# US 10,873,962 B2 · Mechanisms for handling uplink grants indicating different physical uplink shared channel starting positions in a same subframe

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- Number: US 10,873,962 B2
- Document ID: US10873962B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/480,196
- Filed: 2018-03-28
- Published: 2019-12-26
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2017-03-29
- Assignees: Apple Inc.
- Applicants: Apple Inc.
- Inventors: Jeongho Jeon; Seunghee Han
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10873962B2

## CPC

- H04W 72/1268: of uplink data flows
- H04L 5/0044: {Allocation of payload; Allocation of data channels, e.g. PDSCH or PUSCH}
- H04L 5/0092: {Indication of how the channel is divided}
- H04W 16/14: Spectrum sharing arrangements {between different networks}
- H04W 72/1215: {for collaboration of different radio technologies}
- H04W 72/23: in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
- H04W 74/0808: using carrier sensing, e.g. carrier sense multiple access [CSMA]
- H04L 5/001: {the frequencies being arranged in component carriers}
- H04W 88/06: adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer-readable storage media are provided for handling uplink grants indicating different physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) starting positions in a same subframe of enhanced Licensed Assisted Access (eLAA) systems. In embodiments, a user equipment (UE) may receive Downlink Control Information (DCI). The DCI may indicate at least two uplink grants for one or more LAA secondary cell. Each of the at least two uplink grants may indicate different starting positions for PUSCH transmissions within a same subframe. The UE may align the different starting positions such that the UE is to transmit uplink transmissions according to the at least two uplink grants while the UE is in a transmission mode. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

One or more non-transitory, computer-readable storage media (NTCRSM) including instructions, wherein execution of the instructions by one or more processors of a user equipment (UE) is to cause the UE to:
control receipt of Downlink Control Information (DCI) wherein the DCI is to indicate at least two uplink grants for one or more licensed assisted access (LAA) secondary cells (SCells) wherein each of the at least two uplink grants indicate different starting positions for Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) transmissions within a same subframe; and
align the different starting positions to provide for the UE to transmit uplink transmissions according to the at least two uplink grants while the UE is in a transmission mode.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The one or more NTCRSM of claim 1, wherein execution of the instructions is to cause the UE to align the different starting positions to an earliest starting position among the indicated starting positions.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The one or more NTCRSM of claim 1, wherein execution of the instructions is to cause the UE to align the different starting positions to a latest starting position among the indicated starting positions.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The one or more NTCRSM of claim 1, wherein execution of the instructions is to cause the UE to control performance of a listen-before-talk (LBT) operation at the aligned starting positions prior to transmission of the PUSCH transmissions.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The one or more NTCRSM of claim 1, wherein execution of the instructions is to cause the UE to:
identify an earliest starting position among the indicated starting positions;
control performance of an LBT operation at the earliest starting position; and
control non-performance of an LBT operation at other starting positions among the indicated starting positions.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The one or more NTCRSM of claim 5, wherein execution of the instructions is to cause the UE to control performance of an LBT operation at each indicated starting position, in turn, when the LBT operated performed at the earliest starting position is determined to have failed.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The one or more NTCRSM of claim 1, wherein the UE is not capable of simultaneous reception and transmission.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The one or more NTCRSM of claim 7, wherein the subframe is part of a Frame Structure type 2 (FS2) radio frame or part of a Frame Structure type 3 (FS3) radio frame.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The one or more NTCRSM of claim 1, wherein the DCI is a DCI format 0A message, a DCI format 0B message, a DCI format 4A message, or a DCI format 4B message.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The one or more NTCRSM of claim 9, wherein the DCI comprises individual two bit PUSCH starting position fields for each indicated starting position, wherein the individual two bit PUSCH starting position fields are to include:
a value of “00” to indicate a starting position of symbol 0;
a value of “01” to indicate a starting position of 25 microseconds (μs) in symbol 0;
a value of “10” to indicate a starting position of 25 μs plus a timing advance (TA) in symbol 0; or
a value of “11” to indicate a starting position of symbol 1.

### Claim 11

A system on chip (SoC) to be implemented in a user equipment (UE) the SoC comprising:
baseband circuitry and memory circuitry, the baseband circuitry to:
control receipt of Downlink Control Information (DCI) wherein the DCI is to indicate at least two uplink grants for one or more licensed assisted access (LAA) secondary cells (SCells) wherein each of the at least two uplink grants indicate different starting positions for Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) transmissions within a same subframe;
control storage of each of the at least two uplink grants in the memory circuitry; and
align the different starting positions to provide for the UE to transmit uplink transmissions according to the at least two uplink grants while the UE is in a transmission mode.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The SoC of claim 11, wherein, to align the different starting positions, the baseband circuitry is to:
align the different starting positions to an earliest starting position among the indicated starting positions.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The SoC of claim 11, wherein, to align the different starting positions, the baseband circuitry is to:
align the different starting positions to a latest starting position among the indicated starting positions.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The SoC of claim 11, wherein the baseband circuitry is to:
perform a listen-before-talk, “LBT”, operation at the aligned starting positions prior to transmission of the PUSCH transmissions.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The SoC of claim 11, wherein, to align the different starting positions, the baseband circuitry is to:
identify an earliest starting position among the indicated starting positions;
control performance of an LBT operation at the earliest starting position; and
not perform an LBT operation at other starting positions among the indicated starting positions.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The SoC of claim 15, wherein the baseband circuitry is to:
control performance of LBT operation at each indicated starting position, in turn, when the LBT performed at the earliest starting position is determined to have failed.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The SoC of claim 11, wherein the UE is not capable of simultaneous reception and transmission, and wherein the subframe is part of a Frame Structure type 2 (FS2) radio frame or part of a Frame Structure type 3 (FS3) radio frame.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The SoC of claim 11, wherein the DCI is a DCI format 0A message, a DCI format 0B message, a DCI format 4A message, or a DCI format 4B message, and wherein the DCI comprises individual two bit PUSCH starting position fields for each indicated starting position, wherein the individual two bit PUSCH starting position fields are to include:
a value of “00” to indicate a starting position of symbol 0;
a value of “01” to indicate a starting position of 25 microseconds (μs) in symbol 0;
a value of “10” to indicate a starting position of 25 μs plus a timing advance (TA) in symbol 0; or
a value of “11” to indicate a starting position of symbol 1.

### Claim 19

An apparatus to be employed as a user equipment (UE), the apparatus comprising:
communication circuitry to receive Downlink Control Information (DCI) wherein the DCI is to indicate at least two uplink grants for one or more licensed assisted access (LAA) secondary cells (SCells) wherein each of the at least two uplink grants indicate different starting positions for Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) transmissions within a same subframe; and
processor circuitry communicatively coupled with the communication circuitry, the processor circuitry is to:
perform a decode attempt on a set of Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) candidates or a set of enhanced PDCCH (EPDCCH) candidates to obtain the DCI, and
align the different starting positions to provide for the UE to transmit uplink transmissions according to the at least two uplink grants while the UE is in a transmission mode.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the processor circuitry is to align the different starting positions to an earliest starting position among the indicated starting positions or align the different starting positions to a latest starting position among the indicated starting positions.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the communication circuitry is to perform a listen-before-talk (LBT) operation at the aligned starting positions prior to transmission of the PUSCH transmissions.

### Claim 22 (depends on 19)

The apparatus of claim 19, wherein:
the processor circuitry is to identify an earliest starting position among the indicated starting positions, and
the communication circuitry is to perform an LBT operation at the earliest starting position; and for not performing an LBT operation at other starting positions among the indicated starting positions.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the processor circuitry is to control the communication circuitry to perform an LBT operation at each indicated starting position, in turn, when the LBT operated performed at the earliest starting position is determined to have failed.

### Claim 24 (depends on 19)

The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the UE is not capable of simultaneous reception and transmission, and wherein the subframe is part of a Frame Structure type 2 (FS2) radio frame or part of a Frame Structure type 3 (FS3) radio frame.

### Claim 25 (depends on 19)

The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the DCI is a DCI format 0A message, a DCI format 0B message, a DCI format 4A message, or a DCI format 4B message, and wherein the DCI comprises individual two bit PUSCH starting position fields for each indicated starting position, wherein the individual two bit PUSCH starting position fields are to include:
a value of “00” to indicate a starting position of symbol 0;
a value of “01” to indicate a starting position of 25 microseconds (μs) in symbol 0;
a value of “10” to indicate a starting position of 25 μs plus a timing advance (TA) in symbol 0; and
a value of “11” to indicate a starting position of symbol 1.