tdd UL/DL Common Configuration (tdd-UL-DL-configurationCommon) in a Nutshell

tdd UL/DL Common Configuration (tdd-UL-DL-configurationCommon) in Detail

When operating in TDD mode, we have to clearly define on exactly when to expect the transmission and when to expect the reception. In LTE TDD, we defined  predefined pattern for UL and DL allocation in a radio frame. In 5G/NR, we don't have any predefined pattern. Instead, we can define the pattern in much more flexible way using several parameters as shown below.

• Rrc Parameters
• Transmission Periodicity
• What if TDD-UL-DL-ConfigCommon is not configured ?
• Guard Timing (Symbol gap for DL to UL switching)
• Why we need to consider Guard time only for DL to UL switching ?
• What would be the best guard time ?
• Any other consideration ?
• Get the Test Procedure and Log / Amarisoft TechAcademy

Rrc Parameters

These parameters are defined in 38.331 v15.3.0 as follows :

TDD-UL-DL-ConfigCommon ::= SEQUENCE {
    referenceSubcarrierSpacing                 SubcarrierSpacing,
    pattern1                                   TDD-UL-DL-Pattern,
    pattern2                                   TDD-UL-DL-Pattern OPTIONAL, 
    ...
}

TDD-UL-DL-Pattern ::= SEQUENCE {
    dl-UL-TransmissionPeriodicity              ENUMERATED {ms0p5, ms0p625, ms1, 
                                                           ms1p25, ms2, ms2p5, ms5, ms10},
    nrofDownlinkSlots                          INTEGER (0..maxNrofSlots),
    nrofDownlinkSymbols                        INTEGER (0..maxNrofSymbols-1),
    nrofUplinkSlots                            INTEGER (0..maxNrofSlots),
    nrofUplinkSymbols                          INTEGER (0..maxNrofSymbols-1),
    ...,
    [[
       dl-UL-TransmissionPeriodicity-v1530 ENUMERATED {ms3, ms4} OPTIONAL -- Need R
    ]]
}

maxNrofSlots INTEGER ::= 320    // Maximum number of slots in a 10 ms period
maxNrofSymbols-1 INTEGER ::= 13 // Maximum index identifying a symbol within a slot 
                                   (14 symbols, indexed from 0..13)
                                

dl-UL-TransmissionPeriodicity: Periodicity of the DL-UL pattern.If dl-UL-TransmissionPeriodicity-v1530 is conifgured, dl-UL-TransmissionPeriodicity is ignored.

nrofDownlinkSlots : Number of consecutive full DL slots at the beginning of each DL-UL pattern  

nrofDownlinkSymbols : Number of consecutive DL symbols in the beginning of the slot following the last full DL slot

nrofUplinkSlots : Number of consecutive full UL slots at the end of each DL-UL pattern

nrofUplinkSymbols : Number of consecutive UL symbols in the end of the slot preceding the first full UL slot

Transmission Periodicity

The applicable periodicity(P) of the UL/DL configuration varies depending on the reference numerology (n_ref). This can be summarized as a table as shown below. I created this table based on the descriptions in 38.213 v16.5 -11.1

NOTE : I've calculated P/20 to clarify the statement in the specification saying 'The first symbol every periods is a first symbol in an even frame.'.

NOTE : The 'Applicable u' is specified based on the statement in the specification saying 'A UE expects that the reference subcarrier spacing configuration ref μ is smaller than or equal to a subcarrier spacing configuration μ for any configured DL BWP or UL BWP.'

NOTE : I calculated the section 'Number of Slots in a P' just to show how many slots for each numerology in a P(Period). It doesn't necessarily mean that all of the numerology is applicable to the specified period.

What if TDD-UL-DL-ConfigCommon is not configured ?

UE determines if each of the slot is uplink or downlink and the symbol allocation within each of the slot purely by DCIs as stated in 38.213-11.1 Slot configuration.

If a UE is not configured to monitor PDCCH for DCI format 2-0, for a set of symbols of a slot that are indicated as flexible by higher layer parameters TDD-UL-DL-ConfigurationCommon or TDD-UL-DL-ConfigDedicated, when provided to a UE, or when TDD-UL-DL-ConfigurationCommon and TDD-UL-DL-ConfigDedicated are not provided to the UE

• the UE receives PDSCH or CSI-RS in the set of symbols of the slot if the UE receives a corresponding indication by a DCI format 1_0, DCI format 1_1, or DCI format 0_1
• the UE transmits PUSCH, PUCCH, PRACH, or SRS in the set of symbols of the slot if the UE receives a corresponding indication by a DCI format 0_0, DCI format 0_1, DCI format 1_0, DCI format 1_1, or DCI format 2_3

Guard Timing (Symbol gap for DL to UL switching)

In terms of 3GPP RRC specification, you can set any values within the range of the values specified in RRC Parameter. However, in terms of lower layer perpective there is some restrictions (or something to take into account) as listed below.

• You need a certain number of Guard time (Guard symbols) when switches from DL to UL
• You don't need any guard time when switches from UL to DL

Followings are some of examples that are valid or invalid based on this rule.

Why we need to consider Guard time only for DL to UL switching ? 

I think this question may be misleading a little bit. The question does imply that there is no need for the gap for DL to UL switching. In fact, the gap is required as in the case of UL to DL switching because of the physics. What this question implies that we may not need to take this gap into consideration in terms of PHY scheduling as illustrated in the illustration shown above. In this section, I will talk about why.

I don't think 3GPP TS document explicitely states about this requirement, but you may find some other documents (e.g, white papers) explaining about this requirement.  Simply put, (You may refer to Recommendation 10 of Ref [1])

• we need some time for DL signal reach (propagate to) UE. So UE need some additional time from the end of DL signal. Otherwise, UE may transmit UL signal before it complete the reception of DL signal and as a result there would be interference between DL and UL signal.
• we don't need any guard time for UL to DL because DL and UL is always propery aligned thanks to timing advance. that is, gNB sends timing advance to make UL signal perfectly aligned in time domain.

Even though it is not clearly/explicitely stated, you may refer to 38.211 - 4.3.2 and following table :

< 38.211 - Table 4.3.2-3: Transition time NRx-Tx and NTx-Rx >

NOTE : Comments from Experts

I had a chance to talk further on this subject with an L1 expert Sakshama Ghoslya . It was a productive chat and I thought it will be helpful for readers as well. Here I am sharing the chat with kind approval from Sakshama.

[Sakshama] I want to comments on this topic.

• Guard time for gNB DL to UL switch = 2 * Propagation delay + UE Rx to Tx switching delay
• Guard time for gNB UL to DL switch is also not zero. It is actually = gNB Rx to Tx switching delay  that is equal to N_TA_offset*Tc.
• That's why there is a fixed PRACH timing advance provided = 25600 (for FR1) that is equal to 13us = 10us for gNB Rx to Tx switch + 3us for BTS to BTS synchronization.
• For FR2 it is 13792 that is equal to 7us = 3us for gNB Rx to Tx switch + 3us for BTS to BTS sync + 1us extra margin

[Sharetechnote] you brought up a good topic that I wanted to talk with somebody personally. Intuitively I also thought there should be guardtime for UL to DL switching as well, but this was against my observation / experience.  If there should be guardtime for UL to DL switching, we should not be allowed to schedule PUSCH or PUCCH at the last OFDM symbol right before any DL slot since the first symbol of DL slot is always used (for Coreset).  Do you have any thought on this ?

[Sakshama] It should be other way around, gNB DL slots are the only transmissions that are right on time. UL slots are well in advance to account for UE switch and gNB switch. If there is no switch time considered then there will be overlap of PUCCH last symbols to coreset first symbol

[Sharetechnote] I don't think I understood your explanation clearly. Can you explain that what gNB should do after decoding PUCCH at the last OFDM symbol and what UE should do after transmitting the PUCCH at the last OFDM symbol ?

[Sakshama] After decoding pucch gNB will switch from Rx to Tx. This requires a few micro seconds. So reception of the last ofdm symbol doesn't happen at the UL slot boundary, it is at (UL slot boundary - gNB switching time). Once it switches radio to TX it starts transmitting PDCCH or first dl ofdm symbol of next slot right on the slot boundary

[Sharetechnote] does it mean that UE should start transmitting PUCCH at (the start symbol time of PUCCH - switching time) as well ?

[Sakshama] yes true. both gNB Rx to Tx switch and UE Tx to Rx switch are adjusted in UL advance only.

[Sharetechnote] Thank you. Any specific 3GPP statement (like the statement you made before) ?

[Sakshama] Let me check the spec

38.104 - 9.5.3.2 Minimum requirement for BS type 1-O states as follows :

For BS type 1-O, the OTA transmitter transient period shall be shorter than the values listed in the minimum requirement as specified in following table.

< 38.104 - Table 9.5.3.2-1: Minimum requirement for the OTA transmitter transient period for BS type 1-O >

38.104 - 9.5.3.3 Minimum requirement for BS type 2-O states as follows :

< 38.104 - Table 9.5.3.3-1: Minimum requirement for the OTA transmitter transient period for BS type 2-O >

38.133-7.4.2 Minimum requirements states as follows:

The cell phase synchronization accuracy measured at BS antenna connectors shall be better than 3 μs.

Now as you see the above screenshot

N_TA_offset*Tc is nothing but = BS Tx activation time (Rx to Tx switch delay) + time to avoid BTS to BTS interference

• N_TA_offset*Tc for FR1 = 10us + 3us = 13us
• N_TA_offset*Tc for FR2 = 3us + 3us + 1us (extra) = 7us

38.101-1 6.3.3.2 General ON/OFF time mask states as follows :

The general ON/OFF time mask defines the observation period between transmit OFF and ON power and between transmit ON and OFF power for each SCS. ON/OFF scenarios include: contiguous, and non-contiguous transmission, etc

The OFF power measurement period is defined in a duration of at least one slot excluding any transient periods. The ON power is defined as the mean power over one slot excluding any transient period.

< 38.101-1 Figure 6.3.3.2-1: General ON/OFF time mask for NR UL transmission in FR1 >

38.101-2 6.3.3.2 General ON/OFF time mask states as follows :

The general ON/OFF time mask defines the observation period allowed between transmit OFF and ON power. ON/OFF scenarios include: contiguous, and non-contiguous transmission, etc

The OFF power measurement period is defined in a duration of at least one slot excluding any transient periods. The ON power is defined as the mean power over one slot excluding any transient period.

< 38.101-1 Figure 6.3.3.2-1: General ON/OFF time mask for NR UL transmission in FR2 >

Another article supporting what I said  is 5G synchronization requirements and solutions - Ericsson

What would be the best guard time ? 

What would be the best Guard time (Symbol Gaps) ? The answer to this question would vary depending on various factors especially the distance between gNB and UE. Some guide line stated in Recommendation 10 of Ref [1]) is as follows.

• A GP(Guard Period) of 2 symbols would cater for cell sizes of up to 10.7 km;
• A GP(Guard Period) of 4 symbols would cater for cell sizes of up to 21.4 km;
• A GP(Guard Period) of 6 symbols would cater for cell sizes of up to 32.1 km.

Any other consideration ? 

This is not directly related to Guard time, but you need to make it sure that the PRACH Occasion you set in RACH config should fall into the UL slot/symbols you configured in the RRC.

Reference

[1] 5G TDD Synchronisation Guidelines and Recommendations for the Coexistence of TDD Networks in the 3.5 GHz Range - GSMA (2020)    

[2] 5G TDD Uplink White Paper - NGMN (2022)

[3] TDD : Why a Guard Period only in DL-to-UL Switching ? - TECHTRAINED