IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,611,421

Granted Patent B2

US 11,611,421 · App. 16/947,472 · Granted Mar 21, 2023

Techniques for in-band repeater control

Inventors: Junyi Li (Chester, NJ); Ashwin Sampath (Skillman, NJ); Navid Abedini (Somerset, NJ)

Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated

H04L5/0092 H04B7/0456 H04B7/0617 H04W72/0446 H04W76/11 H04W76/27 H04W80/02 H04W92/045

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 11,611,421
App. No.: 16/947,472
Granted: Mar 21, 2023
Kind: B2

External Links

USPTO Patent Center↗ Full Patent PDF↗

Abstract

Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a repeater may receive, in a bandwidth part that carries a control interface of the repeater, an indication of a repeater configuration for the repeater. The repeater may communicate, based at least in part on the repeater configuration, with at least one of a base station or a user equipment. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Claims (239)

1. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

receiving, in a bandwidth part (BWP) that carries a control interface of a repeater, an indication of a repeater configuration for the repeater,

wherein the BWP is included in an operating frequency of the repeater, and

wherein the control interface is included in at least a portion of a contiguous set of physical resource blocks of the BWP and comprises a communication interface between a wireless communication device and a user equipment (UE), wherein the communication interface is configured to carry control communications between the wireless communication device and the UE; and

communicating, based at least in part on the repeater configuration, with at least one of the wireless communication device or the UE.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein communicating with at least one of the wireless communication device or the UE comprises:

receiving a radio frequency (RF) analog signal from the wireless communication device or the UE; and

forwarding the RF analog signal to the wireless communication device or the UE.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein communicating with at least one of the wireless communication device or the UE comprises:

receiving a radio frequency (RF) analog signal from the wireless communication device or the UE;

performing analog amplification of the RF analog signal; and

repeating the RF analog signal to the wireless communication device or the UE after performing the analog amplification of the RF analog signal.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the repeater is associated with a radio network temporary identifier (RNTI) that is different from an RNTI associated with the UE;

wherein the RNTI is configured by the wireless communication device prior to communicating with the repeater; and

wherein receiving the indication of the repeater configuration comprises:

receiving the indication of the repeater configuration in a signaling communication via the control interface in the BWP; and

descrambling the signaling communication based at least in part on the RNTI associated with the repeater.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the repeater configuration indicates a time duration; and

wherein communicating with at least one of the wireless communication device or the UE comprises:

communicating with at least one of the wireless communication device or the UE during the time duration and based at least in part on the repeater configuration.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the repeater configuration indicates a starting time and an ending time of the time duration;

wherein the starting time is explicitly indicated in the repeater configuration or implicitly indicated in the repeater configuration by a first timing offset relative to a time at which a signaling communication identifying the repeater configuration was transmitted; and

wherein the ending time is explicitly indicated in the repeater configuration or implicitly indicated in the repeater configuration by a second timing offset relative to the starting time.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the starting time is based at least in part on a capability parameter associated with the repeater.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the repeater configuration indicates at least one of:

the repeater is to power on one or more components of the repeater during the time duration,

the repeater is to power off one or more components of the repeater during the time duration,

the repeater is to activate an uplink path during the time duration,

the repeater is to activate a downlink path during the time duration,

a gain parameter to be used during the time duration,

a transmit beamforming configuration during the time duration,

a receive beamforming configuration during the time duration,

the repeater is to perform one or more measurements during the time duration, or

the repeater is to transmit one or more reference signals during the time duration.

9. The method of claim 5 , wherein the repeater configuration indicates that the repeater is to activate an uplink path during the time duration; and

wherein communicating with at least one of the wireless communication device or the UE comprises at least one of:

transmitting, based at least in part on the repeater configuration, one or more uplink communications to the wireless communication device during the time duration, or

receiving, based at least in part on the repeater configuration, one or more uplink communications from the UE during the time duration.

10. The method of claim 5 , wherein the repeater configuration indicates that the repeater is to activate a downlink path during the time duration; and

wherein communicating with at least one of the wireless communication device or the UE comprises at least one of:

transmitting, based at least in part on the repeater configuration, one or more downlink communications to the UE during the time duration, or

receiving, based at least in part on the repeater configuration, one or more downlink communications from the wireless communication device during the time duration.

11. The method of claim 5 , wherein the repeater configuration indicates a transmit beamforming configuration; and

wherein communicating with at least one of the wireless communication device or the UE comprises at least one of:

transmitting, based at least in part on the transmit beamforming configuration, one or more uplink communications to the wireless communication device during the time duration, or

transmitting, based at least in part on the transmit beamforming configuration, one or more downlink communications to the UE during the time duration.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the transmit beamforming configuration indicates at least one of:

a codeword index included in a beamforming codebook,

one or more beamforming weights, or

adjustments to one or more beamforming weights.

13. The method of claim 5 , wherein the repeater configuration indicates a receive beamforming configuration; and

wherein communicating with at least one of the wireless communication device or the UE comprises at least one of:

receiving, based at least in part on the receive beamforming configuration, one or more uplink communications from the UE during the time duration, or

receiving, based at least in part on the receive beamforming configuration, one or more downlink communications from the wireless communication device during the time duration.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the receive beamforming configuration indicates at least one of:

a codeword index included in a beamforming codebook,

one or more beamforming weights, or

adjustments to one or more beamforming weights.

15. The method of claim 5 , wherein the repeater configuration indicates that the repeater is to perform one or more measurements during the time duration; and

wherein the method further comprises:

performing, based at least in part on the repeater configuration, one or more measurements of one or more uplink communications received from the UE during the time duration, or

performing, based at least in part on the repeater configuration, one or more measurements of one or more downlink communications received from the wireless communication device during the time duration.

16. The method of claim 5 , wherein the repeater configuration indicates a gain parameter; and

wherein communicating with at least one of the wireless communication device or the UE comprises at least one of:

transmitting, based at least in part on the gain parameter, one or more uplink communications to the wireless communication device during the time duration, or

transmitting, based at least in part on the gain parameter, one or more downlink communications to the wireless communication device during the time duration.

17. The method of claim 5 , wherein the repeater configuration indicates that the repeater is to transmit one or more reference signals during the time duration; and

wherein communicating with at least one of the wireless communication device or the UE comprises:

transmitting, based at least in part on the repeater configuration, one or more reference signals to at least one of the wireless communication device or the UE during the time duration.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the repeater configuration comprises:

a downlink repeater configuration;

wherein the method further comprises:

receiving an indication of an uplink repeater configuration for the repeater; and

wherein communicating with at least one of the wireless communication device or the UE comprises:

at least one of receiving one or more downlink communications from the wireless communication device or transmitting one or more downlink communications to the UE based at least in part on the downlink repeater configuration; and

at least one of receiving one or more uplink communications from the UE or transmitting one or more uplink communications to the wireless communication device based at least in part on the uplink repeater configuration.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein at least one of receiving one or more downlink communications from the wireless communication device or transmitting one or more downlink communications to the UE comprises:

at least one of receiving one or more downlink communications from the wireless communication device or transmitting one or more downlink communications to the UE in a first time duration indicated in the downlink repeater configuration; and

wherein at least one of receiving one or more uplink communications from the UE or transmitting one or more uplink communications to the wireless communication device comprises:

at least one of receiving one or more uplink communications from the UE or transmitting one or more uplink communications to the wireless communication device in a second time duration indicated in the uplink repeater configuration,

wherein the first time duration and the second time duration are non-overlapping time durations.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the indication of the repeater configuration comprises:

receiving the indication of the repeater configuration in a signaling communication via the control interface in the BWP; and

wherein the method further comprises:

transmitting an acknowledgement based at least in part on receiving the signaling communication.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the repeater configuration is included in a plurality of candidate repeater configurations; and

wherein receiving the indication of the repeater configuration comprises:

receiving a signaling communication that indexes into the plurality of candidate repeater configurations to identify the repeater configuration.

22. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the indication of the repeater configuration comprises:

receiving the indication of the repeater configuration in at least one of:

a radio resource control (RRC) communication,

a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE) communication, or

a downlink control information (DCI) communication.

23. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the indication of the repeater configuration comprises:

receiving the indication of the repeater configuration in a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE) communication;

wherein the repeater configuration comprises a periodic or semi-static repeater configuration; and

wherein communicating with at least one of the wireless communication device or the UE comprises:

communicating with at least one of the wireless communication device or the UE in a plurality of time durations based at least in part on the periodic or semi-static repeater configuration.

24. A repeater for wireless communication, comprising:

a memory; and

one or more processors coupled to the memory, the one or more processors configured to:

receive, in a bandwidth part (BWP) that carries a control interface of the repeater, an indication of a repeater configuration for the repeater,

wherein the BWP is included in an operating frequency of the repeater, and

communicate, based at least in part on the repeater configuration, with at least one of the wireless communication device or the UE.

25. The repeater of claim 24 , wherein the one or more processors, when communicating with at least one of the wireless communication device or the UE, are configured to:

receive a radio frequency (RF) analog signal from the wireless communication device or the UE; and

forwarding the RF analog signal to the wireless communication device or the UE.

26. The repeater of claim 24 , wherein the one or more processors, when communicating with at least one of the wireless communication device or the UE, are configured to:

receive a radio frequency (RF) analog signal from the wireless communication device or the UE;

perform analog amplification of the RF analog signal; and

repeat the RF analog signal to the wireless communication device or the UE after performing the analog amplification of the RF analog signal.

27. The repeater of claim 24 , wherein the repeater configuration indicates a time duration; and

wherein the one or more processors, when communicating with at least one of the wireless communication device or the UE, are configured to:

communicate with at least one of the wireless communication device or the UE during the time duration and based at least in part on the repeater configuration.

28. The repeater of claim 27 , wherein the repeater configuration indicates a starting time and an ending time of the time duration;

wherein the ending time is explicitly indicated in the repeater configuration or implicitly indicated in the repeater configuration by a second timing offset relative to the starting time.

29. The repeater of claim 28 , wherein the starting time is based at least in part on a capability parameter associated with the repeater.

30. The repeater of claim 27 , wherein the repeater configuration indicates at least one of:

the repeater is to power on one or more components of the repeater during the time duration,

the repeater is to power off one or more components of the repeater during the time duration,

the repeater is to activate an uplink path during the time duration,

the repeater is to activate a downlink path during the time duration,

a gain parameter to be used during the time duration,

a transmit beamforming configuration during the time duration,

a receive beamforming configuration during the time duration,

the repeater is to perform one or more measurements during the time duration, or

the repeater is to transmit one or more reference signals during the time duration.

31. The repeater of claim 24 , wherein the repeater configuration comprises:

a downlink repeater configuration;

wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

receive an indication of an uplink repeater configuration for the repeater; and

wherein the one or more processors, when communicating with at least one of the wireless communication device or the UE, are configured to:

at least one of receive one or more downlink communications from the wireless communication device or transmit one or more downlink communications to the UE based at least in part on the downlink repeater configuration; and

at least one of receive one or more uplink communications from the UE or transmit one or more uplink communications to the wireless communication device based at least in part on the uplink repeater configuration.

32. The repeater of claim 31 , wherein the one or more processors, when at least one of receiving one or more downlink communications from the wireless communication device or transmitting one or more downlink communications to the UE, are configured to:

at least one of receive one or more downlink communications from the wireless communication device or transmit one or more downlink communications to the UE in a first time duration indicated in the downlink repeater configuration; and

wherein the one or more processors, when at least one of receiving one or more uplink communications from the UE or transmitting one or more uplink communications to the wireless communication device, are configured to:

at least one of receive one or more uplink communications from the UE or transmit one or more uplink communications to the wireless communication device in a second time duration indicated in the uplink repeater configuration,

wherein the first time duration and the second time duration are non-overlapping time durations.

33. The repeater of claim 24 , wherein the one or more processors, when receiving the indication of the repeater configuration, are configured to:

receive the indication of the repeater configuration in a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE) communication;

wherein the repeater configuration comprises a periodic or semi-static repeater configuration; and

wherein the one or more processors, when communicating with at least one of the wireless communication device or the UE, are configured to:

communicate with at least one of the wireless communication device or the UE in a plurality of time durations based at least in part on the periodic or semi-static repeater configuration.

34. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing one or more instructions for wireless communication, the one or more instructions comprising:

one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a repeater, cause the one or more processors to:

receive, in a bandwidth part (BWP) that carries a control interface of the repeater, an indication of a repeater configuration for the repeater,

wherein the BWP is included in an operating frequency of the repeater, and

communicate, based at least in part on the repeater configuration, with at least one of the wireless communication device or the UE.

35. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 34 , wherein the one or more instructions, that cause the one or more processors to communicate with at least one of the wireless communication device or the UE, cause the one or more processors to:

receive a radio frequency (RF) analog signal from the wireless communication device or the UE; and

forward the RF analog signal to the wireless communication device or the UE.

36. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 34 , wherein the one or more instructions, that cause the one or more processors to communicate with at least one of the wireless communication device or the UE, cause the one or more processors to:

receive a radio frequency (RF) analog signal from the wireless communication device or the UE;

perform analog amplification of the RF analog signal; and

repeat the RF analog signal to the wireless communication device or the UE after performing the analog amplification of the RF analog signal.

37. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 34 , wherein the repeater configuration indicates a time duration; and

wherein the one or more instructions, that cause the one or more processors to communicate with at least one of the wireless communication device or the UE, cause the one or more processors to:

communicate with at least one of the wireless communication device or the UE during the time duration and based at least in part on the repeater configuration.

38. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37 , wherein the repeater configuration indicates a starting time and an ending time of the time duration;

wherein the ending time is explicitly indicated in the repeater configuration or implicitly indicated in the repeater configuration by a second timing offset relative to the starting time.

39. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 38 , wherein the starting time is based at least in part on a capability parameter associated with the repeater.

40. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37 , wherein the repeater configuration indicates at least one of:

the repeater is to power on one or more components of the repeater during the time duration,

the repeater is to power off one or more components of the repeater during the time duration,

the repeater is to activate an uplink path during the time duration,

the repeater is to activate a downlink path during the time duration,

a gain parameter to be used during the time duration,

a transmit beamforming configuration during the time duration,

a receive beamforming configuration during the time duration,

the repeater is to perform one or more measurements during the time duration, or

the repeater is to transmit one or more reference signals during the time duration.

41. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 34 , wherein the repeater configuration comprises:

a downlink repeater configuration;

wherein the one or more instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

receive an indication of an uplink repeater configuration for the repeater; and

wherein the one or more instructions, that cause the one or more processors to communicate with at least one of the wireless communication device or the UE, cause the one or more processors to:

at least one of receive one or more downlink communications from the BS or transmit one or more downlink communications to the UE based at least in part on the downlink repeater configuration; and

42. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 41 , wherein the one or more instructions, that cause the one or more processors to at least one of receive one or more downlink communications from the wireless communication device or transmit one or more downlink communications to the UE, are to:

wherein the one or more instructions, that cause the one or more processors to at least one of receive one or more uplink communications from the UE or transmit one or more uplink communications to the wireless communication device, are configured to:

wherein the first time duration and the second time duration are non-overlapping time durations.

43. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 34 , wherein the one or more instructions, that cause the one or more processors to receive the indication of the repeater configuration, cause the one or more processors to:

receive the indication of the repeater configuration in a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE) communication;

wherein the repeater configuration comprises a periodic or semi-static repeater configuration; and

wherein the one or more instructions, that cause the one or more processors to communicate with at least one of the wireless communication device or the UE, cause the one or more processors to:

communicate with at least one of the wireless communication device or the UE in a plurality of time durations based at least in part on the periodic or semi-static repeater configuration.

44. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for receiving, in a bandwidth part (BWP) that carries a control interface of the apparatus, an indication of a repeater configuration for the apparatus,

wherein the BWP is included in an operating frequency of the apparatus, and

means for communicating, based at least in part on the repeater configuration, with at least one of the wireless communication device or the UE.

45. The apparatus of claim 44 , wherein the means for communicating with at least one of the BS or the UE comprises:

means for receiving a radio frequency (RF) analog signal from the wireless communication device or the UE; and

means for forwarding the RF analog signal to the wireless communication device or the UE.

46. The apparatus of claim 44 , wherein the means for communicating with at least one of the wireless communication device or the UE comprises:

means for receiving a radio frequency (RF) analog signal from the wireless communication device or the UE;

means for performing analog amplification of the RF analog signal; and

means for repeating the RF analog signal to the wireless communication device or the UE after performing the analog amplification of the RF analog signal.

47. The apparatus of claim 44 , wherein the repeater configuration indicates a time duration; and

wherein the means for communicating with at least one of the wireless communication device or the UE comprises:

means for communicating with at least one of the wireless communication device or the UE during the time duration and based at least in part on the repeater configuration.

48. The apparatus of claim 47 , wherein the repeater configuration indicates a starting time and an ending time of the time duration;

wherein the ending time is explicitly indicated in the repeater configuration or implicitly indicated in the repeater configuration by a second timing offset relative to the starting time.

49. The apparatus of claim 48 , wherein the starting time is based at least in part on a capability parameter associated with the repeater.

50. The apparatus of claim 47 , wherein the repeater configuration indicates at least one of:

the repeater is to power on one or more components of the repeater during the time duration,

the repeater is to power off one or more components of the repeater during the time duration,

the repeater is to activate an uplink path during the time duration,

the repeater is to activate a downlink path during the time duration,

a gain parameter to be used during the time duration,

a transmit beamforming configuration during the time duration,

a receive beamforming configuration during the time duration,

the repeater is to perform one or more measurements during the time duration, or

the repeater is to transmit one or more reference signals during the time duration.

51. The apparatus of claim 44 , wherein the repeater configuration comprises:

a downlink repeater configuration;

wherein the apparatus further comprises:

means for receiving an indication of an uplink repeater configuration for the repeater; and

wherein the means for communicating with at least one of the wireless communication device or the UE comprises:

means for at least one of receiving one or more downlink communications from the wireless communication device or transmitting one or more downlink communications to the UE based at least in part on the downlink repeater configuration; and

means for at least one of receiving one or more uplink communications from the UE or transmitting one or more uplink communications to the wireless communication device based at least in part on the uplink repeater configuration.

52. The apparatus of claim 51 , wherein the means for at least one of receiving one or more downlink communications from the wireless communication device or transmitting one or more downlink communications to the UE, are to:

means for at least one of receiving one or more downlink communications from the wireless communication device or transmitting one or more downlink communications to the UE in a first time duration indicated in the downlink repeater configuration; and

wherein the means for at least one of receiving one or more uplink communications from the UE or transmitting one or more uplink communications to the wireless communication device, are configured to:

means for at least one of receiving one or more uplink communications from the UE or transmitting one or more uplink communications to the wireless communication device in a second time duration indicated in the uplink repeater configuration,

wherein the first time duration and the second time duration are non-overlapping time durations.

53. The apparatus of claim 44 , wherein the means for receiving the indication of the repeater configuration comprises:

means for receiving the indication of the repeater configuration in a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE) communication;

wherein the repeater configuration comprises a periodic or semi-static repeater configuration; and

wherein the means for communicating with at least one of the wireless communication device or the UE comprises:

means for communicating with at least one of the wireless communication device or the UE in a plurality of time durations based at least in part on the periodic or semi-static repeater configuration.

Assignments (1)

ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 12, 2021

From: LI, JUNYI; SAMPATH, ASHWIN; ABEDINI, NAVID

To: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED

Reel/Frame 055247/0639 →

Continuity (2)

Provisional Application 62882959 · Aug 5, 2019

Related Publication 20210044412A1 · Feb 11, 2021

Cited By (1)

US 12,328,689