Techniques and apparatuses for sub-physical resource block resource allocation for machine type communication

A method of wireless communication, comprising:

• receiving, by a user equipment (UE), a grant identifying an uplink resource allocation of less than one physical resource block (PRB),
• wherein the grant identifies a number of subframes or resource units to which a transport block, associated with the uplink resource allocation, is to be mapped;
• and
• determining, by the UE, a frequency hopping technique based at least in part on the number of subframes or resource units,
• wherein the frequency hopping technique is within a narrowband that contains the uplink resource allocation, and
• wherein at least one of:
• the UE is configured to deactivate the frequency hopping technique when the grant identifies the uplink resource allocation of less than one PRB,
• the UE is configured to configure the frequency hopping technique based at least in part on a coverage extension mode, a frequency hopping interval, and the number of subframes or resource units when the grant identifies the uplink resource allocation of less than one PRB,
• the UE is configured to perform the frequency hopping technique within one or more predefined PRBs when the grant identifies the uplink resource allocation of less than one PRB, or
• the UE is configured to perform the frequency hopping technique within a particular PRB, the frequency hopping technique is based at least in part on a cyclic approach within the particular PRB.

A method of wireless communication, comprising:

• receiving, by a user equipment (UE), a grant identifying an uplink resource allocation of less than one physical resource block (PRB);
• and
• performing, by the UE, a retuning operation based at least in part on the grant identifying an uplink resource allocation of less than one PRB,
• wherein the retuning operation is performed according to a retuning configuration corresponding to a system bandwidth capability of the UE, and
• wherein at least one of:
• the UE is configured to perform the retuning operation when a narrowband on which the UE communicates changes,
• the UE is configured to perform the retuning operation when a PRB on which the UE communicates changes,
• the UE is configured to puncture a last one or more symbols of a subframe based at least in part on performing the retuning operation, or
• the UE is configured to rate match a first one or more symbols of the subframe based at least in part on performing the retuning operation.

A user equipment (UE) for wireless communication, comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• one or more processors operatively coupled to the memory, the memory and the one or more processors configured to:
• receive a grant identifying an uplink resource allocation of less than one physical resource block (PRB),
• wherein the grant identifies a particular PRB in which the uplink resource allocation is included and at least a group of subcarriers is allocated for the UE,
• wherein the uplink resource allocation is associated with a transport block,
• wherein the uplink resource allocation maps the transport block to at least one resource unit that includes a first number of subcarriers and a second number of subframes, and
• wherein the grant indicates a number of resource units to which the transport block is to be mapped;
• and
• transmit uplink data using the uplink resource allocation.