U.S. patent application number 15/630276 was filed with the patent office on 2018-04-12 for variable physical uplink control channel (pucch) signaling and transmission.
The applicant listed for this patent is QUALCOMM Incorporated. Invention is credited to Sony AKKARAKARAN, Makesh Pravin JOHN WILSON, Tao LUO, Sumeeth NAGARAJA.
Application Number | 20180103464 15/630276 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 61801608 |
Filed Date | 2018-04-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180103464 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
JOHN WILSON; Makesh Pravin ;
et al. |
April 12, 2018 |
VARIABLE PHYSICAL UPLINK CONTROL CHANNEL (PUCCH) SIGNALING AND
TRANSMISSION
Abstract
Wireless communications systems and methods related to
transmitting uplink control information. A first wireless
communication device receives a transmission configuration
indicating first beam information and second beam information. The
first beam information and the second beam information are
different. The first wireless communication device transmits a
first uplink control signal based on the first beam information.
The first wireless communication device transmits a second uplink
control signal based on the second beam information. The first
uplink control signal and the second uplink control signal
represent the same control information. Other aspects, embodiments,
and features are also claimed and described.
Inventors: |
JOHN WILSON; Makesh Pravin;
(San Diego, CA) ; LUO; Tao; (San Diego, CA)
; NAGARAJA; Sumeeth; (San Diego, CA) ;
AKKARAKARAN; Sony; (Poway, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
QUALCOMM Incorporated |
San Diego |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
61801608 |
Appl. No.: |
15/630276 |
Filed: |
June 22, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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62405789 |
Oct 7, 2016 |
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62469710 |
Mar 10, 2017 |
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62470188 |
Mar 10, 2017 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04B 7/0617 20130101;
H04L 5/0053 20130101; H04L 5/0035 20130101; H04B 7/0695 20130101;
H04B 7/022 20130101; H04W 72/0406 20130101; H04B 7/068 20130101;
H04L 5/0094 20130101; H04B 7/0404 20130101; H04W 72/046 20130101;
H04L 5/0023 20130101; H04B 7/0408 20130101; H04W 72/0413 20130101;
H04W 72/0453 20130101; H04W 72/0446 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04W 72/04 20060101
H04W072/04; H04B 7/06 20060101 H04B007/06 |
Claims
1. A method of wireless communication, comprising: receiving, by a
first wireless communication device from a second wireless
communication device, a transmission configuration indicating a
first beam resource and a second, different beam resource allocated
to the first wireless communication device by the second wireless
communication device, the first beam resource including a first
beam direction, and the second beam resource including a second,
different beam direction; transmitting, by the first wireless
communication device to the second wireless communication device, a
first uplink control signal on the allocated first beam resource
using the first beam direction; and transmitting, by the first
wireless communication device to the second wireless communication
device, a second uplink control signal on the allocated second beam
resource using the second beam direction, with the same encoded
control information represented in the first uplink control
signal.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: obtaining, by the
first wireless communication device, a first frequency resource of
the allocated first beam resource; obtaining, by the first wireless
communication device, a second, different frequency resource of the
allocated second beam resource; transmitting the first uplink
control signal further using the first frequency resource; and
transmitting the second uplink control signal further using the
second frequency resource.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: configuring, by the
first wireless communication device, a first transmission time
interval based on a time resource of the allocated first beam
resource; configuring, by the first wireless communication device,
a second transmission time interval to at least partially overlap
with the first transmission time interval based on a time resource
of the allocated second beam resource, the first transmission time
interval and the second transmission time interval each include one
or more symbols; transmitting the first uplink control signal
during the first transmission time interval; and transmitting the
second uplink control signal during the second transmission time
interval.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: configuring, by the
first wireless communication device, a first transmission time
interval based on a time resource of the allocated first beam
resource; configuring, by the first wireless communication device,
a second transmission time interval non-overlapping with the first
transmission time interval based on a time resource of the
allocated second beam resource, the first transmission time
interval and the second transmission time interval each include one
or more symbols; transmitting the first uplink control signal
during the first transmission time interval; and transmitting the
second uplink control signal during the second transmission time
interval.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting the
first uplink control signal carrying the control information
encoded based on a first redundancy version (RV); and transmitting
the second uplink control signal carrying the control information
encoded based on a second RV that is different than the first
RV.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprises: transmitting the first
uplink control signal on the first beam resource directing towards
a second wireless communication device; and transmitting the second
uplink control signal on the second beam resource directing towards
the second wireless communication device.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting the
first uplink control signal on the first beam resource directing
towards a second wireless communication device; and transmitting
the second uplink control signal on the second beam resource
directing towards a third wireless communication device that is
different from the second wireless communication device.
8. A method of wireless communication, comprising: allocating, by a
first wireless communication device, a first beam resource and a
second, different beam resource to a second wireless communication
device, the first beam resource including a first beam direction,
and the second beam resource including a second, different beam
direction; transmitting, by the first wireless communication device
to the second wireless communication device, a transmission
configuration indicating the allocated first beam resource and the
allocated second, different beam resource; receiving, by the first
wireless communication device from the second wireless
communication device, a first uplink control signal on the
allocated first beam resource, the first uplink control signal
received from the first beam direction; and receiving, by the first
wireless communication device from the second wireless
communication device, a second uplink control signal on the
allocated second beam resource, with the same encoded control
information represented in the first uplink control signal, the
second uplink control signal received from the second beam
direction.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising: configuring, by the
first wireless communication device, the first beam resource to
include a first frequency resource; configuring, by the first
wireless communication device, the second beam resource to include
a second, different beam direction or a second, different frequency
resource; receiving the first uplink control signal from the first
frequency resource; and receiving the second uplink control signal
from the second frequency resource.
10. The method of claim 8, further comprising: configuring, by the
first wireless communication device, the first beam resource to
include a first transmission time interval; configuring, by the
first wireless communication device, the second beam resource to
include a second transmission time interval to at least partially
overlap with the first transmission time interval, wherein the
first transmission time interval and the second transmission time
interval each include one or more symbols; receiving the first
uplink control signal in the first transmission time interval; and
receiving the second uplink control signal in the second
transmission time interval.
11. The method of claim 8, further comprising: configuring, by the
first wireless communication device, the first beam resource to
include a first transmission time interval; configuring, by the
first wireless communication device, the second beam resource to
include a second transmission time interval non-overlapping with
the first transmission time interval, wherein the first
transmission time interval and the second transmission time
interval each include one or more symbols; receiving the first
uplink control signal in the first transmission time interval; and
receiving the second uplink control signal in the second
transmission time interval.
12. The method of claim 8, further comprising: receiving the first
uplink control signal carrying the control information encoded
based on a first redundancy version (RV); receiving the second
uplink control signal carrying the control information encoded
based on a second RV that is different than the first RV; and
decoding, by the first wireless communication device, the first
uplink control signal independent of the second uplink control
signal.
13. The method of claim 8, further comprising transmitting the
transmission configuration in multiple beam directions.
14. The method of claim 8, further comprising: receiving the first
uplink control signal via a first transmission point (TXP); and
receiving the second uplink control signal via a second TXP that is
different than the first TXP.
15. The method of claim 8, further comprising: receiving the first
uplink control signal via a transmission point (TXP); and receiving
the second uplink control signal via the TXP.
16. An apparatus comprising: one or more antennas; and a
transceiver configured to: receive, via the one or more antennas
from a second wireless communication device, a transmission
configuration indicating a first beam resource and a second,
different beam resource allocated to the apparatus by the second
wireless communication device, the first beam resource including a
first beam direction, and the second beam resource including a
second, different beam direction; transmit, via the one or more
antennas to the second wireless communication device, a first
uplink control signal on the allocated first beam resource using
the first beam direction; and transmit, via the one or more
antennas to the second wireless communication device, a second
uplink control signal on the allocated second beam resource using
the second beam direction, with the same encoded control
information represented in the first uplink control signal.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first beam resource
includes a first frequency resource, wherein the second beam
resource includes a second, different frequency resource, wherein
the first uplink control signal is transmitted further using the
first frequency resource, and wherein the second uplink control
signal is further transmitted using the second frequency
resource.
18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first beam resource
includes a first transmission time interval, wherein the second
beam resource includes a second transmission time interval at least
partially overlapping with the first transmission time interval,
wherein the first transmission time interval and the second
transmission time interval each include one or more symbols,
wherein the first uplink control signal is transmitted during the
first transmission time interval, and wherein the second uplink
control signal is transmitted during the second transmission time
interval.
19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first beam resource
includes a first transmission time interval, wherein the second
beam resource includes a second transmission time interval
non-overlapping with the first transmission time interval, wherein
the first transmission time interval and the second transmission
time interval each include one or more symbols, wherein the first
uplink control signal is transmitted during the first transmission
time interval, and wherein the second uplink control signal is
transmitted during the second transmission time interval.
20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first uplink control
signal carries the control information encoded based on a first
redundancy version (RV), and wherein the second uplink control
signal carries the control information encoded based on a second RV
that is different than the first RV.
21. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a processor
configured to configure the one or more antennas to direct the
transmissions of the first uplink control signal and the second
uplink control signal towards the second wireless communication
device.
22. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a processor
configured to: configure the one or more antennas to direct the
transmission of the first uplink control signal towards a first
wireless communication device; and configure the one or more
antennas to direct the transmission of the second uplink control
signal towards the second wireless communication device.
23. An apparatus comprising: one or more antennas; a processor
configured to allocate a first beam resource and a second,
different beam resource to a second wireless communication device,
the first beam resource including a first beam direction, and the
second beam resource including a second, different beam direction;
and a transceiver configured to: transmit, via the one or more
antennas to the second wireless communication device, a
transmission configuration indicating the allocated first beam
resource and the allocated second, different beam resource;
receive, via the one or more antennas from the second wireless
communication device, a first uplink control signal on the
allocated first beam resource, the first uplink control signal
received from the first beam direction; and receive, via the one or
more antennas from the second wireless communication device, a
second uplink control signal on the allocated second beam resource,
with the same encoded control information represented in the first
uplink control signal, the second uplink control signal received
from the second beam direction.
24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the first beam resource
includes a first frequency resource, wherein the second beam
resource includes a second, different frequency resource, and
wherein the transceiver is further configured to: receive the first
uplink control signal from the first frequency resource; and
receive the second uplink control signal from the second frequency
resource.
25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the first beam resource
includes a first transmission time interval, wherein the second
beam resource includes a second transmission time interval at least
partially overlapping with the first transmission time interval,
wherein the first transmission time interval and the second
transmission time interval each include one or more symbols, and
wherein the transceiver is further configured to: receive the first
uplink control signal in the first transmission time interval; and
receive the second uplink control signal in the second transmission
time interval.
26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the first beam resource
includes a first transmission time interval, wherein the second
beam resource includes a second transmission time interval
non-overlapping with the first transmission time interval, wherein
the first transmission time interval and the second transmission
time interval each include one or more symbols, and wherein the
transceiver is further configured to: receive the first uplink
control signal in the first transmission time interval; and receive
the second uplink control signal in the second transmission time
interval.
27. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the first uplink control
signal carries the control information encoded based on a first
redundancy version (RV), wherein the second uplink control signal
carries the control information encoded based on a second RV that
is different than the first RV, and wherein the apparatus further
comprises a processor configured to decode the first uplink control
signal independent of the second uplink control signal.
28. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the transceiver is further
configured to transmit the transmission configuration in multiple
beam directions.
29. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the transceiver is further
configured to: receive the first uplink control signal via a first
transmission point (TXP); and receive the second uplink control
signal via a second TXP that is different than the first TXP.
30. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the transceiver is further
configured to: receive the first uplink control signal via a
transmission point (TXP); and receive second uplink control signal
via the same TXP.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority to and the benefit
of the U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/405,789, filed
Oct. 7, 2016, the U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.
62/469,710, filed Mar. 10, 2017, and the U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 62/470,188, filed Mar. 10, 2017, which are hereby
incorporated by reference in their entirety as if fully set forth
below and for all applicable purposes.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The technology discussed in this disclosure relates
generally to wireless communication systems, and more particularly
to improving robustness of physical uplink control channel (PUCCH)
decoding at transmission points (TXPs). Certain embodiments can
enable and provide improved communication techniques allowing
communication devices (e.g., user equipment devices or UEs) to
transmit multiple copies of the same uplink control information in
multiple beam directions to one or more TXPs.
INTRODUCTION
[0003] Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to
provide various types of communications such as voice, data, video,
etc. These systems may be multiple-access systems capable of
supporting communication with multiple access terminals by sharing
available system resources (e.g., bandwidth and transmit power).
Examples of such multiple-access systems include code division
multiple access (CDMA) systems, time division multiple access
(TDMA) systems, frequency division multiple access (FDMA) systems,
3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems, and orthogonal frequency
division multiple access (OFDMA) systems.
[0004] Typically, a wireless communication network comprises
several base stations (BSs), wherein each BS communicates with a
mobile station or user equipment devices (UEs) using a forward link
and each mobile station (or access terminal) communicates with base
station(s) using a reverse link. The forward link direction is also
referred to as a downlink (DL) direction. The reverse link
direction is also referred to as an uplink (UL) direction. A UE may
synchronize to a BS for initial cell access and establish a
connection with the BS. Subsequently, the BS and the UE may
exchange data. To facilitate data exchange, the UE and the BS may
exchange control information. Some examples of DL control
information may include resource allocations and modulation coding
schemes (MCSs). For example, the BS may send UL and DL resource
allocation information and MCSs to the UE for UL and DL
transmissions. Some examples of UL control information may include
channel quality indicators (CQIs), data acknowledgements (ACKs),
and not-ACKs (NAKs). For example, the UE may report a CQI to the BS
so that the BS may select a suitable MCS for transmitting DL data
to the UE. The UE may send an ACK or a NAK to the BS to indicate
whether DL data is received correctly. Improving the robustness of
UL control transmission may be beneficial to wireless
communication.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME EXAMPLES
[0005] The following summarizes some aspects of the present
disclosure to provide a basic understanding of the discussed
technology. This summary is not an extensive overview of all
contemplated features of the disclosure, and is intended neither to
identify key or critical elements of all aspects of the disclosure
nor to delineate the scope of any or all aspects of the disclosure.
Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects
of the disclosure in summary form as a prelude to the more detailed
description that is presented later.
[0006] For example, in an aspect of the disclosure, a method of
wireless communication includes receiving, by a first wireless
communication device, a transmission configuration indicating first
beam information and second, different beam information;
transmitting, by the first wireless communication device, a first
uplink control signal based on the first beam information; and
transmitting, by the first wireless communication device, a second
uplink control signal based on the second beam information, with
the same control information represented in the first uplink
control signal.
[0007] In an additional aspect of the disclosure, a method of
wireless communication includes transmitting, by a communication
device, a transmission configuration indicating first beam
information and second, different beam information; receiving, by
the communication device, a first uplink control signal based on
the first beam information; and receiving, by the communication
device, a second uplink control signal based on the second beam
information, with the same control information represented in the
first uplink control signal.
[0008] In an additional aspect of the disclosure, an apparatus
includes one or more antennas and a transceiver configured to
receive, via the one or more antennas, a transmission configuration
indicating first beam information and second, different beam
information; transmit, via the one or more antennas, a first uplink
control signal based on the first beam information; and transmit,
via the one or more antennas, a second uplink control signal based
on the second beam information, with the same control information
represented in the first uplink control signal.
[0009] In an additional aspect of the disclosure, an apparatus
includes one or more antennas and a transceiver configured to
transmit, via the one or more antennas, a transmission
configuration indicating first beam information and second,
different beam information; receive, via the one or more antennas,
a first uplink control signal based on the first beam information;
and receive, via the one or more antennas, a second uplink control
signal based on the second beam information, with the same control
information represented in the first uplink control signal.
[0010] Other aspects, features, and embodiments of the present
invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the
art, upon reviewing the following description of specific,
exemplary embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with
the accompanying figures. While features of the present invention
may be discussed relative to certain embodiments and figures below,
all embodiments of the present invention can include one or more of
the advantageous features discussed herein. In other words, while
one or more embodiments may be discussed as having certain
advantageous features, one or more of such features may also be
used in accordance with the various embodiments of the invention
discussed herein. In similar fashion, while exemplary embodiments
may be discussed below as device, system, or method embodiments
such exemplary embodiments can be implemented in various devices,
systems, and methods.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates a wireless communication network
according to embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 2 illustrates a multiple-beam transmission scheme for
transmitting uplink (UL) control information in a wireless
communication network according to embodiments of the present
disclosure.
[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates a multiple-beam transmission scheme for
transmitting UL control in a wireless communication network
according to embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an exemplary user equipment
(UE) according to embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0015] FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary base
station (BS) according to embodiments of the present
disclosure.
[0016] FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary central
unit according to embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0017] FIG. 7 illustrates a radio frame according to embodiments of
the present disclosure.
[0018] FIG. 8 illustrates a transmission scheme for simultaneous
transmissions of physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) signals
over multiple beams according to embodiments of the present
disclosure.
[0019] FIG. 9 illustrates a time-division multiplexing (TDM)-based
transmission scheme for transmissions of PUCCH signals over
multiple beams according to embodiments of the present
disclosure.
[0020] FIG. 10 is a signaling diagram of a method of signaling and
transmitting PUCCH signals according to embodiments of the present
disclosure.
[0021] FIG. 11 is a flow diagram of a method of transmitting UL
control information over multiple beams.
[0022] FIG. 12 is a flow diagram of a method of receiving UL
control information from multiple beams according to embodiments of
the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] The detailed description set forth below, about the appended
drawings, is intended as a description of various configurations
and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which
the concepts described herein may be practiced. The detailed
description includes specific details for providing a thorough
understanding of the various concepts. However, it will be apparent
to those skilled in the art that these concepts may be practiced
without these specific details. In some instances, well-known
structures and components are shown in block diagram form to avoid
obscuring such concepts.
[0024] The techniques described herein may be used for various
wireless communication networks such as code-division multiple
access (CDMA), time-division multiple access (TDMA),
frequency-division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal
frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA), single-carrier FDMA
(SC-FDMA) and other networks. The terms "network" and "system" are
often used interchangeably. A CDMA network may implement a radio
technology such as Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA),
cdma2000, etc. UTRA includes Wideband CDMA (WCDMA) and other
variants of CDMA. cdma2000 covers IS-2000, IS-95 and IS-856
standards. A TDMA network may implement a radio technology such as
Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). An OFDMA network may
implement a radio technology such as Evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), Ultra
Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX),
IEEE 802.20, Flash-OFDMA, etc. UTRA and E-UTRA are part of
Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS). 3GPP Long Term
Evolution (LTE) and LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) are new releases of UMTS
that use E-UTRA. UTRA, E-UTRA, UMTS, LTE, LTE-A and GSM are
described in documents from an organization named "3rd Generation
Partnership Project" (3GPP). CDMA2000 and UMB are described in
documents from an organization named "3rd Generation Partnership
Project 2" (3GPP2). The techniques described herein may be used for
the wireless networks and radio technologies mentioned above as
well as other wireless networks and radio technologies, such as a
next generation (e.g., 5.sup.th Generation (5G) operating in mmWav
bands) network.
[0025] The present application describes mechanisms for improving
robustness for PUCCH decoding at BSs. In the disclosed embodiments,
a UE may employ multiple links or channel paths for UL control
information transmissions. The multiple links can provide transmit
and/or receive diversity, and thus may improve transmission and
decoding robustness. For example, the UE may transmit the same UL
control information in multiple beam directions directed to
different BSs (or other receiver nodes). Alternatively, the UE may
transmit the same UL control information in multiple beam
directions directed to the same BS (or same intended target). The
BS may indicate resource allocations and/or transmission
configurations for transmitting UL control information over
multiple beams via a physical downlink control channel or a radio
resource control (RRC) message at a network level. The UE may
transmit an identical encoded version or a different encoded
version of the UL control information over each beam. The UE may
transmit a complete encoded version of the UL control information
in each transmission time interval (TTI) so that each TTI may be
decoded independently at a BS. The disclosed embodiments are
suitable for use in any wireless communication networks. Each UE
may transmit the same UL control information over any suitable
number of beams.
[0026] FIG. 1 illustrates a wireless communication network 100
according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The network 100
may include a number of UEs 102, as well as a number of BSs 104.
The BSs 104 may include an Evolve Node B (eNodeB) or a next
Generation Node B (gNB). A BS 104 may be a station that
communicates with the UEs 102 and may also be referred to as a base
transceiver station, a node B, an access point, and the like.
[0027] The BSs 104 communicate with the UEs 102 as indicated by
communication signals 106. A UE 102 may communicate with the BS 104
via a UL and a DL. The DL (or forward link) refers to the
communication link from the BS 104 to the UE 102. The UL (or
reverse link) refers to the communication link from the UE 102 to
the BS 104. The BSs 104 may also communicate with one another,
directly or indirectly, over wired and/or wireless connections, as
indicated by communication signals 108. The BSs 104 may
cooperatively perform joint transmission and reception to improve
performance. In some embodiments, the BSs 104 may be transmission
points (TXPs) operating as remote radio heads to transmit and
receive signals for over-the-air interface with the UEs 102 and
communicate with a central unit for baseband processing.
[0028] The UEs 102 may be dispersed throughout the network 100, as
shown, and each UE 102 may be stationary or mobile. The UE 102 may
also be referred to as a terminal, a mobile station, a subscriber
unit, etc. The UE 102 may be any device configured to communicate
wirelessly with another node, which may be a BS 104 and/or one or
more other UEs 102, and may include any suitable wireless
application. The UE 102 may be a cellular phone, a smartphone, a
personal digital assistant, a wireless modem, a laptop computer, a
tablet computer, a vehicle, a drone, a sensor node, an Internet of
Things (IoT) device, industrial equipment, etc. The network 100 is
one example of a network to which various aspects of the disclosure
apply.
[0029] Each BS 104 may provide communication coverage for a
particular geographic area. In 3GPP, the term "cell" can refer to
this particular geographic coverage area of a BS and/or a BS
subsystem serving the coverage area, depending on the context in
which the term is used. In this regard, a BS 104 may provide
communication coverage for a macro cell, a pico cell, a femto cell,
and/or other types of cell. A macro cell generally covers a
relatively large geographic area (e.g., several kilometers in
radius) and may allow unrestricted access by UEs with service
subscriptions with the network provider. A pico cell may generally
cover a relatively smaller geographic area and may allow
unrestricted access by UEs with service subscriptions with the
network provider. A femto cell may also generally cover a
relatively small geographic area (e.g., a home) and, in addition to
unrestricted access, may also provide restricted access by UEs
having an association with the femto cell (e.g., UEs in a closed
subscriber group (CSG), UEs for users in the home, and the like). A
BS for a macro cell may be referred to as a macro BS. A BS for a
pico cell may be referred to as a pico BS. A BS for a femto cell
may be referred to as a femto BS or a home BS.
[0030] In the example shown in FIG. 1, the BSs 104a, 104b and 104c
are examples of macro BSs for the coverage areas 110a, 110b and
110c, respectively. The BSs 104d and 104e are examples of pico
and/or femto BSs for the coverage areas 110d and 110e,
respectively. As will be recognized, a BS 104 may support one or
multiple (e.g., two, three, four, and the like) cells.
[0031] The network 100 may also include relay stations. A relay
station is a station that receives a transmission of data and/or
other information from an upstream station (e.g., a BS, a UE, or
the like) and sends a transmission of the data and/or other
information to a downstream station (e.g., another UE, another BS,
or the like). A relay station may also be a UE that relays
transmissions for other UEs. A relay station may also be referred
to as a relay BS, a relay UE, a relay, and the like.
[0032] The network 100 may support synchronous or asynchronous
operation. For synchronous operation, the BSs 104 may have similar
frame timing, and transmissions from different BSs 104 may be
approximately aligned in time. For asynchronous operation, the BSs
104 may have different frame timing, and transmissions from
different BSs 104 may not be aligned in time. Operations may alter
between synchronous or asynchronous operation as desired or needed
depending upon design or implementation parameters.
[0033] In some implementations, the network 100 utilizes orthogonal
frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) on the DL and single-carrier
frequency division multiplexing (SC-FDM) on the UL. OFDM and SC-FDM
partition the system bandwidth into multiple (K) orthogonal
subcarriers (sometimes referred to as tones, bins, or the like).
Each subcarrier may be modulated with data. In general, modulation
symbols are sent in the frequency domain with OFDM and in the time
domain with SC-FDM. The spacing between adjacent subcarriers may be
fixed, and the total number of subcarriers (K) may be dependent on
the system bandwidth. For example, K may be equal to 72, 180, 300,
600, 900, and 1200 for a corresponding system bandwidth of 1.4, 3,
5, 10, 15, or 20 megahertz (MHz), respectively. The system
bandwidth may also be partitioned into sub-bands. For example, a
sub-band may cover 1.08 MHz, and there may be 1, 2, 4, 8 or 16
sub-bands for a corresponding system bandwidth of 1.4, 3, 5, 10,
15, or 20 MHz, respectively.
[0034] In an embodiment, the BSs 104 can assign or schedule
transmission resources (e.g., in the form of time-frequency
resource blocks) for DL and UL transmissions in the network 100.
The communication can be in the form of radio frames. A radio frame
may be divided into a plurality of subframes. In a FDD mode,
simultaneous UL and DL transmissions may occur in different
frequency bands. In a TDD mode, UL and DL transmissions occur at
different time periods using the same frequency band. For example,
a subset of the subframes in a radio frame may be used for DL
transmissions and another subset of the subframes may be used for
UL transmissions. The DL and UL subframes can be shared among the
BSs 104 and the UEs 102, respectively.
[0035] The DL subframes and the UL subframes can be further divided
into several regions. For example, each DL or UL subframe may have
pre-defined regions for transmissions of reference signals, control
information, and data. Reference signals are pre-determined signals
that facilitate the communications between the BSs 104 and the UEs
102. For example, a reference signal can have a particular pilot
pattern or structure, where pilot tones may span across an
operational bandwidth or frequency band, each positioned at a
pre-defined time and a pre-defined frequency. Control information
may include resource assignments and protocol controls. Data may
include protocol data and/or operational data.
[0036] In the context of LTE, the BSs 104 may send DL control
information in a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) region
of a DL subframe and DL data in a physical downlink shared channel
(PDSCH) region of a DL subframe. The UEs 102 may send UL control
information in a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) region of
a UL subframe and UL data in a physical uplink shared channel
(PUSCH) region of a UL subframe.
[0037] In an embodiment, the BSs 104 can broadcast system
information associated with the network 100. Some examples of
system information may include physical layer information such as
cell bandwidths and frame configurations, cell access information,
and neighbor cell information. A UE 102 can access the network 100
by listening to the broadcast system information and requests
connection or channel establishments with a BS 104. For example,
the UE 102 can perform a random access procedure to begin
communication with the BS 104 and subsequently may perform
connection and/or registration procedures to register with the BS
104. After completing the connection and/or the registration, the
UE 102 and the BS 104 can enter a normal operation stage, where
operational data may be exchanged. In addition to data exchange,
the BSs 104 and the UEs 102 may exchange control information. For
example, the BSs 104 may send UL and/or DL resource allocation
information and MCSs in a PDCCH for UL and/or DL transmissions. The
UEs 102 may send CQIs, ACKs, and/or NAKs in a PUCCH.
[0038] In an embodiment, the network 100 may be a 5G new radio (NR)
network. For example, the network 100 may operate in a
mid-frequency band from about 1 gigahertz (GHz) to about 6 GHz.
Alternatively, the network 100 may operate in a high frequency
band, for example, at about 60 GHz, which is referred to as a
millimeter wave (mmWav) band. Although operating in a higher
frequency band can include a greater bandwidth, the path loss (PL)
is higher than the conventional wireless systems. To overcome the
higher PL, the BSs 104 and/or the UEs 102 may increase redundancy
in transmissions and/or perform beamforming to create narrow beam
patterns for transmissions, as described in greater detail
herein.
[0039] FIG. 2 illustrates a multiple-beam transmission scheme for
transmitting UL control information in a wireless communication
network 200 according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The
network 200 corresponds to a portion of the network 100. FIG. 2
illustrates two BSs 204 and one UE 202 for purposes of simplicity
of discussion, though it will be recognized that embodiments of the
present disclosure may scale to many more UEs 202 and/or BSs 204.
The BSs 204 may be similar to the BSs 104. The UE 202 may be
similar to the UEs 102. The UE 202 and the BSs 204 may communicate
with each other at any suitable frequencies.
[0040] In the network 200, the BS 204a may transmit signals in
multiple beam directions 210, shown as 210a, 210b, and 210c, and
receive signals from the multiple beam directions 210. Similarly,
the BS 204b may transmit signals in multiple beam directions 220,
shown as 220a, 220b, and 220c, and receive signals from the
multiple beam directions 220. The UE 202 has multiple link
connections associated with different BSs 204. As shown, the UE 202
has one link connection to the BS 204a in the beam direction 210a
and another link connection to the BS 204b in the beam direction
220b. For example, the BSs 204 and the UE 202 may employ
beamforming (e.g., via spatial filtering or via electrical delay
components) to transmit or receive signals in particular beam
directions. A directional beam may have a greatest power in a
specific direction. As an example, the UE 202 may communicate with
the BS 204a by creating a signal beam with beam patterns radiating
in the beam direction 210a and may communicate with the BS 204b by
creating a signal beam with beam patterns radiating in the beam
direction 210b.
[0041] To improve the robustness or performance of UL control
information transmission, the UE 202 transmits the same UL control
information (e.g., information bits representing a CQI, an ACK, or
a NAK) in the beam direction 210a directed to the BS 204a and in
the beam direction 220b directed to the BS 204b. The UEs 202 may
repeat the UL control information or encode the UL control
information with different redundancy versions (RVs) when
transmitting the UL control information in multiple beam directions
210a and 220b. The UE 202 may simultaneously transmit the UL
control information in the multiple beam directions 210a and 220b
or employ a TDM scheme, as described in greater detail herein. The
BS 204a and 204b may jointly decode the UL control information, for
example, by performing soft combining. Thus, the transmission of UL
control information over the multiple link connections with
different BSs 204 can improve decoding robustness of UL control
information at the BSs 204.
[0042] FIG. 3 illustrates a multiple-beam transmission scheme for
transmitting UL control in a wireless communication network 300
according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The network 300
corresponds to a portion of the network 100. FIG. 3 illustrates one
BS 204 and one UE 202 for purposes of simplicity of discussion,
though it will be recognized that embodiments of the present
disclosure may scale to many more UEs 202 and/or BSs 204. The UE
202 and the BS 204a may communicate with each other at any suitable
frequencies.
[0043] Similar to the network 200, the BS 204a may transmit signals
in multiple beam directions 210 and receive signals from the
multiple beam directions 210. However, the UE 202 has multiple link
connections associated with the BS 204a. As shown, the UE 202 has
two link connections to the BS 204a, one in the beam direction 210a
and another in the beam direction 210b.
[0044] To improve the robustness or performance of UL control
information transmission, the UE 202 transmits the same UL control
information in the beam direction 210a and 210b directed to the BS
204a. The UE 202 may repeat the UL control information or encode
the UL control information with different RVs for transmission in
the multiple beam directions 210a and 210b. The UE 202 may
simultaneously transmit the UL control information in the multiple
beam direction 210a and 210b or employ a TDM scheme, as described
in greater detail herein. The BS 204 may jointly decode the UL
control information received from both the beam directions 210a and
210b, for example, by performing soft combining. Thus, the
transmission of UL control information over the multiple link
connections to the BS 204a can improve decoding robustness of UL
control information at the BS 204a.
[0045] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a UE 400 according to
embodiments of the present disclosure. The UE 400 may be a UE 102
or 202 as discussed above. As shown, the UE 400 may include a
processor 402, a memory 404, a PUCCH generation and processing
module 408, a transceiver 410 including a modem subsystem 412 and a
RF unit 414, and an antenna 416. These elements may be in direct or
indirect communication with each other, for example via one or more
buses.
[0046] The processor 402 may include a central processing unit
(CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific
integrated circuit (ASIC), a controller, a field programmable gate
array (FPGA) device, another hardware device, a firmware device, or
any combination thereof configured to perform the operations
described herein. The processor 402 may also be implemented as a
combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and
a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more
microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such
configuration.
[0047] The memory 404 may include a cache memory (e.g., a cache
memory of the processor 402), random access memory (RAM),
magnetoresistive RAM (MRAM), read-only memory (ROM), programmable
read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read only memory
(EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read only memory
(EEPROM), flash memory, solid state memory device, hard disk
drives, other forms of volatile and non-volatile memory, or a
combination of different types of memory. In an embodiment, the
memory 404 includes a non-transitory computer-readable medium. The
memory 404 may store instructions 406. The instructions 406 may
include instructions that, when executed by the processor 402,
cause the processor 402 to perform the operations described herein
with reference to the UEs 102 and 202 in connection with
embodiments of the present disclosure. Instructions 406 may also be
referred to as code. The terms "instructions" and "code" should be
interpreted broadly to include any type of computer-readable
statement(s). For example, the terms "instructions" and "code" may
refer to one or more programs, routines, sub-routines, functions,
procedures, etc. "Instructions" and "code" may include a single
computer-readable statement or many computer-readable
statements.
[0048] The PUCCH generation and processing module 408 may be
implemented via hardware, software, or combinations thereof. For
example, the PUCCH generation and processing module 408 may be
implemented as a processor, circuit, and/or instructions 406 stored
in the memory 404 and executed by the processor 402. The PUCCH
generation and processing module 408 may be used for various
aspects of the present disclosure. For example, the PUCCH
generation and processing module 408 is configured to generate UL
control information (e.g., CQIs, ACKs, and NAKs), encode the UL
control information with repetitions or RVs, and schedule
transmission of the encoded UL control information in multiple beam
directions (e.g., the beam directions 210, 220, and 310), as
described in greater detail herein.
[0049] As shown, the transceiver 410 may include the modem
subsystem 412 and the RF unit 414. The transceiver 410 can be
configured to communicate bi-directionally with other devices, such
as the BSs 104, and 204. The modem subsystem 412 may be configured
to modulate and/or encode the data from the memory 404 and/or the
PUCCH generation and processing module 408 according to a
modulation and coding scheme (MCS), e.g., a low-density parity
check (LDPC) coding scheme, a turbo coding scheme, a convolutional
coding scheme, a digital beamforming scheme, etc. The RF unit 414
may be configured to process (e.g., perform analog to digital
conversion or digital to analog conversion, etc.) modulated/encoded
data from the modem subsystem 412 (on outbound transmissions) or of
transmissions originating from another source such as a UE 102 or a
BS 104. The RF unit 414 may be further configured to perform analog
beamforming in conjunction with the digital beamforming. Although
shown as integrated together in transceiver 410, the modem
subsystem 412 and the RF unit 414 may be separate devices that are
coupled together at the UE 102 to enable the UE 102 to communicate
with other devices.
[0050] The RF unit 414 may provide the modulated and/or processed
data, e.g. data packets (or, more generally, data messages that may
contain one or more data packets and other information), to the
antenna 416 for transmission to one or more other devices. This may
include, for example, transmission of UL control information
according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The antenna 416
may further receive data messages transmitted from other devices.
This may include, for example, reception of UL control information
transmission configurations or signaling according to embodiments
of the present disclosure. The antenna 416 may provide the received
data messages for processing and/or demodulation at the transceiver
410. Although FIG. 4 illustrates antenna 416 as a single antenna,
antenna 416 may include multiple antennas of similar or different
designs in order to sustain multiple transmission links. The RF
unit 414 may configure the antenna 416
[0051] FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary BS 500
according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The BS 500 may
be a BS 104, or 204 as discussed above. A shown, the BS 500 may
include a processor 502, a memory 504, a PUCCH configuration and
processing module 508, a transceiver 510 including a modem
subsystem 512 and a RF unit 514, and an antenna 516. These elements
may be in direct or indirect communication with each other, for
example via one or more buses.
[0052] The processor 502 may have various features as a
specific-type processor. For example, these may include a CPU, a
DSP, an ASIC, a controller, a FPGA device, another hardware device,
a firmware device, or any combination thereof configured to perform
the operations described herein. The processor 502 may also be
implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a
combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of
microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a
DSP core, or any other such configuration.
[0053] The memory 504 may include a cache memory (e.g., a cache
memory of the processor 502), RAM, MRAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM,
flash memory, a solid state memory device, one or more hard disk
drives, memristor-based arrays, other forms of volatile and
non-volatile memory, or a combination of different types of memory.
In some embodiments, the memory 504 may include a non-transitory
computer-readable medium. The memory 504 may store instructions
506. The instructions 506 may include instructions that, when
executed by the processor 502, cause the processor 502 to perform
operations described herein. Instructions 506 may also be referred
to as code, which may be interpreted broadly to include any type of
computer-readable statement(s) as discussed above with respect to
FIG. 4.
[0054] The PUCCH generation and processing module 508 may be
implemented via hardware, software, or combinations thereof. For
example, the PUCCH generation and processing module 508 may be
implemented as a processor, circuit, and/or instructions 506 stored
in the memory 504 and executed by the processor 502. The PUCCH
configuration and processing module 508 may be used for various
aspects of the present disclosure. For example, the PUCCH
configuration and processing module 508 may schedule UL control
information transmission and decode UL control information received
from a UE (e.g., the UEs 102 or 202), as described in greater
detail herein.
[0055] As shown, the transceiver 510 may include the modem
subsystem 512 and the RF unit 514. The transceiver 510 can be
configured to communicate bi-directionally with other devices, such
as the UEs 102 and 202 and/or another core network element. The
modem subsystem 512 may be configured to modulate and/or encode
data according to a MCS, e.g., a LDPC coding scheme, a turbo coding
scheme, a convolutional coding scheme, a digital beamforming
scheme, etc. The RF unit 514 may be configured to process (e.g.,
perform analog to digital conversion or digital to analog
conversion, etc.) modulated/encoded data from the modem subsystem
512 (on outbound transmissions) or of transmissions originating
from another source such as a UE 102. The RF unit 514 may be
further configured to perform analog beamforming in conjunction
with the digital beamforming. Although shown as integrated together
in transceiver 510, the modem subsystem 512 and the RF unit 514 may
be separate devices that are coupled together at the BS 104 to
enable the BS 104 to communicate with other devices.
[0056] The RF unit 514 may provide the modulated and/or processed
data, e.g. data packets (or, more generally, data messages that may
contain one or more data packets and other information), to the
antenna 516 for transmission to one or more other devices. This may
include, for example, transmission of information to complete
attachment to a network and communication with a camped UE 102
according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The antenna 516
may further receive data messages transmitted from other devices
and provide the received data messages for processing and/or
demodulation at the transceiver 510. Although FIG. 5 illustrates
antenna 516 as a single antenna, antenna 516 may include multiple
antennas of similar or different designs in order to sustain
multiple transmission links.
[0057] In some embodiments, the BS 500 may operate as a TXP. In
such embodiments, the BS 500 may not include the modem subsystem
512 and the PUCCH configuration and processing module 508. The BS
500 may transmit and receive signals over-the-air to a UE via the
RF unit 514 and the antenna 516. The BS 500 may interface with a
central unit for performing functions of the modem subsystem 512
and the PUCCH configuration and processing module 508. The BS 500
may include another interface, such as an optical interface, for
communication with the central unit, as described in greater detail
herein.
[0058] FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary central
unit 600 according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The
central unit 600 may communicate with the BSs 104, 204, and 500. A
shown, the central unit 600 may include a processor 602, a memory
604, a PUCCH configuration and processing module 608, and a
transceiver 610 including a modem subsystem 612 and an optical unit
614. These elements may be in direct or indirect communication with
each other, for example via one or more buses.
[0059] The processor 602 may have various features as a
specific-type processor. For example, these may include a CPU, a
DSP, an ASIC, a controller, a FPGA device, another hardware device,
a firmware device, or any combination thereof configured to perform
the operations described herein. The processor 602 may also be
implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a
combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of
microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a
DSP core, or any other such configuration.
[0060] The memory 604 may include a cache memory (e.g., a cache
memory of the processor 602), RAM, MRAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM,
flash memory, a solid state memory device, one or more hard disk
drives, memristor-based arrays, other forms of volatile and
non-volatile memory, or a combination of different types of memory.
In some embodiments, the memory 604 may include a non-transitory
computer-readable medium. The memory 604 may store instructions
606. The instructions 606 may include instructions that, when
executed by the processor 602, cause the processor 602 to perform
operations described herein. Instructions 606 may also be referred
to as code, which may be interpreted broadly to include any type of
computer-readable statement(s) as discussed above with respect to
FIG. 7.
[0061] The PUCCH configuration and processing module 608 may be
used for various aspects of the present disclosure. The PUCCH
configuration and processing module 608 may be substantially
similar to the PUCCH configuration and processing module 508. For
example, For example, the PUCCH configuration and processing module
508 may schedule UL control information transmission and decode UL
control information received from a UE (e.g., the UEs 102 and
202).
[0062] As shown, the transceiver 610 may include the modem
subsystem 612 and the optical unit 614. The transceiver 610 can be
configured to communicate bi-directionally with other devices, such
as the BSs 104, 204, and 500 operating as TXPs and/or another core
network element. The modem subsystem 612 may be configured to
modulate and/or encode data according to a MCS, e.g., a LDPC coding
scheme, a turbo coding scheme, a convolutional coding scheme, etc.
The optical unit 614 may include electrical-to-optical (E/O)
components and/or optical-to-electrical (O/E) components that
convert an electrical signal to an optical signal for transmission
to a BS operating as a TXP and/or receive an optical signal from
the BS and convert the optical signal into an electrical signal,
respectively. The optical unit 614 may be configured to process
(e.g., perform analog to digital conversion or digital to analog
conversion, optical to electrical conversion or electrical to
optical conversion, etc.) modulated/encoded data from the modem
subsystem 612 (on outbound transmissions) or of transmissions
originating from another source such as a backend or core network.
Although shown as integrated together in transceiver 610, the modem
subsystem 612 and the optical unit 614 may be separate devices that
are coupled together at the central unit 600 to enable the central
unit 600 to communicate with other devices. The optical unit 614
may transmit optical signal carrying the modulated and/or processed
data over an optical link. The optical unit 614 may further receive
optical signals carrying data messages and provide the received
data messages for processing and/or demodulation at the transceiver
610.
[0063] FIG. 7 illustrates a radio frame 700 according to
embodiments of the present disclosure. The radio frame 700 may be
employed by the networks 100, 200, and 300. In particular, BSs such
as the BSs 104, 204, and 500 and UEs such as the UEs 102, 202, and
400 may exchange data using the radio frame 700. In FIG. 7, the
x-axes represent time in some constant units and the y-axes
represent frequency in some constant units. The radio frame 700
includes N plurality of subframes 710 spanning in time and
frequency. In an embodiment, a radio frame 700 may span a time
interval of about 10 milliseconds (ms). Each subframe 710 includes
M plurality of slots 720. Each slot 720 includes K plurality of
mini-slots 730. Each slot 730 may include one or more symbols 740.
N, M, and K may be any suitable positive integers. The BSs or the
UEs may send data in units of subframes 710, slots 720, or
mini-slots 730.
[0064] In addition to sending UL control information in multiple
beam directions, a UE may include multiple repetitions or multiple
encoded RVs of the UL control information in each PUCCH
transmission over a particular beam direction (e.g., the beam
directions 210, 220, and 310) to mitigate blocking effects. Thus, a
PUCCH transmission may span one or more symbols 740, one or more
mini-slots 730, one or more slots 720, or one or more subframes
710. Thus, PUCCH transmissions may have a variable length (e.g., a
variable time duration). As an example, each subframe 710 may
include 2 slots 720, each slot 720 may include 7 symbols 740, and
each repetition of UL control information may be transmitted in 2
symbols 740. Thus, a PUCCH TTI may span more than one slot 720 to
include 8 repetitions. In addition, PUCCH transmissions carrying
the same UL control information may span the same duration or
different durations. In an embodiment, a BS may schedule and
allocate resources for transmissions of UL control information and
indicate the schedule or the allocations in a PDCCH or via a RRC
message, as described in greater detail herein.
[0065] FIG. 8 illustrates a transmission scheme 800 for
simultaneous transmissions of PUCCH signals over multiple beams
according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The scheme 800
may be employed by the UEs 102, 202, and 400. In FIG. 8, the timing
diagram 810 shows over-the-air transmission timing, where the
x-axis represents time in some constant units and the y-axis
presents frequency in some constant units. The timing diagram 820
shows transmission timing at a UE, where the x-axis represents time
aligned to the timing diagram 810 and the y-axis represents beam
direction. In the scheme 800, the UE simultaneously transmit the UL
control information in multiple beam directions. As shown, the UE
simultaneously transmits a PUCCH signal 822 in a first beam
direction 832 and a PUCCH signal 824 in a second beam direction 834
carrying the UL control information in the same TTI 812. The TTI
812 may include one or more mini-slots 730, one or more slots 720,
or one or more subframes 710.
[0066] In one embodiment, the first beam direction 832 (e.g., the
beam direction 210a) and the second beam direction (e.g., the beam
direction 220b) are directed to different BSs as shown and
described with respect to FIG. 2. In another embodiment, the first
beam direction 832 (e.g., the beam direction 310a) and the second
beam direction 834 (e.g., the beam direction 310b) are directed to
the same BS as shown and described with respect to FIG. 3.
[0067] In one embodiment, the PUCCH signals 822 and 824 may carry
identical copy of the UL control information. In another
embodiment, the PUCCH signals 822 and 824 may carry different
redundancy versions of the UL control information. For example, the
UE may employ an error encoding scheme, such as a convolutional
code, to encode the UL control information. The UE may send one set
of redundancy along with the UL control information bits in the
PUCCH signal 822 and another set of redundancy bits with the UL
control information in the PUCCH signal 824. Alternatively, the UE
may send the UL control information in the PUCCH signal 822 and the
redundancy bits in the PUCCH signal 824. In some other embodiments,
the PUCCH signals 822 and 824 may carry different portions of the
UL control information. In some embodiments, each PUCCH
transmission may include a demodulation reference signal (DMRS)
pattern to allow independent channel estimation. Thus, the PUCCH
signals 822 and 824 are self-decodable. While FIG. 8 illustrates
the PUCCH signals 822 and 824 spanning the same duration and the
same frequency, the PUCCH signals 822 and 824 may span different
durations and/or different frequencies.
[0068] To support simultaneous transmissions over multiple beams,
the UE may include multiple antenna subarrays, each having an array
of antennas (e.g., the antennas 516) and a plurality of digital
transceiver chains (e.g., transceiver 510). The UE may partition
the digital transceiver chains into a multiple links, each coupled
to an antenna subarray. The UE may simultaneously transmit the
PUCCH signal 822 via one digital transceiver chain and a
corresponding antenna subarray and the PUCCH signal 824 via another
digital transceiver chain and a corresponding antenna subarray.
[0069] FIG. 9 illustrates a TDM-based transmission scheme 900 for
transmissions of PUCCH signals over multiple beams according to
embodiments of the present disclosure. The scheme 800 may be
employed by the UEs 102, 202, and 400. In FIG. 9, the timing
diagram 910 shows over-the-air transmission timing, where the
x-axis represents time in some constant units and the y-axis
presents frequency in some constant units. The timing diagram 920
shows transmission timing at a UE, where the x-axis represents time
aligned to the timing diagram 910 and the y-axis represents beam
direction. In the scheme 900, the UE employ a TDM scheme to
transmit the PUCCH signals 822 and 824 over multiple beams instead
of simultaneously as in the scheme 800. As shown, the UE transmits
the PUCCH signal 822 in the first beam direction 832 in a TTI 812a
and the PUCCH signal 824 in the second beam direction 834 in
another TTI 812b. While FIG. 9 illustrates the transmission of the
PUCCH signals 822 and 824 in consecutive TTIs 812 spanning the same
frequency, the transmissions of the PUCCH signals 822 and 824 may
be spaced apart in time and/or spanning different frequencies.
[0070] FIG. 10 is a signaling diagram of a method 1000 of signaling
and transmitting PUCCH signals, such as the PUCCH signals 822 and
824, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Steps of
the method 1000 can be executed by computing devices (e.g., a
processor, processing circuit, and/or other suitable component) of
wireless communication devices, such as the BSs 104, 204, and 500
and the UEs 102, 202, and 400. The method 1000 can be better
understood with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 8, and 9. As illustrated,
the method 1000 includes a number of enumerated steps, but
embodiments of the method 1000 may include additional steps before,
after, and in between the enumerated steps. In some embodiments,
one or more of the enumerated steps may be omitted or performed in
a different order. The method 1000 illustrates two BSs 204 (e.g.,
the BSs 204a and 204b) and one UE 202 for purposes of simplicity of
discussion, though it will be recognized that embodiments of the
present disclosure may scale to many more UEs 202 and/or BSs 204.
The BSs 204a and 204b may communicate with each other via a
network. In one embodiment, the BSs 204a and 204b are eNBs
including baseband processing. In another embodiment, the BSs 240a
and 204b are TXPs, where baseband processing is performed at a
central unit (e.g., the central unit 600).
[0071] At step 1010, the BS 204a transmits PUCCH allocation
information to the UE 202. In one embodiment, the BS 204a may
transmit the PUCCH allocation information in a PDCCH. The PDCCH may
indicate resources allocated to the UE 202 for transmissions of UL
control information over multiple beams. For example, the PDCCH may
indicate an allocation in a first beam direction (e.g., the beam
directions 210, 220, 310, 832, and 834) and an allocation in a
second beam direction. The allocations may be similar to the TTIs
812. Accordingly, in some instances, the BS 204a may configure a
PUCCH allocation or transmission configuration to indicate a first
beam direction and a second beam direction. In some instances, the
BS 204a may further configure the PUCCH allocation or transmission
configuration to indicate a first TTI (e.g., the TTIs 812) for the
first beam direction and a second TTI for the second beam direction
as shown in the schemes 800 and 900.
[0072] In another embodiment, the BS 204a may transmit a RRC
message indicating a transmission configuration for transmitting UL
control information over multiple beams. For example, the RRC
message may indicate that each PUCCH allocation may include
allocations in multiple beam directions. In some embodiments, the
PUCCH allocation information may be indicated through a combination
of PDCCH signaling and RRC messages.
[0073] At step 1020, the UE 202 transmits PUCCH signals (e.g., the
PUCCH signals 822 and 824) carrying the same UL control information
in multiple beam directions. In one embodiment, the multiple beam
directions are directed to different BSs 204 as shown in the
network 200. For example, one beam direction is directed towards
the BS 204a and another beam direction is directed towards the BS
204b as shown by the dashed arrow. In another embodiment, the
multiple beam directions are directed to the same BS 204a as shown
in the network 300. The UE 202 may employ the schemes 800 or 900
for the transmissions.
[0074] In one embodiment, the UE 202 may transmit identical encoded
UL control information in each TTI in each beam direction. Upon
receiving the PUCCH signals, the BSs 204a and/or the 204b may
individually or jointly decode the PUCCH signals to recover the UL
control information.
[0075] In another embodiment, the UE 202 may transmit a different
encoded RV of the UL control information in each TTI in each beam
direction using similar resource structures as control channel
elements (CCEs) and resource element groups (REGs) of LTE PDCCHs
and circular-type rate matching. CCEs and REGs refer to a set of
symbols and subcarriers or frequency tones. In LTE PDCCH, each CCE
and each REG are self-decodable. Rate matching refers to extracting
a set of encoded bits for transmissions in a TTI to match a
particular coding or transmission rate. In some embodiments, rate
matching may employ a circular buffer to collect encoded bits and
the encoded bits may be punctured or repeated to match the
particular rate. To facilitate the RV encodings, the BS 204a may
instruct the UE 202 to employ a particular RV in a particular beam
direction. Alternatively, the UE 202 may select a RV for a beam
direction based on a pre-determined rule. Upon receiving the PUCCH
signals, the BSs 204a and/or the 204b may individually or jointly
decode the PUCCH signals to recover the UL control information. By
transmitting a complete encoded version of the UL control
information in each TTI, the BSs 204a and 204b may decode a PUCCH
signal carried in a TTI independent of another PUCCH signal carried
in another TTI.
[0076] FIG. 11 is a flow diagram of a method 1100 of transmitting
UL control information over multiple beams. Steps of the method
1100 can be executed by a computing device (e.g., a processor,
processing circuit, and/or other suitable component) of a wireless
communication device, such as the UEs 102, 202, and 400. The method
1100 may employ similar mechanisms as in the transmission schemes
described with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3 and the schemes 800 and
900. The method 1100 can be better understood with reference to
FIGS. 2 and 3. As illustrated, the method 1100 includes a number of
enumerated steps, but embodiments of the method 1100 may include
additional steps before, after, and in between the enumerated
steps. In some embodiments, one or more of the enumerated steps may
be omitted or performed in a different order.
[0077] At step 1110, the method 1100 includes transmitting, a first
UL control signal (e.g., the PUCCH signal 822) in a first beam
direction (e.g., the beam directions 210a and 832). The first UL
control signal carries or represents UL control information (e.g.,
a CQI, an ACK, or a NAK).
[0078] At step 1120, the method 1100 includes transmitting, a
second UL control signal (e.g., the PUCCH signal 824) in a second
beam direction (e.g., the beam directions 210b and 834). The second
UL control signal carries or represents the same UL control
information as the first UL control signal. The first UL control
signal and the second UL control signal may be transmitted
according to the scheme 800 or 900. The first UL control signal and
the second UL control signal may carry the same encoded version of
the UL control information or different encoded versions of the UL
control information. The first beam direction and the second beam
direction may be different beam directions. For example, the first
UL control signal and the second control signal may have a greatest
signal power directing towards different spatial directions (e.g.,
angular directions). In some embodiments, the first beam direction
and the second beam direction are received in a transmission
configuration from a BS as in the method 1000.
[0079] FIG. 12 is a flow diagram of a method 1200 of receiving UL
control information from multiple beams according to embodiments of
the present disclosure. Steps of the method 1200 can be executed by
a computing device (e.g., a processor, processing circuit, and/or
other suitable component) of a communication device, such as the BS
104, 204, and 500 and the central unit 600. The method 1200 may
employ similar mechanisms as in the transmission schemes described
with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3 and the schemes 800 and 900. The
method 1200 can be better understood with reference to FIGS. 2 and
3. As illustrated, the method 1200 includes a number of enumerated
steps, but embodiments of the method 1200 may include additional
steps before, after, and in between the enumerated steps. In some
embodiments, one or more of the enumerated steps may be omitted or
performed in a different order.
[0080] At step 1210, the method 1200 includes receiving, a first UL
control signal (e.g., the PUCCH signal 832) from a first beam
direction (e.g., the beam directions 210, 220, 310, 832, and 834).
The first UL control signal carries UL control information (e.g., a
CQI, an ACK, or a NAK).
[0081] At step 1220, the method 1200 includes receiving, a second
UL control signal (e.g., the PUCCH signal 834) from a second beam
direction. The second UL control signal carries the same UL control
information. The first UL control signal and the second UL control
signal may be received in the same TTI (e.g., the TTI 812) or
different TTIs as shown in the scheme 800 or 900, respectively. In
some embodiments, the wireless communication device may transmit a
transmission configuration indicating the first beam direction and
the second beam direction as in the method 1000 and receive the
first UL control signal and the second UL control signal according
to the transmission configuration.
[0082] The first UL control signal and the second UL control signal
may carry or represent the same encoded version of the UL control
information or different encoded versions of the UL control
information. In an embodiment, when the communication device is a
central unit, the central unit may be in communication with a first
TXP and a second TXP and receive the first UL control signal and
the second control signal via the first TXP and the second TXP,
respectively.
[0083] Information and signals may be represented using any of a
variety of different technologies and techniques. For example,
data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols,
and chips that may be referenced throughout the above description
may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves,
magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any
combination thereof.
[0084] The various illustrative blocks and modules described in
connection with the disclosure herein may be implemented or
performed with a general-purpose processor, a DSP, an ASIC, an FPGA
or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor
logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof
designed to perform the functions described herein. A
general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the
alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor,
controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also
be implemented as a combination of computing devices (e.g., a
combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple
microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a
DSP core, or any other such configuration).
[0085] The functions described herein may be implemented in
hardware, software executed by a processor, firmware, or any
combination thereof. If implemented in software executed by a
processor, the functions may be stored on or transmitted over as
one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium.
Other examples and implementations are within the scope of the
disclosure and appended claims. For example, due to the nature of
software, functions described above can be implemented using
software executed by a processor, hardware, firmware, hardwiring,
or combinations of any of these. Features implementing functions
may also be physically located at various positions, including
being distributed such that portions of functions are implemented
at different physical locations. Also, as used herein, including in
the claims, "or" as used in a list of items (for example, a list of
items prefaced by a phrase such as "at least one of" or "one or
more of") indicates an inclusive list such that, for example, a
list of [at least one of A, B, or C] means A or B or C or AB or AC
or BC or ABC (i.e., A and B and C).
[0086] Embodiments of the present disclosure include a method of
wireless communication, comprising transmitting, by a first
wireless communication device, a first uplink control signal in a
first beam direction; and transmitting, by the first wireless
communication device, a second uplink control signal in a second
beam direction, wherein the first uplink control signal and the
second uplink control signal carry same control information, and
wherein the first beam direction and the second beam direction are
different.
[0087] The method further includes wherein the first uplink control
signal is transmitted in the first beam direction in a first
transmission time interval, wherein the second uplink control
signal is transmitted in the second beam direction in a second
transmission time interval, and wherein the first transmission time
interval and the second transmission time interval include one or
more symbols. The method further includes wherein the first
transmission time interval and the second transmission time
interval are the same transmission time interval. The method
further includes wherein the second transmission time interval is
after the first transmission time interval. The method further
includes receiving, by the first wireless communication device, a
transmission configuration for uplink control information
transmission, wherein the first uplink control signal and the
second uplink control signal are transmitted based on the
transmission configuration. The method further includes wherein the
transmission configuration indicates the first transmission time
interval and the second transmission time interval. The method
further includes wherein the first uplink control signal carries
the control information encoded based on a first redundancy version
(RV), and wherein the second uplink control signal carries the
control information encoded based on a second RV that is different
than the first RV. The method further includes wherein the first
beam direction and the second beam direction are each directed
towards a second wireless communication device. The method further
includes wherein the first beam direction is directed towards a
second wireless communication device, and wherein the second beam
direction is directed towards a third wireless communication
device.
[0088] Embodiments of the present disclosure include a method of
wireless communication, comprising receiving, by a communication
device, a first uplink control signal from a first beam direction;
and receiving, by the communication device, a second uplink control
signal from a second beam direction, wherein the first uplink
control signal and the second uplink control signal carry same
control information, and wherein the first beam direction and the
second beam direction are different.
[0089] The method further includes wherein the first uplink control
signal is received from the first beam direction in a first
transmission time interval, wherein the second uplink control
signal is received from the second beam direction in a second
transmission time interval, and wherein the first transmission time
interval and the second transmission time interval include one or
more symbols. The method further includes wherein the first
transmission time interval and the second transmission time
interval are the same transmission time interval. The method
further includes wherein the second transmission time interval is
after the first transmission time interval. The method further
includes decoding, by the communication device, the first uplink
control signal in the first transmission time interval independent
of the second uplink control signal. The method further includes
wherein the first uplink control signal carries the control
information encoded based on a first redundancy version (RV), and
wherein the second uplink control signal carries the control
information encoded based on a second RV that is different than the
first RV. The method further includes transmitting, by the
communication device, a transmission configuration for uplink
control information transmission in multiple beam directions, and
wherein the first uplink control signal and the second uplink
control signal are received based on the transmission
configuration. The method further includes wherein the
communication device is in communication with a first transmission
point (TXP), wherein the communication device is in communication
with a second TXP that is different than the first TP, wherein the
first uplink control signal is received via the first TXP, and
wherein the second uplink control signal is received via the second
TXP. The method further includes wherein the communication device
is in communication with a transmission point (TXP), and wherein
the first uplink control signal and the second uplink control
signal are received via the same TXP.
[0090] Embodiments of the present disclosure include an apparatus
comprising a transmitter configured to transmit a first uplink
control signal in a first beam direction; and transmit a second
uplink control signal in a second beam direction, wherein the first
uplink control signal and the second uplink control signal carry
same control information, and wherein the first beam direction and
the second beam direction are different.
[0091] The apparatus further includes wherein the first uplink
control signal is transmitted in the first beam direction in a
first transmission time interval, wherein the second uplink control
signal is transmitted in the second beam direction in a second
transmission time interval, and wherein the first transmission time
interval and the second transmission time interval include one or
more symbols. The apparatus further includes wherein the first
transmission time interval and the second transmission time
interval are the same transmission time interval. The apparatus
further includes wherein the second transmission time interval is
after the first transmission time interval. The apparatus further
includes a receiver configured to receive a transmission
configuration for uplink control information transmission, wherein
the first uplink control signal and the second uplink control
signal are transmitted based on the transmission configuration. The
apparatus further includes wherein the transmission configuration
indicates the first transmission time interval and the second
transmission time interval. The apparatus further includes wherein
the first uplink control signal carries the control information
encoded based on a first redundancy version (RV), and wherein the
second uplink control signal carries the control information
encoded based on a second RV that is different than the first RV.
The apparatus further includes wherein the first beam direction and
the second beam direction are each directed towards a wireless
communication device. The apparatus further includes wherein the
first beam direction is directed towards a first wireless
communication device, and wherein the second beam direction is
directed towards a second wireless communication device.
[0092] Embodiments of the present disclosure includes an apparatus
comprising a received configured to receive a first uplink control
signal from a first beam direction; and receive a second uplink
control signal from a second beam direction, wherein the first
uplink control signal and the second uplink control signal carry
same control information, and wherein the first beam direction and
the second beam direction are different.
[0093] The apparatus further includes wherein the first uplink
control signal is received from the first beam direction in a first
transmission time interval, wherein the second uplink control
signal is received from the second beam direction in a second
transmission time interval, and wherein the first transmission time
interval and the second transmission time interval include one or
more symbols. The apparatus further includes wherein the first
transmission time interval and the second transmission time
interval are the same transmission time interval. The apparatus
further includes wherein the second transmission time interval is
after the first transmission time interval. The apparatus further
includes a processor configured to decode the first uplink control
signal in the first transmission time interval independent of the
second uplink control signal. The apparatus further includes
wherein the first uplink control signal carries the control
information encoded based on a first redundancy version (RV), and
wherein the second uplink control signal carries the control
information encoded based on a second RV that is different than the
first RV. The apparatus further includes a transmitter configured
to transmit a transmission configuration for uplink control
information transmission in multiple beam directions, wherein the
first uplink control signal and the second uplink control signal
are received based on the transmission configuration. The apparatus
is further in communication with a first transmission point (TXP),
wherein the apparatus is in communication with a second TXP that is
different than the first TP, wherein the first uplink control
signal is received via the first TXP, and wherein the second uplink
control signal is received via the second TXP. The apparatus is
further in communication with a transmission point (TXP), and
wherein the first uplink control signal and the second uplink
control signal are received via the same TXP. The apparatus further
includes
[0094] Embodiments of the present disclosure further include a
computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon, the
program code comprising code for causing a first wireless
communication device to transmit a first uplink control signal in a
first beam direction; and code for causing the first wireless
communication device to transmit a second uplink control signal in
a second beam direction, wherein the first uplink control signal
and the second uplink control signal carry same control
information, and wherein the first beam direction and the second
beam direction are different.
[0095] The computer-readable medium further includes wherein the
first uplink control signal is transmitted in the first beam
direction in a first transmission time interval, wherein the second
uplink control signal is transmitted in the second beam direction
in a second transmission time interval, and wherein the first
transmission time interval and the second transmission time
interval include one or more symbols. The computer-readable medium
further includes wherein the first transmission time interval and
the second transmission time interval are the same transmission
time interval. The computer-readable medium further includes
wherein the second transmission time interval is after the first
transmission time interval. The computer-readable medium further
includes code for causing the first wireless communication device
to receive a transmission configuration for uplink control
information transmission, wherein the first uplink control signal
and the second uplink control signal are transmitted based on the
transmission configuration. The computer-readable medium further
includes wherein the transmission configuration indicates the first
transmission time interval and the second transmission time
interval. The computer-readable medium further includes wherein the
first uplink control signal carries the control information encoded
based on a first redundancy version (RV), and wherein the second
uplink control signal carries the control information encoded based
on a second RV that is different than the first RV. The
computer-readable medium further includes wherein the first beam
direction and the second beam direction are each directed towards a
second wireless communication device. The computer-readable medium
further includes wherein the first beam direction is directed
towards a second wireless communication device, and wherein the
second beam direction is directed towards a third wireless
communication device.
[0096] Embodiments of the present disclosure further include a
computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon, the
program code comprising code for causing a communication device to
receive a first uplink control signal from a first beam direction;
and code for causing the communication device to receive a second
uplink control signal from a second beam direction, wherein the
first uplink control signal and the second uplink control signal
carry same control information, and wherein the first beam
direction and the second beam direction are different.
[0097] The computer-readable medium further includes wherein the
first uplink control signal is received from the first beam
direction in a first transmission time interval, wherein the second
uplink control signal is received from the second beam direction in
a second transmission time interval, and wherein the first
transmission time interval and the second transmission time
interval include one or more symbols. The computer-readable medium
further includes wherein the first transmission time interval and
the second transmission time interval are the same transmission
time interval. The computer-readable medium further includes
wherein the second transmission time interval is after the first
transmission time interval. The computer-readable medium further
includes code for causing the communication device to decode the
first uplink control signal in the first transmission time interval
independent of the second uplink control signal. The
computer-readable medium further includes wherein the first uplink
control signal carries the control information encoded based on a
first redundancy version (RV), and wherein the second uplink
control signal carries the control information encoded based on a
second RV that is different than the first RV. The
computer-readable medium further includes code for causing the
communication device to transmit a transmission configuration for
uplink control information transmission in multiple beam
directions, wherein the first uplink control signal and the second
uplink control signal are received based on the transmission
configuration. The computer-readable medium further includes
wherein the communication device is in communication with a first
transmission point (TXP), wherein the communication device is in
communication with a second TXP that is different than the first
TP, wherein the first uplink control signal is received via the
first TXP, and wherein the second uplink control signal is received
via the second TXP. The computer-readable medium further includes
wherein the communication device is in communication with a
transmission point (TXP), and wherein the first uplink control
signal and the second uplink control signal are received via the
same TXP.
[0098] Embodiments of the present disclosure further include an
apparatus comprising means for transmitting a first uplink control
signal in a first beam direction; and means for transmitting a
second uplink control signal in a second beam direction, wherein
the first uplink control signal and the second uplink control
signal carry same control information, and wherein the first beam
direction and the second beam direction are different.
[0099] The apparatus further includes wherein the first uplink
control signal is transmitted in the first beam direction in a
first transmission time interval, wherein the second uplink control
signal is transmitted in the second beam direction in a second
transmission time interval, and wherein the first transmission time
interval and the second transmission time interval include one or
more symbols. The apparatus further includes wherein the first
transmission time interval and the second transmission time
interval are the same transmission time interval. The apparatus
further includes wherein the second transmission time interval is
after the first transmission time interval. The apparatus further
includes means for receiving a transmission configuration for
uplink control information transmission, wherein the first uplink
control signal and the second uplink control signal are transmitted
based on the transmission configuration. The apparatus further
includes wherein the transmission configuration indicates the first
transmission time interval and the second transmission time
interval. The apparatus further includes wherein the first uplink
control signal carries the control information encoded based on a
first redundancy version (RV), and wherein the second uplink
control signal carries the control information encoded based on a
second RV that is different than the first RV. The apparatus
further includes wherein the first beam direction and the second
beam direction are each directed towards a wireless communication
device. The apparatus further includes wherein the first beam
direction is directed towards a first wireless communication
device, and wherein the second beam direction is directed towards a
second wireless communication device.
[0100] Embodiments of the present disclosure further include an
apparatus comprising means for receiving a first uplink control
signal from a first beam direction; and means for receiving a
second uplink control signal from a second beam direction, wherein
the first uplink control signal and the second uplink control
signal carry same control information, and wherein the first beam
direction and the second beam direction are different.
[0101] The apparatus further includes wherein the first uplink
control signal is received from the first beam direction in a first
transmission time interval, wherein the second uplink control
signal is received from the second beam direction in a second
transmission time interval, and wherein the first transmission time
interval and the second transmission time interval include one or
more symbols. The apparatus further includes wherein the first
transmission time interval and the second transmission time
interval are the same transmission time interval. The apparatus
further includes wherein the second transmission time interval is
after the first transmission time interval. The apparatus further
includes means for decoding the first uplink control signal in the
first transmission time interval independent of the second uplink
control signal. The apparatus further includes wherein the first
uplink control signal carries the control information encoded based
on a first redundancy version (RV), and wherein the second uplink
control signal carries the control information encoded based on a
second RV that is different than the first RV. The apparatus
further includes means for transmitting a transmission
configuration for uplink control information transmission in
multiple beam directions, wherein the first uplink control signal
and the second uplink control signal are received based on the
transmission configuration. The apparatus is further in
communication with a first transmission point (TXP) and with a
second TXP that is different than the first TP, wherein the first
uplink control signal is received via the first TXP, and wherein
the second uplink control signal is received via the second TXP.
The apparatus is further in communication with a transmission point
(TXP), and wherein the first uplink control signal and the second
uplink control signal are received via the same TXP.
[0102] As those of some skill in this art will by now appreciate
and depending on the particular application at hand, many
modifications, substitutions and variations can be made in and to
the materials, apparatus, configurations and methods of use of the
devices of the present disclosure without departing from the spirit
and scope thereof. In light of this, the scope of the present
disclosure should not be limited to that of the particular
embodiments illustrated and described herein, as they are merely by
way of some examples thereof, but rather, should be fully
commensurate with that of the claims appended hereafter and their
functional equivalents.
* * * * *