Apparatus, method and computer program

Abstract

There is provided a method, an apparatus and a computer program for causing a user equipment to perform the following: receiving, from a first network node, first information activating an identifier associated with a target network node; determining to transmit random access channel signaling using a configuration corresponding to the identifier associated with the target network node; and transmitting the random access channel signaling.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The examples described herein relate generally to apparatus, methods and computer programs, and more particularly (but not exclusively) to apparatus, methods for apparatus and computer programs. Background Art

[0002] A communication system may be viewed as a facility that enables communication sessions between two or more entities, such as communication devices, base stations, and / or other nodes, by providing carrier waves between the various entities involved in the communication path.

[0003] The communication system may be a wireless communication system. Examples of wireless systems include public land mobile networks (PLMNs) operating based on radio standards (such as those provided by 3GPP), satellite-based communication systems, and different wireless local area networks, such as wireless local area networks (WLANs). Wireless systems are typically divided into cells and are therefore often referred to as cellular systems.

[0004] Communication systems and associated devices typically operate according to a given standard or specification, which specifies what the various entities associated with the system are allowed to do and how it should be achieved. Communication protocols and / or parameters that should be used for the connection are also typically defined. An example of a standard is the so-called 5G standard. Summary of the invention

[0005] According to a first aspect, a method for a user equipment is provided, the method comprising: receiving first information to activate an identifier associated with a target network node from a first network node; determining to transmit random access channel signaling using a configuration corresponding to the identifier associated with the target network node; and transmitting the random access channel signaling.

[0006] The determination may include: monitoring an instruction from the first network node to transmit random access channel signaling using a configuration corresponding to the identifier associated with the target network node during a first predetermined time period; and when no instruction is received during the first predetermined time period, determining to transmit the random access channel signaling using a configuration corresponding to the identifier associated with the target network node.

[0007] The determination may include: determining that the uplink transmission timing for transmitting the uplink transmission to the target network node is misaligned relative to the reception of the uplink transmission at the target network node; and in response to determining the misalignment, determining to transmit the random access channel signaling using a configuration corresponding to the identifier associated with the target network node.

[0008] The determining to transmit may be performed in response to determining that a timing alignment adjustment by the user equipment is unable to correct the misalignment.

[0009] The receiving may include a handover command, and the determining may include: in response to determining that the handover command involves a physical cell identifier different from a physical cell identifier associated with the first network node, determining to transmit the random access channel signaling using a configuration corresponding to the identifier of the target network node.

[0010] The method may include: receiving a random access response to the random access channel signaling from the target network node during a second predetermined time period; and in response to the received random access, configuring uplink and / or downlink communications with the target network node using spatial information associated with the identifier associated with the target network node.

[0011] The method may include: monitoring a random access response to the random access channel signaling received from the target network node during a second predetermined time period; and after the second predetermined time period expires without receiving the random access response, using spatial information associated with the identifier associated with the target network node to configure uplink and / or downlink communications with the target network node.

[0012] The handoff command may include a conditional handoff command.

[0013] The determining may include identifying that the identification associated with the target network node has been activated by receiving spatial information and / or power control parameters associated with the identifier associated with the target network node.

[0014] The method may include receiving spatial information and / or power control parameters associated with the identifier associated with the target network node via at least one of downlink control information, and / or a medium access control element and / or a configuration for sounding reference signal signaling.

[0015] The method may include identifying spatial information associated with the identifier associated with the target network node; and configuring uplink and / or downlink communications with the target network node using the spatial information.

[0016] The method may comprise receiving a calculated timing advance configuration from at least one of a first and a target network node to apply to transmissions to the target network node, and transmitting to the target network node after applying the received calculated timing advance configuration.

[0017] The identifier associated with the target network node may include at least one of: a physical cell identity identifier, a timing advance group identifier, a control resource set pool index, a transmit receive point identifier, at least one transmit configuration indicator state, at least one spatial relationship identifier and / or at least one power control parameter set configuration.

[0018] The first information may include at least one of: spatially related information for at least one uplink channel or transmission; power control parameter set information; an identifier of the target network node; a sounding reference signal resource indicator; a spatially related information update for a sounding reference signal resource indicator; and / or a transmission configuration indicator status.

[0019] The first network node may include at least one of the target network node or a network node different from the target network node.

[0020] According to a second aspect, a method for a system is provided, the system comprising: a user equipment configured to perform the method according to any one of the first aspects; the first network node; and the target network node, the method further comprising: after the user equipment receives the first information activating the identifier associated with the target network node, receiving the random access channel signaling from the user equipment at the target network node; calculating a timing advance configuration on at least one of the first and target network nodes, which will be applied by the user equipment to the transmission of the user equipment to the target transmit receiving point; and causing at least one of the first and target network nodes to send the calculated timing advance configuration signaling to the user equipment to change the transmission time of the transmission to the target transmit receiving point.

[0021] The identifier associated with the target network node may include at least one of: a physical cell identity identifier, a timing advance group identifier, a control resource set pool index, a transmit receive point identifier, at least one transmit configuration indicator state, at least one spatial relationship identifier and / or at least one power control parameter set configuration.

[0022] The first information may include at least one of: spatially related information for at least one uplink channel or transmission; power control parameter set information; an identifier of the target network node; a sounding reference signal resource indicator; a spatially related information update for a sounding reference signal resource indicator; and / or a transmission configuration indicator status.

[0023] The first network node may include at least one of the target network node or a network node different from the target network node.

[0024] According to a third aspect, a device for a user equipment is provided, the device comprising means for: receiving first information for activating an identifier associated with a target network node from a first network node and a target network node; determining to transmit random access channel signaling using a configuration corresponding to the identifier associated with the target network node; and transmitting the random access channel signaling.

[0025] The means for determining may include means for performing the following: monitoring an instruction from the first and / or target network node to transmit random access channel signaling using a configuration corresponding to an identifier associated with the target network node during a first predetermined time period; and when no instruction is received during the first predetermined time period, determining to transmit the random access channel signaling using a configuration corresponding to the identifier associated with the target network node.

[0026] The device for determining may include a device for performing the following: determining an uplink transmission timing for transmitting an uplink transmission to the target network node relative to a reception misalignment of the uplink transmission at the target network node; and in response to determining the misalignment, determining to transmit the random access channel signaling using a configuration corresponding to the identifier associated with the target network node.

[0027] The means for determining to transmit may be performed in response to determining that a timing alignment adjustment by the user equipment is unable to correct the misalignment.

[0028] The means for receiving may include means for receiving a handover command, and the means for determining may include means for performing the following: in response to determining that the handover command involves a physical cell identifier different from a physical cell identifier associated with the first network node, determining to transmit the random access channel signaling using a configuration corresponding to an identifier associated with a target network node.

[0029] The apparatus may include means for receiving a random access response to the random access channel signaling from the target network node during a second predetermined time period; and in response to the received random access, configuring uplink and / or downlink communications with the target network node using spatial information associated with the identifier associated with the target network node.

[0030] The apparatus may include means for monitoring a random access response to the random access channel signaling received from the target network node during a second predetermined time period; and after expiration of the second predetermined time period without receiving the random access response, configuring uplink and / or downlink communications with the target network node using spatial information associated with the identifier associated with the target network node.

[0031] The handoff command may include a conditional handoff command.

[0032] The means for determining may include means for identifying that the identifier associated with the target network node has been activated by receiving spatial information and / or power control parameters associated with the identifier associated with the target network node.

[0033] The apparatus may include means for receiving the spatial information and / or power control parameters associated with the identifier associated with the target network node via at least one of downlink control information, and / or a medium access control control element and / or a configuration for sounding reference signal signaling.

[0034] The apparatus may include means for identifying spatial information associated with the identifier associated with the target network node; and configuring uplink and / or downlink communications with the target network node using the spatial information.

[0035] The apparatus may include means for receiving a calculated timing advance configuration from at least one of the first and target network nodes to apply to transmissions to the target network node; and transmitting to the target network node after applying the received calculated timing advance configuration.

[0036] The identifier associated with the target network node may include at least one of: a physical cell identity identifier, a timing advance group identifier, a control resource set pool index, a transmit receive point identifier, at least one transmit configuration indicator state, at least one spatial relationship identifier and / or at least one power control parameter set configuration.

[0037] The first information may include at least one of: spatially related information for at least one uplink channel or transmission; power control parameter set information; an identifier of the target network node; a sounding reference signal resource indicator; a spatially related information update for a sounding reference signal resource indicator; and / or a transmission configuration indicator status.

[0038] The first network node may include at least one of the target network node or a network node different from the target network node.

[0039] According to a fourth aspect, a system is provided, comprising: a user equipment according to any aspect of the third aspect; the first network node; and a target network node, wherein the target network node comprises a device for signaling the random access channel from the user equipment after the user equipment receives the first information activating the identifier associated with the target network node, at least one of the first and target network nodes comprises a device for calculating a timing advance configuration applied by the user equipment for transmission by the user equipment to the target transmit reception point, and at least one of the first and target nodes comprises a device for causing the calculated timing advance configuration to be signaled to the user equipment to change the transmission time of the transmission to the target transmit reception point.

[0040] The identifier associated with the target network node may include at least one of: a physical cell identity identifier, a timing advance group identifier, a control resource set pool index, a transmit receive point identifier, at least one transmit configuration indicator state, at least one spatial relationship identifier and / or at least one power control parameter set configuration.

[0041] The first information may include at least one of: spatially related information for at least one uplink channel or transmission; power control parameter set information; an identifier of the target network node; a sounding reference signal resource indicator; a spatially related information update for a sounding reference signal resource indicator; and / or a transmission configuration indicator status.

[0042] The first network node may include at least one of the target network node or a network node different from the target network node.

[0043] According to a fifth aspect, a device for a user equipment is provided, the device comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory, comprising code that, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the device to perform the following operations: receiving first information to activate an identifier associated with a target network node from a first network node; determining to transmit random access channel signaling using a configuration corresponding to the identifier associated with the target network node; and transmitting the random access channel signaling.

[0044] The determination may include: monitoring an instruction from the first and / or target network node to transmit random access channel signaling using the configuration corresponding to the identifier associated with the target network node during a first predetermined time period; and when no instruction is received during the first predetermined time period, determining to transmit the random access channel signaling using the configuration corresponding to the identifier associated with the target network node.

[0045] The determination may include: determining an uplink transmission timing for transmitting an uplink transmission to the target network node relative to a reception misalignment of the uplink transmission at the target network node; and in response to determining the misalignment, determining to transmit the random access channel signaling using a configuration corresponding to the identifier associated with the target network node.

[0046] The determining to transmit may be performed in response to determining that a timing alignment adjustment by the user equipment is unable to correct the misalignment.

[0047] The receiving may include receiving a handover command, and the determining may include: in response to determining that the handover command involves a physical cell identifier different from the physical cell identifier associated with the first network node, determining to transmit the random access channel signaling using a configuration corresponding to the identifier associated with the target network node.

[0048] The device can be enabled to: receive a random access response to the random access channel signaling from the target network node during the second predetermined time period; and in response to the received random access, use spatial information associated with the identifier associated with the target network node to configure uplink and / or downlink communications with the target network node.

[0049] The device can be enabled to: monitor a random access response to random access channel signaling received from the target network node during a second predetermined time period; and after the second predetermined time period expires without receiving the random access response, use the spatial information associated with the identifier associated with the target network node to configure uplink and / or downlink communications with the target network node.

[0050] The handoff command may include a conditional handoff command.

[0051] The determining may include identifying that the identifier associated with the target network node has been activated by receiving spatial information and / or power control parameters associated with the identifier associated with the target network node.

[0052] The device may be enabled to receive the spatial information and / or power control parameters associated with the identifier associated with the target network node via at least one of downlink control information, and / or a medium access control control element and / or a configuration for sounding reference signal signaling.

[0053] The apparatus may be caused to: identify spatial information associated with the identifier associated with the target network node; and configure uplink and / or downlink communications with the target network node using the spatial information.

[0054] The apparatus may be caused to: receive a calculated timing advance configuration from at least one of the first and target network nodes to apply to transmissions to the target network node; and transmit to the target network node after applying the received calculated timing advance configuration.

[0055] The identifier associated with the target network node may include at least one of: a physical cell identity identifier, a timing advance group identifier, a control resource set pool index, a transmit receive point identifier, at least one transmit configuration indicator state, at least one spatial relationship identifier and / or at least one power control parameter set configuration.

[0056] The first information may include at least one of: spatially related information for at least one uplink channel or transmission; power control parameter set information; an identifier of the target network node; a sounding reference signal resource indicator; a spatially related information update for a sounding reference signal resource indicator; and / or a transmission configuration indicator status.

[0057] The first network node may include at least one of the target network node or a network node different from the target network node.

[0058] According to a sixth aspect, a system is provided, the system comprising: a user equipment according to any one of the fifth aspects; the first network node; and the target network node, wherein each of the first and target network nodes comprises at least one corresponding processor and at least one corresponding memory containing code, wherein the corresponding code associated with the target network node, when executed by the corresponding at least one processor of the target network node, enables the target transmit-receive point to receive the random access channel signaling from the user equipment after the user equipment receives the first information activating the identifier associated with the target network node; and wherein at least one of the first and target network nodes performs the following operations via their respective stored codes running on their respective processors: calculating a timing advance configuration applied by the user equipment to a transmission performed by the user equipment to the target transmit-receive point, and causing the calculated timing advance setting to be signaled to the user equipment to change the transmission time of the transmission to the target transmit-receive point.

[0059] The identifier associated with the target network node may include at least one of: a physical cell identity identifier, a timing advance group identifier, a control resource set pool index, a transmit receive point identifier, at least one transmit configuration indicator state, at least one spatial relationship identifier and / or at least one power control parameter set configuration.

[0060] The first information may include at least one of: spatially related information for at least one uplink channel or transmission; power control parameter set information; an identifier of the target network node; a sounding reference signal resource indicator; a spatially related information update for a sounding reference signal resource indicator; and / or a transmission configuration indicator status.

[0061] The first network node may include at least one of the target network node or a network node different from the target network node.

[0062] According to a seventh aspect, a device for a user equipment is provided, the device comprising: a receiving circuit for receiving first information for activating the identifier associated with the target network node from a first network node; a determining circuit for determining to transmit random access channel signaling using a configuration corresponding to the identifier associated with the target network node; and a transmitting circuit for transmitting the random access channel signaling.

[0063] The determination circuit for making a determination may include: a monitoring circuit for monitoring an instruction from the first and / or target network node to transmit random access channel signaling using the configuration corresponding to the identifier associated with the target network node during a first predetermined time period; and a determination circuit for determining to transmit the random access channel signaling using the configuration corresponding to the identifier associated with the target network node when no instruction is received during the first predetermined time period.

[0064] The determination circuit for making a determination may include: a determination circuit for determining that an uplink transmission timing of transmitting an uplink transmission to the target network node is misaligned relative to a reception of the uplink transmission at the target network node; and a determination circuit for determining, in response to determining the misalignment, to transmit the random access channel signaling using a configuration corresponding to the identifier associated with the target network node.

[0065] The circuitry for determining to transmit may be performed in response to determining that a timing alignment adjustment by the user equipment is unable to correct the misalignment.

[0066] The receiving circuit for receiving may include a receiving circuit for receiving a handover command, and the determining circuit for determining may include: a determining circuit for, in response to determining that the handover command involves a physical cell identifier different from the physical cell identifier associated with the first network node, determining to use a configuration corresponding to the identifier associated with the target network node to transmit the random access channel signaling.

[0067] The apparatus may include: a receiving circuit for receiving a random access response to the random access channel signaling from the target network node during a second predetermined time period; and a using circuit for configuring uplink and / or downlink communications with the target network node using spatial information associated with the identifier associated with the target network node in response to the received random access.

[0068] The apparatus may include: a monitoring circuit for monitoring reception of the random access response to the random access channel signaling from the target network node during a second predetermined time period; and a using circuit for configuring uplink and / or downlink communications with the target network node using spatial information associated with the identifier associated with the target network node after the second predetermined time period expires without receiving the random access response.

[0069] The handoff command may include a conditional handoff command.

[0070] The determining circuitry for determining may include an identifying circuitry for identifying that the identifier associated with the target network node has been activated by receiving spatial information and / or power control parameters associated with the identifier associated with the target network node.

[0071] The apparatus may comprise a receiving circuit for receiving the spatial information and / or power control parameters associated with the identifier associated with the target network node via at least one of downlink control information, and / or a medium access control control element and / or a configuration for sounding reference signal signaling.

[0072] The apparatus may include identifying circuitry for identifying spatial information associated with the identifier associated with the target network node and using circuitry for using the spatial information to configure uplink and / or downlink communications with the target network node.

[0073] The apparatus may comprise receiving circuitry for receiving a calculated timing advance configuration from at least one of the first and target network nodes to apply to transmissions to the target network node, and transmitting circuitry for transmitting to the target network node after applying the received calculated timing advance configuration.

[0074] The identifier associated with the target network node may include at least one of: a physical cell identity identifier, a timing advance group identifier, a control resource set pool index, a transmit receive point identifier, at least one transmit configuration indicator state, at least one spatial relationship identifier and / or at least one power control parameter set configuration.

[0075] The first information may include at least one of: spatially related information for at least one uplink channel or transmission; power control parameter set information; an identifier of the target network node; a sounding reference signal resource indicator; a spatially related information update for a sounding reference signal resource indicator; and / or a transmission configuration indicator status.

[0076] The first network node may include at least one of the target network node or a network node different from the target network node.

[0077] According to the eighth aspect, a system is provided, comprising: a user equipment according to any one of the seventh aspects; the first network node; and the target network node, wherein the target network node comprises a receiving circuit for receiving the random access channel signaling from the user equipment after the user equipment receives the first information for activating the identifier associated with the target network node, and at least one of the first and target network nodes comprises: a calculation circuit for calculating a timing advance configuration applied by the user equipment for transmission by the user equipment to a target transmitting receiving point, and at least one of the first and target network nodes comprises an operation circuit for causing the calculated timing advance configuration to be signaled to the user equipment to change the transmission time for transmission to the target transmitting receiving point.

[0078] The identifier associated with the target network node may include at least one of: a physical cell identity identifier, a timing advance group identifier, a control resource set pool index, a transmit receive point identifier, at least one transmit configuration indicator state, at least one spatial relationship identifier and / or at least one power control parameter set configuration.

[0079] The first information may include at least one of: spatially related information for at least one uplink channel or transmission; power control parameter set information; an identifier of the target network node; a sounding reference signal resource indicator; a spatially related information update for a sounding reference signal resource indicator; and / or a transmission configuration indicator status.

[0080] The first network node may include at least one of the target network node or a network node different from the target network node.

[0081] According to a ninth aspect, a non-transitory computer-readable medium is provided, comprising program instructions for causing a device of a user equipment to perform the following operations: receiving first information to activate an identifier associated with a target network node from a first network node; determining to transmit random access channel signaling using a configuration corresponding to the identifier associated with the target network node; and transmitting the random access channel signaling.

[0082] The determination may include: monitoring an instruction from the first and / or target network node to transmit random access channel signaling using the configuration corresponding to the identifier associated with the target network node during a first predetermined time period; and when no instruction is received during the first predetermined time period, determining to transmit the random access channel signaling using the configuration corresponding to the identifier associated with the target network node.

[0083] The determination may include: determining an uplink transmission timing for transmitting an uplink transmission to the target network node relative to a reception misalignment of the uplink transmission at the target network node; and in response to determining the misalignment, determining to transmit the random access channel signaling using a configuration corresponding to the identifier associated with the target network node.

[0084] The determining to transmit may be performed in response to determining that a timing alignment adjustment by the user equipment is unable to correct the misalignment.

[0085] The receiving may include receiving a handover command, and the determining may include: in response to determining that the handover command involves a physical cell identifier different from the physical cell identifier associated with the first network node, determining to transmit the random access channel signaling using a configuration corresponding to the identifier associated with the target network node.

[0086] The device can be enabled to: receive a random access response to the random access channel signaling from the target network node during the second predetermined time period; and in response to the received random access, use spatial information associated with the identifier associated with the target network node to configure uplink and / or downlink communications with the target network node.

[0087] The device may be enabled to: monitor a random access response to the random access channel signaling received from the target network node during a second predetermined time period; and after the second predetermined time period expires without receiving the random access response, use spatial information associated with an identifier associated with the target network node to configure uplink and / or downlink communications with the target network node.

[0088] The handoff command may include a conditional handoff command.

[0089] The determining may include identifying that the identifier associated with the target network node has been activated by receiving spatial information and / or power control parameters associated with the identifier associated with the target network node.

[0090] The device may be enabled to receive the spatial information and / or power control parameters associated with the identifier associated with the target network node via at least one of downlink control information, and / or a medium access control control element and / or a configuration for sounding reference signal signaling.

[0091] The apparatus may be caused to: identify spatial information associated with the identifier associated with the target network node; and configure uplink and / or downlink communications with the target network node using the spatial information.

[0092] The apparatus may be caused to: receive a calculated timing advance configuration from at least one of the first and target network nodes to apply to transmissions to the target network node; and transmit to the target network node after applying the received calculated timing advance configuration.

[0093] The identifier associated with the target network node may include at least one of: a physical cell identity identifier, a timing advance group identifier, a control resource set pool index, a transmit receive point identifier, at least one transmit configuration indicator state, at least one spatial relationship identifier and / or at least one power control parameter set configuration.

[0094] The first information may include at least one of: spatially related information for at least one uplink channel or transmission; power control parameter set information; an identifier of the target network node; a sounding reference signal resource indicator; a spatially related information update for a sounding reference signal resource indicator; and / or a transmission configuration indicator status.

[0095] The first network node may include at least one of the target network node or a network node different from the target network node.

[0096] According to the tenth aspect, a system is provided, comprising: a user equipment according to any one of the ninth aspect; the first network node; and the target network node, wherein the corresponding non-transitory computer-readable medium is provided, comprising program instructions for each of the target and first network nodes, wherein the corresponding non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions associated with the target network node causes the target transmitting and receiving point to receive the random access channel signaling from the user equipment after the user equipment receives the first information activating the identifier associated with the target network node; and wherein the corresponding non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions causes at least one of the first and target network nodes to perform the following operations: calculate a timing advance configuration applied by the user equipment to the transmission performed by the user equipment to the target transmitting and receiving point, and cause the calculated timing advance setting to be signaled to the user equipment to change the transmission time of the transmission performed to the target transmitting and receiving point.

[0097] The identifier associated with the target network node may include at least one of: a physical cell identity identifier, a timing advance group identifier, a control resource set pool index, a transmit receive point identifier, at least one transmit configuration indicator state, at least one spatial relationship identifier and / or at least one power control parameter set configuration.

[0098] The first information may include at least one of: spatially related information for at least one uplink channel or transmission; power control parameter set information; an identifier of the target network node; a sounding reference signal resource indicator; a spatially related information update for a sounding reference signal resource indicator; and / or a transmission configuration indicator status.

[0099] The first network node may include at least one of the target network node or a network node different from the target network node.

[0100] According to an eleventh aspect, there is provided a computer program product stored on a medium, which can cause an apparatus to perform any of the methods described herein.

[0101] According to a twelfth aspect, there is provided an electronic device, which may comprise the apparatus as described herein.

[0102] According to a thirteenth aspect, there is provided a chipset, which may comprise the apparatus as described herein.

[0103] According to a fourteenth aspect, a method is provided, comprising: receiving an indication indicating transmission-related information related to a second network node from a first network node; determining to transmit a random access channel (RACH) signaling using a RACH configuration corresponding to the transmission-related information associated with the second network node; and transmitting the RACH signaling to the second network node.

[0104] The transmission-related information may include at least one of the following: spatial-related information for at least one uplink channel transmission, power control parameter set information, an identifier of the second network node; a sounding reference signal resource indicator (SRI), a spatial-related information update for SRI, or a transmission configuration indicator (TCI) status.

[0105] The identifier of the second network node may include one of: a physical cell identifier, a control resource set CORESET pool index, and a transmit-receive point identifier TRP ID.

[0106] The at least one uplink channel transmission may include a transmission on a physical uplink shared channel and / or a transmission on a physical uplink control channel.

[0107] The method may further include determining, based on receiving the transmission related information, that the identifier of the second network node is active.

[0108] The indication may be transmitted via downlink control information (DCI), a medium access control element (MAC CE), and / or a handoff command message.

[0109] According to a fifteenth aspect, a device is provided, comprising a means for performing the following: receiving an indication indicating transmission-related information related to a second network node from a first network node; determining to transmit a random access channel RACH signaling using a RACH configuration corresponding to the transmission-related information associated with the second network node; and transmitting the RACH signaling to the second network node.

[0110] The transmission-related information may include at least one of the following: spatial-related information for at least one uplink channel transmission, power control parameter set information, an identifier of the second network node; a sounding reference signal resource indicator (SRI), a spatial-related information update for SRI, or a transmission configuration indicator (TCI) status.

[0111] The identifier of the second network node may include one of: a physical cell identifier, a control resource set CORESET pool index, and a transmit-receive point identifier TRP ID.

[0112] The at least one uplink channel transmission may include a transmission on a physical uplink shared channel and / or a transmission on a physical uplink control channel.

[0113] The apparatus may further include means for determining that the identifier of the second network node is active based on receiving the transmission related information.

[0114] The indication may be transmitted via downlink control information (DCI), a medium access control element (MAC CE), and / or a handoff command message.

[0115] According to the sixteenth aspect, a device is provided, comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory, comprising code, which, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the device to: receive an indication indicating transmission-related information related to a second network node from a first network node; determine to transmit random access channel (RACH) signaling using a RACH configuration corresponding to the transmission-related information associated with the second network node; and transmit the RACH signaling to the second network node.

[0116] The transmission-related information may include at least one of the following: spatial-related information for at least one uplink channel transmission, power control parameter set information, an identifier of the second network node; a sounding reference signal resource indicator (SRI), a spatial-related information update for SRI, or a transmission configuration indicator (TCI) status.

[0117] The identifier of the second network node may include one of: a physical cell identifier, a control resource set CORESET pool index, and a transmit-receive point identifier TRP ID.

[0118] The at least one uplink channel transmission may include a transmission on a physical uplink shared channel and / or a transmission on a physical uplink control channel.

[0119] The apparatus may also be caused to determine, based on receipt of the transmission related information, that the identifier of the second network node is active.

[0120] The indication may be transmitted via downlink control information (DCI), a medium access control element (MAC CE), and / or a handoff command message.

[0121] According to the seventeenth aspect, a device is provided, comprising: a receiving circuit for receiving an indication indicating transmission-related information related to a second network node from a first network node; a determining circuit for determining to transmit a random access channel (RACH) signaling using a RACH configuration corresponding to the transmission-related information associated with the second network node; and a transmitting circuit for transmitting the RACH signaling to the second network node.

[0122] The transmission-related information may include at least one of the following: spatial-related information for at least one uplink channel transmission, power control parameter set information, an identifier of the second network node; a sounding reference signal resource indicator (SRI), a spatial-related information update for SRI, or a transmission configuration indicator (TCI) status.

[0123] The identifier of the second network node may include one of: a physical cell identifier, a control resource set CORESET pool index, and a transmit-receive point identifier TRP ID.

[0124] The at least one uplink channel transmission may include a transmission on a physical uplink shared channel and / or a transmission on a physical uplink control channel.

[0125] The apparatus may also include a determining circuit configured to determine, based on the reception of the transmission related information, that the circuit of the identifier of the second network node is active.

[0126] The indication may be transmitted via downlink control information (DCI), a medium access control element (MAC CE), and / or a handoff command message.

[0127] According to the eighteenth aspect, a non-transitory computer-readable medium is provided, comprising program instructions for causing an apparatus to perform the following operations: receiving an indication indicating transmission-related information related to a second network node from a first network node; determining to transmit a random access channel (RACH) signaling using a RACH configuration corresponding to the transmission-related information associated with the second network node; and transmitting the RACH signaling to the second network node.

[0128] The transmission-related information may include at least one of the following: spatial-related information for at least one uplink channel transmission, power control parameter set information, an identifier of the second network node; a sounding reference signal resource indicator (SRI), a spatial-related information update for SRI, or a transmission configuration indicator (TCI) status.

[0129] The identifier of the second network node may include one of: a physical cell identifier, a control resource set CORESET pool index, and a transmit-receive point identifier TRP ID.

[0130] The at least one uplink channel transmission may include a transmission on a physical uplink shared channel and / or a transmission on a physical uplink control channel.

[0131] The apparatus may also be caused to determine, based on receipt of the transmission related information, that the identifier of the second network node is active.

[0132] The indication may be transmitted via downlink control information (DCI), a medium access control element (MAC CE), and / or a handoff command message. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0133] Some examples will now be described, by way of illustration only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0134] Figure 1A and 1B shows a schematic diagram of a 5G system;

[0135] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a network device is shown;

[0136] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a user device is shown;

[0137] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a non-volatile memory medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, allow the processor to perform one or more steps of some example methods is shown;

[0138] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the network is shown;

[0139] Figure 6 The timing advance is shown;

[0140] Figure 7 shows example signaling between the entities described herein;

[0141] Figure 8 illustrates example operations that may be performed by a user device described herein; and

[0142] Fig. 9 and Fig.10 Example operations that may be performed by the devices described herein are shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0143] Before describing each example in detail, refer to Figure 1A and 1B Let’s briefly explain some general principles of 5G wireless communication systems.

[0144] Figure 1A A schematic diagram of a 5G system (5GS) 100 is shown. The 5GS may include a user equipment (UE) 102 (which may also be referred to as a communication device or terminal), a 5G access network (AN) (which may be a 5G radio access network (RAN) or any other type of 5G AN, such as a non-3GPP interworking function (N3IWF) / trusted non-3GPP gateway function (TNGF) for untrusted / trusted non-3GPP access, or a wired access gateway function (W-AGF) for wired access) 104, a 5G core (5GC) 106, one or more application functions (AF) 108, and one or more data networks (DN) 110.

[0145] A 5G RAN may include one or more gNodeB (gNB) distributed unit functions connected to one or more gNodeB unit functions. The RAN may include one or more access nodes.

[0146] 5GC 106 may include one or more access and mobility management functions (AMF) 112, one or more session management functions (SMF) 114, one or more authentication server functions (AUSF) 116, one or more unified data management (UDM) functions 118, one or more user plane functions (UPF) 120, one or more unified data repository (UDR) functions 122, one or more network repository functions (NRF) 128 and / or one or more network exposure functions (NEF) 124. The role of NEF is to provide a secure exposure of network services (such as voice, data connections, billing, subscriber data, etc.) to third parties. Although NRF 128 does not show its interface, it should be understood that this is for clarity reasons and NRF 128 may have multiple interfaces with other network functions.

[0147] 5GC 106 also includes a network data analysis function (NWDAF) 126. NWDAF is responsible for providing network analysis information based on requests from one or more network functions or devices within the network. Network functions can also subscribe to NWDAF 126 to receive information from it. Therefore, NWDAF 126 is also configured to receive and store network information from one or more network functions or devices within the network. Data collection by NWDAF 126 can be performed based on at least one subscription to an event provided by at least one network function.

[0148] The network may also include a management data analysis service (MDAS) producer or an MDAS management service (MnS) producer. The MDAS MnS producer may provide data analysis in the management plane taking into account parameters including, for example, load level and / or resource utilization. For example, an MDAS MnS producer for a network function (NF) may collect load-related performance data of the NF, such as the resource usage status of the NF. Analysis of the collected data may provide a forecast of resource usage information within a predefined future time window. This analysis may also recommend appropriate actions, such as resource scaling, admission control, traffic load balancing, etc.

[0149] Figure 1B A schematic diagram of a 5GC as presented in the current 3GPP specification is shown. It should be understood that this architecture is intended to illustrate potential components that may be included in a core network, and the principles described so far are not limited to a core network that includes only the described components.

[0150] Figure 1B A 5GC 106' is shown, including a UPF 120' connected to an SMF 114' via an N4 interface. The SMF 114' is connected to each of the UDM 122', NEF 124', NWDAF 126', AF 108', Policy Control Function (PCF) 130', AMF 112', and Charging Function 132' via an interconnect medium, which also connects these network functions to each other. The 5G Core 106' also includes a Network Repository Function (NRF) 133' and a Network Function 134' connected to the interconnect medium.

[0151] The concept and function of NR timing advance are the same as LTE timing advance. Simply put, timing advance is a special command (notification) from the transmit / receive point (e.g., an access point such as an eNB / gNB) to the UE that configures the UE to adjust its uplink transmission (uplink frame) relative to the downlink reception timing (downlink frame). This uplink adjustment applies to any of the various uplink channels, such as the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), and the sounding reference signal (SRS). In addition, SRS is an uplink-only UE-specific signal transmitted by the UE to help the access point obtain channel state information (CSI) for each user.

[0152] In general, timing advance is a mechanism used to control the timing of uplink signal transmission (usually via a medium access control (MAC) control element). The access point continuously measures the time difference between PUSCH / PUCCH / SRS reception and the subframe time at the access point, and can send a "timing advance" command to the UE to change the uplink transmission timing to better align it with the subframe timing on the network side. When the PUSCH / PUCCH / SRS transmission timer reaches the network too early, the access point sends a timing advance command to the UE, instructing the UE to send its uplink signal later. When the PUSCH / PUCCH / SRS transmission timer reaches the network too late, the access point sends a timing advance command to the UE, instructing the UE to send its uplink signal a little earlier.

[0153] Time in advance Figure 6 shown.

[0154] Figure 6 A downlink frame 601 is shown whose reception is offset by a time T from the start of the transmission of an uplink frame 602. This time T can be written as:

[0155] T=(N TA +N TAOffset )T c

[0156] N TA Represents the timing advance value received from the network (e.g., via medium access control (MAC) control element (CE) and / or via random access response (RAR) signaling). N TA It can be defined in many different ways. For example, the MAC CE timing advance value can be defined as:

[0157] N TA-New =N TA-Old +(T A -31)*16.64 / 2 M (where T A=0,1,2,…,63)

[0158] As another example, the RAR timing advance value may be defined as:

[0159] N TA =T A *16.64 / 2 μ (where T A =0,1,2,…,3846)

[0160] Tc is a predefined time unit (Tc=0.509ns in the current specification).

[0161] N TAOffset Identified by the UE based on information received from the network or according to a default value (where the network does not provide a specific value). This default value may depend on the frequency range currently used (e.g., FR1 or FR2), and whether the uplink transmission is performed using frequency division duplex (FDD) or time division duplex (TDD) technology, and whether the transmission is performed with or without LTE-NR coexistence. These default values ​​are as shown in Table 1.

[0162] Table 1: Example default N TAOffet

[0163]

[0164] This uplink timing advance adjustment is applicable to multiple different channels, such as the Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH), the Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) and the Sounding Reference Signal (SRS).

[0165] As described above, the timing advance information may be provided to the UE through random access response (RAR) signaling or via MAC CE signaling.

[0166] When RAR signaling is used, the UE calculates the timing advance value to use based on the information contained in two different MAC layer commands. For the first uplink message after the physical random access channel (PRACH) signaling, the UE applies the timing advance value it extracted from the received RAR signaling. After the initial RACH procedure, the UE may apply the timing advance value it extracted from the timing advance MAC CE (if received).

[0167] When MAC CE signaling is used, the UE adjusts the UL transmission based on the MAC CE timing advance received after performing the initial connection procedure. The timing advance command field is 6 bits, which means that a total of 64 timing advance steps with a real-time range of -32 to 32Tc can be signaled. Because Tc is 0.509 according to the current specification, the physical timing range of the MAC CE-based timing advance is -16.3μs to 16.3μs, and its subcarrier spacing is 15kHz.

[0168] A timing advance group includes a group of one or more service cells with the same uplink timing advance and the same downlink timing reference cell. Each timing advance group includes at least one service cell with a configured uplink, and the mapping of each service cell to the timing advance group is configured by radio resource control (RRC) signaling. 3GPP TS38.321 defines a timing advance group as a group of service cells configured by RRC, and it uses the same timing reference cell and the same timing advance value for cells configured with uplink. The timing advance group of the secondary primary cell (SpCell) including the MAC entity is called the primary timing advance group (PTiming advance group), and the term secondary timing advance group (STiming advance group) refers to other timing advance groups.

[0169] Rel-17 introduces and specifies the use of multi-transmit receive point (Multi-TRP) operation between cells in 3GPP networks.

[0170] Multi-TRP is a feature that enables an access point (such as a gNB) to use more than one TRP to communicate with a UE. There are several different ways to perform this type of communication.

[0171] For example, the first TRP and the second TRP may use different physical downlink shared channels (PDSCHs) to transmit data to the UE, while the control signals for the two PDSCHs are only transmitted by the first TRP (for example, via a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH transmission) or via downlink control information (DCI) transmission). In this case, if there is a problem with the radio link between the UE and the first TRP, causing PDCCH reception to fail, the UE's communication via the second TRP will also be affected.

[0172] As another example, the first TRP and the second TRP may use different physical downlink shared channels (PDSCHs) to transmit data to the UE while also transmitting their own control information for these PDSCHs (e.g., via respective PDCCH transmissions or DCI transmissions). In this case, if there are any problems with the radio link with one of the TRPs, communications via the other TRPs may remain unaffected.

[0173] As a third example, the first and second TRPs are jointly used to process downlink and uplink signals (similar to the scenario of coordinated multi-point (CoMP) transmission).

[0174] According to the multi-TRP definition provided by Rel-17, the transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state can be associated with one or two physical cell identifiers (PCIs), or correspond to one or two physical cell identifiers.

[0175] The PCI is an identifier used to identify a cell during the cell selection process. According to the current definition (which may change), the PCI has a value that depends on the combination of the primary synchronization signal (PSS) of the cell and the secondary synchronization signal (SSS) of the cell.

[0176] The TCI state is dynamically sent from the network to the UE. The TCI state may be signaled using a downlink control information (DCI) message that includes configurations such as a quasi-co-location relationship between a downlink reference signal in a channel state indicator reference signal (CSI-RS) set and a PDSCH demodulation reference signal port. Two antenna ports are referred to as quasi-co-located when the properties of the channel on which the symbols on one antenna port are transmitted can be inferred from the channel on which the symbols on the other antenna port are transmitted. Thus, indicating the TCI state to the UE may indicate a quasi-co-location relationship between the demodulation reference signal of the PDSCH and at least one downlink reference signal to the UE.

[0177] Rel-17 agrees that for inter-cell multi-TRP, one PCI associated with one or more of the activated TCI states for the physical downlink shared channel / physical downlink control channel (PDSCH / PDCCH) will be associated with a set of resources (e.g., with one CORESETPoolIndex), and another PCI associated with one or more of the activated TCI states for PDSCH / PDCCH will be associated with another set of resources (e.g., with another CORSETPoolIndex). The activated TCI states can be regarded as TCI states that are included in a finite subset of the total number of TCI states (i.e., less than all possible TCI states), which is configured by a media access control control element command for a given channel and / or signal and / or transmission. CORESETPoolIndex is an index of the CORESET pool for the corresponding CORESET. CORESET refers to a control resource set, and refers to a set of resources. For example, in the frequency domain, a CORESET is a group of consecutive or distributed physical resource blocks (PRBs), while in the time domain, a CORESET is a group of consecutive orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDMA) symbols.

[0178] The association between PCI and CORESETPoolIndex when switching between intra-cell multi-TRP and inter-cell multi-TRP is identified for future study.

[0179] Rel-18 introduced several goals related to multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) enhancements, including the use of two timing advances for signaling in uplink multiple DCIs for use in multiple TRPs.

[0180] Some of these goals are as follows.

[0181] First, it was agreed to extend the Rel-17 unified TCI framework using the above Rel-17 TCI framework to indicate multiple downlink and uplink TCI states, focusing on the multi-TRP use case.

[0182] Secondly, it is agreed to study the use of a greater number of orthogonal DMRS ports in downlink and uplink multi-user MIMO in cyclic prefix (CP)-OFDM transmissions (without increasing the demodulation reference signal (DM-RS) overhead). This study will consider both: common design between downlink and uplink DMRS transmissions, and / or the use of up to 24 orthogonal DMRS ports, where the maximum number of orthogonal ports for single-symbol and double-symbol DMRS is doubled for each applicable DMRS type.

[0183] Third, it was agreed to study uplink DMRS, SRS and SRS resource indicator (SRI) and precoding information (including codebook) enhancements to enable up to 8 transmitter uplink operation to support 4 or more layers per UE in the uplink for a range of different application scenarios (e.g., vehicles / industrial equipment, etc.).

[0184] Fourth, it was agreed to study simultaneous multi-panel uplink transmissions for higher uplink throughput / reliability, focusing on frequency range 2 (FR2) and multiple TRPs, assuming up to 2 TRPs and up to 2 panels for a range of different application scenarios (such as vehicles / industrial equipment, etc.).

[0185] The study will include studying the uplink precoding indication for use on PUSCH, considering multi-TRP operation based on single DCI and multi-DCI, where no new codebook is introduced for simultaneous transmission of multiple panels, and where the total number of layers for all panels is up to four layers and the total number of codewords across all panels is at most 2.

[0186] Considering single-DCI and multi-DCI based multi-TRP operation, the study will also include the use of uplink beam indication for transmission on PUCCH and / or PUSCH. For the case of multi-TRP operation based on multi-DCI, only PUSCH+PUSCH or PUCCH+PUCCH is transmitted across two panels in the same component carrier (CC).

[0187] Fifth, research may be conducted to consider using two timing advances for uplink multi-DCI for multi-TRP operation and consider power control for uplink single DCI for multi-TRP operation.

[0188] For both intra-cell and inter-cell multi-DCI multi-TRP scenarios of Rel-18 and beyond, general support for two timing advance enhancements has been agreed.

[0189] The following content is related to solving problems that may arise when seeking support for using two timing advance enhancements for both intra-cell and inter-cell multi-DCI multi-TRP scenarios. In other words, the following content is related to solving problems related to the fifth objective above.

[0190] The following is intended to address the issues associated with obtaining / determining the timing advance for multiple TRPs between cells without necessarily increasing the current level of downlink control overhead.

[0191] As described above, Rel-17 specifies inter-cell M-TRP operation. According to this definition, a TCI state may be associated with a PCI, and a maximum of two PCIs are associated with an activated TCI state. It should be noted that the associated PCI of the serving cell may not be explicitly associated with the TCI state, and only additional PCIs (i.e., PCIs other than the serving cell PCI) may be explicitly associated with the TCS state. The explicit association of this additional PCI may be performed, for example, by a synchronization signal associated with the additional PCI (e.g., a synchronization signal block (SSB) and / or a CSI-RS).

[0192] To address at least one of the above problems, a mechanism is disclosed below under which a UE autonomously sends a RACH (or PRACH) transmission based on a preconfigured random access configuration. A network-based entity (e.g., a serving TRP and / or a target TRP and its controller) may then use such random access channel transmissions received at the target TRP to calculate the timing advance configuration of the UE relative to transmissions to the target TRP. This timing advance configuration may be provided back to the UE, and the UE may then apply the calculated timing advance configuration for subsequent transmissions from the UE to the target TRP.

[0193] Since the random access channel transmission by the UE is performed autonomously, the UE does not receive a trigger from the network specifically for causing the random access channel transmission to be performed, which reduces the amount of overhead signaling in the network compared to the case where an explicit instruction is received.

[0194] The preconfigured random access configuration may be, for example, contention-based random access (CBRA) and / or contention-free random access (CFRA).

[0195] When a given PCI is activated, a RACH / PRACH transmission may be sent for a cell / TRP with a given PCI (which is different from the PCI of the UE serving cell). The UE may then use a pre-configured random access configuration corresponding to the activated PCI for RACH transmissions, such as RACH timing and / or preamble and / or PUSCH timing (for 2-step RACH).

[0196] Further details regarding when a UE may perform autonomous signaling are provided below. However, in general, a UE may perform autonomous signaling in response to determining that a cell / TRP associated with a PCI different from a PCI associated with a serving cell / TRP of the UE has been activated.

[0197] The UE may determine whether the PCI is activated in any of a number of different ways. These issues are discussed further below.

[0198] When the UE determines that at least one of the following information has been signaled to the UE, the UE may consider the PCI to be active or activated.

[0199] Activation or indication of spatial relation information for at least one PUCCH resource in the MAC control element, wherein this spatial relation information indicates a reference signal (RS) associated with the considered PCI. This association may be signaled to the UE using higher layer signaling (i.e., higher than MAC layer signaling). In the current specification, the "PUCCH SpatialRelationsInfo" control element is used to indicate the spatial relation information.

[0200] · Activation or indication of power control parameter set information for at least one PUCCH resource in the MAC control element, wherein the power control parameter set information is associated with the PCI under consideration. The power control information sets the power used for the UE to transmit uplink signals. Higher layer signaling (i.e., signaling above the MAC layer) may be used to signal the association to the UE.

[0201] • Indication of a spatial relationship information update for the SRI (eg via a MAC control element), wherein this spatial relationship information is associated with the considered PCI. This association may be signaled to the UE using higher layer signaling (ie above MAC layer signaling).

[0202] • An indication included in the downlink control information (DCI) of the SRI of the PUSCH, for which the spatial relationship information or quasi-co-location information is associated with the considered PCI.

[0203] • Spatial relation information indication for SRS, wherein the spatial relation information is associated with the considered PCI. The association may be signaled to the UE using higher layer signaling (ie higher than MAC layer signaling).

[0204] MAC CE and / or downlink control information activates and / or indicates an indication of at least one TCI state for a downlink and / or uplink channel / signal, wherein the at least one TCI state indication includes quasi-co-location information of a reference signal associated with the considered PCI. The association may be signaled to the UE using higher layer signaling (i.e., higher than MAC layer signaling).

[0205] In one example application, when a cell associated with a PCI under consideration represents or is configured with multiple TRPs (e.g., multiple TRPs share the same given PCI), when the PCI and TCI state / TRP identity / or different uplink transmissions are activated (or indicated) to the UE, the UE may autonomously send RACH transmissions based on the random access configuration corresponding to the PCI under consideration, and the TCI state, TRP identity (such as, for example, CORESETpoolIndex or TRP ID) or other representations of different uplink links / transmissions. The association of CORESETPoolIndex and / or TRP ID with PCI state may be configured using higher layer signaling (e.g., via RRC configuration signaling / signaling above the MAC layer).

[0206] In another example application, RACH transmission to a different cell / TRP may be triggered by receiving a PDCCH signal received from a (newly) activated PCI (eg, a PDCCH order from the activated PCI or indicating the PCI).

[0207] In such a case, when the UE does not receive a PDCCH (or PDCCH command) from the activated PCI within a predefined / preconfigured duration (e.g., the time after the PCI is activated), the UE may send a RACH transmission based on the random access configuration corresponding to the activated PCI.

[0208] In addition, when the UE receives a PDCCH (or PDCCH command) from an activated PCI within a predefined / preconfigured duration (e.g., time after the PCI is activated), the UE may send a RACH transmission based on the indicated / preconfigured random access configuration corresponding to the activated PCI.

[0209] The above duration may be configured or specified with respect to a reference point / time, such as, for example, the first or last symbol of an uplink transmission (such as, for example, a transmission on a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) or a transmission on a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH)) or a downlink reception (such as, for example, a transmission on a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) or a transmission on a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH)).

[0210] For example, the reference point / time may be the last symbol of the PUCCH transmitted in response to the PDSCH carrying the MAC CE for activating the PCI. As another example, the reference point / time may be the last symbol of the PUCCH transmitted in response to the PDCCH carrying the downlink control information for activating the PCI.

[0211] In one example, a random access channel (RACH) transmission toward (or corresponding to) a different cell / TRP may be triggered by receiving a handoff command associated with a given PCI other than the serving cell PCI. Upon receiving such a handoff command, the UE may send a RACH transmission based on a random access configuration corresponding to the given PCI.

[0212] When the UE receives a RACH response (or a positive RACH response) from the network (e.g., a random access response (RAR) from a different cell / TRP), the UE may regard the RACH response as a PCI activation command for enabling the UE to receive PDCCH / PDSCH and / or transmit PUCCH / PUSCH / SRS using the TCI state associated with a given PCI. In other words, the UE may regard the RACH response as an indication as follows: the TCI state associated with a given PCI may be regarded as activation / indication.

[0213] When the UE does not receive a random access response (or does not correctly receive a random access response (RAR) from the network), the UE may still receive PDCCH / PDSCH and transmit PUCCH / PUSCH using the TCI state associated with a given PCI after a predefined / preconfigured duration. The duration may be configured or specified relative to a reference point / time, such as the first or last symbol of a RACH transmission.

[0214] In the case of a conditional handover (CHO) handover, a RACH transmission toward (or corresponding to) a different cell / TRP may be triggered by a UE-triggered conditional handover associated with or corresponding to a given PCI other than the PCI associated with the serving cell. When such a conditional handover event occurs, the UE may transmit a RACH transmission based on the random access configuration corresponding to the given PCI to the target cell.

[0215] The UE may be configured to use and / or apply one or more of the above operations through signaling from the network. For example, the UE may be configured to use or apply one or more of the above operations through RRC signaling from the network.

[0216] The network may use the presently described mechanism to obtain / determine / calculate the updated timing advance of the TRP in the cell with activated PCI.

[0217] These example operations are described in more detail below.

[0218] Figure 7 Example signaling that may be performed between the entities described herein is shown.

[0219] Figure 7The signaling that can be performed between the UE 701, the first transmit / receive point TRP1 702 and the second transmit / receive point TRP2 703 is shown. The first transmit / receive point 702 is associated with the first PCIPCI1. The second transmit / receive point 703 is associated with the second PCIPCI2. In other words, the first and second transmit / receive points 702, 703 belong to different physical cells.

[0220] During 7001, the network (e.g., the first TRP, AP, or gNB) configures a random access configuration for the UE for a second PCI. This random access configuration may include RACH resources and / or RACH preambles (and / or even PUSCH opportunities) for the second PCI. The random access configuration may be performed using RRC signaling. The random access configuration may be performed using an entity located within the access point / gNB. For example, the random access configuration may be signaled from a central unit to the UE 701. The entity that configures the random access configuration for the UE may be at least one of the first transmit / receive point, the second transmit / receive point, and / or a controller of at least one of the first and / or second transmit and / or receive points.

[0221] During 7002, the first transmit / receive point 702 sends signaling to the UE 701. The signaling may include an indication of at least one TCI state. In this example, the indication of at least one TCI state includes an indication of a TCI state corresponding to the second PCI. The indicated TCI state provides quasi-co-location information, which includes a reference signal corresponding to or associated with the second PCI. The quasi-co-location information may be inferred using signaling previously received from a network that provides such an association. In Rel-17, this association information is currently provided via higher layer signaling (i.e., above the MAC layer).

[0222] The indication may include an instruction to activate at least one of the indicated TCI states.

[0223] The signaling at 7002 may be performed in any number of ways. For example, the signaling at 7002 may be implemented by the first transmit / receive point 702 sending a MAC control element. As another example, the signaling at 7002 may be implemented by the first transmit / receive point 702 sending downlink control information. The MAC control element and / or downlink control information may be signaled using a physical downlink channel such as, for example, a PDSCH or a PDCCH.

[0224] During 7003, UE 701 determines that the second PCI is activated based on the received signaling of 7002. For example, UE 701 may determine that the second PCI is newly activated based on the received MAC CE / DCI, in particular based on the indicated TCI state. This is because the TCI state is associated with or corresponds to the second PCI.

[0225] In response to this determination at 7003, the UE then decides / determines to transmit on the random access channel using the random access configuration for the second PCI.

[0226] Therefore, during 7004, UE 701 signals a RACH preamble (or PRACH) using a random access configuration for a second PCI. This signaling of 7004 is then received by the second transmit / receive point 703.

[0227] During 7005, the first and / or second transmit / receive point (or some other network entity that controls at least one of these first and / or second transmit or receive points (not shown)) uses the received RACH transmission of 7004 to determine the timing advance corresponding to the second transmit and / or receive point 703 and / or the second PCI.

[0228] For example, the second TRP 703 may calculate the timing advance associated with the second PCI based on the RACH reception. How this is done at the TRP will be explained in detail below.

[0229] As an example, the second TRP 703 may determine the time difference between the time of the RACH transmission received at 7004 and the downlink transmission timing used by the TRP. The determined time difference may later be used to calculate the one-way propagation delay from the UE 701 to the second TRP 703. When the determined time difference is provided to any network entity, the calculation may be provided by the network entity, such as, for example, the first TRP 702, the second TRP 703 and / or any controller thereof. When determining the uplink timing offset, the calculated one-way propagation delay may be used. For example, the uplink timing offset may be twice the propagation delay. The uplink timing offset indicates the timing offset that the UE 701 should apply so that the second TRP 703 receives the uplink transmission from the UE 701 at the desired uplink reception timing at the second TRP 703. The uplink timing offset may correspond to the timing advance indicated to the UE 701.

[0230] Figure 8 From a UE (such as, for example, Figure 7 Some additional features of the currently described mechanisms are shown from the perspective of UE 701).

[0231] During 801, the UE determines that a given PCI is activated. This may be, for example, the result of 7002 signaling.

[0232] During 802, the UE determines that during a preconfigured time period in which the given PCI is determined to be activated, the UE has not received a PDCCH command triggering the UE to perform a RACH transmission corresponding to the given PCI.

[0233] During 803, in response to the determination of 802, the UE performs a RACH transmission using the RACH configuration corresponding to the given PCI. This transmission may be shown as 7004.

[0234] Fig. 9 and Fig.10 Various aspects of the above examples are shown. Therefore, it can be understood that the above features can find corresponding relationships below. In addition, it should be understood that the above examples can provide additional features for understanding without limiting how to implement the examples currently described.

[0235] In addition, although "transmitting receiving points" are mentioned below, these entities can be simply regarded as network nodes. Network nodes may include access points to the network, TRPs, gNBs, etc. Network nodes may include controllers of access points to the network.

[0236] Fig. 9 Various operations that may be performed by a user device are shown.

[0237] During 901, the user equipment receives first information to activate an identifier associated with the target transmit-receive point from at least one of the first transmit-receive point and the target transmit-receive point. The first transmit-receive point may include a serving transmit-receive point of the user equipment or a non-serving transmit-receive point of the user equipment. The phrase "associated with" may be used here to indicate that a configured association exists between two entities. For example, when the identifier is associated with the target transmit-receive point, there is a configured association that associates the identifier with the target transmit-receive point. Alternatively, the phrase "associated with" does not necessarily mean that an (explicit) association is configured. For example, when the identifier is associated with the target transmit-receive point (or network node), the identifier is basically used to represent the target transmit-receive point (or network node).

[0238] The identifier may have been pre-configured at the UE. For example, the identifier may have been previously configured at the UE using RRC signaling. The identifier may have been previously configured at the UE as part of a set of identifiers for identifying a target TRP. The first information to activate the identifier may be received via MAC and / or physical layer signaling. The first information to activate the identifier may be received via a MAC control element and / or via downlink control information signaling.

[0239] During 902, the UE autonomously determines to transmit random access channel signaling using a configuration corresponding to an identifier associated with a target transmit reception point. In this context, the term "autonomous" includes the UE performing an action (i.e., determining to transmit) without explicit instructions from the network (e.g., the first TRP and / or the target TRP) to do so.

[0240] During 903, the UE transmits the random access channel signaling.

[0241] The autonomous determination may include: monitoring instructions from the first and / or target transmit reception point during a first predetermined time period to transmit random access channel signaling using a configuration corresponding to an identifier associated with the target transmit reception point; and when no instructions are received during the first predetermined time period, determining to transmit the random access channel signaling using a configuration corresponding to the identifier associated with the target transmit reception point.

[0242] The autonomous determination may include: determining an uplink transmission timing for transmitting an uplink transmission to a target transmit-receive point relative to a reception misalignment of the uplink transmission at the target transmit-receive point; and in response to determining the misalignment, determining to transmit the random access channel signaling using a configuration corresponding to an identifier associated with the target transmit-receive point.

[0243] The determination to transmit may be performed in response to determining that an autonomous timing alignment adjustment of the user equipment cannot correct the misalignment. For example, in response to detecting a misalignment, the UE may apply a timing adjustment to the timing of an uplink transmission to the first TRP so as to correct the misalignment without receiving an explicit instruction from the network to make such an adjustment. The determination to transmit may be performed in response to a subsequent determination that the adjustment does not sufficiently correct the misalignment to make the uplink transmission to the first TRP successful. As another example, the UE may determine that the misalignment is relatively large, such as greater than a threshold, in which case the UE may determine that the autonomous timing alignment adjustment cannot correct this misalignment. In this case, the UE may then decide to transmit RACH signaling. On the other hand, the UE may determine that the misalignment is relatively small, such as less than (or equal to) a threshold, in which case the UE may determine that the autonomous timing alignment adjustment can correct this misalignment. In this case, the UE may decide not to transmit RACH signaling.

[0244] The receiving may include a handoff command, and the autonomous determination may include: in response to determining that the handoff command involves a physical cell identifier associated with the first transmit / receive point, determining to transmit the random access channel signaling using a configuration corresponding to an identifier associated with a target transmit / receive point.

[0245] The user equipment may also: receive a random access response to random access channel signaling from the target transmit / receive point during a second predetermined time period; and in response to the received random access, configure uplink and / or downlink communication with the target transmit / receive point using spatial information associated with an identifier associated with the target transmit / receive point. This spatial information may include at least one of the following: TCI state or spatial relationship or SRS resource indicator or SRS resource or power control parameter set.

[0246] The UE may: monitor for a random access response to random access channel signaling received from a target transmit / receive point during a second predetermined time period; and after the second predetermined time period expires without receiving a random access response, use the spatial information associated with an identifier associated with the target transmit / receive point to configure uplink and / or downlink communications with the target transmit / receive point.

[0247] The handoff command may include a conditional handoff command.

[0248] The autonomous determination may include identifying that an identifier associated with the target transmit-receive point has been activated by receiving spatial information and / or power control parameters associated with the identifier associated with the target transmit-receive point.

[0249] The UE may receive spatial information and / or power control parameters associated with an identifier associated with a target transmit reception point via at least one of downlink control information, and / or a medium access control control element and / or a configuration for sounding reference signal signaling.

[0250] The user equipment may: identify spatial information associated with an identifier associated with a target transmit-receive point; and use the spatial information to configure uplink and / or downlink communications with the target transmit-receive point. The spatial information may have been pre-configured at the UE using higher layer signaling. For example, the spatial information may have been previously configured at the UE using RRC signaling.

[0251] The user equipment may: receive a calculated timing advance configuration from at least one of the first and target transmit reception points to apply to transmissions to the target transmit reception point; and transmit to the target transmit reception point after applying the received calculated timing advance configuration. The timing advance configuration may have been calculated using the random access signaling transmitted at 903.

[0252] Fig.10 Shown including according to Fig. 9 User equipment, Fig. 9 The first TRP mentioned is Fig. 9 And the system characteristics of the target TRP are mentioned.

[0253] During 1001, after the user equipment receives the first information activating the identifier associated with the target transmit and receive point, the target transmit and receive point receives random access channel signaling from the user equipment.

[0254] During 1002, at least one of the first and target transmit-receive points calculates a timing advance configuration to be applied by a user equipment for transmissions by the user equipment to the target transmit-receive point.

[0255] During 1003, at least one of the first and target transmit reception points sends the calculated timing advance configuration signaling to the user equipment to change the transmission time of the transmission to the target transmit reception point. Fig.10 Not shown, but the user equipment can use the received calculated timing advance configuration to adjust the uplink timing transmitted to the target TRP.

[0256] exist Fig. 9 and Fig.10 In all of the above examples, the identifier associated with the target transmit / receive point may include at least one of: a physical cell identity identifier, a timing advance group identifier, a control resource (coreset) pool index, a transmit / receive point identifier, at least one transmit configuration indicator state, at least one spatial relationship identifier and / or at least one power control parameter set configuration.

[0257] The first information may include at least one of: spatially related information for at least one uplink channel or transmission; power control parameter set information; an identifier of a target TRP; a sounding reference signal resource indicator; a spatially related information update for a sounding reference signal resource indicator; and / or a transmission configuration indicator status.

[0258] Although the present mechanism is described in the context of handover, the present mechanism can be applied to any operation involving a UE and two different transmit / receive points. For example, the currently described mechanism can also be configured for carrier aggregation (CA). In other words, the currently described operation can be configured / applied for each component carrier (or a group of component carriers).

[0259] It is further understood that references to "RACH" transmissions throughout the text also cover PRACH transmissions. For example, in the case of a 4-step RACH, a preamble transmission is performed, and in the case of a 2-step RACH, a preamble and PUSCH transmission are performed. The term "RACH transmission" may also refer to any subsequent message transmitted by the UE to the second transmit / receive point after determining that the second PCI is active. For example, using current terminology, a Msg3 (PUSCH) or PUCCH transmission corresponding to Msg4 may be used for signaling at 7004.

[0260] The above mechanism provides a technology for obtaining / determining the timing advance for a newly activated cell or PCI in the case of multiple TRPs between cells. Compared with the current signaling mechanism, this technology does not increase the downlink control signaling overhead.

[0261] It will be appreciated that the above terms "activated" and "active" are used synonymously.

[0262] Furthermore, although the above examples focus on PCI, it is understood that the presently described techniques may also be applied to UEs detecting other identifiers corresponding to (or associated with) a TRP. The identifiers associated with a TRP may include one or more of the following: PCI, a timing advance group (TAG) identifier, an index to a set of control resources, a transmit-receive point identifier, at least one transmit configuration indicator state, at least one spatial relationship identifier, and / or at least one power control parameter set configuration.

[0263] For example, if at least one TCI state or spatial relationship information or power control parameter set associated with the TAG is activated or indicated to the UE, the TAG may be considered active. This may be indicated to the UE via, for example, a MAC control element and / or via downlink control information.

[0264] In addition, when a TAG is activated, the UE may determine to autonomously transmit RACH using the RACH configuration corresponding to the TAG, in a manner similar to that proposed above when the UE detects that the PCI for the TRP is active.

[0265] As another example, when a new TCI state is updated / indicated to the UE, this indication may trigger the UE to autonomously transmit RACH using the RACH configuration corresponding to this TCI state, in a manner similar to the manner proposed above when the UE detects that the PCI for TRP is active.

[0266] As another example, a set of TCI states may be configured, and when at least one of these TCI states is indicated to the UE as being activated, this may trigger the UE to autonomously transmit a RACH using the RACH configuration corresponding to the set of TCI conditions, in a manner similar to the manner proposed above when the UE detects that the PCI for the TRP is active.

[0267] Figure 2An example of a control device for a communication system, for example, coupled to and / or for controlling a station of an access system, such as a RAN node, such as a base station, a gNB, a central unit of a cloud architecture, or a node of a core network such as an MME or S-GW, a scheduling entity such as a spectrum management entity, or a server or host, such as a device hosting an NRF, NWDAF, AMF, SMF, UDM / UDR, etc. is shown. The control device may be integrated with a node or module of the core network or RAN or located externally thereto. In some examples, the base station includes a separate control device unit or module. In other examples, the control device may be another network element, such as a radio network controller or a spectrum controller. The control device 200 may be arranged to provide control of communications in a service area of ​​the system. The device 200 includes at least one memory 201, at least one data processing unit 202, 203, and an input / output interface 204. Via the interface, the control device may be coupled to a receiver and a transmitter of the device. The receiver and / or the transmitter may be implemented as a radio front end or a remote radio head. For example, the control device 200 or the processor 201 may be configured to execute appropriate software code to provide control functionality.

[0268] Now refer to Figure 3 describing in more detail possible wireless communication devices, Figure 3 A schematic partial cross-sectional view of a communication device 300 is shown. Such a communication device is generally referred to as a user equipment (UE) or terminal. Suitable mobile communication devices may be provided by any device capable of sending and receiving radio signals. Non-limiting examples include a mobile station (MS) or mobile device, such as a mobile phone or a so-called "smart phone", a computer provided with a wireless interface card or other wireless interface facilities (such as a USB dongle), a personal data assistant (PDA) or a tablet computer provided with a wireless communication function, or any combination of these, etc. The mobile communication device may provide, for example, communication of data for carrying communications such as voice, e-mail (email), text messages, multimedia, etc. Therefore, users may be supplied and provided with a variety of services via their communication devices. Non-limiting examples of these services include two-way or multi-way calls, data communications or multimedia services, or simply access to a data communication network system such as the Internet. Broadcast or multicast data may also be provided to users. Non-limiting examples of the content include downloads, television and radio programs, videos, advertisements, various alarms and other information.

[0269] A wireless communication device may be, for example, a mobile device, i.e., a device that is not fixed to a particular location, or a fixed device. A wireless device may or may not require human interaction to communicate. As described herein, the term UE or "user" is used to refer to any type of wireless communication device.

[0270] The wireless device 300 may receive signals over the air or radio interface 307 via appropriate means for receiving, and may transmit signals via appropriate means for transmitting radio signals. Figure 3 In FIG. 3 , block 306 schematically designates a transceiver arrangement. The transceiver arrangement 306 may be provided, for example, by means of a radio component and an associated antenna arrangement. The antenna arrangement may be arranged internally or externally to the wireless device.

[0271] The wireless device is typically provided with at least one data processing entity 301, at least one memory 302 and possibly other components 303 for software and hardware assistance in performing the tasks it is designed to perform, including controlling access to and communications with access systems and other communication devices. Data processing, storage and other related control means may be provided in appropriate circuit boards and / or chipsets. This feature is indicated by reference numeral 304. The user may control the operation of the wireless device by means of a suitable user interface such as a keyboard 305, voice commands, a touch-sensitive screen or touchpad, a combination thereof, etc. A display 308, a speaker and a microphone may also be provided. In addition, the wireless communication device may include appropriate connectors (wired or "wireless") to other devices and / or for connecting external accessories (e.g., a hands-free device).

[0272] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a non-volatile storage medium 400a (e.g., a computer compact disc (CD) or digital versatile disc (DVD)) and 400b (e.g., a universal serial bus (USB) memory stick) storing instructions and / or parameters 402 that, when executed by a processor, allow the processor to perform Fig. 9 and / or Fig.10 The method and / or one or more steps of the method described above.

[0273] As described herein, various aspects are described in the detailed description of the examples and in the claims. In general, some examples may be implemented in hardware or dedicated circuits, software, logic, or any combination thereof. For example, some aspects may be implemented in hardware, while other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software, which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor, or other computing device, but the examples are not limited thereto. Although various examples may be shown and described as block diagrams, flow charts, or using some other graphical representation, it should be well understood that the blocks, devices, systems, techniques, or methods described herein may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, dedicated circuits or logic, general hardware or controllers or other computing devices, or some combination thereof as non-limiting examples.

[0274] The examples may be implemented by computer software stored in a memory and executable by at least one data processor of the entity involved, or by hardware, or by a combination of software and hardware. Furthermore, in this regard, it should be noted that any program, e.g. Fig. 9 and / or Fig.10 , and / or other procedures described above, may represent program steps, or interconnected logic circuits, blocks and functions, or a combination of program steps and logic circuits, blocks and functions. The software may be stored on physical media such as memory chips or memory blocks implemented within a processor, magnetic media (such as hard disk or floppy disk), and optical media (such as, for example, DVDs and data variants thereof, CDs, etc.).

[0275] The memory may be of any type suitable for the local technical environment and may be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as semiconductor-based memory devices, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory, and removable memory. The data processor may be of any type suitable for the local technical environment and, by way of non-limiting example, may include one or more of a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a gate level circuit, and a processor based on a multi-core processor architecture.

[0276] Additionally or alternatively, some examples may be implemented using circuits. The circuits may be configured to perform one or more of the previously described functions and / or method steps. The circuits may be provided in a base station and / or a communication device and / or a core network entity.

[0277] As used in this application, the term "circuitry" may refer to one or more or all of the following:

[0278] (a) hardware circuit implementations only (such as implementations in analog and / or digital circuits only) and

[0279] (b) a combination of hardware circuitry and software, such as:

[0280] (i) a combination of analog and / or digital hardware circuitry and software / firmware, and

[0281] (ii) any portion of a hardware processor together with software (including a digital signal processor), software and memory that work together to enable a device (such as a mobile phone or server) to perform the various functions previously described, and

[0282] (c) Hardware circuits and / or processors, such as a microprocessor or portion of a microprocessor, that require software (e.g., firmware) to operate, but where the software may not be present, the software may not be required for operation.

[0283] This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also encompasses implementations of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or a portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware. The term circuitry also encompasses example legacy devices.

[0284] The above description has provided a complete and informative description of some examples by way of non-limiting examples. However, various modifications and adaptations may be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the above description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims. However, all such and similar modifications to the teachings will still fall within the scope of the claims.

[0285] In the above, different examples are described using radio access architectures based on advanced long term evolution (LTE-advanced, LTE-A) or new air interface (NR, 5G) as examples of access architectures to which the described technology can be applied, however, these examples are not limited to such architectures. By appropriately adjusting parameters and procedures, these examples can also be applied to other types of communication networks with appropriate means. Some examples of other options for applicable systems are Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Radio Access Network (UTRAN), Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN or WiFi), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), Personal Communications Service (PCS), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), systems using Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology, sensor networks, Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANETs), and Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), or any combination thereof.

[0286] Figure 5 An example of a simplified system architecture is depicted, showing only some elements and functional entities, which are all logical units and whose implementation may differ from what is shown. Figure 5 The connections shown in are logical connections; the actual physical connections may be different. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the system typically also includes Figure 5 Other functions and structures than those shown.

[0287] However, the examples are not limited to the systems given as examples, and a person skilled in the art may also apply the solution to other communication systems provided with the necessary properties.

[0288] Figure 5 The example of FIG. 4 shows a portion of an exemplary radio access network. For example, the radio access network may support sidelink communications as described in more detail below.

[0289] Figure 5Devices 500 and 502 are shown. Devices 500 and 502 are configured to wirelessly connect to node 504 over one or more communication channels. Node 504 is also connected to core network 506. In one example, node 504 may be an access node, such as an (e / g)NodeB that provides services to devices in a cell. In one example, node 504 may be a non-3GPP access node. The physical link from the device to the (e / g)NodeB is referred to as an uplink or reverse link, and the physical link from the (e / g"NodeB to the device is referred to as a downlink or forward link. It should be understood that the (e / g)NodeB or their functions may be implemented using any node, host, server, access point or other entity suitable for such purpose.

[0290] The communication system typically includes more than one (e / g)NodeB, in which case the (e / g)NodeBs may also be configured to communicate with each other via wired or wireless links designed for this purpose. These links may be used for the purpose of sending signaling. (e / g)NodeB is a computing device configured to control the radio resources of the communication system coupled thereto. NodeB may also be referred to as a base station, an access point or any other type of interface device, including a relay station capable of operating in a wireless environment. (e / g)NodeB includes a transceiver or is coupled to a transceiver. A connection to an antenna unit is provided from the transceiver of the (e / g)NodeB, which establishes a bidirectional radio link to the device. The antenna unit may include multiple antennas or antenna elements. (e / g)NodeB is also connected to a core network 506 (CN or next generation core NGC). Depending on the deployed technology, the (e / g)NodeB is connected to a Serving and Packet Data Network Gateway (S-GW+P-GW) or a User Plane Function (UPF) for routing and forwarding user data packets and providing the device with access to one or more external packet data networks, as well as to a Mobility Management Entity (MME) or an Access Mobility Management Function (AMF) to control access and mobility of the device.

[0291] Examples of the apparatus are a subscriber unit, user device, user equipment (UE), user terminal, terminal equipment, mobile station, mobile device, etc.

[0292] The device generally refers to a mobile or static device (e.g., a portable or non-portable computing device), including wireless mobile communication devices with or without a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM), including but not limited to the following types of devices: mobile phones, smart phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), cell phones, devices using wireless modems (alarm or measurement devices, etc.), laptops and / or touch screen computers, tablets, game consoles, notebook computers, and multimedia devices. It should be understood that the device can also be almost exclusively an uplink-only device, where an example is a camera or video camera that loads images or video clips to a network. The device can also be a device with the ability to operate in an Internet of Things (IoT) network, in which case the object is provided with the ability to transmit data on the network without the need for human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction, such as for smart grids and networked vehicles. The device can also use the cloud. In some applications, the device may include a user-portable device with a radio component (such as a watch, headphones, or glasses), and the calculation is performed in the cloud.

[0293] The apparatus illustrates a type of apparatus to which resources on the air interface are allocated and assigned, and thus any features of the apparatus described herein may be implemented with a corresponding apparatus, such as a relay node. An example of such a relay node is a layer 3 relay (self-backhaul relay) toward a base station. The apparatus (or in some examples, a layer 3 relay node) is configured to perform one or more user equipment functions.

[0294] Various techniques described herein may also be applied to cyber-physical systems (CPS) (systems of cooperating computing elements that control physical entities). CPS may implement and exploit a large number of interconnected information and communication technologies, ICTs, devices (sensors, actuators, processors, microcontrollers, etc.) embedded in physical objects at different locations. Mobile cyber-physical systems are a subcategory of cyber-physical systems where the physical system in question has inherent mobility. Examples of mobile physical systems include mobile robots and electronics transported by humans or animals.

[0295] Furthermore, although these devices have been described as a single entity, different units, processors and / or memory units may be implemented ( Figure 5 Not all are shown in the table).

[0296] 5G supports the use of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antennas, more base stations or nodes than LTE (the so-called small cell concept), which includes macro sites operating in cooperation with smaller base stations and adopts various radio technologies depending on service requirements, use cases and / or available spectrum. 5G mobile communications support a wide range of use cases and related applications, including video streaming, augmented reality, different ways of sharing data and various forms of machine-type applications (such as (massive) machine-type communications (mMTC), including vehicle safety, different sensors and real-time control). It is expected that 5G will have multiple radio interfaces, such as below 6 GHz or above 24 GHz, centimeter wave (cmWave) and millimeter wave (mmWave), and can also be integrated with existing traditional radio access technologies (such as LTE). At least in the early stages, integration with LTE can be implemented as a system in which macro coverage is provided by LTE and 5G radio interface access is obtained from small cells to LTE through aggregation. In other words, 5G is planned to support inter-RAT operability (such as LTE-5G) and inter-RI operability (interoperability between radio interfaces, such as below 6GHz – cmWave, 6 or above 24GHz – cmWave and mmWave). One of the concepts considered for use in 5G networks is network slicing, in which multiple independent and dedicated virtual subnetworks (network instances) can be created within the same infrastructure to run services with different requirements for latency, reliability, throughput and mobility.

[0297] LTE network architecture is completely distributed in the radio and completely centralized in the core network. Low latency applications and services in 5G require content to be close to the radio, which leads to local breakthroughs and multi-access edge computing (MEC). 5G enables data sources for analysis and knowledge generation. This approach requires leveraging resources that may not be continuously connected to the network, such as laptops, smartphones, tablets, and sensors. MEC provides a distributed computing environment for application and service hosting. It also has the ability to store and process content close to the cellular user for faster response time. Edge computing covers a wide range of technologies such as wireless sensor networks, mobile data collection, mobile signature analysis, collaborative distributed peer-to-peer networking and processing that can also be divided into local cloud / fog computing and grid / mesh computing, dew computing, mobile edge computing, cloudlets, distributed data storage and retrieval, autonomous self-healing networks, remote cloud services, augmented reality and virtual reality, data caching, Internet of Things (massive connectivity and / or latency critical), critical communications (autonomous vehicles, traffic safety, real-time analytics, time-critical control, healthcare applications).

[0298] The communication system can also communicate with other networks 512, such as a public switched telephone network, a VoIP network, the Internet, or a private network, or use services provided by them. The communication network can also support the use of cloud services, for example, at least part of the core network operations can be performed as a cloud service (this is in Figure 5 514). When performed away from the core network, this may also be referred to as edge computing. The communication system may also include a central control entity, etc., providing facilities for network collaboration of different operators, for example in terms of spectrum sharing.

[0299] Edge computing technology can be introduced into the radio access network (RAN) by utilizing network function virtualization (NFV) and software defined networking (SDN). Using edge cloud technology can mean performing access node operations at least partially in a base station server, host or node that is operably coupled to a remote radio head or includes radio components. Node operations may also be distributed among multiple servers, nodes or hosts. The application of cloud RAN architecture enables RAN real-time functions to be performed at or near a remote antenna site (in a distributed unit DU 508) and non-real-time functions to be performed in a centralized manner (in a centralized unit CU 510).

[0300] It should also be understood that the distribution of labor between core network operations and base station operations may be different from LTE, or even non-existent. Some other technological advances that can be used are big data and all-IP, which may change the networks built and managed. 5G (or New Radio, NR) networks are designed to support multiple hierarchical structures, where edge computing servers can be placed between the core and the base station or Node B (gNB). An example of edge computing is MEC as defined by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute. It should be understood that MEC (and other edge computing protocols) can also be applied in 4G networks.

[0301] 5G can also leverage satellite communications to enhance or complement the coverage of 5G services, for example by providing backhaul. Possible use cases are providing service continuity for machine-to-machine (M2M) or Internet of Things (IoT) devices or passengers on board, mobile broadband (MBB), or ensuring service availability for critical communications, and future rail / maritime / aeronautical communications. Satellite communications can leverage both geostationary (GEO) satellite systems and low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite systems, in particular mega-constellations (systems with hundreds of (nano) satellites deployed). Each satellite in a mega-constellation can cover several satellite network entities creating terrestrial cells. Terrestrial cells can be created via ground relay nodes or via gNBs located on the ground or on satellites.

[0302] The depicted system is only an example of a part of a radio access system, and in practice, the system may include multiple (e / g)NodeBs, which may access multiple radio cells, and the system may also include other devices, such as physical layer relay nodes or other network elements. At least one of the (e / g)NodeBs may be a home (e / g)nodeB. In addition, in the geographical area of ​​the radio communication system, a variety of different types of radio cells and a plurality of radio cells may be provided. The radio cells may be macro cells (or umbrella cells), which are large cells with a diameter of typically up to tens of kilometers, or smaller cells such as micro cells, femto cells or pico cells. Figure 5 The (e / g)NodeBs in a cellular radio system may provide any type of these cells. A cellular radio system may be implemented as a multi-layer network comprising several types of cells.

Claims

1. A method for a user equipment, the method comprising: receiving, from the first network node, first information to activate an identifier associated with the target network node; determining to transmit random access channel signaling using a configuration corresponding to the identifier associated with the target network node; as well as The random access channel signaling is transmitted.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein: The determination includes: monitoring for an instruction from the first network node and / or a target network node over a first predetermined period of time to transmit random access channel signaling using the configuration corresponding to the identifier; and When no instruction is received during the first predetermined time period, it is determined to transmit the random access channel signaling using the configuration corresponding to the identifier.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein: The determination includes: determining that uplink transmission timing for transmitting an uplink transmission to the target network node is misaligned relative to reception of the uplink transmission at the target network node; and Responsive to determining the misalignment, a determination is made to transmit the random access channel signaling using the configuration corresponding to the identifier node.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein: The determining transmission is performed in response to determining that a timing alignment adjustment by the user equipment is unable to correct the misalignment.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein: The receiving includes a handoff command, and the determining includes: In response to determining that the handoff command relates to a physical cell identifier different than a physical cell identifier associated with the first network node, determining to transmit the random access channel signaling using the configuration corresponding to the identifier.

6. The method of claim 5, comprising: receiving a random access response to the random access channel signaling from the target network node during a second predetermined time period; as well as In response to the received random access, uplink and / or downlink communications with the target network node are configured using spatial information associated with the identifier.

7. The method of claim 5, comprising: monitoring, during a second predetermined time period, receiving a random access response to the random access channel signaling from the target network node; as well as After the second predetermined time period expires without receiving the random access response, uplink and / or downlink communications with the target network node are configured using spatial information associated with the identifier.

8. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein: The determination includes: By receiving spatial information and / or power control parameters associated with the identifier associated with the target network node, it is identified that the identifier associated with the target network node has been activated.

9. The method of claim 8, comprising receiving the spatial information and / or power control parameters associated with the identifier associated with the target network node via at least one of downlink control information, and / or a medium access control control element and / or a configuration for sounding reference signal signaling.

10. An apparatus comprising means for performing the following operations: receiving, from the first network node, first information to activate an identifier associated with the target network node; determining to transmit random access channel signaling using a configuration corresponding to the identifier associated with the target network node; as well as The random access channel signaling is transmitted.

11. A computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a device, cause the device to perform the following operations: receiving, from the first network node, first information to activate an identifier associated with the target network node; determining to transmit random access channel signaling using a configuration corresponding to the identifier associated with the target network node; and The random access channel signaling is transmitted.

12. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; as well as at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following operations: receiving an indication from the first network node indicating transmit related information related to the second network node; determining to transmit random access channel (RACH) signaling using a RACH configuration corresponding to the transmission related information associated with the second network node; as well as The RACH signaling is transmitted to the second network node.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein: The transmission related information includes at least one of the following: spatially related information transmitted for at least one uplink channel, Power control parameter set information, an identifier of the second network node; Sounding reference signal resource indicator SRI, For space-related information updates of SRI, or Transmit configuration indicator TCI status.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein: The identifier of the second network node comprises one of: Physical cell identifier, Control resource set CORESET pool index, and Transmitter receiving point identifier TRP ID.

15. The device according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein: The at least one uplink channel transmission comprises a transmission on a physical uplink shared channel and / or a transmission on a physical uplink control channel.

16. The apparatus of any one of claims 12 to 15, further comprising: Based on receiving the transmission related information, it is determined that the identifier of the second network node is active.

17. The device according to any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein: The indication is transmitted via downlink control information DCI, a medium access control element MAC CE and / or a handover command message.

18. A method comprising: receiving an indication from the first network node indicating transmit related information related to the second network node; determining to transmit random access channel (RACH) signaling using a RACH configuration corresponding to the transmission related information associated with the second network node; as well as The RACH signaling is transmitted to the second network node.

19. A computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a device, cause the device to perform the following operations: receiving an indication from the first network node indicating transmit related information related to the second network node; determining to transmit random access channel (RACH) signaling using a RACH configuration corresponding to the transmission related information associated with the second network node; and The RACH signaling is transmitted to the second network node.

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