Reference signal for unconnected mode ue and configuration thereof

Abstract

According to one or more aspects, the present disclosure provides systems, methods, and devices for wireless communication that support using connected mode RS in an unconnected mode. In a first aspect, a method of wireless communication includes operating, by a user equipment (UE), in an unconnected mode. The method also includes determining, by the UE, a reference signal (RS) configuration setting for the unconnected mode. The method includes monitoring, by the UE, for a RS based on the RS configuration setting. The method also includes receiving, by the UE, a RS transmission in the unconnected mode based on the RS configuration setting. Other aspects and features are also claimed and described.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] In general, aspects of the present disclosure relate to wireless communication systems, and more particularly, to reference signal (RS) operations for unconnected devices. Certain embodiments of the techniques discussed below can enable user equipment (UE) to use connected mode RS in unconnected mode, such as RRC idle or inactive mode. Background Art

[0002] Wireless communication networks are widely deployed to provide various communication services such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, etc. These wireless networks may be multiple-access networks capable of supporting multiple users by sharing the available network resources. Such networks may be multiple-access networks that support communication for multiple users by sharing the available network resources.

[0003] A wireless communication network may include several components. These components may include wireless communication devices, such as base stations (or Node Bs) that may support communications for multiple user equipment (UEs). UEs may communicate with base stations via downlinks and uplinks. A downlink (or forward link) refers to the communication link from a base station to a UE, while an uplink (or reverse link) refers to the communication link from a UE to a base station.

[0004] A base station may send data and control information to a UE on the downlink, or may receive data and control information from a UE on the uplink. On the downlink, transmissions from a base station may encounter interference due to transmissions from neighboring base stations or from other wireless radio frequency (RF) transmitters. On the uplink, transmissions from a UE may encounter interference from uplink transmissions from other UEs communicating with neighboring base stations or from other wireless RF transmitters. This interference may degrade performance on both the downlink and uplink.

[0005] As the demand for mobile broadband access continues to grow, the potential for interference and congested networks increases as more UEs access long-range wireless communication networks and more short-range wireless systems are deployed in communities. Research and development continue to drive the development of wireless technologies, not only to meet the growing demand for mobile broadband access, but also to improve and enhance the user experience of mobile communications. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The following summarizes some aspects of the present disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of the technology discussed. This summary is not an exhaustive review of all anticipated features of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to identify key or important elements of all aspects of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to delineate the scope of any or all aspects of the present disclosure. Its sole purpose is to provide some concepts of one or more aspects of the present disclosure in summary form as a prelude to the more detailed description that will be given later.

[0007] In one aspect of the present disclosure, a method of wireless communication includes operating, by a user equipment (UE), in an unconnected mode. The method also includes determining, by the UE, a reference signal (RS) configuration setting for the unconnected mode. The method includes monitoring, by the UE, a reference signal based on the RS configuration setting. The method also includes receiving, by the UE, an RS transmission in the unconnected mode based on the RS configuration setting.

[0008] In an additional aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus configured for wireless communication is disclosed. The apparatus includes at least one processor and a memory coupled to the at least one processor. The at least one processor is configured to: operate, by a user equipment (UE), in an unconnected mode; determine, by the UE, a reference signal (RS) configuration setting for the unconnected mode; monitor, by the UE, a reference signal based on the RS configuration setting; and receive, by the UE, an RS transmission in the unconnected mode based on the RS configuration setting.

[0009] In an additional aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus configured for wireless communication is disclosed. The apparatus includes: means for operating, by a user equipment (UE), in an unconnected mode; means for determining, by the UE, a reference signal (RS) configuration setting for the unconnected mode; means for monitoring, by the UE, a reference signal based on the RS configuration setting; and means for receiving, by the UE, an RS transmission in the unconnected mode based on the RS configuration setting.

[0010] In additional aspects of the present disclosure, a non-transitory computer-readable medium stores instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations including: operating, by a user equipment (UE), in an unconnected mode; determining, by the UE, a reference signal (RS) configuration setting for the unconnected mode; monitoring, by the UE, a reference signal based on the RS configuration setting; and receiving, by the UE, an RS transmission in the unconnected mode based on the RS configuration setting.

[0011] In additional aspects of the present disclosure, a method of wireless communication includes: determining, by a network entity, a reference signal (RS) configuration setting for an unconnected mode UE; generating, by the network entity, an RS transmission for the unconnected mode UE; and sending, by the network entity, the RS transmission based on the RS configuration setting.

[0012] In an additional aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus configured for wireless communication is disclosed. The apparatus includes at least one processor and a memory coupled to the at least one processor. The at least one processor is configured to: determine, by a network entity, a reference signal (RS) configuration setting for a non-connected mode UE; generate, by the network entity, a RS transmission for the non-connected mode UE; and send, by the network entity, the RS transmission based on the RS configuration setting.

[0013] In an additional aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus configured for wireless communication is disclosed. The apparatus includes: means for determining, by a network entity, a reference signal (RS) configuration setting for an unconnected mode UE; means for generating, by the network entity, an RS transmission for the unconnected mode UE; and means for sending, by the network entity, the RS transmission based on the RS configuration setting.

[0014] In an additional aspect of the present disclosure, a non-transitory computer-readable medium stores instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising: determining, by a network entity, a reference signal (RS) configuration setting for an unconnected mode UE; generating, by the network entity, an RS transmission for the unconnected mode UE; and sending, by the network entity, the RS transmission based on the RS configuration setting.

[0015] For those skilled in the art, when reviewing the following description of specific exemplary aspects in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, other aspects, features and implementations will become apparent. Although features may be discussed below with respect to certain aspects and figures, various aspects may include one or more of the advantageous features discussed herein. In other words, although one or more aspects may be described as having certain advantageous features, one or more of such features may also be used according to various aspects. In a similar manner, although exemplary aspects may be described below as equipment, system or method aspects, exemplary aspects may be implemented in various devices, systems and methods. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the present disclosure may be achieved by reference to the following drawings. In the drawings, similar components or features may have the same reference numerals. In addition, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference numeral with a dash and a second numeral to distinguish between similar components. If only the first reference numeral is used in the specification, the description applies to any of the similar components having the same first reference numeral, regardless of the second reference numeral.

[0017] Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating details of an example wireless communication system in accordance with one or more aspects.

[0018] Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a base station and a user equipment (UE) according to one or more aspects.

[0019] Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example of information elements for reference signal (RS) information.

[0020] Figure 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example wireless communication system that supports use of connected mode RSs in unconnected mode in accordance with one or more aspects.

[0021] Figure 5 is a ladder diagram illustrating an example wireless communication system supporting use of connected mode RSs in unconnected mode in accordance with one or more aspects.

[0022] Figure 6 is a ladder diagram illustrating an example wireless communication system supporting use of connected mode RSs in unconnected mode in accordance with one or more aspects.

[0023] Figure 7 is a ladder diagram illustrating an example wireless communication system supporting use of connected mode RSs in unconnected mode in accordance with one or more aspects.

[0024] Figure 8 is a block diagram illustrating bandwidth for an RS according to one or more aspects.

[0025] Figure 9 is a block diagram illustrating overlap between an RS and another transmission according to one or more aspects.

[0026] Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating an example wireless communication system supporting beam combining in accordance with one or more aspects.

[0027] Figure 11 is a flow diagram illustrating an example process for supporting use of a connected mode RS in an unconnected mode in accordance with one or more aspects.

[0028] Figure 12 is a flow diagram illustrating an example process for supporting use of a connected mode RS in an unconnected mode in accordance with one or more aspects.

[0029] Figure 13 is a block diagram of an example UE that supports use of a connected mode RS in an unconnected mode according to one or more aspects.

[0030] Figure 14 is a block diagram of an example base station that supports use of a connected mode RS in an unconnected mode according to one or more aspects.

[0031] The appendices provide additional details regarding various aspects of the disclosure, and the subject matter therein constitutes a part of the specification of this application.

[0032] Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] The detailed description set forth below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and appendices is intended as a description of various configurations and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Specifically, the detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the invented subject matter. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these specific details are not required in every case, and in some instances, well-known structures and components are shown in block diagram form for clarity of presentation.

[0034] In general, the present disclosure relates to providing or participating in authorized shared access between two or more wireless devices in one or more wireless communication systems (also referred to as wireless communication networks). In various implementations, the techniques and apparatuses can be used in wireless communication networks such as code division multiple access (CDMA) networks, time division multiple access (TDMA) networks, frequency division multiple access (FDMA) networks, orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA) networks, single carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA) networks, LTE networks, GSM networks, 5th generation (5G) or new radio (NR) networks (sometimes referred to as "5G NR" networks, systems, or devices), and other communication networks. As described herein, the terms "network" and "system" can be used interchangeably.

[0035] For example, a CDMA network may implement a radio technology such as Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA), cdma2000, etc. UTRA includes Wideband CDMA (W-CDMA) and Low Chip Rate (LCR). cdma2000 covers IS-2000, IS-95, and IS-856 standards.

[0036] For example, a TDMA network can implement radio technologies such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). The Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) defined standards for the GSM EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution) Radio Access Network (RAN), also referred to as GERAN. GERAN is the radio component of the GSM / EDGE network, combining base stations (e.g., Ater and Abis interfaces) and base station controllers (A interfaces, etc.). The radio access network (RAN) refers to the component of the GSM network through which phone calls and packet data are routed from the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and the internet to user handsets (also known as user terminals or user equipment (UE)), and vice versa. A mobile phone operator's network may include one or more GERANs, and in the case of UMTS / GSM networks, the GERAN may be coupled to the UTRAN. Additionally, an operator's network may include one or more LTE networks or one or more other networks. Different network types may use different radio access technologies (RATs) and RANs.

[0037] OFDMA networks can implement radio technologies such as Evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11, IEEE 802.16, IEEE 802.20, Flash-OFDM, and the like. UTRA, E-UTRA, and GSM are part of the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS). Specifically, Long Term Evolution (LTE) is a version of UMTS that uses E-UTRA. UTRA, E-UTRA, GSM, UMTS, and LTE are described in documents provided by an organization called the "3rd Generation Partnership Project" (3GPP), and cdma2000 is described in documents provided by an organization called the "3rd Generation Partnership Project 2" (3GPP2). These various radio technologies and standards are either known or under development. For example, 3GPP is a collaboration between various telecommunications association groups with the goal of defining globally applicable third generation (3G) mobile phone specifications. 3GPP LTE is a 3GPP initiative aimed at improving the UMTS mobile phone standard. 3GPP can define specifications for next-generation mobile networks, mobile systems, and mobile devices. This disclosure may describe certain aspects with reference to LTE, 4G, or 5G NR technologies; however, the description is not intended to be limited to a particular technology or application, and one or more aspects described with reference to one technology may be understood to be applicable to another technology. Additionally, one or more aspects of this disclosure may relate to shared access to wireless spectrum between networks using different radio access technologies or radio air interfaces.

[0038] 5G networks are expected to enable diverse deployments, diverse spectrum, and diverse services and devices using a unified air interface based on OFDM. To achieve these goals, in addition to developing new radio technologies for 5G NR networks, further enhancements to LTE and LTE-A are also being considered. 5G NR will be able to scale to: (1) provide coverage for the massive Internet of Things (IoT), which has ultra-high density (e.g., ~1M nodes / km) 2 (1) providing deep coverage with ultra-low complexity (e.g., ~10s of bits / second), ultra-low energy (e.g., ~10+ years of battery life), and the ability to reach challenging locations; (2) providing coverage including mission-critical control with strong security for protecting sensitive personal, financial, or confidential information, ultra-high reliability (e.g., ~99.9999% reliability), ultra-low latency (e.g., ~1 millisecond (ms)), and providing coverage to users with a wide range of mobility or lack of mobility; and (3) providing coverage with enhanced mobile broadband, including very high capacity (e.g., ~10Tbps / km 2 ), extreme data rates (e.g., multi-Gbps rates, 100+Mbps user experience rates), and deep perception with improved discovery and optimization.

[0039] Devices, networks, and systems can be configured to communicate via one or more portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The electromagnetic spectrum is typically subdivided into various categories, bands, channels, etc. based on frequency or wavelength. In 5G NR, two initial operating bands have been identified with the frequency range names FR1 (410 MHz - 7.125 GHz) and FR2 (24.25 GHz - 52.6 GHz). Frequencies between FR1 and FR2 are often referred to as mid-band frequencies. Although a portion of FR1 is greater than 6 GHz, FR1 is often (interchangeably) referred to as the "sub-6 GHz" band in various documents and articles. Similar naming issues sometimes arise regarding FR2, which is often (interchangeably) referred to as the "millimeter wave" (mm wave) band in documents and articles, although it is different from the extremely high frequency (EHF) band (30 GHz - 300 GHz), which is identified as the "mm wave" band by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

[0040] In view of the above, unless otherwise specified, it should be understood that if the term "sub-6 GHz" is used herein, it can be broadly referred to as a frequency that can be less than 6 GHz, can be within FR1, or can include mid-band frequencies. In addition, unless otherwise specified, it should be understood that if the term "mm wave" is used herein, it can be broadly referred to as a frequency that can include mid-band frequencies, can be within FR2, or can be within the EHF band.

[0041] 5G NR devices, networks, and systems can be implemented using optimized OFDM-based waveform features. These features can include scalable numerology and transmission time intervals (TTIs); a common, flexible framework to efficiently multiplex services and features using dynamic, low-latency time division duplex (TDD) or frequency division duplex (FDD) designs; and advanced wireless technologies such as massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), robust mmWave transmission, advanced channel coding, and device-centric mobility. The scalability of the numerology in 5G NR (with scaling of subcarrier spacing) can efficiently address the operation of diverse services across diverse spectrums and diverse deployments. For example, in various outdoor and macro coverage deployments of less than 3 GHz FDD or TDD implementations, the subcarrier spacing can appear at 15 kHz on bandwidths such as 1, 5, 10, and 20 MHz. For other various outdoor and small cell coverage deployments of TDD greater than 3 GHz, the subcarrier spacing can appear at 30 kHz on 80 / 100 MHz bandwidth. For various other indoor broadband implementations, using TDD on the unlicensed portion of the 5 GHz band, subcarrier spacing can occur at 60 kHz over a 160 MHz bandwidth. Finally, for various deployments transmitting using the mmWave component at 28 GHz TDD, subcarrier spacing can occur at 120 kHz over a 500 MHz bandwidth.

[0042] 5G NR's scalable digital scheme facilitates scalable TTIs for different latency and quality of service (QoS) requirements. For example, shorter TTIs can be used for low latency and high reliability, while longer TTIs can be used for higher spectral efficiency. Efficient multiplexing of long and short TTIs allows transmissions to start on symbol boundaries. 5G NR also anticipates a self-contained integrated subframe design, where uplink or downlink scheduling information, data, and acknowledgments are in the same subframe. The self-contained integrated subframe supports communications in unlicensed or contention-based shared spectrum, adaptive uplink or downlink (which can be flexibly configured on a per-cell basis to dynamically switch between uplink and downlink to meet current traffic needs).

[0043] For clarity, certain aspects of devices and techniques may be described below with reference to exemplary 5G NR implementations or in a 5G-centric manner, and 5G terminology may be used as illustrative examples in portions of the description below; however, the description is not intended to be limited to 5G applications.

[0044] Furthermore, it should be understood that in operation, a wireless communication network adapted according to the concepts herein can operate using any combination of licensed or unlicensed spectrum, depending on load and availability. Therefore, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the systems, apparatus, and methods described herein can be applied to other communication systems and applications beyond the specific examples provided.

[0045] Although various aspects and implementations are described in this application by illustrating some examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that additional implementations and use cases can occur in many different arrangements and scenarios. The innovations described herein can be implemented across many different platform types, devices, systems, shapes, sizes, and packaging arrangements. For example, implementation or use can occur via an integrated chip implementation or other device based on non-module components (e.g., end-user devices, vehicles, communication equipment, computing equipment, industrial equipment, retail equipment or purchasing equipment, medical equipment, AI-enabled devices, etc.). Although some examples may or may not specifically relate to use cases or applications, there may be a variety of applicability of the described innovations. The scope of implementation can range from chip-level or modular components to non-modular, non-chip-level implementations, and further to aggregated, distributed, or original equipment manufacturer (OEM) devices or systems incorporating one or more described aspects. In some actual settings, the devices incorporating the described aspects and features may also necessarily include additional components and features for implementing and enforcing the claimed and described aspects. It is intended that the innovations described herein can be implemented in a wide variety of implementations, including both large and small devices of varying sizes, shapes, and compositions, chip-level components, multi-component systems (e.g., radio frequency (RF) chains, communication interfaces, processors), distributed arrangements, end-user devices, and the like.

[0046] Figure 1 1 is a block diagram illustrating details of an example wireless communication system according to one or more aspects. The wireless communication system may include a wireless network 100. For example, the wireless network 100 may include a 5G wireless network. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, Figure 1 The components appearing in are likely to have relevant counterparts in other network arrangements, including, for example, cellular network arrangements and non-cellular network arrangements, such as device-to-device, peer-to-peer, or ad hoc network arrangements.

[0047] Figure 1The illustrated wireless network 100 includes multiple base stations 105 and other network entities. A base station can be a station that communicates with a UE and can also be referred to as an evolved Node B (eNB), a next-generation eNB (gNB), an access point, etc. Each base station 105 can provide communication coverage for a specific geographic area. In 3GPP, the term "cell" can refer to the specific geographic coverage area of ​​a base station or a base station subsystem serving that coverage area, depending on the context in which the term is used. In implementations of the wireless network 100 herein, the base stations 105 can be associated with the same operator or different operators (e.g., the wireless network 100 can include multiple operator wireless networks). In addition, in implementations of the wireless network 100 herein, the base stations 105 can use one or more of the same frequencies (e.g., one or more frequency bands in a licensed spectrum, an unlicensed spectrum, or a combination thereof) as neighboring cells to provide wireless communications. In some examples, each base station 105 or UE 115 can be operated by more than one network operating entity. In some other examples, each base station 105 and UE 115 can be operated by a single network operating entity.

[0048] A base station may provide communication coverage for a macro cell or a small cell (e.g., a pico cell or femto cell) or other type of cell. A macro cell typically covers a relatively large geographic area (e.g., a radius of several kilometers) and may allow unrestricted access by UEs that have a service subscription with the network provider. A small cell (e.g., a pico cell) will typically cover a relatively small geographic area and may allow unrestricted access by UEs that have a service subscription with the network provider. A small cell (e.g., a femto cell) will also typically cover a relatively small geographic area (e.g., a residence) and, in addition to unrestricted access, may also provide restricted access by UEs associated with the femto cell (e.g., UEs in a closed subscriber group (CSG), UEs for users in a residence, etc.). A base station for a macro cell may be referred to as a macro base station. A base station for a small cell may be referred to as a small cell base station, a pico base station, a femto base station, or a home base station. In Figure 1 In the example shown in FIG, base stations 105d and 105e are conventional macro base stations, while base stations 105a-105c are macro base stations implemented using one of 3-dimensional (3D), full-dimensional (FD), or massive MIMO. Base stations 105a-105c use their higher-dimensional MIMO capabilities to utilize 3D beamforming in both elevation and azimuth beamforming to increase coverage and capacity. Base station 105f is a small cell base station, which can be a home base station or a portable access point. The base station can support one or more (e.g., two, three, four, etc.) cells.

[0049] Wireless network 100 can support synchronous operation or asynchronous operation. For synchronous operation, base stations can have similar frame timing, and transmissions from different base stations can be approximately aligned in time. For asynchronous operation, base stations can have different frame timing, and transmissions from different base stations can be misaligned in time. In some scenarios, the network can be enabled or configured to handle dynamic switching between synchronous or asynchronous operation.

[0050] UEs 115 are dispersed throughout the wireless network 100, and each UE can be stationary or mobile. It should be understood that although mobile devices are generally referred to as UEs in the standards and specifications promulgated by 3GPP, such devices may be referred to as mobile stations (MSs), subscriber stations, mobile units, subscriber units, wireless units, remote units, mobile devices, wireless devices, wireless communication devices, remote devices, mobile subscriber stations, access terminals (ATs), mobile terminals, wireless terminals, remote terminals, handsets, terminals, user agents, mobile clients, clients, gaming devices, augmented reality devices, vehicle components, vehicle devices or vehicle modules, or some other suitable terminology by those skilled in the art. Within this document, a "mobile" device or UE does not necessarily need to have mobile capabilities, but can be stationary. Some non-limiting examples of mobile devices (e.g., which may include implementations of one or more of UEs 115) may include mobile phones, cellular (cell) phones, smartphones, session initiation protocol (SIP) phones, wireless local loop (WLL) stations, laptop computers, personal computers (PCs), notebook computers, netbooks, smartbooks, tablet computers, and personal digital assistants (PDAs). The mobile device may also be an IoT or "Internet of Everything" (IoE) device, such as a car or other vehicle, a satellite radio unit, a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) device, a logistics controller, a drone, a multi-copter, a quadcopter, smart energy or security equipment, a solar panel or solar array, municipal lighting, water or other infrastructure; industrial automation and enterprise equipment; consumer and wearable devices, such as glasses, wearable cameras, smart watches, health or fitness trackers, mammal implantable devices, gesture tracking devices, medical devices, digital audio players (e.g., MP3 players), cameras, game consoles, etc.; and digital home or smart home devices, such as home audio, video and multimedia devices, appliances, sensors, vending machines, smart lighting, home security systems, smart meters, etc. In one aspect, the UE may be a device that includes a universal integrated circuit card (UICC). In another aspect, the UE may be a device that does not include a UICC. In some aspects, a UE that does not include a UICC may also be referred to as an IoE device. Figure 1The UEs 115a-115d of the illustrated implementation are examples of mobile smartphone-type devices accessing the wireless network 100. A UE may also be a machine specifically configured for connected communications, including machine type communications (MTC), enhanced MTC (eMTC), narrowband IoT (NB-IoT), etc. Figure 1 The illustrated UEs 115e - 115k are examples of various machines configured for communication that access the wireless network 100 .

[0051] A mobile device such as UE 115 can communicate with any type of base station, whether macro, pico, femto, repeater, etc. Figure 1 In the figure, a communication link (represented by a lightning bolt) indicates a wireless transmission between a UE and a serving base station (which is a base station designated to serve the UE on the downlink or uplink), or a desired transmission between base stations and a backhaul transmission between base stations. In some scenarios, a UE may operate as a base station or other network node. Backhaul communications between base stations of wireless network 100 may occur using wired or wireless communication links.

[0052] In operation at wireless network 100, base stations 105a-105c use 3D beamforming and coordinated spatial techniques (e.g., coordinated multipoint (CoMP) or multi-connectivity) to serve UEs 115a and 115b. Macro base station 105d performs backhaul communications with base stations 105a-105c and small cell base station 105f. Macro base station 105d also transmits multicast services that UEs 115c and 115d subscribe to and receive. Such multicast services may include mobile television or streaming video, or may include other services for providing community information, such as weather emergencies or alerts (e.g., Amber Alerts or Gray Alerts).

[0053] Each implementation of the wireless network 100 supports mission-critical communications using ultra-reliable and redundant links for mission-critical devices (e.g., UE 115e, which is a drone). The redundant communication links with UE 115e include those from macro base stations 105d and 105e, as well as small cell base station 105f. Other machine-type devices (e.g., UE 115f (thermometer), UE 115g (smart meter), and UE 115h (wearable device)) can communicate directly with base stations (e.g., small cell base station 105f and macro base station 105e) over the wireless network 100, or in a multi-hop configuration by communicating with another user device that relays its information to the network (e.g., UE 115f transmits temperature measurement information to the smart meter (UE 115g), which is then reported to the network via small cell base station 105f). The wireless network 100 may also provide additional network efficiency through dynamic, low-latency TDD communications or low-latency FDD communications (eg, in a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) mesh network between UEs 115i-115k communicating with a macro eNB 105e).

[0054] Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a base station 105 and a UE 115 according to one or more aspects. The base station 105 and the UE 115 may be Figure 1 For the restricted association scenario (as described above), the base station 105 can be any of the base stations in the UE and one of the UEs. Figure 1 The small cell base station 105f in the base station 105f, and the UE 115 may be a UE 115c or 115D operating in the service area of ​​the base station 105f, which will be included in the list of accessible UEs of the small cell base station 105f in order to access the small cell base station 105f. The base station 105 may also be some other type of base station. Figure 2 As shown, the base station 105 may be equipped with antennas 234a through 234t, and the UE 115 may be equipped with antennas 252a through 252r to facilitate wireless communications.

[0055] At the base station 105, the transmit processor 220 may receive data from the data source 212 and control information from the controller 240 (such as a processor). The control information may be for the physical broadcast channel (PBCH), the physical control format indicator channel (PCFICH), the physical hybrid ARQ (automatic repeat request) indicator channel (PHICH), the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), the enhanced physical downlink control channel (EPDCCH), the MTC physical downlink control channel (MPDCCH), etc. The data may be for the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), etc. In addition, the transmit processor 220 may separately process (e.g., encode and symbol map) the data and control information to obtain data symbols and control symbols. The transmit processor 220 may also generate reference symbols, such as for the primary synchronization signal (PSS), the secondary synchronization signal (SSS), and the cell-specific reference signal. The transmit (TX) MIMO processor 230 may perform spatial processing (e.g., precoding) on ​​the data symbols, control symbols, or reference symbols, if applicable, and may provide output symbol streams to modulators (MODs) 232a through 232t. For example, the spatial processing performed on the data symbols, control symbols, or reference symbols may include precoding. Each modulator 232 may process a respective output symbol stream (e.g., for OFDM, etc.) to obtain an output sample stream. Each modulator 232 may additionally or alternatively process (e.g., convert to analog, amplify, filter, and upconvert) the output sample stream to obtain a downlink signal. The downlink signals from modulators 232a through 232t may be transmitted via antennas 234a through 234t, respectively.

[0056] At the UE 115, antennas 252a through 252r can receive downlink signals from the base station 105 and can provide received signals to demodulators (DEMODs) 254a through 254r, respectively. Each demodulator 254 can condition (e.g., filter, amplify, downconvert, and digitize) a corresponding received signal to obtain input samples. Each demodulator 254 can further process the input samples (e.g., for OFDM, etc.) to obtain received symbols. A MIMO detector 256 can obtain received symbols from the demodulators 254a through 254r, perform MIMO detection on the received symbols (if applicable), and provide detected symbols. A receive processor 258 can process (e.g., demodulate, deinterleave, and decode) the detected symbols, provide decoded data for the UE 115 to a data sink 260, and provide decoded control information to a controller 280 (e.g., a processor).

[0057] On the uplink, at the UE 115, a transmit processor 264 may receive and process data from a data source 262 (e.g., for a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH)) and control information from a controller 280 (e.g., for a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH)). Additionally, the transmit processor 264 may generate reference symbols for reference signals. The symbols from the transmit processor 264 may be precoded by a TX MIMO processor 266 (if applicable), further processed by modulators 254a through 254r (e.g., for SC-FDM, etc.), and transmitted to the base station 105. At the base station 105, the uplink signal from the UE 115 may be received by the antenna 234, processed by the demodulator 232, detected by the MIMO detector 236 (if applicable), and further processed by the receive processor 238 to obtain decoded data and control information transmitted by the UE 115. Receive processor 238 may provide decoded data to a data sink 239 and decoded control information to controller 240 .

[0058] The controllers 240 and 280 may direct the operations at the base station 105 and the UE 115, respectively. The controller 240 or other processors and modules at the base station 105 or the controller 280 or other processors and modules at the UE 115 may perform or direct the execution of various processes for the techniques described herein, such as performing or directing the execution of the various processes described in the present invention. Figure 5-7 , 13 and 14 or other processes for the techniques described herein. Memories 242 and 282 may store data and program codes for base station 105 and UE 115, respectively. Scheduler 244 may schedule UEs for data transmission on the downlink or uplink.

[0059] In some cases, the UE 115 and the base station 105 may operate in a shared radio frequency spectrum band (which may include licensed or unlicensed (e.g., contention-based) spectrum). In the unlicensed frequency portion of the shared radio frequency spectrum band, the UE 115 or base station 105 may traditionally perform a medium sensing process to compete for access to the spectrum. For example, the UE 115 or base station 105 may perform a listen-before-talk or listen-before-transmit (LBT) process (e.g., a clear channel assessment (CCA)) before communicating to determine whether the shared channel is available. In some implementations, the CCA may include an energy detection process to determine whether there are any other active transmissions. For example, the device may infer that a change in the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of a power meter indicates that the channel is occupied. Specifically, a signal power concentrated in a certain bandwidth and exceeding a predetermined noise floor may indicate another wireless transmitter. The CCA may also include the detection of a specific sequence used to indicate the use of the channel. For example, another device may send a specific preamble before sending a data sequence. In some cases, the LBT process may include the wireless node adjusting its own backoff window based on the amount of energy detected on the channel or acknowledgement / negative acknowledgement (ACK / NACK) feedback for packets it itself sent as a proxy for collisions.

[0060] For 5G NR operation in Release 17, it is proposed to use the Tracking Reference Signal (TRS) or Channel State Information Reference Signal (CSI-RS) that has been configured for connected mode UEs for idle or inactive mode UEs. Using TRS or CSI-RS for non-connected mode UEs (such as idle and inactive mode UEs) can enable the UE to assist in receiving paging. Similar to paging messages, such reference signals can be sent on multiple synchronization signal block (SSB) beams.

[0061] Connected mode UEs typically use more narrow beams than SSB beams, and the RS may not be quasi-co-located (QCL) with all SSBs transmitted in the cell. It is also proposed not to perform blind detection of RS by non-connected mode UEs to track loop updates.

[0062] In some implementations, the network provides both the configuration parameters and the lifetime / availability of the RS.Due to the periodic behavior (paging scheme) of non-connected UEs, periodic RS will enable enhanced paging reception.

[0063] Additionally or alternatively, aperiodic RS may be used. Aperiodic RS may be more helpful for transient behavior, such as paging UEs via paging indications (PIs). In addition to or as an alternative to CSI-RS and TRS reference signals, dedicated RS (e.g., UE-specific RS or unconnected mode-specific RS) may be used as a reference signal to assist in receiving paging messages.

[0064] Figure 3 An example of an information element for a CSI-RS related information element (IE) is shown. Figure 3 , the CSI-RS reporting configuration IE and measurement configuration are shown. Such information elements can be used to report CSI-RS measurement information that can be determined based on CSI-RS, such as tracking reference signal (TRS). TRS is a special case of CSI-RS.

[0065] Figure 4 An example of a wireless communication system 400 that supports enhanced unconnected mode operation according to aspects of the present disclosure is shown. In some examples, the wireless communication system 400 can implement aspects of the wireless communication system 100. For example, the wireless communication system 400 can include multiple wireless communication devices and optional network entities. Figure 4 In the example of FIG. 4 , a wireless communication system 400 includes a base station 105, a UE 115, and an optional second UE 405. Enhanced unconnected mode operation may include using a connected mode RS that is initially configured for a connected mode UE in unconnected mode. Using a connected mode RS in unconnected mode can reduce latency and increase throughput by improving paging message effectiveness. Consequently, network and device performance can be improved.

[0066] The UE 115 and the base station 105 may be configured to communicate via a frequency band (e.g., for mmWave, FR1 having a frequency of 410 to 7125 MHz, FR2 having a frequency of 24250 to 52600 MHz, and / or one or more other frequency bands). Note that for some data channels, the subcarrier spacing (SCS) may be equal to 15, 30, 60, or 120 kHz. The UE 115 and the base station 105 may be configured to communicate via one or more component carriers (CCs), such as a representative first CC 481, a second CC 482, a third CC 483, and a fourth CC 484. Although four CCs are shown, this is for illustration only, and more or less than four CCs may be used. One or more CCs may be used to transmit control channel transmissions, data channel transmissions, and / or sidelink channel transmissions.

[0067] Such transmissions may include a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), a physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH), a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH), or a physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH). Such transmissions may be scheduled by aperiodic grants and / or periodic grants.

[0068] Each periodic grant may have a corresponding configuration, such as configuration parameters / settings. The periodic grant configuration may include a configured grant (CG) configuration and settings. Additionally or alternatively, one or more periodic grants (e.g., their CGs) may have or be assigned a CC ID, such as an expected CC ID.

[0069] Each CC may have a corresponding configuration, such as configuration parameters / settings. The configuration may include bandwidth, bandwidth portion, HARQ process, TCI state, RS, control channel resources, data channel resources, or a combination thereof. Additionally or alternatively, one or more CCs may have or be assigned a cell ID, a bandwidth portion (BWP) ID, or both. The cell ID may include a unique cell ID for the CC, a virtual cell ID, or a specific cell ID for a specific CC in multiple CCs. Additionally or alternatively, one or more CCs may have or be assigned a HARQ ID. Each CC may also have corresponding management functions, such as beam management, BWP switching functions, or both. In some implementations, two or more CCs are quasi-co-located so that the CCs have the same beam and / or the same symbols.

[0070] In some implementations, the control information may be transmitted via the UE 115 and the base station 105. For example, the control information may be transmitted using a MAC-CE transmission, an RRC transmission, an SCI (Sidelink Control Information), a transmission, another transmission, or a combination thereof.

[0071] The UE 115 and the optional second UE 405 may include various components (e.g., structures, hardware components) for performing one or more functions described herein. For example, these components may include a processor 402, a memory 404, a transmitter 410, a receiver 412, an encoder 413, a decoder 414, a connected mode manager 415, an unconnected mode manager 416, and antennas 252a-r. The processor 402 may be configured to execute instructions stored at the memory 404 to perform the operations described herein. In some implementations, the processor 402 includes or corresponds to the controller / processor 280, and the memory 404 includes or corresponds to the memory 282. The memory 404 may also be configured to store RS configuration data 406, RS resource data 408, connected mode setting data 442, unconnected mode data 444, or a combination thereof, as further described herein.

[0072] RS configuration data 406 includes or corresponds to data associated with or corresponding to a configuration for RS transmission. For example, RS configuration data 406 may indicate one or more settings and / or parameters for RS transmission and feedback. Such settings and / or parameters for RS transmission and feedback may include SCS parameters, bandwidth parameters, QCL parameters, duration parameters, subset parameters, or combinations thereof for one or more configured RSs. RS resource data 408 includes or corresponds to data indicating or corresponding to transmission resources for RS transmission and RS feedback.

[0073] The connected mode settings data 442 includes or corresponds to data associated with unconnected mode operation.The connected mode settings data 442 may include settings and / or condition data for RS transmission and RS reporting operations when in connected mode.

[0074] The unconnected mode setting data 444 includes or corresponds to data associated with unconnected mode operation.The unconnected mode setting data 444 may include setting and / or condition data for RS transmission and RS reporting operations when in unconnected mode.

[0075] The transmitter 410 is configured to send data to one or more other devices, and the receiver 412 is configured to receive data from one or more other devices. For example, the transmitter 410 may send data via a network (such as a wired network, a wireless network, or a combination thereof), and the receiver 412 may receive data via a network (such as a wired network, a wireless network, or a combination thereof). For example, the UE 115 may be configured to send and / or receive data via a direct device-to-device connection, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a modem-to-modem connection, the Internet, an intranet, an extranet, a cable transmission system, a cellular communication network, any combination of the foregoing, or any other communication network now known or later developed that allows two or more electronic devices to communicate therein. In some implementations, the transmitter 410 and the receiver 412 may be replaced with a transceiver. Additionally or alternatively, the transmitter 410, the receiver 412, or both may include or correspond to a reference to Figure 2 One or more components of UE 115 are described.

[0076] The encoder 413 and decoder 414 may be configured to encode and decode data for transmission. The connected mode manager 415 may be configured to determine and perform connected mode operations. For example, the connected mode manager 415 may be configured to determine one or more resources to be used for RS transmission and RS feedback when operating in connected mode, such as when and where to perform reference signal transmission and thus feedback transmission. As another example, the connected mode manager 415 may be configured to perform time and frequency tracking and measurement operations on RS transmissions.

[0077] The unconnected mode manager 416 can be configured to determine and perform connected mode operations. For example, the unconnected mode manager 416 is configured to determine one or more resources to be used for RS transmission and RS feedback when operating in unconnected mode, such as when and where to perform reference signal transmission and, therefore, feedback transmission. As another example, the unconnected mode manager 416 is configured to perform time and frequency tracking and measurement operations on RS transmissions.

[0078] The base station 105 includes a processor 430, a memory 432, a transmitter 434, a receiver 436, an encoder 437, a decoder 438, a connected mode manager 439, an unconnected mode manager 440, and antennas 234a-t. The processor 430 may be configured to execute instructions stored at the memory 432 to perform the operations described herein. In some implementations, the processor 430 includes or corresponds to the controller / processor 240, and the memory 432 includes or corresponds to the memory 242. Similar to the UE 115 and as further described herein, the memory 432 may be configured to store RS configuration data 406, RS resource data 408, connected mode setting data 442, unconnected mode data 444, or a combination thereof.

[0079] The transmitter 434 is configured to send data to one or more other devices, and the receiver 436 is configured to receive data from one or more other devices. For example, the transmitter 434 may send data via a network (such as a wired network, a wireless network, or a combination thereof), and the receiver 436 may receive data via a network (such as a wired network, a wireless network, or a combination thereof). For example, the base station 105 may be configured to send and / or receive data via a direct device-to-device connection, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a modem-to-modem connection, the Internet, an intranet, an extranet, a cable transmission system, a cellular communication network, any combination of the foregoing, or any other communication network now known or later developed that allows two or more electronic devices to communicate therein. In some implementations, the transmitter 434 and the receiver 436 may be replaced with a transceiver. Additionally or alternatively, the transmitter 434, the receiver 436, or both may include or correspond to a reference to Figure 2 One or more components of base station 105 are described.

[0080] Encoder 437 and decoder 438 may include the same functionality as described with reference to encoder 413 and decoder 414, respectively. Connected mode manager 439 may include similar functionality as described with reference to connected mode manager 415. Unconnected mode manager 440 may include similar functionality as described with reference to unconnected mode manager 416.

[0081] During operation of the wireless communication system 400, the base station 105 may determine that the UE 115 has enhanced unconnected mode capability. For example, the base station 105 may send a message 448 including an enhanced RS operation indicator 490 (e.g., a connected mode RS configuration for unconnected mode operation). The indicator 490 may indicate enhanced RS operation capability for unconnected mode or a specific type or mode of RS operation for unconnected mode. In some implementations, the base station 105 sends control information to indicate to the UE 115 that enhanced RS operation for unconnected mode and / or a specific type of enhanced RS operation for unconnected mode is to be used. For example, in some implementations, the message 448 (or another message, such as a configuration transmission 450) is sent by the base station 105 or the network entity 405. The configuration transmission 450 may include or indicate settings for using enhanced RS operation for unconnected mode or adjusting or implementing a specific type of enhanced RS operation for unconnected mode. For example, the configuration transmission 450 may include 444 (e.g., Figure 4 ), 442, or both.

[0082] During operation, the devices of the wireless communication system 400 perform enhanced RS operations for unconnected mode. For example, wireless communication devices (e.g., base stations and UEs) exchange transmissions via downlink or uplink channels. Figure 4 In the example of , the base station 105 optionally sends an RS configuration message 452 to the UE 115. The RS configuration message 452 may include or indicate a specific RS configuration for operation in connected mode, unconnected mode, or both.

[0083] UE 115 may receive RS configuration message 452 and may determine the specific configuration of the RS indicated by base station 105. UE 115 may optionally determine specific resources reserved for RS transmission by base station 105. UE 115 may then monitor RS transmissions, such as RS transmission 454, while in unconnected mode based on RS configuration message 452. For example, base station 105 may send RS transmission 454 to UE 115 and optionally one or more other devices.

[0084] The UE 115 monitors RS transmissions 454 while in unconnected mode based on the RS configuration and optionally one or more settings. The UE 115 may perform one or more operations based on the RS transmissions 454 to select transmit and / or receive parameters for future operations.

[0085] exist Figure 4In the example shown, the base station 105 sends a paging message 456 after the RS transmission 454. The paging message 456 includes or corresponds to a paging indication or a wake-up message. The paging message 456 can indicate that the base station 105 has data for the UE and can enable the UE 115 to switch from the unconnected mode to the connected mode.

[0086] Once in connected mode, the UE 115 and the base station 105 may exchange communications. For example, the base station 105 may optionally send a downlink transmission 458 to the UE 115.

[0087] Therefore, the UE 115 and the base station 105 can perform RS operations more efficiently, i.e., reuse the connected mode RS signal for the non-connected mode UE or receive a dedicated RS for the non-connected mode UE. Figure 4 Enhanced RS operation for unconnected mode devices is described. Using enhanced RS operation can achieve improvements and reduce network overhead when a device is operating in unconnected mode, such as idle or inactive mode. Performing enhanced RS operation for unconnected mode results in increased successful paging message reception and, therefore, enhanced UE and network performance by increasing throughput and reducing errors and latency.

[0088] UE 5-7 shows an example of a ladder diagram of RS operation for an unconnected mode UE according to some aspects. Figure 5 , Figure 5 is a ladder diagram 500 of RS operation for an unconnected mode UE according to some aspects. Figure 5 In the example of FIG, the ladder diagram shows a UE 115 and a network entity (such as a base station 105), where the UE was previously connected to the network entity.

[0089] At 510, UE 115 operates in a connected mode with a base station 105 (such as a gNB). For example, UE 115 is in an RRC connected mode with base station 105. While in connected mode, UE 115 may send data to and receive data from base station 105. In some such implementations, UE 115 may be configured with one or more RSs and may receive RSs from base station 105 in connected mode.

[0090] At 515, the base station 105 sends an RRC release message including or indicating the RS configuration to the UE 115. For example, the base station 105 generates an RRC release message with RS availability information and sends it to the UE 115. The RS availability information may include or indicate the RS configuration for the UE 115 to use when in the unconnected mode. The RRC release message is configured to transition the UE 115 from the connected mode to the unconnected mode, such as the idle mode or the inactive mode. The RS configuration information may include settings, formats, transmission resources, etc. for the RS.

[0091] At 520, UE 115 operates in unconnected mode. For example, UE 115 switches from connected mode to idle mode or inactive mode in response to the RRC release message.

[0092] At 525, the UE 115 determines an RS configuration for unconnected mode based on the RS information. For example, the UE 115 determines an RS configuration for connected mode RS to be used when in unconnected mode based on the RS availability information included in the RRC release message.

[0093] At 530, the base station 105 sends an RS to the UE 115. For example, the base station 105 generates an RS transmission for time and frequency tracking and measurement operations and sends it to the UE 115. The RS may include a CSI-RS, a TRS, or a dedicated RS. In some implementations, the RS is sent to multiple devices, such as multiple UEs. In other implementations, the RS is sent to a single device.

[0094] At 535, the base station 105 sends a paging message to the UE 115. For example, the base station 105 generates and sends the paging message to the UE 115, which receives the paging message based on the RS transmission. For illustration, the UE 115 may determine the best beam or setting to use for monitoring and receiving the paging message based on the reference signal. The paging message may include or correspond to a wake-up message.

[0095] At 540, the base station 105 and the UE 115 perform RRC operations. For example, the base station 105 and the UE 115 exchange RRC messages to switch the UE 115 from the non-connected mode to the connected mode.

[0096] At 545, the UE 115 operates in a connected mode with the base station 105. For example, the UE 115 switches from an idle or inactive mode to an RRC connected mode with the base station 105. While in the connected mode, the UE 115 can send data to and receive data from the base station 105. In some such implementations, the UE 115 can be configured with one or more RSs and can receive RSs from the base station 105 in the connected mode. The one or more RSs and their corresponding configurations can be the same one or more RSs used by a non-connected mode UE.

[0097] Therefore, in Figure 5 In the example in , the UE performs RS operation in connected mode based on configuration information received from the network entity when in unconnected mode. That is, the UE receives the RS configuration in the RRC release message and uses the RS configuration to receive connected mode RS when in unconnected mode.

[0098] Reference Figure 6 , Figure 6 is a ladder diagram 600 of RS operation for an unconnected mode UE according to some aspects. Figure 6 In the example of FIG, the ladder diagram shows a UE 115 and a network entity (such as a base station 105), wherein the UE is previously connected to the network entity. Figure 5 Compared with the example of Figure 6 In the example, the RS configuration or an indication thereof is received in a message separate from the RRC release message.

[0099] At 610, UE 115 operates in a connected mode with a base station 105 (such as a gNB). For example, UE 115 is in an RRC connected mode with base station 105. While in connected mode, UE 115 may send and receive data to and from base station 105. In some such implementations, UE 115 may be configured with one or more RSs and may receive RSs from base station 105 in connected mode.

[0100] At 615, base station 105 sends RS configuration information to UE 115. For example, base station 105 generates a message with RS availability information and sends it to UE 115. The RS availability information may include or indicate RS configuration for UE 115 to use when in connected mode, unconnected mode, or both.

[0101] At 620, the UE 115 determines an RS configuration for unconnected mode based on the RS information. For example, the UE 115 determines an RS configuration for connected mode RS for use when in unconnected mode based on the RS availability information.

[0102] At 625, the base station 105 sends an RRC release message to the UE 115. For example, the base station 105 generates and sends an RRC release message configured to transition the UE 115 from a connected mode to an unconnected mode (such as an idle mode or an inactive mode).

[0103] At 630, UE 115 operates in unconnected mode. For example, UE 115 switches from connected mode to idle mode or inactive mode in response to the RRC release message.

[0104] At 635, the base station 105 sends an RS to the UE 115. For example, the base station 105 generates an RS transmission for time and frequency tracking and measurement operations and sends it to the UE 115. The RS may include a CSI-RS, a TRS, or a dedicated RS. In some implementations, the RS is sent to multiple devices, such as multiple UEs. In other implementations, the RS is sent to a single device.

[0105] At 640, the base station 105 sends a paging message to the UE 115. For example, the base station 105 generates and sends the paging message to the UE 115, which receives the paging message based on the RS transmission. For illustration, the UE 115 may determine the best beam or setting for monitoring and receiving the paging message based on the reference signal. The paging message may include or correspond to a wake-up message.

[0106] At 645, the base station 105 and the UE 115 perform RRC operations. For example, the base station 105 and the UE 115 exchange RRC messages to switch the UE 115 from the non-connected mode to the connected mode.

[0107] At 650, the UE 115 operates in a connected mode with the base station 105. For example, the UE 115 switches from an idle or inactive mode to an RRC connected mode with the base station 105. While in the connected mode, the UE 115 can send data to and receive data from the base station 105. In some such implementations, the UE 115 can be configured with one or more RSs and can receive RSs from the base station 105 in the connected mode. The one or more RSs and their corresponding configurations can be the same one or more RSs used by a non-connected mode UE.

[0108] Therefore, in Figure 6 In the example of , the UE performs RS operation in the unconnected mode based on the configuration information received from the network entity when in the connected mode. That is, the UE receives the RS configuration and uses the RS configuration to receive the connected mode RS when in the unconnected mode.

[0109] Reference Figure 7 , Figure 7is a ladder diagram 700 of RS operation for an unconnected mode UE according to some aspects. Figure 7 In the example of FIG, the ladder diagram shows a plurality of UEs (such as a first UE 115a and a second UE 115b) and a network entity (such as a base station 105), wherein at least one UE has not been previously connected to the network entity. Figure 5 and 6 Compared to the example of , a UE that is not connected to a network entity may receive the RS configuration or an indication thereof in a broadcast message.

[0110] At 710, the first UE 115a operates in an unconnected mode. For example, the first UE 115a is in an idle or inactive mode. When in unconnected mode, the first UE 115a may attempt to monitor reference signals from one or more cells (such as the base station 105).

[0111] At 715, the second UE 115b operates in a connected mode with the base station 105 (such as a gNB). For example, the second UE 115b is in an RRC connected mode with the base station 105. While in the connected mode, the second UE 115b can send data to and receive data from the base station 105. In some such implementations, the second UE 115b can be configured with one or more RSs and can receive RSs from the base station 105 in the connected mode.

[0112] At 720, the base station 105 broadcasts RS configuration information to the UEs 115a and 115b. For example, the base station 105 generates a broadcast message with RS availability information and sends it to the UEs 115a and 115b. The RS availability information may include or indicate an RS configuration for use by the UEs 115a and 115b when in connected mode, unconnected mode, or both.

[0113] The first UE 115a determines an RS configuration for unconnected mode based on the RS configuration information at 725. For example, the first UE 115a determines an RS configuration for connected mode RS to be used when in unconnected mode based on the RS availability information.

[0114] The second UE 115b determines an RS configuration for connected mode based on the RS configuration information at 730. For example, the second UE 115b determines an RS configuration for connected mode RS to be used when in connected mode based on the RS availability information.

[0115] Figure 4-7The RS configuration information may optionally or further indicate which specific RS may be used for the unconnected mode UE if multiple RS resources have been configured to the UE when in connected mode. For example, a specific RS may be indicated (e.g., signaled), or a specific RS may be determined based on one or more parameters or conditions. For illustration, the device may determine a specific RS or RS subset to be used from multiple RSs based on the RS resource with the lowest ID, the N RS resources with the N lowest IDs, all configured RS resources, etc. As another illustration for indication / signaling, the network may indicate a specific RS or RS subset based on a list of IDs for the configured RSs. The indication may be in an RRC message (e.g., an RRC release message) or in another message. The indication may be sent together with the RS configuration information (e.g., the first RS configuration information) or may be indicated by additional RS configuration information (e.g., the first RS configuration information). The indication information may include a resource set ID or a resource ID associated with the RS resource.

[0116] Additionally or alternatively, Figure 4-7 The RS configuration information may also indicate an expiration time during which the UE may assume that the RS is available when the UE enters unconnected mode. The expiration time may be indicated in seconds (e.g., milliseconds or microseconds), time slots, radio frames, paging cycles, etc. Alternatively, the expiration time may be indicated as zero or null, which may configure the RS to have an infinite duration or no expiration time.

[0117] At 735, the base station 105 sends RS to the UEs 115a and 115b. For example, the base station 105 generates and sends RS transmissions for time and frequency tracking and measurement operations to the UEs 115a and 115b. The RS may include a CSI-RS, a TRS, or a dedicated RS.

[0118] The second UE 115b transmits using the RS at 740. For example, the second UE 115b performs measurement operations on the RS and / or compares a reference signal with a stored signal, and transmits or receives data based on the RS and such operations.

[0119] At 745, the base station 105 sends a paging message to the first UE 115a. For example, the base station 105 generates and sends the paging message to the first UE 115a, which receives the paging message based on the RS transmission. For illustration, the first UE 115a may determine the best beam or setting to use for monitoring and receiving the paging message based on the RS. The paging message may include or correspond to a wake-up message.

[0120] The base station 105 and the first UE 115a perform RRC operations at 750. For example, the base station 105 and the first UE 115a exchange RRC messages to switch the first UE 115a from the non-connected mode to the connected mode.

[0121] At 755, the first UE 115a operates in a connected mode with the base station 105. For example, the first UE 115a switches from an idle or inactive mode to an RRC connected mode with the base station 105. While in the connected mode, the first UE 115a may transmit data to and receive data from the base station 105. In some such implementations, the first UE 115a may be configured with one or more RSs and may receive RSs from the base station 105 in the connected mode. The one or more RSs and their corresponding configurations may be the same one or more RSs used by a non-connected mode UE.

[0122] Therefore, in Figure 7 In the example in , the UE performs RS operation in unconnected mode based on configuration information broadcast by the network entity when the UE is in unconnected mode. That is, the UE receives RS configuration when it is not connected to the base station, and uses the RS configuration to receive connected mode RS when in unconnected mode.

[0123] Figure 8-10 An example of a diagram for RS operation according to some aspects is shown. Figure 8 , Figure 8 FIG8 is a diagram 800 showing the bandwidth and active bandwidth portion of an RS. Figure 8 In the example of FIG, the figure shows the bandwidth of the RS configuration and the bandwidth of the active bandwidth part for a connected mode UE.

[0124] As an illustrative example, during operation, a UE may receive or determine an RS configuration having a first bandwidth, such as Figure 8 The UE may also receive or determine that the active BWP for the connected mode UE has a second bandwidth, such as Figure 8 As shown. Figure 8 In some implementations, a UE in unconnected mode may determine that the bandwidth of the RS for the UE in unconnected mode is the overlap between the bandwidth of the RS indicated by the RS configuration provided to the unconnected mode UE and the bandwidth of the active BWP of the connected mode UE. In other implementations, the UE may determine that the bandwidth of the RS for the UE in unconnected mode is the full bandwidth of the RS configuration or some other portion thereof. Additional examples are provided below.

[0125] Under some operating conditions or modes, the bandwidth settings of the original RS configuration for connected mode UEs may cause potential problems for UEs operating in unconnected mode. For example, problems may arise when the lowest RB index is not used, the bandwidth step size of 4 RBs is not used, or the bandwidth of the RS does not meet the threshold conditions. For example, for CSI-RS, the bandwidth of the RS may not be greater than or equal to 24 RBs, or for TRS, the bandwidth of the RS may not be greater than or equal to 52 RBs. Therefore, when these parameters are determined by the connected UE active BWP bandwidth range, the UE and the network can modify these parameters.

[0126] Regarding the issue of the 4 RB step size, the UE and the network can take a series of different mitigation actions to modify the RS bandwidth. For example, the device can truncate the RS bandwidth so that the UE (e.g., connected, unconnected, or both) monitors the RS in a 4 RB grid.

[0127] As another example, the device may determine to use the original RS configuration and transmit the RS across the entire configured bandwidth of the RS. As yet another example, the device may modify RS configuration signaling to reduce the granularity used to determine the bandwidth. For illustration, the granularity may be reduced from 4 RBs to 1 to provide finer granularity.

[0128] As an additional example, the network may signal the BWP configuration for the associated BWP of a connected mode UE.Such information may enable a UE in unconnected mode to calculate the RS bandwidth monitored by the connected mode UE.

[0129] Similar actions can be taken with respect to bandwidth size. For illustration, when the bandwidth of the active BWP for a connected mode UE is less than 24 RBs, the associated CSI-RS may not be used. As another illustration, the bandwidth of the original RS configuration can be used, which may be greater than or equal to 24 RBs. As yet another illustration, RS configuration signaling can be modified to reduce the bandwidth of the original RS configuration to less than 24 RBs when used by a non-connected mode UE. As an additional illustration, the network can provide an alternative bandwidth, for example, by providing an alternative connected mode BWP configuration.

[0130] For TRS, when the bandwidth of the active BWP of a connected mode UE is less than 52 RBs, the associated TRS may not be used. In such an implementation, a different RS (e.g., CSI-RS or dedicated RS) may be used. Alternatively, in other implementations, the original RS configuration may be used, which may be greater than or equal to 52 RBs. In yet another implementation, the RS configuration signaling may be modified to reduce the bandwidth of the original RS configuration to less than 52 RBs when used by a non-connected mode UE. In other implementations, the network may provide an alternative bandwidth, for example, by providing an alternative connected mode BWP configuration.

[0131] Additionally or alternatively, the RS SCS may be configured or determined by the device. In some implementations, the first SCS of the RS in the associated BWP of a connected mode UE is the same as the second SCS of the active BWP of an unconnected mode UE. The UE may be configured to expect to receive RSs with the same SCS as the SCS of its active BWP. In such implementations, the RS SCS may not be explicitly configured for unconnected mode UEs.

[0132] In some implementations, a carrier index is included in the RS configuration for non-connected mode UEs. The carrier index may indicate the carrier on which the RS is transmitted. If the carrier index is not associated with the current serving cell, the RS may be used for neighbor cell measurements or for serving cell tracking and measurements after the cell reselects to the carrier. In such an implementation, when the UE camps on a cell associated with the carrier index, the UE may begin monitoring RS associated with a carrier index other than the carrier index used for the previous serving cell.

[0133] Reference Figure 9 , Figure 9 is a diagram 900 showing the overlap between RS and another transmission. Figure 9 In the example of , the figure shows the overlap between RS and downlink transmissions (such as PDCCH or PDSCH). In a specific implementation, PDCCH can be a paging DCI or a paging signal, also known as a paging indication (PI) or a wake-up signal (WUS). PI and WUS can indicate whether the UE should be paged in the next paging opportunity (PO). After detecting the PI and / or WUS, the UE decides whether it needs to monitor and / or process the next PO. In a specific implementation, PDSCH can be a PDSCH scheduled by a paging DCI or a PDSCH carrying a system information block (SIB).

[0134] The network can be configured to take one or more actions to resolve overlap when overlap occurs. Alternatively, the network can first determine the schedule and adjust the schedule to avoid overlap. For example, the base station can generate an RS configuration that does not cause RS overlap.

[0135] If overlap does occur, the network can configure the device to handle the overlap in one or more ways. In some implementations, if the configured RS opportunity has an overlap with another transmission, the device determines not to send RS. In other implementations, the device determines to puncture or rate match the downlink channel (i.e., PDCCH / PDSCH) around the RS transmission. In other implementations, the device determines to send both RS and downlink channels. Advanced UEs (such as UEs with multiple antennas) are able to receive both RS and downlink channels, even if the transmissions overlap at least partially in frequency and / or time.

[0136] Reference Figure 10 , Figure 10 is a diagram 1000 illustrating beam combining. Figure 10 In the example of FIG, a first description of single beam use and a second description of beam combining / multi-beam use are shown. Beam combining can be configured to be enabled, semi-statically configured, or dynamically used based on one or more conditions. For example, a quality condition (e.g., a threshold) can be used to determine whether to use beam combining. The quality condition can include or correspond to a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) condition, a signal-to-noise and interference ratio (SINR) condition, a reference signal received power (RSRP) condition, a reference signal received quality (RSRQ) condition, or a combination thereof.

[0137] In some implementations, when quality conditions are high and multi-beam combining is not used to improve quality, the UE may use the RS associated with the highest quality SSB. In some such implementations, when the best SSB changes, the UE starts using a new RS associated with the new best SSB.

[0138] In some implementations, when quality conditions are low and multi-beam combining is used to improve quality, the UE can still use the RS associated with the previous best beam (e.g., the highest quality SSB) and utilize the previous best beam corresponding to the previous highest SSB to receive the paging message.

[0139] During operation, the UE may move from one cell to another. When the UE moves from one cell (e.g., a first base station) to another cell (e.g., a second base station), the UE may continue to use the RS configuration from the old cell (e.g., the first base station). For example, when an unconnected mode UE moves to another cell, the UE switches to one or more RSs associated with the new cell to track loop updates and measurements. In some such implementations, when the old cell (e.g., the first base station) becomes a neighbor cell after moving to another cell (e.g., the second base station), the UE may still use the previous one or more RSs in the old cell for neighbor cell measurements.

[0140] In some implementations, the RS configuration may include quasi-co-location (QCL) information. For example, when an RS (e.g., an RS configured for a connected mode UE) is configured for an unconnected mode UE, the base station configures the QCL of the RS using a TCI state with SSB as the source.

[0141] In some such implementations, each RS resource is QCLed to only one SSB. This can mirror the setup of paging messages, as each paging message transmission is associated with a single SSB.

[0142] In some other implementations, the base station transmits RS to unconnected UEs in a wide SSB beam. Such transmission can match the beam of the RS with the beam of the paging PDCCH and the paging message.

[0143] Typically, paging for non-connected mode (e.g., idle / inactive mode) UEs is sent in an SSB beam, but CSI-RS for connected mode UEs may be sent in a narrower and more directional beam. In some implementations, non-connected mode UEs are configured with multiple RSs with the same SSB QCL. In some such implementations, all RSs with the same SSB QCL have the same beam (e.g., the same beam width and direction). As such, the UE may not be able to perform finer beam management based on beams narrower than the SSB beam.

[0144] For non-connected mode UEs, multiple RS resources associated with different SSBs should be configured. In some implementations, the CSI-RS used for beam failure recovery or radio link failure (RLF) detection for connected mode UEs may have a wide beam. The set of CSI-RS resources configured to the UE for beam failure recovery / RLF may be associated with all SSBs. Therefore, such RS and beams may be correct candidates for paging message reception operations for non-connected mode UEs. In a specific implementation, RS with all SSBs QCL transmitted on the cell may be sent so that enough RS for multiple connected UEs are QCL.

[0145] The network may determine and provide one or more other configurations of RS for unconnected mode UEs. Such other configurations may include a repetition setting, a port number setting, a period setting, a frequency domain density setting, and one or more power control offset settings. The repetition setting may be set to "on" to allow the UE to process more symbols of the RS (e.g., CSI-RS) with the same SSB QCL.

[0146] The network can reduce the number of configured ports (e.g., to 1), for example, when the RS is a CSI-RS. For example, the UE can assume a single-port transmission of the CSI-RS, such as port 0. TRS is only sent on a single port, so the base station does not indicate the port information used for such RS.

[0147] Periodicity settings can include the periodicityAndOffset IE. The network can adjust it to a relatively large period to avoid downlink signal and power eavesdropping. Currently, for CSI-RS, the minimum period is 4 time slots, and for TRS, the minimum period is 10ms (e.g., less than or equal to 52 RBs). In some implementations, high-density RS (e.g., high-density CSI-RS) is suitable for time tracking. For example, single-port CSI-RS and TRS can have a maximum density of 3.

[0148] The first power offset setting may include powerControlOffset. When the RS is used for an unconnected UE, the first power offset setting indicates the power difference between the RS and the associated paging PDCCH and paging PDSCH. The second power offset setting may include powerConfrolOffsetSS. When the RS is used for an unconnected mode UE, the second power offset setting indicates the power difference between the RS and the SSB of the QCL.

[0149] In some implementations, the RS configuration information is sent during an RRC release, eg, as indicated by an RRC release message. In other implementations, the RS configuration information is sent in another message separate from the RRC release communication (ie, separate from the RRC release message).

[0150] exist Figure 4-7 In an example, when the UE enters an unconnected mode (e.g., idle / inactive), the configuration parameters of the RS may be updated via a message or rules defined in the network, region, or standard. Illustrative examples of such parameters that may be updated or adjusted are port information, periodicityAndOffset information, RS power offset information, QCL information, or a combination thereof. For illustration, the number of ports setting may be changed to a single port. As another illustration, a period / offset setting may be added. As yet another illustration, an RS power offset setting may be added. As an additional illustration, the TCI state may be updated to indicate that the SSB is used as the QCL source.

[0151] In some implementations, if multiple RS resources have been configured, for example, when the UE is in connected mode, the RS configuration information may indicate which specific RS is available for use in an unconnected mode UE. For example, a specific RS may be indicated (e.g., signaled) by the RS configuration information, or a specific RS may be determined based on one or more parameters or conditions of the RS indicated by the RS configuration information. For illustration, the network may indicate a specific RS or RS subset based on a list of IDs of configured RSs in the RS configuration information. The RS configuration information or indication may be in an RRC message (e.g., an RRC release message) or another message. The indication may be sent together with the RS configuration information (e.g., first RS configuration information indicating one or more RSs), or may be indicated by additional RS configuration information (e.g., second RS configuration information). The indication information may include a resource set ID or a resource ID associated with the RS resource. As another illustration of the determined device, the device may determine a specific RS or RS subset to be used from multiple RSs based on the parameters of the RS. For example, the device may use one (or more) RS resources with the lowest ID. As another example, a device may use one (or more) RS resources with a specific port setting (e.g., port 0) or a specific density setting, or both. Although two examples are shown, a device may use specific settings for any of the above parameters. Alternatively, all RSs for unconnected mode UEs may be used.

[0152] Additionally or alternatively, the RS configuration information may indicate the expiration of an RS or RS set. The expiration time may define a period during which the UE may assume that the RS is available for use by a non-connected mode UE, and the expiration time may indicate this time from the time the UE enters non-connected mode. The expiration time may be expressed in any type of unit. For example, the expiration time may be indicated by a number of seconds (e.g., milliseconds or microseconds), time slots, radio frames, paging cycles, etc. Alternatively, the expiration time may be indicated as zero or null, which may configure one or more RSs to have an infinite duration or no expiration time.

[0153] Additionally or alternatively, other implementations may add, remove, or replace Figure 4-10 For example, in some implementations, Figure 5 and 7 The example steps can be used together. To illustrate, Figure 6 The broadcast of RS configuration can be done with Figure 5 As another example, Figure 8-10 Some of the operations can be combined with Figure 4-7 Use with any of the steps in the diagram.

[0154] Figure 11is a flow chart illustrating example blocks executed by a UE configured according to one aspect of the present disclosure. Figure 13 As shown, the example blocks will also be described with respect to UE 115. Figure 13 1 is a block diagram illustrating a UE 115 configured according to one aspect of the present disclosure. Figure 2 1 and / or 4. For example, the UE 115 includes a controller / processor 280 that operates to execute logic or computer instructions stored in a memory 282 and controls the components of the UE 115 to provide the features and functions of the UE 115. The UE 115 transmits and receives signals via wireless radios 1301a-r and antennas 252a-r under the control of the controller / processor 280. The wireless radios 1301a-r include the following: Figure 2 Various components and hardware are shown for UE 115, including modulators / demodulators 254a-r, MIMO detector 256, receive processor 258, transmit processor 264, and TX MIMO processor 266. Figure 13 As shown in the example of , the memory 282 stores a connected mode logic unit 1302 , an unconnected mode logic unit 1303 , an RS logic unit 1304 , RS configuration data 1305 , RS resource data 1306 , and setting data 1307 .

[0155] At block 1100, a wireless communication device such as a UE operates in an unconnected mode. For example, the UE 115 operates in an RRC idle mode or an RRC inactive mode, as described with reference to FIG. Figure 4-10 The unconnected mode may include or correspond to an RRC mode in which the UE is not connected to a base station.

[0156] At block 1101, the UE 115 determines reference signal (RS) configuration settings for unconnected mode. For example, the UE 115 uses wireless radio units 1301a-r and antennas 252a-r to receive RS configuration information (e.g., 406) from the base station 105, as shown in FIG. Figure 4-10 The RS configuration information (e.g., 406) may be indicated by an RS configuration message 452 (such as an RRC release message, another non-RRC release message, or a broadcast message). The RS configuration information may include or correspond to RS availability information. The unconnected mode manager 415, the unconnected mode logic unit 1303, and / or the RS logic unit 1304 of the UE 115 may determine the RS configuration indicated by the RS configuration information.

[0157] At block 1102, the UE 115 monitors a reference signal based on the RS configuration settings. For example, the unconnected mode manager 416, the unconnected mode logic unit 1203, and / or the RS logic unit 1305 of the UE 115 use the wireless radio units 1301a-r and the antennas 252a-r to monitor RS transmissions 454 based on the RS configuration information (e.g., 406 / 1305), as shown in FIG. Figure 4-10 Descriptive.

[0158] At block 1103, the UE 115 receives the RS transmission in the unconnected mode based on the RS configuration settings. For example, the UE 115 uses the wireless radio units 1301a-r and antennas 252a-r to receive the RS transmission 454 in the unconnected mode based on the RS configuration settings, as described with reference to FIG. Figure 4-10 RS transmission 454 may be an RS for a connected mode UE or a dedicated RS for a non-connected mode UE. Receiving and processing RS transmission 454 may enable UE 115 to more efficiently receive and process subsequent messages (such as paging messages) and / or may enable UE 115 to more efficiently transition to connected mode.

[0159] In other implementations, a wireless communication device (e.g., a UE or a base station) may perform additional blocks (or the wireless communication device may be configured to further perform additional operations). For example, the UE 115 may perform one or more of the operations described above. As another example, the UE 115 may perform one or more aspects as given below.

[0160] In a first aspect, the RS transmission is connected mode RS.

[0161] In a second aspect, alone or in combination with the first aspect, the RS transmission is a dedicated unconnected mode RS.

[0162] In a third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the unconnected mode is an RRC inactive mode or an RRC idle mode.

[0163] In a fourth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the unconnected mode is an RRC inactive mode or an RRC idle mode.

[0164] In a fifth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the RS transmission is a CSI-RS.

[0165] In a sixth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the RS transmission is a TRS.

[0166] In a seventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the UE performs the following operations: receiving a paging message based on RS transmission; and switching to a connected mode based on the paging message.

[0167] In an eighth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, determining RS configuration settings for unconnected mode includes: receiving a broadcast message (e.g., an RRC message, an SIB, or a physical (PHY) layer message) from a network entity when operating in unconnected mode or when connected to a second network entity; and determining the RS configuration settings based on the broadcast message.

[0168] In a ninth aspect, either alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the RS configuration corresponds to an RS configuration provided to a UE in connected mode, and the UE performs the following operations before operating in an unconnected mode: receiving the RS configuration from a network entity when in connected mode; receiving an RS transmission from the network entity when in connected mode; and receiving an RRC release message from the network entity.

[0169] In a tenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, determining RS configuration settings for unconnected mode includes determining RS configuration settings based on received RS setting information for connected mode.

[0170] In an eleventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the RS configuration for the unconnected mode has a limited duration.

[0171] In a twelfth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the RRC release message includes an RS availability indication, and wherein determining the RS configuration settings for the unconnected mode includes: determining the RS configuration settings based on the RS availability indication.

[0172] In a thirteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the UE performs the following operations: receiving RS availability information in a message separate from the RRC release message, wherein determining the RS configuration settings for the unconnected mode includes: determining the RS configuration settings based on the RS availability information.

[0173] In a fourteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, determining RS configuration settings for unconnected mode includes determining RS configuration settings based on UE setting information and RS configuration provided to the UE in connected mode.

[0174] In a fifteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the RS availability information indicates a specific RS resource from multiple RS resources for connected mode UEs, a specific RS resource set from multiple RS resource sets for connected mode UEs, an expiration time of an RS configuration for unconnected mode, or a combination thereof.

[0175] In a sixteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, a UE performs the following operations: receiving an RS configuration update message indicating an adjustment to an RS configuration (eg, a changed parameter or a complete configuration).

[0176] In the seventeenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the UE performs the following operations: determining whether the RS configuration adjustment condition has been met (for example, entering unconnected mode); and adjusting the RS configuration based on the RS configuration adjustment condition being met.

[0177] In an eighteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, a first subcarrier spacing (SCS) of the RS transmission is the same as a second SCS of an active BWP of a UE in unconnected mode.

[0178] In a nineteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the RS configuration information does not include subcarrier spacing (SCS) information.

[0179] In a twentieth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the RS is received in an overlapping bandwidth between a first bandwidth of the RS indicated by an RS configuration setting and a second bandwidth of an active BWP of a non-connected UE (or connected mode UE).

[0180] In a twenty-first aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the RS configuration information includes carrier index information associated with a carrier on which the RS is transmitted.

[0181] In a twenty-second aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the carrier index is not associated with the current serving cell, and further includes: when the UE resides on a second cell associated with the carrier index, monitoring the RS associated with the carrier index.

[0182] In a twenty-third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the RS can be used for neighbor cell measurements or serving cell tracking and measurements after a cell reselects to an associated carrier.

[0183] In aspect twenty-four, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the RS is a CSI-RS or TRS monitored by a connected mode UE, wherein the starting resource block (RB) of the associated BWP of the connected mode UE is not in a step of 4, and wherein the bandwidth (e.g., number of RBs) of the associated BWP of the connected mode UE is not in a step of 4.

[0184] In aspect twenty-fifth, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, for RS configuration for unconnected mode, the UE modifies the bandwidth of the RS monitored by the connected mode UE to a bandwidth with a granularity of 4RB and a starting RB with a granularity of 4RB.

[0185] In a twenty-sixth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the UE uses the RS configuration for connected mode as the RS configuration for unconnected mode, and the unconnected mode UE receives the RS based on the bandwidth indicated by the RS configuration.

[0186] In a twenty-seventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the UE uses a bandwidth granularity of less than 4 RBs for RS configuration for non-connected mode UEs.

[0187] In a twenty-eighth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the UE receives bandwidth information of an associated BWP for a connected mode UE configured for RS; and determines a bandwidth for RS transmission based on the bandwidth information.

[0188] In a twenty-ninth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the RS is a CSI-RS monitored by a connected mode UE, and wherein the bandwidth of the associated BWP of the connected mode UE is less than 24 resource blocks (RBs).

[0189] In a thirtieth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, an RS configuration for connected mode is used as an RS configuration for unconnected mode, and an unconnected mode UE receives an RS based on a bandwidth indicated by the RS configuration.

[0190] In a thirty-first aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the bandwidth used for RS configuration is modified to be less than 24 RBs.

[0191] In a 32nd aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the UE performs the following operations: receiving bandwidth information of an associated BWP of a connected mode UE for RS configuration; and determining a bandwidth for RS transmission based on the bandwidth information.

[0192] In a thirty-third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the RS is a TRS monitored by a connected mode UE, and wherein the bandwidth of the associated BWP of the connected mode UE is less than 52 resource blocks (RBs).

[0193] In a thirty-fourth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the UE uses the RS configuration for connected mode as the RS configuration for unconnected mode, and the unconnected mode UE receives the RS based on the bandwidth indicated by the RS configuration.

[0194] In a thirty-fifth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the UE performs the following operations: receiving bandwidth information of an associated BWP of a connected mode UE for RS configuration; and determining a bandwidth for RS transmission based on the bandwidth information.

[0195] In a thirty-sixth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, QCL information is indicated by a TCI state, wherein each RS resource is QCLed with one SSB.

[0196] In a thirty-seventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, RS resources that are QCL with one SSB have the same beam direction, beam width, or both.

[0197] In a thirty-eighth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, an RS resource that is QCL with one SSB has a first beam within a second beam of the SSB.

[0198] In a thirty-ninth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, multiple RSs are QCLed with the same SSB.

[0199] In a fortieth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, multiple RS resources are configured for multiple SSBs, each RS resource corresponding to a different SSB.

[0200] In a forty-first aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the RS is transmitted using a wide beam.

[0201] In a 42nd aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, multiple RSs are received by a UE, and wherein each RS that is QCL with the same SSB has the same beam (e.g., beamwidth and direction).

[0202] In a 43rd aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the RS transmission overlaps with a downlink transmission, and wherein the downlink transmission is a PDCCH transmission or a PDSCH transmission.

[0203] In a 44th aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the PDCCH transmission is a paging DCI transmission or a paging indication (PI), and wherein the PDSCH transmission is a transmission scheduled by a paging DCI or a system information block (SIB).

[0204] In a 45th aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the UE performs the following operations: determining that the RS transmission is not sent.

[0205] In a 46th aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, a UE performs the following operations: determining that a downlink transmission is punctured by an RS transmission or is rate matched around an RS transmission.

[0206] In a 47th aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, a UE performs the following operation: determines that both an RS transmission and a downlink transmission are sent.

[0207] In a 48th aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the UE performs the following operations: moves from a first cell to another cell while in an unconnected mode; and switches to a second RS associated with the other cell to perform tracking loop updates and measurement operations.

[0208] In a 49th aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the UE performs the following operations after switching to the second RS: performing neighbor cell measurement using the RS associated with the first cell.

[0209] In a fiftieth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the UE performs the following operations: determining a number of downlink channel conditions; comparing the number of downlink channel conditions with a threshold; and in response to determining that the number of downlink channel conditions is greater than the threshold, receiving a second RS transmission from a single downlink transmission beam.

[0210] In the fifty-first aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the UE performs the following operations: determining a number of downlink channel conditions; comparing the number of downlink channel conditions with a threshold; and in response to determining that the number of downlink channel conditions is less than the threshold, receiving a second RS transmission from two or more downlink transmission beams.

[0211] In aspect 52, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the UE performs the following operations: determining the number of downlink channel conditions for downlink transmission beams associated with each SSB; comparing the number of downlink channel conditions associated with more than one SSB to determine the highest number of downlink channel conditions; and switching to / selecting a specific SSB corresponding to the determined highest number of downlink channel conditions.

[0212] In a fifty-third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the quantity of downlink channel conditions comprises SINR, SNR, RSRP, RSRQ, or RSSI.

[0213] In a fifty-fourth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the RS configuration includes repetition setting, port number setting, period setting, frequency domain density setting, and power control offset setting.

[0214] In a fifty-fifth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the repeat setting in the RS configuration is set to on.

[0215] In a fifty-sixth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the number of ports setting in the RS configuration is set to 1.

[0216] Thus, operating in accordance with one or more aspects, a wireless communication device can utilize a connected mode RS in an unconnected mode. By performing enhanced unconnected mode RS operations, throughput and reliability can be improved, and such operations can achieve enhancements when operating in an unconnected mode.

[0217] Figure 12 is a flow diagram illustrating example blocks executed by a network entity (such as a base station) configured according to one aspect of the present disclosure. Figure 14 As shown, the example blocks will also be described with respect to base station 105. Figure 14 is a block diagram illustrating a base station 105 configured according to one aspect of the present disclosure. The base station 105 includes Figure 2 4 and / or 4. For example, the base station 105 includes a controller / processor 280 that operates to execute logic or computer instructions stored in a memory 282 and controls the components of the base station 105 that provide the features and functions of the base station 105. The base station 105 transmits and receives signals via wireless radios 1401a-t and antennas 234a-t under the control of the controller / processor 280. The wireless radios 1401a-t include, for example, Figure 2Various components and hardware are shown for base station 105, including modulators / demodulators 232a-r, MIMO detector 236, receive processor 238, transmit processor 220, and TX MIMO processor 230. Figure 14 As shown in the example of , the memory 282 stores a connected mode logic unit 1402 , an unconnected mode logic unit 1403 , an RS logic unit 1404 , RS configuration data 1405 , RS resource data 1406 , and setting data 1407 .

[0218] At block 1200, a wireless communication device, such as a base station 105, determines reference signal (RS) configuration settings for an unconnected mode UE. For example, the unconnected mode manager 440, the unconnected mode logic unit 1303, and / or the RS logic unit 1304 of the base station 105 determine RS configuration information for the unconnected mode UE, as described with reference to FIG. 4-10. The unconnected mode manager 440, the unconnected mode logic unit 1303, and / or the RS logic unit 1304 of the base station 105 may adjust existing RS settings to generate RS configuration information for the unconnected mode UE, or may generate RS configuration information for the unconnected mode UE based on one or more network conditions and / or rules.

[0219] At block 1201, the base station 105 generates an RS transmission for an unconnected mode UE. For example, the unconnected mode manager 440, the unconnected mode logic unit 1303, and / or the RS logic unit 1304 of the base station 105 use the RS configuration settings for the unconnected mode UE to generate an RS transmission 454 for the unconnected mode UE, as described with reference to FIG. Figure 4-10 For illustration, the RS logic unit 1304 of the base station 105 may adjust parameters of an existing RS or generate a new RS according to RS parameters indicated by the RS configuration settings. The RS may be used only for non-connected mode UEs or for both non-connected mode UEs and connected mode UEs.

[0220] At block 1202, the base station 105 sends an RS transmission based on the RS configuration settings. For example, the unconnected mode manager 440, unconnected mode logic unit 1303, and / or RS logic unit 1304 of the base station 105 use wireless radio units 1401a-t and antennas 234a-t to send RS transmission 454 according to the RS configuration (e.g., 444 / 1306), as described with reference to 4-10. For illustration, the RS logic unit 1304 of the base station 105 can adjust transmission parameters based on the RS configuration settings. RS transmission 454 can be used only for unconnected mode UEs or for both unconnected mode UEs and connected mode UEs. RS transmission 454 can include or correspond to PDCCH transmissions and / or PDSCH transmissions.

[0221] In other implementations, a network entity (e.g., base station 105) may perform additional blocks (or the network entity may be further configured to perform additional operations). For example, base station 105 may perform one or more of the operations described above. As another example, base station 105 may perform one or more aspects as given below.

[0222] In a first aspect, the RS transmission is connected mode RS.

[0223] In a second aspect, alone or in combination with the first aspect, the RS transmission is a dedicated unconnected mode RS.

[0224] In a third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the unconnected mode is an RRC inactive mode or an RRC idle mode.

[0225] In a fourth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the RS transmission is a CSI-RS.

[0226] In a fifth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the RS transmission is a TRS.

[0227] In a sixth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, a network entity (e.g., base station 105) performs the following operations: sending a paging message based on RS transmission; and transitioning a specific UE from a non-connected mode to a connected mode based on the paging message.

[0228] In a seventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, a network entity (eg, base station 105) performs the following operations: sending a broadcast message indicating RS configuration settings.

[0229] In an eighth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, a network entity performs the following operations: sending an RS configuration message indicating RS configuration settings; sending an RS transmission; and sending an RRC release message.

[0230] In a ninth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, determining RS configuration settings for unconnected mode includes determining RS configuration settings based on RS setting information for connected mode.

[0231] In a tenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the RS configuration for unconnected mode has a limited duration.

[0232] In an eleventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the RRC release message includes an RS availability indication, and wherein determining the RS configuration settings for the unconnected mode includes: determining the RS configuration settings based on the RS availability indication.

[0233] In a twelfth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the network entity performs the following operations: sending RS availability information in a message separate from the RRC release message, wherein determining the RS configuration settings for the unconnected mode includes: determining the RS configuration settings based on the RS availability information.

[0234] In a thirteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, determining RS configuration settings for unconnected mode includes determining RS configuration settings based on network entity setting information and RS configuration provided to the device in connected mode.

[0235] In a fourteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the RS availability information indicates a specific RS resource from a plurality of RS resources for connected mode devices, a specific RS resource set from a plurality of RS resource sets for connected mode devices, an expiration time of an RS configuration for an unconnected mode, or a combination thereof.

[0236] In a fifteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, a network entity performs the following operations: sending an RS configuration update message indicating an adjustment to the RS configuration.

[0237] In a sixteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, a network entity performs the following operations: determining whether an RS configuration adjustment condition has been met; and adjusting the RS configuration based on the RS configuration adjustment condition being met.

[0238] In a seventeenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, a first subcarrier spacing (SCS) of the RS transmission is the same as a second SCS of an active BWP of the device in unconnected mode.

[0239] In an eighteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the RS configuration information does not include subcarrier spacing (SCS) information.

[0240] In a nineteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the RS is received in an overlapping bandwidth between a first bandwidth of the RS indicated by an RS configuration setting and a second bandwidth of an active BWP of an unconnected device (or connected mode device).

[0241] In a twentieth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the RS configuration information includes carrier index information associated with a carrier on which the RS is transmitted.

[0242] In a twenty-first aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the RS is a CSI-RS or TRS monitored by a connected mode device, wherein the starting resource block (RB) of the associated BWP of the connected mode device is not in a step of 4, and wherein the bandwidth of the associated BWP of the connected mode device is not in a step of 4.

[0243] In aspect 22, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, for RS configuration for unconnected mode, the network entity modifies the bandwidth of the RS monitored by the connected mode device to a bandwidth with a granularity of 4RB and a starting RB with a granularity of 4RB.

[0244] In a twenty-third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, an RS configuration for connected mode is used as an RS configuration for unconnected mode.

[0245] In a twenty-fourth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, a bandwidth granularity of less than 4 RBs is used for RS configuration for non-connected mode UEs.

[0246] In a twenty-fifth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, a network entity performs the following operations: sending bandwidth information of an associated BWP for a connected mode UE configured for RS; and determining a bandwidth for RS transmission based on the bandwidth information.

[0247] In a twenty-sixth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the RS is a CSI-RS monitored by a connected mode device, and wherein the bandwidth of the associated BWP of the connected mode UE is less than 24 resource blocks (RBs).

[0248] In a twenty-seventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the network entity uses the RS configuration for connected mode as the RS configuration for unconnected mode, and the unconnected mode device receives the RS based on the bandwidth indicated by the RS configuration.

[0249] In a twenty-eighth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the network entity modifies the bandwidth used for RS configuration to be less than 24 RBs.

[0250] In a twenty-ninth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, a network entity performs the following operations: sending bandwidth information of an associated BWP for a connected mode device configured for RS; and determining a bandwidth for RS transmission based on the bandwidth information.

[0251] In a thirtieth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the RS is a TRS monitored by a connected mode device, and wherein the bandwidth of the associated BWP of the connected mode UE is less than 52 resource blocks (RBs).

[0252] In a thirty-first aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the network entity uses the RS configuration for the connected mode as the RS configuration for the unconnected mode, and the unconnected mode device receives the RS based on the bandwidth indicated by the RS configuration.

[0253] In a 32nd aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, a network entity performs the following operations: receiving bandwidth information of a BWP associated with a connected mode device for RS configuration; and determining a bandwidth for RS transmission based on the bandwidth information.

[0254] In a thirty-third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, QCL information is indicated by a TCI state, wherein each RS resource is QCLed with one SSB.

[0255] In a thirty-fourth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, RS resources that are QCL with one SSB have the same beam direction, beam width, or both.

[0256] In a thirty-fifth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, an RS resource that is QCL with one SSB has a first beam within a second beam of the SSB.

[0257] In a thirty-sixth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, multiple RSs are QCLed with the same SSB.

[0258] In a thirty-seventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, multiple RS resources are configured for multiple SSBs, each RS resource corresponding to a different SSB.

[0259] In a thirty-eighth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the RS is transmitted using a wide beam.

[0260] In a thirty-ninth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, multiple RSs are received by a UE, and wherein each RS that is QCL with the same SSB has the same beam.

[0261] In a 40th aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, RS transmission overlaps with a downlink transmission, and wherein the downlink transmission is a PDCCH transmission or a PDSCH transmission.

[0262] In the forty-first aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the PDCCH transmission is a paging DCI transmission or a paging indication (PI), and wherein the PDSCH transmission is a transmission scheduled by the paging DCI or a system information block (SIB).

[0263] In a 42nd aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, a network entity performs the following operations: determining that a downlink transmission is punctured by an RS transmission or is rate matched around an RS transmission.

[0264] In a 43rd aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, a network entity performs the following operations: determines to send RS transmission and downlink transmission.

[0265] In a 44th aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the RS configuration includes repetition setting, port number setting, period setting, frequency domain density setting and power control offset setting.

[0266] In a 45th aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the network entity adjusts the repetition setting in the RS configuration to on.

[0267] In a 46th aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the above aspects, the network entity reduces the number of ports configured for the RS to one.

[0268] Thus, operating in accordance with one or more aspects, a wireless communication device can utilize a connected mode RS in an unconnected mode. By performing enhanced unconnected mode RS operations, throughput and reliability can be improved, and such operations can achieve enhancements when operating in an unconnected mode.

[0269] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that information and signals may be represented using any of a variety of different techniques and methods. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be mentioned throughout the above description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof.

[0270] This article is about Figure 1-14 The components, functional blocks, and modules described may include processors, electronic devices, hardware devices, electronic components, logical circuits, memories, software codes, firmware codes, and other examples or any combination thereof. In addition, the features discussed herein may be implemented via dedicated processor circuits, via executable instructions, or a combination thereof.

[0271] What the technician will also understand is that the various illustrative logic blocks, modules, circuits and algorithm steps described in conjunction with the disclosure herein can be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software or a combination of the two. In order to clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits and steps have been generally described above around their functions. Whether such function is implemented as hardware or software depends on specific application and the design constraints imposed on the entire system. The technician can, for each specific application, implement the described function in an alternative manner, but such implementation decision-making should not be interpreted as causing departure from the scope of the present disclosure. What the technician will also easily recognize is that the components, methods or interactive order or combination described herein are only examples, and the components, methods or interactive aspects of the present disclosure can be combined or performed in a manner different from those shown and described herein.

[0272] The various illustrative logics, logic blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithmic processes described in conjunction with the implementations disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination of both. The interchangeability of hardware and software has been generally described and illustrated in the various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and processes described above with respect to functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends on the specific application and the design constraints imposed on the overall system.

[0273] The hardware and data processing apparatus for implementing the various illustrative logics, logic blocks, modules, and circuits described in conjunction with the various aspects disclosed herein may be implemented or performed using a general-purpose single-chip or multi-chip processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. In some implementations, a processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, such as a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in combination with a DSP core, or any other such configuration. In some implementations, a particular process or method may be performed by circuits specific to a given function.

[0274] In one or more aspects, the functions described may be implemented in hardware, digital electronic circuitry, computer software, firmware (including the structures disclosed in this specification and their structural equivalents), or any combination thereof. Implementations of the subject matter described in this specification may also be implemented as one or more computer programs, i.e., one or more modules of computer program instructions, encoded on computer storage media for execution by, or to control the operation of, data processing apparatus.

[0275] If implemented in software, the functions may be stored in or transmitted through a computer-readable medium as one or more instructions or codes. The process of the method or algorithm disclosed herein may be implemented in a processing executable software module that may reside on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media include both computer storage media and communication media, and the communication media include any medium that can realize the transfer of a computer program from one place to another. The storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example and not limitation, such computer-readable media may include random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage device, or any other medium that can be used to store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer. In addition, any connection may be appropriately referred to as a computer-readable medium. As used herein, "disk" and "optical disk" include compact discs (CDs), laser discs, optical discs, digital versatile discs (DVDs), floppy disks, and Blu-ray discs, where disks typically reproduce data magnetically, while optical discs typically utilize lasers to reproduce data optically. The above combinations should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media. In addition, the operations of a method or algorithm may reside on a machine-readable medium and a computer-readable medium as any one or any combination or set of codes and instructions, which may be incorporated into a computer program product.

[0276] Various modifications to the implementations described in this disclosure will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other implementations without departing from the spirit or scope of this disclosure. Therefore, the claims are not intended to be limited to the implementations shown herein, but are to be accorded the widest scope consistent with this disclosure, the principles, and the novel features disclosed herein.

[0277] Additionally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the terms "upper" and "lower" are sometimes used for ease of describing the drawings and indicate relative positions corresponding to the orientation of the drawings on a correctly oriented page and may not reflect the correct orientation of any device as implemented.

[0278] Certain features described in this specification in the context of separate implementations may also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features described in the context of a single implementation may also be implemented in multiple implementations individually or in any suitable subcombination. Furthermore, while features may be described above as functioning in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, in some cases one or more features from a claimed combination may be removed from that combination, and a claimed combination may involve subcombinations or variations of subcombinations.

[0279] Similarly, although operations are depicted in a particular order in the figures, this should not be understood as requiring such operations to be performed in the particular order shown or in a sequential order or to perform all the operations shown to achieve the desired result. Further, the accompanying drawings may schematically depict one or more exemplary processes in the form of a flow chart diagram. However, other operations not depicted can be incorporated into the exemplary processes schematically illustrated. For example, one or more additional operations can be performed before, after, simultaneously, or between any of the operations illustrated. In some cases, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. In addition, the separation of the various system components in the implementation described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all implementations, but rather it should be understood that the described program components and systems can generally be integrated together in a single software product, or packaged as multiple software products. In addition, some other implementations are within the scope of the appended claims. In some cases, the actions recorded in the claims can be performed in different orders and still achieve the desired result.

[0280] As used herein (including in the claims), the term "or," when used in conjunction with a list of two or more items, means that any one of the listed items may be employed alone, or any combination of two or more of the listed items may be employed. For example, if a composition is described as comprising components A, B, or C, the composition may comprise: only A; only B; only C; a combination of A and B; a combination of A and C; a combination of B and C; or a combination of A, B, and C. Furthermore, as used herein (including in the claims), "or," as used in conjunction with a list of items ending with "at least one of," indicates a disjunctive list, such that, for example, a list of "at least one of A, B, or C" means A or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (i.e., A and B and C), or any combination of any of these items. As understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, the term "substantially" is defined as specifying to a large extent, but not necessarily completely (and includes specifying; e.g., substantially 90 degrees includes 90 degrees, and substantially parallel includes parallel). In any disclosed implementation, the term "substantially" may be replaced with "within a specified [percentage]," where percentages include 0.1, 1, 5, or 10%.

[0281] The foregoing description of the present disclosure is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present disclosure. Various modifications to the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the overall principles defined herein may be applied to other variations without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the examples and designs described herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

[0282] Configuration in reference signals and UE-specific messages for idle and inactive UEs

[0283] IDF 2100010

[0284] appendix

[0285] TRS / CSI-RS for idle / inactive mode UEs

[0286] We recommend using TRS / CSI-RS (or RS in the rest of the slides) that has been configured for connected mode UEs for idle / inactive mode UEs. Some design preferences are:

[0287] o Idle / inactive mode UEs use RS to help receive paging.

[0288] oRS transmits on multiple SSB beams, just like paging.

[0289] • Connected mode UEs typically use narrower beams than SSB beams, and RSs may not be quasi-co-located with all SSBs transmitted in a cell.

[0290] o No blind detection of RSs updated by idle / inactive UE tracking cycles.

[0291] The network provides the configuration parameters and lifecycle / availability of RS.

[0292] o Due to the periodic behavior (paging reception) of idle / inactive UEs, periodic RS is sufficient.

[0293] • Aperiodic RS may be more helpful for transient behaviors, such as UE being paged (WUS).

[0294] While Rel-17 may adopt restrictions on reusing RSs of connected mode UEs for idle / inactive UEs, the discussion and suggestions in this invention cover this case as well as the case of configuring dedicated RSs for idle / inactive mode UEs that may occur in Rel-18.

[0295] a) Specify methods to provide potential TRS / CSI-RS scenarios that are feasible in connected mode to idle / inactive mode UEs, minimizing the system overhead impact [RAN1]

[0296] Note: Always-on TRS / CSI-RS transmission by gNodeB is not required

[0297] TRS / CSI-RS Configuration - Traditional Design Overview

[0298]

[0299] SCS and bandwidth

[0300] • This paper discusses the determination of SCS and bandwidth of RS for idle / inactive UEs.

[0301] Proposal 1: For RS configured for connected mode UEs to be reused by idle / inactive UEs, the SCS of the RS in the associated BWP should be the same as the active BWP SCS of the idle / inactive UE

[0302] o Since the UE only wants to receive RS with the same SCS as that of its active BWP, there is no need to explicitly configure the SCS of the RS for idle / inactive UEs.

[0303] • Proposal 2: Receive RS in the overlapping bandwidth between the RS bandwidth monitored by connected mode UEs and the active BWP bandwidth of idle / inactive UEs.

[0304] o Idle / inactive UEs make no assumptions whether the configured RS is transmitted outside of their active BWP.

[0305] Proposal 3: Include carrier index in RS configuration for idle / inactive UEs.

[0306] o If the carrier index is not associated with the current serving cell, the RS can be used for neighbor cell measurements, or for serving cell tracking and measurements after the cell reselects to the carrier.

[0307] When the UE camps on a cell associated with that carrier index, the UE starts monitoring the RS associated with that carrier index instead of the RS associated with the serving cell.

[0308] bandwidth

[0309] For RS configured as connected mode UE, when these parameters are determined by the active BWP bandwidth range of the connected UE, the actual lowest RB index and bandwidth may not have a step size of 4 RB, and the actual bandwidth of the RS may not be >= 24 RB for CSI-RS and >= 52 RB for TRS.

[0310] ο Proposal 4: For the 4RB step size problem:

[0311] Option 1: Truncate the RS bandwidth monitored by the connected UE into a 4 RB grid.

[0312] Option 2: Use the original RS configuration and assume that the RS transmits in the entire configured bandwidth.

[0313] • Option 3: Modify RS configuration signaling to provide finer granularity than 4 RB (eg, 1 RB).

[0314] Option 4: Provide BWP configuration with associated BWP for connected UEs so that idle / inactive UEs can calculate connected mode

[0315] RS bandwidth monitored by the UE.

[0316] Proposal 5: For the CSI-RS bandwidth < 24 RB problem:

[0317] • Option 1: Not desired, ie idle / inactive UEs do not use such RS.

[0318] Option 2: Use the original RS configuration.

[0319] Option 3: Modify RS configuration signaling to include bandwidth < 24 RB.

[0320] Option 4: Provides connected mode BWP configuration.

[0321] Proposal 6: For TRS bandwidth < 54 RB:

[0322] Option 1: No expectations.

[0323] Option 2: Use the original RS configuration.

[0324] Option 3: Provide connected mode BWP configuration.

[0325]

[0326] QCL Information

[0327] Proposal 7: Quasi-co-located (QCL) information:

[0328] o When the RS is configured as an idle / inactive UE, the base station configures the QCL of the RS (ie, the RS that has been configured as a connected mode UE) through the TCI state with SSB as the source.

[0329] o Each RS source is quasi-co-located with only one SSB, since paging is associated with a single SSB.

[0330] o The base station sends RS in a wide SSB beam to idle / inactive UEs in order to match the beam of the RS with the beam of the paging PDCCH and the paging message.

[0331] Generally speaking, paging for idle / inactive mode UEs is sent in SSB beams, but CSI-RS for connected mode UEs can be sent in narrower and wider directional beams.

[0332] o What if an idle / inactive UE is configured with multiple RSs quasi-co-located with the same SSB?

[0333] Priority: All RSs quasi-co-located with the same SSB have the same beam (including beam width and direction).

[0334] *Then the UE does not need to perform finer beam management based on beams finer than SSB.

[0335] o For idle / inactive mode UEs, multiple RS resources associated with different SSBs need to be configured.

[0336] The CSI-RS used for beam failure recovery or radio link failure (RLF) detection for connected mode UEs may have wide beams. The CSI-RS resource sets configured to the UE for beam failure recovery / RLF may be associated with all SSBs. Therefore, they can be suitable candidates for paging reception by idle / inactive UEs.

[0337] • In general, in order to have enough RSs quasi-co-located with all SSBs transmitted on a cell, RSs need to be configured for multiple connected UEs.

[0338] RS overlaps with PDCCH / PDSCH

[0339] What if the RS overlaps with symbols of downlink channels including PDCCH and PDSCH?

[0340] o PDCCH may include:

[0341] Paging DC1 in PDCC

[0342] • PDCCH-based wake-up signal (WUS), or sometimes also called early paging indication.

[0343] oPDSCH may include:

[0344] PDSCH scheduled by paging DCI.

[0345] • PDSCH carries system information blocks (SIBs).

[0346] Proposal 8: Some options for overlapping situations:

[0347] o Option 1: It is not desirable for such RS configuration to cause overlap.

[0348] o Option 2: If the configured RS occasions overlap, the UE assumes that no RS is sent.

[0349] o Option 3: The UE assumes puncturing or rate matching of the downlink channels (ie, PDCCH / PDSCH) around the RS.

[0350] o Option 4: UE assumes to send both RS and downlink channels.

[0351]

[0352] RS switching

[0353] Proposal 9: When an idle / inactive mode UE moves to another cell.

[0354] o The UE switches to the RS associated with the new cell for tracking cycle updates and measurements.

[0355] o The UE can still use the RS in the old cell for neighbor cell measurements.

[0356] ·Proposal 10:

[0357] o When the SNR is high (multi-beam combining is not required), when the best SSB changes, the UE starts using the RS associated with the new best SSB.

[0358] o When the SNR is low (requiring multi-beam combining), the UE may still use the RS associated with the old best SSB and receive paging from the beam of that SSB.

[0359]

[0360] Other configurations

[0361] Proposal 11: Additional configuration of RS for idle / inactive mode UEs:

[0362] Repetition in the CSI-RS configuration may be set to “on” to allow the UE to process more symbols of CSI-RS that are quasi-co-located with the same SSB.

[0363] o Number of ports in RS configuration: When the RS is a CSI-RS, the network may reduce the number of configured ports (e.g., to 1).

[0364] • For example, the UE may assume a single port transmission of CSI-RS, eg, port 0.

[0365] • TRS is sent only on a single port, so the base station does not indicate the port information.

[0366] οperiodicityAndOffset: Change it to a relatively large period to avoid downlink signal and power eavesdropping.

[0367] Currently, the minimum period of CSI-RS is 4 time slots, and the minimum period of TRS is 10ms (<=52RB).

[0368] Only CSI-RS with a certain high density is suitable for time tracking.

[0369] • For example, single-port CSI-RS and TRS have the highest density 3.

[0370] PowerControlOffset: When RS is used for idle / inactive UEs, this parameter indicates the power difference between RS and the associated paging PDCCH and paging PDSCH.

[0371] oPowerConfrolOffsetSS: When RS is used for idle / inactive UEs, this parameter indicates the power difference between RS and quasi-co-located SSB.

[0372] How to configure RS

[0373]

[0374] How to configure RS

[0375] Proposal 15: “RS availability information” may include the following information:

[0376] o After the UE enters idle / inactive mode, whether any RS(s) configured in connected mode are available.

[0377] • As mentioned above, the RSs only include those that can be used by idle / inactive UEs.

[0378] o If multiple RS resources have been configured on the UE in connected mode, which RS is available.

[0379] For example, a specific one, e.g., the RS resource with the lowest ID, the number of N RS resources with the N lowest IDs, all configured RS resources, etc., or if the network provides explicit messaging, then explicitly based on a list of configured RS IDs (Rec. 13). (The ID can be a resource set ID or a resource ID associated with an RS resource group).

[0380] o When the UE enters inactive / idle mode, the UE may assume an expiration time during which the RS is available, which may be in milliseconds, time slots, radio frames, paging cycles, etc., or may be infinite.

[0381] Proposal 16: When the UE enters the idle / inactive state, the configuration parameters of the RS can be updated via messages (Proposal 13) or according to rules defined in the standard (Proposal 14), as discussed in earlier proposals:

[0382] o Number of ports: For example, if the CSI-RS configured for active mode UE has multiple ports, a single port

[0383] οperiodicityAndOffset: Increase the periodicity of RS and powerOffset

[0384] o QCL information: Update TCL status to use SSB as QCL source, etc.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communication, comprising: By user equipment (UE) operating in unconnected mode; determining, by the UE, a reference signal (RS) configuration setting for the unconnected mode; monitoring, by the UE, a reference signal based on the RS configuration setting; as well as RS transmission is received by the UE in the unconnected mode based on the RS configuration setting, wherein the RS configuration setting corresponds to the RS configuration provided to the UE in the connected mode, and each RS resource used for the unconnected mode is quasi-co-located with a synchronization signal block (SSB).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein The RS transmission is a connected mode RS transmission or a dedicated unconnected mode RS transmission.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein The unconnected mode is a radio resource control (RRC) inactive mode or an RRC idle mode.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein The RS transmission is a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) or a tracking reference signal (TRS).

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein The RS transmission is a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) or a tracking reference signal (TRS), and the method further includes: receiving, by the UE, a paging message based on the RS transmission; and The UE is switched from the unconnected mode to the connected mode based on the paging message.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: Before operating in the unconnected mode, do the following: Receiving, by the UE when in the connected mode, an RS configuration from a network entity; receiving, by the UE while in the connected mode, an RS transmission from the network entity; as well as A radio resource control (RRC) release message is received by the UE from the network entity.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein: Determining the RS configuration settings for the unconnected mode includes: The RS configuration settings are determined based on the received RS setting information for the connected mode.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein: The RS configuration for the unconnected mode has a limited duration.

9. The method according to claim 6, further comprising: RS availability information is received by the UE in a message separate from the RRC release message, wherein determining the RS configuration setting for the unconnected mode comprises determining the RS configuration setting based on the RS availability information.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein: The message, separate from the RRC release message, comprises a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) message.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein The RS availability information indicates a specific RS resource from among a plurality of RS resources for connected mode UEs, a specific RS resource set from among a plurality of RS resource sets for connected mode UEs, an expiration time of the RS configuration for the unconnected mode, or a combination thereof.

12. An apparatus configured for wireless communication, the apparatus comprising: a memory storing processor-readable code; as well as at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory, the at least one processor configured to: By user equipment (UE) operating in unconnected mode; determining, by the UE, a reference signal (RS) configuration setting for the unconnected mode; monitoring, by the UE, a reference signal based on the RS configuration setting; as well as RS transmission is received by the UE in the unconnected mode based on the RS configuration setting, wherein the RS configuration setting corresponds to the RS configuration provided to the UE in the connected mode, and each RS resource used for the unconnected mode is quasi-co-located with a synchronization signal block (SSB).

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein The processor is further configured to perform the following operations: RS availability information is received, wherein the RS availability information indicates which RS resource is available when a plurality of RS resources have been configured for the UE in connected mode.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein The plurality of RS resources are indicated by a list of configured identifiers of the plurality of RS resources.

15. The device according to claim 12, wherein The processor is further configured to perform the following operations: RS availability information is received, wherein the RS availability information indicates an expiration time in a paging cycle during which RS resources are available when the UE enters a radio resource control (RRC) inactive mode or an idle mode.

16. The device according to claim 12, wherein The first subcarrier spacing (SCS) of the RS transmission is the same as the second SCS of the active bandwidth part (BWP) of the connected mode UE.

17. The device according to claim 12, wherein The processor is further configured to perform the following operations: RS configuration information indicating the RS configuration setting is received, wherein the RS configuration information does not include subcarrier spacing (SCS) information.

18. The device according to claim 12, wherein The RS is received in an overlapping bandwidth between a first bandwidth of the RS indicated by the RS configuration setting and a second bandwidth of an active bandwidth part (BWP) of the non-connected mode UE.

19. The device according to claim 12, wherein The RS is a CSI-RS or TRS monitored by a connected mode UE, wherein a starting resource block (RB) of an associated bandwidth part (BWP) of the connected mode UE is not in a step of 4, and wherein a bandwidth of the associated BWP of the connected mode UE is not in a step of 4.

20. The device according to claim 12, wherein The RS is a CSI-RS monitored by a connected mode UE, and wherein a bandwidth of an associated bandwidth part (BWP) of the connected mode UE is less than 24 resource blocks (RBs).

21. The device according to claim 12, wherein The RS is a TRS monitored by a connected mode UE, and wherein a bandwidth of an associated bandwidth part (BWP) of the connected mode UE is less than 52 resource blocks (RBs).

22. An apparatus configured for wireless communication, the apparatus comprising: means for operating in an unconnected mode by a user equipment (UE); means for determining, by the UE, a reference signal (RS) configuration setting for the unconnected mode; means for monitoring, by the UE, a reference signal based on the RS configuration setting; as well as and means for receiving, by the UE, an RS transmission in the unconnected mode based on the RS configuration setting, wherein the RS configuration setting corresponds to the RS configuration provided to the UE in the connected mode, and each RS resource used for the unconnected mode is quasi-co-located with a synchronization signal block (SSB).

23. The device according to claim 22, wherein Quasi co-location information is indicated by the TCI status.

24. The device according to claim 23, wherein A specific RS resource that is quasi-co-located with an SSB has the same beam direction, beam width, or both.

25. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein Multiple RS resources are quasi-co-located with the same SSB.

26. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein Multiple RS resources are configured for multiple SSBs, and each RS resource corresponds to a different SSB.

27. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising: By user equipment (UE) operating in unconnected mode; determining, by the UE, a reference signal (RS) configuration setting for the unconnected mode; monitoring, by the UE, a reference signal based on the RS configuration setting; as well as RS transmission is received by the UE in the unconnected mode based on the RS configuration setting, wherein the RS configuration setting corresponds to the RS configuration provided to the UE in the connected mode, and each RS resource used for the unconnected mode is quasi-co-located with a synchronization signal block (SSB).

28. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein: Multiple RSs are received by the UE, and each RS that is quasi-co-located with the same SSB has the same beam.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein: The RS configuration settings include period settings, power control offset settings, or both.

30. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 29, wherein: The RS configuration setting includes the periodicity setting, and wherein the periodicity setting includes a periodicityAndOffset resource.

31. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein: The RS configuration setting includes the power control offset setting, wherein the power control offset setting includes a powerControlOffset resource, and wherein the powerControlOffset resource indicates a power difference between the RS transmission and associated paging PDCCH and paging PDSCH messages, or a power difference between the RS transmission and a quasi-co-located synchronization signal block (SSB) transmission.

32. A method of wireless communication, comprising: Determining, by a network entity, a reference signal (RS) configuration setting for an unconnected mode user equipment (UE); generating, by the network entity, an RS transmission for an unconnected mode UE; as well as The RS transmission is sent by the network entity based on the RS configuration setting, wherein the RS configuration setting corresponds to the RS configuration provided to the UE in the connected mode, and each RS resource used for the unconnected mode is quasi-co-located with a synchronization signal block (SSB).

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein The first subcarrier spacing (SCS) of the RS transmission is the same as the second SCS of the active bandwidth part (BWP) of the connected mode UE.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein: The RS transmission is received in an overlapping bandwidth between a first bandwidth of the RS indicated by the RS configuration setting and a second bandwidth of an active bandwidth part (BWP) of the non-connected mode UE.

35. An apparatus configured for wireless communication, the apparatus comprising: a memory storing processor-readable code; as well as at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory, the at least one processor configured to: Determining, by a network entity, a reference signal (RS) configuration setting for an unconnected mode user equipment (UE); generating, by the network entity, an RS transmission for an unconnected mode UE; as well as The RS transmission is sent by the network entity based on the RS configuration setting, wherein the RS configuration setting corresponds to the RS configuration provided to the UE in the connected mode, and each RS resource used for the unconnected mode is quasi-co-located with a synchronization signal block (SSB).

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein: The first subcarrier spacing (SCS) of the RS transmission is the same as the second SCS of the active bandwidth part (BWP) of the connected mode UE.

37. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein: The RS transmission is received in an overlapping bandwidth between a first bandwidth of the RS indicated by the RS configuration setting and a second bandwidth of an active bandwidth part (BWP) of the non-connected mode UE.

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