Communication configuration based on random access bandwidth

Abstract

The communication configuration is selected based on the bandwidth used by the wireless communication device during a random access procedure (e.g., on an unlicensed band). In some scenarios, the maximum transmit power that the wireless communication device can use may be significantly limited (e.g., by regulation). In some cases (e.g., when the wireless communication device is close to the center of a cell), the wireless communication device may use a default bandwidth to transmit random access information. In other cases (e.g., when the wireless communication device is close to the edge of a cell), the wireless communication device may use a wider bandwidth (e.g., to increase the coverage of the transmission) to transmit random access information. In some aspects, the maximum bandwidth used for the random access procedure may be used to select at least one communication configuration for subsequent communications (e.g., data or control signaling).

Description

[0001] introduction

[0002]

[0013] The techniques discussed below relate generally to wireless communications and, more particularly but not exclusively, to techniques for selecting a communication configuration based on bandwidth used in a random access procedure.

[0003] The next generation wireless communication system (e.g., 5GS) may include a 5G core network and a 5G radio access network (RAN), such as a new radio (NR)-RAN. The NR-RAN supports communication via one or more cells. For example, a wireless communication device (such as a user equipment (UE)) may access a first cell of a first base station (BS) (such as a gNB) and / or access a second cell of a second BS.

[0004] The BS may schedule access to a cell to support access by multiple UEs. For example, the BS may allocate different resources (eg, time domain and frequency domain resources) for different UEs operating within a cell of the BS.

[0005] As the demand for mobile broadband access continues to grow, research and development continues to advance communication technologies, including particularly technologies for enhancing communications within wireless networks, to not only meet the growing demand for mobile broadband access but also to improve and enhance the user experience of mobile communications.

[0006] A brief overview of some examples

[0007] An overview of one or more aspects of the present disclosure is given below to provide a basic understanding of these aspects. This overview is not an exhaustive overview of all conceived features of the present disclosure, and is neither intended to identify the key or decisive elements of all aspects of the present disclosure, nor to attempt to define the scope of any or all aspects of the present disclosure. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects of the present disclosure in a form as a preface to a more detailed description given later.

[0008] Various aspects of the present disclosure relate to selecting a communication configuration based on the bandwidth used by a wireless communication device during a random access procedure (e.g., a physical random access channel (PRACH) procedure). In some examples, the wireless communication device may perform a random access procedure to a BS via a shared radio frequency (RF) spectrum (such as an unlicensed band). Here, the maximum transmit power that the wireless communication device is allowed to use may be limited (e.g., by regulation). In some cases (e.g., when the wireless communication device is close to the center of a cellular cell), the wireless communication device may use a default bandwidth to transmit random access information. In other cases (e.g., when the wireless communication device is close to the edge of a cellular cell), the wireless communication device may use a wider bandwidth (e.g., to increase the coverage of the transmission) to transmit random access information.

[0009] In some aspects, the maximum bandwidth for the random access procedure may be used to select at least one communication configuration for subsequent communications (e.g., communications of control and / or data). To this end, the BS may indicate that different communication configurations are to be used depending on the random access bandwidth. After determining the bandwidth for the random access procedure, the BS and the wireless communication device may therefore select a specified communication configuration for subsequent communications (e.g., a bandwidth for conveying control or data). The configuration may be referred to as an initial configuration for subsequent communications because it is the first configuration used for subsequent communications after the random access procedure. For example, when a wireless communication device attempts to transmit uplink information for the first time after completing a PRACH procedure, the wireless communication device may use the same bandwidth (e.g., a bandwidth wider than the default bandwidth) that the wireless communication device used to successfully access the BS during the PRACH procedure. Thus, in this example, the initial configuration for the uplink transmission (e.g., the default bandwidth to be used for the first uplink transmission after the PRACH) is based on the bandwidth used during the PRACH procedure.

[0010] In some examples, a method of wireless communication at a wireless communication device may include: performing a physical random access channel (PRACH) procedure; identifying a first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure; selecting at least one initial communication configuration based on the first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure; and communicating with another device. In some aspects, the communication may use the at least one initial communication configuration.

[0011] In some examples, a wireless communication device may include a transceiver, a memory, and a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory. The processor and the memory may be configured to: perform a physical random access channel (PRACH) procedure; identify a first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure; select at least one initial communication configuration based on the first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure; and communicate with another device via the transceiver. In some aspects, the communication with the other device may use the at least one initial communication configuration.

[0012] In some examples, a wireless communication device may include: means for performing a physical random access channel (PRACH) procedure; means for identifying a first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure; means for selecting at least one initial communication configuration based on the first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure; and means for communicating with another device. In some aspects, the communication may use the at least one initial communication configuration.

[0013] In some examples, an article for use with a wireless communication device includes a computer-readable medium having instructions stored therein, the instructions executable by one or more processors of the wireless communication device to perform a physical random access channel (PRACH) procedure; identify a first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure; select at least one initial communication configuration based on the first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure; and communicate with another device. In some aspects, the communication with the other device may use the at least one initial communication configuration.

[0014] In some examples, a method of wireless communication at a base station may include: receiving at least one physical random access channel (PRACH) sequence; identifying a first bandwidth for receiving the at least one PRACH sequence; determining at least one initial communication configuration based on the first bandwidth for receiving the at least one PRACH sequence; and communicating with a wireless communication device. In some aspects, the communication may use the at least one initial communication configuration.

[0015] In some examples, a base station may include a transceiver, a memory, and a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory. The processor and memory may be configured to: receive at least one physical random access channel (PRACH) sequence via the transceiver; identify a first bandwidth for receiving the at least one PRACH sequence; determine at least one initial communication configuration based on the first bandwidth for receiving the at least one PRACH sequence; and communicate with a wireless communication device via the transceiver. In some aspects, the communication with the wireless communication device may use the at least one initial communication configuration.

[0016] In some examples, a base station may include: means for receiving at least one physical random access channel (PRACH) sequence; means for identifying a first bandwidth for receiving the at least one PRACH sequence; means for determining at least one initial communication configuration based on the first bandwidth for receiving the at least one PRACH sequence; and means for communicating with a wireless communication device. In some aspects, the communication may use the at least one initial communication configuration.

[0017] In some examples, an article for use with a base station includes a computer-readable medium having instructions stored therein, the instructions executable by one or more processors of the base station to receive at least one physical random access channel (PRACH) sequence; identify a first bandwidth for receiving the at least one PRACH sequence; determine at least one initial communication configuration based on the first bandwidth for receiving the at least one PRACH sequence; and communicate with a wireless communication device. In some aspects, the communication with the wireless communication device may use the at least one initial communication configuration.

[0018] These and other aspects of the present disclosure will be more fully understood after reading the following detailed description. After reading the following description of the specific example embodiments of the present disclosure in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, other aspects, features, and embodiments of the present disclosure will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Although the features of the present disclosure may be discussed below with respect to certain embodiments and drawings, all embodiments of the present disclosure may include one or more of the advantageous features discussed herein. In other words, although one or more embodiments may be discussed as having certain advantageous features, one or more of such features may also be used according to the various embodiments of the present disclosure discussed herein. In a similar manner, although the example embodiments may be discussed below as device, system, or method embodiments, it should be appreciated that such example embodiments may be implemented in various devices, systems, and methods. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a wireless communication system according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0021] Figure 2 is a conceptual illustration of an example of a radio access network in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0022] Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of wireless resources in an air interface utilizing orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0023] Figure 4 is a conceptual illustration of an example of resources on an uplink interlace according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0024] Figure 5 is a conceptual illustration of an example of random access information sent via multiple RB sets in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0025] Figure 6 is a conceptual illustration of an example of a power ramping process according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0026] Figure 7 is a conceptual illustration of an example of a communication configuration selection process according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0027] Figure 8 is a flow chart illustrating an example wireless communication process involving sending a PRACH sequence in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0028] Fig. 9 is a flow chart illustrating an example wireless communication process involving receiving a PRACH sequence in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0029] Fig.10is a block diagram conceptually illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for a communication device employing a processing system according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0030] Fig.11 is a flow chart illustrating an example wireless communication process according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0031] Fig.12 is a block diagram conceptually illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for a communication device employing a processing system according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0032] Fig.13 is a flow chart illustrating an example wireless communication process according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0033] Detailed Description

[0034] The detailed description set forth below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings is intended as a description of various configurations and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the concepts described herein may be practiced. This detailed description includes specific details to provide a thorough understanding of the various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and components are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid diluting such concepts.

[0035] Although various aspects and embodiments are described in this application by explanation of some examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that additional implementations and use cases can be generated in many different arrangements and scenarios. The innovation described herein can be implemented across many different platform types, devices, systems, shapes, sizes, and packaging arrangements. For example, each embodiment and / or use can be generated via an integrated chip embodiment and other devices based on non-module components (e.g., end-user devices, vehicles, communication equipment, computing equipment, industrial equipment, retail / shopping equipment, medical equipment, AI-enabled devices, etc.). Although some examples may or may not be specifically for each use case or application, the wide applicability of the described innovation may occur. The scope of each implementation can range from chip-level or module components to non-module, non-chip-level implementations, and further to aggregated, distributed or OEM devices or systems incorporating one or more aspects of the described innovation. In some practical environments, the equipment incorporating the various aspects and features described may also necessarily include additional components and features for implementing and practicing the claimed and described embodiments. For example, the transmission and reception of wireless signals necessarily include several components for analog and digital purposes (e.g., hardware components, including antennas, RF chains, power amplifiers, modulators, buffers, processors, interleavers, adders / summers, etc.). The innovations described herein are intended to be practiced in a wide variety of devices, chip-level components, systems, distributed arrangements, end-user devices, etc., of various sizes, shapes, and configurations.

[0036] Wireless communication platform

[0037] The various concepts presented throughout this disclosure may be implemented across a wide variety of telecommunication systems, network architectures, and communication standards. Figure 1 , various aspects of the present disclosure are explained with reference to a wireless communication system 100 as an illustrative example and not by way of limitation. The wireless communication system 100 includes three interacting domains: a core network 102, a radio access network (RAN) 104, and at least one scheduled entity 106. The at least one scheduled entity 106 may be referred to as a user equipment (UE) 106 in the following discussion. The RAN 104 includes at least one scheduling entity 108. The at least one scheduling entity 108 may be referred to as a base station (BS) 108 in the following discussion. By means of the wireless communication system 100, the UE 106 may be enabled to perform data communications with an external data network 110, such as, but not limited to, the Internet.

[0038] The RAN 104 may implement any suitable one or more wireless communication technologies to provide radio access to the UE 106. As an example, the RAN 104 may operate in accordance with the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) New Radio (NR) specifications, commonly referred to as 5G. As another example, the RAN 104 may operate under a mix of 5G NR and Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (eUTRAN) standards, commonly referred to as LTE. 3GPP refers to this hybrid RAN as the Next Generation RAN, or NG-RAN. Of course, many other examples may be utilized within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0039] As illustrated, the RAN 104 includes a plurality of base stations 108. In a broad sense, a base station is a network element in a radio access network that is responsible for radio transmission and reception to or from a UE in one or more cells. In different technologies, standards, or contexts, a base station may be referred to differently by those skilled in the art as a base transceiver station (BTS), a radio base station, a radio transceiver, a transceiver function, a basic service set (BSS), an extended service set (ESS), an access point (AP), a Node B (NB), an evolved Node B (eNB), a next generation Node B (gNB), or some other suitable terminology.

[0040] The radio access network 104 is further illustrated as supporting wireless communications for multiple mobile devices. A mobile device may be referred to as a user equipment (UE) in the 3GPP standard, but may also be referred to as a mobile station (MS), a subscriber station, a mobile unit, a subscriber unit, a wireless unit, a remote unit, a mobile device, a wireless device, a wireless communication device, a remote device, a mobile subscriber station, an access terminal (AT), a mobile terminal, a wireless terminal, a remote terminal, a handset, a terminal, a user agent, a mobile client, a client, or some other suitable terminology by those skilled in the art. A UE may be a device that provides a user with access to network services.

[0041] Within this document, a "mobile" device does not necessarily need to have mobile capabilities, and may be stationary. The term mobile device or mobile equipment refers broadly to a wide variety of devices and technologies. A UE may include several hardware structural components sized, shaped, and arranged to facilitate communication; such components may include antennas, antenna arrays, RF chains, amplifiers, one or more processors, and the like electrically coupled to each other. For example, some non-limiting examples of mobile devices include mobile devices, cellular (cell) phones, smart phones, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phones, laptops, personal computers (PCs), notebooks, netbooks, smartbooks, tablet devices, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and a wide variety of embedded systems, for example, corresponding to the "Internet of Things" (IoT). Additionally, the mobile device may be a car or other transportation vehicle, a remote sensor or actuator, a robot or robotic device, a satellite radio, a global positioning system (GPS) device, an object tracking device, a drone, a multicopter, a quadcopter, a remote control device, a consumer and / or wearable device (such as glasses), a wearable camera, a virtual reality device, a smart watch, a health or fitness tracker, a digital audio player (e.g., an MP3 player), a camera, a game console, etc. Additionally, the mobile device may be a digital home or smart home device, such as home audio, video and / or multimedia equipment, an appliance, a vending machine, a smart lighting device, a home security system, a smart meter, etc. The mobile device may further be a smart energy device, a security device, a solar panel or solar array, a municipal infrastructure device that controls power, lighting, water, etc. (e.g., a smart grid); industrial automation and enterprise equipment; logistics controllers; agricultural equipment; military defense equipment, vehicles, aircraft, ships, and weapons, etc. Still further, the mobile device may provide networked medical or telemedicine support, i.e., health care at a distance. Telehealth devices may include telehealth monitoring devices and telehealth supervisory devices, whose communications may be given priority or prioritized access over other types of information, for example in the form of prioritized access for critical service data transmission and / or associated QoS for critical service data transmission.

[0042] Wireless communication between RAN 104 and UE 106 may be described as utilizing an air interface. Transmissions over the air interface from a base station (e.g., base station 108) to one or more UEs (e.g., UE 106) may be referred to as downlink (DL) transmissions. According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, the term downlink may refer to a point-to-multipoint transmission originating at a scheduling entity (further described below; e.g., base station 108). Another way to describe this scheme may be to use the term broadcast channel multiplexing. Transmissions from a UE (e.g., UE 106) to a base station (e.g., base station 108) may be referred to as uplink (UL) transmissions. According to further aspects of the present disclosure, the term uplink may refer to a point-to-point transmission originating at a scheduled entity (further described below; e.g., UE 106).

[0043] In some examples, access to the air interface may be scheduled, wherein a scheduling entity (e.g., a base station 108) allocates resources for communication among some or all devices and equipment within its service area or cell. Within the present disclosure, as discussed further below, a scheduling entity may be responsible for scheduling, assigning, reconfiguring, and releasing resources for one or more scheduled entities. That is, for scheduled communications, a UE 106 (which may be a scheduled entity) may utilize resources allocated by the scheduling entity 108.

[0044] Base station 108 is not the only entity that may function as a scheduling entity. That is, in some examples, a UE may function as a scheduling entity, scheduling resources for one or more scheduled entities (eg, one or more other UEs).

[0045] like Figure 1 , the scheduling entity 108 may broadcast downlink traffic 112 to one or more scheduled entities 106. Broadly speaking, the scheduling entity 108 is a node or device responsible for scheduling traffic in the wireless communication network, including downlink traffic 112 and, in some examples, uplink traffic 116 from one or more scheduled entities 106 to the scheduling entity 108. On the other hand, the scheduled entity 106 is a node or device that receives downlink control information 114 (including but not limited to scheduling information (e.g., grants), synchronization or timing information), or other control information from another entity in the wireless communication network, such as the scheduling entity 108.

[0046] Additionally, uplink and / or downlink control information and / or traffic information may be divided into frames, subframes, time slots, and / or symbols in time. As used herein, a symbol may refer to a time unit in which each subcarrier carries one resource element (RE) in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) waveform. A time slot may carry 7 or 14 OFDM symbols. A subframe may refer to a duration of 1 ms. Multiple subframes or time slots may be grouped together to form a single frame or radio frame. Of course, these definitions are not required, and any appropriate scheme may be utilized to organize the waveform, and the various time divisions of the waveform may have any appropriate duration.

[0047] Generally speaking, base stations 108 may include a backhaul interface for communicating with a backhaul portion 120 of a wireless communication system. Backhaul 120 may provide a link between base stations 108 and core network 102. Additionally, in some examples, a backhaul network may provide interconnections between respective base stations 108. Various types of backhaul interfaces may be employed, such as a direct physical connection, a virtual network, and the like, using any suitable transport network.

[0048] The core network 102 may be part of the wireless communication system 100 and may be independent of the radio access technology used in the RAN 104. In some examples, the core network 102 may be configured according to a 5G standard (e.g., 5GC). In other examples, the core network 102 may be configured according to a 4G Evolved Packet Core (EPC), or any other suitable standard or configuration.

[0049] Now refer to Figure 2 , a schematic illustration of RAN 200 is provided by way of example and not limitation. In some examples, RAN 200 may be similar to that described above and in Figure 1 The geographic area covered by the RAN 200 may be divided into cellular regions (cells) that may be uniquely identified by a user equipment (UE) based on an identity broadcast from an access point or base station. Figure 2 Macro cells 202, 204, and 206 and small cells 208 are illustrated, each of which may include one or more sectors (not shown). A sector is a sub-area of ​​a cell. All sectors within one cell are served by the same base station. A radio link within a sector may be identified by a single logical identification belonging to the sector. In a cell divided into sectors, multiple sectors within a cell may be formed by antenna groups, where each antenna is responsible for communication with UEs in a portion of the cell.

[0050] Various base station arrangements can be used. Figure 2, two base stations 210 and 212 are shown in the cellular cells 202 and 204; and a third base station 214 is shown as controlling a remote radio head (RRH) 216 in the cellular cell 206. That is, the base station may have an integrated antenna, or may be connected to the antenna or RRH by a feeder cable. In the illustrated example, the cellular cells 202, 204, and 206 may be referred to as macro cells because the base stations 210, 212, and 214 support cellular cells with large sizes. In addition, the base station 218 is shown in a small cell 208 (e.g., a micro cell, a micro cell, a femto cell, a home base station, a home node B, a home evolved node B, etc.), which may overlap with one or more macro cells. In this example, the cellular cell 208 may be referred to as a small cell because the base station 218 supports a cellular cell with a relatively small size. The cellular cell size setting may be completed according to the system design and component constraints.

[0051] It is to be understood that the radio access network 200 may include any number of wireless base stations and cellular cells. In addition, relay nodes may be deployed to extend the size or coverage area of ​​a given cellular cell. Base stations 210, 212, 214, 218 provide wireless access points to the core network for any number of mobile devices. In some examples, base stations 210, 212, 214, and / or 218 may be similar to those described above and in Figure 1 The same as the base station / scheduling entity 108 illustrated in FIG.

[0052] Within the RAN 200, cells may include UEs that may be in communication with one or more sectors of each cell. Further, each base station 210, 212, 214, and 218 may be configured to provide a core network (e.g., such as a core network) for all UEs in the corresponding cell. Figure 1 For example, UEs 222 and 224 may be in communication with base station 210; UEs 226 and 228 may be in communication with base station 212; UEs 230 and 232 may be in communication with base station 214 via RRH 216; and UE 234 may be in communication with base station 218. In some examples, UEs 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, 238, 240, and / or 242 may be in communication with base stations described above and in Figure 1 The UE / scheduled entity 106 is the same as illustrated in FIG.

[0053] In some examples, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) 220 (which may be a drone or a quadcopter) may be a mobile network node and may be configured to function as a UE. For example, UAV 220 may operate within cell 202 by communicating with base station 210.

[0054] In a further aspect of RAN 200, sidelink signals may be used between UEs without having to rely on scheduling or control information from a base station. For example, two or more UEs (e.g., UE 226 and 228) may communicate with each other using peer-to-peer (P2P) or sidelink signals 227 without relaying the communication through a base station (e.g., base station 212). In a further example, UE 238 is illustrated as communicating with UEs 240 and 242. Here, UE 238 may be used as a scheduling entity or a primary sidelink device, and UEs 240 and 242 may be used as scheduled entities or non-primary (e.g., secondary) sidelink devices. In yet another example, UEs may be used as scheduling entities in a device-to-device (D2D), peer-to-peer (P2P), or vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) network, and / or a mesh network. In a mesh network example, UEs 240 and 242 may optionally communicate directly with each other in addition to communicating with UE 238 (e.g., as a scheduling entity). Thus, in a wireless communication system having scheduled access to time-frequency resources and having a cellular configuration, a P2P configuration, or a mesh configuration, a scheduling entity and one or more scheduled entities can communicate using the scheduled resources. In some examples, sidelink signals 227 include sidelink traffic (e.g., a physical sidelink shared channel) and sidelink control (e.g., a physical sidelink control channel).

[0055] In the radio access network 200, the ability of a UE to communicate independently of its location while moving is called mobility. Each physical channel between the UE and the radio access network is generally established, maintained, and released under the control of an access and mobility management function (AMF). Figure 2 ) may include a Security Context Management Function (SCMF) that manages security contexts for both control plane and user plane functionalities and a Security Anchor Function (SEAF) that performs authentication.

[0056] The radio access network 200 may utilize DL-based mobility or UL-based mobility to implement mobility and handover (i.e., the transfer of a UE's connection from one radio channel to another). In a network configured for DL-based mobility, during a call with a scheduling entity, or at any other time, a UE may monitor various parameters of a signal from its serving cell and various parameters of neighboring cells. Depending on the quality of these parameters, the UE may maintain communication with one or more neighboring cells. During this time, if the UE moves from one cell to another, or if the signal quality from a neighboring cell exceeds the signal quality from the serving cell for a given amount of time, the UE may perform a handover or handover from the serving cell to a neighboring (target) cell. For example, a UE 224 (illustrated as a vehicle, but any suitable form of UE may be used) may move from a geographic area corresponding to its serving cell 202 to a geographic area corresponding to a neighboring cell 206. When the signal strength or quality from a neighbor cell 206 exceeds the signal strength or quality of its serving cell 202 for a given amount of time, the UE 224 may transmit a report message indicating this condition to its serving base station 210. In response, the UE 224 may receive a handover command, and the UE may undergo a handover to the cell 206.

[0057] In a network configured for UL-based mobility, the UL reference signal from each UE may be used by the network to select a serving cell for each UE. In some examples, base stations 210, 212, and 214 / 216 may broadcast unified synchronization signals (e.g., unified primary synchronization signal (PSS), unified secondary synchronization signal (SSS), and unified physical broadcast channel (PBCH)). UEs 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, and 232 may receive the unified synchronization signals, derive carrier frequency and slot timing from these synchronization signals, and transmit uplink pilots or reference signals in response to the derived timing. The uplink pilot signal transmitted by a UE (e.g., UE 224) may be received concurrently by two or more cells (e.g., base stations 210 and 214 / 216) within the radio access network 200. Each of these cells may measure the strength of the pilot signal, and the radio access network (e.g., one or more of base stations 210 and 214 / 216 and / or a central node within a core network) may determine a serving cell for UE 224. As UE 224 moves in radio access network 200, the network may continue to monitor uplink pilot signals transmitted by UE 224. When the signal strength or quality of the pilot signal measured by a neighboring cell exceeds the signal strength or quality measured by the serving cell, network 200 may handover UE 224 from the serving cell to the neighboring cell with or without notifying UE 224.

[0058] Although the synchronization signal transmitted by base stations 210, 212 and 214 / 216 may be uniform, the synchronization signal may not identify a specific cell, but may identify a zone including multiple cells operating on the same frequency and / or having the same timing. The use of zones in a 5G network or other next generation communication network implements an uplink-based mobility framework and improves the efficiency of both the UE and the network because the number of mobility messages that need to be exchanged between the UE and the network can be reduced.

[0059] In various implementations, the air interface in the radio access network 200 may utilize a licensed spectrum, an unlicensed spectrum, or a shared spectrum. A licensed spectrum generally provides exclusive use of a portion of the spectrum by a mobile network operator purchasing a license from a government regulator. An unlicensed spectrum provides shared use of a portion of the spectrum without a government-granted license. Although some technical rules generally still need to be followed to access the unlicensed spectrum, any operator or device can obtain access. A shared spectrum may fall between licensed and unlicensed spectrum, where technical rules or restrictions may be required to access the spectrum, but the spectrum may still be shared by multiple operators and / or multiple RATs. For example, a license holder of a portion of a licensed spectrum may provide licensed shared access (LSA) to share the spectrum with other parties, for example, using conditions determined by the appropriate license holder to obtain access.

[0060] The air interface in the radio access network 200 may utilize one or more multiplexing and multiple access algorithms to enable simultaneous communication of various devices. For example, the 5G NR specification utilizes orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) with a cyclic prefix (CP) to provide multiple access for UL transmissions from UE 222 and 224 to base station 210, and multiplexing for DL ​​transmissions from base station 210 to one or more UEs 222 and 224. In addition, for UL transmissions, the 5G NR specification provides support for discrete Fourier transform spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) with CP (also known as single carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA)). However, within the scope of the present disclosure, multiplexing and multiple access are not limited to the above schemes, and may be provided using time division multiple access (TDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), sparse code multiple access (SCMA), resource extension multiple access (RSMA), or other appropriate multiple access schemes. In addition, multiplexing of DL transmissions from base station 210 to UEs 222 and 224 may be provided using time division multiplexing (TDM), code division multiplexing (CDM), frequency division multiplexing (FDM), orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), sparse code multiplexing (SCM), or other suitable multiplexing schemes.

[0061] The air interface in the radio access network 200 may further utilize one or more duplex algorithms. Duplex refers to a point-to-point communication link in which both endpoints can communicate with each other in two directions. Full-duplex means that both endpoints can communicate with each other at the same time. Half-duplex means that only one endpoint can send information to the other endpoint at a time. In a wireless link, a full-duplex channel generally relies on the physical isolation of the transmitter and the receiver, and suitable interference cancellation techniques. Full-duplex simulation is usually achieved for a wireless link by utilizing frequency division duplex (FDD) or time division duplex (TDD). In FDD, transmissions in different directions operate at different carrier frequencies. In TDD, transmissions in different directions on a given channel are separated from each other using time division multiplexing. That is, at some times, the channel is dedicated to transmissions in one direction, and at other times, the channel is dedicated to transmissions in another direction, where the direction can change very quickly, for example, several times per time slot.

[0062] Various aspects of the present disclosure will be described with reference to OFDM waveforms, examples of which are shown in Figure 3 Schematically shown in FIG. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various aspects of the present disclosure may be applied to SC-FDMA waveforms in substantially the same manner as described below. That is, while some examples of the present disclosure may focus on OFDM links for clarity, it will be appreciated that the same principles may also be applied to SC-FDMA waveforms.

[0063] Now refer to Figure 3 , illustrates an expanded view of an example DL subframe (SF) 302A showing an OFDM resource grid. However, as will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, the PHY transmission structure for any particular application may differ from the examples described herein depending on any number of factors. Here, time is in the horizontal direction in units of OFDM symbols; and frequency is in the vertical direction in units of subcarriers.

[0064] Resource grid 304 can be used to schematically represent the time-frequency resources for a given antenna port. That is, in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) implementation with multiple antenna ports available, there may be a corresponding multiple number of resource grids 304 available for communication. Resource grid 304 is divided into multiple resource elements (REs) 306. RE (which is 1 subcarrier × 1 symbol) is the smallest discrete part of the time-frequency grid and contains a single complex value representing data from a physical channel or signal. Depending on the modulation utilized in a particular implementation, each RE may represent one or more information bits. In some examples, a block of REs may be referred to as a physical resource block (PRB) or more simply a resource block (RB) 308, which contains any suitable number of consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain. In one example, an RB may include 12 subcarriers, which number is independent of the parameter design used. In some examples, depending on the parameter design, an RB may include any suitable number of consecutive OFDM symbols in the time domain. Within the present disclosure, it is assumed that a single RB (such as RB 308) corresponds entirely to a single communication direction (transmission or reception for a given device).

[0065] Scheduling of a UE (e.g., a scheduled entity) for downlink or uplink transmissions typically involves scheduling one or more resource elements 306 within one or more bandwidth parts (BWPs), where each BWP includes two or more contiguous or consecutive RBs. Thus, a UE typically utilizes only a subset of a resource grid 304. In some examples, an RB may be the smallest resource unit that may be allocated to a UE. Thus, the more RBs scheduled for a UE and the higher the modulation scheme selected for the air interface, the higher the data rate for the UE.

[0066] In this illustration, RB 308 is shown as occupying less than the entire bandwidth of subframe 302A, with some subcarriers illustrated above and below RB 308. In a given implementation, subframe 302A may have a bandwidth corresponding to any number of one or more RBs 308. Furthermore, in this illustration, RB 308 is shown as occupying less than the entire duration of subframe 302A, but this is merely one possible example.

[0067] Each 1 ms subframe 302A may include one or more adjacent time slots. Figure 3 In the example shown in , one subframe 302B includes four time slots 310. In some examples, a time slot may be defined according to a specified number of OFDM symbols with a given cyclic prefix (CP) length. For example, with a nominal CP, a time slot may include 7 or 14 OFDM symbols. Additional examples may include mini-slots with shorter durations (e.g., one or two OFDM symbols). In some cases, these mini-slots may occupy resources scheduled for ongoing time slot transmissions for the same or different UEs for transmission.

[0068] The expanded view of one slot 310 illustrates the slot 310 including a control region 312 and a data region 314. In general, the control region 312 may carry a control channel (e.g., PDCCH), while the data region 314 may carry a data channel (e.g., PDSCH or PUSCH). Of course, a slot may contain all DL, all UL, or at least one DL portion and at least one UL portion. Figure 3 The simple structure illustrated in is merely exemplary in nature and different slot structures may be utilized and may include one or more of each of the control region and the data region.

[0069] Although not in Figure 3 306, but each RE 308 within the RB 306 may be scheduled to carry one or more physical channels, including a control channel, a shared channel, a data channel, etc. Other REs 306 within the RB 308 may also carry pilot or reference signals, including but not limited to a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) or a sounding reference signal (SRS). These pilot or reference signals may be used by a receiving device to perform channel estimation on the corresponding channel, which may enable coherent demodulation / detection of the control and / or data channels within the RB 308.

[0070] In DL transmission, a transmitting device (e.g., a scheduling entity) may allocate one or more REs 306 (e.g., within a control region 312) to carry DL control information to one or more scheduled entities, including one or more DL control channels (such as PBCH); physical control format indicator channel (PCFICH); physical hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) indicator channel (PHICH); and / or physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), etc. The transmitting device may further allocate one or more REs 306 to carry other DL signals (such as DMRS); phase tracking reference signal (PT-RS); channel state information-reference signal (CSI-RS); primary synchronization signal (PSS); and secondary synchronization signal (SSS).

[0071] The synchronization signals PSS and SSS, and in some examples also the PBCH and PBCH DMRS, may be transmitted in a synchronization signal block (SSB), which includes 3 consecutive OFDM symbols numbered in ascending order from 0 to 3 via a time index. In the frequency domain, the SSB may be extended over 240 contiguous subcarriers, where the subcarriers are numbered in ascending order from 0 to 239 via a frequency index. Of course, the present disclosure is not limited to this particular SSB configuration. Other non-limiting examples within the scope of the present disclosure may utilize more or less than two synchronization signals; may include one or more supplemental channels in addition to the PBCH; may omit the PBCH; and / or may use a different number of symbols and / or non-consecutive symbols for the SSB.

[0072] The SSB may be used to send system information (SI) and / or provide a reference to SI transmitted via another channel. Examples of system information may include, but are not limited to: subcarrier spacing, system frame number, cell global identifier (CGI), cell bar indication, common control resource set (coreset) list, common search space list, search space for SIB1, paging search space, random access search space, and uplink configuration information. Two specific examples of coreset include PDCCHCoreset 0 and Coreset1.

[0073] SI can be subdivided into three sets called minimum SI (MSI), remaining MSI (RMSI), and other SI (OSI). PBCH can carry MSI and some of RMSI. For example, PBCH can carry a master information block (MIB) of various system information and parameters for decoding system information blocks (SIBs). In some examples, MIB can configure Coreset 0.

[0074] RMSI may include, for example, System Information Type 1 (SIB1), which may include various additional system information. RMSI may be carried by PDSCH (eg, in dedicated Coreset 0).

[0075] The PCFICH provides information to assist the receiving device in receiving and decoding the PDCCH. The PDCCH carries downlink control information (DCI), including but not limited to power control commands, scheduling information, grants, and / or RE assignments for DL ​​and UL transmissions. The PHICH carries HARQ feedback transmissions, such as acknowledgments (ACKs) or negative acknowledgments (NACKs). HARQ is a well-known technology to those of ordinary skill in the art, where for accuracy, the integrity of the packet transmission may be verified on the receiving side using any suitable integrity check mechanism, such as a checksum or cyclic redundancy check (CRC). If the integrity of the transmission is confirmed, an ACK may be transmitted, and if it is not confirmed, a NACK may be transmitted. In response to the NACK, the transmitting device may send a HARQ retransmission, which may enable catch-up combining, incremental redundancy, and the like.

[0076] In UL transmission, a transmitting device (e.g., a scheduled entity) may utilize one or more REs 306 to carry UL control information to a scheduling entity, the UL control information including one or more UL control channels, such as a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH). The UL control information may include various packet types and categories, including pilots, reference signals, and information configured to implement or assist in decoding uplink data transmission. For example, the UL control information may include a DMRS or an SRS. In some examples, the control information may include a scheduling request (SR), i.e., a request to a scheduling entity to schedule an uplink transmission. Here, in response to the SR transmitted on the control channel, the scheduling entity may transmit downlink control information, which may schedule resources for uplink packet transmission. The UL control information may also include HARQ feedback, channel state feedback (CSF), or any other suitable UL control information.

[0077] In addition to control information, one or more REs 306 (e.g., within the data region 314) may also be allocated for user data or traffic data. Such traffic may be carried on one or more traffic channels, such as on the PDSCH for DL ​​transmissions or on the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) for UL transmissions. In some examples, one or more REs 306 within the data region 314 may be configured to carry a SIB (e.g., SIB1) that carries system information that may enable access to a given cell.

[0078] These physical channels are generally multiplexed and mapped to transport channels for handling by the medium access control (MAC) layer. The transport channels carry information blocks, which are called transport blocks (TBs). The transport block size (TBS), which may correspond to the number of information bits, may be a controlled parameter based on the modulation and coding scheme (MCS) and the number of RBs in a given transmission.

[0079] Refer to above Figure 1-3 The channels or carriers described in are not necessarily all channels or carriers that can be utilized between the scheduling entity and the scheduled entity, and a person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other channels or carriers may be utilized in addition to those channels or carriers illustrated, such as other traffic, control, and feedback channels.

[0080] Furthermore, the above physical channels are generally multiplexed and mapped to transport channels for handling by the media access control (MAC) layer. The transport channels carry information blocks, which are referred to as transport blocks (TBs), as mentioned above. As an illustration, the exemplary MAC layer transport block 320 is shown in FIG. Figure 3 302, but is not limited to this mapping and is merely for illustrative purposes to show a particular mapping. The transport block size (TBS), which may correspond to the number of information bits, may be a controlled parameter based on the modulation and coding scheme (MCS) and the number of RBs in a given transmission.

[0081] Example of a communication configuration based on random access bandwidth

[0082] As discussed above, in some scenarios a network may use unlicensed radio frequency (RF) spectrum. For example, a network operator may deploy cells configured to communicate on the unlicensed RF spectrum (e.g., in addition to cells operating on the licensed RF spectrum) to extend the coverage of the network or provide additional services (e.g., higher throughput) to UEs operating within the network.

[0083] In some scenarios, devices transmitting on an unlicensed RF spectrum may use a collision avoidance scheme to reduce the likelihood that multiple devices will transmit on the same frequency band at the same time. An example of this collision avoidance scheme is a listen-before-talk (LBT) procedure. Generally speaking, before a first device transmits on a resource, the first device may listen for the transmission of another device. If the resource is currently being used, the first device may back off for a period of time and then retry the transmission (e.g., by listening again to other transmissions). Carrier Sense Multiple Access (CSMA) is an example of an LBT procedure. Other types of LBT procedures may also be used.

[0084] NR operation in unlicensed RF spectrum may be referred to as NR-U. Under NR-U, some transmissions may be subject to LBT. For example, under NR-U, the gNB's transmission of discovery reference signals (DRS) (such as SSB discussed above) may be subject to LBT.

[0085] For example, a wireless device, such as a user equipment (UE) or a base station, may perform a clear channel assessment (CCA), such as listen before talk (LBT), before obtaining control of a wireless channel in an unlicensed band. In some examples, a base station may obtain access to a wireless channel and transmit a synchronization signal block (SSB), such as during a discovery reference signal (DRS) slot. The SSB may carry synchronization signals and reference signals for the UE to discover and synchronize with the base station.

[0086] The BS can schedule uplink transmissions to the UEs, specifying which time and frequency domain resources each UE is to use for its respective uplink transmissions. For UL transmissions on unlicensed RF spectrum, interleaving-based scheduling can be used in the frequency domain. For example, in NR-U, PRB interleaved waveforms can be used in the UL to meet occupied channel bandwidth (OCB) targets and / or boost UL transmit power for a given power spectral density (PSD) limit.

[0087] The BS may schedule UEs to transmit according to one or more interlaces. For example, the BS may schedule a first UE to transmit on interlace 0 and schedule a second UE to transmit on interlace 1. As another example, the BS may schedule a first UE to transmit on interlace 0 and interlace 1. Other examples are possible.

[0088] Figure 4 An example of UL interlace 400 is illustrated (eg, for NR-U). A given interlace may correspond to a set of frequency resources. For example, Figure 4 Each block in (eg, block 402) may correspond to a resource block. Figure 4 It is also illustrated that different RB sets (e.g., RB set 0 and RB set 1, etc.) can be defined with respect to an interlace. Here, each RB set includes an interlace of ten RBs. A different number of RBs per RB set can be used in other examples.

[0089] Wireless communication operations in certain frequency bands may be subject to regulatory restrictions (e.g., FCC regulations). For example, Table 1 describes an example of the 6 GHz frequency band. This frequency band is currently used for microwave communications, backhaul communications, and camera communications, for example.

[0090]

[0091]

[0092] Table 1

[0093] Devices communicating on the 6 GHz band may not use spectrum sharing technology. Therefore, the maximum transmit power on the band may be limited to, for example, 5 decibel-milliwatt / MHz (dBm / MHz) for gNBs and -1 dBm / MHz for UEs. This is to protect incumbent users of the band (e.g., cameras).

[0094] In the above example, use of the 6 GHz band (e.g., U-NII-5 and U-NII-7) may be subject to lower transmit power limits than those imposed on other bands. For example, the maximum transmit power on the 5 GHz band may be limited to, e.g., 10 dBm / MHz for gNBs and 10 dBm / MHz for UEs.

[0095] Given that the power spectral density (PSD) limit on the 6 GHz band is significantly lower than that on the 5 GHz band, the total transmit power allowed may be limited by the occupied bandwidth. In addition, in 3GPP Release (Rel.) 16 NR-U, PRACH is limited to the 20 MHz band.

[0096] Given the relatively low PSD limits on the 6 GHz band (e.g., 11 dB lower on the UE side and 5 dB lower on the gNB side), the link budget may be reduced. In some aspects, the present disclosure relates to regaining this link budget loss. In addition, as shown above, the uplink may be weaker (e.g., by 6 dB relative). In some aspects, the present disclosure relates to balancing the link budget between the downlink and uplink.

[0097] PRACH is the first uplink transmission waveform. If PRACH does not have enough link budget, the UE cannot access the system. In 3GPP Rel.16NR-U, in order to have higher PRACH power under PSD limitation, the PRACH design is revised by introducing a sequence of length 571 for 30KHz and a sequence of length 1151 for 15KHz. These sequences occupy about 48 / 96 RBs for 30KHz / 15KHz respectively.

[0098] In some aspects, the present disclosure relates to increasing the effective transmit power by transmitting the signal with a wider bandwidth (e.g., without making the sequence longer). As described above, 3GPP Rel.16 NR-U PRACH covers 20 MHz. Given the low PSD limit, this may be relatively low. In some aspects, the present disclosure thus relates to a wider band PRACH. For example, as shown in Table 2, for a UE, an increase of 3 dBm can be achieved using a 40 MHz bandwidth instead of a 20 MHz bandwidth. In addition, an increase of 6 dBm can be achieved using an 80 MHz bandwidth instead of a 20 MHz bandwidth.

[0099] 20MHz 40MHz 80MHz UE 12dBm 15dBm 18dBm gNB 18dBm 21dBm 24dBm

[0100] Table 2

[0101] Figure 5An example of a repeated wideband PRACH waveform 500 is illustrated. The first PRACH portion may be sent on RB set 0, the second PRACH portion may be sent on RB set 1, and so on. As described above, each RB set may have a 20 MHz bandwidth. Each repetition of the PRACH waveform may occupy 48 or 96 RBs in 20 MHz in some examples.

[0102] The NR system may use a power ramping procedure for initial access PRACH transmissions. Starting with open loop power control, the UE picks an initial power level for the first PRACH transmission. After each transmission, the UE will wait for msg2 (message 2) from the gNB. If msg2 is not received within the random access response (RAR) window, the UE may assume that the PRACH power is not high enough to reach the gNB. The UE may therefore send another PRACH at a higher (e.g., slightly higher) power level.

[0103] The present disclosure in some aspects relates to using wider band PRACH to provide additional power for a PRACH power ramping procedure.For example, the use of wider band PRACH transmissions can be integrated into the power ramping procedure.

[0104] In some examples, if the open loop transmit power is low, the UE may start a single PRACH transmission. If after several PRACH transmissions (e.g., the transmit power increases with each transmission), the required PRACH transmit power exceeds the power that a single PRACH can support, the UE may transmit multiple RPACH sequences in an FDM manner.

[0105] Figure 6 An example of this type of power ramping 600 is illustrated, where different rows of blocks represent different PRACH transmissions. Initially, PRACH 602 is transmitted on one RB set at a certain transmit power. In the event that msg2 has not yet been received, PRACH 604 can be transmitted on one RB set at a higher transmit power. In the event that msg2 has still not been received, PRACH (e.g., PRACH 606) can be transmitted on two RB sets at a still higher transmit power (e.g., the highest transmit power allowed). Finally, if msg2 has still not been received, PRACH (e.g., PRACH 608) can be transmitted on four RB sets. In some examples, Figure 6 Each block in a given row of (eg, the third row including PRACH 606 ​​or the fourth row including PRACH 608) may indicate that the same amount of power and RBs are used for each RB set transmission.

[0106] In some examples, multiple PRACH transmissions may be integrated into the power ramping process earlier. Initially, if the open-loop transmit power is low, the UE may start a single PRACH transmission. If msg2 is not received, the process may start using multiple PRACH transmissions (e.g., two RB sets) before reaching the maximum transmit power limit. Here, the UE may increase the transmit power and / or the number of frequency-division multiplexed PRACH sequences as a power ramping technique.

[0107] The present disclosure in some aspects relates to selecting at least one communication configuration based on the bandwidth used in the PRACH procedure. For example, if a wider bandwidth is used for the PRACH to close the link for msg1, a wider bandwidth (e.g., to provide more power) and / or other communication configurations may also be used for other signaling to close the link for that signaling. On the other hand, if the UE is close to its serving gNB, a smaller transmission bandwidth (power) may be sufficient to close the link. In this case, it may be preferable from a system efficiency perspective not to use a wider initial BWP (e.g., in order not to use the wider BWP exclusively). For example, if the gNB is required to pass LBT on all portions of the bandwidth (e.g., on all subbands), the gNB may have a lower probability of accessing the channel.

[0108] The present disclosure thus relates in some aspects to dynamically supporting, for example, cell center UEs and cell edge UEs simultaneously. From an initial access perspective, since the PRACH procedure is performed first, the PRACH bandwidth used may indicate a good starting point for choosing bandwidth (e.g., power) and / or other communication parameters (s) for subsequent signaling.

[0109] The present disclosure in some aspects relates to improving link budget when a UE is under PSD limitation. In some aspects, this may involve using different configurations to support different coverage enhancement techniques. In some aspects, the coverage enhancement techniques may involve increasing the transmission bandwidth of the signal and / or channel. For example, a gNB may support different initial DL / UL BWP configurations and default PUCCH configurations, where the default configuration used for initial communications after a PRACH procedure may depend on the PRACH bandwidth that the UE successfully uses to access the gNB. The following are several specific examples of communication configurations. Other examples are possible.

[0110] In some examples, the bandwidth for sending uplink control information may be selected based on the bandwidth used for PRACH transmission. The BS may allocate the bandwidth that the UE is allowed to use for uplink transmission. For example, the BS may allocate a bandwidth (e.g., a BWP of a specific width) for PRACH transmission, another bandwidth for PUCCH transmission, and so on. The UE may use one or more subbands (e.g., RB sets) of the allocated bandwidth to transmit uplink control information to the BS on a frequency band that may have a restricted PSD. Here, the subband is a suitable subset of the total bandwidth allocated by the BS for transmission. That is, there are more than one subband defined within the total bandwidth allocated by the BS for transmission. For example, when the UE is at or near the center of the BS's cell, the UE may be able to transmit uplink control information via a single subband and still close the link with the BS. In contrast, when the UE is at or near the edge of the cell, the UE may need to transmit uplink control information via multiple subbands to close the link with the BS. As a specific example, the allocated total bandwidth (e.g., frequency band) may be subdivided into four subbands. Thus, in different examples, the UE may transmit on one subband of the allocated total bandwidth, on two subbands of the allocated total bandwidth, on three subbands of the allocated total bandwidth, or on four subbands of the allocated total bandwidth. To this end, the BS may schedule multiple subbands for uplink transmissions of the wireless communication device and monitor each of these subbands (e.g., RB sets) to find uplink control information (e.g., because the BS may not know in advance how many subbands the UE will ultimately use). In this scenario, the initial number of subbands selected by the UE for uplink transmission may be based on the bandwidth (e.g., the number of subbands) that the UE successfully used to close a link to the BS during a PRACH procedure. For example, a default bandwidth for PUCCH (e.g., 20 MHz) may be selected if the UE has used a default bandwidth PRACH (e.g., 20 MHz). Conversely, a wider band PUCCH (e.g., greater than 20 MHz) may be selected if the UE has used a wider band PRACH (e.g., greater than 20 MHz).

[0111] In some examples, the bandwidth for the initial DL / UL BWP may be selected based on the bandwidth used for PRACH transmission. Here, the RMSI may include multiple configurations for the initial DL / UL BWP. Other ways of signaling the configuration may also be used. Each initial DL / UL BWP configuration may include, for example, a common PDSCH / PUSCH configuration, a common PUCCH configuration, other configurations, or any combination thereof. The common PDSCH / PUSCH configuration may include, for example, different configurations to support different coverage enhancement technologies. For example, these coverage enhancement technologies may include TBS scaling techniques. The common PUCCH configuration may include, for example, a default PUCCH configuration.

[0112] The bandwidth of the initial DL / UL BWP to be used for a particular UL or DL ​​communication may be based on the bandwidth (e.g., number of subbands) used by the UE to close a link to the BS during the PRACH procedure. For example, a default bandwidth (e.g., 20 MHz) may be selected for the initial DL / UL BWP if the UE has used a default bandwidth PRACH (e.g., 20 MHz). Conversely, a wider bandwidth (e.g., greater than 20 MHz) may be selected for the initial DL / UL BWP if the UE has used a wider frequency band PRACH (e.g., greater than 20 MHz).

[0113] The BWP for UL / DL can be configured differently in different implementations. In some cases, the initial UL BWP and the initial DL BWP can be configured separately. Therefore, different bandwidths for the initial UL BWP can be selected based on the PRACH bandwidth in some scenarios. In addition, different bandwidths for the initial DL BWP can be selected based on the PRACH bandwidth in some scenarios. In some examples, the centers of the UL BWP and the DL BWP can be aligned (e.g., for TDD operation). In some examples, the UL BWP and the DL BWP can be paired (e.g., configured with the same bandwidth together).

[0114] In some examples, the bandwidth of Coreset 0 may be selected based on the bandwidth used for PRACH transmissions. Here, the RMSI may include multiple configurations for Coreset 0. Other ways of signaling the configurations may also be used. The bandwidth of Coreset 0 to be used for a particular communication may be based on the bandwidth (e.g., the number of subbands) used by the UE to close a link to the BS during a PRACH procedure. For example, a default bandwidth (e.g., 20 MHz) may be selected for Coreset 0 if the UE has used a default bandwidth PRACH (e.g., 20 MHz). Conversely, a wider bandwidth (e.g., greater than 20 MHz) may be selected for Coreset 0 if the UE has used a wider band PRACH (e.g., greater than 20 MHz).

[0115] In some examples, the decision whether to use interleaved signaling can be based on the bandwidth used for PRACH transmission. For example, interleaved PDCCH (e.g., to spread REGs for better power boost) or non-interleaved PDCCH can be used depending on the PRACH bandwidth.

[0116] A coreset is defined in the time domain by 1 / 2 / 3 symbols and in the frequency domain by a bitmap of one bit for six consecutive RBs. Here, a REG is defined as one RB in one symbol, indexed sequentially, time first and frequency second. A set of adjacent REGs is called a REG bundle. If a broadband coreset is used for communication, the REGs for each PDCCH candidate can be physically adjacent. As a result, the maximum transmit power may be limited by the aggregation level. In order to achieve power boost (e.g., given a relatively low PSD limit), the following may be used in some examples: a large aggregation level PDCCH (e.g., selected by the scheduler), a coreset spanning a wide bandwidth (e.g., specified by the gNB configuration), a small REG bundle (e.g., specified by the gNB configuration), and an interleaving scheme that distributes REGs over different frequencies. In the interleaving scheme, a hopping parameter S may be used so that the columns of the coreset are read once every S columns and wrapped around, rather than reading the columns of the block interleaver sequentially.

[0117] Thus, the interleaving may be used to provide coverage enhancement. Thus, in some examples, interleaved signaling may be used in the case where the UE has used a wider bandwidth PRACH (e.g., greater than 20 MHz). Conversely, interleaved signaling may not be used (e.g., this may not be needed) in the case where the UE has used a default bandwidth PRACH (e.g., 20 MHz).

[0118] In some examples, TBS (eg, TBS scaling) may be based on the bandwidth used for PRACH transmissions. For example, TBS scaling may be used for PDSCH / PUSCH communications when a wider initial DL / UL BWP is applied.

[0119] TBS scaling can be used in some examples for communications on frequency bands that may have relatively low PSD limits. According to certain standards, TBS may be defined to scale with the size of the frequency domain resource allocation (FDRA). Larger resource assignments (in the frequency domain) with higher decoding gain can be used to increase transmit power. However, according to Release 15 of the 5G NR standard, given the defined TBS calculation, a larger assignment means a larger TBS when the modulation and coding scheme (MCS) is the same. Therefore, TBS adjustment can help reduce the code rate, such as what is done in the Paging Radio Network Temporary Identifier (P-RNTI) and Random Access Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RA-RNTI) DCI 1_0 with a TB scaling field. For example, in Release 15 / 16 of 5G NR, there are two-bit TB scaling fields for P-RNTI and RA-RNTI, as well as msgB-RNTI for DCI1_0, which allows the TB to be reduced by 1, 1 / 2 or 1 / 4. In some aspects, TB scaling may be used only for lower or lowest modulation coding schemes (MCS) where the need to reduce the code rate through TB ​​scaling is more pressing.

[0120] Thus, the UE may choose to use a scaled (e.g., smaller) TBS to transmit and / or receive information to close a link with the BS in some cases (e.g., when the wireless communication device is at or near a cell edge). To this end, in some examples, TBS scaling may be used in cases where the UE has used a wider bandwidth PRACH (e.g., greater than 20 MHz). Conversely, TBS scaling may not be used (e.g., this may not be necessary) in cases where the UE has used a default bandwidth PRACH (e.g., 20 MHz).

[0121] Table 3 illustrates an example of mapping 700 of mapping a PRACH bandwidth (BW) to different communication configurations (e.g., involving PUCCH bandwidth, UL / DL BWP bandwidth, Coreset 0 bandwidth, interleaving scheme, TBS scaling scheme). For example, if the PRACH bandwidth (BW) is BW2, the initial PUCCH BW may be set to BW2. As another example, if the PRACH BW is BW1, the initial PUCCH BW may be set to BW1. As yet another example, if the PRACH BW is BW3, the TBS scaling may be set to 1 / 4. As a further example, if the PRACH BW is BW1, interleaving is not used, but if the PRACH BW is BW2 or BW3, interleaving is used. In some examples, BW1 corresponds to 20 MHz, BW2 corresponds to 40 MHz, and BW3 corresponds to 40 MHz. Other examples of bandwidths may be used in other implementations. In addition, different numbers and / or different types of communication configurations may be used in other implementations.

[0122]

[0123] Table 3

[0124] In some examples, the specific communication configuration to be used (e.g., initial DL / UL BWP, etc.) may depend on which msg1 is acknowledged by msg2. Figure 7 A first example 702, a second example 704, and a third example 706 of PRACH transmission are illustrated.

[0125] In a first example 702, the UE transmits msg1 for PRACH on a 20 MHz bandwidth (e.g., a single subband or RB set). As shown, the UE gradually increases the power of the msg1 transmission until the UE receives msg2 708 from the BS. In this case, msg2 is sent on the same subband as all msg1 transmissions. In this example, the transmission of msg1 710 has sufficient coverage to be successfully decoded by the BS (the previous msg1 transmission did not have sufficient coverage to be successfully decoded by the BS). Since PRACH is successful using a 20 MHz bandwidth, the 20 MHz initial BWP portion (or some other corresponding initial communication configuration) may be selected for subsequent communications (e.g., PUCCH, PUSCH, PDSCH, etc.).

[0126] In a second example 704, the UE initially transmits msg1 for PRACH on a 20 MHz bandwidth (e.g., a single subband or RB set) and increases the transmit power in steps. In this case, the transmit power limit of the UE is reached because the msg1 transmission on the 20 MHz BW does not have sufficient coverage to be successfully decoded by the BS. As a result, the UE successfully transmits msg1 712 on both 20 MHz subbands. In this example, the transmission of msg1 on 40 MHz has sufficient coverage to be successfully decoded by the BS. The UE therefore receives msg2 714 from the BS. Here, the BS may send msg2 714 on the second subband, as in Figure 7 Since the PRACH is successful using the 40 MHz bandwidth, the 40 MHz initial BWP part (or some other corresponding initial communication configuration) may be selected for subsequent communications (eg, PUCCH, PUSCH, PDSCH, etc.).

[0127] In a third example 706, the UE initially transmits msg1 for PRACH on a 20 MHz bandwidth (e.g., a single subband or RB set) and increases the transmit power in steps. In this case, the transmit power limit of the UE is reached because the transmission of msg1 on the 20 MHz BW does not have sufficient coverage to be successfully decoded by the BS. As a result, the UE successfully transmits msg1 716 on two 20 MHz subbands. However, the transmission of msg1 on 40 MHz does not have sufficient coverage to be successfully decoded by the BS. As a result, the UE then transmits msg1 718 on four 20 MHz subbands. In this example, the transmission of msg1 on 80 MHz has sufficient coverage to be successfully decoded by the BS. The UE therefore receives msg2 720 from the BS. Here, the BS may send msg2 720 on the fourth subband, as in Figure 7 Since the PRACH is successful using the 80 MHz bandwidth, the 80 MHz initial BWP part (or some other corresponding initial communication configuration) may be selected for subsequent communications (eg, PUCCH, PUSCH, PDSCH, etc.).

[0128] Figure 8 800 is a flow chart illustrating an example process 800 for a wireless communication system according to some aspects of the present disclosure. As described below, some or all of the illustrated features may be omitted in certain implementations within the scope of the present disclosure, and some of the illustrated features may not be required to implement all embodiments. In some examples, process 800 may be performed by Fig.10 In some examples, process 800 may be performed by any suitable equipment or means for performing the functions or algorithms described below.

[0129] At block 802, the wireless communication device may receive resource configuration information and communication configuration mapping information. For example, the BS may allocate and / or schedule multiple subbands for PUCCH, PUSCH, PDSCH, and other channels. The wireless communication device may therefore receive at least one indication of the allocation and / or scheduling from the BS. In addition, the wireless communication device may receive communication configuration mapping information (e.g., Table 3) from the BS.

[0130] In some examples, receiving resource configuration information and communication configuration mapping information may include monitoring a broadcast (e.g., SIB) from a BS (e.g., on defined resources) identifying a subband to be used for a particular channel and / or monitoring a grant message including scheduling information identifying a subband to be used, then decoding any signals received as a result of the monitoring to provide decoded information, and identifying resource configuration information and / or communication configuration mapping information from the decoded information. The operation may also include storing the resource configuration information and / or communication configuration mapping information (e.g., in a memory device).

[0131] As used herein, the term allocation means reserving specific resources for a specific purpose. For example, a BS may allocate a specific BWP to be used for a specific channel or to be used by a specific user. Scheduling also involves allocation and also includes the action of indicating that specific resources have been allocated (e.g., by sending a grant message to the UE). For example, scheduling may indicate that a subset or all of the allocations have been reserved for the UE.

[0132] In block 804, the wireless communication device may perform a PRACH procedure. The PRACH procedure may include at least one PRACH operation in a PRACH operation set. The PRACH procedure involves at least the wireless communication device transmitting a PRACH sequence. In some examples, the PRACH procedure may also involve the wireless communication device monitoring a response (e.g., RAR) to the PRACH sequence. In some examples, the PRACH procedure may involve the wireless communication device repeatedly transmitting a PRACH sequence to the BS until a RAR is received from the BS. In the latter case, the PRACH procedure may involve the wireless communication device selecting at least one parameter for each transmission. For example, the wireless communication device may select a first transmit power for a first PRACH sequence transmission, select a higher transmit power for a second PRACH sequence transmission, and so on. As another example, the wireless communication device may select a first bandwidth for a first PRACH sequence transmission, select a wider bandwidth for a second PRACH sequence transmission, and so on.

[0133] In some examples, performing a PRACH procedure may include deciding to access a cell, generating a PRACH sequence, and sending the PRACH sequence to a BS. As described above, performing a PRACH procedure may also include monitoring a RAR and determining whether the PRACH sequence has been successfully decoded by the BS based on the RAR.

[0134] At block 806, the wireless communication device may determine a maximum bandwidth that has been used for a PRACH procedure. For example, the wireless communication device may determine which bandwidth resulted in receiving a RAR. In some examples, determining the bandwidth may include identifying a bandwidth selected during a PRACH procedure. In some examples, determining the bandwidth may include selecting a bandwidth for a PRACH procedure.

[0135] In some examples, determining the maximum bandwidth that has been used for a PRACH procedure may include recording an indication of each bandwidth that has been used to send PRACH sequence(s) during a PRACH procedure, comparing the indications (if applicable) to identify the maximum bandwidth used during the PRACH procedure, and generating an indication of the maximum bandwidth.

[0136] In block 808, the wireless communication device may select an initial communication configuration to be used for subsequent communications based on the maximum bandwidth determined in block 806. The initial communication configuration refers to a configuration used for initial communications following a PRACH procedure. Here, certain types of communications conducted following a PRACH procedure (e.g., referred to above as subsequent communications) may be configured to employ a bandwidth selection made by the PRACH procedure to determine which communication configuration to use (e.g., for the first communication of this type following the PRACH procedure). In this way, the wireless communication device may be able to more quickly determine which communication configuration will result in closing the link with the BS. For example, in a cell edge scenario, the wireless communication device will not need to start at the lowest bandwidth for subsequent communications and increase the bandwidth until the link is closed. Instead, the wireless communication device may start at the final bandwidth selected by the PRACH procedure (which may result in immediate closure of the link for subsequent transmissions in some cases).

[0137] As discussed above, the initial communication configuration may include any one or more of a bandwidth parameter (e.g., PUCCH bandwidth, UL / DL BWP, Coreset 0 bandwidth), an interleaving scheme (e.g., whether to use interleaving), or a TBS scaling scheme (e.g., which TBS scaling value to use) in some examples. For example, the wireless communication device may select a bandwidth for an initial PUCCH transmission to the BS. In this case, the initial communication configuration includes a bandwidth for the initial PUCCH transmission. Here, the initial PUCCH transmission refers to the first PUCCH transmission after a PRACH procedure. As another example, the wireless communication device may select a bandwidth for an initial UL / DL BWP (e.g., to be used for uplink transmission to the BS and / or downlink reception from the BS). In this case, the initial communication configuration includes an initial bandwidth for the UL / DL BWP. Here, the initial bandwidth for the UL / DL BWP refers to the bandwidth of the BWP for the first UL or DL ​​transmission after the PRACH procedure for a UL or DL ​​transmission using the allocated UL / DL BWP. As yet another example, the wireless communication device may select an initial Coreset 0 bandwidth for subsequent communications with the BS. In this case, the initial communication configuration includes an initial bandwidth for Coreset 0. Here, the initial bandwidth for Coreset 0 refers to the first use of Coreset 0 after a PRACH procedure. As a further example, the wireless communication device may determine whether to use interleaved signaling (e.g., in conjunction with the use of a wider bandwidth) for uplink and / or downlink communications with the BS. In this case, the initial communication configuration includes an indication of whether interleaved signaling will be used for an initial transmission. Here, the initial transmission refers to the first such transmission after the PRACH procedure for a transmission that can use interleaved signaling. In addition, the wireless communication device may determine whether to scale the TBS for uplink and / or downlink communications with the BS (e.g., in conjunction with the use of a wider bandwidth). In this case, the initial communication configuration includes an indication of the TBS to be used for the initial transmission. Here, the initial transmission refers to the first such transmission after the PRACH procedure for a transmission that can use TBS scaling. A wireless communication device may select one or more of the above communication configurations and / or other communication configurations.

[0138] In some cases, after using the initial communication configuration, the wireless communication device may select a different communication configuration to be used for communication. For example, if the UE moves farther away from the BS, the UE may select an even wider bandwidth for PUCCH transmission. The BS may also specify a different communication configuration to be used for communication. For example, the BS may then change the allocated bandwidth for UL transmission (e.g., due to changed conditions in the cell) and change the corresponding allocated initial communication configuration accordingly.

[0139] In some examples, selecting an initial communication configuration to use for subsequent communications based on the maximum bandwidth may include identifying a type of subsequent communications, mapping the maximum bandwidth to subsequent communications of this type using Table 3 or some other communication configuration mapping, and thereby determining initial communication parameters to use for the subsequent communications.

[0140] At block 810, the wireless communication device may communicate with the BS using the selected communication configuration.

[0141] In some examples, communicating with the BS using the selected communication configuration may include obtaining information to be transmitted, encoding the information based on the selected communication configuration (e.g., encoding the message for a particular transmission bandwidth, encoding the information according to interleaving, or encoding the information according to TBS scaling), and outputting the encoded information to a transceiver for transmission to the BS. In some examples, complementary operations may be performed to receive information from the BS.

[0142] Fig. 9 900 is a flow chart illustrating an example process 900 for a wireless communication system according to some aspects of the present disclosure. As described below, some or all of the illustrated features may be omitted in certain implementations within the scope of the present disclosure, and some of the illustrated features may not be required to implement all embodiments. In some examples, process 900 may be performed by Fig.12 In some examples, process 900 may be performed by any suitable equipment or device for performing the functions or algorithms described below.

[0143] In block 902, the BS may send resource configuration information and communication configuration mapping information. For example, the BS may allocate and / or schedule multiple subbands for use in PUCCH, PUSCH, PDSCH, and other channels (e.g., more subbands may be allocated when traffic within the cell is relatively light) and send at least one indication of the allocation and / or scheduling to the wireless communication device (e.g., the BS may include allocation information indicating the allocated subbands in a broadcast SIB (as discussed above) and / or the BS may include scheduling information indicating the subbands scheduled for a particular transmission in a grant message sent to the wireless communication device). In addition, the BS may send communication configuration mapping information (e.g., Table 3) to the UE.

[0144] In some examples, sending resource configuration information and communication configuration mapping information may include: obtaining resource configuration information and / or communication configuration mapping information (e.g., from a memory), encoding the resource configuration information and / or communication configuration mapping information to provide encoded information, and sending the encoded information to a transceiver for transmission to a wireless communication device.

[0145] At block 904, the BS may perform a PRACH procedure. For example, the BS may receive a PRACH sequence from a wireless communication device and send a RAR to the wireless communication device.

[0146] In some examples, performing the PRACH procedure may include monitoring transmissions on defined PRACH resources, decoding signals received as a result of the monitoring to provide decoded information, and determining whether a valid PRACH sequence has been received. In some examples, performing the PRACH procedure may also include sending a RAR to the wireless communication device that sent the PRACH sequence.

[0147] The BS may determine the maximum bandwidth that has been used for the PRACH procedure at block 906. For example, the BS (which will monitor all allocated subbands for PRACH) may determine the number of subbands on which the PRACH sequence has been received.

[0148] In some examples, determining the maximum bandwidth that has been used for the PRACH procedure may include recording an indication of each subband on which the PRACH sequence(s) have been successfully received, determining a total number of subbands, and generating an indication of the maximum bandwidth based on the total number of subbands.

[0149] In block 908, the BS may determine an initial communication configuration that may be used for subsequent communications based on the maximum bandwidth determined in block 906. For example, the BS may determine the BW that the wireless communication device will use for initial PUCCH transmissions to the BS. As another example, the BS may determine the bandwidth that the wireless communication device will use for initial UL / DL BWP (e.g., to be used for downlink control information transmission to the wireless communication device and / or uplink reception from the wireless communication device). As yet another example, the BS may determine the initial Coreset 0 bandwidth that the wireless communication device will use for subsequent communications with the BS. As a further example, the BS may determine whether the wireless communication device will use interleaved signaling (e.g., in conjunction with using a wider bandwidth) for uplink and / or downlink communications with the BS. In addition, the BS may determine whether the wireless communication device will scale the TBS for uplink and / or downlink communications with the BS (e.g., in conjunction with using a wider bandwidth). The BS may select one or more of the above communication configurations and / or other communication configurations.

[0150] In some examples, selecting an initial communication configuration usable for subsequent communications based on the maximum bandwidth may include identifying a type of subsequent communications, mapping the maximum bandwidth to subsequent communications of this type using Table 3 or some other communication configuration mapping, and thereby determining initial communication parameters to be used for the subsequent communications.

[0151] At block 910, the BS may communicate with the wireless communication device using the selected communication configuration.

[0152] In some examples, communicating with the wireless communication device using the selected communication configuration may include: monitoring transmissions on the allocated resources (e.g., monitoring using a bandwidth based on the maximum bandwidth), decoding any received signals based on the selected communication configuration (e.g., decoding the information based on interleaving, or decoding the information based on TBS scaling), and storing the decoded information. In some examples, complementary operations may be performed to send information to the wireless communication device.

[0153] Fig.10 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware implementation of a wireless communication device 1000 employing a processing system 1014. For example, the wireless communication device 1000 may be a user equipment (UE) or other device configured to wirelessly communicate with a base station, such as in Figure 1-8 According to various aspects of the present disclosure, an element, or any portion of an element, or any combination of elements may be implemented with a processing system 1014 including one or more processors 1004. In some implementations, the wireless communication device 1000 may correspond to Figure 1 The scheduled entity 106 (eg, UE, etc.) and / or Figure 2 One or more of UE 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, 238, 240 or 242.

[0154] The wireless communication device 1000 may be implemented using a processing system 1014 including one or more processors 1004. Examples of the processor 1004 include a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a digital signal processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic device (PLD), a state machine, a gated logic, a discrete hardware circuit, and other suitable hardware configured to perform various functionalities described throughout this disclosure. In various examples, the wireless communication device 1000 may be configured to perform any one or more of the functions described herein. That is, as utilized in the wireless communication device 1000, the processor 1004 may be used to implement any one or more of the processes and procedures described below.

[0155] In this example, the processing system 1014 may be implemented with a bus architecture generally represented by bus 1002. Depending on the specific application and overall design constraints of the processing system 1014, the bus 1002 may include any number of interconnecting buses and bridges. The bus 1002 communicatively couples various circuits including one or more processors (generally represented by processor 1004), memory 1005, and computer readable media (generally represented by computer readable media 1006). The bus 1002 may also link various other circuits, such as timing sources, peripherals, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art and therefore will not be described further. The bus interface 1008 provides an interface between the bus 1002 and the transceiver 1010 and between the bus 1002 and the interface 1030. The transceiver 1010 provides a communication interface or means for communicating with various other equipment over a wireless transmission medium. In some examples, the wireless communication device may include two or more transceivers 1010 each configured to communicate with a corresponding network type (e.g., terrestrial or non-terrestrial). The interface 1030 provides a communication interface or device for communicating with various other devices and equipment (e.g., other devices contained in the same device as the wireless communication device or other external devices) on an internal bus or external transmission medium (such as an Ethernet cable). Depending on the characteristics of the equipment, a user interface 1012 (e.g., a keypad, display, speaker, microphone, joystick) may also be provided. Of course, such a user interface 1012 is optional and may be omitted in some examples (such as IoT devices).

[0156] The processor 1004 is responsible for managing the bus 1002 and general processing, including the execution of software stored on the computer-readable medium 1006. The software, when executed by the processor 1004, causes the processing system 1014 to perform the various functions described below for any particular device. The computer-readable medium 1006 and the memory 1005 may also be used to store data that is manipulated by the processor 1004 when executing the software.

[0157] One or more processors 1004 in the processing system can execute software. Software should be broadly interpreted to mean instructions, instruction sets, codes, code segments, program codes, programs, subroutines, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executables, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc., whether described in software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or other terms. The software can reside on a computer-readable medium 1006.

[0158] Computer readable medium 1006 may be a non-transient computer readable medium. As examples, non-transient computer readable media include magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disks, floppy disks, magnetic tapes), optical disks (e.g., compact disks (CDs) or digital versatile disks (DVDs)), smart cards, flash memory devices (e.g., card, stick, or key-type drives), random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), erasable PROM (EPROM), electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), registers, removable disks, and any other suitable medium for storing software and / or instructions that can be accessed and read by a computer. Computer readable medium 1006 may reside in processing system 1014, be external to processing system 1014, or be distributed across multiple entities including processing system 1014. Computer readable medium 1006 may be implemented in a computer program product. As examples, a computer program product may include a computer readable medium in a packaging material. Those skilled in the art will recognize how to best implement the described functionality presented throughout this disclosure depending on the specific application and the overall design constraints imposed on the overall system.

[0159] The wireless communication device 1000 may be configured to perform any one or more operations as described herein (e.g., as described above in conjunction with Figure 1-9 Described and combined as follows Fig.11 In some aspects of the present disclosure, the processor 1004 as utilized in the wireless communication device 1000 may include circuit systems configured for various functions.

[0160] Processor 1004 may include communication and processing circuit system 1041. Communication and processing circuit system 1041 may include one or more hardware components that provide a physical structure for performing various processes related to wireless communication (e.g., signal reception and / or signal transmission) as described herein. Communication and processing circuit system 1041 may further include one or more hardware components that provide a physical structure for performing various processes related to signal processing (e.g., processing received signals and / or processing signals for transmission) as described herein. In some examples, communication and processing circuit system 1041 may include two or more transmit / receive chains, each configured to process signals of different RAT (or RAN) types. Communication and processing circuit system 1041 may be further configured to execute communication and processing software 1051 included on computer-readable medium 1006 to implement one or more functions described herein.

[0161] In some implementations where communication involves receiving information, the communication and processing circuit system 1041 may obtain information from a component of the wireless communication device 1000 (e.g., from a transceiver 1010 that receives information via radio frequency signaling or some other type of signaling suitable for an applicable communication medium), process (e.g., decode) the information, and output the processed information. For example, the communication and processing circuit system 1041 may output the information to another component of the processor 1004, to the memory 1005, or to the bus interface 1008. In some examples, the communication and processing circuit system 1041 may receive one or more of a signal, a message, other information, or any combination thereof. In some examples, the communication and processing circuit system 1041 may receive information via one or more channels. In some examples, the communication and processing circuit system 1041 may include functionality of a means for receiving.

[0162] In some implementations where communication involves sending (e.g., transmitting) information, the communication and processing circuit system 1041 may obtain information from (e.g., from another component of the processor 1004, the memory 1005, or the bus interface 1008), process (e.g., encode) the information, and output the processed information. For example, the communication and processing circuit system 1041 may output the information to the transceiver 1010 (e.g., transmit the information via radio frequency signaling or some other type of signaling suitable for the applicable communication medium). In some examples, the communication and processing circuit system 1041 may send one or more of a signal, a message, other information, or any combination thereof. In some examples, the communication and processing circuit system 1041 may send the information via one or more channels. In some examples, the communication and processing circuit system 1041 may include the functionality of a means for sending (e.g., a means for transmitting).

[0163] The processor 1004 may include a bandwidth identification circuit system 1042 configured to perform bandwidth identification related operations as discussed herein (e.g., determining what bandwidth caused msg2 to be received). The bandwidth identification circuit system 1042 may include functionality of a device for identifying a bandwidth. The bandwidth identification circuit system 1042 may be further configured to execute bandwidth identification software 1052 included on the computer-readable medium 1006 to implement one or more functions described herein.

[0164] Processor 1004 may include configuration selection circuitry 1043 configured to perform configuration selection related operations as discussed herein (e.g., using Table 3). Configuration selection circuitry 1043 may include functionality for selecting means for at least one initial communication configuration. Configuration selection circuitry 1043 may be further configured to execute configuration selection software 1053 included on computer-readable medium 1006 to implement one or more functions described herein.

[0165] Fig.11 1 is a flow chart illustrating an example process 1100 for a wireless communication system according to some aspects of the present disclosure. As described below, some or all of the illustrated features may be omitted in certain implementations within the scope of the present disclosure, and some of the illustrated features may not be required to implement all embodiments. In some examples, process 1100 may be performed by Fig.10 In some aspects, the wireless communication device may be a user equipment. In some examples, the process 1100 may be performed by any suitable equipment or device for performing the functions or algorithms described below.

[0166] At block 1102, the wireless communication device may perform a physical random access channel (PRACH) procedure. Fig.10 The communication and processing circuitry 1041 and transceiver 1010 shown and described may transmit at least one PRACH sequence on at least one subband and receive RAR on at least one subband.In some aspects, the wireless communication device may be user equipment.

[0167] In some examples, performing a physical random access channel (PRACH) procedure may include: deciding to access a cell, generating a PRACH sequence, and sending the PRACH sequence to a BS. As described above, performing a PRACH procedure may also include monitoring a RAR and determining whether the PRACH sequence has been successfully decoded by the BS based on the RAR.

[0168] In some aspects, the PRACH procedure may include determining that a maximum transmit power for PRACH transmissions within a subband has been reached and, upon determining that the maximum transmit power for PRACH transmissions within a subband has been reached, concurrently sending a first PRACH sequence on a first subband and a second PRACH sequence on a second subband.

[0169] In some aspects, the PRACH procedure may include: determining that a response to a PRACH transmission that has been sent on one subband has not been received and, after determining that a response to the PRACH transmission that has been sent on one subband has not been received, concurrently sending a first PRACH sequence on a first subband and sending a second PRACH sequence on a second subband. For example, the wireless communication device may have transmitted a PRACH sequence on a subband in the assigned subband set. If the wireless communication device does not receive a response to the PRACH transmission from the BS, the wireless communication device may send a PRACH sequence on two of the subbands. In some examples, the first PRACH sequence and the second PRACH sequence use the same sequence (e.g., the first PRACH sequence and the second PRACH sequence are composed of the same sequence). In some examples, the first PRACH sequence and the second PRACH sequence include different sequences (i.e., the first PRACH sequence is a sequence different from the second PRACH sequence).

[0170] In some aspects, the PRACH procedure may include: determining that a response to a PRACH transmission that has been sent on two subbands has not been received and, after determining that a response to the PRACH transmission that has been sent on two subbands has not been received, concurrently sending a first PRACH sequence on a first subband, sending a second PRACH sequence on a second subband, sending a third PRACH sequence on a third subband, and sending a fourth PRACH sequence on a fourth subband. For example, the wireless communication device may have transmitted a PRACH sequence on two subbands in the assigned subband set. If the wireless communication device does not receive a response to the PRACH transmission from the BS, the wireless communication device may send a PRACH sequence on four of the subbands. In some examples, two or more of the first PRACH sequence, the second PRACH sequence, the third PRACH sequence, and the fourth PRACH sequence use the same sequence (e.g., the first PRACH sequence and the second PRACH sequence are composed of the same sequence). In some examples, the first PRACH sequence, the second PRACH sequence, the third PRACH sequence, and the fourth PRACH sequence comprise different sequences (i.e., the first PRACH sequence is a bit sequence different from the second PRACH sequence, the third PRACH sequence, and the fourth PRACH sequence, the second PRACH sequence is a bit sequence different from the third PRACH sequence, and so on).

[0171] At block 1104, the wireless communication device may identify a first bandwidth for a PRACH procedure. Fig.10The bandwidth identification circuitry 1042 shown and described may determine in coordination with the communication and processing circuitry 1041 how many subbands have been used to send msg1 that resulted in receiving the RAR. In some examples, identifying the first bandwidth may include ascertaining a bandwidth that has been selected during a PRACH procedure.

[0172] In some examples, identifying a first bandwidth for a PRACH procedure may include recording an indication of each bandwidth that has been used to send PRACH sequence(s) during the PRACH procedure, comparing the indications (if applicable) to identify a maximum bandwidth used during the PRACH procedure, and generating an indication of the maximum bandwidth.

[0173] In some aspects, the first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure may include one subband, two subbands, or four subbands.In some aspects, identifying the first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure may include determining a maximum number of subbands used concurrently during the PRACH procedure.

[0174] At block 1106, the wireless communication device may select at least one initial communication configuration based on the first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure. Fig.10 The configuration selection circuitry 1042 shown and described may use a mapping (e.g., as in Table 3) in coordination with the communication and processing circuitry 1041 to identify at least one initial communication configuration that is mapped to the first bandwidth. In some aspects, the at least one initial communication configuration may include at least one of: a second bandwidth for uplink control transmissions, an uplink bandwidth part (BWP) parameter, a downlink BWP parameter, a third bandwidth parameter for a control resource set (coreset), an interleaving scheme for downlink control information transmissions (e.g., whether to use interleaving for downlink control information transmissions), a transport block size (TBS) scaling scheme (e.g., which TBS scaling value to use), or any combination thereof.

[0175] In some examples, selecting at least one initial communication configuration based on a first bandwidth for a PRACH procedure may include identifying a type of subsequent communication (e.g., PUCCH, PDCCH, etc.), mapping the first bandwidth to the subsequent communication type using Table 3 or some other communication configuration mapping, and thereby determining at least one initial communication parameter to be used for the subsequent communication.

[0176] In some aspects, selecting at least one initial communication configuration based on a first bandwidth for a PRACH procedure may include selecting a first configuration for a first value of the first bandwidth or selecting a second configuration for a second value of the first bandwidth. For example, if the value of the first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure is 20 MHz (first value), the first configuration may be selected for subsequent communications. Conversely, if the value of the first bandwidth is 40 MHz (second value), the second configuration may be selected for subsequent communications. In some aspects, the second configuration may correspond to a larger coverage area than the first configuration.

[0177] In some aspects, the other device may be a base station. In some aspects, the method may further include receiving a configuration set from the base station. In some aspects, selecting at least one initial communication configuration may include selecting the at least one initial communication configuration from the configuration set based on a first bandwidth for a PRACH procedure.

[0178] In some aspects, the at least one initial communication configuration may include a first configuration and a second configuration. In some aspects, selecting the at least one initial communication configuration based on the first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure may include: selecting the first configuration after determining that the first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure is one subband; or selecting the second configuration after determining that the first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure is two subbands.

[0179] In some aspects, the at least one initial communication configuration may include a first configuration, a second configuration, and a third configuration. In some aspects, selecting at least one initial communication configuration based on the first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure may include: selecting the first configuration after determining that the first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure is one subband; selecting the second configuration after determining that the first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure is two subbands; or selecting the third configuration after determining that the first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure is four subbands. For example, for a specified communication type (e.g., a communication type that employs bandwidth selection of a PRACH procedure), initial communications of the communication type following the PRACH procedure may use (depending on the bandwidth used for the PRACH procedure) one of the first configuration, the second configuration, or the third configuration.

[0180] At block 1108, the wireless communication device may communicate with another device, wherein the communication uses at least one initial communication configuration. Fig.10 The communication and processing circuitry 1041 and transceiver 1010 shown and described may transmit and / or receive information using at least one initial communication configuration (for initial transmission and / or reception following a PRACH procedure). In some aspects, the communication with the other device may be over an unlicensed radio frequency spectrum.

[0181] In some examples, communicating with the BS using the selected communication configuration may include obtaining information to be transmitted, encoding the information based on the selected communication configuration (e.g., encoding the message for a particular transmission bandwidth, encoding the information according to interleaving, or encoding the information according to TBS scaling), and outputting the encoded information to a transceiver for transmission to the BS. In some examples, complementary operations may be performed to receive information from the BS.

[0182] In some aspects, at least one initial communication configuration may include an initial bandwidth for uplink control transmissions. In some aspects, the method may further include selecting an initial bandwidth for uplink control transmissions based on a first bandwidth for a PRACH procedure. In some aspects, the communication may include transmitting uplink control information using the initial bandwidth for uplink control information.

[0183] In some aspects, the at least one initial communication configuration may include an initial uplink bandwidth part (BWP) and a downlink BWP pairing parameter (UL / DL BWP pairing parameter). In some aspects, the method may further include selecting a second bandwidth for the initial uplink BWP and downlink BWP pairing parameter based on the first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure. In some aspects, the communicating may include communicating using the second bandwidth for the initial uplink BWP and downlink BWP pairing parameter.

[0184] In some aspects, at least one initial communication configuration may include an initial downlink bandwidth part (BWP) parameter. In some aspects, the method may further include selecting a second bandwidth for the initial downlink BWP parameter based on the first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure. In some aspects, the communication may include receiving downlink information using the second bandwidth for the initial downlink BWP parameter.

[0185] In some aspects, at least one initial communication configuration may include an initial uplink bandwidth part (BWP) parameter. In some aspects, the method may further include selecting a second bandwidth for the initial uplink BWP parameter based on the first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure. In some aspects, the communication may include transmitting uplink information using the second bandwidth for the initial uplink BWP parameter.

[0186] In some aspects, the at least one initial communication configuration may include a second bandwidth for a control resource set (coreset) configured by a master information block (MIB). In some aspects, the method may further include selecting the second bandwidth for the coreset based on the first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure. In some aspects, the communication may include receiving information using the second bandwidth for the coreset configured by the MIB.

[0187] In some aspects, the at least one initial communication configuration indicates whether interleaving is to be used for downlink control information transmission. In some aspects, the method may further include determining whether to use interleaving for downlink control information transmission based on the first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure. In some aspects, the communication may include receiving downlink information based on the determination of whether to use interleaving.

[0188] In some aspects, the at least one initial communication configuration may include a transport block size (TBS) scaling scheme. In some aspects, the method may further include selecting a TBS scaling value (e.g., 1, 1 / 2, 1 / 4, etc.) based on the first bandwidth used for the PRACH procedure. In some aspects, the communication may include communicating information based on the TBS scaling value.

[0189] Fig.12 1204 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a hardware implementation of a base station (BS) 1200 employing a processing system 1214. According to various aspects of the present disclosure, an element, or any portion of an element, or any combination of elements may be implemented with a processing system 1214 including one or more processors 1204. In some implementations, the BS 1200 may correspond to Figure 1 A scheduling entity 108 (e.g., gNB, transmission reception point, UE, etc.) and / or Figure 2 One or more of base stations 210, 212, 214 or 218.

[0190] The processing system 1214 may be used with Fig.10 The processing system 1014 illustrated in FIG. 1 is substantially the same, including a bus interface 1208, a bus 1202, a memory 1205, a processor 1204, and a computer-readable medium 1206. In addition, the core BS 1200 may include an interface 1230 (e.g., a network interface) that provides a means for communicating with various other devices within the core network and one or more radio access networks.

[0191] BS1200 may be configured to perform any one or more operations described herein (eg, as described above in conjunction with Figure 1-9 Described and combined as follows Fig.13 In some aspects of the disclosure, the processor 1204 as utilized in the BS 1200 may include circuitry configured for various functions.

[0192] In some aspects of the present disclosure, the processor 1204 may include a communication and processing circuit system 1241. The communication and processing circuit system 1241 may include one or more hardware components that provide a physical structure for performing various processes related to communication (e.g., signal reception and / or signal transmission) as described herein. The communication and processing circuit system 1241 may further include one or more hardware components that provide a physical structure for performing various processes related to signal processing (e.g., processing received signals and / or processing signals for transmission) as described herein. The communication and processing circuit system 1241 may be further configured to execute communication and processing software 1251 included on the computer-readable medium 1206 to implement one or more functions described herein.

[0193] In some implementations where communication involves receiving information, the communication and processing circuit system 1241 may obtain information from a component of the BS 1200 (e.g., from a transceiver 1210 that receives information via radio frequency signaling or some other type of signaling suitable for an applicable communication medium), process (e.g., decode) the information, and output the processed information. For example, the communication and processing circuit system 1241 may output the information to another component of the processor 1204, to the memory 1205, or to the bus interface 1208. In some examples, the communication and processing circuit system 1241 may receive one or more of a signal, a message, other information, or any combination thereof. In some examples, the communication and processing circuit system 1241 may receive information via one or more channels. In some examples, the communication and processing circuit system 1241 may include functionality of a means for receiving.

[0194] In some implementations where communication involves sending (e.g., transmitting) information, the communication and processing circuit system 1241 may obtain information from (e.g., from another component of the processor 1204, the memory 1205, or the bus interface 1208), process (e.g., encode) the information, and output the processed information. For example, the communication and processing circuit system 1241 may output the information to the transceiver 1210 (e.g., transmit the information via radio frequency signaling or some other type of signaling suitable for the applicable communication medium). In some examples, the communication and processing circuit system 1241 may send one or more of a signal, a message, other information, or any combination thereof. In some examples, the communication and processing circuit system 1241 may send the information via one or more channels. In some examples, the communication and processing circuit system 1241 may include the functionality of a means for sending (e.g., a means for transmitting).

[0195] The processor 1204 may include a bandwidth identification circuit system 1242 configured to perform bandwidth identification related operations as discussed herein (e.g., determining a bandwidth associated with a received PRACH sequence). The bandwidth identification circuit system 1242 may include functionality of a means for identifying a bandwidth. The bandwidth identification circuit system 1242 may be further configured to execute bandwidth identification software 1252 included on the computer-readable medium 1206 to implement one or more functions described herein.

[0196] The processor 1204 may include a configuration determination circuit system 1243 configured to perform configuration determination related operations as discussed herein (e.g., using Table 3). The configuration determination circuit system 1243 may include functionality for determining at least one initial communication configuration. The configuration determination circuit system 1243 may be further configured to execute waveform processing software 1253 included on the computer-readable medium 1206 to implement one or more functions described herein.

[0197] Fig.13 1 is a flow chart illustrating another example process 1300 for a wireless communication system according to some aspects of the present disclosure. As described below, some or all of the illustrated features may be omitted in certain implementations within the scope of the present disclosure, and some of the illustrated features may not be required to implement all embodiments. In some examples, process 1300 may be performed by Fig.12 In some examples, process 1300 may be performed by any suitable equipment or device for performing the functions or algorithms described below.

[0198] At block 1302, the BS may receive at least one physical random access channel (PRACH) sequence. Fig.12 The communication and processing circuitry 1241 and transceiver 1210 shown and described may monitor one or more subbands (eg, depending on the configuration) for PRACH sequences and then decode any received PRACH sequences.

[0199] In some examples, receiving at least one physical random access channel (PRACH) sequence may include: monitoring transmissions on defined PRACH resources, decoding signals received as a result of the monitoring to provide decoded information, and determining whether a valid PRACH sequence has been received.

[0200] At block 1304, the BS may identify a first bandwidth for receiving the at least one PRACH sequence. Fig.12 The bandwidth identification circuitry 1242 shown and described may cooperate with the communication and processing circuitry 1241 and the transceiver 1210 to determine the number of subbands over which a successfully decoded msg1 has been received.

[0201] In some examples, identifying the first bandwidth for receiving the at least one PRACH sequence may include recording an indication of each subband on which the PRACH sequence(s) have been successfully received, determining a total number of subbands, and generating an indication of the first bandwidth based on the total number of subbands.

[0202] In some aspects, the first bandwidth for receiving at least one PRACH sequence may include one resource block (RB) set, two subbands, or four subbands. In some aspects, identifying the first bandwidth for receiving at least one PRACH sequence may include determining a maximum number of subbands that are concurrently used to receive the at least one PRACH sequence.

[0203] At block 1306, the BS may determine at least one initial communication configuration based on the first bandwidth for receiving at least one PRACH sequence. Fig.12 The configuration determination circuitry 1242 shown and described may use a mapping (e.g., as in Table 3) in coordination with the communication and processing circuitry 1241 and the transceiver 1210 to identify at least one initial communication configuration mapped to the first bandwidth. In some aspects, the at least one initial communication configuration may include at least one of: a second bandwidth for uplink control transmissions, an uplink bandwidth part (BWP) parameter, a downlink BWP parameter, a third bandwidth parameter for a control resource set (coreset), an interleaving scheme for downlink control information transmissions, a transport block size (TBS) scheme, or any combination thereof.

[0204] In some examples, determining at least one initial communication configuration based on the first bandwidth used to receive the at least one PRACH sequence may include: identifying the type of subsequent communication (e.g., PUCCH, PDCCH, etc.), mapping the first bandwidth to the subsequent communication type using Table 3 or some other communication configuration mapping, and thereby determining at least one initial communication parameter to be used for the subsequent communication.

[0205] In some aspects, determining the at least one initial communication configuration based on the first bandwidth for receiving the at least one PRACH sequence may include: selecting a first configuration for a first value of the first bandwidth or selecting a second configuration for a second value of the first bandwidth, wherein the second configuration corresponds to a larger coverage area than the first configuration.

[0206] In some aspects, the method may further include sending the configuration set to the wireless communication device.In some aspects, determining at least one initial communication configuration may include selecting the at least one initial communication configuration from the configuration set based on a first bandwidth used to receive the at least one PRACH sequence.

[0207] In some aspects, the at least one initial communication configuration may include a first configuration and a second configuration. In some aspects, determining the at least one initial communication configuration based on the first bandwidth for receiving the at least one PRACH sequence may include: selecting the first configuration after determining that the first bandwidth for receiving the at least one PRACH sequence is one subband; or selecting the second configuration after determining that the first bandwidth for receiving the at least one PRACH sequence is two subbands.

[0208] In some aspects, the at least one initial communication configuration may include a first configuration, a second configuration, and a third configuration. In some aspects, determining the at least one initial communication configuration based on the first bandwidth for receiving the at least one PRACH sequence may include: selecting the first configuration after determining that the first bandwidth for receiving the at least one PRACH sequence is one subband; selecting the second configuration after determining that the first bandwidth for receiving the at least one PRACH sequence is two subbands, or selecting the third configuration after determining that the first bandwidth for receiving the at least one PRACH sequence is four subbands.

[0209] At block 1308, the BS may communicate with the wireless communication device, wherein the communication with the wireless communication device may use the at least one initial communication configuration. Fig.12 The communication and processing circuit system 1241 shown and described may use at least one initial communication configuration to transmit and / or receive information (for initial transmission and / or reception after receiving the PRACH sequence). In some aspects, the communication may be over an unlicensed radio frequency spectrum. In some aspects, the wireless communication device may be a user equipment.

[0210] In some examples, communicating with a wireless communication device using at least one initial communication configuration may include monitoring transmissions on the allocated resources (e.g., monitoring using a bandwidth based on the first bandwidth), decoding any received signals based on the selected initial communication configuration (e.g., decoding the information based on interleaving, or decoding the information based on TBS scaling), and storing the decoded information. In some examples, complementary operations may be performed to send information to the wireless communication device.

[0211] In some aspects, at least one initial communication configuration may include an initial bandwidth for uplink control transmissions. In some aspects, the method may further include determining an initial bandwidth for uplink control transmissions based on a first bandwidth for receiving at least one PRACH sequence. In some aspects, the communication may include receiving uplink control information using the initial bandwidth for uplink control information.

[0212] In some aspects, the at least one initial communication configuration may include an initial uplink bandwidth part (BWP) and a downlink BWP pairing parameter (UL / DL BWP parameter). In some aspects, the method may further include determining a second bandwidth for the initial uplink BWP and downlink BWP pairing parameter based on the first bandwidth for receiving at least one PRACH sequence. In some aspects, the communicating may include communicating using the second bandwidth for the initial uplink BWP and downlink BWP pairing parameter.

[0213] In some aspects, at least one initial communication configuration may include an initial downlink bandwidth part (BWP) parameter. In some aspects, the method may further include determining a second bandwidth for the initial downlink BWP parameter based on the first bandwidth for receiving at least one PRACH sequence. In some aspects, the communication may include sending downlink information using the second bandwidth for the initial downlink BWP parameter.

[0214] In some aspects, at least one initial communication configuration may include an initial uplink bandwidth part (BWP) parameter. In some aspects, the method may further include determining a second bandwidth for the initial uplink BWP parameter based on the first bandwidth for receiving at least one PRACH sequence. In some aspects, the communication may include receiving uplink information using the second bandwidth for the initial uplink BWP parameter.

[0215] In some aspects, the at least one initial communication configuration may include a second bandwidth for a control resource set (coreset) configured by a master information block (MIB). In some aspects, the method may further include determining a second bandwidth for the coreset based on the first bandwidth for receiving at least one PRACH sequence. In some aspects, the communication may include sending information using the second bandwidth for the coreset configured by the MIB.

[0216] In some aspects, the at least one initial communication configuration indicates whether interleaving is to be used for downlink control information transmission. In some aspects, the method may further include determining whether to use interleaving for downlink control information transmission based on a first bandwidth for receiving at least one PRACH sequence. In some aspects, the communication may include sending downlink information based on the determination of whether to use interleaving.

[0217] In some aspects, the at least one initial communication configuration may include a transport block size (TBS) scaling scheme. In some aspects, the method may further include determining the TBS scaling based on a first bandwidth for receiving at least one PRACH sequence. In some aspects, the communication may include communicating information according to the TBS scaling scheme.

[0218] Additional aspects

[0219] Several aspects of wireless communication networks have been presented with reference to example implementations. As those skilled in the art will readily appreciate, the various aspects described throughout this disclosure may be extended to other telecommunication systems, network architectures and communication standards.

[0220] As an example, various aspects may be implemented within other systems defined by 3GPP, such as Long Term Evolution (LTE), Evolved Packet System (EPS), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), and / or Global System for Mobile (GSM). Various aspects may also be extended to systems defined by the Third Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2), such as CDMA2000 and / or Evolution Data Optimized (EV-DO). Other examples may be implemented within systems employing IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, Ultra Wideband (UWB), Bluetooth, and / or other suitable systems. The actual telecommunication standard, network architecture, and / or communication standard employed will depend on the specific application and the overall design constraints imposed on the system.

[0221] Within the present disclosure, the wording "exemplary" is used to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration". Any implementation or aspect described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as superior or superior to other aspects of the present disclosure. Likewise, the term "aspect" does not require that all aspects of the present disclosure include the features, advantages, or modes of operation discussed. The term "coupled" is used herein to refer to a direct or indirect coupling between two objects. For example, if object A physically contacts object B, and object B contacts object C, objects A and C may still be considered to be coupled to each other - even if they are not in direct physical contact with each other. For example, a first object may be coupled to a second object, even if the first object never directly contacts the second object physically. The terms "circuit" and "circuitry" are used broadly and are intended to include both hardware implementations of electronic devices and conductors and software implementations of information and instructions, which, when connected and configured, enable the functions described in the present disclosure to be performed without limitation on the type of electronic circuits, which, when executed by a processor, enable the functions described in the present disclosure to be performed. As used herein, the term "determining" may include, for example, ascertaining, resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing, computing, calculating, processing, deriving, investigating, searching (e.g., searching in a table, database or other data structure), and the like. Also, "determining" may include receiving (e.g., receiving information), accessing (e.g., accessing data in a memory), and the like.

[0222] Figure 1-13One or more of the components, steps, features, and / or functions described herein may be rearranged and / or combined into a single component, step, feature, or function, or may be implemented in several components, steps, or functions. Additional elements, components, steps, and / or functions may also be added without departing from the novel features disclosed herein. Figure 1 , 2 , 10 and 12, the devices, apparatuses and / or components illustrated may be configured to perform one or more of the methods, features, or steps described herein. The novel algorithms described herein may also be efficiently implemented in software and / or embedded in hardware.

[0223] It should be understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the disclosed methods is an illustration of an example process. Based on design preferences, it will be understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in these methods can be rearranged. The attached method claims present elements of the various steps in a sample order and are not meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented unless specifically stated herein.

[0224] The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the universal principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the various aspects shown herein, but should be granted the full scope consistent with the language of the claims, wherein the singular reference to the element is not intended to mean "there is and only one" - unless specifically stated, but intended to mean "one or more". Unless specifically stated otherwise, the term "some / some" refers to one or more. The phrase "at least one of" a list of items refers to any combination of these items, including a single member. As an example, "at least one of a, b or c" is intended to cover: a; b; c; a and b; a and c; b and c; and a, b and c. The elements of the various aspects described throughout this disclosure are all structurally and functionally equivalent solutions currently or hereafter known to those of ordinary skill in the art, and are expressly incorporated herein by reference, and are intended to be covered by the claims. In addition, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be donated to the public, regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recorded in the claims.

Claims

1. A method for communicating at a wireless communication device, comprising: performing a physical random access channel (PRACH) procedure including transmitting a PRACH sequence with progressively wider bandwidths to a network element until a message is received from the network element; identifying a first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure by determining a maximum bandwidth for the PRACH procedure, wherein the maximum bandwidth is a bandwidth that resulted in receipt of the message; selecting at least one initial communication configuration based on the first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure, wherein the at least one initial communication configuration comprises an initial uplink bandwidth (BWP) parameter and a downlink BWP parameter; and Communicating with another device, wherein the communicating uses the at least one initial communication configuration.

2. A wireless communication device, comprising: Transceiver; Memory; as well as a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory, wherein the processor and the memory are configured to: performing a physical random access channel (PRACH) procedure including transmitting a PRACH sequence with progressively wider bandwidths to a network element until a message is received from the network element; identifying a first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure by determining a maximum bandwidth for the PRACH procedure, wherein the maximum bandwidth is a bandwidth that resulted in receipt of the message; selecting at least one initial communication configuration based on the first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure, wherein the at least one initial communication configuration comprises an initial uplink bandwidth (BWP) parameter and a downlink BWP parameter; and and communicating with another device via the transceiver, wherein the communicating with the other device uses the at least one initial communication configuration.

3. The wireless communication device of claim 2, wherein the communication is over an unlicensed radio frequency spectrum.

4. The wireless communication device of claim 2, wherein the first bandwidth used for the PRACH procedure comprises one subband, two subbands, or four subbands.

5. The wireless communication device of claim 2, wherein the processor and the memory are further configured to determine a maximum number of subbands used concurrently during the PRACH procedure.

6. The wireless communication device of claim 2, wherein the processor and the memory are further configured to: selecting a first configuration for a first value of the first bandwidth; or A second configuration for a second value of the first bandwidth is selected, wherein the second configuration corresponds to a larger coverage area than the first configuration.

7. A wireless communication device as described in claim 2, wherein the at least one initial communication configuration includes at least one of the following: a second bandwidth for uplink control transmission, a third bandwidth parameter for controlling a resource set (coreset), an interleaving scheme for downlink control information transmission, a transport block size (TBS) scaling scheme, or any combination thereof.

8. The wireless communication device of claim 2, wherein the at least one initial communication configuration comprises an initial bandwidth for uplink control transmissions.

9. The wireless communication device of claim 8, wherein the processor and the memory are further configured to: selecting the initial bandwidth for the uplink control transmission based on the first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure; Wherein the communicating comprises transmitting the uplink control information using the initial bandwidth for uplink control information.

10. The wireless communication device of claim 2, wherein the at least one initial communication configuration comprises an initial uplink bandwidth part (BWP) and a downlink BWP pairing parameter.

11. The wireless communication device of claim 10, wherein the processor and the memory are further configured to: selecting a second bandwidth for the initial uplink BWP and downlink BWP pairing parameters based on the first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure; Wherein the communicating comprises communicating using the second bandwidth for the initial uplink BWP and downlink BWP pairing parameters.

12. The wireless communication device of claim 2, wherein the at least one initial communication configuration comprises an initial downlink bandwidth part (BWP) parameter.

13. The wireless communication device of claim 12, wherein the processor and the memory are further configured to: selecting a second bandwidth for the initial downlink BWP parameter based on the first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure; Wherein the communicating comprises receiving downlink information using the second bandwidth for the initial downlink BWP parameters.

14. The wireless communication device of claim 2, wherein the at least one initial communication configuration comprises an initial uplink bandwidth part (BWP) parameter.

15. The wireless communication device of claim 14, wherein the processor and the memory are further configured to: selecting a second bandwidth for the initial uplink BWP parameters based on the first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure; Wherein the communicating comprises transmitting uplink information using the second bandwidth for the initial uplink BWP parameters.

16. The wireless communication device of claim 2, wherein the at least one initial communication configuration comprises a second bandwidth for a control resource set (coreset) configured by a master information block (MIB).

17. The wireless communication device of claim 16, wherein the processor and the memory are further configured to: selecting the second bandwidth for the coreset based on the first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure; Wherein the communicating comprises receiving information using the second bandwidth for the coreset configured by the MIB.

18. The wireless communication device of claim 2, wherein the at least one initial communication configuration indicates whether interleaving is to be used for downlink control information transmission.

19. The wireless communication device of claim 18, wherein the processor and the memory are further configured to: determining whether to use interleaving for the downlink control information transmission based on the first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure; Wherein the communicating includes receiving downlink information based on the determination of whether to use the interleaving.

20. The wireless communication device of claim 2, wherein the at least one initial communication configuration comprises a transport block size (TBS) scaling scheme.

21. The wireless communication device of claim 20, wherein the processor and the memory are further configured to: selecting a TBS scaling value based on the first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure; The communicating includes communicating information according to the TBS scaling value.

22. The wireless communication device of claim 2, wherein: The other device is a base station; The processor and the memory are further configured to receive a configuration set from the base station; and The processor and the memory are further configured to select the at least one initial communication configuration from the set of configurations based on the first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure.

23. The wireless communication device of claim 2, wherein the processor and the memory are further configured to: After determining that a maximum transmit power for the PRACH transmission in one subband has been reached, a first PRACH sequence is concurrently transmitted on a first subband and a second PRACH sequence is concurrently transmitted on a second subband.

24. The wireless communication device of claim 2, wherein the processor and the memory are further configured to: determining that no response has been received to a PRACH transmission sent on a subband; and Upon determining that the response to the PRACH transmission sent on one subband has not been received, a first PRACH sequence is concurrently sent on the first subband and a second PRACH sequence is concurrently sent on the second subband.

25. The wireless communication device of claim 2, wherein the processor and the memory are further configured to: determining that no response is received to the PRACH transmission sent on two subbands; and Upon determining that the response to the PRACH transmission sent on two subbands has not been received, concurrently sending a first PRACH sequence on a first subband, a second PRACH sequence on a second subband, a third PRACH sequence on a third subband, and a fourth PRACH sequence on a fourth subband.

26. The wireless communication device of claim 2, wherein: The at least one initial communication configuration includes a first configuration and a second configuration; and The processor and the memory are further configured to: selecting the first configuration after determining that the first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure is a subband; or The second configuration is selected upon determining that the first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure is two subbands.

27. The wireless communication device of claim 2, wherein: The at least one initial communication configuration includes a first configuration, a second configuration, and a third configuration; and The processor and the memory are further configured to: selecting the first configuration upon determining that the first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure is a subband; selecting the second configuration after determining that the first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure is two subbands; or The third configuration is selected upon determining that the first bandwidth for the PRACH procedure is four subbands.

28. A method of wireless communication at a network element, the method comprising: receiving at least one physical random access channel (PRACH) sequence; transmitting a message in response to receiving the at least one PRACH sequence; identifying a first bandwidth for receiving the at least one PRACH sequence, the first bandwidth being a bandwidth that results in transmission of the message; determining at least one initial communication configuration based on the first bandwidth for receiving the at least one PRACH sequence, wherein the at least one initial communication configuration comprises an initial uplink bandwidth (BWP) parameter and a downlink BWP parameter; and Communicating with a wireless communication device, wherein the communicating uses the at least one initial communication configuration.

29. A network element comprising: Transceiver; Memory; as well as a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory, wherein the processor and the memory are configured to: receiving, via the transceiver, at least one physical random access channel (PRACH) sequence; transmitting a message in response to receiving the at least one PRACH sequence; identifying a first bandwidth for receiving the at least one PRACH sequence, the first bandwidth being a bandwidth that results in transmission of the message; determining at least one initial communication configuration based on the first bandwidth for receiving the at least one PRACH sequence, wherein the at least one initial communication configuration comprises an initial uplink bandwidth (BWP) parameter and a downlink BWP parameter; as well as Communicate with a wireless communication device via the transceiver, wherein the communication with the wireless communication device uses the at least one initial communication configuration.

30. The network element of claim 29: wherein the at least one initial communication configuration comprises an initial bandwidth for uplink control transmissions; Wherein the processor and the memory are further configured to: determining the initial bandwidth for the uplink control transmission based on the first bandwidth for receiving the at least one PRACH sequence; Wherein the communicating comprises receiving the uplink control information using the initial bandwidth for uplink control information.

31. The network element of claim 29: wherein the at least one initial communication configuration includes initial uplink bandwidth part (BWP) and downlink BWP pairing parameters; wherein the processor and the memory are further configured to: determine a second bandwidth for the initial uplink BWP and downlink BWP pairing parameters based on the first bandwidth for receiving the at least one PRACH sequence; Wherein the communicating comprises communicating using the second bandwidth for the initial uplink BWP and downlink BWP pairing parameters.

32. The network element of claim 29: wherein the at least one initial communication configuration comprises an initial downlink bandwidth part (BWP) parameter; wherein the processor and the memory are further configured to: determine a second bandwidth for the initial downlink BWP parameter based on the first bandwidth for receiving the at least one PRACH sequence; Wherein the communicating comprises sending downlink information using the second bandwidth for the initial downlink BWP parameter.

33. The network element of claim 29: wherein the at least one initial communication configuration comprises an initial uplink bandwidth part (BWP) parameter; wherein the processor and the memory are further configured to: determine a second bandwidth for the initial uplink BWP parameter based on the first bandwidth for receiving the at least one PRACH sequence; Wherein the communicating comprises receiving uplink information using the second bandwidth for the initial uplink BWP parameters.

34. The network element of claim 29: wherein the at least one initial communication configuration comprises a second bandwidth for a control resource set (coreset) configured by a master information block (MIB); wherein the processor and the memory are further configured to: determine the second bandwidth for the coreset based on the first bandwidth for receiving the at least one PRACH sequence; Wherein the communicating comprises sending information using the second bandwidth for the coreset configured by the MIB.

35. The network element of claim 29: wherein the at least one initial communication configuration comprises a transport block size (TBS) scaling scheme; wherein the processor and the memory are further configured to: determine a TBS scaling value based on the first bandwidth used to receive the at least one PRACH sequence; The communicating includes communicating information according to the TBS scaling value.

36. The network element of claim 29, wherein the processor and the memory are further configured to: sending a configuration set to the wireless communication device; Wherein determining the at least one initial communication configuration comprises: The at least one initial communication configuration is selected from the set of configurations based on the first bandwidth used to receive the at least one PRACH sequence.

Images