and a modulation and coding scheme, MCS, field; determining a configuration set for the apparatus, wherein the configuration set defines a set of parameters for uplink transmission from the apparatus to the network node; determining whether at least one parameter of the set of parameters comprised in the configuration set is within a predetermined range; and interpreting the MCS field based upon the waveform indicator field and the determination of whether the at least one parameter is within the predetermined range.

Description

Dynamic Waveform Switching

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Fl application No. 20245478 filed on 16 April 2024, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Field

Example embodiments may relate to an apparatus, method and/or computer program for dynamic waveform switching.

Background

Communication systems enable communication between two or more nodes or devices, such as fixed or mobile communication devices. Signals can be carried on wireless carriers.

An example of a cellular communication system is an architecture that is being standardized by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). Developments in this field are often referred to as the long-term evolution (LTE) of the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) radio-access technology. E-UTRA (evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access) is the air interface of 3GPP's Long Term Evolution (LTE) upgrade path for mobile networks. In LTE, base stations, network nodes or access points, which are referred to as enhanced Node AP or Evolved Node B (eNBs), provide wireless access within a coverage area or cell. In LTE, mobile devices, or mobile stations are referred to as user equipment (UE). LTE has included a number of improvements or developments.

5G New Radio (NR) development is part of a continued mobile broadband evolution process to meet the requirements of 5G, similar to earlier evolution of 3G & 4G wireless networks. In addition, 5G is also targeted at the new emerging use cases in addition to mobile broadband. A goal of 5G is to provide significant improvement in wireless performance, which may include new levels of data rate, latency, reliability, and security. 5G NR may also scale to efficiently connect the massive Internet of Things (loT), and may offer new types of mission-critical services. Ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC) devices may require high reliability and very low latency.

In some wireless communication systems, more than one signal waveform is usable in wireless communication between a user equipment, UE, and an access node, such as, for example, a base station. A waveform of a signal corresponds to a shape of a graph of the signal as a function of time. Examples of waveforms include sinusoid, square and triangle waveforms, although in communication systems the waveforms are more complex in shape owing to modulation used. Modulation used in wireless communication systems may be of a high order, and in general a modulation scheme is correlated with a characteristic waveform of the modulation scheme.

Summary

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

According to a first aspect there is herein provided an apparatus, comprising: means for receiving, from a network node, an uplink grant comprising a waveform indicator field; means for determining a configuration set for the apparatus. The configuration set defines a set of parameters for uplink transmission from the apparatus to the network node. The apparatus further comprises means for interpreting, based on the configuration set, whether the waveform indicator field is for a first purpose or a second purpose.

According to some embodiments, the waveform indicator field may comprise a transform precoder indicator field.

According to some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for generating a waveform based on the interpretation of the waveform indicator field.

According to some embodiments, the configuration set is either a cyclic prefix orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, CP-OFDM, configuration set or a discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, DFT-S-OFDM, configuration set.

According to some embodiments, the means for determining the configuration set for the apparatus, is based on at least one of the following: the uplink grant; a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE, command received at the apparatus; a radio resource control, RRC, command received at the apparatus.

According to some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for transmitting, to the network node, prior to receiving the MAC CE command or the RRC command from the network node, at least one capability parameter for the apparatus.

According to some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for determining the configuration set for the apparatus, based on at least one capability parameter for the apparatus.

According to some embodiments, the at least one capability parameter comprises at least one of: spectral shaping, constellation, a physical uplink shared channel, PUSCH, repetition, tone reservation, peak cancellation signal, a frequency-domain spectral shaping, FDSS, a frequency-domain spectral shaping with spectral extension, FDSS-SE, trellis modulation, index modulation, and power boost.

According to some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for determining whether at least one parameter of the set of parameters comprised in the configuration set is within a predetermined range.

According to some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for, upon determining that the at least one parameter is within the predetermined range, interpreting the waveform indicator field for the first purpose; or means for, upon determining that the at least one parameter is not within the predetermined range, interpreting the waveform indicator field for the second purpose.

According to some embodiments, the at least one parameter comprised in the uplink grant and predetermined range relate to at least one of the following: a modulation order; a modulation and coding scheme, MCS; a physical resource block, PRB allocation; a number of layers.

According to some embodiments, the first purpose comprises interpreting the waveform indicator field as a waveform type, wherein the waveform type comprises either cyclic prefix orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, CP-OFDM or discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, DFT-S-OFDM.

According to some embodiments, the second purpose comprises interpreting the waveform indicator field as a configuration of at least one parameter for uplink transmission scheduled by the uplink grant, and wherein the at least one parameter for the uplink transmission relates to at least one of the following: a physical uplink shared channel, PUSCH, repetition; a number of PUSCH repetitions; a channel state information, CSI, reporting; a sounding reference signal, SRS, transmission; a cross-link interference, CLI, measurement reporting; a time-domain channel property reporting; a user equipment, UE, speed reporting; a modulation and coding, MCS, table type; spectral shaping; tone reservation; peak cancellation signal; a frequency-domain spectral shaping, FDSS; a frequency-domain spectral shaping with spectral extension, FDSS-SE; Trellis modulation; index modulation; a number of bit conveyed by index modulation; a frequency hopping offset; a constellation type; power boost; maximum power reduction, MPR, value.

According to some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for receiving an indication of the at least one parameter for the uplink transmission for the second purpose from the network node.

According to some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for determining, at the apparatus, the at least one parameter for the uplink transmission for the second purpose based on at least one capability parameter for the apparatus.

According to some embodiments, the apparatus comprises a user equipment, UE.

According to a second aspect there is herein provided a method comprising: receiving, from a network node, an uplink grant comprising a waveform indicator field; determining a configuration set for the apparatus, wherein the configuration set defines a set of parameters for uplink transmission from the apparatus to the network node; and interpreting, based on the configuration set, whether the waveform indicator field is for a first purpose or a second purpose.

According to a third aspect there is herein provided an apparatus comprising means for: means for transmitting, to a user equipment, UE, an uplink grant comprising the waveform indicator field, wherein the waveform indicator field is set for a first purpose or a second purpose.

According to some embodiments, the waveform indicator field is a transform precoder indicator field.

According to some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for transmitting, to the UE, a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE, command or a radio resource control, RRC, command. According to some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for receiving, from the UE, prior to transmitting the MAC CE command or the RRC command from the apparatus, at least one capability parameter for the apparatus.

According to some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for determining the waveform indicator field, based on the at least one capability parameter for the apparatus.

According to some embodiments, the at least one capability parameter comprises at least one of: spectral shaping, constellation, a physical uplink shared channel, PUSCH, repetition, tone reservation, peak cancellation signal, a frequency-domain spectral shaping, FDSS, a frequency-domain spectral shaping with spectral extension, FDSS-SE, trellis modulation, index modulation, and power boost.

According to some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for setting the waveform indicator field in the uplink grant, comprising: means for, upon determining that at least one parameter in the waveform indicator field is within a predetermined range, setting the waveform indicator field for the first purpose; or means for, upon determining that the at least one parameter in the waveform indicator field is not within the predetermined range, setting the waveform indicator field for the second purpose.

According to some embodiments the least one parameter in the waveform indicator field and the predetermined range relate to at least one of the following: a modulation order; a modulation and coding scheme, MCS; a physical resource block, PRB allocation; a number of layers.

According to some embodiments, the first purpose comprises the waveform indicator field is set as the waveform type. The waveform type comprises either cyclic prefix orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, CP-OFDM or discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, DFT-S-OFDM.

According to some embodiments the second purpose comprises the waveform indicator field is set as a configuration of at least one parameter for uplink transmission scheduled by the uplink grant. The at least one parameter for uplink transmission relates to at least one of the following: a physical uplink shared channel, PUSCH, repetition; a number of PUSCH repetitions; a channel state information, CSI, reporting; a sounding reference signal, SRS, transmission; a cross-link interference, CLI, measurement reporting; a time-domain channel property reporting; a user equipment, UE, speed reporting; modulation and coding, MCS, table type; spectral shaping; tone reservation; peak cancellation signal; a frequency-domain spectral shaping, FDSS; a frequency-domain spectral shaping with spectral extension, FDSS-SE; Trellis modulation; index modulation; a number of bit conveyed by index modulation; a frequency hopping offset; a constellation type; power boost; maximum power reduction, MPR, value.

According to some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for transmitting, to the UE, an indication of the at least one parameter for the uplink transmission for the second purpose from the network node.

According to some embodiments, the apparatus comprises a network node of a communication network.

According to a fourth aspect there is herein provided a method comprising transmitting, to a user equipment, UE, an uplink grant comprising the waveform indicator field. The waveform indicator field is set for a first purpose or a second purpose.

According to a fifth aspect there is herein provided an apparatus comprising means for: means for receiving, from a network node, an uplink grant comprising a waveform indicator field, and a modulation and coding scheme, MCS, field; means for determining a configuration set for the apparatus, wherein the configuration set defines a set of parameters for uplink transmission from the apparatus to the network node; means for determining whether at least one parameter of the set of parameters comprised in the configuration set is within a predetermined range; and means for interpreting the MCS field based upon the waveform indicator field and the determination of whether the at least one parameter is within the predetermined range.

According to some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for interpreting the MCS field as an MCS index based on the at least one parameter being within the predetermined range.

According to some embodiments, the waveform indicator field defines a waveform type as cyclic prefix orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, CP-OFDM or discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, DFT-S-OFDM.

According to some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for interpreting the MCS field as a purpose other than MCS index based on the at least one parameter not being within the predetermined range. According to some embodiments, the waveform indicator field defines a waveform type as discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, DFT-S-OFDM.

According to some embodiments, interpreting the MCS field as the purpose other than the MCS index, comprises interpreting the MCS field as a number of a physical uplink shared channel, PUSCH, repetitions or a combination of MCS index and the number of PUSCH repetitions.

According to some embodiments, the at least one parameter comprised in the configuration set and predetermined range relate to at least one of the following: a modulation order; the modulation and coding scheme index, MCS; a physical resource block, PRB allocation; a number of layers.

According to some embodiments, the waveform indicator field comprises a transform precoder indicator field.

According to some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for determining the configuration set for the apparatus, based on at least one of the following: the uplink grant; a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE, command received at the apparatus; a radio resource control, RRC, command received at the apparatus.

According to some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for transmitting, to the network node, prior to receiving the MAC CE command or the RRC command from the network node, at least one capability parameter for the apparatus.

According to some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for determining the configuration set for the apparatus, based on at least one capability parameter for the apparatus.

According to some embodiments, the at least one capability parameter comprises at least one of: spectral shaping, constellation, a physical uplink shared channel, PUSCH, repetition, tone reservation, peak cancellation signal, a frequency-domain spectral shaping, FDSS, a frequency-domain spectral shaping with spectral extension, FDSS-SE, trellis modulation, index modulation, and power boost.

According to some embodiments, wherein the configuration set is either a cyclic prefix orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, CP-OFDM, configuration set or a discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, DFT-S-OFDM, configuration set.

According to some embodiments, the apparatus comprises a user equipment, UE.

According to a sixth aspect there is herein provided a method comprising: receiving, from a network node, an uplink grant comprising a waveform indicator field, and a modulation and coding scheme, MCS, field; determining a configuration set for the apparatus, wherein the configuration set defines a set of parameters for uplink transmission from the apparatus to the network node; determining whether at least one parameter of the set of parameters comprised in the configuration set is within a predetermined range; and interpreting the MCS field based upon the waveform indicator field and the determination of whether the at least one parameter is within the predetermined range.

According to a seventh aspect there is herein provided an apparatus comprising: means for transmitting, to a user equipment, UE, an uplink grant comprising a waveform indicator field and a modulation and coding scheme, MCS field; means for transmitting a configuration set to the UE, wherein the configuration set defines a set of parameters for uplink transmission from the apparatus to the network node; means for determining whether at least one parameter of the set of parameters comprised in the configuration set is within a predetermined range; and means for setting the MCS field based upon the waveform type and the determination of whether the at least one parameter is within the predetermined range.

According to some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for setting the MCS field with the MCS based on the at least one parameter being within the predetermined range.

According to some embodiments, the waveform indicator field defines a waveform type as cyclic prefix orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, CP-OFDM or discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, DFT-S-OFDM.

According to some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for setting the MCS field as a purpose other than MCS index based on the at least one parameter not being within the predetermined range.

According to some embodiments, the waveform indicator field defines a waveform type as discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, DFT-S-OFDM. According to some embodiments, interpreting the MCS field as the purpose other than the MCS index, comprises interpreting the MCS field as a number of a physical uplink shared channel, PUSCH, repetitions.

According to some embodiments, the at least one parameter comprised in the configuration set and predetermined range relate to at least one of the following: a modulation order; the modulation and coding scheme index, MCS; a physical resource block, PRB allocation; a number of layers.

According to some embodiments, the waveform indicator field comprises a transform precoder indicator field.

According to some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for transmitting, to the UE, a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE, command or a radio resource control, RRC, command.

According to some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for receiving, from the UE, prior to transmitting the MAC CE command or the RRC command from the apparatus, at least one capability parameter for the apparatus.

According to some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for determining the waveform indicator field and/or MCS field, based on the at least one capability parameter for the apparatus.

According to some embodiments, the apparatus comprises a network node of a communication network.

According to an eight aspect there is herein provided a method comprising: transmitting, to a user equipment, UE, an uplink grant comprising a waveform indicator field and a modulation and coding scheme, MCS field; transmitting a configuration set to the UE, wherein the configuration set defines a set of parameters for uplink transmission from the apparatus to the network node; determining whether at least one parameter of the set of parameters comprised in the configuration set is within a predetermined range; and setting the MCS field based upon the waveform type and the determination of whether the at least one parameter is within the predetermined range.

Brief Description of the Drawings Example embodiments will now be described by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows, by way of example, a network architecture of a communication system;

FIG. 2 shows, by way of example, a maximum power reduction table for a power class 3;

FIG. 3 shows, by way of example, a maximum power reduction table for a power class 2;

FIG. 4 shows, by way of example, a flowchart of a method for a UE;

FIG. 5 shows, by way of example, a flowchart of a method for a network node;

FIG. 6 shows, by way of example, a further flowchart of a method for a UE;

FIG. 7 shows, by way of example, modulation and coding scheme tables for different waveform types;

FIG. 8 shows, by way of example, a further flowchart of a method for a network node;

FIG. 9 shows, by way of example, a block diagram of an apparatus.

Detailed Description

The following embodiments are exemplifying. Although the specification may refer to “an”, “one”, or “some” embodiment(s) in several locations of the text, this does not necessarily mean that each reference is made to the same embodiment(s), or that a particular feature only applies to a single embodiment. Single features of different embodiments may also be combined to provide other embodiments.

In the following, different example embodiments will be described using, as an example of an access architecture to which the example embodiments maybe applied, a radio access architecture based on longterm evolution advanced (LTE Advanced, LTE-A), new radio (NR, 5G), beyond 5G, or sixth generation (6G) without restricting the example embodiments to such an architecture, however. It is obvious for a person skilled in the art that the example embodiments may also be applied to other kinds of communications networks having suitable means by adjusting parameters and procedures appropriately. Some examples of other options for suitable systems may be the universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) radio access network (UTRAN or E-UTRAN), long term evolution (LTE, substantially the same as E-UTRA), wireless local area network (WLAN or Wi-Fi), worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX), Bluetooth®, personal communications services (PCS), ZigBee®, wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), systems using ultra-wideband (UWB) technology, sensor networks, mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs) and Internet Protocol multimedia subsystems (IMS) or any combination thereof.

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

The example embodiments are not, however, restricted to the system given as an example but a person skilled in the art may apply the solution to other communication systems provided with necessary properties. The example of FIG. 1 shows a part of an exemplifying radio access network.

FIG. 1 shows user devices 100 and 102 (which may also be herein referred to as user equipments, UEs) configured to be in a wireless connection on one or more communication channels in a radio cell with an access node 104, such as an evolved Node B (abbreviated as eNB or eNodeB) or a next generation Node B (abbreviated as gNB or gNodeB), providing the radio cell. The physical link from a user device to an access node may be called uplink (UL) or reverse link, and the physical link from the access node to the user device may be called downlink (DL) or forward link. A user device may also communicate directly with another user device via sidelink (SL) communication. It should be appreciated that access nodes or their functionalities may be implemented by using any node, host, server or access point etc. entity suitable for such a usage.

A communication system may comprise more than one access node, in which case the access nodes may also be configured to communicate with one another over links, wired or wireless, designed for the purpose. These links may be used for signaling purposes. The access node may be a computing device configured to control the radio resources of communication system it is coupled to. The access node may also be referred to as a base station, a base transceiver station (BTS), an access point or any other type of interfacing device including a relay station capable of operating in a wireless environment. The access node may include or be coupled to transceivers. From the transceivers of the access node, a connection may be provided to an antenna unit that establishes bi-directional radio links to user devices. The antenna unit may comprise a plurality of antennas or antenna elements. The access node may further be connected to a core network 110 (CN or next generation core NGC). Depending on the system, the counterpart on the CN side may be a serving gateway (S-GW, routing and forwarding user data packets), packet data network gateway (P-GW) for providing connectivity of user devices to external packet data networks, user plane function (UPF), mobility management entity (MME), access and mobility management function (AMF), or location management function (LMF), etc. The user device illustrates one type of an apparatus to which resources on the air interface may be allocated and assigned, and thus any feature described herein with a user device may be implemented with a corresponding apparatus, such as a relay node.

An example of such a relay node may be a layer 3 relay (self-backhauling relay) towards the access node. The self-backhauling relay node may also be called an integrated access and backhaul (1AB) node. The 1 AB node may comprise two logical parts: a mobile termination (MT) part, which takes care of the backhaul link(s) (i.e., link(s) between 1 AB node and a donor node, also known as a parent node) and a distributed unit (DU) part, which takes care of the access link(s), i.e., child link(s) between the 1 AB node and user device(s), and/or between the 1 AB node and other 1 AB nodes (multi-hop scenario).

Another example of such a relay node may be a layer 1 relay called a repeater. The repeater may amplify a signal received from an access node and forward it to a user device, and/or amplify a signal received from the user device and forward it to the access node.

The user device may also be called a subscriber unit, mobile station, remote terminal, access terminal, user terminal, terminal device, or user equipment (UE) just to mention but a few names or apparatuses. The user device may refer to a portable computing device that includes wireless mobile communication devices operating with or without a subscriber identification module (SIM), including, but not limited to, the following types of devices: a mobile station (mobile phone), smartphone, personal digital assistant (PDA), handset, device using a wireless modem (alarm or measurement device, etc.), laptop and/or touch screen computer, tablet, game console, notebook, and multimedia device. It should be appreciated that a user device may also be a nearly exclusive uplink only device, of which an example may be a camera or video camera loading images or video clips to a network. A user device may also be a device having capability to operate in Internet of Things (loT) network which is a scenario in which objects may be provided with the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to- computer interaction. The user device may also utilize cloud. In some applications, a user device may comprise a small portable or wearable device with radio parts (such as a watch, earphones or eyeglasses) and the computation may be carried out in the cloud. The user device (or in some example embodiments a layer 3 relay node) may be configured to perform one or more of user equipment functionalities. The user device may also comprise, or be comprised in, a robot or a vehicle such as a train or a car.

Various techniques described herein may also be applied to a cyberphysical system (CPS) (a system of collaborating computational elements controlling physical entities). CPS may enable the implementation and exploitation of massive amounts of interconnected ICT devices (sensors, actuators, processors microcontrollers, etc.) embedded in physical objects at different locations. Mobile cyber physical systems, in which the physical system in question may have inherent mobility, are a subcategory of cyber-physical systems. Examples of mobile physical systems include mobile robotics and electronics transported by humans or animals.

Additionally, although the apparatuses have been depicted as single entities, different units, processors and/or memory units (not all shown in FIG. 1) may be implemented.

5G enables using multiple input - multiple output (M1 M0) antennas, many more base stations or nodes than the LTE (a so-called small cell concept), including macro sites operating in co-operation with smaller stations and employing a variety of radio technologies depending on service needs, use cases and/or spectrum available. 5G mobile communications may support a wide range of use cases and related applications including video streaming, augmented reality, different ways of data sharing and various forms of machine type applications (such as (massive) machine-type communications (mMTC), including vehicular safety, different sensors and real-time control. 5G may have multiple radio interfaces, namely below 6GHz, cmWave and mmWave, and also being integrable with existing legacy radio access technologies, such as the LTE. Integration with the LTE may be implemented, at least in the early phase, as a system, where macro coverage may be provided by the LTE, and 5G radio interface access may come from small cells by aggregation to the LTE. In other words, 5G supports both inter-RAT operability (such as LTE-5G) and inter-RI operability (inter-radio interface operability, such as below 6GHz - cmWave - mmWave). One of the concepts considered to be used in 5G networks may be network slicing, in which multiple independent and dedicated virtual sub-networks (network instances) may be created within the substantially same infrastructure to run services that have different requirements on latency, reliability, throughput and mobility.

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

The communication system may also be able to communicate with other networks, such as a public switched telephone network or the Internet 17, or utilize services provided by them. The communication network may also be able to support the usage of cloud services, for example at least part of core network operations may be carried out as a cloud service (this is depicted in FIG. 1 by “cloud” 114). The communication system may also comprise a central control entity, or a like, providing facilities for networks of different operators to cooperate for example in spectrum sharing.

Edge cloud may be brought into radio access network (RAN) by utilizing network function virtualization (NFV) and software defined networking (SDN). Using edge cloud may mean access node operations to be carried out, at least partly, in a server, host or node operationally coupled to a remote radio head (RRH) or a radio unit (RU), or an access node comprising radio parts. It may also be possible that node operations are distributed among a plurality of servers, nodes or hosts. Carrying out the RAN real-time functions at the RAN side (in a distributed unit, DU 104) and non-real time functions in a centralized manner (in a central unit, CU 108) may be enabled for example by application of cloudRAN architecture.

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

5G may also utilize non-terrestrial communication, for example satellite communication, to enhance or complement the coverage of 5G service, for example by providing backhauling. Possible use cases may be providing service continuity for machine-to-machine (M2M) or Internet of Things (loT) devices or for passengers on board of vehicles, or ensuring service availability for critical communications, and future railway/maritime/aeronautical communications. Satellite communication may utilize geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellite systems, but also low earth orbit (LEO) satellite systems, in particular megaconstellations (systems in which hundreds of (nano)satellites are deployed). At least one satellite 106 in the mega-constellation may cover several satellite- enabled network entities that create on-ground cells. The on-ground cells may be created through an on-ground relay node 104 or by a gNB located on- ground or in a satellite. 6G networks are expected to adopt flexible decentralized and/or distributed computing systems and architecture and ubiquitous computing, with local spectrum licensing, spectrum sharing, infrastructure sharing, and intelligent automated management underpinned by mobile edge computing, artificial intelligence, short-packet communication and blockchain technologies. Key features of 6G may include intelligent connected management and control functions, programmability, integrated sensing and communication, reduction of energy footprint, trustworthy infrastructure, scalability and affordability. In addition to these, 6G is also targeting new use cases covering the integration of localization and sensing capabilities into system definition to unifying user experience across physical and digital worlds.

It is obvious for a person skilled in the art that the depicted system is only an example of a part of a radio access system and in practice, the system may comprise a plurality of access nodes, the user device may have an access to a plurality of radio cells and the system may also comprise other apparatuses, such as physical layer relay nodes or other network elements, etc. At least one of the access nodes may be a Home eNodeB or a Home gNodeB.

Furthermore, the access node may also be split into: a radio unit (RU) comprising a radio transceiver (TRX), i.e. , a transmitter (Tx) and a receiver (Rx); one or more distributed units (Dlls) that may be used for the so-called Layer 1 (LI) processing and real-time Layer 2 (L2) processing; and a central unit (CU) (also known as a centralized unit) that may be used for non-real-time L2 and Layer 3 (L3) processing. The CU may be connected to the one or more DUs for example by using an Fl interface. Such a split may enable the centralization of CUs relative to the cell sites and DUs, whereas DUs may be more distributed and may even remain at cell sites. The CU and DU together may also be referred to as baseband or a baseband unit (BBU). The CU and DU may also be comprised in a radio access point (RAP). The CU may be defined as a logical node hosting higher layer protocols, such as radio resource control (RRC), service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) and/or packet data convergence protocol (PDCP), of the access node. The DU may be defined as a logical node hosting radio link control (RLC), medium access control (MAC) and/or physical (PHY) layers of the access node. The operation of the DU may be at least partly controlled by the CU. The CU may comprise a control plane (CU-CP), which may be defined as a logical node hosting the RRC and the control plane part of the PDCP protocol of the CU for the access node. The CU may further comprise a user plane (CU-UP), which may be defined as a logical node hosting the user plane part of the PDCP protocol and the SDAP protocol of the CU for the access node.

Cloud computing platforms may also be used to run the CU and/or DU. The CU may run in a cloud computing platform, which may be referred to as a virtualized CU (vCU). In addition to the vCU, there may also be a virtualized DU (vDU) running in a cloud computing platform. Furthermore, there may also be a combination, where the DU may use so-called bare metal solutions, for example application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or customer-specific standard product (CSSP) system-on-a-chip (SoC) solutions. It should also be understood that the distribution of labour between the above-mentioned access node units, or different core network operations and access node operations, may differ.

Additionally, in a geographical area of a radio communication system, a plurality of different kinds of radio cells as well as a plurality of radio cells may be provided. Radio cells may be macro cells (or umbrella cells) which may be large cells having a diameter of up to tens of kilometers, or smaller cells such as micro-, femto- or picocells. The access node(s) of FIG. 1 may provide any kind of these cells. A cellular radio system may be implemented as a multilayer network including several kinds of radio cells. In multilayer networks, one access node may provide one kind of a radio cell or radio cells, and thus a plurality of access nodes may be needed to provide such a network structure.

For fulfilling the need for improving the deployment and performance of communication systems, the concept of “plug-and-play” access nodes may be introduced. A network which may be able to use “plug- and-play” access nodes, may include, in addition to Home eNodeBs or Home gNodeBs, a Home Node B gateway, or HNB-GW (not shown in FIG. 1). An HNB-GW, which may be installed within an operator’s network, may aggregate traffic from a large number of Home eNodeBs or Home gNodeBs back to a core network.

The current NR (up to Release 18) supports cyclic prefix orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (CP- OFDM) in downlink, and both CP-OFDM and discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (DFT-s-OFDM) in uplink. DFT-s-OFDM may also be referred to as single-carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA), since the DFT-s-OFDM waveform is practically a singlecarrier waveform. In DFT-s-OFDM, a time-domain phase tracking reference signal (PTRS) may be utilized to track the phase noise over time within the DFT-s-OFDM symbol and correct the received samples. In other words, a DFT-s-OFDM symbol may comprise one or more pilot sub-symbols (i.e., PTRS symbols) and one or more data sub-symbols. Herein sub-symbols refer to the group of modulation symbols that are part of a DFT-s-OFDM symbol. Pilot subsymbols may be used for estimating phase noise and for other channel estimation purposes. Pilot sub-symbols comprise known data, i.e., known modulation symbols, which may be used to detect changes, such as phase noise, in the channel. The pilot sub-symbols are known at the receiver, and thus the receiver may compare the pilot sub-symbols comprised in a received signal against the known original pilot sub-symbols. 5G is currently supporting two waveforms in uplink. CP-OFDM is used as mainstream waveform and DFT-s-OFDM is used when the coverage is limited. Release 18 also specifies dynamic waveform switching which enables rapid waveform change using a downlink control information (DCI) bit. However, even though DFT-s-OFDM is mainly meant for coverage scenarios, it is still supported for almost all the cases, including non-coverage limited scenarios, e.g., high-order modulations. The main issue there is huge complexity especially from the RAN4 RF perspective, and RRC signaling overhead perspectives. In particular, as in the following examples, each of the following cases require huge effort for specifying new RF requirements:

Two waveforms

• Two frequency ranges (FRs)

• Several power classes

• 5 Modulation schemes (in UL)

• 3 separate resource block (RB) regions (even further divided for specific cases in Release 18), reflecting RB allocation - starting physical resource block, PRB, allocation size

• Additional maximum power reduction (A-MPR) - band specific, especially for a high number of bands.

CA scenarios have their own maximum power reduction (MPR)

• Intraband contiguous, Intraband non-contiguous

• Contiguous RB allocation, non-contiguous RB allocation

By way of example, FIG. 2 depicts an example of MPR requirements for power class 3 relating to both DFT-S-OFDM and CP-OFDM. By further way of example, FIG. 3 depicts an example of MPR requirements for power class 2 relating to both DFT-S-OFDM and CP-OFDM. Each waveform and modulation shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 includes different MPR requirements for different regions and power classes.

5G Rel18 has specified dynamic waveform switching (DWS) in uplink, to switch between CP-OFDM and DFT-s-OFDM, by introducing a new 1 -bit field in a scheduling DCI as an indicator for indicating the waveform to be applied for the PUSCH scheduled by the DCI. The 1 -bit field for indicating the waveform may herein be referred to as a waveform indicator field. In Rel18 DWS, there is RRC parameter configured, i.e., dynamic Transform Precoder Indication DCI-0- 1, which enables the presence of the waveform indicator field in DCI (i.e., the field is not present if the RRC parameter is disabled or absent). The waveform indicator field may also be referred to as transform precoder indicator field, as it may indicate whether a transform precoder is enabled for a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) transmission or not. The enabling of the waveform indicator field is identical to the usage of DFT-s-OFDM. The disabling of the transform precoder is identical to the usage of CP- OFDM. As such:

• The waveform indicator field is present in DCI format 0_1 if dynamicTransformPrecoderlndicationDCI-0-1 in pusch-Config s configured and set to ‘enabled’.

• Similarly, the waveform indicator field is present in DCI format 0_2 if dynamicTransformPrecoderlndicationDCI-0-2 \n pusch-Config s configured and set to ‘enabled’.

• For both DCI formats 0_1 and 0_2, in case the corresponding parameter in pusch-Config is set to “disabled”, the UE applies the RRC configured waveform and the [Dynamic transform precoder indicator] field is not present in the DCI format.

In other words:

• A Radio Resource Command, RRC, enables waveform indicator field in DCI.

• If waveform indicator field is 0, then a UE proceeds to apply DFTsOFDM.

• If waveform indicator field is 1 , then a UE proceeds to apply CP-OFDM.

The Dual Power Amplifer (PA)-Architecture capability for dual connectivity and carrier aggregation is defined in TS 38.306 as follows:

For an intra-band combination, this field indicates the support of dual PAs. If absent in an intra-band combination, the UE supports single PA for all the ULs in the intra-band combination. For other band combinations, this field is not applicable.

This capability applies to:

• Intra-band Next Generation (NG) Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) - New Radio Dual Connectivity (EN-DC) / New Radio - E-UTRA Dual Connectivity (NE-DC) combination without additional inter-band NR and LTE CA component;

• Intra-band (NG)EN-DCZNE-DC combination supporting both UL and DL intra-band (NG)EN- DC/NE-DC parts with additional inter-band NR/LTE CA component;

• Inter-band (NG)EN-DCZNE-DC combination, where the frequency range of the E-UTRA band is a subset of the frequency range of the NR band (as specified in Table 5.5B.4.1-1 of TS 38.101-3).

If this capability is included in an “Intra-band (NG)EN-DCZNE-DC combination supporting both UL and DL intra-band (NG)EN-DCZNE-DC parts with additional inter-band NR/LTE CA component”, this capability applies to the intra-band (NG)EN-DCZNE-DC band combination part.

In 6G, one of the important targets is to simplify unnecessary complexity, and one of the goals there would be to simplify the specification and implementation complexity. The present disclosure considers such simplifications and considers the dynamic waveform operation in such new scenarios. Highlighted below are possible scenarios for simplification.

Scenario A

One considered 6G scenario for simplification is:

• Low-order modulations are used for both DFT-s-OFDM and CP-OFDM

• High-order modulations only for CP-OFDM

• This can be seen as a baseline scenario for PUSCH with DWS

In this scenario, one important issue is that how to leverage the waveform indicator field when there is no dynamic waveform switching between DFT-s-OFDM and CP-OFDM (high-order modulation), and/or to support new potential features without additional DCI overhead.

Scenario B

Another considered 6G scenario for simplification is:

• Low Modulation orders only for DFT-s-OFDM

• High Modulation orders only for CP-OFDM

• This can be seen as a possible scenario e.g. for initial access

In this scenario, key issue is that how to define configurable operation without any additional dynamic signaling.

Scenario C

In a third scenario, it might be that CP-OFDM would be optional for low-order modulation, which would mean combination of the two. In this scenario, the waveform indicator field would be used for switching between CP-OFDM and DFT-s-OFDM in low order modulation only if CP-OFDM would be configured. Then in case the CP-OFDM is not configured, a way to use the waveform indicator field should be addressed.

Scenario D

In fourth scenario, it might be that DFT-s-OFDM would be restricted to certain use cases and configurations/conditions, and CP-OFDM is used otherwise. In this scenario, a waveform may be is implicitly indicated and waveform indicator field is re-purposed to support another feature depending on the determined waveform.

Disclosed herein are proposed methods and apparatus for waveform determination by dynamically repurposing waveform indicator field in the desired 6G simplification scenarios.

FIG. 4 shows, by way of example, a flowchart of a method 400 according to example embodiments. Each element of the flowchart may comprise one or more operations. The operations may be performed in hardware, software, firmware or a combination thereof. For example, the operations may be performed, individually or collectively, by a means, wherein the means may comprise at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the performance of the operations. The method 400 may be carried out by an apparatus such as, or comprising, or comprised in, a user device (in uplink scenario). The user device may also be called a subscriber unit, mobile station, remote terminal, access terminal, user terminal, terminal device, or user equipment (UE). The user device may correspond to one of the user devices 100, 102 of FIG. 1.

The method 400 may comprise a first operation 401 of receiving, from a network node, an uplink grant comprising a waveform indicator field. The waveform indicator field may traditionally be used to define a waveform type. For example, the waveform type may be either cyclic prefix orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, CP-OFDM or discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, DFT-S-OFDM. Alternatively, the waveform type may be any known type of waveform such as frequencydomain spectral shaping (FDSS). The waveform indicator field may be a transform precoder indicator field. The method 400 may comprise a second operation 402 of determining a configuration set for the apparatus. The configuration set defines a set of parameters for uplink transmission from the apparatus to the network node. Therefore, the term configuration set refers to be a set of configuration parameters which are used to determine the way for uplink transmissions, and those parameters have been indicated by the gNB (e.g., via RRC or DCI). For example, such parameters may be modulation order, code rate, or waveform. As discussed herein, a ‘configuration set’ is used as a trigger to determine interpretation for the waveform indicator field.

The configuration set may be determined based on one or more of the following: information contained in the uplink grant, information contained in a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE, command received at the apparatus, and/or information contained in a radio resource control, RRC, command received at the apparatus. As such, the method may further comprise receiving the MAC CE command and/or the RRC command at the apparatus upon which the configuration set can be determined.

The configuration set may be either a cyclic prefix orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, CP-OFDM, configuration set or a discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, DFT- S-OFDM, configuration set.

The method 400 may comprise a third operation 403 of interpreting, based on the configuration set, whether the waveform indicator field is for a first purpose or a second purpose. The method may include determining, based on the configuration set, whether the apparatus shall interpret the waveform indicator field for a first purpose or a second purpose. The waveform indicator field as such is used for either the first purpose and the apparatus is instructed to use the waveform for the first purpose or the second purpose and the apparatus is instructed to use the waveform for the second purpose. A waveform may be generated based on the interpreted waveform indicator field. In other words, the waveform may be generated once it is known how to interpret the waveform indicator field.

The method 400 may optionally further include transmitting, to the network node, prior to receiving a MAC CE command or a RRC command from the network node, at least one capability parameter for the apparatus. As such the network node may use the capability parameter received from the apparatus to determine the MAC CE command and/or the RRC command and/or the uplink grant. As such, parameters for the waveform may be chosen at the network node based on the at least one capability parameter. The method 400 may include sending the at least one capability parameter indicating support of at least one feature (e.g., shaping, modified constellation, repetition, etc.) comprised in a set of possible dynamic indications via the waveform indicator field. The at least one capability parameter may relate to spectral shaping, constellation, a physical uplink shared channel, PUSCH, repetition, tone reservation, peak cancellation signal, a frequency-domain spectral shaping, FDSS, a frequency-domain spectral shaping with spectral extension, FDSS-SE, trellis modulation, index modulation, and power boost. As such, these capability parameters may be sent to the network node to determine the configuration set.

The method 400 may optionally further comprise determining the configuration set for the apparatus, based on at least one capability parameter for the apparatus. In this scenario the apparatus may determine the configuration set itself based on the known capability at the apparatus.

The set of possible low/high SE features that can be dynamically configured via waveform indicator field are pre-determined or indicated. Optionally, the apparatus and network node may determine the predefined functionalities (e.g., enable/disable feature, repetition factor 2 & 4, etc.) of a feature according to the one indicated UE feature capability (only 1 feature supported by UE in the predefined features set). Repetition factor (>1) may trigger slot aggregation where the indicated PUSCH is transmitted multiple times via consecutive UL slots. Alternatively, the apparatus may indicate its preferred feature to be indicated using waveform indicator field, and network and/or apparatus determine the set of functionalities (e.g., enable/disable feature, repetition factor 2 & 4, etc.). The network may indicate in higher layer signaling the set of pre-defined functionalities or feature to be dynamically configured using the waveform indicator field. For example, the network node may indicate which feature would be dynamically configured using the waveform indicator field, e.g. FDSS-SE, irregular constellation, Index Modulation, or trellis modulation, etc.

The method 400 may optionally further comprise receiving an indication of the second purpose from the network node and/or determining, at the apparatus, the second purpose based on at least one capability parameter for the apparatus.

The second operation 402 of the determining the configuration set may include determining whether at least one parameter comprised in the uplink grant is within a predetermined range. The at least one parameter comprised in the uplink grant and predetermined range relate to at least one of the following: a modulation order; a modulation and coding scheme, MCS; a physical resource block, PRB allocation; a number of layers. In a first scenario, upon determining that the at least one parameter is within the predetermined range, the method 400 may further include determining that the apparatus shall interpret the waveform indicator field for the first purpose.

In a second scenario, upon determining that the at least one parameter is not within the predetermined range, the method 400 may further include determining that the apparatus shall interpret the waveform indicator field for the second purpose.

The first purpose may be a conventional use of the waveform indicator field (e.g. as defined in Rel. 18 and previously discussed herein). The first purpose of the waveform indicator field may be for determining the waveform type. For example, the first purpose may be determining the waveform type such as between either cyclic prefix orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, CP-OFDM or discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, DFT-S-OFDM.

The second purpose may not relate to the conventional use of the waveform indicator field (e.g. as defined in Rel. 18 and previously discussed herein). The second purpose may comprise a configuration of at least one parameter for uplink transmission scheduled by the uplink grant. In other words, the second purpose could be any parameter that may be adjusted in the uplink grant.

The at least one parameter for uplink transmission relates to (but is not limited to) at least one of the following: a physical uplink shared channel, PUSCH, repetition, a number of PUSCH repetitions, a channel state information, CSI, reporting, a sounding reference signal, SRS, transmission, a cross-link interference, CLI, measurement reporting, a time-domain channel property reporting, a user equipment, UE, speed reporting, modulation and coding, MCS, table type, spectral shaping, tone reservation, peak cancellation signal, a frequency-domain spectral shaping, FDSS, a frequency-domain spectral shaping with spectral extension, FDSS-SE, Trellis modulation, index modulation, a number of bit conveyed by index modulation, a frequency hopping offset, a constellation type, power boost, maximum power reduction, MPR, value.

In an embodiment, the specific configuration set is determined based on modulation order

• Configuration set 1 : waveform indicator field is used for standard waveform indicator (i.e. the first purpose)

• Configuration set 2: waveform indicator field is used other purposes (i.e. the second purpose)

Table 1 below shows an example of modulation specific configuration set. Configuration set 1 Configuration set 2

Table 1

In another embodiment, the at least one parameter comprised in the uplink grant and predetermined range relate to an MCS and the configuration set is determined based on MCS threshold.

• In a first scenario, upon determining that the MCS is below a threshold (i.e. the predetermined range is a threshold), the method 400 may further include determining that the apparatus shall interpret the waveform indicator field for the first purpose.

• In a second scenario, upon determining that the MCS is above the threshold, the method 400 may further include determining that the apparatus shall interpret the waveform indicator field for the second purpose.

In another embodiment, the at least one parameter comprised in the uplink grant and predetermined range relate to a PRB allocation or bandwidth and the configuration set is determined based on PRB allocation or bandwidth.

• In a first scenario, upon determining that PRB allocation or bandwidth is below a threshold (i.e. the pre determined range is a threshold), the method 400 may further include determining that the apparatus shall interpret the waveform indicator field for the first purpose.

• In a second scenario, upon determining that the PRB allocation or bandwidth is above the threshold, the method 400 may further include determining that the apparatus shall interpret the waveform indicator field for the second purpose.

In another embodiment, the configuration set is determined jointly based on the modulation order and UE capabilities:

In a first scenario, when a modulation order is below or above a threshold (i.e. the predetermined range is a threshold), and without specific UE capabilities, the method 400 may further include determining that the apparatus shall interpret the waveform indicator field for the first purpose.

• In a second scenario, when a modulation order is below a threshold, and with pre-defined UE capabilities, the method 400 may further include determining that the apparatus shall interpret the waveform indicator field for the second purpose. The second purpose in this instance may include targeting low SE features (e.g. FDSS-SE, trellis, repetition, Index Modulation low SE mode), and the waveform may be implicitly indicated as DFT-s-OFDM.

• In a third scenario, when modulation order is above a threshold, and with pre-defined UE capabilities, the method 400 may further include determining that the apparatus shall interpret the waveform indicator field for the second purpose. The second purpose in this instance may include targeting high SE features (e.g. irregular constellations, shaping, PAPR reduction technique, Index Modulation high SE mode), and the waveform is implicitly indicated as CP-OFDM or determined according to RRC configured waveform.

In another embodiment, the specific configuration set is determined based on a method considering multiple uplink configuration parameters. If it is determined that a set of parameters (for example, number of layer, TPMI, number of CCs, CA/DC configuration, UE capabilities, RB allocation) respects certain conditions, then with at least one of pre-defined UE capabilities, a waveform may be implicitly indicated as DFT-s-OFDM and the waveform indicator field is repurposed for other features with DFT-s-OFDM (i.e. it is used for the second purpose. If it is determined that there are no pre-defined UE capabilities, then the waveform indicator field is used for the first purpose as DWS waveform indicator.

The principle here is that DFT-s-OFDM will be restricted to cases where there is coverage/capacity or power saving gain potential, and CP-OFDM otherwise with possibility also in DFT-s-OFDM use cases. The waveform indicator field is based on the configuration set and UE capabilities.

In this scenario, the apparatus and network node determine the set of pre-defined functionalities or feature to be dynamically configured using the waveform indicator field and the apparatus received an uplink grant configuration. Based on uplink configuration, the apparatus determines the current configuration set, and thus determines the indicated waveform and the indication of the waveform indicator field. An example pseudo code is shown below.

When uplink configuration is:

[(Single layer transmission I. e., rank= 1) or (TPMI index indicates low-PAPR codebook )

AND [1 CC transmission (no CA/DC) or non-simultaneous CCs transmissions in CA/DC, or multiple CCs transmissions with UE capability dualPA-Architecture support for the configurated intraband combination for CA/DC or multiple CCs transmissions for the configurated inter-band combination for CA/DC] AND

[RB allocation in FDRA is consecutive]

AND (possibly other conditions )

Wherein the acronyms mentioned above have the following definitions:

TPMI: transmitted precoder matrix indicator

PAPR: peak to average power ratio

CC: component carrier

CA/DC: carrier aggregation/dual connectivity

FDRA: frequency domain resource allocation

If the apparatus indicates at least one capability in a pre-defined UE capability set UE determines the waveform as DFT-s-OFDM and the waveform indicator field would be to dynamically configure a feature with DFT-s-OFDM according to the first purpose. Otherwise waveform indicator field used as waveform indicator to allow dynamic network control of waveform and switch to CP-OFDM (e.g., in case there is no coverage issue or DFT-s-OFDM observed gains is negligible and thus no need for additional computational complexity, etc.). Otherwise, UE determines the WF as CP-OFDM and the waveform indicator field would be used to dynamically configure a feature with CP-OFDM if any, otherwise the field is reserved or RRC disabled.

Example scenario 1

Detailed herein is an example first scenario demonstrating the method 400 of FIG. 4. An assumption is applied here that low order modulation is used for both CP-OFDM and DFT-s-OFDM, and high-order modulation is used only for CP-OFDM.

As a first step, a UE receives uplink grant (DCI). As a second step, based on uplink grant, the UE determines the configuration set and waveform indicator field. In this example scenario, the configuration set may be modulation order. If the determined configuration set is below a threshold, a DWS bit is considered as equivalent to the waveform indicator for the first purpose. In this case, UE may use DFT-s-OFDM if the waveform indicator field (e.g. DWS bit) it is 0, and CP-OFDM otherwise (or vice versa). The waveform set for the DWS bits in DCI may be configured by RRC signaling (or alternatively defined by the specifications) and as such the waveform indicator may be also between DFT-s-OFDM and DFT-s-OFDM with FDSS-SE.

If the determined configuration set is set above a threshold, the UE may not switch the waveform but assumes CP-OFDM, or configuration set is set above a threshold but the modulation order (e.g. pi/2 BPSK) is supported only in DFT-s-OFDM case, waveform indicator field may be used for the second purpose. In this case, DWS bits “0” and “1” contain two predefined functionalities available for 16QAM or higher. Below examples of the use of the “0” and “1” bits are given by way of example:

- “1” may indicate PUSCH repetition and “0” no repetition. Number of repetitions may be configurable. In case more than one DWS bits there may be several repetition levels.

- “1” may indicate aperiodic triggering for an UL measurement and report or an UL signal transmission (e.g., CSI reporting or SRS transmission, or CLI measurement and report, or timedomain channel property feedback, or information related to UE speed feedback), and “0” no triggering

- “1” may indicate MCS table 1 and “0” MCS table 2 (MCS table 1 and MCS table 2 may have been optimized for different scenarios, e.g. w.r.t. coverage, reliability, throughput etc.)

- “1” may indicate use of shaping and “0” without shaping o Shaping may refer to e.g., tone reservation or peak cancellation signal precoding o Shaping may refer to FDSS or FDSS-SE

- “1” may indicate use of Trellis modulation coding and “0” without Trellis

- “1” may indicate use of Index modulation coding and “0” without Index Modulation

- “1” and “0” are used for indicating two different configured numbers of bits to be conveyed by index modulation, assuming index modulation is configured to be used.

- “1” and “0” are used for indicating two different offsets to be applied for frequency hopping.

- “1” may indicate use of regular constellation (e.g., QAM constellation), and “0” may indicate modified constellation (e.g., amplitude and phase-shift keying, APSK, and non-uniform constellation, NUC) of the same order

- “1” may indicate operation of lower MPR requirement or power boost, and “0” may indicate default operation In some situations, there may be more than one DWS bit (i.e. more than one waveform indicator field) and in this case each DWS bit may be given a different purpose so that more than one of the above examples apply.

FIG. 5 shows, by way of example, a flowchart of a method 500 according to example embodiments. Each element of the flowchart may comprise one or more operations. The operations may be performed in hardware, software, firmware or a combination thereof. For example, the operations may be performed, individually or collectively, by a means, wherein the means may comprise at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the performance of the operations. The method 500 may be carried out by a network node of a communication system such as the access node 104 (e.g. gNB) of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows the same method as previously discussed herein in relation to FIG. 4 and the above examples and embodiments.

The method 500 may comprise an operation 501 of transmitting, to a user equipment, UE, an uplink grant comprising the waveform indicator field. The waveform indicator field is set for a first purpose or a second purpose. The waveform indicator field determines whether the UE shall interpret the waveform indicator field for a first purpose or a second purpose. In other words, the network is responsible for setting the format of the waveform indicator field, such that when the information is received at the UE via the waveform indicator field in the uplink grant, the information will be interpreted as intended by the network node. The network node will be responsible for choosing either a first purpose or second purpose (as previously discussed). As such, the network may be responsible for determining the first purpose and second purpose via the determination of the waveform indicator field.

The network node may transmit, to the UE, a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE, command or a radio resource control, RRC, command. The network node may receive, from the UE, prior to transmitting the MAC CE command or the RRC command from the apparatus, at least one capability parameter for the network node. The network node uses the capability parameter to determine the waveform indicator field and to decide whether the first or second purpose for the waveform indicator field is preferred. The network node, therefore determines the waveform indicator field, based on the at least one capability parameter for the apparatus.

The network node determines at least one factor of the waveform indicator field. The factor may relate to any part of the waveform indicator field that can be changed or amended. The at least one factor may, for example, relate to at least one of the following: a modulation order; a modulation and coding scheme, MCS; a physical resource block, PRB allocation; a number of layers.

The network node may transmit, to the UE, an indication of the second purpose from the network node.

The network node may comprise means for setting the waveform indicator field in the uplink grant. Upon determining that at least one parameter in the waveform indicator field is within a predetermined range, the network node may set the waveform indicator field for the first purpose. Alternatively, upon determining that the at least one parameter in the waveform indicator field is not within the predetermined range, the network node may set the waveform indicator field for the second purpose. The first and second purpose relate to the same terms and examples as previously discussed herein.

FIG. 6 shows, by way of example, a flowchart of a method 600 according to example embodiments. Each element of the flowchart may comprise one or more operations. The operations may be performed in hardware, software, firmware or a combination thereof. For example, the operations may be performed, individually or collectively, by a means, wherein the means may comprise at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the performance of the operations. The method 600 by an apparatus such as, or comprising, or comprised in, a user device (in uplink scenario). The user device may also be called a subscriber unit, mobile station, remote terminal, access terminal, user terminal, terminal device, or user equipment (UE). The user device may correspond to one of the user devices 100, 102 of FIG. 1 .

The method 600 may comprise a first operation 601 of receiving, from a network node, an uplink grant comprising a waveform indicator field, and a modulation and coding scheme, MCS, field. As previously discussed in relation to FIG. 4 the waveform indicator field may define a waveform type. The MCS field may define modulation and coding scheme or modulation and coding index. The waveform indicator field may be a transform precoder indicator field. The waveform type may comprise either cyclic prefix orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, CP-OFDM or discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, DFT-S-OFDM.

The method 600 may comprise a second operation 602 of determining a configuration set for the apparatus, the configuration set defines a set of parameters for uplink transmission from the apparatus to the network node. The configuration set may be defined in accordance with the same methods discussed in relation to the method 400 of FIG. 4. Determining the configuration set for the apparatus, may be based on at least one of the following: the uplink grant, a MAC CE command received at the apparatus and an RRC command received at the apparatus. The configuration set for the apparatus may be determined based on at least one capability parameter for the apparatus.

The method 600 may comprise a third operation 603 of determining whether at least one parameter of the set of parameters comprised in the configuration set is within a predetermined range. This approach determining whether at least one parameter comprised in the configuration set is within a predetermined range may be defined in accordance with the same methods discussed in relation to the method 400 of FIG. 4.

The method 600 may comprise a fourth operation 604 of interpreting the MCS field based upon the waveform indicator field and the determination of whether the at least one parameter is within the predetermined range.

In a first scenario, based on determining the waveform type and that the at least one parameter is within the predetermined range, the apparatus shall interpret the MCS field as an MCS index. In other words, the MCS field is used for its nominal purpose of indicating the modulation and coding scheme. This means that the MCS field is interpreted as intended to dictate the MCS. The MCS is interpreted either partly or exactly as it is indicated in the MCS field. In this first scenario, the waveform type may be cyclic prefix orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, CP-OFDM or discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, DFT-S-OFDM.

In a second scenario, based on determining the waveform type and that the at least one parameter is not within the predetermined range, the apparatus shall interpret the MCS field as a purpose other than MCS index. Interpreting the MCS field as the purpose other than the MCS index, may comprise interpreting the MCS field as a number of a physical uplink shared channel, PUSCH, repetitions. Interpreting the MCS field as the purpose other than the MCS index may include adapting the MCS field so that it is different compared to as indicated in the MCS field. This may comprise modifying or reinterpreting the MCS from its previously held definition. In one situation, which is discussed in further detail herein (example scenario 2), reinterpreting the MCS so that it is different compared to the MCS as indicated in the MCS field comprises applying at least one repetition to an index defined in the MCS defined in the MCS field. In the second scenario, a first MCS definition may be present in the MCS field comprised in the uplink grant. Subsequent to determining whether at least one parameter comprised in the configuration set is within a predetermined range and based on the waveform type, a second MCS definition may be determined. The second MCS definition is an adaptation of the first MCS definition. In this second scenario, the waveform type may be discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, DFT-S-OFDM.

The at least one parameter comprised in the configuration set and predetermined range relate to at least one of the following: a modulation order, the modulation and coding scheme, MCS, a physical resource block, PRB allocation and a number of layers.

The method 600 may optionally further include transmitting, to the network node, prior to receiving a MAC CE command or a RRC command from the network node, at least one capability parameter for the apparatus. As such the network node may use the capability parameter received from the apparatus to determine the MAC CE command and/or the RRC command and/or the uplink grant. As such, parameters for the waveform may be chosen at the network node based on the at least one capability parameter.

The method 600 may include sending the at least one capability parameter indicating support of at least one feature (e.g., shaping, modified constellation, repetition, etc.) comprised in a set of possible dynamic indications via the waveform indicator field. The at least one capability parameter may relate to spectral shaping, constellation, a physical uplink shared channel, PUSCH, repetition, tone reservation, peak cancellation signal, a frequency-domain spectral shaping, FDSS, a frequency-domain spectral shaping with spectral extension, FDSS-SE, trellis modulation, index modulation, and power boost. As such, these capability parameters may be sent to the network node to determine the configuration set.

The method 500 may optionally further comprise determining the configuration set for the apparatus, based on at least one capability parameter for the apparatus. In this scenario the apparatus may determine the configuration set itself based on the known capability at the apparatus.

Example scenario 2

Detailed herein is an example first scenario demonstrating the method 600 of FIG. 6. The assumption in this scenario is that low order modulation is used for both CP-OFDM and DFT-s-OFDM, and high-order modulation is used only for CP-OFDM

As a first step, a UE receives uplink grant (DCI). As a second step, based on uplink grant, the UE determines the configuration set, the waveform indicator field and the MCS field. If a parameter for the determined configuration set is below a threshold (i.e. with the predetermined range), the apparatus shall interpret the MCS as same as the MCS indicated in the MCS field. In this case, UE may use DFT-s-OFDM if the waveform indicator field (e.g. DWS bit) it is 0, and CP-OFDM otherwise (or vice versa). The waveform set for the DWS bits in DCI may be configured by RRC signaling and as such the waveform indicator may be also between DFT-s-OFDM and DFT-s-OFDM with FDSS- SE.

If the determined configuration set is above a threshold, the apparatus should adapt the MCS so that it is different compared to the MCS as indicated in the MCS field. In this case, the DWS bit may be used to signal DFT-s-OFDM, the MCS bits can be adapted as index to pre-configured or specified configurations set. For example, the adaptation of the MCS bits may include:

- The MCSs with the lowest indices with different repetition factors e.g. 2, 4, 8 etc.

- The MCSs with the lowest indices with different shaping (FDSS, FDSS-SE)

- The MCSs with the lowest indices with T rellis.

The configuration set can be separately specified or configured or e.g. MCS table can be re-interpreted as shown in example below discussed with reference to FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 shows two example tables of an MCS. The first table 701 relates to an MCS table for a DFT-s- OFDM waveform where the DWS bit is 0 and the second table 702 relates to an MCS table for an OFDM table where the DWS bit is 1 . The DWS bit field (i.e. waveform indicator field) defines the MCS table to follow. In other words, there is one predefined MCS index table for DFT-s-OFDM (table 701), and one another predefined MCS index table for CP-OFDM (table 702).

• For the case of DWS bit =1 , UE follows MCS index table defined for CP-OFDM (without any repetition). See table 702.

• For the case of DWS bit =0. See table 701 . o MCS indexes 0-9 are applied without repetition (see reference numeral 703 of FIG. 7) o MCS indexes 10-19 are interpreted as MCS indexes 0-9, with 2x repetition (see reference numeral 704 of FIG. 7) o MCS indexes 20-29 (or 20-27) are interpreted as MCS indexes 0-9 (or 0-7), with 4x repetition (see reference numeral 705 of FIG. 7) o MCS indexes 30-31 (or 28-31) are reserved (see reference numeral 706 of FIG. 7)

The proposed split of MCS indexes for repetition is just an example and various scenario are possible within the framework of the disclosure provided. For example, the number of repetitions could be different, the numbers of repetition classes could be different, the number of MCSs in different classes could be different etc.

This example case can be specified as such e.g. by specifying a separate MCS table similar to 701 or parameterized by configurable MCS threshold (set to MCS 9) or configurable modulation order threshold (set to QPSK) and configurable set of number of repetitions (2, 4). Configurable parameters could by configured e.g. with RRC or MAC signaling or as part of DCI.

FIG. 8 shows, by way of example, a flowchart of a method 800 according to example embodiments. Each element of the flowchart may comprise one or more operations. The operations may be performed in hardware, software, firmware or a combination thereof. For example, the operations may be performed, individually or collectively, by a means, wherein the means may comprise at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the performance of the operations. The method 800 may be carried out by a network node of a communication system such as the access node 104 (e.g. gNB) of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 shows the same method as previously discussed herein in relation to FIG. 6 and the above examples and embodiments.

The method 800 may comprise a first operation 801 of transmitting, to a UE an uplink grant comprising a waveform indicator field and a modulation and coding scheme, MCS field. The waveform indicator field may define a waveform type and the modulation and coding scheme, MCS field may define an MCS. The waveform indicator field and/or MCS field comprise at least one feature that indicates to the UE how the UE shall interpret the MCS field. The apparatus may comprise a network node of a communication network. In other words, the network is responsible for determining the format of the waveform indicator field and MCS field, such that when the information is received at the UE via the waveform indicator field and MCS in the uplink grant, the information will be interpreted as intended by the network node. The network node will be responsible for choosing how the MCS field should be interpreted (as previously discussed). As such, the network may be responsible for determining how the MCS field is interpreted via the determination of the waveform indicator field or the MCS.

The method 800 may comprise a second operation 802 of transmitting a configuration set to the UE. The configuration set defines a set of parameters for uplink transmission from the apparatus to the network node.

The method may comprise a third operation 803 of determining whether at least one parameter of the set of parameters comprised in the configuration set is within a predetermined range.

The method may comprise a fourth operation 804 of setting the MCS field based upon the waveform type and the determination of whether the at least one parameter is within the predetermined range.

The method may optionally comprise setting the MCS field with the MCS based on the at least one parameter being within the predetermined range. In this scenario, the waveform indicator field may define a waveform type as cyclic prefix orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, CP-OFDM or discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, DFT-S-OFDM. Alternatively, the method may optionally comprise setting the MCS field as a purpose other than MCS index based on the at least one parameter not being within the predetermined range. In this scenario, the waveform indicator field may define a waveform type as discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, DFT-S-OFDM.

The network node may transmit, to the UE, a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE, command or a radio resource control, RRC, command. The network node may receive, from the UE, prior to transmitting the MAC CE command or the RRC command from the apparatus, at least one capability parameter for the network node. The network node uses the capability parameter to determine the waveform indicator field and MCS field and to decide how it is best for the UE to interpret the MCS field. The network node, therefore determines the waveform indicator field and MCS field, based on the at least one capability parameter for the apparatus.

The network node determines at least one factor of the waveform indicator field or MCS field. The factor may relate to any part of the waveform indicator field or MCS field that can be changed or amended. The at least one factor may, for example, relate to at least one of the following: a modulation order; a modulation and coding scheme, MCS; a physical resource block, PRB allocation; a number of layers. The network node may transmit, to the UE, an indication of the intended use of the MCS from the network node.

The present disclosure provides the technical benefit of support of the dynamic indication of new features without additional DCI overhead. As such a first and a second purpose for the waveform indicator field can be realized and a method of deciding which purpose to use is provided. A method of repurposing the MCS is also provided. These disclosures allow further coverage and/or data rate enhancements with the dynamic indication of new features. Furthermore, the simplification of the specification may be realised (mainly RAN4 RF requirements) by restricting DFT-s-OFDM use cases.

Example Apparatus

FIG. 9 shows, by way of example, a block diagram of an apparatus capable of performing the method(s) as disclosed herein. Illustrated is device 900, which may comprise, for example, a mobile communication device such as UE 100 of FIG. 1. Comprised in device 900 is processor 910, which may comprise, for example, a single- or multi-core processor wherein a single-core processor comprises one processing core and a multi-core processor comprises more than one processing core. Processor 910 may comprise, in general, a control device. Processor 910 may comprise more than one processor. Processor 910 may be a control device. A processing core may comprise, for example, a Cortex-A8 processing core manufactured by ARM Holdings or a Steamroller processing core designed by Advanced Micro Devices Corporation. Processor 910 may comprise at least one Qualcomm Snapdragon and/or Intel Atom processor. Processor 910 may comprise at least one application-specific integrated circuit, ASIC. Processor 910 may comprise at least one field-programmable gate array, FPGA. Processor 910 may be means for performing method steps in device 900. Processor 910 may be configured, at least in part by computer instructions, to perform actions.

A processor may comprise circuitry, or be constituted as circuitry or circuitries, the circuitry or circuitries being configured to perform phases of methods in accordance with example embodiments described herein. As used in this application, the term “circuitry” may refer to one or more or all of the following: (a) hardware-only circuit implementations, such as implementations in only analog and/or digital circuitry, and (b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as, as applicable: (i) a combination of analog and/or digital hardware circuit(s) with software/firmware and (ii) any portions of hardware processor(s) with software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or a network node, to perform various functions) and (c) hardware circuit(s) and or processor(s), such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation.

This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and/or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

Device 900 may comprise memory 920. Memory 920 may comprise random-access memory and/or permanent memory. Memory 920 may comprise at least one RAM chip. Memory 920 may comprise solid- state, magnetic, optical and/or holographic memory, for example. Memory 920 may be at least in part accessible to processor 910. Memory 920 may be at least in part comprised in processor 910. Memory 920 may be means for storing information. Memory 920 may comprise computer instructions that processor 910 is configured to execute. When computer instructions configured to cause processor 910 to perform certain actions are stored in memory 920, and device 900 overall is configured to run under the direction of processor 910 using computer instructions from memory 920, processor 910 and/or its at least one processing core may be considered to be configured to perform said certain actions. Memory 920 may be at least in part external to device 900 but accessible to device 900.

Device 900 may comprise a transmitter 930. Device 900 may comprise a receiver 940. Transmitter 930 and receiver 940 may be configured to transmit and receive, respectively, information in accordance with at least one cellular or non-cellular standard. Transmitter 930 may comprise more than one transmitter. Receiver 940 may comprise more than one receiver. Transmitter 930 and/or receiver 940 may be configured to operate in accordance with global system for mobile communication, GSM, wideband code division multiple access, WCDMA, 5G, long term evolution, LTE, IS-125, wireless local area network, WLAN, Ethernet and/or worldwide interoperability for microwave access, WiMAX, standards, for example.

Device 900 may comprise a near-field communication, NFC, transceiver 950. NFC transceiver 950 may support at least one NFC technology, such as NFC, Bluetooth, Wibree or similar technologies. Device 900 may comprise user interface, Ul, 960. Ul 960 may comprise at least one of a display, a keyboard, a touchscreen, a vibrator arranged to signal to a user by causing device 900 to vibrate, a speaker and a microphone. A user may be able to operate device 900 via Ul 960, for example to accept incoming telephone calls, to originate telephone calls or video calls, to browse the Internet, to manage digital files stored in memory 920 or on a cloud accessible via transmitter 930 and receiver 940, or via NFC transceiver 950, and/or to play games.

Device 900 may comprise or be arranged to accept a user identity module 970. User identity module 970 may comprise, for example, a subscriber identity module, SIM, card installable in device 900. A user identity module 970 may comprise information identifying a subscription of a user of device 900. A user identity module 970 may comprise cryptographic information usable to verify the identity of a user of device 900 and/or to facilitate encryption of communicated information and billing of the user of device 900 for communication effected via device 900.

Processor 910 may be furnished with a transmitter arranged to output information from processor 910, via electrical leads internal to device 900, to other devices comprised in device 900. Such a transmitter may comprise a serial bus transmitter arranged to, for example, output information via at least one electrical lead to memory 920 for storage therein. Alternatively to a serial bus, the transmitter may comprise a parallel bus transmitter. Likewise processor 910 may comprise a receiver arranged to receive information in processor 910, via electrical leads internal to device 900, from other devices comprised in device 900. Such a receiver may comprise a serial bus receiver arranged to, for example, receive information via at least one electrical lead from receiver 940 for processing in processor 910. Alternatively to a serial bus, the receiver may comprise a parallel bus receiver.

Processor 910, memory 920, transmitter 930, receiver 940, NFC transceiver 950, Ul 960 and/or user identity module 970 may be interconnected by electrical leads internal to device 900 in a multitude of different ways. For example, each of the aforementioned devices may be separately connected to a master bus internal to device 900, to allow for the devices to exchange information. However, as the skilled person will appreciate, this is only one example and depending on the embodiment various ways of interconnecting at least two of the aforementioned devices may be selected.

If not otherwise stated or otherwise made clear from the context, the statement that two entities are different means that they perform different functions. It does not necessarily mean that they are based on different hardware. That is, each of the entities described in the present description may be based on a different hardware, or some or all of the entities may be based on the same hardware. It does not necessarily mean that they are based on different software. That is, each of the entities described in the present description may be based on different software, or some or all of the entities may be based on the same software. Each of the entities described in the present description may be embodied in the cloud.

Implementations of any of the above described blocks, apparatuses, systems, techniques or methods include, as non-limiting examples, implementations as hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof. Some embodiments may be implemented in the cloud.

It is to be understood that what is described above is what is presently considered the preferred embodiments. However, it should be noted that the description of the preferred embodiments is given by way of example only and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising: means for receiving, from a network node, an uplink grant comprising a waveform indicator field, and a modulation and coding scheme, MCS, field; means for determining a configuration set for the apparatus, wherein the configuration set defines a set of parameters for uplink transmission from the apparatus to the network node; means for determining whether at least one parameter of the set of parameters comprised in the configuration set is within a predetermined range; and means for interpreting the MCS field based upon the waveform indicator field and the determination of whether the at least one parameter is within the predetermined range.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: means for interpreting the MCS field as an MCS index based on the at least one parameter being within the predetermined range.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the waveform indicator field defines a waveform type as cyclic prefix orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, CP-OFDM or discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, DFT-S-OFDM.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: means for interpreting the MCS field as a purpose other than MCS index based on the at least one parameter not being within the predetermined range.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the waveform indicator field defines a waveform type as discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, DFT-S-OFDM.

6. The apparatus of claims 4 or 5, wherein interpreting the MCS field as the purpose other than the MCS index, comprises interpreting the MCS field as a number of a physical uplink shared channel, PUSCH, repetitions or a combination of the MCS index and the number of PUSCH repetitions.

7. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the at least one parameter comprised in the configuration set and the predetermined range relate to at least one of the following: a modulation order; the modulation and coding scheme index, MCS; a physical resource block, PRB allocation; a number of layers.

8. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the waveform indicator field comprises a transform precoder indicator field.

9. The apparatus of any preceding claim, further comprising: means for determining the configuration set for the apparatus, based on at least one of the following: the uplink grant; a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE, command received at the apparatus; a radio resource control, RRC, command received at the apparatus.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: means for transmitting, to the network node, prior to receiving the MAC CE command or the RRC command from the network node, at least one capability parameter for the apparatus.

11 . The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 9, further comprising: means for determining the configuration set for the apparatus, based on at least one capability parameter for the apparatus.

12. The apparatus of claims 10 or 11 , wherein the at least one capability parameter comprises at least one of: spectral shaping, constellation, a physical uplink shared channel, PUSCH, repetition, tone reservation, peak cancellation signal, a frequency-domain spectral shaping, FDSS, a frequency-domain spectral shaping with spectral extension, FDSS-SE, trellis modulation, index modulation, and power boost.

13. A method, comprising: receiving, from a network node, an uplink grant comprising a waveform indicator field, and a modulation and coding scheme, MCS, field; determining a configuration set for the apparatus, wherein the configuration set defines a set of parameters for uplink transmission from the apparatus to the network node; determining whether at least one parameter of the set of parameters comprised in the configuration set is within a predetermined range; and interpreting the MCS field based upon the waveform indicator field and the determination of whether the at least one parameter is within the predetermined range.

14. An apparatus, comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the network node to: receive, from a network node, an uplink grant comprising a waveform indicator field, and a modulation and coding scheme, MCS, field; determine a configuration set for the apparatus, wherein the configuration set defines a set of parameters for uplink transmission from the apparatus to the network node; determine whether at least one parameter of the set of parameters comprised in the configuration set is within a predetermined range; and interpret the MCS field based upon the waveform indicator field and the determination of whether the at least one parameter is within the predetermined range.

15. An apparatus, comprising: means for transmitting, to a user equipment, UE, an uplink grant comprising a waveform indicator field and a modulation and coding scheme, MCS field; means for transmitting a configuration set to the UE, wherein the configuration set defines a set of parameters for uplink transmission from the apparatus to the network node; means for determining whether at least one parameter of the set of parameters comprised in the configuration set is within a predetermined range; and means for setting the MCS field based upon the waveform type and the determination of whether the at least one parameter is within the predetermined range.

16. The apparatus of claims 15, further comprises : means for setting the MCS field with the MCS based on the at least one parameter being within the predetermined range.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the waveform indicator field defines a waveform type as cyclic prefix orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, CP-OFDM or discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, DFT-S-OFDM.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprises: means for setting the MCS field as a purpose other than MCS index based on the at least one parameter not being within the predetermined range.

19. The apparatus of any one of claims 18, wherein the waveform indicator field defines a waveform type as discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, DFT-S-OFDM.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 or 19, wherein the setting the MCS field as the purpose other than the MCS index, comprises setting the MCS field as a number of a physical uplink shared channel, PUSCH, repetitions.

21. The apparatus of any one of claims 15-20, wherein the at least one parameter comprised in the configuration set and the predetermined range relate to at least one of the following: a modulation order; the modulation and coding scheme index, MCS; a physical resource block, PRB allocation; a number of layers.

22. The apparatus of any one of claims 15-21 , the waveform indicator field comprises a transform precoder indicator field.

23. The apparatus of any one of claims 15-22, further comprises: means for receiving, from the UE, prior to transmitting the MAC CE command or the RRC command from the apparatus, at least one capability parameter for the apparatus; and means for determining the waveform indicator field and/or MCS field, based on the at least one capability parameter for the apparatus.

24. An apparatus, comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the network node to: transmit, to a user equipment, UE, an uplink grant comprising a waveform indicator field and a modulation and coding scheme, MCS field; transmit a configuration set to the UE, wherein the configuration set defines a set of parameters for uplink transmission from the apparatus to the network node; determine whether at least one parameter of the set of parameters comprised in the configuration set is within a predetermined range; and set the MCS field based upon the waveform type and the determination of whether the at least one parameter is within the predetermined range.

25. A method, comprising: transmitting, to a user equipment, UE, an uplink grant comprising a waveform indicator field and a modulation and coding scheme, MCS field; transmitting a configuration set to the UE, wherein the configuration set defines a set of parameters for uplink transmission from the apparatus to the network node; determining whether at least one parameter of the set of parameters comprised in the configuration set is within a predetermined range; and setting the MCS field based upon the waveform type and the determination of whether the at least one parameter is within the predetermined range.