Multi-carrier enhancements for improving reliability in urllc-u

A method of wireless communication, comprising:

• transmitting, by a user equipment (UE) to a base station, an indication of UE capabilities regarding ability of the UE to monitor an integer M frequency band partitions;
• receiving, by the UE from the base station, a configuration of the UE to monitor the M frequency band partitions for a predetermined signal according to a monitoring schedule;
• cycling, by the UE, through the M frequency band partitions while monitoring for the predetermined signal in monitoring occasions defined by the monitoring schedule;
• detecting, by the UE during one or more of the monitoring occasions, the predetermined signal on only an integer N frequency band partitions of the M frequency band partitions, wherein N<M;
• and
• tuning, by the UE in response to the detecting, to receive a downlink signal on only the N frequency band partitions during a transmission opportunity (TXOP) having a starting point defined by the monitoring schedule.

An apparatus configured for wireless communication, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• a memory coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured:
• to receive, by a base station from a user equipment (UE), an indication of UE capabilities regarding ability of the UE to monitor an integer M frequency band partitions;
• to configure, by the base station, the UE to monitor the M frequency band partitions for a predetermined signal according to a monitoring schedule;
• to perform, by the base station, one or more successful clear carrier assessments (CCAs) on an integer N frequency band partitions of the M frequency band partitions, wherein N<M;
• to map, by the base station in response to the successful CCAs, one or more downlink transmissions to only the N frequency band partitions;
• to transmit, by the base station based on the maps, the predetermined signal on only the N frequency band partitions at least during one or more monitoring occasions defined by the monitoring schedule;
• and
• to transmit, by the base station based on the maps, a downlink signal to the UE on only the N frequency band partitions during a transmission opportunity (TXOP) having a starting point defined by the monitors schedule.

An apparatus configured for wireless communication, comprising;

• at least one processor;
• and
• a memory coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured:
• to transmit, by a user equipment (UE) to a base station, an indication of UE capabilities regarding ability of the UE to monitor an integer M frequency band partitions;
• to receive, by the UE from the base station, a configuration of the UE to monitor the M frequency band partitions for a predetermined signal according to a monitoring schedule;
• to cycle, by the UE, through the M frequency band partitions while monitoring for the predetermined signal in monitoring occasions defined by the monitoring schedule;
• to detect, by the UE during one or more of the monitors occasions, the predetermined signal on only an integer N frequency band partitions of the M frequency band partitions, wherein N<M;
• and
• to tune, by the UE in response to results of the configuration of the at least one processor to detect, to receive a downlink signal on only the N frequency band partitions during a transmission opportunity (TXOP) having a starting point defined by the monitoring schedule.