Dynamic uplink band transmission

A method performed by a user device configured to communicate with a radio access network, RAN, that supports communications with user devices using a plurality of predefined operating bands, each supporting a plurality of frequency channels, the method comprising:

• receiving, from the RAN using a first predefined operating band for downlink, DL, communications to user devices including the user device,
• a candidate-bands indication of two or more candidate uplink, UL, bands, each of the two or more candidate UL bands pertaining to a second predefined operating band different from the first predefined operating band, and
• a measurement configuration enabling measurements of reference signals on the two or more candidate UL bands during a measurement gap;
• transmitting, to the RAN, an indication of a UL band selected from among the two or more candidate UL bands for UL communications;
• and
• communicating bi-directionally with the RAN
• using the UL band selected for the UL communications from the user device to the RAN and
• using a DL band within the first predefined operating band for DL communications from the RAN to the user device.

A user device comprising processing hardware including a wireless communication interface for interface for communicating with a radio access network, RAN, that supports communications with user devices using a plurality of predefined operating bands, each supporting a plurality of frequency channels,

• the wireless communication interface being configured to:
• receive, from the RAN using a first predefined operating band for downlink, DL, communications to user devices including the user device,
• a candidate-bands indication of two or more candidate uplink, UL, bands, each of the two or more candidate UL bands pertaining to a second predefined operating band different from the first predefined operating band, and
• a measurement configuration enabling measurements of reference signals on the two or more candidate UL bands during a measurement gap;
• to transmit, to the RAN, an indication of a UL band selected from among the two or more candidate UL bands for UL communications;
• and
• to communicate bi-directionally with the RAN
• using the UL band selected for the UL communications from the user device to the RAN and
• using a DL band within the first predefined operating band for DL communications from the RAN to the user device.

A method performed by a node of a radio access network, RAN, that supports communications with user devices using a plurality of predefined operating bands each supporting a plurality of frequency channels, the method comprising:

• transmitting, to a user device using a first predefined operating band for downlink, DL, communications to user devices including the user device, a candidate-bands indication of two or more candidate uplink, UL, bands, each of the two or more candidate UL bands pertaining to a second predefined operating band different from the first predefined operating band;
• receiving, from the user device, an indication of a UL band among the two or more candidate UL bands selected for UL communications from the user device to the RAN;
• and
• communicating bi-directionally with the user device
• using the UL band for the UL communications from the user device to the RAN and
• using a DL band within the first predefined operating band for DL communications from the RAN to the user device.

A node of a radio access network, RAN, that supports communications with user devices using a plurality of predefined operating bands each supporting a plurality of frequency channels, the node comprising processing hardware including a wireless communication interface configured to

• transmit, to a user device using a first predefined operating band for downlink, DL, communications to user devices including the user device, a candidate-bands indication of two or more candidate uplink, UL, bands, each of the two or more candidate UL bands pertaining to a second predefined operating band different from the first predefined operating band;
• receive, from the user device, an indication of a UL band among the two or more candidate UL bands selected for UL communications from the user device to the RAN;
• and
• communicate bi-directionally with the user device
• using the UL band for the UL communications from the user device to the RAN and
• using a DL band within the first predefined operating band for DL communications from the RAN to the user device.