阅读说明：本技术 扰码配置方法和装置 (Scrambling code configuration method and device ) 是由 李南希 朱剑驰 郭婧 佘小明 陈鹏 于 2019-10-23 设计创作，主要内容包括：本公开提供一种扰码配置方法和装置。扰码配置装置将CORESET划分为多个组,并给每个组分配相应的CORESET group ID；对每个发送接收点TRP进行相应配置,其中为不同的TRP配置不同的dataScramblingIdentityPDSCH参数,将不同的dataScramblingIdentity PDSCH参数与不同的CORESET group ID相关联,通过无线资源控制RRC信令将配置信息发送给用户终端,以便用户终端在接收到通过预设TRP发送的下行数据后,利用与预设TRP相对应的dataScramblingIdentityPDSCH参数对下行数据进行解扰。本公开能够有效避免不同TRP发送数据间存在持续性干扰的问题。(The disclosure provides a scrambling code configuration method and device. The scrambling configuration device divides CORESET into a plurality of groups and assigns corresponding CORESET group ID to each group; correspondingly configuring each transmission and reception point TRP, configuring different datascramblingIdentityPDSCH parameters for different TRPs, associating the different datascramblingIdentityPDSCH parameters with different CORESET group IDs, and transmitting configuration information to the user terminal through a Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, so that the user terminal descrambles downlink data by using the datascramblingIdentityPDSCH parameters corresponding to the preset TRP after receiving the downlink data transmitted through the preset TRP. The method and the device can effectively avoid the problem of persistent interference between different TRP sending data.)

1. A scrambling code configuration method comprises the following steps:

dividing a control resource set CORESET into a plurality of groups, and allocating a corresponding control resource set group identification CORESET group ID to each group;

correspondingly configuring each transmission receiving point TRP, wherein different physical downlink shared channel data scrambling identifiers DataScramblnltingPDSCH parameters are configured for different TRPs, and the different DataScramblnltingPDSCH parameters correspond to different scrambling sequences; associating different datascramblingidentyipdsch parameters with different CORESET group IDs, wherein the CORESET group IDs are used for representing time-frequency domain resources available for downlink control signals transmitted by corresponding TRPs;

and sending the configuration information to a user terminal through a Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, so that the user terminal descrambles the downlink data by using a datascramblingIdentityPDSCH parameter corresponding to a preset TRP after receiving the downlink data sent through the preset TRP.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the configuration information to the user terminal through RRC signaling comprises:

writing each resource identification CORESET ID allocated for the user terminal in CORESET and corresponding CORESET group ID in a control resource set adding list control ResourceSetToAdd ModList of RRC signaling.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the configuration information to the user terminal through RRC signaling comprises:

writing a CORESET ID (identity of each resource allocated to the user terminal in the CORESET in a control resource set adding list control ResourceSetToAdd ModList of RRC signaling;

writing a CORESET group ID corresponding to each CORESET ID allocated to the user terminal in a control resource set identification (controlResourceSetGroupID) field of RRC signaling.

4. The method of any of claims 1-3, wherein transmitting the configuration information to the user terminal via RRC signaling further comprises:

and setting a plurality of PDSCH-config information elements configured by the physical downlink shared channel in the RRC signaling, wherein each PDSCH-config information element comprises a configured datascramblingIdentityPDSCH parameter, and different PDSCH-config information elements comprise different datascramblingIdentityPDSCH parameters.

5. The method of any of claims 1-3, wherein transmitting the configuration information to the user terminal via RRC signaling further comprises:

setting a physical downlink shared channel configuration PDSCH-config information element in an RRC signaling, wherein the PDSCH-config information element comprises a plurality of configured datacrammblingIdentityPDSCH parameters.

6. A scrambling code configuration apparatus, comprising:

the grouping module is configured to divide the control resource sets CORESET into a plurality of groups and allocate corresponding control resource set group identifications CORESET group ID to each group;

the configuration module is configured to perform corresponding configuration on each transmission receiving point TRP, wherein different physical downlink shared channel data scrambling identifiers (DataScramblingIdentityPDSCH) parameters are configured for different TRPs, and the different DataScramblingIdentityPDSCH parameters correspond to different scrambling sequences; associating different datacrambing identity pdsch parameters with different CORESET group IDs, wherein the CORESET group IDs are used for characterizing time-frequency domain resources available for downlink control signals transmitted by corresponding TRPs;

the information processing module is configured to send configuration information to a user terminal through Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, so that the user terminal descrambles downlink data by using a datascramblingIdentityPDSCH parameter corresponding to a preset TRP after receiving the downlink data sent through the preset TRP.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

the information processing module is configured to write each resource identifier CORESET ID allocated in CORESET for the user terminal and a corresponding CORESET group ID in a control resource set addition list control ResourceSetToAdd ModList of RRC signaling.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

the information processing module is configured to write each resource identifier CORESET ID allocated to the user terminal in CORESET in a control resource set adding list control resource ETToAdd ModList of RRC signaling; writing a CORESET group ID corresponding to each CORESET ID allocated to the user terminal in a control resource set identification (controlResourceSetGroupID) field of RRC signaling.

9. The apparatus of any one of claims 6-8, wherein:

the information processing module is configured to set multiple PDSCH-configuration information elements configured for the physical downlink shared channel in the RRC signaling, where each PDSCH-configuration information element includes one configured datacrambldingidentitypdsch parameter, and different PDSCH-configuration information elements include different datacramblidingidentitypdsch parameters.

10. The apparatus of any one of claims 6-8, wherein:

the information processing module is configured to set a PDSCH-config information element in RRC signaling, where the PDSCH-config information element includes a plurality of configured datacrammblingidentyipdsch parameters.

11. A scrambling code configuration apparatus, comprising:

a memory configured to store instructions;

a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to perform implementing the method of any of claims 1-5 based on instructions stored by the memory.

12. A computer-readable storage medium, wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores computer instructions which, when executed by a processor, implement the method of any one of claims 1-5.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to the field of communications, and in particular, to a scrambling code configuration method and apparatus.

Background

At present, for Multiple-transmission receiptionpoint (multi-TRP) enhancement in New Radio (NR) -MIMO enhancement, a problem of data scrambling of different TRPs is involved. When the TRP sends data, the TRP scrambles the data to be sent by using a preset scrambling sequence.

Disclosure of Invention

The inventor finds that, in a multi-TRP scenario, if different TRPs are in the same serving cell, the scrambling code sequences used are the same, which causes persistent interference between data transmitted by different TRPs.

Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a scheme for effectively avoiding persistent interference between different TRP transmission data.

According to a first aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a scrambling code configuration method, including: dividing a control resource set CORESET into a plurality of groups, and allocating a corresponding control resource set group identification CORESET group ID to each group; correspondingly configuring each transmission receiving point TRP, wherein different physical downlink shared channel data scrambling identifiers (DataScramblingIdentityPDSCH) parameters are configured for different TRPs, and the different DataScramblingIdentityPDSCH parameters correspond to different scrambling sequences; associating different dataScramblingIdentity PDSCH parameters with different CORESET group IDs, wherein the CORESET group IDs are used for characterizing time-frequency domain resources available for downlink control signals transmitted by corresponding TRPs; and sending the configuration information to a user terminal through a Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, so that the user terminal descrambles the downlink data by using a datascramblingIdentityPDSCH parameter corresponding to a preset TRP after receiving the downlink data sent through the preset TRP.

In some embodiments, sending the configuration information to the user terminal through RRC signaling comprises: writing each resource identification CORESET ID allocated for the user terminal in CORESET and corresponding CORESET group ID in a control resource set adding list control ResourceSetToAdd ModList of RRC signaling.

In some embodiments, sending the configuration information to the user terminal through RRC signaling comprises: writing a CORESET ID (identity of each resource allocated to the user terminal in the CORESET in a control resource set adding list control ResourceSetToAdd ModList of RRC signaling; writing a CORESET group ID corresponding to each CORESET ID allocated to the user terminal in a control resource set identification (controlResourceSetGroupID) field of RRC signaling.

In some embodiments, sending the configuration information to the user terminal through RRC signaling further comprises: and setting a plurality of PDSCH-config information elements configured by the physical downlink shared channel in the RRC signaling, wherein each PDSCH-config information element comprises a configured datascramblingIdentityPDSCH parameter, and different PDSCH-config information elements comprise different datascramblingIdentityPDSCH parameters.

In some embodiments, sending the configuration information to the user terminal through RRC signaling further comprises: setting a physical downlink shared channel configuration PDSCH-config information element in an RRC signaling, wherein the PDSCH-config information element comprises a plurality of configured datacrammblingIdentityPDSCH parameters.

According to a second aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a scrambling code configuration apparatus, including: the grouping module is configured to divide the control resource sets CORESET into a plurality of groups and allocate corresponding control resource set group identifications CORESET group ID to each group; the configuration module is configured to perform corresponding configuration on each transmission receiving point TRP, wherein different physical downlink shared channel data scrambling identifiers (DataScramblingIdentityPDSCH) parameters are configured for different TRPs, and the different DataScramblingIdentityPDSCH parameters correspond to different scrambling sequences; associating different datacrambing identityPDSCH parameters with different CORESETgroup IDs, wherein the CORESET group IDs are used for representing time-frequency domain resources available for downlink control signals transmitted by corresponding TRPs; the information processing module is configured to send configuration information to a user terminal through Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, so that the user terminal descrambles downlink data by using a datascramblingIdentityPDSCH parameter corresponding to a preset TRP after receiving the downlink data sent through the preset TRP.

In some embodiments, the information processing module is configured to write, in a control resource set addition list controlResourceSetToAdd ModList of RRC signaling, each resource identification, CORESET ID, allocated in CORESET for the user terminal and a corresponding CORESET group ID.

In some embodiments, the information processing module is configured to write, in a control resource set addition list control resource set add ModList of RRC signaling, each resource identification, CORESET ID, allocated in CORESET for the user terminal; writing a CORESET group ID corresponding to each CORESET ID allocated to the user terminal in a control resource set identification (controlResourceSetGroupID) field of RRC signaling.

In some embodiments, the information processing module is configured to set multiple PDSCH-configuration information elements in the RRC signaling, where each PDSCH-configuration information element includes one configured datacrammblingidentitypdsch parameter, and different PDSCH-configuration information elements include different datacrammblingidentitypdsch parameters.

In some embodiments, the information processing module is configured to set a PDSCH-config information element in RRC signaling, where the PDSCH-config information element includes a plurality of configured datacrammblingidentitypdsch parameters.

According to a third aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a scrambling code configuration apparatus, including: a memory configured to store instructions; a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to perform a method implementing any of the embodiments described above based on instructions stored by the memory.

According to a fourth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, in which computer instructions are stored, and when executed by a processor, the computer-readable storage medium implements the method according to any of the embodiments described above.

Other features of the present disclosure and advantages thereof will become apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments thereof, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

The present disclosure may be more clearly understood from the following detailed description, taken with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 is a flow chart diagram of a scrambling code configuration method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a scrambling code configuration apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a scrambling code configuration apparatus according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

It should be understood that the dimensions of the various parts shown in the figures are not drawn to scale. Further, the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar components.

Detailed Description

Various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The description of the exemplary embodiments is merely illustrative and is in no way intended to limit the disclosure, its application, or uses. The present disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. These embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. It should be noted that: the relative arrangement of parts and steps, the composition of materials and values set forth in these embodiments are to be construed as illustrative only and not as limiting unless otherwise specifically stated.

The use of the word "comprising" or "comprises" and the like in this disclosure means that the elements listed before the word encompass the elements listed after the word and do not exclude the possibility that other elements may also be encompassed.

All terms (including technical or scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs unless specifically defined otherwise. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

Techniques, methods, and apparatus known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art may not be discussed in detail but are intended to be part of the specification where appropriate.

Fig. 1 is a flow chart of a scrambling code configuration method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the following scrambling code configuration method steps are performed by the scrambling code configuration means.

In step 101, the control resource sets, CORESET, are divided into a plurality of groups, and each group is assigned a corresponding control resource set group identification, CORESET group ID.

It should be noted here that, in the CORESET, each resource has a corresponding identifier, i.e., CORESET ID. Different CORESET IDs are included in different groups. The different groups are distinguished by the CORESET group ID. Each CORESET group ID corresponds to a TRP.

In step 102, each TRP is configured correspondingly, wherein different physical downlink shared channel data scrambling identifiers datascreening IdentityPDSCH parameters are configured for different TRPs, and the different datascreening IdentityPDSCH parameters correspond to different scrambling sequences; associating different datacramlining identity pdsch parameters with different CORESET group IDs, wherein the CORESET group IDs are used to characterize the time-frequency domain resources available for downlink control signals transmitted by the respective TRPs.

It should be noted here that the datascramblingidentyipdsch parameter is used for calculating the scrambling code sequence. Different parameters of the dataScramblingIdentityPDSCH correspond to different scrambling sequences.

In step 103, the configuration information is sent to the ue through an RRC (Radio Resource Control) signaling, so that the ue descrambles the downlink data by using a datascramblingidentityspdsch parameter corresponding to a preset TRP after receiving the downlink data sent through the preset TRP.

In the scrambling code configuration method provided in the above embodiment of the present disclosure, different parameters of the datascramblingidentyipdsch are allocated to different TRPs. Therefore, different TRPs can be scrambled by using different scrambling code sequences, so that the problem of persistent interference among data transmitted by different TRPs is effectively solved.

In some embodiments, each resource identification, CORESET ID, and corresponding CORESET group ID allocated for a user terminal in CORESET is written in a control resource set add list, controlresourcesetettoaddmodlist, in the PDCCH-config information element of RRC signaling, according to the grouping to CORESET.

For example, the CORESET IDs assigned to the users are CORESET #1, CORESET #2, and CORESET # 3. The CORESET group ID includes CORESET group #0 and CORESET group # 1. Wherein CORESET #1 belongs to CORESET group #0, and CORESET #2 and CORESET #3 belong to CORESET group # 1.

In this case, the information written in the controlResourceSetToAddModList is:

PDCCH-config information element

PDCCH-config：

controlResourceSetToAddModList：(1，0，2，1，3，1)

I.e. indicating that among the resources allocated to the user, the resources CORESET #1 in group 0, and the resources CORESET #2 and CORESET #3 in group 1 are included.

In other embodiments, in addition to setting the controlresourcesetttoaddmodlist, a control resource set group identification controlresourcesettgroupid field is set in RRC signaling. Wherein, in the control resource setToAdd ModList, writing each resource identification CORESET ID allocated for the user terminal in CORESET, and in the control resource setGroupID field, writing the CORESET group ID corresponding to each CORESET ID allocated for the user terminal.

For example, if the CORESET IDs assigned to the users are CORESET #1, CORESET #2, and CORESET # 3. The CORESET group ID includes CORESET group #0 and CORESET group # 1. Wherein CORESET #1 belongs to CORESET group #0, and CORESET #2 and CORESET #3 belong to CORESET group # 1. The information written in the control resource esetttoaddmodlist and the control resource esettgroupid is as follows:

PDCCH-config information element

PDCCH-config：

controlResourceSetToAddModList：(1，2，3)

controlResourceSetGroupID：(0，1，1)

In some embodiments, for configuring different datacrambing IdentityPDSCH parameters for different TRPs, multiple PDSCH (Physical Downlink Shared Channel, Physical Downlink Shared Channel configuration) -configuration information elements are set in RRC signaling, where each PDSCH-configuration information element includes one configured datacrambing IdentityPDSCH parameter, and different PDSCH-configuration information elements include different datacrambing IdentityPDSCH parameters.

For example, TRP1 is configured with datacramblinglentitypdsch 1, corresponding to CORESET group # 0. TRP2 is configured with datascramblingidentyipdsch 2, corresponding to CORESET group # 1. The corresponding information is as follows:

PDSCH-config1 information element

PDSCH-config1：

dataScramblingIdentityPDSCH1

PDSCH-config2 information element

PDSCH-config2：

dataScramblingIdentityPDSCH2

In another embodiment, one PDSCH-config information element is set in the RRC signaling, wherein a plurality of configured datacramblingudentitypdsch parameters are included in the PDSCH-config information element.

For example, TRP1 is configured with datacramblinglentitypdsch 1, corresponding to CORESET group # 0. TRP2 is configured with datascramblingidentyipdsch 2, corresponding to CORESET group # 1. The corresponding information is as follows:

PDSCH-config information element

PDSCH-config1：

dataScramblingIdentityPDSCH1

dataScramblingIdentityPDSCH2

Fig. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a scrambling code configuration apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in fig. 2, the scrambling code configuring apparatus includes a grouping module 21, a configuring module 22, and an information processing module 23.

The grouping module 21 is configured to divide the CORESET into a plurality of groups and assign each group a corresponding CORESET group ID.

It should be noted here that, in the CORESET, each resource has a corresponding identifier, i.e., CORESET ID. Different CORESET IDs are included in different groups. The different groups are distinguished by the CORESET group ID. Each CORESET group ID corresponds to a TRP.

The configuration module 22 is configured to configure each transmission/reception point TRP correspondingly, where different datascribramblinglityipdsch parameters are configured for different TRPs, and the different datascribramblinglityipdsch parameters correspond to different scrambling code sequences; associating different datacramblingliditypdsch parameters with different CORESET group IDs, wherein the CORESET group IDs are used to characterize the time-frequency domain resources available for downlink control signals transmitted by the respective TRPs.

It should be noted here that the datascramblingidentyipdsch parameter is used for calculating the scrambling code sequence. Different parameters of the dataScramblingIdentityPDSCH correspond to different scrambling sequences.

The information processing module 23 is configured to send the configuration information to the ue through RRC signaling, so that the ue descrambles the downlink data using the datascramblingidentyipdsch parameter corresponding to the preset TRP after receiving the downlink data sent through the preset TRP.

In the scrambling code configuring apparatus provided in the above embodiments of the present disclosure, different datascramblingidentyipdsch parameters are allocated to different TRPs. Therefore, different TRPs can be scrambled by using different scrambling code sequences, so that the problem of persistent interference among data transmitted by different TRPs is effectively solved.

In some embodiments, the information processing module 23 is configured to write, in a controlresourcesetettoaddmodlist of the RRC signaling, each resource identification, CORESET ID and corresponding CORESET group ID, allocated in CORESET for the user terminal.

For example, the CORESET IDs assigned to the users are CORESET #1, CORESET #2, and CORESET # 3. The CORESET group ID includes CORESET group #0 and CORESET group # 1. Wherein CORESET #1 belongs to CORESET group #0, and CORESET #2 and CORESET #3 belong to CORESET group # 1.

In this case, the information written in the controlResourceSetToAddModList is:

PDCCH-config information element

PDCCH-config：

controlResourceSetToAddModList：(1，0，2，1，3，1)

I.e. indicating that among the resources allocated to the user, the resources CORESET #1 in group 0, and the resources CORESET #2 and CORESET #3 in group 1 are included.

In other embodiments, the information processing module 23 is configured to write, in a controlresourcesetettoaddmodlist of RRC signaling, each resource identification, CORESET ID, allocated in CORESET for the user terminal; and writing a CORESET group ID corresponding to each CORESET ID allocated to the user terminal in a control ResourceSetGroupID field of RRC signaling.

For example, if the CORESET IDs assigned to the users are CORESET #1, CORESET #2, and CORESET # 3. The CORESET group ID includes CORESET group #0 and CORESET group # 1. Wherein CORESET #1 belongs to CORESET group #0, and CORESET #2 and CORESET #3 belong to CORESET group # 1. The information written in the control resource esetttoaddmodlist and the control resource esettgroupid is as follows:

PDCCH-config information element

PDCCH-config：

controlResourceSetToAddModList：(1，2，3)

controlResourceSetGroupID：(0，1，1)

In some embodiments, the information processing module 23 is configured to set multiple PDSCH-configuration information elements in the RRC signaling, where each PDSCH-configuration information element includes one configured datacrammblingidentitypdsch parameter, and different PDSCH-configuration information elements include different datacrammblingidentitypdsch parameters.

For example, TRP1 is configured with datacramblinglentitypdsch 1, corresponding to CORESET group # 0. TRP2 is configured with datascramblingidentyipdsch 2, corresponding to CORESET group # 1. The corresponding information is as follows:

PDSCH-config1 information element

PDSCH-config1：

dataScramblingIdentityPDSCH1

PDSCH-config2 information element

PDSCH-config2：

dataScramblingIdentityPDSCH2

In other embodiments, the information processing module 23 is configured to set a PDSCH-config information element in the RRC signaling, wherein the PDSCH-config information element includes a plurality of configured datacramblinglingidentyspdsch parameters.

For example, TRP1 is configured with datacramblinglentitypdsch 1, corresponding to CORESET group # 0. TRP2 is configured with datascramblingidentyipdsch 2, corresponding to CORESET group # 1. The corresponding information is as follows:

PDSCH-config information element

PDSCH-config1：

dataScramblingIdentityPDSCH1

dataScramblingIdentityPDSCH2

Fig. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a scrambling code configuration apparatus according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in fig. 3, the apparatus includes a memory 31 and a processor 32.

The memory 31 is used to store instructions. The processor 32 is coupled to the memory 31. The processor 32 is configured to perform a method as referred to in any of the embodiments of fig. 1 based on the instructions stored by the memory.

As shown in fig. 3, the apparatus further includes a communication interface 33 for information interaction with other devices. Meanwhile, the device also comprises a bus 34, and the processor 32, the communication interface 33 and the memory 31 are communicated with each other through the bus 34.

The Memory 31 may include a Random Access Memory (RAM) or a Non-Volatile Memory (NVM). Such as at least one disk storage. The memory 31 may also be a memory array. The storage 31 may also be partitioned and the blocks may be combined into virtual volumes according to certain rules.

Further, the processor 32 may be a central processing unit, or may be an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or one or more Integrated circuits configured to implement embodiments of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure also provides a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium stores computer instructions, and the instructions, when executed by the processor, implement the method according to any one of the embodiments in fig. 1.

In some embodiments, the functional modules may be implemented as a general purpose Processor, a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), or other Programmable Logic device, discrete Gate or transistor Logic, discrete hardware components, or any suitable combination thereof, for performing the functions described in this disclosure.

So far, embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail. Some details that are well known in the art have not been described in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of the present disclosure. It will be fully apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description how to practice the presently disclosed embodiments.

Although some specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail by way of example, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing examples are for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the above embodiments or equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims.